# 803
Chapter 804: Great Xia's Divine Representatives
Shortly after, the stretched Lincoln arrived at the entrance of the courtyard house and slowly pulled over.
Lin Qiye and the others walked into the courtyard carrying Li Zhenzhen, who was still in a deep sleep. The members of Squad 006 had already finished setting everything up. In the open space at the center of the courtyard, a long, wide table had been laid out, and Zhang Zhengting and others were busy carrying dishes around the yard.
"Zhenzhen!" Zhang Zhengting's expression lit up when he saw Lin Qiye carrying Li Zhenzhen through the gate. He hurried forward.
Lin Qiye gently handed Li Zhenzhen over to Zhang Zhengting and said, "I'm sorry—she was quite startled. She's still sleeping... We were worried she might not recognize us and be scared when she wakes up, so we didn't wake her."
"Thank you all." Zhang Zhengting held Li Zhenzhen. Seeing the faint tear stains on her face, a tender smile appeared on this tough man's face. "The news about our squad's personnel changes hit her too hard... The poor girl cried and threw a tantrum. This is the first time I've seen her sleep so peacefully in the past two days."
"So the reason you were late when you came to pick us up today was because of her?" Lin Qiye suddenly understood.
Zhang Zhengting gave an embarrassed smile. "At that time, Zhenzhen was crying so hard at home, I couldn't bear to leave her behind and go out, so... But I never expected that the moment I stepped out, she'd run away from home in a fit of anger... Sigh, never mind that. Come, come—the food's all ready. Please, take a seat!"
"By the way, where are Instructor Yuan and Captain Shao? Aren't they back yet?"
"Captain Shao is back already. He's in his study reviewing documents. Instructor Yuan should be here any minute." Zhang Zhengting seemed to remember something. "Oh right, Captain Shao said that when you arrive, please go to his office for a cup of tea first."
Lin Qiye paused for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Alright."
……
Knock knock knock.
"Please come in."
Lin Qiye pushed the door open. In the spacious office, he saw Shao Pingge sitting behind the desk, dozing off over a pile of documents.
When he saw Lin Qiye had arrived, Shao Pingge's sleepy eyes brightened with some vigor. After stretching, he smiled at Lin Qiye.
"Sorry about that—I've been in meetings all day today. I'm really a bit tired..."
"Captain Shao, you've worked hard." Lin Qiye smiled politely.
"No need to be so formal." Shao Pingge stood up and pulled a comfortable chair over for Lin Qiye, saying with a smile, "You're an apprentice of Old Chen's. We're all family here. You can call me Brother Shao, Uncle Shao—whatever you prefer. Don't be shy."
Lin Qiye was stunned for a moment before it dawned on him that Shao Pingge's "Old Chen" referred to Chen Muye.
Lin Qiye smiled helplessly. This White Impermanence's personality was quite different from that of the silent Black Impermanence, Chen Muye...
"I know why you've come this time—you want to ask about Old Chen's matters from back then, right?" Shao Pingge asked.
"I am indeed quite curious." Lin Qiye couldn't help but respond. "Back when we were in Cangnan, Captain Chen Muye had too many secrets. Black and White Impermanence, the 【Shiva's Lament】... To this day, I still haven't truly understood him."
"Old Chen, eh..." Shao Pingge smiled, pointing a finger at Lin Qiye. "Actually, we were pretty much the same as you back then..."
"The same?"
"We were all... Divine Representatives."
Lin Qiye froze on the spot.
"Divine Representatives?"
"That's right."
Shao Pingge stood up from his seat and walked slowly to the window, gazing at the night scenery outside as he spoke in measured tones.
"The only difference is—the deities we represent... are the gods of Great Xia."
"Great Xia's gods have representatives too?" This was the first time Lin Qiye had heard of Great Xia's divine representatives. He couldn't help but ask, puzzled.
"Yes, but Great Xia's divine representatives are different from those of other deities—at least, they used to be." Shao Pingge explained. "You should know that over a hundred years ago, Great Xia's gods sacrificed themselves to become formless walls, standing guard along Great Xia's borders to block the invasion of the Mist, correct?"
"I know. After that, all of Great Xia's gods entered the cycle of reincarnation and only slowly awakened from it a hundred years later..." Lin Qiye seemed to realize something. "But if that's the case, then for that hundred-year period, Great Xia had no deities presiding over it. So how could there be Great Xia divine representatives at all?"
"That's exactly what makes Great Xia's divine representatives different from others.
When other deities choose representatives, they split off a portion of their God's Ruins and grant it to the representative under certain agreed-upon conditions. In essence, the representative inherits a fragment of the divine laws left behind by the deity...
But since Great Xia's gods entered reincarnation—even those who awakened early retained only very weak power, far from reaching divine status. Unable to split their laws and grant them to representatives like other gods do, these Great Xia deities choose to grant their representatives partial power through some medium closely connected to themselves."
"Through a medium?"
"There are many forms a medium can take—for instance, one of their divine artifacts, a Divine Beast, or a special object imbued with faith that symbolizes their identity... A sword, a mirror, a Jade Ruyi, a dust brush, a spiritual Divine Beast—any of these would work.
However, because Great Xia's gods entered reincarnation and their own strength was still at a low ebb, far from divine status, the Forbidden Ruins granted through this method don't originate from divine laws. Therefore, in terms of hierarchical ranking, they can only be classified as Forbidden Ruins, not God's Ruins.
Only when the Great Xia god who granted the Forbidden Ruins regains their full strength and returns to divine status will these Forbidden Ruins automatically break free from their chains and ascend to the level of God's Ruins. Only then can we truly be called Divine Representatives.
Old Chen and I being called 'Black and White Impermanence' wasn't without reason—because the Great Xia deity who chose us as representatives was the Yama King, who slumbered within the Hall of Yama.
And the medium through which the Yama King granted us power... was that very Hall of Yama."
The Hall of Yama?
Hearing these words, Lin Qiye's mind instantly recalled the magnificent hall that had risen behind Chen Muye years ago, during the battle against Han Shaoyun in Cangnan. On the plaque above its entrance were the three large characters: "Hall of Yama."
Lin Qiye had originally thought that was merely a phantom of the Hall of Yama manifested by the Forbidden Ruins. But now, it seemed the hall that had appeared behind Chen Muye back then was the real Hall of Yama!
Because the Hall of Yama was the medium that carried the 【Black Impermanence】 Forbidden Ruins.
When Great Xia's god returns to divine status, the representative's Forbidden Ruins will automatically ascend to God's Ruins...
Hearing this, Lin Qiye suddenly thought of a very important question.
"By the way, it's been over two years since the Gods of Great Xia repaired Heavenly Court's origin. Does that mean... Great Xia's gods have fully returned?
Where are they now?"