Divine Power Source Domain

  Divine Power Source Domain

  To make Marduk's land a true "domain of divine power", the goddess Mummu still had to do everything herself. This is similar to Pharaoh giving Amun a fief in Tukh, but it was only a written document, and Amun still had to occupy and open it up himself.

  Moyoni Goddess requested to move the "sinners" of the War of Gods to the land of Marduk, who originally worshipped the gods of the defeated side and were also the ancestors of the Duketown miners. They were punished to mine divine stones in an extremely desolate and harsh environment, facing great challenges to survival and reproduction, only those with the strongest bloodline could survive, still with the risk of extinction.

  At this time, Mu Ye showed a miracle, teaching the miners of Ke Town their skills and bringing down the guardian god's oracle, allowing them to survive for generations in this treacherous land of Malduc. Because these people were descendants of sinners, according to the oldest oracle of Anunaqi, they were not allowed to leave Malduc. This ancient oracle was passed down through generations and later became a decree of the Hittite Kingdom, but few people knew its origin.

  This decree has been enforced by various dynasties for hundreds of years, and there are very realistic reasons. The people of Duketown are the best craftsmen on the mainland, and Duketown is such an important source of divine stones, and later became a source of fine iron ore. If these miners leave Duketown, it would be a loss for any kingdom, unless Duketown no longer exists. Without the restrictions of the decree, who would be willing to live in such a harsh environment for generations?

  As for what happened later, there is no need for Xue Dingyuan to explain it. Amun himself was very clear. The residents of Du Ke Town abandoned the divine oracle and lost the protection of the goddess Mu Yun. Enlil launched a flood to destroy the place, making the Du Ke Plain a thousand-mile fertile land. In ancient prophecies, this is where the true god of gods will be born, perhaps Enlil thought it was time.

  As for what the "Domain of the Source of Divine Power" means, believers call themselves servants of the gods. Their beliefs, sacrifices and prayers are the source of power for the gods. This power is different from ordinary magic and martial arts, but a kind of "divine power" possessed by the gods.

  Xue Dingyuan had never owned an independent divine domain of her own, so her understanding of this "divine power" was not comprehensive. It mainly focused on two aspects: first, it could condense the power to make the soul stronger, just like having many selves. These countless selves gathered together, and they could understand the ultimate meaning of life in the world. Second, it could help the gods face the "questioning of fate" and the "judgment of doomsday".

  Xue Dingyuan said up to here, Ah Meng couldn't help but interrupt: "Will the gods also face 'the questioning of fate, the judgment of doomsday'?"

  Xue Dingyuan's body trembled slightly: "Whether it is physical or spiritual, if one cultivates to the ninth level of peak, they will have the power to fight against gods in the mortal world, and are often called semi-gods, such as Gilgamesh and Enki. However, the true meaning of semi-god was not this originally, but rather those who received guidance from the divine system and had the possibility of becoming a god, but in the eyes of mortals they were just gods, like me back then."

  "If you possess the Ninefold Ascent, a dual-faced power, you will be a true demigod in ancient legend, rivaling many gods in myth. You may even have your own divine domain. However, to truly attain that transcendent realm of eternal life, 'The Inquisition of Fate and The Judgment of Doomsday' is an essential trial. Do you know why the Ninefold Divine System is named as such?"

  "Isn't it because of the Nine-Linked Heaven God?" Ah Meng blinked his eyes and said.

  Xue Dingyuan: "Indeed, it's because of the Nine Heavenly Gods, but you don't know the real reason. Before Horus, only these nine people became truly immortal and transcendent gods. Horus is the tenth and last one. Other gods, including myself back then, were just half-gods. I was only one step away from success, but ultimately failed."

  ……

  Amon went to attend the ceremony of Isis' blessing, and stayed in Meng Fei Si for only seven or eight days. He sent Pai Mei Dang Zo back on the second day after his arrival to let Moses and others leave. The long journey took time, despite being well-prepared, so when Amon returned to his territory, Moses and others had just left a few days ago.

  More than 60 people from the ethnic group, with more than 20 horse-drawn carriages loaded with various supplies, including farm tools, clothing, food, seeds, tents, and household items. They were going to open up the wasteland and rebuild their hometown, which was the most important large-scale migration after ending their difficult fate, so they naturally had to bring as many things as possible.

  Especially after leaving the Eju border, they had to cross thousands of miles of desert and hundreds of miles of swamp and jungle. Food, water, and defensive weapons were all indispensable, and more than 20 cars were fully loaded. The speed of such a team's advance could not be fast, and when the new Pharaoh's order was transmitted to all parts of the country, they had just arrived at the city-state of Helio, which is also the closest city-state on the east bank of the Roni River to Mofei, still far from the Eju border.

  Moses was stopped at the gate of the city-state and the officer in charge looked at the general's order and told them: "Now that a new Pharaoh has taken office, according to the latest decree, you can no longer pass through. Fortunately, it is not far from the city-state of Heraklion, please return to your territory immediately. If you continue to move forward against orders, you will be arrested and forcibly repatriated."

  Moses had no choice but to order the caravan to turn around and head south along the original route. The disappointment of the tribespeople was indescribable. They had waited for six years, enduring untold hardships, and just when they saw a glimmer of hope on the horizon, this sudden change of events extinguished it. That damned Pharaoh Ramses II, why did he have to die at this time? And what's more, in the Egypian Empire!

  Those who rely on faith to sustain them, once they lose hope, are beset by an anguish that cannot be described, and even walking becomes a chore. Moses comforted his people saying: "We have endured and waited for so long, why not continue to hold on? As long as the divine spirit has not abandoned us, we must not lose hope!"

  The people asked Moses, "But where is God?"

  The twelve miners taught by Moses said: "God is watching us, as long as we don't lose faith in our hearts, we can find our home."

  That night they did not pass through the town, but stopped at a sheltered place on the banks of the Roni River, where they spent the night in tents. In the distance was the rushing water, and nearby were dense forests, Moses ordered twelve tribesmen who had practiced the power of unity to take turns keeping watch, while he himself sat in the carriage meditating, calling out to Aroga in his heart.

  "My spirit, savior of hope! I call out to you, asking that you hear my voice. Do not let the flame of hope be extinguished again, guide my people back home, even if it means offering up my entire being and life, as long as they return to the land of Duketown. Spirit, I am your servant, please help me."

  And it came to pass, as Moses heard the voice from his mind: "The divine spirit is watching over you and your people, go into the dense forest, receive the guiding light of hope."

  Moses quickly opened his eyes and got out of the carriage without being discovered by the watchful tribesmen. He quietly made his way into a dense forest along the road, carrying his staff with iron branches. In the distance, he saw a faint glow of fire. He walked through the thicket and came to a valley, where he saw a bush burning in flames. As he drew closer, he saw that the tree was unharmed by the fire. On the open ground stood two people. He quickly knelt down and paid homage, saying: "Messenger of God, Moses has been summoned."

  One of the messengers said, "Moses, a new situation has arisen. Pharaoh will not let you leave Egypt and if you stay, there may never be another opportunity to return home. Will you choose to go back or continue on?"

  "Moses replied: 'If God can guide me on the way, I will certainly choose to continue on and return home.'"

  Another messenger asked: "This road is extremely difficult, and leading so many tribes will be even more difficult. You have a chance to go alone, the gods allow you to make a choice."

  "Moses pressed his lips together and said, 'No, if I wanted to leave alone, I could have done so long ago! The divine spirit has told me that I must guide my people back to their homeland, even if it means sacrificing everything. Even if I myself cannot set foot in the land of Duc, I will help my people fulfill their desire.'"

  The envoy nodded: "Very good, you have indeed not let the gods down! Hand over your staff to me and I'll teach you how it's done."

  Moses handed the iron staff to the divine messenger, Lin Ke turned around and took out the Wind Charm Dance embedded inside, replacing it with the one that was forged into a spatial artifact. He then turned back and handed this staff to Moses, saying: "I'll teach you how to use it, relying on this staff will allow you to continue moving forward. The divine messenger will guide the way ahead and erase your tracks from behind."

  ……

  Moses waited in the dense forest for most of the night, and only returned quietly when it was almost dawn. At daybreak, he gathered everyone together and said: "Last night, the divine spirit summoned me. It told us that we can no longer return to Ahmon's territory, or else we will never have another chance to return home. From today on, we must march through the deep mountains and wilderness, avoiding all checkpoints and trackers, and walk back to our hometown with our own feet. The divine spirit is watching over us and will guide us along the way."

  The anxious tribesmen were shocked and uncertain, discussing it in a flurry. Thousands of miles away, they had to avoid the official road and walk on foot in the wilderness, losing their caravans and supplies. How could they cross that thousand-mile desert and swamp? Doing so would be tantamount to becoming fugitive slaves, who would be pursued within Egypt's borders, facing unknown dangers, an almost impossible task.

  Moses waited until everyone had finished discussing, then asked: "The gods are testing our faith, who is willing to be a slave of Pharaoh for eternity and build temples and tombs? Now you can go back. Tribesmen, who among you is willing to take the road home with me into the depths of the mountains?"

  The twelve members of the Power Tribe stepped forward: "We are willing to take this path, the gods have given us power and guidance towards the light."

  Moses nodded comfortingly and said, "The divine spirit has given you a title, called Shishi. From today on, you are the twelve Shishi among the Duoke people. You will lead your people to offer sacrifices to the divine spirit and strengthen the power of yearning in their hearts."

  Another one stepped forward and asked: "But the divine spirit has not given us strength, Moses, can you guarantee that the divine spirit will always protect us on our way back home?"

  "Moses leaned on his staff and said, 'No one can make promises in the name of God! This is just a promise from God to our people, providing selfless guidance and help. The power belongs to you yourself, faith makes you stronger, hope is in your heart, and the road is under your feet.'"

  At last all the tribesmen followed Moses, abandoning their carts and entering the dense forest in the mountains. Some people hesitated in their hearts, but most of them made this choice, nor did they dare to fall behind and return alone. Moses walked through the valley where he met the messenger of God yesterday, passed through the thorny bushes that had been burning with fire, and entered a narrow mountain path on the east bank of the Roni River.

  He was not aware that the valley was where Amun had been pursued, and the path the angel led them on was the same one Amun had taken to escape pursuit in the wilderness on his way to Moph. Now Amun had his people follow this road as they left, only diverting around cities and towns here and there; for the most part it was a route he had traveled himself, avoiding populated areas and the patrols of the city-state guards.

  The carts were abandoned by the roadside, but the ethnic people still led the cows, horses and donkeys to walk. These livestock had grass to eat on the road and could be slaughtered as food when necessary, because they had almost no chance to go back to the town to buy supplies again. More than 60 ethnic people, most of whom were strong young miners, unloaded the materials from the carts as much as possible, letting the livestock carry or carrying them on their backs, and made their way through the rugged mountain paths with difficulty.

  If they went on like this, it would affect their speed. Moses saw it with his own eyes but did not stop the people from carrying livestock and supplies. After all, no one could walk such a long way empty-handed. Although God had given him a magical staff, he had also instructed beforehand that it was best not to use it unless necessary.

  The twelve men who stood with Moses were Reuben, Gad, Simeon, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon and Samson. Joshua, the servant of Moses, asked on the way: "Now that we have set out, are we to become fugitive slaves, unable to buy things in the market towns but having to rely solely on our own supplies? And what about crossing the desert?"

  Moses nodded and said, "Then you'll be in charge of registering the supplies, managing them uniformly, and distributing them. If we use the food we brought with us economically and don't delay on the road, it should just be enough. We only need to bring enough water before entering the desert."

  Joshua took command, and he made a census of the livestock and grain that the tribes had brought with them. He calculated how much would be consumed each day and distributed it at fixed times in fixed quantities. The region around Heliopolis did not have many high mountains or steep cliffs, but far from the Rhone Valley there were undulating wastelands and dense forests. As long as they avoided villages and towns where people lived, almost no one would discover them.

  Maidenzo drove the crystal flying arrow to scout ahead, Link held the Peeping Eye Mirror and the Pursuing Lamp to quietly follow behind the team, erasing the traces of the large group's passage. Link was born as the chief of the Hole-dwelling People, and had been skilled at traversing mountains and forests, tracking prey since childhood, so doing these things came naturally to him.

  ……

  John returned to the territory and reported to Amun that Moses and his tribesmen had abandoned their carts and left by a small road. Amun nodded and said something about hard work, then ordered John to continue patrolling the territory as usual every day.

  It's said that Amun no longer needs to be trapped in Egu, he can leave at any time, but he still stays in the territory, a law-abiding and honest imperial general. On the contrary, Xue Dingyuan couldn't sit still, came to ask Amun: "Why haven't you left yet? Whether it's returning to Dukleng Plains or secretly escorting Moses, it's better than staying here! Do you want to stay in Egu Empire for promotion and wealth?"

  "Ah Meng smiled wryly and said: 'You clearly know why I won't leave, so why must you deliberately come to tease me?'"

  The cat puffed out her cheeks: "Is it because of her? You're worried about her, but you don't think that you yourself might be in danger." The "her" she was referring to was clearly Isis Temple's guardian saint, Maria.

  Amun nodded and said, "Yes, of course it's because of her. According to what you said, the goddess Isis has long been gone, and finally today's changes occurred, Horus lost the main god position of the Nine-Linked God System, so the status of the Temple of Isis may also be shaken."

  The cat smiled: "You are already the Grand General of the Empire, and you won't look at the problem so simply, will you? Isis guarding the Holy Maiden is just a symbol. Even if the Pope wants to worship the new Imperial God, he must consider the people's faith habits. Although the status of the Isis Temple has declined, why do you need to worry about Maria? Do you think that apart from being the guardian saint of Isis, Maria has nothing else?"

  What Xue Dingyuan said makes a lot of sense. The guardian saintess of the Isis Temple is a symbol of imperial divine rule. The main temples of various city-states in Egypt are all temples of Horus, but the main temple of Meng Feisi is actually the Isis Temple, and it has also become the center of divine power in Lower Egypt. The reason is complex.

  On the one hand, it is due to the unique position of Isis, which is related to the divine domain. On the other hand, it is because Egypt's main territory is divided into two densely populated areas: Upper and Lower Egypt. In Lower Egypt, there must be a center that symbolizes the unity of divine power and royal rule, and the existence of Isis as a guardian goddess has a dual background of history and reality.

  Even if the new pharaoh wants to worship the new imperial god, he still needs to consolidate his rule in Lower Egypt. The status of Isis may be weakened, but Mary's prestige in Lower Egypt is already very stable. If she can adapt to the situation and know how to cooperate, it will not be difficult for her to cope with the new changes. Amun even thinks that Mary has the talent of an imperial prime minister, and even if she is not the protected saint of Isis, she is fully qualified and capable of becoming the new imperial high priestess.

  Ka Amon was still worried, what else was he worried about? Thinking so in his heart, he said to Xue Dingxiao: "It's because of her, but not entirely because of her. I want to stay here and observe the changes, for the benefit of Moses and others, at least to get the latest decrees in time and use my identity to provide protection. Another reason, of course, is also because of you."

  Xue Dingyuan tilted his head and said, "What about me?"