In the depths of night, a piercing shriek rent the air.

A small Wing Demon circled overhead, shattering the tranquility of Fort Pence.

News of the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents’ army’s devastating defeat reached the palace and the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents.

The new generation’s King of Ten Thousand Serpents and the nobles of the Royal Court flocked to the temple’s entrance, their expressions fraught with anxiety and terror.

Now, only the captain of the Temple Knights could untangle this dire situation.

One hundred thousand elite troops had been routed, including a vast number of Ability Users and entire regiments of Land Dragon cavalry.

These forces represented the Royal Court’s most formidable deterrent.

If they failed to rescue the survivors, how would the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents weather such catastrophic losses? What internal upheavals might ensue?

Could the Royal Court maintain its current stability?

Would the myriad tribes, great and small, continue to heed the Royal Court’s commands as they had before?

No one dared imagine.

Though some of the routed troops had fled toward the Fire Demon Marsh, while others scattered across the wastelands, they still engaged in sporadic skirmishes with the Avel people in the marsh and on the plains.

Despite their victory, the Avel forces lacked the strength and numbers to quickly mop up these scattered remnants.

The Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents still had a chance.

Even if they couldn’t turn the tide, they might at least rescue a portion of their forces.

Most crucially, they had to retrieve the Land Dragon cavalry, Ability Users, and temple attendants trapped in the wastelands.

In the dead of night, the current King of Ten Thousand Serpents waited at the base of the city walls, calling out to the knights atop the battlements.

“Please,” he implored. “Save them!”

Behind the king, people dropped to their knees one by one.

“Holy Maiden,” they cried.

“Holy Maiden…”

Their voices rose in a chorus of supplication. “Please… save them!”

Though they called out to the Holy Maiden, their words were not meant for the knights on the wall, nor for the child who bore that title.

They addressed the captain of the Temple Knights.

Yet in this Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents, only the Holy Maiden could be its true master.

By invoking the Holy Maiden, they indirectly appealed to the captain of the Temple Knights.

They knew that with her immense power, she would undoubtedly hear their pleas, even from a thousand meters away and through the city walls.

Inside the temple, the captain of the Temple Knights wore no armor. Clad only in a long robe that enveloped her form, she gazed silently out the window.

Whether she looked upon those beseeching her aid or saw in her mind’s eye the panicked, isolated soldiers and knights in the distance, none could say.

Upon receiving the message, the captain of the Temple Knights had fallen into deep contemplation.

At last, she reached a decision.

She donned her armored skirt and adjusted her longsword before sheathing it.

Cradling her helmet, she made her way to the Holy Maiden’s chambers.

The Holy Maiden slumbered peacefully, nestled beneath her blankets.

Beholding the child’s sleeping face, the female knight’s countenance, so recently etched with worry, softened into a faint smile.

She approached the bedside and called out softly, “Your Holiness! Your Holiness!”

The Holy Maiden stirred at the sound of her voice, slowly opening her eyes.

Then she turned away, pouting as she spoke.

“It’s not even light out yet.”

“I’m still growing. I need to sleep.”

“I don’t want to get up and study.”

The female knight decided to reveal part of the truth: “I must go to war. The entire Temple Knight Order will accompany me.”

“The Royal Court’s army of one hundred thousand has been defeated by Xiuborn of the Avel at Ice River Fortress. Our people are trapped between the Fire Demon Marsh and the wastelands. I must go to rescue them.”

At this, the Holy Maiden fully awoke, sitting up abruptly.

She looked at the female knight and hurriedly asked, “Will they die?”

The female knight hesitated before answering, “Many have already perished.”

The Holy Maiden froze.

Suddenly, she understood.

Those she knew, those who had grown up alongside her, she would never see again.

Sorrow welled up within her.

Her lips trembled as she bit her lower lip.

“Those bad people,” she lamented.

“Why can’t they just believe in God properly?”

“Why must everyone fight?”

The captain of the Temple Knights found herself at a loss for words.

She recalled the man who had stood before her not long ago, shouting himself hoarse.

“Wasn’t it you who forced us into this?”

She didn’t know how to explain to the Holy Maiden.

This war, from its very inception, had been of their own making.

They had destroyed the Avel nation, and now the Avel sought vengeance.

The female knight simply knelt by the bedside, bidding farewell to the Holy Maiden.

“Your Holiness. I will bring them back. Don’t worry. Everything will be over soon.”

The entire Temple Knight Order mobilized, departing Fort Pence and heading northward.

In a room within Ice River Fortress, Xiuborn pored over The Book of Xiuborn, his fingers lingering on the cover for a long while, his expression complex and grave.

Outside, water was everywhere, even flooding parts of the fortress interior.

Fortunately, this was a fortress, populated entirely by soldiers.

Avel soldiers bustled about, consumed by their tasks.

Some repaired the fortress, others collected bodies and cleared the battlefield.

Still others reorganized the army, preparing to pursue the fleeing enemy forces.

The temple apprentice, having issued orders outside, hurried into the room.

Xiuborn discreetly put away the book as the apprentice burst in, exclaiming excitedly.

“We’ve won! A complete victory! Lord Xiuborn, those Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents people couldn’t withstand your power, nor could they resist the Avel people’s determination for revenge.”

Xiuborn did not share the apprentice’s optimism: “No, we haven’t won yet.”

But the apprentice insisted, “With you here, we’re sure to win.”

Xiuborn turned to the apprentice: “How do you think we can truly end this war? And secure a future for the Avel people?”

The apprentice was stunned, unable to formulate a response.

Xiuborn, far older and wiser, took it upon himself to educate the youth.

As he rose and walked toward the exit, he spoke to the apprentice.

“The Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents is too vast, far larger than us.”

“Even if we can defeat them once, can we do it twice? Three times?”

“While they can amass strength time and again to seek revenge against us.”

“This time we used strategy and exploited their arrogance to defeat them, but can we repeat this scenario next time?”

“We will tire of fending off their repeated invasions, and ultimately perish.”

Xiuborn’s words struck fear into the apprentice, who hastily asked, “Lord Xiuborn, what should we do then?”

Xiuborn met the apprentice’s gaze: “But it is precisely because of its vastness that it is riddled with internal contradictions.”

“For us to win, for the Avel people to secure their future, we must engage in a fight to the death with the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents. We must utterly defeat them.”

“This is difficult, or rather, it seemed nearly impossible before.”

“So to achieve this goal, I have prepared a plan, divided into three steps.”

“The previous King of Ten Thousand Serpents is dead, and the new king lacks sufficient authority. He can only rely on war and victory to subdue his subordinates, so when I killed the previous king, my first step was already accomplished.”

“This major defeat has cost the Royal Court its core strength, which will inevitably shake the entire Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents internally. My second step has also been achieved.”

“Next, I will implement my third step.”

Xiuborn’s expression changed: “First, they lost the previous King of Ten Thousand Serpents, then they lost the force that kept the numerous beast-herding tribes in check.”

“Tell me.”

“What would become of the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents without Fort Pence?”

Xiuborn spread his arms, feeling hope and a future for the first time.

“They would completely lose the force that once united them, fragmenting as they did over a hundred years ago.”

“Their disintegration will give us the opportunity to grow stronger.”

“And the City of Avel will finally break free from its shackles, becoming a true city-state, a powerful nation.”

“It might even become a kingdom more powerful than Suinhor in the future.”

An era without the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents, a world without the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents.

Only then could the Avel people truly win their future.

The temple apprentice stared at Xiuborn in shock: “Lord Xiuborn, what do you intend to do?”

Xiuborn replied: “Long ago, I arranged for our fleet to reach the mouth of the Shepherd’s River, establishing a temporary base there.”

“I plan to lead the fleet up the Shepherd’s River and attack Fort Pence directly.”

“We’ll carry off everything from the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents, taking away the foundation they’ve built over a hundred years their artisans, scholars, knowledge, causing them to completely fall apart.”

The temple apprentice was utterly stunned. Suddenly, a realization struck him.

“Our fleet of nearly ten thousand has remained stationary. I thought you didn’t want these sailors to die in a land war,” he said, his eyes widening. “Lord Xiuborn, I never imagined you had planned all this from the beginning.”

Xiuborn’s previous plan to infiltrate Fort Pence was already considered incredibly daring.

One misstep could have cost him his life.

But this time, his plan could only be described as madness.

Xiuborn’s plan set the temple apprentice’s blood boiling with excitement. Through Xiuborn’s words, he truly felt the bright future of the Avel people.

If they could obtain the wealth, artisans, and knowledge from within the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents, the Avel people would essentially be plundering the most valuable assets of the Royal Court. They could use this to develop rapidly.

But the temple apprentice still had some concerns. He turned to Xiuborn, his brow furrowed. “But if that person from the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents is there, how can we defeat her?”

He had heard Xiuborn describe firsthand how powerful that female knight was, as if she had transcended mortal limits.

Xiuborn shook his head: “I never planned to defeat her. I’m no match for her.”

Xiuborn frankly admitted the other’s strength.

“But with so many soldiers, along with the temple attendants and knights trapped in the wastelands.”

“I think she will definitely come to save them.”

“In the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents, they won’t be able to gather such a large army again for some time. Only she can save these people.”

The temple apprentice suddenly understood: “So that’s why you didn’t rush to pursue those routed troops, but instead surrounded and divided them.”

“But will the captain of the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents really fall for it?”

He paused, then added, “You killed the King of Ten Thousand Serpents in Fort Pence last time. Won’t they be on guard this time?”

Xiuborn replied: “Who could anticipate that I would abandon the main army, give up the opportunity to annihilate an army of a hundred thousand?”

“I don’t think they’ll expect it.”

He hesitated for a moment before continuing, “As for whether the captain of the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents will fall for it, I don’t know either. It all depends on whether she truly values these people.”

“We’ll see… if she gives us the opportunity.”

At this moment, a ghost suddenly appeared before Xiuborn.

It spoke to him: “At dawn today, all members of the Temple Knight Order left Fort Pence.”

This was a Divine Technique that existed only in the previous era, created by the Star Queen, capable of transmitting messages over long distances.

The Avel people had obtained the method to use this Divine Technique through sacrifice.

Xiuborn turned around, his face showing a look of pleasant surprise.

He let out a long breath. “Now everything is in place.”

Last time, Xiuborn was alone.

But this time, the entire Fort Pence had been completely emptied.

No Guard Captain, no Great Fire Demon, not even the Temple Knight Order.

For Xiuborn, it was equivalent to an undefended empty city.

The temple apprentice’s admiration for Xiuborn had reached its peak. He gaped at Xiuborn with a look of awe, his eyes wide with wonder.

Xiuborn no longer had the patience to linger. He briskly prepared to begin the next step of action.

“I’ll leave the temple attendants here to you. Also, send a message to His Majesty Sidi.”

“If you encounter strong enemies, there’s no need to defend to the death.”

“Retreat into the jungle, rely on the marshes and terrain to resist layer by layer.”

“I’ve also had people in the City of Avel disperse into the surrounding villages and deep mountains, so there’s no need to fear anyone breaking in.”

“Just preserve our strength, and wait for news from me and Fort Pence.”

The temple apprentice was extremely excited. He looked at Xiuborn with adoration.

“Lord Xiuborn, this time we must make the people of the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents feel despair, the same despair we felt that day.”

His voice rose with fervor. “We’ll attack Fort Pence, seize their temple, and claim their city as our own!”

The temple apprentice’s expression became incredibly fervent as he spoke loudly.

“Spread the faith of the God of Truth and Knowledge across this land.”

“Let everyone believe in Him, let everyone know that there is a God in this world who truly protects and blesses mortals.”

“Let people know that He is more…”

Xiuborn suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking at the temple apprentice with a complex expression.

“Are you… resenting God?”

“Resenting the Mother of Life?”

The temple apprentice didn’t speak, but it was clear.

He did resent God.

He could never forget that night, when he helplessly and tremblingly watched as the temple apprentices who had grown up with him, his good friends, were killed one by one.

From a young age, they had been taught that the Mother of Life would protect them, that they were the beloved children of the Mother of Life.

It was only then that they realized it was all self-deception.

He raised his head, looking at Xiuborn.

“Lord Xiuborn.”

“Do you resent God?”

If it had been earlier, Xiuborn wouldn’t have known how to answer this question.

But recently, with each victory, as he gained control over his own fate.

He had developed new thoughts.

“I’ve been thinking for a long time recently, and I think…”

“I understand a bit now.”

“Not understanding the existence of God, but understanding ourselves.”

Xiuborn continued: “We always thought that She was like our mother, would watch over us, would protect us.”

“So we believed in Her, so we believed She was the most benevolent being in the world.”

Xiuborn shook his head, with a trace of helplessness.

“But She truly has left.”

“Perhaps because of the betrayal of the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents, or perhaps because this world is not worth Her care.”

Xiuborn placed his hand on the temple apprentice’s shoulder, earnestly telling him.

“The mistake was that we placed everything on God.”

“Because we were weak, we placed everything on God.”

“Because we were weak, we longed for God’s help.”

“Because we were weak, when we encountered disaster, we complained that God didn’t help us.”

“Because apart from God’s helping hand, we were powerless.”

“We need not resent God.”

“What we truly resent is our own weakness and powerlessness.”

Xiuborn looked at the temple apprentice: “Become strong.”

“Become… someone who no longer begs for God’s pity.”

“Perhaps at that time, the faith born in our hearts will be true faith.”

“Our choices will be truly enlightened choices.”

Xiuborn’s expression became somewhat sad, and he forced a smile.

“The weak have no right to choose their faith.”

“Nor do they have the right to choose the correct, enlightened path.”

Having said this, Xiuborn set off.

He took a step into the sky, disappearing from the mortal world and appearing before the Door of Truth.

The temple apprentice quietly raised his head to look at the sky, pondering the words Xiuborn had just spoken.

Xiuborn’s meaning was that faith should not be mixed with any external factors.

We believe in God, but we still need our own strength to save ourselves.

People and nations without power.

In the end, even deciding their own faith and future path becomes a luxury.

But to the temple apprentice’s ears, it became a question.

“Become strong enough,” he murmured. “Does Lord Xiuborn mean that God and faith… are not important?”

The temple apprentice stood there, his gaze fixed on the sky, lost in thought.

At the foot of the Mountain of Life’s Origin.

The Shepherd’s River that encircled Fort Pence was the largest river on the beast-herding plains. Herds of tusk beasts and other animals could be seen grazing on fern-like plants along the riverbank, with some tusk beasts and animals rushing into the shallow water to bathe.

This river was nearly a thousand meters wide, its rushing waters flowing down from afar, passing by the foot of the Mountain of Life’s Origin like a ribbon wrapped around it.

Because the herders and tribes of the beast-herding plains relied on this river for survival, migrating along its main channel and tributaries.

Therefore, this river was also called the Shepherd’s River.

Suddenly, the calm surface of the Shepherd’s River was disturbed. Whirlpools formed in the water, and dozens of ships of various sizes emerged from beneath the surface, abruptly appearing outside Fort Pence.

The herders grazing on the plains were all stunned, not understanding how so many things could suddenly appear in the previously empty Shepherd’s River.

Some herders by the riverside were so frightened by the sudden emergence of these massive objects from the water that they fell to the ground, then scrambled to their feet and ran.

Leading the fleet was Xiuborn’s Ghost Ship.

Behind it, on the other ships, ghost after ghost clung to the sails.

A small bubble formed by the Water Divine Technique Imprint just covered the people on the deck.

As the ships surfaced, this small bubble immediately dissipated.

Xiuborn’s Ghost Ship then guided the fleet forward, heading towards Fort Pence at the foot of the Mountain of Life’s Origin.

As the fleet rode the waves, drawing closer and closer to Fort Pence.

The people in the city also noticed something was amiss.

The soldiers on the city walls and at the gates were the first to spot the massive shadows approaching from the distant river, letting out cries of alarm.

“What is that?”

“Ships.”

“There are ships outside.”

People’s first reaction was stunned confusion, unable to comprehend how these large vessels had appeared here.

“What ships? Those are enemies! Quickly, close the gates!” Someone finally reacted, shouting for those outside to enter the city immediately as they began to shut the city gates.

“Those are Avel ships.” As the vessels drew nearer, someone recognized the insignia on the sails.

“Enemy attack! We’re under attack!”

“Dong dong dong.”

The bells on the city walls rang out, instantly transforming the atmosphere of Fort Pence.

Everyone in the city turned towards the source of the bell’s tolling.

News of the Avel attack swiftly spread through the city.

At this moment, Fort Pence was unprecedentedly vulnerable.

Xiuborn, leading an entire fleet of nearly ten thousand men, arrived here, bringing an unimaginable sense of pressure to the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents.

The Ghost Ship sailed up the river, raising great waves as it entered the hundred-meter-wide canal.

Without pause, the ship smashed through the city walls and water gates, surging into the city along the canal.

With this, Fort Pence lost all means of defense.

The people of the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents within the city, watching the terrifying Ghost Ship and the fleet raising massive waves.

Their last psychological defenses were utterly shattered.

“The Avel people have attacked!”

“They’ve broken into the city!”

Chaos erupted throughout Fort Pence.

Just moments ago, people were closing the city gates. Now, some were flinging them open, fleeing from the city.

Others began organizing a counterattack, hoping to repel the invaders.

But the city’s defenders were few, and they were quickly overwhelmed by the nearly ten thousand elite troops and hundreds of ghosts summoned by Xiuborn.

The Avel soldiers charged from their ships like fierce wolves and tigers; ghosts swooped down from above with wild shrieks, claiming the lives of one guard after another.

The city’s defenders were no match, leaving only corpses in their wake.

Only scattered street fighting remained.

In such urban warfare, even the young King Alpens couldn’t turn the tide of battle in the past, managing only to escape alone.

How could these ordinary city soldiers hope to change the situation?

In the end, they could only flee, some towards the city outskirts, others hiding trembling in various corners.

At Xiuborn’s command, the soldiers rushed into various key facilities across the city according to plan, securing control of streets and crucial points.

They stormed the palace, capturing nobles and royalty.

They seized artisans from countless workshops, freeing the slaves within, who in turn joined the Avel people in plundering.

Everything changed in the blink of an eye.

Just moments ago, the people of Fort Pence thought the war was a thousand miles away, but in an instant, it had descended upon their heads.

Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents.

A young female temple attendant ran back from outside, ascending to the hall of the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents, shouting loudly.

“It’s over! It’s all over!”

“The Avel people have broken in!”

Everyone in the hall stood up in fear, as most of those left behind had little combat ability.

They were either young female attendants who hadn’t yet learned basic Divine Techniques, or the elderly.

“They’re heading this way, killing everyone they see. They’ll kill us too!”

“The captain isn’t here. What should we do?”

“Quickly, let’s escape with the Holy Maiden!”

“The Holy Maiden can fly, let her leave immediately!”

“Where is the Holy Maiden?”

The Holy Maiden, in a corner, had already heard their words and was also somewhat afraid.

She heard the soldiers outside burning, killing, and looting, and listened to the temple apprentices describe various horrors and tragic scenes.

She raised her head and could still see the distant fires and thick smoke, even faintly hearing the shouts of battle and cries of anguish.

She also heard the sound of battering at the door, the great gate of the temple’s barbican.

She moved her small legs, running to the base of the Mother of Life’s statue.

It was a statue cast in gold.

For the first time, she knelt on the ground, addressing the Divine with a sincere and solemn expression.

“If you truly are the supreme God.”

“If you are the Creator.”

“Please answer me!”

“Save us, save this city!”

The Holy Maiden spoke loudly, for the first time desperately hoping for a divine manifestation.

A group of soldiers approached the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents, seeing from afar this structure that seemed like a city within a city.

Even from a distance, one could sense its prosperity and wealth.

The temple attendants inside had closed the gates, drawing bows on the walls, preparing for a last stand.

But these soldiers were setting fire to the city gates and battering them with logs.

Just as the barbican gate of the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents was about to give way.

Xiuborn suddenly appeared, addressing the soldiers.

“This is the hall of the Divine. What are you doing?”

“Did I tell you to touch this place?”

“Leave immediately.”

“There are several pottery and metalworking workshops over there. You must capture all those craftsmen and bring them back.”

The soldiers dared not disobey Xiuborn’s orders and immediately complied.

Xiuborn’s plan was only to capture the nobles and royalty of the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents, along with artisans, scholars, books, and treasures.

He had no intention of forming a mortal enmity with the captain of the Temple Knight Order.

In his view, she was a believer of the Life Sovereign.

As long as the Holy Maiden and the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents remained, it was enough.

Whether the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents existed or not was actually unimportant to such a transcendent powerhouse.

Without royalty and nobility, the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents would cease to exist.

This person would naturally have no reason to fight or be hostile towards the Avel people.

But if they touched this Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents, the situation would be entirely different.

Xiuborn stood alone before the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents, gazing at this majestic temple far surpassing the City of Avel.

Looking up, he could see the sacred fire altar through the tall city walls.

Looking further back, he saw the Mountain of Life’s Origin piercing through the azure sky and sea of clouds.

This could be said to be the place closest to the Life Sovereign.

That supreme God had once been here, leaving Her footprints.

She created the Snake People here, and it was from here that their civilization began.

“The origin site of life.”

Xiuborn, not knowing why, found himself inexplicably walking towards it.

He was no longer a temple attendant of the Life Sovereign, having long abandoned his faith to serve another deity.

Yet he still couldn’t resist the urge to go in and see.

His form became ethereal, the great doors unable to hinder him.

Xiuborn’s sudden appearance, with his ghost-like transparent form, terrified the defenders behind the door.

Arrows passed through Xiuborn’s body as if shooting through air.

They had no effect whatsoever.

Xiuborn ascended step by step, while the people in the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents continually retreated, all the way to the main hall.

A somewhat childish voice suddenly rang out from above. Though it seemed to belong to a child, Xiuborn felt in his heart that the voice carried an indescribable authority.

“Are you that bad person?”

“That murderer, Xiuborn.”

Before the temple, a little girl glared at him angrily, her small fists tightly clenched.

She looked as if she might charge at him at any moment.

The temple attendants beside her held the little girl back tightly, fearing that Xiuborn, this fierce man who had killed the King of Ten Thousand Serpents and routed an army of a hundred thousand, would harm her.

They knew that the man before them was a third-rank Ability User.

To ordinary people, this was already the pinnacle of mortal power.

With the captain of the Temple Knight Order absent, no one in the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents could deal with this fierce man.

“Am I a bad person?”

“Who has the right to say such things? You people of Ten Thousand…”

Xiuborn found it amusing, thinking only a child could say such things.

As he spoke, he raised his head.

Then he saw the Holy Maiden.

His expression, which had been a wry smile, instantly froze on his face.

If the Snake People’s worship and statues of the Life Sovereign had elements of beautification and modification, making Her appear older, more majestic, and more divine-like.

Then the records in the Trilobite People’s Sky Temple were almost close to reality.

The face of this girl before him was almost identical to the one on the left of the divine throne in the Sky Temple.

Xiuborn was instantly terrified, his soul nearly leaving his body.

His expression was one of horror, and his body immediately changed from ethereal to solid.

Suddenly, he lost his balance and tumbled down from above.

“Mother of Life?”

“God?”

“How is this possible? How can this be?”

One could see that Xiuborn was completely paralyzed with fear. This mighty third-rank Ability User lay sprawled on the ground, unable to get up for a long time.

He lay at the bottom of the steps, constantly retreating, pointing at the little girl in front of the temple hall, emitting a sharp scream as if from the depths of his soul.

“No!”

“No!”

“Who are you?”

“Who are you really?”

Xiuborn never imagined that simply out of nostalgia for his past, longing for the days when he was the chief attendant in the temple of the Mother of Life.

He just wanted to come in and see what the temple at the foot of the Mountain of Life’s Origin looked like.

Upon entering, he encountered such a terrifying scene.

He had actually seen God.

Before a mortal temple.