Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

"The river of destiny?"

"The Mysterious Figure?"

The words of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom caught the attention of all the gods. Whether it was the terrifying river of destiny or the Mysterious Figure who could rescue those about to be swallowed by the Will of the World, both were beyond the expectation of the gods and aroused their great interest.

"Unfortunately, my eyes are blind from peering into destiny, so I did not see the appearance of the Mysterious Figure. However, I could feel an immense power from him, limitless and full of Life Force, a might far greater than Divine Power," the God of Knowledge and Wisdom muttered in astonishment.

He was still immersed in what he had just seen and heard. In the countless years of his existence, this brief moment shone exceptionally brightly, giving him a glimpse of a world that seemed even grander and more splendid.

"Is there still such a powerful being in this world?" some Divine Spirits whispered doubtfully under their breath. They were the favorites of this world, holding sway over its authority, having lived through long eons and witnessed the transformation of seas into mulberry fields. And now, they had to come to terms with the existence of a being far more powerful than themselves. How could they accept that?

"Your lack of sight does not mean they do not exist. Just the forces unleashed in the recent upheavals were enough to take one's breath away, powers that surpassed Divine Power. And yet, we can't find any trace of these beings. Are you still basking in the glory of the Divine Spirits? A great change is upon us. I fear these terrifying presences will descend one by one, and when that time comes, whether we can survive is in question," said an older Divine Spirit.

His words silenced all the other Divine Spirits present because they knew he spoke the truth. To say otherwise would be to deceive themselves, and even the dullest of the Divine Spirits could sense the storm brewing on the horizon.

In this looming storm, the shadow of death was ever-present. As beings closest to the Will of the World, they could clearly feel it.

Yet, a long life of privilege had sapped these Divine Spirits of the courage to face a bleak life head-on. They were like ostriches, only knowing to bury their heads when danger loomed, entrusting their safety to those more powerful beings.

But the scale of this latest tempest seemed to exceed the gods' expectations. The number of Divine Spirits speculated to fall wasn't just one or two. They had no reassurance that they could make it through safely.

"Return to your preparations. Although I have not seen the exact fate, I have sensed a terrible crisis. This time, even the world itself might be destroyed," the ancient voice of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom echoed in the ears of the gods, ending their discussion.

At these words, a look of panic crossed the faces of the gods. They had already braced for the worst. But the forthcoming danger was, it seemed, far graver than their darkest predictions. The destruction of the world, something previously unthinkable, was now spoken aloud by the God of Knowledge and Wisdom. The gods looked around at each other to gauge the reaction of the Will of the World.

Unexpectedly, the Will of the World seemed to have disappeared, offering no response at all, as if by its silence it was consenting to the prophesied destruction. Some Divine Spirits felt their spirits crushed; if even the world could not avoid annihilation, then whatever struggle they mustered would be futile. Better to revel while they still could, and so a group of Divine Spirits left the Temple of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom in despair.

Of course, some Divine Spirits deemed the God of Knowledge and Wisdom's alarming words unworthy of belief. They scoffed and likewise left the place.

The remaining handful of Divine Spirits were the truly powerful ones, with the courage to face the impending disaster. They did not choose to bury their heads in the sand or drift along aimlessly. Even knowing that the path ahead bristled with thorns, they still longed to fight to the death and refused to surrender without a struggle.

"Why aren't you leaving?" asked the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, curious.

"We've known each other for so many years; have I ever shrunk from the battlefield? Even if someone wishes to destroy the world, they'd have to walk over my body to do it," the imposing man declared with an uplifting fighting spirit in his voice.

"Hmph, what enemy? Not seeing even a shadow and then surrendering is not my style. We'll fight and see," bellowed the God of the North in the Temple, his booming voice causing the other few Divine Spirits to cover their ears.

"I, on the other hand, believe that heaven does not seal off all exits. You were almost swallowed by the Will of the World just now, weren't you? And yet you emerged unscathed. If we make the effort ourselves, there is always hope that salvation will come," spoke the Goddess with the harp, her voice melodious and gentle, as if accompanied by the sound of beautiful music.

Hearing the other gods' stance, the God of Knowledge and Wisdom nodded inwardly. Those gathered here were his reliable allies. If the day came when the world truly faced destruction, the ones he could depend on were these few before him.

So he nodded gently and said, "Actually, things are not as desperate as you imagine. At the very least, the Mysterious Figure who saved me does not seem willing to see the world destroyed. I felt the presence of the Will of the World in him; it's very likely that the world, in its bid for self-preservation, has already forged a connection with this figure."

The God of Knowledge and Wisdom dropped a bombshell among his listeners, causing several Divine Spirits to widen their eyes. They had never imagined that there really was someone who could collaborate with the Will of the World, something that required immense strength to accomplish.

"You did not experience it firsthand, but the force of the Mysterious Figure was like mountains and abysses. It was the first time I felt such vast and boundless power. I believe with such a powerhouse present, our world will at least not meet with true annihilation," he said.