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Chapter 399: With The Wind (4)

Step, step...

I slowly walk toward the palace and touch one of its pillars.

Unlike what I have seen before, one of the pillars of the palace is missing.

'It seems Yuk Rin used it when cultivating the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade.'

The fact that such precious Salt Crystal is required to this extent for the progress of Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade is honestly ridiculous cost-performance wise.

While its power seems exceptional, seeing the issues it caused in Yuk Rin's mind makes me less inclined to desire it, even if its power is outstanding.

Whether the mental illness was triggered by the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade or due to external intervention, it doesn't matter.

In any case, it means the Salt Sea Returning Dew Jade offers no assistance in comprehending one's heart, unlike the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique or its variations.

I enter the interior of the palace.

The structure is exactly the same as when I entered from Penglai Kingdom before.

However, the palace in Penglai Kingdom was filled with specialties of its country, decorations, and artifacts obtained from there, while the current palace is desolate with only a few documents seemingly written by Yuk Rin lying around.

I head to the library where I saw the Ritual Worship Scripture of Love of Virtue, but it's empty.

It's as if everything I saw in Penglai Kingdom was an illusion.

After looking at the palace for a while, I am able to figure something out.

'This palace...it's connected to Penglai Island's Salt Mountain and attraction force.'

It's a fact I can recognize, having communed with Salt Mountain with my main body for over eighty years.

The attraction force is so weak that it's hard to discern this fact.

'And if it's connected to the Salt Mountain...'

I sit cross-legged, close my eyes at the center of the palace where the throne of Penglai Kingdom's queen used to be, and recite the formula of the reversed Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.

Wo-woong!

The Salt Crystal Palace glows white.

And at some moment.

Wooooo-woong!

The Salt Crystal Palace appears to shine dazzlingly white and incandescently, and I feel my mind being pulled somewhere.

And in the next moment.

Chatter, chatter, chatter.

I slowly open my eyes.

"...This place..."

The surroundings are noisy.

I am sure I was definitely alone inside the palace.

Before I know it, numerous high and low-ranking officials before the throne in the royal court are looking at me with bewildered expressions, and their piercing gazes are stabbing.

"You crazy King of Demon Spirits! What are you doing! Get down at once!"

"This, this, this insolent one!!!"

They are all clamoring at me in unison.

My senses are dizzy at first so I can't understand what they are saying, but I soon grasp the meaning of their words.

Squirm, squirm...

Something is squirming beneath me.

I quickly stand up and look at the throne.

On the throne sits the Queen of Penglai Kingdom, glaring at me with a slightly flushed face.

"...For two people to suddenly appear and sit on me, I almost suffocated to death. Why have you appeared again unexpectedly!? What do you want now?"

"Um, please wait a moment."

I feel a headache coming on.

The headache soon intensifies, and abruptly the illusion in front of my eyes blurs, and I find myself back in the empty palace.

"...I see."

Just a moment ago, I was startled and temporarily stopped reciting the mantra of the revered Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.

'Reciting the mantra of the reversed Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique crosses me into that world, and when I stop, I return. Is that it?'

It seems to be a peculiar situation caused by the separation between the Salt Crystal Palace and the Salt Mountain of Penglai Island.

I smile at the amusing situation and step outside the palace.

Just then.

Zing!

"...!"

I suddenly feel an intense headache coming on.

"Kugh...what is this?"

It isn't a pain just affecting my Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion avatar, but even my main body on Penglai Island is in agony.

I shift my main consciousness to my main body to find out what is happening.

And then, I immediately understand the situation.

"...Three days?"

Coming to my senses above the Salt Mountain, I am so dumbfounded I open my mouth blankly.

In the short span I entered Penglai Kingdom and opened my eyes, three days have quickly passed.

And this phenomenon is not unfamiliar.

'...When I met [That].'

I can't remember the name, but the encounter with [a certain being] I met at the lowest floor of the Serving Command Ark.

At that time, I endured for over ten years inside, only to find that it was an incredibly short period in reality upon regaining my senses.

A phenomenon of space-time distortion.

This is...

'Related to a True Immortal!'

I can tell at a glance.

'It must be an intervention by the Owner of Salt Mountain or something related to them.'

I feel fear.

But this isn't a situation where I can flee just because I am afraid.

I grit my teeth and transfer my main consciousness back to my Seated Detachment, Standing Oblivion avatar and explore Yuk Rin's treasure vault.

'...Jin Ma-yeol's corpse is gone.'

I frown as I exit the vault.

Outside the treasure vault, only Baek Rin and Yuk Yo remain.

The entire Fighting Demon Pirate Gang has disappeared.

"...What happened?"

"Well...the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang took the body of Jin Ma-yeol and immediately fled. They must have thought Cult Leader would annihilate them upon your return."

"So they ran away."

I feel another headache coming on.

'Damn it, I need their Salt Bones Ship to transport Baek Rin...'

Since they ran away, there's nothing I can do.

Of course, since the Salt Bones Ship is modified under Buk Hyang-hwa's instructions, I can track it once it surfaces.

However, I notice something strange and ask them.

"...What about Yuk Rin? What happened to him?"

The fight between Kim Young-hoon and Yuk Rin seemed evenly matched, but in a long-term battle, it would be Kim Young-hoon's defeat.

It's only natural, because Kim Young-hoon is just an avatar.

There's no way the Yuk Rin who defeated Kim Young-hoon's avatar would simply stay put.

Shouldn't he have entered this Deep Sea Island right away using the teleportation array?

However, to my question, Beak Rin and Yuk Yo exchange glances before speaking in a bewildered tone.

"Well...Cult Leader. We know you can channel the power of your main body through your avatar. Would you consider drawing the main body's senses for a moment?"

Following Beak Rin's suggestion, I use the All-Heavens Sword to draw the power and consciousness of my main body.

And when I sweep the Deep Sea Island with my consciousness...

"...!!!!!"

I freeze as if struck by lightning.

The Deep Sea Island, which should have been fixed in place, is 'moving.'

No, although it is gradually slowing down, it is indeed still moving.

"H-How did this happen!?"

"We're not sure either. The distance between the middle zone of Governing Dragon Island and this Deep Sea Island has increased, making it impossible to use the teleportation array, so we're trapped here."

"Just what...?"

While taken aback, I spread my consciousness even further to find out how the Deep Sea Island is moving.

And during that process, I realize something.

Woo-woong—

Penglai Island.

Above the Salt Mountain.

I shift my main consciousness back to my main body and, along with the avatar on Deep Sea Island, begin chanting the mantra of the reversed Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique.

Wo-woong!

The Salt Mountain I am sitting on starts to emit light.

Simultaneously, in the Deep Sea Island where my avatar is located, the Salt Crystal Palace also begins to glow.

This time, since I am not inside the Salt Crystal Palace, my consciousness is not pulled into that world.

However, I can clearly feel it.

'They are pulling each other.'

And that force is unexpectedly immense.

I chuckle wryly and say,

"...Seems we won't need the help of the Fighting Demon Pirate Gang."

The attraction force between Penglai Island's Salt Mountain and Yuk Rin's Deep Sea Island's palace is pulling towards each other with tremendous power. Baek Rin and Yuk Yo.

And the entire Deep Sea Island where my avatar is situated is being drawn toward this side.

I send a voice transmission throughout the Twilight Domain and Penglai Island.

[Rejoice, everyone. The operation to rescue the Guardian Ghost King, Baek Rin, has finally concluded.]

Now, all that remains is to wait for Gyo Yeom and escape from Penglai Island.

Upon hearing my explanation, Baek Rin and Yuk Yo's eyes widen in astonishment as they aske.

"A-Are we really returning to the order, Cult Leader!?"

"Are you saying you really returned to Penglai Kingdom?"

I nod in response to both of their questions.

The two seem momentarily satisfied with my answer, but then they look at each other again.

I sigh, sensing the subtle emotions between them.

It appears that for these two, the question of 'where' they will return to has become more important than simply going back.

"...Thus, for the moment, the issues facing our order have been resolved."

In the Wuji Religious Hall's conference room, I brief everyone with my main body about everything that has happened.

"That's a relief. Although I fought that Yuk Rin guy for a day and night and inflicted a fatal injury, it still drained my avatar's energy. I was a bit worried..."

"Thankfully, it seems to have worked out well."

Kim Young-hoon sighs in relief, and Oh Hyun-seok agrees with him.

Jeon Myeong-hoon nods stoically, and both Kim Yeon and Buk Hyang-hwa smile faintly at the same time.

Seo Ran shows a disappointed expression after hearing about the relationship between Yuk Yo and Baek Rin but gets a glare from Shi Ho.

"It's really fortunate that things worked out. However, there's still one issue we need to discuss."

I look at Kim Young-hoon, Seo Ran, Shi Ho, and Buk Hyang-hwa as I speak.

"Conqueror King. You said there haven't been any results from researching Penglai Island yet, right?"

"Yes. We have examined the axes of Penglai Island's formations, but...we couldn't find any clues to rescue Sir Cheongmun Ryeong."

Buk Hyang-hwa reports the fact with regretful eyes.

For the past 80 years, Buk Hyang-hwa, along with Seo Ran, Shi Ho, and others have been exploring and researching Penglai Island to save Cheongmun Ryeong.

However, they couldn't find any clues here.

In that case, to obtain a proper clue, we must reunite the Salt Crystal Palace and the Salt Mountain of Penglai Island.

Or, we must enter the illusion formation to gather information from the people of that world.

Particularly, the Queen of the Penglai Kingdom seems to know something, so asking her would be most appropriate.

However, there is a problem with this.

First, regarding the first method.

"That Deep Sea Island...was it called Cherry Blossom Dragon Island? Even though Cherry Blossom Dragon Island is quickly coming here, the interdimensional distance in the Deep Sea is too vast."

I can't figure out where exactly that unidentifiable hand has thrown us.

Considering the attraction force between the Salt Mountain and the palace, the speed at which they are getting closer, and the current gap between Cherry Blossom Dragon Island and Penglai Island in the Deep Sea, it will take a long time for Cherry Blossom Dragon Island to reach here.

Approximately...

"About 7 years?"

This is entirely because the depths of the Ancient Force Realm's Deep Sea are much more unstable than the Chaos Realm domain in each Middle Realm.

I've heard that in the Chaos Realm domains, space frequently gets distorted, and distances lengthen or decrease randomly.

The entrance to Lofty Dragon True Person's storage scroll I went to last time is a place close to the Stable Realm and is very stable, so it can't be compared to a true Chaos Realm domain.

However, the depths of the Ancient Force's Deep Sea are even more severely distorted.

It isn't for nothing that even Integration stage cultivators have a fifty percent chance of getting lost if they fall into the Deep Sea.

Still, Penglai Island and Cherry Blossom Dragon Island are linked by attraction force, allowing them to approach each other rapidly, hence the estimation of seven years.

But seven years means that the time is now drawing near.

Buk Hyang-hwa asks worriedly.

"If it's seven years, isn't the grand event just around the corner?"

"That's right. So, even if the palace merges with the Salt Mountain again, there won't be enough time to investigate properly. Therefore..."

Kim Yeon's face turns pale.

"It's too dangerous, Eun-hyun oppa!"

At her words, the others also look at me with worried expressions.

"That's right, Seo Eun-hyun. Aren't you saying you'll enter Penglai Kingdom alone to investigate? It's dangerous. Moreover, didn't you say the time ratio is different in that world?"

"Yeah, Eun-hyun. If you're asleep when you exit to the Bright Cold Realm, wouldn't that just be over?"

After listening to everyone, I look at Kim Yeon.

"It's okay. She will wake me up."

I slowly explain my plan.

I don't intend to spend time investigating without knowing how much time is passing inside.

Using the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon, I will partially connect mine and Kim Yeon's minds.

Afterwards, I will enter Penglai Kingdom, gather information there, and when the time approaches, Kim Yeon will send me a signal through the Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon.

I will then exit from Penglai Kingdom.

That should work.

Kim Yeon bites her lip with a worried look in her eyes.

I don't want to take such a risk on purpose either.

There's a chance that some suspicious mechanism might activate while I'm inside and swallow my memories.

Of course, according to the conditions for regaining awareness mentioned by Yuk Yo, it doesn't seem likely.

In any case, there is some risk involved.

But I shake my head with a determined expression.

"...I'm sorry, everyone. But..."

I must find a way to release Cheongmun Ryeong from the salt pillar.

We can't delay any longer.

Cheongmun Ryeong is still asleep as a salt pillar in that world.

I can't leave him like that indefinitely.

The Ancient Force is a world that reacts particularly well to the Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique and the power of salt.

'I must discover the reason while I remain in this world.'

If not in the Ancient Force Realm, there might not be another chance.

Realizing my firm will, they sigh.

Kim Yeon, knowing she can't stop my will, bites her lip and lowers her head.

"...Alright. If you insist...go and come back safely."

"...Thank you."

I express my gratitude to her and everyone in the Wuji Religious Order.

Wo-woong—

With Kim Yeon's Wonderfully Mysterious Innate Heart Canon attached to my heart essence, I stand in front of the Salt Crystal Palace.

I am curious about Yuk Rin's documents inside, but for now, this is more urgent.

"By the way, are you also coming along?"

I ask Yuk Yo, who stands beside me.

"Of course. It's my homeland, after all."

"..."

As expected, Yuk Yo decides to accompany me inside.

Her reason is to return to Penglai Kingdom.

However, I look at her and then at Baek Rin.

"What will you do, Baek Rin?"

"I...don't know."

Baek Rin seems to hope that Yuk Yo will drag him inside.

Yet, Yuk Yo does not plead with Baek Rin to come along.

She seems to understand as well.

Baek Rin already has too many precious people in this world.

"...Can't you stay in this world with us, Princess?"

But Yuk Yo shakes her head at Baek Rin's words.

"I'm sorry, Sir Baek Rin. To me, that world...is truly my home."

"..."

Baek Rin hesitates to follow her, and Yuk Yo approaches him and gently touches his hand.

They stay like that for a moment, then the two part.

'...Is this how it ends?'

I feel an inexplicable regret as I walk toward the palace.

Yuk Yo walks toward the palace with me.

While reciting the mantra of the reversed Great Mountain Splitting Emperor Technique, I place my hand on Yuk Yo's shoulder.

Booong—

And, as we step into the entrance of the palace.

Paaatt!

I feel my consciousness shifting again and arrive in another world.

The scene before my eyes change, and I am able to see a new landscape.

A corridor lined with numerous soldiers.

In front of me stands the Queen of Penglai Kingdom, and Yuk Yo, whose shoulder I have been holding, has somehow transformed from a carp demon of the Nascent Soul stage into a human princess wearing beautiful ancient ceremonial robes.

The Queen of Penglai Kingdom wipes her tears upon seeing Yuk Yo.

"Welcome back, my daughter."

"Mother!"

Yuk Yo hurriedly runs to the Queen, and I watch the reunion of mother and daughter for a moment.

After a while, the Queen of Penglai Kingdom looks at me and says,

"There was a bit of a commotion earlier, but considering the circumstances, I will overlook it. After all, you have brought my daughter back to me, and not welcoming guests properly would be disgraceful. I will hold a banquet, so please enjoy"

However, I shake my head and reply.

"I did not bring the Princess to be entertained at a banquet. I have something I wish to know."

I look at the Queen of Penglai Kingdom.

"Please tell me everything you know."

Chapter 400: With The Wind (5)

She looks at me for a moment before speaking.

"...Alright. If my benefactor wishes for information, I shall provide it."

I walk with her down the palace corridor.

After walking for a while, the Queen, Yuk Yo, and I arrive at the library.

The first thing she does upon arriving at the library is to dismiss all the subjects and guards before entering a corner of the library.

"Your Majesty, this place is...?"

"It is time for you to know as well. The various affairs of Penglai Kingdom..."

It's when the Queen places her palm on a corner of a wall.

Flash!

The wall seems to glow, and then it turns into a bright white door that opens.

Creak—

The Queen walks inside the door, and Yuk Yo and I follow her inside.

"...!"

And I can't help but be startled by the scene beyond the door.

[Darkness]!

The entire world is covered in pitch-black [Darkness]!

Yet, strangely, I feel that I can discern what lays ahead in this darkness.

It isn't due to using consciousness or awakening a special sense.

Despite being in [Darkness], I can see ahead.

It's a peculiar space that can only be explained that way.

And I have been in such a space once before.

'This is the same space as when I faced [that being]!'

At the bottom of the Serving Command Ark, it's the exact same feeling as when I met [Them] presumed to be a True Immortal.

Step, step...

I follow the Queen, and though Yuk Yo is flustered, fumbling as she moves forward, she manages to walk well.

How long do we walk through the darkness?

Twinkle!

"...!"

Unlike my previous encounter with [Them], I see a bright white [Light] twinkling ahead.

Yuk Yo, possibly delighted to see the light, quicken her pace as she moves toward it. Meanwhile, I recall the warnings given by many beings to 'be wary of the light,' and decide to slow down instead.

"Come this way. What are you doing?"

"...Understood."

As I hesitate, the Queen looks at me curiously and speaks.

We arrive at the place with the light, and I can finally see what the source of the light is.

"...Salt?"

It is, amusingly enough, salt.

Salt is placed on a small brazier, and a soft, white light emanates from it, illuminating the surroundings.

The surroundings are the library.

A library shrouded in darkness.

The Queen takes out three chairs from one side of the library and hands them to Yuk Yo and me before taking out another for herself to sit on.

"Sit down, as this could become a dull story. Please understand that I cannot offer you tea."

"...That's alright."

"By the way, is it not uncomfortable?"

"Except for the darkness and...the light, it is quite pleasant."

I watch the light emanating from the salt with a sense of caution.

"Isn't it true that important discussions should take place not in the light but in the darkness?"

The Queen of Penglai Kingdom gives a meaningful smile at my words.

"It seems you fear the light."

"It's not so much fear as it is caution."

"So you know who you fear. You fear the God of Light, don't you?"

"...!"

I flinch in surprise and stand up, clutching my head while looking back and forth between Yuk Yo and the Queen of Penglai Kingdom.

But neither the Queen nor even Yuk Yo show any reaction, only blinking their eyes.

Even more so...

'I'm also okay?'

No matter how much I have recently developed a slight tolerance to higher beings, nothing unusual occurring despite higher beings being mentioned is strange.

It's when I am bewildered,

"When one looks up at the summit of a great mountain, their neck cranes because the mountain is so tall. However, if the mountain is partly shrouded in clouds, their gaze stops at the clouds, with no strain on the neck."

With her words, I realize that this space is safe.

"Is it alright to mention them?"

"At least for my daughter and I. As for you, I cannot say. If you're worried, don't mention them recklessly."

"...I understand for now. Then this light..."

I ask while looking at the white light seeping from the salt.

The Queen smiles faintly and says,

"Axle Imperial Venerable...no, do you dreamers call them the God of Salt Mountain?"

"...!"

I'm startled by those words but quickly calm down.

Come to think of it, it makes sense.

Since Penglai Island is obviously the domain of the Owner of Salt Mountain, it isn't surprising that they are considered a God or Buddha Venerable of Penglai Island.

'Hold on, then what existence is the Wheel Imperial Venerable?'

While I am puzzled, he pats my shoulder to stop me.

He is telling me it's best not to mention that name in the darkness.

"Ah, yes. I understand."

Having experienced firsthand through Zhengli how serious the consequences can be for mentioning a name carelessly, I remain silent.

The Queen points to the glowing salt and says,

"According to the legends, the Axle Imperial Venerable stole the light from the domain of Light. When they shaped this world, they used the light they had taken to illuminate the world, and what remained, they bestowed upon us."

"...Then is all the light in Penglai Island safe?"

Then why did we come into such a dark place?

This question suddenly occurs to me, and I ask.

But she shakes her head and says,

"Light can go anywhere. Do you know how much external light comes in whenever Penglai Kingdom is connected to the outside world? The light from outside has already mixed to some extent. The pure light of the Axle Imperial Venerable remains only here."

I heard that on the day Penglai Island opened, Hae Lin forbid the light of the Ancient Force Realm itself, but apparently, even that wasn't enough.

"Well...I understand. Then may I ask what I'm curious about?"

"Ask away. I'll tell you what I know, or recommend a book from the library."

She gestures with a gentle voice to the dark library around us.

I contemplate what to ask then question her.

"Did Yuk Rin ever enter this library?"

She shakes her head at my words.

"In this library, only 'those who know the Axle Imperial Venerable' can enter. Others can't even perceive the entrance door. The Imperial Venerable set it up that way. There are a few more restrictions, but they are trivial...in any case, he did not know the Axle Imperial Venerable, so he could not set foot here."

"...I see."

The entry condition is unexpectedly formidable.

'One must know the Governing Immortal to enter.'

Among mortals, only someone like me or Seo Hweol would dare to enter.

I shake my head and continue with the next question.

It's a seemingly trivial but important question.

"...Why are the people of this country human?"

The Queen of Penglai Kingdom gives me a look as if she doesn't understand what gibberish I'm saying.

"Ah...it seems you don't quite understand. Where should I start explaining..."

If you asked Earthlings, 'Why is the dominant species on Earth humans?', you would likely receive the same kind of look.

However, I, having lived in this world for thousands of years, know it well.

In this world, the Human Race is not a particularly noble existence.

They are just one of the many, many intelligent species and are among those who occupy the six pillars of the Heaven Tribe in the Bright Cold Realm due to their vicious nature, even without any backing from an Esteemed One.

They are remarkable if they are remarkable, but they are not such a special race.

A moderately dominant species that found its place in the world.

That is the Human Race.

But Penglai Kingdom is strange.

Why is it that, despite numerous races entering Penglai Island to play roles in the world, do they walk around in human form in Penglai Kingdom?

Yuk Yo is a hybrid carp of the Demon Race but in Penglai Kingdom, she is a half-human, half-dragon. Jin Ma-yeol is of the Fighting Ghost Race, but upon entering, he's a perfectly normal human.

Of course, there are plenty of various demon spirits, but it's a bit unnatural for the ruler of this world to be 'deliberately' human.

After listening to my explanation, the Queen seems to think for a moment before speaking.

"I don't really know about that. To us, this is the natural world...but I do know where there might be information about why 'specifically' humans are the dominant species."

The queen points to one side of the library.

It's a library field with bamboo scrolls.

"Read the information over there. You might find what you're looking for. Perhaps."

I get up from my seat and take out the bamboo scrolls.

'This is...?'

It's a kind of mythological text.

Among them, a book titled Penglai Chronicles has a shallow account of how the world of Penglai Kingdom was created.

—In the beginning, there existed a world full of illusionary dreams.

—The Axle Imperial Venerable felt sorry for this and, with the help of the Wheel Imperial Venerable, Hyeon Go (玄古/Black Ancient), and three Heavenly Kings, created a new heaven.

—The Wheel Imperial Venerable rolled the wheel to guide virtuous souls under the new heaven, and the Three Heavenly Kings performed all sorts of miracles to cultivate a land where we could live.

—The Primordial Giant Hyeon Go, at the request of the Axle Imperial Venerable, made a promise to prevent the snakes from entering this land.

'Hyeon Go?'

Seeing a familiar name, I look at the description of this being.

—The shadow of Hyeon Go when they made the promise became the flesh of our souls, giving birth to us. We have two eyes and two ears...

It's a description of humans.

Although the size of the entity known as Hyeon Go being described is a bit, well, very large.

The First Giant who covered the entire sky with one hand.

That is Hyeon Go (Black Ancient).

The contents of the bamboo scroll end there.

Looking around, there is another scroll that explains about Hyeon Go.

—They are the greatest Divine Beast.

— They are called the God who governs all oaths and contracts.

— As the [Owner of Names], they are said to preside over naming of all in Heaven and Earth.

'Black Ancient Paper, Black Ancient Plaque!'

Only then do I understand why the most revered contract in the Ancient Force Realm is called Black Ancient Paper.

The divine spirit governing all oaths and contracts is none other than Hyeon Go.

However, I suddenly feel my heart begin to pound.

'Wait, have I just learned the true name of a great being?'

Tingle, tingle...

It's fine here and now, but if I remember this name when I go outside...

'I'll be watched, I'll be watched, I'll be watched!'

Thump, thump, thump...

As I calm my heart trembling like an aspen tree, I continue reading the bamboo scrolls and find something reassuring.

It's about an existence recorded in another scroll besides this one.

— Xiezhi.

— They are another Divine Beast.

— They are the beast entrusted with symbolizing all peace and well-being...

'In these bamboo scrolls, they refer to Immortal Beasts as 'Divine Beasts'.'

The names used to express Immortal Beasts are not their true names, so knowing them isn't a problem.

Thus, the name 'Hyeon Go' is not the true name of the being but refers to the species of this being.

And I realize one more thing here.

'The meaning behind humans becoming the dominant species of Penglai Kingdom due to the entity known as Hyeon Go is...'

Just as names like Black Dragon or Lofty Dragon are given when a Dragon Race becomes an Immortal Beast.

If a human becomes an Immortal Beast, the name Go (古/Ancient) is attached to them.

Charak—

After resolving my necessary questions, I roll up the bamboo scrolls and put them back.

While I was reading the scrolls, it seemed that the two others became bored. Yuk Yo tried to move one of the chairs, and the Queen began lecturing her on her behavior.

I interrupt their conversation and ask a question.

"This has been a great help. May I ask the next question?"

"Go ahead."

"It is regarding the Axle Imperial Venerable. I assume you know well about this topic."

"I do, indeed."

"You might feel it's blasphemous...but please answer. Is the Imperial Venerable truly dead?"