"...At Kunlun Hill, ascend twice its height, and there lies Mount Liangfeng; those who climb it do not die. Ascend twice that height, and there lies the Hanging Garden; those who climb it become spirits, able to command wind and rain. Ascend twice that height again, and one reaches Heaven; those who climb it become gods. This is the dwelling of the Great Thearch!"
Heavenly Secret Twenty-Five translated the ancient writing aloud, enunciating every word.
The Underground Palace fell deathly silent.
The more Cao Jinxing listened, the more something felt wrong. These two fellows seemed to have something substantial to say...
Were there really gods?
Just what kind of high-martial world was this?!
After a long silence spent in thought.
The old shopkeeper said gravely, "The meaning is not difficult to understand, but... above Kunlun, there is no path to ascend to Heaven and become a god."
"Indeed."
Heavenly Secret Twenty-Five nodded, then changed tack. "If this were all we had, it would prove nothing. But this Turtle Shell at least proves that legends were not merely legends. In ancient times, there truly was a way to ascend to Heaven and become a god. Only that 'path' is missing... Following that reasoning, if the legends of divine beings all had some basis, perhaps we can find an answer in them."
The old shopkeeper frowned slightly. "You mean... Sever Heaven from Earth?"
Heavenly Secret Twenty-Five nodded. "After the Yellow Emperor, his grandson Zhuanxu inherited the throne of the Human Sovereign. He ordered Chong and Li to hold up Heaven and press down Earth, separating Heaven from Earth and humans from gods. This was what was called 'Sever Heaven from Earth'...
"If we only listen to the legend, it is naturally exaggerated. But if we connect this act with the disappearance of