"So you sent immortals to hunt them down?"
"It's not hunting."
Sarutahiko's voice grew even deeper.
"It is war. The war between Takamagahara and the monsters of the world has been going on for thousands of years."
We call it the War between Gods and Yōkai. Those beasts dwell in the deep mountains and marshes, vying with us for Natural Energy.
If they Fudo, we won't bother them. But they insist on ruling the mountain and taking lives.
Many immortals in Takamagahara believed that any demon that could not be tamed had no right to live in the world.
"So you've been in the lead the whole time?" Shinsei asked.
Sarutahiko nodded. "For the past few centuries, Takamagahara has almost completely overwhelmed those demons. Some tribes were besieged and killed inside the mountains, some surrendered, and some fled to the far north. Judging from the current situation, in a few more years, we may truly be able to wipe them out completely."
Shinsei didn't reply. He glanced at Kaguya. Kaguya stood quietly to the side, the curiosity on her face gone, as if she were listening to something distant yet relevant to her.
After a long silence, she said softly, "They must be scared too, right?"
Ame no Uzume no Mikoto, her sharp gaze landing on Kaguya.
Kaguya didn't dodge; she just lowered her head, as if talking to herself.
Shinsei reached out and patted Kaguya's shoulder. He didn't explain for Kaguya, nor did he ask any further questions.
He suddenly felt that the war between Takamagahara and the demons was somehow connected to the God Tree, the Ōtsutsuki, and even the future Shinobi World.
Those things that were killed as "monsters" may well be the source of the Three Great Sage Lands, gods, and immortals of later generations.
He had to go and see what it was that could cut off an immortal's arm.
"There are a lot of people here," Kaguya said softly.
There were noticeably more people in the central area of Takamagahara.
Young men and women often walked together, dressed in simple white clothes and carrying small wooden lanterns.
They looked devout, walking with their heads slightly bowed, as if afraid of disturbing something. Shinsei and Kaguya followed behind them, hearing them talking softly.
"I hope Great Goddess Amaterasu will bless me with success in my spiritual practice during this year's grand festival," a young man said.
"My mother said that Great Goddess Amaterasu is the origin of all things. The mountains are her body, the rivers are her tears, and even our ability to train in Takamagahara is a blessing from her."
Another girl chimed in, her tone displaying a respect beyond her years.
Shinsei listened without saying a word. Kaguya Earth Flow quietly beside him.
The two young men saw them and nodded in greeting.
The girl glanced at Kaguya, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes. "Are you also going on a pilgrimage to the center of Takamagahara? How lucky! Not everyone is qualified to go so deep inside."
"We were brought here by someone," Shinsei said.
"Being invited in is Great Goddess Amaterasu's will," the boy said. "Once you reach the center, remember to bow your head. Don't look directly at the divine light, or you'll go blind."
Shinsei didn't explain further. As they parted ways, the boy and girl waved to Kaguya.
Kaguya waved as well, her movements hesitant, as if she had just learned the gesture. Shinsei looked at her and suddenly asked, "Do you believe what they said?"
"I don't believe it." Kaguya gently shook her head. "The world wasn't created by Amaterasu. The Ōtsutsuki people have seen many worlds. They weren't created by gods; they lived out their own existence. Some things turn to stone, some to water. It's not a tear that falls from anyone's eye."
Shinsei nodded. He neither corrected nor agreed. Faith is something that cannot be persuaded or woken up by reason. Besides, he never believed that the legendary gods of later generations had actually created the world.
No matter how Takamagahara was, it felt to him just like the Three Great Sage Lands —a place that had been cultivated by cultivators for a long time.
If he were truly that powerful, he wouldn't have been driven to this point by a single tree.
A door appeared ahead. Or rather, a curtain of light suspended in mid-air.
The light curtain, pale gold in color and with water-ripple-like patterns on its surface, stood silently at the central entrance of Takamagahara. Sarutahiko and Ame no Uzume no Mikoto stood on either side, nodding to Shinsei and Kaguya.
"This is the Ame-no-Iwato," Sarutahiko said. "Only those permitted by the gods can enter through here."
Shinsei looked up at the light screen. Ame-no-Iwato. He remembered the name. Legend had it that Great Goddess Amaterasu hid in Ame-no-Iwato, plunging the world into darkness.
That was the hiding place of the Sun Goddess. Now they were about to step inside, which gave him a strange feeling. Kaguya reached out and touched the layer of light. With just a light touch of her fingertips, the entire light screen rippled outwards like water.
"Let's go in," Shinsei said.
They stepped into the light curtain, and their vision suddenly brightened.
The center of Takamagahara is even whiter than the outside. White stone pillars, white long steps, and white palaces are piled up along the terrain, as if carved from a single piece of jade.
The sky was higher, the light purer, as if even the heavens themselves had been filtered out somewhere in this area.
On either side of the long steps stood fully armed immortals, their robes embroidered with golden sun patterns. They stared straight ahead, like rows of expressionless stone statues.
Walking up the long staircase, at the end, one arrives at a vast palace. There are no guards at the palace gates.
Shinsei noticed an ancient name engraved on the plaque in the center of the palace. He didn't recognize the characters, but Kaguya read it aloud softly.
" Amaterasu Palace."
As they approached the palace, a young man emerged from within to greet them. He was very handsome, with gentle features, and wore a snow-white robe with gold trim on the cuffs. His eyes were bright, but not piercing; they curved when he smiled, like a genuine laugh.
"Welcome to the Takamagahara Center." The young man bowed slightly to Shinsei. "I am Great Goddess Amaterasu, grandson of Ninigi-no-Mikoto."
Shinsei sized him up. This was the "divine grandson." He wasn't as unapproachable as the legends suggested; instead, he seemed like a person, a well-mannered and handsome individual.
"My name is Shinsei, and this is Kaguya," Shinsei said.
Ninigi-no-Mikoto's gaze lingered on Kaguya for a moment before quickly returning to Shinsei.
He smiled gently, his tone filled with keen interest. " Sarutahiko said that the aura of your Senjutsu is extremely pure, and you can't find another like it in the entire Takamagahara. I didn't believe it at first. But after seeing you today, I'm starting to believe it."
"So you want to ask me who my teacher is?" Shinsei said.
"You can say it yourself," Ninigi-no-Mikoto said.
"I have no teacher," Shinsei said bluntly, "And I'm not from Takamagahara either."
"That's even better." Ninigi-no-Mikoto clapped her hands lightly, as if she had figured out something important. "Without a master or foundation, you've managed to cultivate such Senjutsu. Your talent Takamagahara. Shinsei, I'd like to ask you to stay here."
" Takamagahara hasn't produced someone like you in a long time."
Shinsei looked into his eyes but didn't reply. Kaguya tugged at his sleeve again.
Ninigi-no-Mikoto and gestured for him to proceed.
"You two have come from afar, you must be tired. Please go and rest."
Later, I will have a banquet prepared to entertain the two of you.
Shinsei nodded and whispered a thank you.
After these so-called gods of Takamagahara had gone far away, Kaguya whispered something in Shinsei's ear.
They have malicious intentions towards you.