The Sage and God

In the Temple of Truth.

"Dong dong dong!"

The crisp sound of bells echoed through the morning mist, revealing mysterious ancient castles and faintly visible colossi beneath the fog.

A towering lighthouse emitted a dreamy light, within which ancient text appeared and disappeared.

The bell's ringing awakened students in various rooms of the castle. They hastily donned gray robes and hurried towards their classrooms.

The young priests, who could be called children, chatted with each other as they ran. They rushed up steep stairs, their eyes filled with anticipation and longing, as if about to meet a long-admired figure.

For today, Sandean, the Sage of Truth, would be teaching their class.

The classroom was a vast circular space. Instead of sitting below, students were arranged in rising tiers along the edges.

The teaching sage stood in the center, every detail visible to the students, most of whom were former graduates of the Temple of Truth.

Sandean entered the spacious classroom carrying several silk scroll manuscripts. The room was so quiet that even his footsteps echoed.

He stood still, his eyes full of wisdom and serenity.

Even from afar, everyone could sense the unique scholarly aura emanating from him.

"You are students who have just arrived at the temple. Today, I don't plan to lecture directly or immediately impart divine techniques or ritual powers to you," Sandean began.

"Instead, I want to ask you: What is the most powerful force of the Trilobite Men?"

A student immediately stood up: "It's the power of abilities and divine techniques."

Another quickly countered: "I think it's the power of rituals, the miraculous power bestowed by spirits. It's almost omnipotent."

Yet another chimed in: "The power of third-level priests is also incredibly strong. I've seen Lord Haru's Fire Seal Spirit—it's the most powerful force I've ever witnessed."

The students chattered, each expressing their own views.

Sandean raised his hand, and the room instantly fell silent.

"Your points are all valid, but have you considered why you can use these powers?" he asked. "Why are you able to sit here and learn the knowledge to use these powers? And how will you use what you learn now to uncover the mysterious veil of truth and master even more powerful divine techniques and rituals in the future?"

Sandean's gaze swept across everyone present as he declared emphatically:

"It is wisdom."

"Divine techniques are merely extensions of ability power, and rituals are blessings borrowed from God's messengers and the Spirit Country."

"All of this is built upon the most powerful authority and strength that God bestowed upon King Redlichia."

"The most powerful force God granted us is wisdom. Without utilizing your wisdom, you can never truly be powerful."

After concluding his lecture, Sandean returned to his room filled with various bone tablets and silk manuscripts.

Even at his current age, he continued to learn.

A knock came from outside, and Haru entered in response.

He bowed his head and spoke softly.

"Teacher, King Henir has died."

Sandean's body suddenly trembled, and he looked up at Haru.

"How did he die?"

Haru handed over a rolled-up letter: "King Henir died on his sickbed. Although there are many forces stirring within Yinsai, the situation remains relatively stable."

After reading the letter, Sandean let out a long sigh.

"A ruler who can perfectly conclude their life is already considered fortunate."

Seeing his teacher's sorrowful expression as he rubbed his brow bone, Haru stepped forward to console him.

"Teacher!"

"You're still young. You'll surely live another forty or fifty years."

"No, a hundred years."

Sandean tapped Haru lightly in mild irritation: "That's not what I'm worried about."

"I'm just thinking, life is so brief. How much can we accomplish in our limited lifespans?"

Late at night, in the Temple of Truth.

Sandean wandered alone through the silent, deep halls, holding a candlestick. The lamplight illuminated the stone tablets embedded in the walls.

Some bore his name, others the names of his students.

"Ah!"

"So many years have truly passed in the blink of an eye."

Henir's death had deeply affected Sandean, leaving him unable to sleep.

Henir had established his own dynasty in his lifetime, reunifying the realm of Yinsai. His dynasty's population numbered in the millions, surpassing all previous dynasties.

But what could Sandean accomplish in his own lifetime?

He had pioneered the path of third-level Seal Priests and established the Temple of Truth.

And then?

Was there more to his story?

Sandean circled with his candlestick, his loose robe fluttering in the night breeze.

Moonlight streamed through a small window meters high, and he suddenly saw a figure standing on a ladder beneath the windowsill, pulling out and examining a silk manuscript from the shelf.

"Who's there?" he exclaimed, yet sensed no life presence.

"A Seal Spirit?" he wondered, thinking perhaps one of his students was playing a prank. But he shook his head, realizing he felt no fluctuation of mental power either.

"No, it doesn't seem like..."

Sandean observed the strange figure, who was completely shrouded in a white robe devoid of any decorations, pristinely clean with an almost holy quality.

It wasn't the popular Yinsai-style robe, but one that opened at the front and tied with a sash.

The figure wore something on its feet that Sandean didn't recognize as shoes.

For Trilobite Men had no need for shoes.

In the quiet temple, a voice echoed, seeming to come from all directions rather than from the figure itself.

"Without utilizing your wisdom, you can never truly be powerful."

"You spoke well."

The white-robed figure repeated the words Sandean had spoken in class earlier that day, clearly having been present.

Yet despite the close proximity, Sandean hadn't sensed the figure's presence at all.

Sandean asked, "Who are you?"

The white-robed figure was none other than Yin Shen.

Since discovering that Seal Spirits could briefly contain his consciousness, albeit in an unstable projection that would quickly dissipate, this had become one of Yin Shen's few pleasures.

He would occasionally use this projection to appear in various places, observing and briefly experiencing the outside world.

Sandean slowly approached, noticing the figure was reading his book on ability power and Seal Priests.

Yin Shen, holding the silk manuscript, asked directly: "The third level of Wisdom Ability power is the Seal Spirit, and the third level of Dream Ability power is the power of creation."

"Then, what lies beyond the third level?"

"Do you already have an answer?"

Hearing the figure inquire about the contents of his book and knowledge, Sandean's expression changed completely.

He answered earnestly: "What's beyond the third level? That's precisely the question I've been exploring."

"Although I don't have any clues yet, I believe I will find the answer."

Yin Shen asked further: "Is your thirst for knowledge and truth solely for the sake of power?"

Sandean replied: "Perhaps!"

"I just feel that great power will surely bring about new changes."

"Just like the miraculous power of rituals has brought changes to Yinsai."

The white-robed figure turned to Sandean, who strained to discern the figure's appearance but found it impossible to observe.

"Don't you think that power too great is also difficult to control?"

"Isn't uncontrollable power like the Ruhe beast, bringing destruction and disaster to everyone?"

Sandean fell silent, but then smiled and raised his head.

"I don't know either!"

"But..."

"Wouldn't it be regrettable not to try? Don't you think?"

"What if everything is just needless worry, and all paths lead to positive developments?"

Yin Shen laughed: "Then, let's see!"

Yin Shen closed the scroll, which detailed the power of Wisdom Ability.

He handed it to Sandean, who carefully accepted it.

"Sandean!"

"All power originates from bloodlines."

Sandean looked bewildered, not understanding the meaning behind these words.

He cautiously took back his own book.

When he looked up again, the figure had vanished.