Chapter 81: The Ten Commandments 3
Before Gareth could respond, a calm yet commanding voice interrupted. "He is Gareth Bunch, my elder brother and protector of Aurora." The voice belonged to Aurora, who stepped into view with regal poise, flanked by Melina and Lilith on either side. "And I," she continued, her presence radiating authority, "am Aurora, the Crown Princess of Aurora."
Jack was momentarily stunned as Aurora stepped into view, her beauty leaving him starstruck. He instinctively moved to introduce himself, eager to make a lasting impression, but before he could utter a word, someone else swiftly intervened.
Cresil, the embodiment of the Sin of Lust, appeared with a sly grin on his face. He gracefully stepped forward, his eyes locked onto Aurora with a mix of admiration and desire. "Ah, such exquisite beauty," Cresil purred, his voice smooth and dripping with charm. "I am Cresil, the one who holds the Sin of Lust. It is a true pleasure to meet you, Princess Aurora."
Aurora raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the mysterious man's words. "Sin? What's that?" she asked, her voice calm but curious. Her eyes locked onto Cresil, taking in his striking features and the undeniable charm that radiated from him. There was something about him, an allure that was difficult to ignore, and the aura he emanated was powerful, almost on par with her brother's after his transformation.
Cresil's grin widened, sensing her interest. "Sin," he began, his voice silky and captivating, "is a force as ancient as the cosmos itself. Each Sin represents a primal aspect of existence, something that drives both mortals and gods alike. I, for instance, embody the Sin of Lust, the desire that fuels passions and binds souls in its intoxicating embrace."
He took a step closer, his gaze never wavering from hers. "It's more than just a concept, Princess. It's a power, a part of who I am. And I must say, meeting someone as captivating as you makes this power all the more thrilling."
Jack, who had been watching from a short distance, snorted at Cresil's words and stepped forward. "So, seeing a beauty like Aurora has made you start spouting nonsense," he quipped, his tone tinged with amusement and a hint of challenge.
He turned to Aurora, his expression softening slightly. "Allow me to introduce myself properly," he said, a confident smile spreading across his face. "I am Jack, the holder of the Zodiac Sign of Libra."
As Jack spoke, the air around them began to stir, the wind coming to life in response to his presence. It swirled gently at first, then grew stronger, carrying with it a sense of balance and harmony that resonated with the power of his Zodiac sign.
Cresil's eyes narrowed slightly at Jack's interruption, his charming demeanor slipping just enough to reveal the irritation beneath. He was about to respond, a witty retort forming on his lips, when a lazy, almost sleepy voice cut through the tension.
"Hey, you two lovebirds, why don't you take your matters elsewhere?" Awar drawled, his tone sluggish and unbothered. He floated above them, suspended in the air by shadows that seemed to cradle him like a bed. His eyes remained closed, his entire posture one of complete relaxation, as if the unfolding drama was barely worth his attention.
"We're discussing something very important here," Awar continued, his voice heavy with the kind of lethargy that made it clear he'd much rather be napping than dealing with this. The shadows shifted slightly beneath him, adjusting to keep him comfortable, while his presence alone reminded everyone that even in his laziness, Awar was not to be underestimated.
"Hey, shut up, lazy prince! I don't think we're interrupting anybody here, if you ask me," Jack shot back at Awar, his voice laced with defiance. But the moment the words left his mouth, a suffocating aura descended upon him, causing him to stiffen.
Jack's eyes darted around until they locked onto the source of the oppressive force—Adams. The sect master was staring directly at him, his gaze alone heavy with authority and power. Jack's bravado faltered as the weight of Adams' aura pressed down on him.
But Jack wasn't the only one affected. Cresil, usually so composed, felt the pressure too. Though he maintained his charming facade, a slight tension in his posture betrayed the strain he was under. It was subtle, just enough that most wouldn't notice—but the Valley Masters and the powerful cultivators hidden among the crowd did.
They watched with keen interest, noting how even the most confident were brought to heel under Adams' gaze, gaining a deeper understanding of the true power within the Primordial Chaos Sect.
"Jack, I trust you'll compose yourself while we're here," Adams said, a calm smile on his face, though the weight of his words was unmistakable. His gaze then shifted to Cresil. "The same goes for you, Cresil. Whatever you have to discuss with Aurora, I'm sure it can wait."
Though his tone was gentle, there was an unspoken command behind it, leaving no room for argument.
Cresil and Jack both nodded in unison, their expressions a mixture of begrudging acceptance and restrained frustration.
"Understood," Cresil said smoothly, a hint of charm still lingering in his voice despite the situation. "I'll wait my turn."
"Yeah, whatever," Jack added with a dismissive wave, clearly annoyed but unwilling to challenge Adams further. "I'll behave."
Aurora watched them both with a composed demeanor, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of confusion. She glanced at Adams, trying to gauge his power level, but the full extent of it remained elusive to her. With a slight nod, she acknowledged their apologies, her curiosity about Adams and his authority growing.
With the interruptions settled, Adams gave Gareth a nod, signaling him to continue. He then teleported back to his seat, his gaze fixed intently on the celestial and his cohort, as he prepared to personally oversee their punishment.
Gareth acknowledged Adams' signal and turned his attention to his sister, letting out a sigh before beginning his explanation. "In the Ethereal Sovereignty Realm, there are many races similar to those found in this world.
However, two races stand out above the rest: the God Race and the Devil Race, which are higher forms of what you know as the Celestial Race and the Demon Race," he said, drawing the focus of everyone in the arena to him. Adams, already well-informed, remained unfazed, and John, who had taken his seat nearby with his wives, was also aware of this information.
"These races have been locked in a constant struggle for dominance throughout the history of the Ethereal Sovereignty Realm," Gareth explained. "For as long as the realm has existed, the God Race and the Devil Race have been evenly matched. However, about 10,000 years ago, a new group emerged under the rule of the Godhead, known as the Ten Commandments.
This elite group, with their formidable power, turned the tide decisively. The Devil Race was pushed back severely, almost to the brink of extinction."
"'Almost'? They were completely wiped out," the celestial interjected with an air of confidence, his tone dripping with pride.
Gareth glanced at him with a hint of a smile. "Are you certain about that?"
The celestial's eyes widened in shock at Gareth's implications, but before he could process the full extent, Gareth continued.
"As I was saying, after the defeat of the Devil Race, the Godhead consolidated his rule over the entire Ethereal Sovereignty Realm. No one dared to challenge his authority, as the fear of the Ten Commandments was even greater than the fear of the Godhead himself."
This revelation caused the people of the Divine Plane to gasp in astonishment as they were now introduced to an entirely new and higher realm of cultivation. Among them, the few who had reached the pinnacle of the Divine Plane were already aware of the existence of higher worlds, but they had no idea that beings from those realms were already present in their world.
This realization sparked a flurry of questions and speculation, as they wondered what could possibly bring such powerful beings to their plane. It was well-known that those from higher realms found the idea of descending to lower realms detestable—an attitude shared even by those who had originally ascended from these so-called lower realms.
"Hey, horse guy, I've got a question," Jack called out to Gareth, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. "If the Godhead were to face the boss in a one-on-one battle, who do you think would come out on top?"
The question sent ripples of whispers through the gathered crowd, each person processing the audacity of the inquiry.
Linda facepalmed, shaking her head in exasperation at her son's bluntness. Meanwhile, John, Jessica, James, and Janice all sighed, each of them wondering what was going through Jack's mind to ask such a question at a time like this.
Melina, who stood beside Aurora, glanced at Adams and then at everyone else in the arena. The sheer power they emanated, despite only being in the True Immortal Realm, was on par with the top figures of the Ethereal Sovereignty Realm—like her father. Her gaze returned to Adams, the one responsible for all of this. A bitter chuckle escaped her lips.
"I hate to admit it," she began, her voice tinged with reluctant admiration, "and I've never personally met the Godhead, nor have I been close enough to feel his power. But from what I can see, if Adams and the Godhead were to go toe-to-toe, Adams would wipe the floor with him."
The onlookers gasped, their collective shock palpable as they turned their attention to Adams. He sat calmly in his seat, utterly unfazed by the conversation, as if the weighty comparison between him and the Godhead was of no consequence.
The crowd buzzed with curiosity and awe, each person silently wondering, *Who the hell is this guy?*