Palace and Wine

Half a day after Chapter 30: Palace and Wine.

Although she was still reluctant to leave, Themis nevertheless returned to where Lyanna was.

She had already kept the host here waiting too long. Strictly speaking, the current Khaos still had no complete "etiquette," but she still felt that doing so was improper.

"How was your harvest?" Lyanna asked with a smile.

"It was eye-opening."

Over the course of half a day, Themis had traveled across the surrounding Ten Thousand Li Land and seen more than a thousand bizarre Spirit World Lifeforms. Some fed on plants, some on other lifeforms, and some on certain concepts. They were all things the Goddess had never seen before.

By comparison, her strange-looking brothers no longer seemed so strange.

While observing them, Themis had tried to stop conflicts between different lifeforms, but she gradually came to understand. Mortals and gods were different. Food was a luxury to the gods, but a necessity to them.

The Goddess had seen the Spirit World Lifeforms fight one another for food more than once, and she had consequently witnessed their unique methods of combat.

Their strength was weak, but their combat techniques were primitive and savage. Unlike the gods, who relied solely on their Divine Offices and divine power in battle, the Spirit World Lifeforms also knew how to probe, set traps, and disguise themselves.

When I return, I'll mention this to Cronus. Mother Goddess's agreement with His Highness Ryan still has seven hundred years to run. Once the Life Treasure Bottle returns to Mother Goddess's hands as promised, we should also borrow this Divine Artifact and create life upon the earth.

Following Lyanna through the light gate, Themis secretly made up her mind.

Compared to the empty, lonely Khaos world, the Spirit World felt far more vibrant to her.

"Hmm?"

After passing through the illusory portal, the Source of Spirituality rushing toward her instantly interrupted Themis's thoughts.

Looking around, the Goddess discovered that she was standing atop a mountain peak that seemed to reach beyond the heavens. Seven Crescent Moons hung in the sky, while six layers of realms, seeming both illusory and real, were pierced through by the mountain. Standing on the mountainside, Themis could not make out the exact appearance of those realms, but she still felt as if she had the world beneath her feet.

This was Mount Sinai, also known as Nairalas, the name of the Divine Mountain. It translated as "the beginning of the moon" and "the Source of Spirituality." The instant she climbed here, that information was instantly "understood" by the Goddess.

Moreover, she vaguely sensed a power within the Divine Mountain that was very similar to the origin of her Divine Office. It was inhaling and exhaling, flowing, and slowly changing its own nature.

"If all this was opened up by His Highness Ryan, then it truly is a magnificent feat."

Taking a deep breath, the Goddess of Justice praised him sincerely.

Opening up realms and creating living beings—at least with Themis's Divine Office, she had no idea how such a thing could be accomplished.

"It naturally is a magnificent feat." Lyanna spoke from the side as if it were only right:

"The current world has yet to spread the name of its Lord, but one day, they will know the Lord's supreme power."

Themis smiled politely. Although she was deeply shaken by the scene before her, she still felt that this was caused by the special nature of the Divine Office.

The gods possessed absolute authority within their respective domains. Just as the Goddess of Agriculture in later ages could make all things cease to grow, without the corresponding Divine Office, even an existence like Uranus could not change that outcome through sheer strength alone.

Themis did not know what kind of Divine Office Spirituality was, but she supposed that everything before her was probably an expression of that Divine Office's absoluteness.

Following Lyanna onward, Themis walked up steps paved with an unknown material. Various strange artificial creations lined both sides of the road, leaving the Goddess dazzled.

The destination beyond the light gate was not the mountain summit, but a place slightly lower down. After all, although she could do so, Lyanna would never open a portal directly into Ryan's palace.

Themis did not feel slighted, however. On the contrary, she observed the surrounding scenery with great interest.

Everything before her was a novel sight she was seeing for the first time. These more "civilized" creations naturally suited the higher-order Order Divine Office, which stood above the Law Divine Office.

Themis had already decided that she would build something similar on Mount Othrys.

Time passed slowly. Although Mount Sinai prohibited flight, the two of them were already not far from the summit. Thus, it was not long before Themis arrived before the palace under Lyanna's guidance.

The magnificent artificial structure she had never seen before once again brightened Themis's eyes. Compared to the open-air existence of the Khaos gods at this time, these creations, which clearly embodied order and civilization, were undoubtedly to the Goddess's liking.

The buildings were not densely packed, and each possessed its own style and beauty. Although Themis could see only a few nearby, she still memorized their designs one by one.

This is where the gods should live, the Goddess thought secretly.

"This is the place—the Lopes Temple, where the master receives guests."

Pointing at the magnificent Great Hall before them, Lyanna smiled faintly before saying goodbye. "I've completed my duty as your guide. From here on, it's your meeting with the Lord."

"I—"

Themis had not expected Lyanna to leave as soon as they reached the entrance. She had just begun to ask her to stay when the Black Robe Goddess smiled at her and then lightly stepped back.

With that single step, she vanished without a trace, just as she had when she first appeared.

This time, however, Themis noticed some clues. Her movement seemed to have borrowed the Spirit World's spacetime power, bringing her to a different layer of the Spirit World in an instant.

Even without moving at all, once a world lay between them, Themis naturally could no longer sense her presence.

Seeing this, Themis could not help thinking of the first layer of the Spirit World, which was identical to the Underworld Soil—the Phantom Spirit World.

Perhaps Lyanna had actually been standing beside her the entire time, within the Underworld Moon. It was only because she could not see through the barrier between reality and the first layer of the Spirit World that she had noticed nothing.

Can Cronus achieve spacetime power at this level?

After pondering briefly, Themis shook her head. She did not dwell on it, instead stepping toward the Great Hall before her.

Since she had already reached the entrance, she could hardly make the host wait any longer. Besides, for a Goddess who also wanted to build a palace, the furnishings inside were well worth studying.

Crossing the threshold, her eyes suddenly brightened. Compared to the light of the Crescent Moon, the palace interior was somewhat brighter.

Looking up, she saw tables, lamps, vessels, decorations, and the Black-Clothed God rising from the master's seat. Although Themis still did not know what "civilization" was, she felt that everything she saw here pleased her more than anything she had experienced in the past.

"Welcome, madam."

Raising his cup slightly, Ryan smiled at the approaching Goddess of Justice.

"Before we discuss serious matters, please enjoy the dinner I prepared for you."

"Thank you for your hospitality, His Highness Ryan."

Raising her brows slightly, Themis accepted the cup that floated toward her and drained the red liquid in one gulp.

This is wine.

The liquid seemed to contain "Memory." The moment she drank it, Themis knew its name.

To her, it was merely a decent beverage. But the Goddess believed that her brothers would absolutely adore this creation.

Setting down the wine cup, Themis stepped forward and took her seat. She now looked forward to the dinner that followed with greater anticipation.