Today's chapters will deal with religious figures. But like the protagonist's attitude, I'm not a devout believer of a religion, but I have a bit of awe. So when I first conceived such a setting in this book, I was a little nervous, for fear that what I wrote would not be respectful enough to some readers.

Because I guess there must be devout believers among you. Therefore, the background of this book is empty, and I try not to include the name of "that one" in the text.

Because it's set like this, it's going to be written like this. But you can think of it as something that happened on another plane, and maybe the doctrine is different.

Please forgive me if you are offended.

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The projection looked at him quietly and said softly, "Okay, you've already thought of it." ”

Li Zhen took a step back and frowned: "This is impossible. ”

He frowned and repeated it two or three times, then laughed nervously: "What are you kidding, this can't be." ”

But the projection did not speak, his body exuded an orange-yellow halo, raised his hand slightly, and made a humanized "spread his hands" movement.

So Li Zhen's chest rose and fell violently, and he stopped talking.

The water pouring down from the top of the cave was still rattling, accompanied by the hissing sound of the water mist rising, and the two of them "looked at each other" for a long time before the projection whispered again: "Why do you think it's impossible?" I thought you were thinking about that question a long time ago. ”

"If you talk about me, the Yellow Emperor, Chi You, or even this one. Lu, in the legends known to you humans, are all famous characters......"

"Why don't you think about whether that one is real?"

Li Zhen was speechless.

He was not a devout believer. In fact, like most of the young people of the empire of this era, they grew up in an environment of extreme material abundance. Television, telephone, computer, all kinds of media, full of people's ears and eyes of the information resources, as well as all kinds of spiritual entertainment.

This environment makes it difficult for them to believe in something single-mindedly and stubbornly, and thus it is difficult to develop any piety. The most famous religion in the world, he knows the Tao, and it can even be said that he knows a little. However, most of the impressions of that religion are stuck in those interesting myths and legends -

For example, the Seven Heavens, the creation of man, the legend of the ancestors of the vampires, the Great Flood, the Great Ship, the road that splits from the bottom of the sea, and so on......

He's always listened to them as interesting stories. However, there is no deep sense of identity.

It's not just because of cultural differences. And because he had always felt that the behavior of "that one" seemed strange no matter what.

"Weird", that's really his impression. Although he had never spoken of it in front of some godly people out of respect, he did think so in his heart.

For example, a father is asked to offer a sacrifice to him with his own child, even though it is called a test. But he felt that this test was based on the destruction of human nature and the rejection of fanatical beliefs. It's really not warm and inclusive.

Another example is that because the people of a certain place have angered him, they send disaster and destroy a city and a place. Or...... Just try to destroy the entire human race.

There will always be a lot of innocents, right? After all, the wicked are only a minority.

He always felt that the one didn't treat humans as human beings, but as pets or something—and many times they were being asked to punish them very harshly if they did something. There is no mercy in sight.

He felt that one was always a little moody, even "neurotic".

Of course, this is just his personal opinion - maybe the benevolent will see the benevolent, the wise will see the wise, and maybe there is a deep meaning behind this behavior, and others can interpret it.

But if ......

Until now.

After hearing those words. Even though he couldn't believe it, and didn't even want to think about it. But many questions, those doubts that remained in his heart, were suddenly solved.

Maybe that one...... It's not the same kind in the first place.

It's an anomaly with an incredibly powerful force. Perhaps it does want humanity to live and reproduce and survive in the world, but its heart ...... There's not that kind of paternalistic love and tolerance, right?

Humans are much lower creatures to it. If it doesn't go its way, there will be no mercy even if it destroys a city or a place, because it is the one who survives under its protection.

Because...... It is a species.

Li Zhen took a deep breath.

He slowly raised his left hand and pointed to the sky, trying to make sure again, "You mean, that one." ”

Lucifer's body shone with a soft light: "It has another name, too. Legend has it that this kind of thing is different from place to place, but it also has something in common. In this kingdom of yours, there should also be legends of the opening of heaven and earth, the creation of man, and the extinction of the flood. ”

Li Zhen couldn't help but shout: "What are you kidding, this has become a mess!" ”

The projection tilted his head slightly: "I'm right in front of you." You call me Lucifer, but I also have two other names—Quetzalcoatl, the god of the stars, and the candle dragon. As I said, I and Ying are both dragons. ”

The strong sense of subversion and shock overwhelmed the hostility and vigilance in his heart for a while. Li Zhen took a few deep breaths and stared at the projection for a while, finally calming his tone down a little.

"Give me a moment." He said weakly, wiping his face hard with his hand, "I need ...... Digest it, digest it. ”

Because the name of that one or those ones is like thunder. And because of the history of thousands of years, it has become high, and it is difficult for people to have any "blasphemy" in their hearts. He had the impression that there were many people who didn't buy into religions or gods, but it was true that few people dared to make a big deal in their name—this kind of thing had nothing to do with faith, just an inexplicable sense of awe accumulated by history and culture—just like the awe that aliens have for higher beings, and humans for their species, which are hidden deep in the genes.

But now from the mouth of this one, he felt even a slight trepidation—because of what he had known before. Everything that is instinctively reluctant to think and doubt has changed.

"Then answer me a few questions." Li Zhen said in a low voice, "If you want to believe this kind of thing, you have to give me a few reasonable explanations." ”

The projection shook and said softly, "You say." In fact, I had been expecting such a calm conversation between us. After that, you should also understand where you belong and what you should do. ”

Li Zhen shook his head lightly and thought for a while: "It's also asleep?" Still existing? Haven't woken up yet? ”

The projection let out a low sigh and shook his head, "No. It's dead. As I said, the Yellow Emperor is an incomplete successor. ”

Li Zhen frowned: "Extinction...... You sleep because you are suppressed, so what is it for? ”

Do not wait for the projection to answer. He asked, "No...... You mentioned the history of the empire. It is said that there are things like the creation of people in the legends of the empire. That's true—but it's Pangu who is breaking the ground with us. And the creator is Nuwa - a man and a woman, how can it be the same person? ”

The light on the projection flickered slightly. Li Zhen realized that it might be laughing.

"This question can also be seen as common sense – even ordinary humans should know it." Projection pointed to himself, "In that book of mankind, for me, the existence of angels. How to describe it? We are spirits. There is no entity. We are beings of light and heat. And we – there is no gender. ”

"And when it comes to the legends of the Empire, perhaps you don't know more than I do. Nuwa has the body of a human head and a snake - do you think she has nothing in common with Pangu? In your earliest legends there is a saying that the number of days is very high, and the number of the earth is very deep. Pangea is extremely long. ”

Li Zhen did remember this sentence. And he always thought that this was made up by later generations - after all, this sentence came from the "Three Five Calendars", and that book was written during the Three Kingdoms period. "Pangu is extremely long" means that he grows extremely fast, and he grows day by day.

If he is also a snake...... It's long and there's nothing unconscionable.

But if you want to speak of them, it is the same person......

Perhaps the image he knows today is indeed the result of a long period of artificiality?

Li Zhen waved his hand, as if he could wave away the doubts in his heart: "Okay, you go on, how can it die?" ”

"Answering this question will also answer your other question - why is there a flood?" Projection said, "You must have doubts about this as well. ”

Li Zhen nodded lightly: "Then you tell me everything - as for whether you want to believe it or not, I will judge it myself." ”

Soft, deep voices echoed through the space. But the voice tells a very shocking story that is enough to subvert all his views on history.

"You know very few of us. For example, the Yellow Emperor, Chi You, Lu, Ying Long, and even me, Candle Dragon - in fact, plus the myths of some other regions, the number of our kind of existence will not exceed 100. And many of these roles are made up of a single being who wears multiple hats. But in fact, a long, long time ago, we were a fairly large group. ”

"This 'long, long time ago' was the demarcation point with that flood."

"I have been around for billions of years, and we do have a long life that is unimaginable to humans. If this were the case for human beings, probably the whole earth would not be able to bear their weight by now. But we are different, we are closer to the original origin of life. So in fact, over the course of billions of years, our population has remained roughly around 60,000 — nothing too much or too little, and we've survived until thousands of years ago. ”

"Wait a minute." Li Zhen thought about it and asked a question that he had been trying to figure out. But even in the face of Lucifer, he found this question a little embarrassing-

"You ...... How to reproduce? Or is it that in your so-called billions of years, there have always been only 60,000 of you? ”

The projection seemed to glance at him, and there was no unusual emotion in his voice: "You can find the answer to this question in you." ”

"If the two merge with each other, for example you fused with the core six years ago, you become a new being. This is a decrease in quantity. ”

"If you become a lot of parts — for example, six years ago you were broken up, you become a lot of new beings. This is an increase in quantity. (To be continued......)