A fierce wind howled, whipping up the snowflakes that filled the sky.
Ninigi-no-Mikoto's head rolled onto the snow and fell into the ravine like a ball.
The blood of immortals seems to be no different from that of ordinary people.
"Are you alright?" Kaguya's beautiful eyes showed obvious concern.
Shinsei suppressed the flutter in his heart and forced a smile at Kaguya.
"Fine."
It's nothing in words, but in reality, he didn't want Kaguya to worry about it.
At this moment, Shinsei has confirmed that Ninigi-no-Mikoto was indeed meant to be sacrificed.
Shinsei sensed that some emotions that didn't belong to him were stirring in his mind.
At this moment, he wished he could draw his sword and slaughter everything in the world.
Fortunately, his years of cultivation had been excellent, and he was able to easily suppress these emotions.
However, it's like an emotional toxin. You never know when it will resurface.
If there were another immortal like Ninigi-no-Mikoto, this emotional toxin would accumulate.
Shinsei doesn't know where his limits truly lie.
He dared not easily attack the hermits of Takamagahara again.
Kotoamatsukami?
Shinsei had previously used Shadow Clone to experience the power of Kotoamatsukami.
However, compared to the Mangekyō's Kotoamatsukami, the power of this deity at this moment is both strange and fierce.
Even the ability to use this power remotely made Shinsei feel extremely threatened.
Compared to direct combat power, this strange and peculiar ability actually raised Shinsei's vigilance to the highest level.
According to Ninigi-no-Mikoto, those immortals also fell apart.
The world situation is becoming increasingly chaotic. Shinsei has no intention of getting involved in it anytime soon.
If, as Shinsei suspects, these immortals all possess emotional toxins and have been imbued with abilities by someone behind the scenes.
Even if Shinsei manages to kill them all, he himself would likely become a complete madman due to the cumulative effect of the emotional toxins.
Now he needs to temporarily withdraw from this massive chaos and observe from the sidelines to see how things develop.
As for not being able to go home for a short period of time, it's not a big deal.
Madara Uchiha is trapped in this world just like himself. As long as Madara Uchiha doesn't rush home first, Konoha's current strength won't cause any major trouble.
What needs to be done now is to find a beautiful, secluded place and hide yourself and Kaguya away.
Just as Shinsei was about to set off, he couldn't help but think that perhaps this was the result the person behind the scenes wanted.
On Takamagahara, the enormous, boundless wall of energy had dissipated.
At this moment, numerous gods and immortals gathered at the dividing line, making a loud commotion.
"Why should we side with Madara Uchiha? That man is like a madman; if we follow him, we'll be devoured sooner or later!"
Shinsei knew not to kill Ame no Uzume no Mikoto, but what did Madara Uchiha know?
"He'll even kill his own people!" shouted a god with a short horn on his forehead.
"That's precisely why we should follow him!" another martial god immediately retorted. " Takamagahara needs most right now is power. Madara Uchiha is strong enough and ruthless enough. Even if Shinsei shows some mercy, can he really stop that broken tree for you?"
" Shinsei is an immortal."
Ame no Uzume no Mikoto took a step forward. Her complexion hadn't fully recovered, but her voice was as clear as snow water.
"He uses Natural Energy, just like us. I've seen him."
He didn't kill us. Immortals are our own people, and maybe Shinsei will even become a god someday.
No, who knows, he might already be a god. Have you forgotten his extraordinary spatial abilities?
"So you're speaking up for him? Madara Uchiha can use Natural Energy too." The God of War glanced at her sideways. "You've taken a liking to him, haven't you, Lady Dancer?"
Ame no Uzume no Mikoto flushed, then her expression turned cold.
"If I were interested in him, would you guys have the right to criticize me like this?"
The surrounding deities burst into laughter.
The laughter held little warmth; instead, it heightened their wariness of each other.
Futodama no Mikoto stood at the edge of the crowd, his sleeves tucked in, as if he were cold. He sighed.
"All your arguing will just end up with Takamagahara into the hands of those two outsiders. With Great Goddess Amaterasu gone, we don't even have anyone to settle things."
"Then let's cut down the God Tree!" Ōyamatsumi-no-Kami slammed his palm against a stone pillar beside him, causing it to crack. "We're fighting for survival. If the God Tree isn't dealt with, we'll die no matter who we side with. Ōtsutsuki want to come, let them come! Takamagahara has nothing left to lose!"
"If you want to die together with others, don't drag others down with you." Konohanasakuya-hime's face was pale, but her voice was firm. "We still want to live."
"Then let's each find our own way to survive."
Sukuna Hikona no Mikoto stood up from the stone steps and patted his medicine box.
"I won't join Shinsei, nor will I follow Madara. Takamagahara can't hold out any longer, so I'm going to the mortal realm to find a clean place. Whoever wants to join me can go."
"Coward!" someone cursed.
"Yes." Sukuna Hikona no Mikoto around, his eyes calm. "I'd rather be a coward who lives on."
This sentence silenced the entire dividing line for a moment. Everyone knew that Takamagahara lacked most today was this kind of blatant fear of death.
But nobody was willing to say it. Now that someone has spoken up, nobody can respond.
Hall Master Shūma slowly walked to the center of the gods. He didn't speak, but simply tapped the ground with the wooden staff in his hand.
"Stop arguing," said Hall Master Shūma. " Great Goddess Amaterasu is no longer here. Takamagahara matter how much you argue, you won't find the same way out of Takamagahara."
Those who want to kill Shinsei, go ahead and kill him; those who want to join Ban, go ahead and join him; those who want to cut down the God Tree, go cut it down; those who want to leave, leave.
However, there is one condition: no matter which option you choose, it is all for the continuation of Takamagahara.
Dear gods, do not regret your choice today.
A gust of wind blew across the dividing line, stirring up wisps of cloud.
The gods looked away from each other, as if they had finally let out all the words they had been holding back for so long.
Gradually, some people turned and left. One, two, then a dozen or so.
Those heading west went west, those heading east went east, and some went down the mountain, never looking back.
Ame no Uzume no Mikoto glanced at Konohanasakuya-hime, and the two of them left one after the other without saying anything more.
After standing there for a while, Ōyamatsumi-no-Kami snorted coldly and led several martial gods toward the God Tree.
Sukuna Hikona no Mikoto shouldered his medicine chest and walked down to the mortal realm without looking back.
Futodama no Mikoto stood still until only a few gods who had disappeared were left beside him, then slowly turned around and walked into the city.
Only after the last group of figures disappeared into the sea of clouds did Takamagahara truly reveal its desolation. The sky was as white as gray, and even the wind seemed to have thinned.
After an unknown amount of time, three figures slowly appeared from the distance.
Amaterasu walked at the front. She wasn't wearing her previous shrine robes, but only a plain white long robe, her long hair unbound, as if it had just been blown away by the wind.
Kukurihime-no-Kami followed beside her, her eyes lowered. Omoikane-no-Kami's lips were pressed into a line as she watched the dispersing gods in the distance, a faint smile hidden in the corner of her eyes.
"He's really gone. I hope that Madara Uchiha will like the gift I gave him," said Omoikane-no-Kami, her voice slightly distorted by the wind.
Amaterasu did not respond; a faint sorrow lingered on her face.
After a moment, she finally spoke.
Do you know what I hate most about you?