As they strolled through the city of Berhais, the Venerable Sky-Blessing Pool, Izlabith, seized the Venerable Star-Hunter, Zendaya, who was attempting to flee.
When facing someone vastly stronger—to an indescribable degree—flight is the only option; status becomes irrelevant. Ultimately, vanity, arrogance, and pride will not save you from death.
"How are you, Venerable Star-Hunter Zendaya? Why are you so anxious? I harbor no ill will toward you. After all, did you think the ruse you and my son—the Venerable Great Creator Yuto—pulled on me would actually work?" The tone of the Venerable Sky-Blessing Pool, Izlabith, was calm as she gazed at the terrified Venerable Star-Hunter, Zendaya, while holding her with immense strength to prevent her escape.
Venerable Star-Hunter Zendaya glanced toward the Venerable Final Patch, Ping Tao-Xin, who pretended not to know her at all—a stance also adopted by the Venerable Lotus Blossom, Jihao Yuxuan.
Ultimately, the Venerable Sky-Blessing Pool, Izlabith, was superior to them in every respect. Her longevity—spanning over three full eras and nearing a fourth—meant that intervening would have been a foolish, high-risk move offering no benefit to either party.
The Venerable Sky-Blessing Pool, Izlabith, continued speaking in a tone that left Venerable Star-Hunter Zendaya looking shocked: "Strange... I have never heard of your Pavilion." "Regarding the Hunter Wing... is it a modern offshoot of the Hunter Wing or not?"
The Venerable Star-Hunter Zendaya remained silent for a few moments before speaking. "Yes, you know that new wings appear from time to time. Originally, there were only fourteen wings, but their numbers grew so vast that no one knows the exact count anymore. Am I not right?"
The Venerable Sky-Blessing Islabith gazed at her for a few seconds before letting her go. This left Zendaya feeling a mix of relief and annoyance as she glanced toward the last Venerable—Ping Tao-Xin—who had betrayed her in an instant.
She stood up and brushed off her clothes, only to be surprised when Islabith pinched her ear in clear annoyance, leaving her bewildered.
"Venerable Star-Hunter Zendaya, wear attire befitting your status. Such revealing clothing is worn by whores or those seeking male attention. Is that clear?" Islabith's tone was stern, prompting Zendaya to nod in agreement; after all, in the environment where Islabith had lived, slaves and concubines wore revealing outfits, while masters and kings kept their bodies fully covered.
With a snap of her fingers, Zendaya's outfit transformed into a red dress that covered her entire body, revealing nothing of her skin—a sight that made Islabith smile. She offered a faint smile as she looked at him,
Then, she gently patted the head of the Esteemed Star-Hunter Zendaya while speaking: "Beauty does not lie in revealing attire; just because a girl has a captivating figure does not mean she belongs to everyone. True beauty is something only the worthy may touch—or even behold. It is a jewel not everyone can possess, unlike common wood or coal, which anyone can acquire." The Esteemed Star-Hunter Zendaya listened intently to the words of the Esteemed Jalil, Blessing of the Sky, Izlabith.
She let out a deep sigh as the Esteemed Jalil, Blessing of the Sky, Izlabith removed her hand from her head; they then continued on their way, conversing occasionally.
As they strolled through the city of Barhais, the Esteemed Jalil, Blessing of the Sky, Izlabith paused, her gaze falling upon Jia, who was wandering alone.
A faint smile appeared on her face as she mused silently, "It seems the Nameless Shard has become even more enigmatic than it was millions of years ago, when it was merely an essence clinging to Yuto."
She immediately resumed her journey without another word, heading toward the outskirts of Barhais, where there was work to be done.
After some time had passed and they had left the city of Barhais, the Esteemed Jalil, Blessing of the Sky, Izlabith spoke in a calm tone: "Very well, there is something I wish to tell you both. The War of Paths is fast approaching; a mere 503 years, 5 months, and 9 days remain until it begins—and that includes you, the Esteemed Last Domain, Ping Tao Shin." "Venerable Star-Catcher Zendaya, you two remain in Pavilion 4. You must reach Level 5 within the next 500 years. The coming three years won't be suitable for upgrading your pavilion, but after that, you must be well-prepared."
Neither Venerable Last-Patch Ping Tao-Xin nor Venerable Star-Catcher Zendaya uttered a word; they knew time was fleeting and that preparation was essential.
In contrast, Venerable Lotus-Flower Jihao Yuxuan awaited the war with eager anticipation, recalling words Yuta had spoken back when they were in the city of Yousbikers.
*Flashback*
"That isn't the most important question. Have you ever wondered why the second half of your pavilion is slightly darker?"
A look of puzzlement crossed Jihao Yuxuan's face. He snapped his fingers, revealing his true form: a man with handsome, well-defined features and waist-length, pinkish-crimson hair tied in a ponytail. His irises were shaped like lotus flowers, and he wore *Hanfu* robes blending charcoal black with crimson red.
Yuta, too, revealed his true form, offering a faint smile. "Do you want to know a thing or two that might help you in the future? Consider it an equivalent exchange."
Venerable Lotus-Flower Jihao Yuxuan narrowed his eyes as he listened to Yuta. He knew Yuta was an old, cunning fox who would do anything to further his own interests.
Nevertheless, there was no harm in listening; he could easily kill Yuta, and the other twenty-five Path Emperors would welcome the act. Ruler
However, Yuta's confident gaze took him by surprise. Yuta embodied one of the concepts of the "Ruler" path—possessing Level 9 immortality—meaning his death would result in the annihilation of the Ruler path itself. This, in turn, would cause a catastrophic disruption to the story of *I Am Inside My Novel*.
While a master could replace a destroyed path, the simultaneous death of both would trigger a fundamental imbalance—a consequence the Venerable Lotus Jihao Yuxuan had not foreseen. The same logic applied to the guardians of the Sacred Tree of Existence; their betrayal had forced him to self-detonate and regress to the moment of his birth.
"I am listening, Yuta. Yes, as you said, the power of my wings suddenly surged"...from 30,000 years ago."
Yuta snapped his fingers, and a beautiful table appeared, set with a teapot, two cups made of the finest glass, and some delicious sweets.
Yuta gestured for the Lotus Flower Venerable, Jihao Yuxuan, to sit; both took their seats without a word.
Yuta poured tea for himself and Jihao Yuxuan, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Don't worry, it isn't poisoned. After all, I am not the Poison-Making Venerable."
He handed a cup to Jihao Yuxuan, cutting off any attempt at speech, and then spoke calmly: "The reason your power increased is that the Master of the Death Path—BO 00-01—and I have once again become a single entity. Consequently, the fragments of the Ruler Path present in every Wing merged with the fragments of the Death Path."
Jihao Yuxuan's eyes widened in surprise as he listened to Yuta. "Once again? Were you two part of the same whole before?"
Yuta nodded in confirmation. "Yes. The Master of the Death Path—BO 00-01—myself, and the other Path Masters all existed within a single entity. So, do you understand how to advance your Wing to the Absolute Level 5?"
A cunning smile appeared on Jihao Yuxuan's face as he sipped his tea. "So, I must kill the Venerables who possess the same Wing from other Paths and gather the Path fragments to achieve that final ascension."
Yuta picked up a piece of candy, ate it, and took a sip of tea. "Yes, you are right, Venerable." "Venerable Lotus-Flower Jihao Yuxuan—this is one method; ultimately, you won't face the same hardships as my Aunt Kyonai. She had to kill masters from the sub-wings of the 'Hunter Wing 27'—after reaching level 5 of her own wing—to fully secure it. Then, she had to slay others possessing the same wing type from different paths to ascend to the 'Absolute Level'."
Venerable Lotus-Flower Jihao Yuxuan narrowed his eyes as he listened to Yuta, then spoke in a calm, composed tone: "What do you want from me? It is time you told me your request, Great Creator Venerable Yuta."
Yuta's smile turned cold as he listened to Jihao Yuxuan. "Well, only 504 years remain until the start of the 'War of Paths,' and 600 years until the end of the 15th Era of the 'Initial Chronology'—an era known as 'The Beginning and the End.' We will then transition to the 1st Era of the 'First Final Chronology,' known as 'The End of the Beginning's Origin'."
Venerable Lotus-Flower Jihao Yuxuan's eyes narrowed further, filled with bewilderment and a desire to know Yuta's true intentions. "I know that, but what are you aiming for?"
"I want your help in the coming war—to fight alongside me and advance your wing to the Absolute Level. Secondly, we—the Supreme Venerables—are to convene at the Union Palace in two centuries; for that, I need assistance and must settle matters with a few other Venerables. You may refuse, but your chances of survival on other paths are approaching zero."
[End of Flashback]
He spoke inwardly, his voice calm: "Not much time remains before I can reach the Absolute Level of my wing; 504 years is not a long time." "But what I stand to gain will be incredibly valuable in its own right. Still, there remains the possibility of my death during the War of Paths... Haa... Hoo... No matter; there is plenty of time to prepare myself against the twenty-five entities possessing power equal to or greater than mine—assuming they are the Lotus Wing Venerables from the era of the 'Past Living'."
Venerable Heaven's Blessing turned her gaze toward him and spoke in a calm tone, shattering all his plans before he could even begin to execute them: "If you think you can simply evolve your wing to the 'Absolute' level, you are nothing but a fool."
"Your wing—and that of the final Board Venerable, Ping Tao-xin—are unique phenomena; they haven't appeared in other paths because they were forged from the very nature of your existences. The same applies to Yuta Casiral, as well as the remaining fifteen—figures like Gowther, McTire, Christian, Leon, Inuyasha, and Nicholas. Consequently, the path for you to reach the 'Absolute' state is unique, and I do not know it, for the existence of such wings is exceedingly rare."
The eyes of Lotus Venerable Jihao Yuxuan narrowed as he listened to Venerable Heaven's Blessing Islabith; he realized he had been partially deceived by Yuta Casiral.
After all, Yuta was privy to a great deal of information; having lived for fifty million years in a past life and participated in the War of Paths, it stood to reason that he would be aware of all this.
It was precisely this knowledge that Lotus Venerable Jihao Yuxuan had lacked—a crucial piece of the puzzle.
Meanwhile, the final Board Venerable, Ping Tao-xin, was in a state of utter shock. It was evident that he was unable to advance to the Absolute Level; however, he did not dwell on it for long, as he had not even reached Level 5 yet—let alone the Absolute Level.
Meanwhile, the Venerable Star-Hunter Zendaya was laughing mockingly at them. This prompted the Venerable Jalil—Blessing of the Sky, Izlabith—to speak in a calm tone: "Have you forgotten that you are making an enemy of the Venerable Jalil—Queen of the Kyonai Hunters—who attained the Absolute Level two eras ago?"
The expression of the Venerable Star-Hunter Zendaya darkened instantly. She embraced the Venerable Jalil—Blessing of the Sky, Izlabith—and pleaded, "Auntie Izlabith, please... I beg you, ask the Venerable Jalil—Queen of the Kyonai Hunters—not to kill me. Please."
The Venerable Jalil—Blessing of the Sky, Izlabith—smiled, amused by the girl's acting skills, and spoke calmly: "There is no need for me to speak to her. Ultimately, what matters is that you stay alive for the next three years. I have heard that a Venerable of the Hunter lineage is currently living on the Southern Continent, so it would be best for you to remain cautious and vigilant."
At the mention of a Venerable of the Hunter lineage, the Venerable Star-Hunter Zendaya's expression shifted to coldness and murderous intent for a split second, before reverting to a charming, pleading look. The Venerable Jalil—Blessing of the Sky, Izlabith—gently pinched her cheeks...
...before stepping away, turning her gaze toward the Venerable of the Final Domain, Ping Tao Xin, and the Venerable Jalil—Lotus Flower. Jiahao Yuxuan regarded the esteemed Star-Hunter Zendaya with a calm gaze that barely concealed clear mockery.
She turned toward the city of Berhais, speaking as she did so: "In my opinion, isn't it wonderful to simply enjoy the moment? What is destined to happen will happen; our only task is to adapt to it and turn it to our advantage."
None of them—neither the esteemed Lotus Blossom Jiahao Yuxuan, the esteemed Chessboard Master Ping Tao Xin, nor the esteemed Star-Hunter Zendaya—uttered a word in reply, for they fully understood the intent behind her statement.
Tomorrow promised to be an entertaining day—a chance to witness a spectacle that would turn the entire Human Empire upside down and alter the way the world perceived things....a world of supreme powers.
While wandering through the city of Berhais once more, they encountered Chloe and Madeline, who were playing summer festival games.
The two girls embraced the Venerable Heaven's Blessing, Islabith, with smiles and overwhelming joy—a sentiment she returned in kind—before stepping back to converse with the Venerable Lotus Blossom, Jihao Yuxuan, and the Venerable Final Patch, Ping Tao Xin.
"How are you, my esteemed elder brothers—Venerable Lotus Blossom Jihao Yuxuan and Venerable Final Patch Ping Tao Xin? You both look absolutely wonderful," Chloe said, her voice filled with happiness as she looked at them. She then gently patted each of them on the head.
Venerable Final Patch Ping Tao Xin spoke as he produced two beautiful necklaces from his personal dimensional space: "I hope my Lady finds them charming and accepts this humble gift of mine."
Chloe and Madeline gazed at the necklaces with calm curiosity before putting them on, prompting a soft, amused laugh from the Venerable Heaven's Blessing, Islabith.
As for the Venerable Star-Hunter Zendaya, she had left the area long ago to enjoy some time alone, away from everyone else.
"They look beautiful on you both, Chloe and Madeline," said the Venerable Heaven's Blessing, Islabith, her voice full of praise that delighted both Chloe and Madeline. ...happily.
Venerable Ping Tao-xin shared a respectful embrace, laughing as he said, "I am delighted that my gift pleased you."
Venerable Elizabeth of the Heavenly Pond snapped her fingers while casting a calm, subtly admonishing glance at Chloe and Madeline, prompting them to approach her.
Venerable Ping Tao-xin avoided her sharp gaze, masking his reaction behind a benevolent smile, while Venerable Jihao Yuxuan—the Lotus Flower—chuckled inwardly at him.
They continued on their way, enjoying the joyful atmosphere of the summer festival. Chloe and Madeline delighted in the festival games, while Venerable Ping Tao-xin indulged in his favorite hobby: collecting trinkets.
Meanwhile, Venerable Jihao Yuxuan and Venerable Elizabeth kept a watchful eye on Chloe and Madeline throughout the day.