King Mask was silent for a long time before finally sighing and handing the magatama in his hand to the old man.
Retrieving the Yasakani no Magatama from Takama-ga-hara had been part of the contract King Mask signed when he became the God of Time's proxy, the price he paid for power. Whether or not Kronos could give him the answer he sought, he had to return this item.
The other party had already told him the only path to godhood. That was more than enough.
The old man took the Yasakani no Magatama and gave King Mask a deep look before turning toward the mist.
The phantom River of Time passed through his body, and he vanished from where he stood.
After he left, the giant cherry tree shedding its blossoms rapidly withered, turning into dust that swirled through the air. The brand-new storefronts on either side rapidly aged and faded away as well, returning to their original forms.
Everything that had just happened seemed to be nothing but a phantom of time, automatically shattering with the old man's departure.
Wrapped in a gray cloak, King Mask stood alone on the desolate street. Bitterness and exhaustion surfaced on his aged face...
A sigh echoed through the air.
Elsewhere.
Lin Qiye had walked along the street for a long time when a Daoist figure emerged from the mist.
The Daoist wore a coarse Daoist Robe, his hair tied up with a hairpin. His hands were tucked into his wide sleeves as he looked at Lin Qiye with a smile, his eyes incomparably bright.
"This junior, Lin Qiye, pays his respects to the Primordial Celestial Venerable."
Upon seeing the figure, Lin Qiye respectfully bowed.
"No need for formalities." The Daoist waved his hand and smiled. "This time, I have come