"Naraku." Angel softly repeated the name: "Is the city named after him too?"
The Wise Sovereign nodded.
Quite narcissistic. Angel mused silently.
"So, has he been deified by you?"
Looking at Naraku in the murals, Angel felt he was no longer like a person, but more like the deities worshiped and fantasized by ignorant primitive people.
"Deified? Why can’t Naraku be a god?" The Wise Sovereign retorted.
"A god?" Angel’s voice was noncommittal: "I’ve heard of many worlds with gods, so which world does Naraku belong to?"
Angel’s words sounded normal, but anyone not foolish could hear the hint of sarcasm in them.
As a child, Jon taught him science. As he grew, Sanders taught him truth. During this journey, no one ever taught him to believe in deities.
Jon did not believe, and Sanders disdained. For humans in this world, the existence of "gods" is not absent from textual interpretation; in mortal realms, "gods" spreading teachings of truth, goodness, and beauty exist, but essentially they are tools to regulate the lower classes.
In the Wizards’ Realm, "gods" also exist, but the gods mentioned by Wizards are mostly derogatory.
Demon Gods, Evil Gods, Outer Gods, Evil Fire Deities, Wild Gods... and so on. These are undoubtedly powerful beings deserving respect with "Their" title. Yet, respecting strength, Wizards’ naming leaves no positive word. Wizards respect the power, not the deific authority.
In Wizards’ eyes, so-called gods are merely extraordinary beings. If powerful enough, They are laid on Wizards’ research tables, dissected, experimented upon, turned into piles of records.
Thus, when the Wise Sovereign said Naraku was a god, Angel outwardly remained calm but internally classified Naraku as an Otherworldly Visitor.
For ordinary Wizards, Otherworldly Visitors are ignored with one eye open and one closed. But to Extreme Sect, and the world’s will, Otherworldly Visitors are useless pests.
"Naraku was born in the Southern Domain; you need not be extreme. What I meant by god is someone reaching the pinnacle in a particular aspect," explained the Wise Sovereign.
Angel: "Oh."
Angel’s reaction was very indifferent; what the Wise Sovereign explained can barely be called "god," but it’s definitely different from the mural’s "deification."
The Wise Sovereign saw Angel’s indifference, sighed inwardly. For Naraku’s evaluation, countless minds have countless views; forcing correction of Angel’s view is unnecessary.
He merely said lightly: "When reaching the pinnacle in one aspect, mortals have a term quite aptly describing it."
"That would be... Miracle."
Hearing the term, Angel felt less composed. He quickly turned to the Wise Sovereign: "Miracle? Naraku achieved a miracle?"
The Wise Sovereign shook his head: "If there’s truly a miracle, Naraku City wouldn’t face adversity. However, in my view, Naraku is most qualified to touch upon miracles."
Angel: "At that time, Naraku’s realm had already reached the peak of legend?"
The Wise Sovereign shook his head: "Still a step away from legend."
Angel momentarily found no words. One who’s not yet legendary dreaming of miracles; calling it laughable would be generous.
Knowing achieving a miracle from legend involves countless thresholds, let alone not reaching legend at all.
The Wise Sovereign saw Angel’s speechless expression, smiled and said: "Actually, I have a good eye for people; I feel as long as you don’t fall, there’s a high chance you’ll become legendary."
Angel: "So, that’s how Naraku got deceived by you?"
The Wise Sovereign laughed heartily: "I don’t have such ability to mislead Naraku... when you reach that point, you’ll understand what the stance of a miracle is. Also, aren’t you from Barbarian Cave? You could ask your organization’s three Ancestral Spirits, who’ve witnessed many legends and might know."
"Moreover, if you seriously ask the three Ancestral Spirits, I believe they will make the same judgment as me. Your chance of becoming legendary won’t be small."
Angel: "Do you know of a psychology effect? When you think something might go wrong, regardless of how minuscule the chance, it will invariably happen."
"Thus, the issue of probabilities; let it stay in the clouds named probability."
The Wise Sovereign looked surprised at Angel: "Your words are quite interesting."
Angel: "After chatting this much off-topic, shouldn’t we discuss the main topic?"
The Wise Sovereign: "Aren’t we discussing the main topic now? I thought you’d be interested in these murals."
As he spoke, the Wise Sovereign walked near another wall, lightly tapped a mural on the wall, gesturing for Angel to look.
Following the Wise Sovereign’s finger, Angel saw the mural’s content and frowned slightly.
The mural depicts a figure bathed in light with four pairs of raven-winged wings. Below them, a group of similarly raven-winged individuals kneel, with wings numbering either two pairs or one pair.
If looking solely at these raven-winged individuals, the mural seems to depict a community of raven-winged beings worshipping a strong figure within.
But beside the figure with four pairs of raven-winged wings, a flag is flying.
Observing the flag closely, Angel saw a familiar emblem.
Snake entwined awl!
A black snake coiled around a golden awl.
Though the awl’s color differs slightly from the snake entwined awl Angel saw previously, everything else is nearly identical!
"Is this... snake entwined awl?" Angel asked the Wise Sovereign, seeking explanation.
"You previously asked me what experiment Naraku City was conducting?" The Wise Sovereign didn’t directly answer Angel but instead began another topic: "The mural’s scene depicts part of the experimental results, and the subjects are individuals eager for strength."
"Are you saying these raven-winged individuals? Were they originally ordinary people?" Angel questioned frowning.
The Wise Sovereign: "Not necessarily ordinary, many Transcendents tremendously longing for strength."
The Wise Sovereign didn’t deny some among them were ordinary, which made Angel somewhat uncomfortable.