To ascend, I had no choice but to create games

However, previously, Fang Cheng had never been interested in contacting Them, because he really couldn’t think of any benefits from interacting with them.

When the incident with Lady Tragedy occurred, he was still comprehending the Tao; he hadn’t paid attention to the subsequent events until Huang Ping reminded him—only then did he realize that the game’s development had completely exceeded his expectations, entering into an entirely new stage.

Luckily, he hadn’t used this game to prove the Tao, otherwise, it might have caused problems again.

After reviewing the players’ gameplay during this period, Fang Cheng lamented that players were indeed impressive—to be able to play so joyfully with such a boring method of play.

Finding that someone actually had a 60-hour online time during this period, he was a bit worried that the person might suddenly die—and only breathed a sigh of relief after calculating that the individual could live for quite a while longer.

Especially after being bullied by Lady Tragedy, they still managed to play happily—if it had been him, he would have sought out the developers to settle the score long ago.

After scrutinizing the group of hanging Little Heavenly Ways back and forth, Fang Cheng asked, “Where is Lady Tragedy?”

One Little Heavenly Way silently pointed under Fang Cheng’s chair.

Glancing down, Fang Cheng commented, “Oh, it’s her. I thought it was a carpet.”

Calculating with his fingers, Fang Cheng figured that the other party had almost paid off the debt they owed, save for a little that could be repaid slowly over time.

Moving his chair back a bit, Fang Cheng, while looking at the hanging Little Heavenly Ways, suggested, “I personally am in favor of the triple compensation idea. How about you compensate me and my players threefold for everything you’ve done?”

“Outer God, it would be best if you let us down.”

A youth looked up at Fang Cheng.

He should be the leader of all the Little Heavenly Ways and could be referred to as the chairman of the Heavenly Tao network, the Main God.

On his person, Fang Cheng saw an abundance of congregated faith; the golden color symbolizing this faith had already dyed his eyes the same hue, filling him with the majesty of a god.

After observing for a while, Fang Cheng felt that the other had gone somewhat astray.

The term ‘Little Heavenly Way’ is used in contrast to the ‘Heavenly Tao,’ which is the fundamental Law that runs through multiple worlds, encompassing both the rules on the physical level and the more mystical ones like Mana, Spiritual Energy, and Karma—absolutely unemotional, utterly impartial Laws.

The Little Heavenly Ways, on the other hand, are region-specific Laws. Sometimes they can override the effects of the Heavenly Tao; they are usually established by powerful beings to serve certain special purposes, or they come into existence through serendipity.

Some of them have a sense of self; some can even practice cultivation, and combining with faith is a form of cultivation. But, to a certain extent, they need to be severed; otherwise, they will eventually merge completely with the faith and become beings unable to exist independently.

Now it seemed that the youth had fused too deeply, making it difficult for him to extricate himself.

Withdrawing his gaze, Fang Cheng asked, “So, do you agree with my compensation proposal?”

The youth initially wanted to refuse, but he could sense a profound power emanating from Fang Cheng.

This power was unfathomably deep, reminding him of the shadow of the creator that was left behind after they were created, and made him realize that Fang Cheng was an existence on the same level as the creator.

Dialling back his attitude, he said in a low voice, “I agree.”

“Good, then you are free to come down.”

With these words spoken, the gods felt their restraints disappear.

Godly Powers that follow one’s word are very useful; they issue direct instructions to the Heavenly Tao, and the stronger the cultivator’s Mana, the more forceful the compulsion over the Heavenly Tao.

After they descended, Fang Cheng continued, “We can discuss the details of the compensation plan later; I have a few questions I want to ask. First question, who created you?”

The Main God pondered for a moment, then tapped his forehead, drawing out a strand of golden light, which he laid before Fang Cheng.

This was the Main God’s memory, a memory that was highly restrictive. The information contained within was so massive that it could not be recorded in any text, only shown in this manner to Fang Cheng.

It was a silhouette.

This silhouette was the first thing the Main God saw after being born, and it only lasted for the duration of a finger snap before disappearing at the world’s end.

Though it was just a silhouette, it seemed to epitomize the most magnificent aspects of the whole world, making it appear strong, resolute, grand, and full of sacrificial spirit.

But as soon as the silhouette appeared, it entered the Shadows, vanishing into the boundless darkness, leaving no trace of where it went.

Once Fang Cheng made out the image clearly, the Main God retracted the memory and said, “That is the only memory left by our creator. I am the eldest among all gods, and I was the only one to see his existence. I suspect he went into the Shadows in search of a way for us to break free from them, but sadly he never returned. Afterwards, I and my younger brothers and sisters established the Heavenly Tao network, and together we resisted the Shadows here.”

Contemplating the scene he had just witnessed, Fang Cheng, rubbing his chin, remarked, “That doesn’t seem right.”

“What doesn’t seem right?”

“Based on that silhouette, it seems that the individual should have already touched the threshold of the Heavenly Lord; the surrounding Shadows shouldn’t be able to harm him.”

The Heavenly Lord is the title that corresponds with the Demon Lord and refers to those who are well-acquainted with the essential elements like earth, fire, water, wind, past, and future.