Chapter 131: Is the Father God the True God?

[Ding! A creation made from divine materials has been detected. The creator has poured profound emotion into it, meeting the requirements to absorb its divine energy. You may choose to receive a 20-point divine energy replenishment or expend 10 points of divine energy to bestow life and a soul.]

"Bestow life and a soul?" Link’s heart skipped a beat. The system was truly powerful; it could even accomplish such a feat. Then again, when he thought about it, didn't the spirit pets produced by the system already come with their own lives and souls?

With this realization, Link’s mind raced. He subconsciously glanced at Alice and said, "Miss Alice, you mentioned a few days ago that Lady Yuuka might be able to help us. Would you be willing to persuade her on our behalf? We have tried several times over the past few days, but Lady Yuuka completely ignores us. Once, she even nearly killed us. We are truly at our wits' end."

This was no exaggeration. They had indeed sought out Yuuka, but she refused to help. Once, feeling annoyed, she had released a fraction of her aura; apart from Link, who managed to hold his ground using his holy power, everyone else had collapsed to their knees. They had truly believed they were going to die that day.

After that, no one dared to approach Yuuka again. Since the incident caused quite a stir, Alice, who usually kept to herself, was aware of the situation, so she did not doubt Link’s words.

However, although Alice was not as dangerous as Yuuka, she was not one to go out of her way for strangers. She and Link were mere acquaintances; helping with trivial matters was one thing, but begging Yuuka for help was a different matter entirely. Consequently, she looked troubled, stammering and unable to find the words.

Link did not know the exact nature of the relationship between Alice and Yuuka, but it was certainly better than theirs. At the very least, Yuuka’s attitude toward her was decent. Everyone had analyzed that if Alice were to ask, Yuuka likely wouldn't refuse. They simply hadn't had the opportunity, and given their strained relationship with Alice, they hadn't dared to approach her until now.

Now that Link finally had the leverage and the opportunity, he would not let it slip. Seeing Alice hesitate, he played his trump card: "Miss Alice, in our human world, there is a saying: 'There is no such thing as a free lunch.' We would never ask you to help for nothing. If you assist us, I can grant your wish—I can let this child possess life and a soul."

"You can grant this child life and a soul? How is that possible?" Alice stared at him in disbelief.

Link put on a pious, priestly expression and declared, "The Father God is above. Miss Alice, before the noble Father God, nothing is impossible. As His representative in this world, I am deeply favored by His grace. As long as I pray to Him with sincerity, He will answer my call and bestow life and a soul upon this child."

Alice naturally did not buy this charlatan’s act. Her skepticism deepened, and she said with a hint of annoyance, "If this Father God of yours is truly so great, couldn't He just open a passage for you to return home? Why do you need my help?"

It seemed Alice saw right through his bluff, even dropping the polite honorific ‘you’ for a more informal tone.

Link didn't mind the shift in her attitude. He continued to spout his nonsense with a pious mask: "Miss Alice, you have misunderstood. The Father God is omnipotent, but He does not solve every problem for us. This disaster was of our own making, and it is only right that we resolve it ourselves. This is the trial the noble Father God has set before us. However, this does not mean He is indifferent. He watches over us, seeing all through our own eyes. Just moments ago, Miss Alice, your deep affection for this child moved Him. He told me that He would grant this child life and a soul, provided that you assist us in completing this trial so that we may return to the human realm."

Alice’s brows furrowed, and a flicker of anger appeared in her eyes. "Mr. Neil, please do not use that mortal rhetoric with me. What Father God? Aside from the True God, are there any other deities in this world? You..."

"Believe, and it exists; doubt, and it is naught. The Father God says that sincerity brings manifestation. There may be only one God, but He goes by countless names. God is omnipotent." Link spread his arms, his face a portrait of devotion. "O Father God, please bestow your divine grace and grant this child a soul and life!"

As he spoke, Link secretly commanded the system to expend 10 points of divine energy to transform Suigin-tou.

Suddenly, a soft white light descended upon Suigin-tou. It quickly condensed into a pink orb of light that merged into her body. A surge of powerful life force erupted from her; a pair of black feathered wings unfurled from her back, and her incomplete parts were instantly perfected.

Seconds later, to Alice’s shock, Suigin-tou moved. She wasn't being controlled by Alice; she moved on her own. Like a newborn infant, she looked around in confusion before fixing her gaze on Link. Her beautiful, large eyes filled with human-like excitement as she trembled and said, "Father, you are Father, aren't you?"

The sudden address caught Link off guard, but he wasn't surprised. The system had informed him that the recipient of life would recognize him as their closest person. To Suigin-tou, 'Father' was the only appropriate title.

Link smiled and patted her head. Suigin-tou immediately beamed with a joyful, intimate smile, looking just like a kitten enjoying her master’s touch.

"Suigin-tou!" Alice, her true creator and master, could no longer contain herself. She rushed over, pulled Suigin-tou into her arms, and whispered with a trembling voice, "Are... are you really Suigin-tou? Do you really have a soul and life?"

This display of emotion was completely out of character for the usually cold Alice, showing just how shocking this event was.

Held tightly by Alice, Suigin-tou’s small face twisted in pain. "Mother, this hurts..."

This finally made Alice realize that Suigin-tou was different now. She quickly loosened her grip. "I-I’m sorry, are you alright?"

Suigin-tou shook her head and smiled. "I am fine, Mother. Thank you for your concern."

Alice breathed a sigh of relief, then asked in confusion, "But why do you call me Mother and Mr. Neil... Father?"

A faint blush appeared on Alice’s pale cheeks as she glanced at Link. Link felt rather awkward; the titles were indeed quite ambiguous.

Suigin-tou replied naturally, "Because Mother gave me my body, and Father gave me my soul and life." Her face then clouded with insecurity. "Am I not allowed to call you that?"

"This... of course you are. You are right; we are indeed your parents." Alice had intended to object, but seeing the abandoned-kitten expression on Suigin-tou’s face, she immediately changed her mind. In truth, Suigin-tou’s perception was not wrong. Though it made both Link and Alice uncomfortable, having provided her body, life, and soul, they were, for all intents and purposes, her parents.

Accepted by Alice, Suigin-tou beamed with joy, hugged Alice affectionately, and whispered 'Mother' once more. Alice couldn't help but smile—the first time Link had ever seen her do so.

That smile reminded Link of a classic poem about a beauty whose smile could dim the splendor of an entire palace. He had once thought it an exaggeration, but seeing Alice smile, he believed it. Alice, who was already a perfect work of art even without expression, became incomparably charming when she smiled. Even the composed Link was left dumbfounded. It was the first time in a long while he had been stunned by a woman’s beauty, proving just how lethal her smile was.

However, Link did not act like a fool. He quickly regained his composure and smiled. "The Father God is above. Miss Alice, this is the miracle of the Father God. He bestowed His supreme power upon me, and with it, I gave this child life and a soul. Now, do you believe me?"

Alice opened her mouth but didn't know what to say. After staring at Link for a long time, she returned to her cold demeanor. "Mr. Neil, please forgive my previous rudeness and skepticism. But may I ask... is the great existence that shelters you the True God who disappeared ten thousand years ago?"

Link maintained his priestly expression. "The Father God says that whether it is or isn't, it all stems from the heart. Matters of divinity exist if you believe in them. What it truly is depends on what you, Miss Alice, think in your heart."

This nonsensical reply was undoubtedly a bluff, but to Alice, it carried great persuasive weight. After a moment of contemplation, she nodded. "I understand, Mr. Neil. The Father God is a great deity, and only a true god could grant this child life and a soul. Perhaps the great existence shielding you is indeed the True God." She paused, then added, "Since you have granted Suigin-tou life and a soul, it would be unreasonable for me to refuse your request any longer. Mr. Neil, please follow me. I will help you plead with Lady Yuuka."

"My deepest thanks, Miss Alice." Link wore a pious smile, though he breathed a sigh of relief internally. It had been worth the 10 points of divine energy.

Link had dared to bluff without knowing the extent of Alice’s power because she herself had stated that only a True God could grant life and a soul. Every spirit he had encountered possessed a deep reverence for the True God; whenever the name was mentioned, their tone would involuntarily become respectful. It was clear that even if spirits did not worship the True God, they feared Him. They would never dare to provoke Him, for they knew full well that God existed—He had simply been missing for a long time, and His return would not come as a surprise to any of them.