My Celestial Ascension Chapter 901: True Reason Behind The Holy War

Emperor Rhex fixed a keen, probing stare on Yuan, his thoughts swirling: 'This youth... he wouldn't make light of such a grave topic... Did he actually battle deities and claim victory over them?'

"Yuan, even if you've dismantled the Holy Church, taking down gods stands on a completely separate plane. You mustn't jest about matters like this," Duke Hexryn stated with gravity, setting her vacant cup upon the table.

"Believe it or not, that's your choice. But I spoke no falsehoods when I said I eliminated a handful of gods," Yuan responded, his face remaining as composed as ever. "To me, they ranked below even mongrels—and I cut them down without the slightest pity."

"Th-This... Doesn't that signify you've ignited a conflict with the Gods themselves?!" Rhex burst out, beads of perspiration beading on his forehead as the weight of it struck him, sending a shiver racing along his back.

'Not a hint of falsehood colors his tone... He's not jesting. His seriousness is absolute. He has genuinely slain gods!' Rhex gulped anxiously while the truth settled deeply within him.

"I understand... I never imagined you'd already crossed paths with those so-called divine beings who call themselves gods—and even dispatched some," Emperor Rhex let out a light chuckle, shaking his head, still grappling with the notion. "You've earned even greater admiration from me now, Yuan."

"Y-Your Majesty... aren't you perhaps erring by placing faith in this youth so hastily? He offers no evidence to back up these assertions," Duke Alric voiced his bewilderment, struggling to swallow Yuan's declarations.

"There's no cause for concern on that front, Duke Alric," Emperor Rhex replied with a subtle smile. "I can tell he's not fabricating. His words ring true. Besides, what would he gain from deceiving us?"

Silence enveloped the dukes upon hearing these words. Their skepticism toward Yuan's statements gradually dissolved, given that their ruler had opted to put his confidence in him.

Emperor Rhex called for a new pot of tea since the last one had emptied, the conversation having veered into deeper, weightier territory.

A fresh brew was required to diffuse the heavy atmosphere hanging over them.

Moments later, attendants delivered a steaming pot of tea and departed the chamber swiftly after positioning it on the table, sensing the importance of the ongoing exchange.

Emperor Rhex filled his cup, savored a deliberate sip, and then resumed speaking.

"Yuan, are you aware why the Gods launched their assault on us initially? Does anyone here hold such knowledge?"

"No, I'm in the dark about the cause," Yuan denied with a shake of his head, real interest flickering in his gaze.

"Despite my over two centuries of life, the origins of that conflict elude me as well," Mireya finally contributed after her prolonged quietude.

"I know nothing of it either. Actually, no tome records the motive behind the Holy Church's declaration of war on the whole demon race," Kitsura chimed in.

Vanessa reflected briefly before offering, "Based on what I've gleaned from history scrolls, it recounts how the First Demon Emperor, driven by avarice and ambition, performed a forbidden trial... which ultimately spawned a sinister entity—the Evil God."

"And so erupted the clash between demons and the Holy Church. The Gods called forth Heroes from a distant realm to bolster their forces in the fight and vanquish both the Evil God and the First Demon Emperor."

"That's the extent of my knowledge on the subject. Beyond this, details escape me, since no additional accounts of the war survive," Vanessa wrapped up with a gentle exhale.

"Hmmm... It seems those haughty fools have thoroughly scrubbed the facts from existence. They sought to bury their sordid secrets. Such spineless wretches," Emperor Rhex scoffed icily, followed by a heavy breath.

"Quite so. They aimed to uphold a flawless facade to the world, guaranteeing no one would challenge them later, so they could persist in their dominion while shrouding all in ignorance," Duke Cedric murmured, his face etched with solemnity.

Duke Hexryn gave a light laugh and appended, "I'd find it more shocking if they hadn't pulled a stunt like this. That's their way. After all, without wiping out history, wouldn't their vile essence come to light?"

"Exactly. Without concealing the past, uprisings would follow. They could never cling to their godly status," Duke Alric concurred with a nod.

"Allow me to unveil the reality to you all," Emperor Rhex declared following a brief hush. "Prior to the Evil God's emergence, demons shared harmonious ties with humans and other non-human races."

"We dwelt side by side in tranquility. All shifted once those so-called gods seized upon divinity and proclaimed themselves divine. Soon after, they forged the Holy Church to broaden their sway over the masses."

"Humans and demi-humans commanded a force utterly unlike ours—one far inferior in potency—Mana. Demons, conversely, harnessed a distinct energy: Qi. It came to us as an inborn gift, wieldable without restraint."

He pressed on, "This force diverged entirely from Mana. It surpassed it in might—vastly so. Our very being endangered the gods' supremacy, igniting their dread of our inherent command over such potency."

The gods then launched extensive studies on Qi, striving to comprehend and seize it for their own empowerment. Yet each trial collapsed in defeat. Undeterred, they grew fixated and refused to relent.

Innumerable young ones fell victim in these pursuits. At last, one among the Ten Founding Gods volunteered as the experimental vessel.

Consequently, that deity descended into madness and foul corruption. Thus arose the Evil God. To mask their disgrace, they pinned the fault on the demons—though we bore no guilt.

The Evil God pursued his inquiries further, birthing Corrupted Creatures—near-immortal horrors boasting dreadful renewal powers. As his reason frayed more, he directed his might even against the gods.

Eventually, the gods buckled under the Evil God's overwhelming force and had to respond. They invoked several Heroes from beyond and depicted demons as the chief antagonists to those imported saviors.

"It stood to reason that the Heroes and humans opposed us and aligned with the gods. From their viewpoint, 'we' had birthed the Evil God," Emperor Rhex wrapped up, disclosing the concealed verity of the Holy War.