However, the primordial Athena was both the Earth Mother Goddess, the creator of life, and the Goddess of the Sky, a symbol of royal rule.

Thus, she was both an earth deity and a sky god; both a mother and a virgin; both a mother and a king.

…It sounds ridiculous, right? But that is the style of ancient primordial myths.

Looking at it this way, this primordial Athena really does have quite a bit in common with Sasa.

Later, when the people of Greece introduced Athena, they only represented a small portion of her elements, losing the harvest of the earth, which is why she became an eternal virgin.

Therefore, her true name, strictly speaking, is not Athena, but Atana.

It is a deity closely associated with Astarte, the goddess of fertility, love, and war worshipped by the ancient Phoenicians, and even has quite a connection to Inanna and Ishtar of the Near East, as well as the goddess Isis of Egypt.

[But, it probably isn't just that…]

Mythology is troublesome to explain, especially when you have to watch the word count and keep it concise without rambling too much; that makes it even harder.

Sasa always felt that this strange mythological form of the island master contained more than just one deity.

I'm afraid that, just like Yaobikuni, they have integrated other elements as well.

But for Qi Xing, those mythological details were not important.

Having a general idea of the intel before the battle was enough.

"Simply put, it's just a more ancient, primordial matriarchal god-king before the patriarchal god-king."

Qi Xing took out the [Dominion] silver coin and grinned,

"In that case, it's time to play this card!"

[Dominion]. Rule, govern, dominate, control. The most fundamental power of a god-king.

The [Dominion] silver coin spun in Qi Xing's palm, and the light of thunder and dominion rose immediately.

It was not just an outpouring of divine power, not merely energy, but will—and even more, an irresistible command.

A single thought was destiny; a single movement was a decree.

"By the celestial might of the Supreme Clarity, I command the thunder and fire to manifest! The heavenly talisman is ready, the divine general accepts the order, heed my command, spare the living and execute the dead—obey immediately!"

True Qi and thunder intertwined, and the [Dominion] silver coin instantly bloomed with boundless divine light.

Xue Ning was just startled when she saw a beam of thunder shoot out from Qi Xing's palm, striking straight out as if the heavenly law had taken form, tearing through the air!

Straight, resolute, carrying an irresistible command and uncompromising authority—under the enhancement of the [Dominion] silver coin, Qi Xing's thunder magic was no longer just thunder.

It was a genuine proclamation of heaven's will, the thunderbolt carrying the force of ten thousand jun, striking Xue Ning squarely in the chest!

A single blow shattered the sunlight radiating from her body, scattering it like bursting feathers that drifted away, torn to shreds by the thunder!

Fortunately, Cult Master Xue Ning was no ordinary person.

Although her figure was shaken by the blast, her silver armor nearly cracked, and she almost lost her grip on her battle-axe—but Xue Ning's expression remained unafraid.

Instead, she gripped her double-headed axe tightly, gritted her teeth, looked up, and forced herself to hold on.

Sasa, who was perched on Qi Xing's head, couldn't help but be surprised at this moment: [Kid, you've improved.]

"After fighting the god-king thunder of that Baal from the [Greed Demon], I've at least figured out a little something."

Qi Xing smiled slightly.

He did not have a mythological prototype that could directly enhance thunder magic, not yet.

However, Taoist thunder magic inherently possesses the nature of "obeying heaven's mandate," emphasizing the use of heaven-bestowed authority to wield thunder and exorcise evil.

Orthodox Taoism emphasizes the conferment of registers.

Only those who have received the talismans can have their names entered into the celestial registry, be ranked among the gods, hold a Taoist position, and have the power to summon the ghosts and gods of heaven and earth as well as thunder.

The so-called "register" is the symbol of power that records the names of gods; it is the fundamental credential for connecting heaven and earth and commanding the three realms.

For this reason, Qi Xing had always had a vague idea about the [silver coin]—could this [silver coin], especially the first [silver coin] that represents dominion and rule, be… a "Taoist register," one that is higher and more thorough than any other register in this universe?

It is both the authority of a god and the record of a god, and even—it is the god itself.

With such a "register," even if Qi Xing didn't have a mythological prototype to directly enhance thunder magic, when he used the [Dominion] silver coin to enhance his thunder and strike, it was a true thunderous divine punishment!

After taking a lightning strike, Xue Ning gritted her silver teeth and raised her double-headed axe.

The scattered fragments of sunlight immediately flowed back like a tide, forcibly condensed by her into a beam of intense sun.

Her battle-axe was no longer a weapon, but had become a mirror of the sun, focusing and amplifying—the sunlight turned into a beam, radiating from the tip of the double-headed axe, colliding head-on with the thunder Qi Xing fired again!

Thunder and sunlight exploded and roared in the air, shaking the entire underground labyrinth!

"Alright! Very good! Fighting like this is also very interesting!"

Qi Xing laughed out loud, firing bolts of lightning from his palms one after another.

They rushed forward, and the continuous True Qi transformed into white snakes coiling around his arms.

Behind him, a thundercloud emerged from nothingness, rolling and surging like a black, angry sea.

…By comparison, the sunlight and flames that Xue Ning fired, although more brilliant and fierce than Qi Xing's at the beginning, were ultimately not power drawn directly from the [silver coin].

As time passed, her divine power gradually weakened, and her output dropped significantly.

The battle situation turned into a war of attrition.

In this long-range bombardment, neither side possessed the power to kill with a single blow.

Thunder and solar fire clashed, and the powerful, terrifying heat shaved away the surrounding silver walls, causing them to boil, burst, and turn into a molten river of fire.

At first glance, the battle seemed to be at a stalemate.

However—even a fool could see that Qi Xing had not yet used his full strength; he hadn't even used the mythological prototype of the [silver coin].

But he didn't want to use it either.

Using his full strength to fight a pseudo-god cult leader seemed too unseemly to Qi Xing.

It was precisely because of these unclear factors that this battle was actually interesting.

On the other hand, Xue Ning's forehead had begun to bead with sweat, tiny cracks appeared on the armor on her chest, and her double-headed axe was constantly enduring the vibrations of Qi Xing's thunder, her hands repeatedly torn by the recoil.

More and more thick thunderclouds were gathering behind Qi Xing.

While enjoying the exchange of fire with Xue Ning, he still had the spare energy to gather the scattered energy, preparing to condense a big one.

Xue Ning saw at a glance what Qi Xing wanted to do with this nasty fighting style similar to a magical cannon tyrant, and she couldn't help but groan inwardly.

—If she were to take [Master Leipu]'s strongest thunderbolt, which had been charging for a long time, while she was truly exhausted, Xue Ning certainly wouldn't be able to come out unscathed.

Even with the vitality of a sun god, she definitely wouldn't be able to hold on!

During the exchange of fire, Sasa sat on Qi Xing's head, observing silently without saying much.

But seeing Qi Xing gradually gaining the upper hand, she still felt a secret stirring in her heart.

The God-King (male), holding the power of thunder and dominion, gradually suppressed and defeated the Earth Mother Goddess, who possessed the attributes of an earth goddess and fertility, with thunder, and finally, the divine power was passed on.

The reign of the Earth Mother Goddess, which should have been ruled by fertility, was defeated by a male king holding thunder (a symbol of force), changing the dynasty—this is a historical event that has occurred in many civilizations since ancient times.

Qi Xing was now acting out such a scene, the Lord of Thunder ruthlessly ravaging the Earth Mother Goddess… Sasa felt a complex mix of emotions watching it…

Suddenly, both sides stopped their exchange of fire.

Qi Xing began to prepare and mobilize his divine power to unleash his strongest lightning strike.

However, Xue Ning knew that if they continued to bombard each other like this, she would definitely have no chance of winning.

After hundreds of years of research and cultivation, her "skill list" was definitely not this short; she actually had countless moves she could bring out to use…

But facing the overwhelmingly strong [Master Leipu], even if she listed a menu of various skills like naming dishes, they would only be evaluated as flashy, and then she would lose even more miserably.

At this moment, Xue Ning was finally left with only one method.

A method she absolutely did not want to use, but had little choice in.

"My Lord, White God."

At this critical moment, Xue Ning looked up, her voice filled with suppressed sorrow and despair, and shouted to the empty space above,

"The paradise I have created is already so wonderful, and it is only one step away from the birth of the ideal New Humans.

In order for this incomplete, imperfect world to rediscover love—please do not let all of this vanish into nothingness!

Please do not destroy the current state of this island!"

"It only needs a little more! Please stop [Master Leipu]!"

Qi Xing couldn't help but look up at Sasa.

Regardless of anything else, he was definitely going to take the [silver coin], but Qi Xing was still very curious about what Sasa's reaction would be upon hearing this near-wailing plea.

Would she pity these "believers" of hers?

Would she speak up and persuade Qi Xing not to take the [Truth] silver coin first?

Would she even hesitate for a single moment?

Xue Ning could not see the invisible shadow of the foolish creator.

But the expression on Sasa's face as she looked at Xue Ning… could hardly be called pity.

Those golden eyes gazed at the other, as if seeing some long-vanished phantom through her face, just like watching a replay of an undeniable, ancient nightmare.

It was an emotion heavier than pity.

[Give up.]

Finally, Sasa spoke, her tone indifferent,

[I have already seen what you are doing.]

[You are not simply relying on the power of the [Truth] silver coin to connect the thoughts of the islanders—that method cannot last, and you know it.]

[You are using this silver coin to conduct 'selective breeding' on humanity, aren't you?]

[But this kind of New Humans (New-Type), even if you turned all of humanity into this, is not the superman I want.]

Sasa paused and said coldly:

[And you, who pursue that kind of future, can only be considered a half-baked superman.]

Oh my, how heartless.

As these words fell, Xue Ning's eyes widened slightly, and her originally rock-steady expression wavered.

She was not angry, nor did she immediately refute.

She just stared blankly at the divine shadow in the void that she could not see, remained silent for a few breaths, closed her eyes gently, and sighed.

When she opened her eyes again, that persistence had not been extinguished, but rather ignited by a deeper flame.

She straightened her body, her expression solemn, no longer defending herself, but making a decision.

"…White God, Master Leipu."

She said word by word, her voice condensing with resolute power.

"If you insist on taking the [silver coin],"

"Then—next, I will use the power I am most unwilling to use."

"That is something even you, White God, would find 'embarrassing'."

"I beg you, do not force me to go this far."

—What? She actually has such power hidden?

Qi Xing couldn't help but look at the island master, really not thinking that she had a second form.

Sasa obviously didn't think so either—but her gaze did not linger on Xue Ning herself, but passed over her and toward the pool behind her.

That huge circular water trough, which looked like a volcanic crater, was churning at this moment.

The pool was full of thick, orange-red liquid, like blood or grease, constantly bubbling with viscous bubbles, emitting a nauseating, rotten, fishy smell.

Tiny eyeballs and indescribable organs and muscles even faintly appeared on its surface.

Until this moment, the stupid Sasa finally reacted: […What did you hide in that pool?! Don't you dare move!]

But Xue Ning smiled softly, as if she had finally broken free from the shackles of hesitation and restraint.

"Of course, it's the thing I once talked to you about—it's just that now, there's no need to keep it anymore!"

Almost just before Qi Xing's thunder hit her face, Xue Ning took the lead and yanked hard into the air!

Those invisible threads that had long spread throughout the labyrinth tightened all at once in her hands!

"I am going to—press the switch!"

With a roar, the entire circular pool vibrated violently.

The thick, orange-red liquid boiled and churned, as if amniotic fluid had ruptured.

It gushed out from the pool, carrying amazing heat and a fishy stench!

A blurry, massive object, pulled by the threads, had been lifted from the bottom of the pool, breaking the water.

It was as if—it was being forcibly delivered.

Qi Xing had not yet seen clearly what it was, but he already felt the entire labyrinth under his feet beginning to heave like it was breathing; the "pulse" of the underground was beating—the whole island was painfully giving birth.

Volume 5: Welcome to █ █ █ Paradise!: 195: The True Night of Birth

What happened next, because it was too abstract, is difficult to describe accurately in words.

So, let's use metaphors primarily:

The ancient Greeks once had a tradition of using cloth bands or ropes to hang a woman in labor, suspending her upright, squatting in mid-air, using gravity to assist in childbirth.