Light of Lights

Within the Temple of the Moon, the fragrance of tea curled through the air, but the atmosphere shifted from the bargaining of interests into a strange philosophical discussion.

Deren unhurriedly recounted to Elune how he had "enlightened" Ysera, along with the sacred words of ancient sages from another world concerning "emptiness" and "form," "being" and "nonbeing."

At first, the Moon Goddess looked puzzled and curious, as though listening to an interesting tale. But as Deren explained in simple terms that "form is emptiness, and emptiness is form," that "all appearances are illusory," her lazy posture gradually vanished. She leaned forward slightly, and even the moonlight flowing within her eyes seemed to freeze, replaced by ever-deepening shock and contemplation.

She had existed between heaven and earth for countless ages, heard innumerable prayers, and witnessed the myriad phenomena of the cosmos, yet she had never heard words so direct to the source, so utterly subversive of understanding. This was not a law of power, but the essence of existence.

"So, Azshara clung to surface beauty, believing it more important than Mount Hyjal itself. But from a higher dimension, it might also be no more than a dream bubble. To cling to it is to fall into the 'self-image,'" Deren concluded, conveniently turning Azshara into a teaching example as well.

Elune remained silent for a long while, her fingertips unconsciously tracing mysterious patterns across the tabletop. The divine power around her surged at times and fell still at others, revealing the immense impact raging within her. At last, she let out a long sigh that seemed to have come from the dawn of time:

"Unbelievable. Deren, you are but a mortal, yet the wisdom you bring has left even one as ancient as I am... shaken." The way she looked at Deren now