Descendants of the False Gods

Chapter 3: Star-Moon City

Star-Moon City was situated in the eastern mountain range at the border between the Qian and Zhao regions. It was a massive sinkhole spanning several kilometers in diameter, located just two kilometers from the North-South Avenue. This place was initially chosen by the Divine Clan as a temporary settlement to aid in the construction of the avenue.

As a sinkhole, its defining feature was the towering cliffs surrounding it. A waterfall cascaded down the western cliff, forming a crescent-shaped lake at the bottom, with a star-shaped elevated landmass in its center. This island was known as Star-Moon Island, and the lake was named Star-Moon Lake. Later, the Divine Offspring built walls around the island, officially establishing Star-Moon City.

The Divine Clan had constructed a long bridge on the southern side of the island, extending toward the mountain wall. Since this section of the cliff was the thinnest and lowest, they also carved a tunnel through it. On the other side of the tunnel, a road was laid along the mountain terrain, eventually connecting to what is now known as the North-South Avenue. In fact, this was originally the true starting point of the avenue.

The sinkhole itself was formed by an irregular collapse. The terrain in the south was higher and sloped gently, while the northern area was lower. As water from the waterfall flowed downward, it gradually formed the crescent-shaped lake in the valley. To the east of the valley lay a small cave, which connected to an underground river. When the lake’s water level rose beyond a certain point, the cave functioned as a drainage outlet.

The vast sloping land in the south, enriched by abundant water sources, had become a lush grassland. The eastern portion of this land was cultivated for agriculture, while the western part served as a horse ranch. The waterfall to the west was fed by a tributary of the Empire’s northern Red River, known as the Barbarian Mother River in Zhao territory. However, the waterfall itself was merely an offshoot of this river.

The entire water system originated from the Great Snow Mountain, resulting in a high water level during spring and summer, while autumn and winter gradually transitioned into a dry season. However, due to the drainage outlet, Star-Moon Lake maintained a stable water supply throughout the year.

Star-Moon City was built upon the architectural remnants and knowledge left by the Divine Clan. The eastern section of the city featured several rows of barracks and an open space serving as a small military camp. Currently, with most of the troops deployed, only about two hundred soldiers remained to maintain order. Two guards stood at the entrance of the barracks, but the camp itself was eerily quiet and empty.

The city was remarkably safe—there were no thieves or burglars, and doors remained unlocked at night. The small number of remaining soldiers had little trouble maintaining security. This was largely due to the nature of the Divine Offspring, who, being few in number, adhered to strict traditions: boys began training with bows at five, learned swordplay at seven, studied literacy and arithmetic at ten, and joined the military at eighteen, serving until retirement at thirty-eight, after which they contributed to city development until their final days. Girls learned household management at seven, studied formal knowledge at ten, and trained in archery and swordsmanship at fifteen, taking on various labor-intensive duties by twenty. In essence, the Divine Offspring were a warrior society, yet they were disciplined and kind, which kept Star-Moon City orderly.

The western part of the city housed the industrial sector of the Divine Offspring. The most striking feature here was a massive metallic dome—a biogas chamber left behind by the Divine Clan. After undergoing repairs, it now consumed household waste to provide energy for the entire city. Surrounding it were various workshops, all built by the Divine Offspring to meet Star-Moon City’s needs.

The southern gate opened into a vast plaza. At its center stood a colossal metal statue, resembling a giant, which was a remnant of the Divine Clan. The Divine Offspring had polished and refined it, turning it into the symbol of Star-Moon City. A grand road extended from this plaza, running through the city from north to south, lined with residences and shops—home to the city’s populace. The road led to the municipal square, where official decrees and grand celebrations were held.

At the northernmost part of the city stood the municipal building and the northern city wall. The municipal building towered even higher than the wall. When the Divine Offspring first arrived, its skeletal structure was still intact. They repaired and fortified it, restoring its full functionality. The first floor housed the reception hall and storage rooms, the second floor contained various conference rooms, the third floor served as guest accommodations, and the fourth floor was the administrative office and security headquarters, where officials and guards coordinated city affairs. The highest floor, the fifth, was the residence, study, and archive of the city lord. Watchtowers were stationed at the rooftop corners, and the roof itself featured defensive battlements, making it a secure vantage point.

Star-Moon City had a population of less than ten thousand. As the Winter Festival approached, with 2,500 Armored Wrath soldiers away on duty, the remaining citizens busied themselves preparing for the grand festivities. The hard work of the past year was drawing to a close, and the people were readying themselves for the cold season.

That afternoon, the city lord’s wife was in the municipal building, meeting with three visitors from the Faith Clan. Every year, the Faith Clan brought rare and valuable supplies to Star-Moon City at no cost.

When the Divine Clan descended upon this world, they took in many orphans, providing them with food, clothing, and education. In gratitude, these orphans became messengers for the Divine Clan, earning the title of the ‘Faith Clan.’ Over time, the Faith Clan grew into a distinct community. After the Cataclysm, when the Divine Clan withdrew, the Faith Clan played a pivotal role in humanity’s independence and the founding of new nations. The first human emperor sought to grant them noble titles, but they only requested a secluded forest for refuge, redirecting the remaining rewards to the Divine Offspring, securing them an undisturbed homeland.

To this day, no one knew the surnames of the Faith Clan members. Many continued to live incognito in various cities, securing trade routes that allowed them to acquire rare goods. Each year, they shared surplus supplies with the Divine Offspring, forging an unbreakable bond between the two groups.

Just as the meeting was proceeding smoothly, a military force arrived outside the city walls. The supply convoy trailing them spanned at least three to four hundred wagons, extending from the city gate’s bridge all the way to the distant tunnel.

A guard on the wall called out, “Who goes there? What business do you have in Star-Moon City?”

A general at the front of the force replied, “We are the Southern Border Defense Army. We seek an audience with the city lord’s wife on urgent matters.”

The guard dared not make an independent decision and rushed to report the situation to the city lord’s wife, who decided, “I will go see for myself.”

The Faith Clan visitors reassured her, “Please attend to your duties first. We will remain in the city until the lord returns for a proper gathering.”

With apologies, the city lord’s wife arranged for the guests to be escorted to their quarters and proceeded toward the gate with the guards. Upon arrival, she discovered that the bridge did not directly connect to the city gate; a six-meter gap of Star-Moon Lake separated them.

She called out to the opposing general, who responded, “This matter must be discussed in private.”

At her signal, the city’s mechanism activated, and a smooth bridge segment extended to connect the gate and the long bridge. The general disarmed himself, hanging his sword and weapons on his horse’s saddle before crossing alone.

Once in private, he whispered a few words to her. Her expression turned ashen, and she staggered as if the sky had collapsed.

Moments later, she sprinted toward the convoy, tore open the first wagon’s curtain, and froze—inside lay two lifeless bodies. One was her husband, Lan Qing, the city lord and commander of the Armored Wrath Army. The other was General Liu Mang of the chariot division.

Her breath caught, her body swayed, and she nearly fell from the wagon. A general steadied her, and she turned, whispering, “Bring them to the city square…”

With that, she walked back toward the gate, as the general gave the order, “Enter the city!”