Chapter Fourteen: The Irresistibly Charming Luo Ling, The Truth of the Seventh Path
“More interesting than me…”
Iris’s words left Luo Ling speechless. Had this strange God’s Favored misunderstood something?
She hadn’t come back because she was interested in her…
Besides, was she really that undesirable? To be passed off to someone else like a hot potato… with such a bizarre excuse.
Little did she know, in Iris’s eyes, Luo Ling was a walking disaster. This wasn’t passing the buck; it was divine intervention.
As the saying goes, it’s easier to invite a god than to send one away, especially an uninvited one.
If it weren’t for the leader’s intervention, Iris wouldn’t have known how to handle this troublesome Naraku Godchosen.
Deal with her directly?
…Anyone who dared to confront a Taboo Godchosen was likely tired of living.
Even the weakest Taboo Godchosen had been tainted by the power of their Taboo. Even if she killed her, she would likely be plagued by that troublesome power.
As a God’s Favored, Iris knew far too much.
And the more she knew, the more she understood that some things were best left untouched.
That was why Taboos were called Taboos.
“Don’t ask. You’ll understand when you get there.”
Iris couldn’t wait to get rid of this disaster. If she continued to wreak havoc, how was she supposed to conduct business?
After obtaining the information from the tea party, she had spent considerable time and resources, seizing this Kingdom from the conflict between the Company and the Harbingers. She hadn’t even recouped her investment yet.
The Bodhi sapling being nibbled on was a small price to pay. It was still alive. As long as this Naraku Godchosen didn’t target anything else…
“You sound like you’re trafficking children.”
Seeing Iris’s impatience, Luo Ling, on the other hand, became unhurried. She crossed her arms, observing Iris with amusement.
The purpose of this trip was to make contact with the Apostle forces. She had achieved that, and her identity hadn’t been questioned.
Were the relationships between Apostles always this complicated?
…Luo Ling was overthinking it. Her actions perfectly fit the image of a Naraku Godchosen, and this was considered a good outcome, at least she was communicative.
“You’re taller than me, so let’s not talk about children. I’ve only lived for fifty or sixty years, definitely not comparable to you, elder.”
If it weren’t for saving face, Iris would have knelt before Luo Ling.
Please, spare me, elder sister. I’ll lead the way. The tea party is full of those taller, prettier, and cuter than me. What do you see in me? I can change, just tell me what you want!
However, Iris couldn’t voice these thoughts. Information about the “tea party” was absolutely forbidden outside the lost Kingdom, even within her own Kingdom.
After all, even Luo Ling could invade with preparation. There might be other, more terrifying beings lurking in the shadows, observing everything. Iris couldn’t guarantee her safety.
Fifty, sixty years?
Luo Ling blinked. So, she really was an old woman.
No, considering the unique nature of the Kingdom, and the fact that she mentioned fifty or sixty years, not fifty or sixty years of age…
Perhaps, time flowed differently within the Kingdom…
This piqued Luo Ling’s interest in the nature of Kingdoms. Neither the Company nor the Harbingers’ records mentioned Apostles possessing such power.
Even their speculations about the Apostles’ hiding place only mentioned the Realm of Nothingness or some kind of alternate dimension.
But a Kingdom wasn’t an alternate dimension. It was a complete fragment of a Boundary, frozen in a specific moment.
Complete enough… to even nurture Grotesqueries.
The conditions for nurturing most Grotesqueries were extremely demanding. Their birth was fraught with difficulties, not to mention the Order-Path Awakened Ones constantly extinguishing these disasters, suppressing the birth of Grotesqueries.
Otherwise, Performer wouldn’t have resorted to such horrific methods to cultivate Grotesqueries.
The existence of Kingdoms, however, could almost perfectly solve these problems.
“Alright.”
Luo Ling nodded.
“How about I break off a little more for you… Huh?”
Iris, bracing herself for more heartbreak, reached for the already ravaged Bodhi sapling and heard Luo Ling’s unexpected reply.
She was the one in disbelief now.
Were Naraku Godchosen… really this easy to talk to?
“I said, alright.” Luo Ling repeated. “But I want to know, what exactly is a Kingdom?
“I know it’s a fragment of a Boundary before its collapse, but is its existence real? How does it function? Where does it reside in relation to the present world?”
She stared intently at Iris. Even shrouded in grey shadow, Iris could feel the familiar tingling sensation on her scalp.
That’s right. Although she could communicate and seemed relatively normal, this “thirst for knowledge” was the trademark of a Naraku Godchosen…
However, how could a Godchosen of a Taboo be unaware of the existence of Kingdoms?
The birth of Kingdoms was a power belonging to the Taboos…
“Honestly, this is practically public knowledge, not worth asking about.” Iris scratched the back of her head. “Besides, I don’t know the specifics, but I can tell you this—”
Her expression turned serious as she whispered,
“A Kingdom is a fragment of a Boundary, a real world, but… only for a few minutes.
“It exists in the moment before a Boundary collapses. Within this box of Boundaries, repeating every three hundred years, it’s a trace of a failed iteration, forcibly held in place by His power.”
Iris looked up at the distant horizon.
The seemingly eternal sunset hung perpetually between heaven and earth, neither setting nor rising.
The rustling figures on the street hurried along, indistinguishable from living people.
They had flesh and blood, thoughts, memories, everything that belonged to humans and living beings.
Except, they only had five minutes.
On this stage called “Kingdom,” a five-minute eternal loop played out.
“So, do you understand?”
Iris slowly turned to Luo Ling, only to find that she had approached.
“Let’s go.”
Luo Ling patted her shoulder, her tone flat.
Being a head taller, Luo Ling’s gesture seemed perfectly natural… in her Naraku form, she was a statuesque beauty, a full 1.7 meters tall.
Iris was usually taller than Luo Ling, but now the roles were reversed, giving her a strange sense of satisfaction.
“Um, don’t you have any thoughts? I worked hard to build up the atmosphere!”
“It’s quite impressive.” Luo Ling shrugged. “Is there anything else I should say? I can try to think of something.”
“…Don’t be like that, sis.”
…….
The endless grey fog swirled slowly. Silence filled the grey garden.
Those present were Godchosen or God’s Favored who had lived for countless years, all having encountered the dreaded Taboo Godchosen to varying degrees.
Among these Godchosen, the most troublesome, the ones they least wanted to encounter, were undoubtedly the Naraku Godchosen.
As for a Taboo’s God’s Favored…
They were essentially impossible.
Since the beginning of the Boundaries and the Disorder, the Taboos had fallen silent. Their existence was like a void in this world, leaving behind only dormant power.
If not for this, how could the Harbingers steal the Taboos’ Authorities? How would they even dare to attempt such a thing?
Regarding this unknown Naraku Godchosen, and the leader’s unreadable intentions, the other beings present harbored their own thoughts.
However, shrouded by the mystical veil, a temporary calm prevailed.
Just as the atmosphere grew stagnant, ripples appeared in the swirling fog, and two figures slowly emerged, stepping into the lost Kingdom.
“They’re here.”
Everyone straightened up involuntarily. Even the seemingly distracted leader raised her eyes, looking at the uninvited guest with interest.
“This is…”
Luo Ling’s expression was cautious.
Traveling through Kingdoms was a bizarre experience. She and the girl calling herself “Iris” simply stood still as the surrounding scenery warped and distorted.
Twisted colors and fleeting fragments of Victoria flashed past, day, night, apocalyptic, peaceful, everything imaginable.
It was like strolling through countless possibilities, but Luo Ling knew that the next moment for each of these possibilities was disaster, the collapse of a Boundary.
Finally, Iris, holding her hand, led her through the flickering scenery, arriving at a dilapidated manor.
The next moment, endless grey fog surged from all directions, plunging everything into a chilling darkness, shrouded in a mysterious and eerie mist.
“Welcome to the lost Kingdom.” Iris released her hand and stepped aside, executing a perfect curtsy. “Welcome to… the Witches’ Tea Party.”
All eyes focused on Luo Ling, surprise, curiosity, scrutiny… directed at this infamous Naraku Godchosen.
Unlike the others, the enigmatic and elegant leader, seated at the head of the table, while also looking at her, didn’t seem to be focusing on Luo Ling herself. Instead, she seemed more interested in the grey shadow enveloping her.
“Interesting.” The leader smiled again, this time lingering a little longer. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen such an intriguing little thing. I’m very… curious about you.”
She slowly raised her eyes, meeting Luo Ling’s gaze, and whispered,
“Naraku Godchosen, in the name of ‘▇▇▇,’ I invite you to join the tea party.”
Her words were filled with unpronounceable syllables, like a chant, or a whisper, yet imbued with an undeniable power, seemingly more absolute than an Order contract.
As her voice faded, it wasn’t Luo Ling who reacted first, but the other tea party members.
An invitation so soon? To a Naraku Godchosen?
Even love at first sight wasn’t this fast!
Moonflower was the first to lose her composure. Even she, surprisingly, dropped her usual cutesy act and said gravely,
“Leader, isn’t this too reckless?”
The others remained silent, including Iris, who had brought Luo Ling here. They shared the same thought.
An invitation without even a basic introduction.
The leader didn’t answer, her gaze fixed on Luo Ling, waiting only for her response.
Despite her calm demeanor, Luo Ling felt an inexplicable pressure.
It wasn’t an oppressive force, but… something else.
Why did this woman’s gaze feel so intensely… unsettling?
“I want to know, what is the tea party? What will I gain by joining?” Luo Ling steadied herself and asked.
A perfectly normal response.
But… considering this was a Naraku Godchosen, perhaps not so normal?
The others, knowing that the leader wouldn’t change her mind, remained silent, awaiting the exchange between the Naraku Godchosen and the leader.
“The tea party… is merely a loose alliance, unbound by obligation, maintained solely by mutual benefit.”
The leader said softly, “Here, you can obtain anything you desire, as long as you can fulfill the desires of others. There are no limits to the chips on the bargaining table. Anything can be placed upon it… even a God’s Sequence.”
She gestured to herself, her smile widening. “Even… me.”
The figures shrouded in mystical veil trembled, as if witnessing something unbelievable.
Luo Ling remained silent. While the others observed her, she observed them.
Everyone’s identity was hidden. Luo Ling attempted to use “Weave” to gather information within this lost Kingdom, but for the first time, she received nothing.
Undoubtedly, the tea party members were incredibly powerful, likely among the top echelons of the Apostle forces. But this was the first time she had encountered a leader so openly stating the nature of their organization.
More importantly, no one objected.
“I want to know… about the Seventh Path.”
After a moment of contemplation, Luo Ling didn’t answer directly, instead posing her long-held question.
“You can. Join us.”
The leader nodded slightly, without hesitation.
Such a quick response?
Luo Ling frowned. This felt too easy. Didn’t she need to think about it? Was she that eager for her to join?
She glanced at Iris, who had brought her here. Had she been led into a trap?
What happened to the universally despised Naraku Godchosen?
Sensing Luo Ling’s gaze, Iris took a step back, retreating behind the others.
Sis, there are so many people here, even the boss. I’m just a small fry, please don’t target me anymore.
“I’d like to hear about it first,” Luo Ling said. “Then… I’ll consider joining.”
“Very well.”
The leader waved her hand, and the others, understanding her intent, sealed their senses.
In transactions involving information, some knowledge was best left untouched. Knowing wasn’t always a good thing.
Luo Ling was dumbfounded by the leader’s actions. She had made such a demanding request, couldn’t she at least feign some resistance?
The leader’s immediate compliance made Luo Ling question her own charm.
Just a while ago, she was wondering if she was truly that repulsive, and now she was wondering if she was irresistibly charming. The sudden shift caught even Luo Ling off guard.
“The Seventh Path originates from a new God, yet to be born, about to be born, but absolutely must not be born, a true God.”
The leader spoke slowly, each word imbued with an unspeakable power, as if imparting a universal truth.
Even the swirling grey fog around them churned violently in response to her seemingly casual words, as if resisting an incoming threat.
A moment later, the fog calmed, and the leader’s gaze dimmed slightly, tinged with weariness.
“Welcome to the Witches’ Tea Party, Amethyst.”
“?”
A question mark appeared above Luo Ling’s head.
Not only had she not agreed to join, but the leader had already assigned her a code name?
Besides, the truth of that answer was still questionable!
However, with her “Naraku” abilities, Luo Ling could sense that this was likely the truth of the Seventh Path.
A God yet to be born…
Could her “Devour” be this God’s Authority?
Or, a more unbelievable thought, was she… this unborn God?
Luo Ling wanted to ask more, but the leader, seemingly anticipating her thoughts, said slowly,
“From now on, everything is a ‘transaction’.”
A transaction meant equal exchange.
If Luo Ling wanted to obtain anything from the leader or other tea party members, she had to offer something in return.
She remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
So, the leader had anticipated even this?
She knew that Luo Ling’s thirst for knowledge would compel her to join the tea party…
That’s why she had welcomed her so readily.
“Can I choose my own code name…”
Luo Ling attempted a small rebellion, but the leader whispered,
“It suits you, doesn’t it?”
Before Luo Ling could retort, the leader continued,
“Consider it a bargaining chip.”
Since the leader had put it that way, Luo Ling couldn’t refuse.
She wasn’t particularly averse to the code name “Amethyst.” She just wanted to be contrary.
Meanwhile, the others, knowing the transaction was concluded, released their sense block, looking at the new tea party member with curiosity and apprehension.
“You have your own methods of concealing your identity, so I won’t interfere.”
The leader glanced at Luo Ling’s grey shadow, returning to her initial languid posture, but her gaze lingered on Luo Ling.
“Now, that little interlude is over. Let’s continue our previous transaction.
“Information regarding the ‘path to godhood,’ the price is three petals. Any takers?”
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