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The Eternal Domain might have been created by the gods: the Eternal Angels represented the skies, the Sacred Dragons symbolized the seas and all magical beasts on land, and the King Easton embodied nature and life.
The first generation of elves might have been the most devout believers, but the ones that came after them certainly weren't. Otherwise, they wouldn't have changed their faith simply because *another god appeared in a different god's territory*.
In truth, the elves of today were not devout believers at all!
The purpose of this second trial was nothing more than the Eternal Lord's hope to see the faith of all living beings in the Eternal Domain become devout once again.
But Tang San had no intention of allowing that to happen.
Unified faith?
What does "unified" even mean? Believing in one singular entity?
Tang San didn't think so.
"Do you even know what a god is?" Tang San asked Mengmeng and Niannian.
"No," they both replied.
Mengmeng, Niannian, and the other sixty-plus elves sat down in unison, shaking their heads like little bobbleheads. It was quite a sight—both impressive and adorably clueless.
Elves, after all, were a simple race.
In the Eternal Domain, aside from disputes over faith, there wasn't much danger. As a result, the beings here were fairly innocent, including the three gods.
Of course, this so-called innocence was relative—Tang San didn't let his guard down.
"Gods created all things, but why do you think they created them?" Tang San asked slowly. "For faith? If gods are capable of creating all things, why would they need faith?"
Mengmeng, Niannian, and the others didn't fully understand, but their eyes began to shine, as if Tang San was revealing some profound truth they had never known before.
For instance, the idea that gods don't need faith.
Meanwhile, the King Easton, Sacred Dragon, and Eternal Angel, who were secretly observing, were all inwardly shouting:
*What nonsense!*
But Tang San continued with his revelation.
"Let me ask you, Miss Mengmeng, where do you usually live, what do you eat, and what do you spend your time doing?"
"Me?" Mengmeng was startled for a moment, then replied, "I live in the Tree of Elves, eat the fruits it produces, and usually spend my time training, decorating my house, planting trees and flowers, and harvesting fruit."
Tang San nodded and then turned to Niannian. "What about you?"
"I'm the same as Mengmeng," Niannian said, describing her daily life. She showed no suspicion and was completely open, her innocent demeanor making Tang San feel a twinge of guilt.
"And when you were building your treehouses, planting trees, or preparing food, did the gods ever help you?" Tang San asked, turning to the rest of the elves and listening to their nearly identical answers.
"Well... no," Mengmeng and Niannian both shook their heads. "Since the elves were first born in this forest, these skills were discovered by our ancestors. The gods never helped us with that..."
As they spoke, their voices grew quieter.
Following Tang San's line of reasoning, it seemed like... the gods didn't serve much of a purpose at all?
"So—"
Tang San spread his arms wide, raising them toward the sky as if embracing the world. "The gods created the world, but they don't care about faith. You live here, and as long as you live according to your own will, it doesn't matter what you believe in. As long as you don't harm others, that's enough."
"The gods granted you the freedom to live, and they don't need your faith. So why fight over it? Especially when you're sisters!"
"As elves, the race that cherishes life the most, you should respect each other's choices even more."
"The right to believe belongs to all beings!"
Niannian froze for a moment and repeated, "The right to believe belongs to all beings!"
Mengmeng, too, murmured, "The right to believe belongs to all beings!"
The other elves' eyes sparkled, as though they had just witnessed the greatest truth of all.
"You used to be friends, often gathering fruit together. Why fight over differing beliefs now?"
"She is your sister. Why would you separate over something so trivial?"
"And you two—why do you despise each other? Didn't you just say you were inseparable as children?"
Tang San asked each elf seated around him, not waiting for them to feel ashamed before continuing: "True faith comes from within. You don't need to resort to fighting to convince others. This forest is bountiful, and the number of elves compared to the trees is like a drop in the ocean—you have no need to worry about survival."
"Even if one of you were to convince the other, what would you gain?"
"A false sense of satisfaction?"
"That would only make your relationships more rigid. So, I think it's perfectly fine if some of you worship the King Easton, others the Holy Angel, or even if some of you choose not to believe in anything at all. Living your own life well is what truly matters."
"I believe that, as a race that cherishes life, you elves are an open-minded people. Isn't that right?"
Mengmeng and Niannian nodded vigorously and said in unison, "Yes! Elves are an open-minded race. We do not harbor narrow-minded thoughts!"
Meanwhile, the Lord of Eternity, observing all of this, found himself at a loss.
He didn't understand what Tang San was doing.
Sure, Mengmeng and Niannian had indeed brought unity to their tribe, but was this really the unity of faith?
Something didn't seem quite right.
Tang San, however, had already stood up slowly and addressed the two sisters: "Now, allow me to introduce myself."
"By the way, we don't even know who you are. How do you possess such an immense life force? It's irresistible to all elves, even the dark-bodied Night Elves," Mengmeng asked, snapping back to reality. She stared at Tang San curiously, even swallowing nervously. "I think I'm falling in love with you."
Niannian nodded, "Me too."
"Hm?" x2
Both of them turned to glare at each other, neither willing to back down.
In matters of love, elves were bold and direct. If they liked someone, they would confess it openly without hesitation. The only exception were Night Elves, who were known to lie in such situations.
"Please don't fall in love with me. Your feelings are far too innocent—we've only just met," Tang San said with a chuckle, shaking his head. Then he introduced himself, "My name is Tang San. I come from Douluo Continent, and I've arrived in the Eternal Domain because I've accepted the Creator God's trial. My goal is to become the true ruler of the Eternal Domain."
"Not just a temporary stand-in, but a full replacement for—"
"The Lord of Eternity!" Mengmeng gasped. "So, you're the next Creator God!"
Tang San smiled, "Please don't call me that. A god is simply a powerful being. As for my trial, it involves guiding the living beings of the Eternal Domain to love their own lives."
"To live for themselves, not for the sake of faith."
"Faith can exist, but it shouldn't force others to believe in the same thing."
"This is the Creator God's vision!"
The Lord of Eternity thought to himself: *I've never expected anything like this...*
(End of Chapter)