The Mountains Under the Starry Sky and the Pottery Temple

Northern Wilderness

The Wasteland Witch Spirits organization had been rooted in this land for over a century.

It all began with Sukob alone.

Over time, the Witch Spirits grew in number and reputation.

Their name reached far beyond the wilderness, carried by the immense demand for their Divine Technique Scrolls, which were prized across many nations.

This organization, made up of servant Witch Spirits devoted to the God of Knowledge and Truth, was on the brink of a significant transformation.

The city, born from the union of Witch Spirits and numerous scattered villages, was preparing to establish a nation on what had once been an untamed wilderness.

Decades ago, Sukob and the Witch Spirits worked together to divert water from the Ice-Sealed Plateau, creating a river they named the Sukob River. Over time, trees began to grow in many areas of the land, and greenery started to flourish.

The people living here cultivated a significant amount of farmland, growing various crops. There were also workshops, primarily focused on producing Divine Technique Scrolls. Smaller workshops created items for local use within the wilderness, though their production was limited.

Fishing villages to the west often welcomed ships. Merchant caravans from the Fire Demon Marsh and Herdsman's Plain arrived in a steady flow, contributing to the organization of this once-barren land.

This was enough to lay the foundation for a new country.

Scroll City

The lords from various territories across the wilderness, along with the mayors of several towns, had all gathered today.

The city’s people gathered around a grand building known as the palace to witness the birth of their new country and to celebrate the coronation of their first king.

Many lords and nobles placed their handprints on a document, formally declaring the king's legitimate succession and recognizing his coronation.

Of course, this formal recognition was reserved specifically for those with the authority to place their handprints.

A strong, tall man, clearly of the Avel bloodline, climbed onto the stone platform.

His resonant voice carried to all four corners of the street.

"Our country shall be called the Wasteland Witch Kingdom!"

"To thank the Witch Spirit lords for helping us establish this country, we have permanently placed the word 'Witch' in our country's name."

"We thank the God of Knowledge and Truth! We thank Lord Sukob! We thank the Witch Spirits!"

"It is under their protection that we have finally established our own country."

The crowd erupted into cheers.

"Our country, the Wasteland Witch Kingdom!"

"We finally have a country to call our own!"

"Did you hear? The Wasteland Witch Kingdom! That is the name of our new nation!"

Many devout believers knelt on the ground, expressing their gratitude to the God of Knowledge and Truth for his protection. Some cried out passionately, while others shed tears of joy.

Everyone felt that establishing their own country held extraordinary significance, hoping this nation would someday become like Suinhor or the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents.

Sukob did not interfere with the establishment of the new country.

However, even though Sukob had turned down the name "Witch Spirit Kingdom," the country's founding families still included the word "Witch" in the name of their new nation.

The largest families in the wilderness had engaged in intense competition, each determined to claim the throne. Eventually, they agreed on a method for selecting the king.

The king would be chosen from among the families that established the country, with each founding family eligible to inherit the throne.

This approach was unexpected, and even Sukob had never heard of such a system for a country.

He did not know what the outcome would be, but since the Land of Sunrise and the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents had both explored new approaches, it was only natural for the wilderness to attempt some changes as well.

Sukob chose not to attend the founding ceremony of the Wasteland Witch Kingdom.

His presence already carried significant influence in the country, and he wanted to avoid overshadowing the vitality and hope of this new nation, especially since his departure was imminent.

But he still observed everything from afar.

At this moment, the Witch Spirits of the Wasteland Witch Spirits organization gathered closely around Sukob.

Sukob turned to face them, his expression calm yet resolute.

It had been over a hundred years, and the Witch Spirits had remained in this barren, impoverished land, and they had now reached a considerable scale.

Sukob seemed somewhat reluctant to leave, but he finally spoke. "I believe everyone already knows."

"I will be leaving the wilderness. This isn't a temporary departure, I intend to integrate into the outside world."

"I want to do something that will take a very long time to complete, and I may never return."

Sukob looked at these people, each with different lights flickering in their eyes and different expressions on their faces.

"I do not know what will happen after I leave."

"Therefore, I will not require any of you to leave with me. From now on, you are free to choose whether to stay or go."

"You can choose to leave the wilderness."

"You can choose to follow me, to inherit my will and ideals, and to pioneer a new future."

"You can also choose to go elsewhere, to do what you want to do and spread the Witch Spirit legacy in all directions."

"Of course, you can also choose to stay in the wilderness and remain in this new country."

"You can grow alongside this nation, focusing on what we know best, such as erecting statues of the God of Knowledge and Truth throughout the wilderness, producing more Divine Technique Scrolls, and exploring additional secret techniques."

"The decision is completely yours to make."

After he finished speaking, no one spoke for a long time. Everyone was watching and waiting.

After a long silence, someone finally stepped forward.

"Lord Sukob," he said firmly, "I wish to leave. I want to go to the former lands of Avel."

"My ancestors came from there, and I want to see what it is like now."

"I want to see if the lighthouse of Avel still stands."

For the people of Avel, that lighthouse seemed to hold a special significance.

Sukob also had Avel blood, and hearing this, he felt somewhat melancholic.

"The lighthouse of Avel," Sukob said softly. "It has been several hundred years. It collapsed long ago."

"I went back to see it. The past glory has disappeared like a fading memory, and the people who once lived there have long since departed from the great island."

The man replied, "Then I will rebuild it."

"I will light it again to guide ships at sea, just as it did in the past."

Sukob nodded. "I understand your meaning and your thoughts."

"But I hope you will also see the Wasteland Witch Kingdom as your own country, a place that belongs to the people of Avel as much as anyone else."

"The Wasteland Witch Kingdom is home to many people of Avel, but it is also home to people from the Ten Thousand Serpents, various swamps, jungle tribes, and even those with Suinhor bloodlines."

"These people may not share Avel blood, but they are part of this country. They cherish and believe in this newly established nation just as much as the Avel people do. They are not just neighbors, they are friends and family."

"Open your heart."

"Look to the future. Look to everyone."

The young man nodded and moved to the side.

Then, another person came forward.

The Witch Spirits divided into several groups. One group chose to journey toward the former Ice River Fortress, planning to cross the Ice-Sealed Plateau to reach the site where the City of Avel once stood.

Another group decided to journey to the Fire Demon Marsh with the goal of founding a new city in that area.

Their aim was to expand the reach of the Wasteland Witch Kingdom and the Wasteland Witch Spirits to even more distant lands.

There were also scattered individuals who wanted to go to Suinhor, the Land of Sunrise, and other places, bringing the Witch Spirit legacy and the technique of making Divine Technique Scrolls to other countries.

After reaching their peak in the wilderness, the Wasteland Witch Spirits organization decided not to remain confined to one place. Instead, they took a courageous step forward and ventured into the unknown.

Even so, the majority of the Witch Spirits ultimately chose to stay in Scroll City, having grown deeply attached to the life they had built there.

Another group decided to follow Sukob to faraway lands.

These individuals would play a crucial role in Sukob's exploration of contract power. In the future, if Sukob were to ascend to godhood, they might become the foundation of his faith and the origin of his followers.

Sukob said nothing, respecting everyone's choices.

The news of Sukob's departure spread quickly.

It caused an uproar in Scroll City, as thousands of people gathered at the great stone gate of the Witch Spirit underground palace, kneeling and pleading for Sukob to remain.

Sukob approached the stone gate and looked out at the immense crowd gathered at the base of the mountain, all lying prostrate in silence.

The quietness of the scene carried a weight that was almost palpable, pressing down on everyone present.

Everyone wished Sukob would remain with them forever.

However, Sukob had made up his mind to leave.

He stood at the door and addressed the crowd.

"I came guided by the divine."

"I formed the Wasteland Witch Spirits and watched this new country being born."

"Now that my mission in the wilderness is complete, the future is in your hands."

"I must move forward to fulfill an even greater mission."

Despite their repeated pleas and heartfelt entreaties, they were unable to sway Sukob's resolve.

At this point, everyone knew they could not keep Sukob.

The king of the Wasteland Witch Kingdom came before Sukob, prostrating himself at Sukob's feet and begging him.

"Lord Sukob," the king pleaded, "please, leave something behind for us!"

Sukob knew that the Wasteland Witch Kingdom wanted the power that infused text with contract force.

Recently, many people had learned of this amazing power Sukob possessed. It could imbue text with the power to form contracts, using mythological power to oversee their fulfillment.

Those who failed to fulfill their contracts would be punished and pay a price.

Such powerful abilities inevitably tempted people.

A contract promised by a deity, was that not equivalent to an unbreakable oath once signed?

Sukob thought for a moment but did not immediately agree to the king's request.

He decided to give him a test.

"Bring me the contracts you wish to sign."

"If I find them acceptable, I will, under the witness of Truth, endow these contracts with power."

"No mortal will be able to violate these contracts without paying a price."

Sukob carefully stated, "If I find them acceptable."

To those present, however, this was taken as confirmation that Sukob had agreed.

Joy flooded their faces one by one.

A light of desire flickered in everyone's eyes.

Sukob did not have to wait long, as everyone moved quickly.

Soon, one contract after another was brought forward and presented to Sukob.

These contracts, written on ordinary paper, held no power without the necessary rituals and supernatural enhancements. For a contract to take effect, a price had to be paid during the signing process.

But the king did not know this, nor did the nobles.

Sukob chose not to reveal it to them.

He just wanted to see what kind of contracts the king and nobles of this new country wanted to establish.

Upon reviewing these contracts, Sukob could not help but laugh.

The king hoped to establish a contract with the other royal election families to guarantee the king's rights. This was reasonable, as the other families were cautious and unlikely to sign questionable contracts.

However, when it came to some farm owners, fishing ground owners, workshop owners, and merchants, the nature of the contracts shifted significantly.

Looking at their contracts, it felt as though the legendary evil gods of the abyss had stepped out of the shadows, eager to claim people's marrow and souls.

Long, Sukob's student, was also helping his teacher review the contracts that were brought forward.

"What is this?"

"Are you sure this is a contract and not an evil god's grimoire?"

"One generation isn't enough? It has to be generation after generation?"

Long looked at one of the proposed contracts, dumbfounded.

Legend had it that in the hands of the Original Sin Evil God was a book containing the names of certain people.

Those whose names were written would ultimately be devoured by the evil god, leaving nothing behind.

This was what Long referred to as an evil god's grimoire.

He looked at his teacher, not understanding how these people had the audacity to bring such things forward. Did they think his teacher could not understand the problems within?

Sukob, however, found it normal, or rather, had somewhat anticipated it.

"They probably assumed I would not take the time to review these contracts individually."

"They believed I would just wave my hand and make these contracts effective forever."

As Sukob said this, he mockingly waved his hand.

"Is that not what they thought?"

"That someone like me, an apostle of God, can produce anything with just a wave of my hand."

"They think all they have to do is prostrate themselves before me and plead. If they can move me, I can conjure anything for them."

"They are accustomed to pleading."

"They are used to demanding everything from Witch Spirits and deities."

Long spread his hands. "Is this what they call self-deception?"

He held up one of the contracts and shook it slightly. "Who exactly are they trying to fool?"

Sukob said, "Never underestimate human greed, and never underestimate how foolish people can become when driven by greed."

"They always cling to hope, thinking to themselves that it might actually work."

"And in doing so, they deceive themselves, believing that deities might not notice."

Sukob finally sighed.

"And this is while I am still here."

"I wonder what would be written if I were not present."

"If I bestowed the power of contracts, who knows what would happen?"

Sukob also began to reflect on himself, to reconsider the flaws in his own thinking.

"An unrestrained contract..."

"Does it bring order or chaos?"

"Even if it brings order, is that the order I want?"

He did not give up but thought about how to remedy these problems and loopholes.

That day, Sukob arrived in Scroll City. The people gathered around him, their faces filled with hope and anticipation.

They expected him to wave his hand and generously make their contracts effective.

For how long?

For eternity.

However, Sukob burned all their contracts in front of them.

The flames reflected the shock and guilt on everyone's faces.

Sukob observed these people, who had grown used to relying on him, repeatedly turning to the Witch Spirits and himself for assistance.

"Look at yourselves!"

"What were you trying to achieve through my actions?"

"What did you want to do under the gaze of Truth, under the gaze of deities?"

"Do you think I do not know what you are thinking?"

"Do you think I would allow, that God would allow, your dark and opportunistic thoughts to succeed?"

Under Sukob's gaze, everyone lowered their heads.

Some even trembled as they prostrated themselves on the ground, and the scene fell completely silent.

Sukob looked at everyone and said, "It seems you are not yet ready to welcome this power."

These words were familiar.

Not long ago, the God of Knowledge and Truth had said the same to Sukob.

At that time, Sukob was not ready to become a deity either.

"When you are truly ready, I or my successor will return to bestow this power upon you once more."

After saying this, Sukob turned and walked away, his movements sharp and deliberate, as if suppressing his frustration.

Many people felt guilty and no longer dared to try to keep Sukob or make any more requests of him.

Thus, Sukob led the Witch Spirits out of Scroll City, embarking on his journey beyond the wilderness.

Although Sukob had drawn down a river from the Ice-Sealed Plateau, most areas of the wilderness remained utterly barren.

The vehicles carrying Sukob's group traveled along the road, raising layers of dust.

Long, pulling the reins at the front, spoke quietly.

"Teacher," Long asked with a hint of curiosity, "as a dignified almost-deity, why are we traveling so simply, just like ordinary people?"

Long's earlier thoughts had been idealistic.

Although he had joked about walking ahead of his teacher and making Sukob work for him, Long still took the responsibility of driving the carriage at the front during their travels.

Sukob frowned. "Do not say such things. What do you mean by 'almost-deity'?"

Long was still young and realized his mistake. He quickly fell silent.

Sukob understood his student's character and, seeing that his warning had made its point, asked, "How do you think a deity travels?"

"Have you ever seen what it is like when deities travel?"

"What you saw before was the manifestation of the divine realm."

"When deities truly walk in the mortal world, no one can see or know."

"Perhaps some random person you meet on the road could be a deity."

"Do not speak rashly of deities."

"And do not use your imagination to speculate about them."

Afterward, Sukob continued writing something with a reed pen in the carriage, seemingly still thinking about the matter of contracts.

Long could not help but ask, "Teacher, are you still going to do this?"

"If the effect of contracts is too strong, then once someone signs one, they might never be able to recover."

"If I had to make a contract with someone in the future, I would be terrified of missing a single word."

But then he continued his thought.

"Then again, if it's a fair and just contract with strong binding power, it could actually be a good thing."

"Everyone would receive what they deserve under the contract's protection and fulfill the responsibilities they are meant to carry out."

Sukob finished writing, set the pen down, and picked up the page. He glanced at it thoughtfully before responding to Long.

"I have made some modifications," he said, his tone calm and deliberate.

Long, pulling the galloping Sail Beasts, looked back into the carriage.

"What modifications?"

Sukob did not conceal anything. Long was his favorite student, and he was deliberately instilling his ideas and ideals into him.

"The creation of contracts cannot be unlimited."

"The conditions for a contract to take effect must depend on the circumstances."

"If a contract is signed in a certain country, it must also be under the constraints of that country's legal code."

"As the legal code changes, the framework and limitations of the contract must also change."

"To endow a contract with power, the legal code must first be endowed with power."

"When concluding a contract, the penalties for breach must be clearly outlined in the legal code. If a contract is violated, the punishment cannot be arbitrary, and sanctions must vary depending on the specific contract. All punishment must align with the legal code and the laws it encompasses."

Sukob looked outside the carriage. Their destination for this journey was Mooneclipse City in the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents.

"This is why we are heading to Mooneclipse City in the Dark Moon Province. I intend to meet with the High Executive Officer of the Royal Court. He once brought together many scholars to create a new legal code, which is considered the most comprehensive available today."

"I want to carefully read the contents of this legal code."

"If possible, I will endow that legal code with power."

"If we want to achieve our goals within the secular world, we must work alongside secular kingdoms and governing institutions instead of forcing our will upon them."

"I hope to persuade the High Executive Officer of the Royal Court. He previously invited me to preach in the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents, so I believe he will agree."

Long thought about Sukob's words, then raised another question. "What if the legal code itself has problems?"

Sukob answered, "In that case, people simply need to overthrow and revise the legal code. Once the legal code changes, those problematic contracts will naturally be altered or abolished."

The legal code defines the boundaries of contracts, contracts shape the behavior of people, and people have the ability to revise the legal code.

This was Sukob's initial idea for implementing the use of contracts.

"What if the legal code has major problems, and people are unable to change it?"

Sukob did not mind Long's persistence. This kind of thoughtful questioning made Sukob appreciate him even more.

"If the legal code had such serious problems, I would not endow it with power in the first place."

"Furthermore, those who follow me, and the future Witch Spirits who establish contracts, must always ask themselves about their true purpose."

"Most importantly, I will be here to oversee everything."

"My presence ensures that adjustments and modifications can always be made as needed."

Long looked at his teacher with a mix of understanding and apprehension.

He realized the depth of Sukob's intentions and felt a quiet fear about the magnitude of what his teacher aimed to accomplish.

"So this is an experiment, then? Putting your idea into practice, except this experimental field is," Long paused, "a country, or even an entire civilization?"

Sukob replied, "You could call it an experiment."

"But I think it is better to describe it as a bold step forward on civilization's path."

"We are treading on an entirely new path."

"Long," Sukob continued, "we might create the world we envision, or we might make some mistakes."

"No one knows what the future holds. Not you, and not I."

"Even deities cannot predict the future."

"How about it?" Sukob asked, his gaze steady. "Are you afraid?"

Long asked, "Teacher, do you think we will succeed or fail?"

Sukob replied, "There will be failures along the way, but in the end, we will succeed."

"I believe this path is the right one."

Sukob lowered his head, looking at the paper in his hand. His voice was calm, not even particularly loud.

But his words carried an extremely moving weight.

"I will follow this path to the end, and in doing so, I will become the mythology waiting at the journey's conclusion."

Long turned back to look at Sukob and did not speak for a long time.

For the first time, he gained a new understanding of the concept of becoming a deity.

His teacher Sukob had shown him a new way of understanding divine existence, presenting an alternative path to godhood.

Becoming a deity was not about chasing immortality or boundless power.

It was about finding and walking this path.

The path would be followed to its end.

And at the end of this journey, one would stand and become the mythology waiting there.

Thud!

Suddenly, the Sail Beasts pulling the carriage collided with something.

Distracted by his conversation with his teacher, Long snapped back to attention and immediately pulled the reins tight.

But when he turned to look back, he was completely stunned.

Just moments ago, it had been broad daylight, with blue skies and drifting white clouds.

In an instant, the day had turned to night, and the sky was now filled with stars.

The vast Milky Way stretched across the endless universe, its light shimmering softly in the night sky.

As Long gazed upward, a wave of dizziness washed over him.

It was not the sky that seemed to move, but the ground beneath his feet that felt as if it were shifting, as though the entire world was turning under the vast expanse of the stars.

Long's mouth fell open, completely dumbfounded.

Sukob also noticed the situation outside and looked up at the stars in the sky.

Ah!

"How beautiful!"

Sukob stepped out of the carriage and ordered everyone to stop.

Long was still trying to make sense of the sudden change.

"How did it get dark so quickly?" he asked, his voice filled with confusion.

"It was just noon, wasn't it? How could it suddenly turn dark?"

"Could it be a solar eclipse?"

"Yes, it must be a solar eclipse, right?"

Long, recalling Sukob's earlier words, turned to his teacher with excitement in his eyes.

"No, this must be the work of a deity."

"Could a deity be playing a trick on us?"

Turning day into night was certainly something that seemed within the realm of a deity's power.

In truth, Long was not entirely wrong.

Sukob turned his gaze to the other side of the starry sky, where a mountain range stretched out, bathed in the soft glow of starlight.

On the mountain range stood ancient, broken buildings.

Though reduced to ruins, the remaining broken walls and pillars still suggested their former glory.

The Pottery Temple of the Yinsai Kingdom.

This was the place where the Divine Messenger Polo met his end, the resting ground of the first saint Tito, and the homeland of the second saint Stan.

Inside the Pottery Temple, holy relics related to them were once enshrined.

It was said that beneath the Pottery Temple lay a sea of Sun Cup Flowers, which Polo had planted himself.

The first saint Tito, who returned from the God-Given Land aboard the Divine Boat, was laid to rest there along with the vessel. However, when disturbed, the Divine Boat made its way back to its original departure point.

The starlight shifted, and something even more extraordinary unfolded.

It felt as though time itself began to flow backward.

The broken walls and pillars gradually returned to their original magnificence, restoring the grandeur they had once held millions of years ago.

The sacred temple rose from the earth, and ancient cities and buildings reappeared layer by layer, revealing a glimpse of the prosperity from the Trilobite Man's Age of Miracles.

After millions of years, the city of apostles stood once more.

Yet, who could say for certain?

Did the sea of flowers from the past still bloom?

Did the remnants that bore witness to history still endure?

The Snake People present were all astonished, thinking they had seen the Kingdom of God.

Only Sukob knew for certain what it was.

"It really is the Star Night Mountain Range."

Long's voice immediately grew much louder. "Star Night Mountain Range?"

As he said the name, Long also recalled what he had read about it in books.

The most mysterious forbidden zone of death, the Star Night Mountain Range.

It was said to be a moving mountain range, with its most famous appearance in records being in the ancient legends of the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents.

Its legends told of the Holy Maiden and the Captain of the Temple Knights.

According to many legends, this was the place where the Mother of Life descended to receive her servant. It was also where the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents returned to the Creator God's realm after completing her trial.

However, this legend was not widely accepted outside the Royal Court of Ten Thousand Serpents.

Many thought the Royal Court had embellished its existence with legendary tales.

Yet now, this place from legend had come to life.

To others, this place was not just called the Star Night Mountain Range. It was also known by a name that sent chills down the spine.

"The Forbidden Zone of Death."

Everyone came to a halt, their faces reflecting a mix of awe and fear at this beautiful yet haunting wonder.