At the edge of the Dream Realm

A mythological gate stood there, carved with the oldest and first tree-shaped diagram of the Wisdom Path.

The magnificent gate remained tightly shut, but through its cracks, one could see the Sea of Knowledge rippling within.

Deep within the ocean of knowledge lay a city brimming with books and wisdom.

This was the Land of Truth, a place all witch spirits longed for, the sacred abode of divinity.

Above the city, books opened their pages like birds, soaring and circling in the sky.

Following the long bridge formed by these book birds, one reached the inner temple, where a somewhat thin youth was bent over a desk.

Without lifting his head, he reached out and grabbed a book falling from the sky.

He opened it with one hand, suspending it in the air to join a neat row of other books.

Before him, hundreds of thousands of books were arranged in an orderly fashion, constantly opening and closing as they replaced one another.

It was quite a spectacular sight.

After some time, those books flew back like birds. Only then did Asai put down his pen and look at the scroll spread before him.

At the very beginning of the scroll was written:

【Art of Witch Spirit God’s Grace】

“Done!”

He clasped his hands together, his fingers rubbing against each other in a habitual gesture of deep thought.

“Not too difficult. It’s still based on the Art of God’s Grace, just with some adjustments to the mythological organs and further refinements for them.”

“After all, the witch spirits’ power revolves around the Door of Truth. Their God’s Grace power leans heavily toward memory, so it is not balanced and versatile like that of the apostles from the previous epoch. Their power refinement, however, is somewhat superior.”

“While compiling this book, my understanding of the Door of Truth has deepened.”

The ghost Polik was helping Asai tidy up, putting away his pen and carefully rolling up the scroll.

This important work, written by the divine being himself, would certainly be stored in the most important of places. Others could only obtain replicated versions.

“What understanding is that, God Asai?” Polik asked, his voice filled with reverence.

God of Truth and Knowledge Asai said, “Knowledge is born from the exploration of the world, and the Door of Truth serves as the gateway to store and harness this knowledge.”

“The Door of Truth represents the power of memory, which is the most valuable treasure of mortal beings.”

“The core characteristic of my power, as well as the door’s, lies in its ability to store and calculate.”

Asai stood up. “Based on this concept, the witch spirits’ power possesses distinct and well-defined characteristics.”

“A First-Rank Book of the Witch Spirit has abilities that are challenging to control with precision. It can store and delete others’ memories, contract ghosts, control ghosts, and create True Illusion Realms through ghosts. These realms are a type of illusion that blends with real terrain.”

“A Second-Rank Book of the Witch Spirit has the ability to store mental power and extraordinary divine techniques. It allows the imprinting of divine techniques onto the book, enabling the casting of various Second-Rank divine techniques. Recently, witch spirits have also developed a way to create divine technique scrolls by utilizing the unique properties of their books and ghosts. This is a distinct and defining characteristic of witch spirit power.”

“A Third-Rank Book of the Witch Spirit has the ability to store imprints and the power of truth. It creates Pages of Truth by condensing all of its ghosts, divine techniques, and imprints into a single page.”

As for the Fourth-Rank power of witch spirits, Asai had already written about it in the 【Art of Witch Spirit God’s Grace】.

“The apostles of the previous eras were more versatile and powerful, yet they were also more primitive.”

“The apostles of this era carry power seeds inherited from the mythological gates.”

“A Fourth-Rank Book of the Witch Spirit has already transformed through a God’s Grace Stone into the witch spirit’s mythological organ. At this point, the Book of Witch Spirit not only possesses storage power but also has inference capabilities.”

“They have the ability to create witch spirit book realms within their books. These realms can range from small towns composed of information to entire cities. By collecting and analyzing rules and information from reality, they can make their book worlds increasingly resemble the real world, until those who enter cannot tell the difference between the two.”

“They can also project their book worlds into reality, using their power to replace the real order and operate the rules directly. This is similar to the Mental Domain of an apostle.”

Currently, the Fourth-Rank power of alchemists was still not perfected. Oran had conceived of creating new mythological organs, but how to utilize these new organs was still being explored.

The various divine beings all ascended to godhood using methods from the previous era. Ability users of this era had to explore new paths.

However, Asai had already deduced the method for witch spirits to break through to the Fourth-Rank, along with the complete subsequent path.

Polik asked, “Does this mean the time has come to choose an apostle?”

Asai had two divine blessed ones, one on the Avel Peninsula and one on Ruhe Beast Island.

The apostle would undoubtedly be chosen from these two. Naturally, the possibility of expanding the selection range could not be ruled out.

But Asai’s brow furrowed.

Although Asai had perfected the 【Art of Witch Spirit God’s Grace】 and had a clear idea about the future path, he suddenly felt this might not be a good thing.

“Creating an apostle is easy.”

“But what comes next?”

Asai asked, “Would this apostle possess the ability and means in this era to ascend to the mythological level?”

“And in this era, they would still need to achieve what took us countless years to accumulate before they could reach the mythological position. The original Wisdom Path is not sufficient. They need to create breakthroughs on the foundation of the original Wisdom Path.”

“Can they accomplish this?”

Polik had no answer to this question, so the ghost remained quiet.

Asai looked at the scroll in Polik’s hands and said, “We can provide them with the method to become apostles, but not the subsequent methods for using the Book of Witch Spirit. That would limit their creativity. They might develop more innovative and inspired secret techniques on their own.”

“I will select the truly worthy seeds to cultivate, based on their ideas for using the Book of Witch Spirit.”

Polik acknowledged this.

Asai walked out of the Temple of Knowledge, temporarily concluding this topic.

Having completed the 【Art of Witch Spirit God’s Grace】, he was also ready to take the first step, following Yinsai’s guidance.

He faced the vast city of knowledge, with the boundless ocean of information in the distance.

“First, let the Door of Truth sink into the mortal world, establishing a mortal divine kingdom!”

“Without a divine kingdom, there is no foundation to establish a mortal divine system.”

“And no beginning for what follows.”

Asai stretched out his hand, and the entire Door of Truth began to shake, radiating ten thousand rays of light.

This door fell from the Dream Realm, descending into the mortal world.

“A new era has arrived.”

“We shall also take a new step forward.”

Another Wisdom Demigod merged the door into the mortal world, establishing his own kingdom.

Avel Peninsula

Several years ago, a rebellion erupted in the royal city, and all the royal heirs perished.

Although troops from various city-states and alliances entered the royal city to judge the rebels, the throne of the King of Avel was abolished due to the lack of a suitable heir.

From that moment forward, the first-generation dynasty that had governed this new world fell apart. This marked the conclusion of the era of the King of Avel.

The world was divided into numerous countries of varying sizes. Some were vast, while others were no larger than a single town.

Regardless of their size or status, whether kings or noble lords, all were required to seek the approval and recognition of the Temple of Knowledge to exercise their authority.

The rights of kings were now under the governance of divine authority.

While divine authority and royal authority remained distinct, the lines separating them were fluid and ever-changing.

The Avel Peninsula had stepped into a new chapter of its history.

Large and small countries were in turmoil, frequently erupting into conflict.

Amid the turbulence, changes and opportunities were quietly taking shape.

What was once the royal city had now become the City of Truth.

After the Kingdom of Avel fell apart, the royal city no longer had a King of Avel. The divine servants of the Temple of Knowledge assumed the role of the highest governing body, turning the city from a center of royal authority into a sacred site of faith.

In the main hall, a group of praying divine servants prostrated themselves beneath the divine statue, telling the deity their innermost thoughts.

Suddenly, they noticed the hall becoming brighter and brighter.

The light was not coming from the great doors behind them.

The divine servants raised their heads and discovered the source of the radiance.

The divine statue was illuminated, glowing with an otherworldly light.

All the divine servants were first startled, then wild joy transformed their faces.

This was a sign that the deity was responding to them with a revelation!

“The divine being is responding to us.”

“Where is the Divine Blessed One?”

“Quickly, notify the Divine Blessed One!”

Soon, this generation’s Divine Blessed One, the chief divine servant of the Temple of Knowledge, appeared in the main hall.

The Divine Blessed One was a middle-aged man.

He suppressed the excitement in his heart, prostrating himself according to the Temple of Knowledge rituals and reciting prayers to communicate with the deity.

Although he did not know what kind of divine oracle the God of Knowledge was bestowing, any response was something he desperately craved.

He had only recently become the Divine Blessed One, and what he desired most was the deity’s acknowledgement.

“God who holds Truth, Ruler of Books and Knowledge, Eternal Cycling Asai!”

“I hear your guidance, I pray for your response, I…”

All the divine servants immediately followed him, and their combined prayer turned the great hall into a sacred scene.

Everyone appeared utterly devout.

Everyone’s voice was in perfect unison.

“God who holds Truth, Ruler of Books and Knowledge, Eternal Cycling Asai!”

As the light from the statue grew brighter, a glow also began to emanate from outside.

Before the deity could bestow a divine oracle, something even more shocking happened outside.

On the streets, at the port, and in the houses overlooking the sea, thousands of snake people paused their activities, their eyes fixed on the distant sky.

They watched as the clouds slowly parted, revealing an enormous object descending from the sky. It was falling steadily toward the sea.

Boom boom boom~

From afar came the sound of pressure on land and sea, a thunderous noise that deafened the ears.

Everyone turned pale.

They instinctively covered their ears and opened their mouths.

It was the moment when the Door of Truth descended into the mortal world.

That terrifying and shocking scene left all the mortals in the City of Truth bewildered.

“A sea mirage!” For the sailors on the dock, the scene was so astonishing and surreal that they could only attribute it to a sea mirage, a phenomenon they had witnessed before.

“That is the divine kingdom, the kingdom of the deity!” others exclaimed. For these mortals, the mythological gate symbolized the very presence of the divine being.

“The God of Truth and Knowledge has descended. It is the kingdom of God.” A great number of snake people fell to their knees, bowing toward the descending Door of Truth.

Some suddenly recalled the scene in mythological records when the winged divine being fell into the mortal world.

That was the most terrible disaster in the world, a disaster that only heroes who transcended eras like King Sidi, Yafuan, and Nia could end.

Fortunately, instead of falling, the mythological gate was gradually lowering itself into the mortal world.

It stood gently at the end of the sea.

At that moment, a deep rumbling echoed through the air.

The Door of Truth began to open slowly, its movement accompanied by a prolonged and resonant sound.

The sea raised huge waves that transformed into layers of mist, devouring the world.

Mythological power surged, assimilating everything around it.

This was the God of Truth and Knowledge as he shaped his divine kingdom. It was a Mortal Divine Kingdom, similar to God Iva’s Sky Miracle Garden.

However, God Iva selected a mountaintop in the Sunrise Mountains as his foundation, where he planted numerous Cups of Desire and eventually constructed the Sky Miracle Garden.

Asai, instead, chose water, clouds, and mist as his medium.

He unleashed his power without restraint, combining his original mythological strength with power that had grown over the years. This increase came from generations of witch spirit servants who, after passing away, had merged into the Door of Truth following his ascension to deityhood.

The enormous power within the Door of Truth was refining and assimilating these clouds and mist.

A torrent of information flowed outward from the heart of the city.

Within the mist, beams of light intertwined to create the city’s foundation, gradually shaping one structure after another.

Eventually, they formed a magnificent city, a divine Kingdom of Knowledge made up of countless libraries.

The kingdom emerged from the door.

It descended into the mortal world and revealed itself to all who gazed upon it.

This drove the snake people in the City of Truth completely mad. Some shouted hoarsely, as if this was the only way to express the excitement and devotion in their hearts.

“Divine being!”

“The divine being has descended, and he has come to guide us.”

Some dazedly rushed to the dock and sea, only realizing when their snake tails were completely submerged.

“Is that… the Door of Truth?”

“The door stands in the realm of the gods. How could it… how could it appear in the mortal world?”

“Is the deity about to descend?”

The divine servants in the temple gathered outside the hall, some standing at the entrance and corridors, while others positioned themselves on the steps.

They too were shocked by this scene, their scalps tingling.

They had never seen such a scene, nor had they ever heard of such an image.

The moment when the God of Knowledge descended directly into the mortal world was awe-inspiring and profound. It was a scene that left an indelible mark on all who witnessed it, blending divine majesty with an overwhelming sense of wonder.

Above the sea, the mist consumed everything in its path. It enveloped the entire City of Truth, wrapping it in a dense and all-encompassing embrace.

When they came to their senses, the mist began to dissipate, and the distant kingdom of God disappeared along with it.

However, many divine servants in the temple turned their attention to the entrance. The Divine Blessed One, who had been standing there moments ago, was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is the Divine Blessed One?” Someone rushed forward, searching everywhere for any trace of him.

“He has gone to the kingdom of God.” But upon reflection, everyone understood where he had gone.

“God summoned him!” The divine servants’ gazes were filled with envy and expectation.

They hoped that one day they might also reach the place they had just witnessed.

That sacred city and that sacred kingdom.

To stand before their deity and be granted an audience.

Meanwhile, on the wastelands of Ruhe Beast Island

An elderly snake person led a group of young witch spirits across the barren highlands. These individuals were part of the Wasteland Witch Spirits organization, devoted servants of the God of Truth and Knowledge on Ruhe Beast Island.

They focused solely on gathering information and did not engage in spreading faith.

The most obvious characteristic of these witch spirits was the supernatural book in their hands. When witch spirits cast spells, they mostly used this book as a medium.

In addition to this, they carried rolls of scrolls with mysterious writing tucked inside their robes.

This was a supernatural item that had recently emerged on Ruhe Beast Island.

Alongside alchemical artifacts and relics, it was another form of convenient supernatural item that even mortals could utilize.

Rather than being a reusable tool, it was a single-use disposable item.

These were known as Divine Technique Scrolls.

The old snake person was Sukob, who served as God Asai’s Divine Blessed One. Despite being over a hundred years old, he carried himself with a quiet strength.

This time, he was leading these young witch spirits to engage in an exchange with the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents, carrying divine technique scrolls as gifts. Witch spirits living in the wastelands seldom interacted with the outside world, but complete isolation was not feasible.

As they walked higher up the desolate mountain ridge, a sudden dense fog appeared in the distance.

The old snake person stopped, and the young witch spirits behind him curiously looked at this fog, discussing it among themselves.

“Fog?”

“Why is there suddenly such heavy fog?”

“Something doesn’t seem right!”

The fog was too thick, coming from all directions and submerging all the mountaintops within sight.

Spectacular, yet suspicious.

Suddenly, a witch spirit behind Sukob shouted.

“Everyone, look!”

“Over there, look quickly!”

They saw beams of light condensing in the clouds and mist, forming a hazy and fantastical scene, a sacred kingdom born from light, shadow, and mist.

Behind the kingdom was an open giant door.

“Is it an illusion?”

“I’ve heard that such illusions often appear above the Endless Desert.”

The moment Sukob saw the illusion, his entire body stiffened.

His eyes revealed disbelief as he said loudly.

“No!”

“It’s God!”

“That is God Asai’s kingdom.”

Sukob suddenly thought of something, believing his life had reached its end and the deity had come to guide him.

“God!” Sukob exclaimed, his voice trembling. “Have you come for me?”

Before everyone’s eyes, a colorful light shone from the mysterious kingdom deep in the mist, falling upon their mountaintop.

The clouds drifted over the land, and Sukob vanished without a trace.

Beneath the Door of Truth

The Mortal Divine Kingdom of the God of Truth and Knowledge

This divine kingdom surpassed God Iva’s Sky Miracle Garden in its enchantment, not because it wielded greater power but because its concept was far more extraordinary.

It existed not only between reality and illusion but also between solid and gaseous states. Like a mirage, it moved with celestial phenomena and climate, projecting itself thousands of miles away through light and shadow.

This kingdom was always wrapped in clouds and mist, occasionally revealing itself to mortals and appearing in different places.

Sometimes it would appear in the desert.

Sometimes, it would appear over the sea.

Sometimes, it would even appear in the sky.

Lacking a physical form, it hovered on the boundary of the mortal world.

It drifted effortlessly, a creation born of illusion.

At this moment, the kingdom floated high in the sky, continuing to ascend. It lingered at the boundary of the God of Knowledge’s domain.

Two bewildered and confused figures looked at the ten-thousand-foot drop below, at the mortal world severed by the mist.

Finally, they turned from the edge and began walking deeper into the kingdom, their gazes fixed on the dense fog ahead.

As the mist began to clear, the scene before them gradually came into focus.

It was then that they noticed each other.

The two Divine Blessed Ones looked at this divine kingdom composed of libraries and countless books, and then exchanged glances. Although they had never met, they knew of each other.

“Divine Blessed One of the Avel Peninsula.”

“Divine Blessed One of that Island of Gods.”

The two Divine Blessed Ones stood together. As the deity’s kingdom descended into the mortal world, they came to understand that this divine audience was truly remarkable.

Something very important must have happened.

Whoosh!

Then, as the wind carried soft murmurs through the air, ghost servants began to appear one by one.

They emerged from the distant Door of Truth, forming a line that stretched all the way to where the two stood.

Polik stood beneath the Door of Truth, his gaze fixed on the two blessed ones before him.

Behind the Door of Truth, a faint shadow emerged, its form indistinct yet commanding.

The two dropped to their knees at once, bowing their heads low.

They did not dare to lift their gaze again.

“God who holds Truth, Ruler of Books and Knowledge, Eternal Cycling Asai!”

The first part of their address was the same.

“Your humble servant finally sees you!” one trembled with excitement.

“Your servant listens to your command!” the other said, somewhat calmer.

The God did not speak. It was Polik who opened his mouth.

“The title of Divine Blessed One is meant to be held by apostles alone.”

“Now, the chance to ascend to apostleship has come.”

“O blessed ones of God Asai, take this final chance to ascend. Become the foundation for God Asai to rise further and join the ranks of this kingdom.”

Polik waved his hand, and from the books circling in the sky, two scrolls descended.

They landed right in front of the two blessed ones.

One reached out and took the scroll.

The other remained prostrate on the ground, not moving at all.

And at this moment, the deity finally spoke.

“An apostle is just the beginning.”

“The seeker of truth has no end.”

“As long as you are capable, I can take both of you to reach the endpoint of truth.”

The divine words were spoken, but before the two could fully grasp the meaning of this divine oracle, they were returned from the heights to the mortal world.

By the time they came to their senses, they had already returned to where they had disappeared from.

Standing before the Door of Truth, God Asai remained silent about the two Divine Blessed Ones he had just encountered. Instead, his attention turned to his mortal kingdom.

He observed the shifting scenery around him, the divine kingdom appearing like a mirage in constant motion.

He spoke to Polik about something from long, long ago.

“When I was little, in the wilderness of the Land of Anho, I saw magical scenes projected in the sky.”

“I thought it was God Yinsai’s revelation to me.”

“Later I learned that it was the shadow of the Sacred Mountain refracted from afar.”

“Although it was different from what I had imagined, that scene remained forever in my heart.”

“I never imagined,” God Asai said to Polik, “that one day I would create such a kingdom.”

Polik replied, “A mortal’s fantasy remains a fantasy, but You are a deity who can turn fantasy into reality.”

Asai shook his head. “It is not that I became a deity to fulfill a fantasy. Rather, this outcome was achieved because I dared to pursue a fantasy.”

Polik asked God Asai another question.

“God Asai, between the two Divine Blessed Ones, which one do You favor more?”

God of Truth and Knowledge Asai said, “Sukob, I suppose.”

Polik asked, “Why? His resources are relatively worse, are they not?”

God of Truth and Knowledge Asai replied, “Even though he has the least resources, he is on Ruhe Beast Island. That place is the land of gods, filled with diverse professions and ideas.”

“In such a grand environment, miracles are more easily nurtured.”

The shadow of the deity vanished into the door, saying, “The Avel Peninsula… is far too comfortable.”