"Consume a universe!?" Qin Shuyue exclaimed.
"Is that even possible?" Lu Chen stroked his chin as Cho Yanshi's amused gaze passed over him.
"If anyone can do it, it's Jin Huang," Hei Shisan chuckled and ruffled Jin Huang's already messy, yellow hair.
"You're insane..." Shen Wuyou sighed, massaging his temples.
"It continues to talk about the effects of consuming a universe. The fact that Jin Huang's body is capable of withstanding and directing that immense pressure, using it to compress the energy. That is the only way you can form your Inner Core."
Cho Yanshi explanation led to Jin Huang nodding.
"Got it. It's just consuming a universe, right? Shouldn't be too hard."
They all blinked, brains purged of sensible thoughts.
"So, does the journal mention how I'm supposed to do this?"
Cho Yanshi remembered herself after hearing the question and nodded, "Oh, yeah, it does actually."
"Apparently, there are things called a 'Microcosm Universes' that are essentially newborn universes. Those are actually the best and only options for you."
Jin Huang wiped his mouth, "So where do I find these microsoft universes?"
"Microcosm," Qin Shuyue facepalmed, shaking her head.
"Right, that's what I said." Jin Huang burped.
Under her breath, Qin Shuyue muttered, "...for fuck's sake..."
"Microcosm Universes can be created by anyone powerful enough. You just need to find someone capable. In here, it says that Samsara-Law and Ever-Hell made one for you-- well, past you."
Cho Yanshi heard Lu Chen whistle and paused.
"Those are," Hei Shisan realized, eyes widening.
"The Old Ones have a history with the Supreme Immortal Body, do they? They must of they've helped him before." Lu Chen surmised.
"The Old Ones?" Qin Shuyue put a hand on her hip and frowned in confusion.
"Jin Huang met them. They spoke of 'Transcendence' and an 'unseen Dao.' Could that be related to them helping him in the past?" Hei Shisan asked.
"The Old Ones were not included in King Yama explanation. They are older than even him, and likely even more prone to keeping secrets." Lu Chen shook his head.
"Regardless, we can't get to them without putting Jin Huang in extreme danger. It won't be long before the entire Earthly Realm mobilizes in the hunt for him." Cho Yanshi shook her head as she turned the pages.
"Everything after the notes on the Inner Core realm is blank."
She did not say it in a grim manner, but her words were received grimly.
They knew why that was the last entry.
Jin Huang sighed, "Whatever, no point dwelling on that. It's still business as usual."
He shifted, reaching for the stone key necklace around his neck.
Hei Shisan and Shen Wuyou, in particular, were taken aback.
Lu Chen caught sight of the fish-hook-shaped birthmark on the back of Jin Huang's hand, but said nothing.
Cho Yanshi noticed that the glowing image of the flame was still as present as it had ever been.
"My parents were simple farmers. They knew nothing but the small corner of the world they called home, and the hardship of mortal life."
Jin Huang gripped the stone key tightly, eyes shutting as he recalled.
"They barely had enough for themselves, yet insisted in raising me. Giving me what I needed. Loving me despite the fact that I was not their true son."
"Everything I am, I owe to them. Even if I may have actual parents out there somewhere, who have been guiding my path from afar, I do not owe them nearly as much."
"Mother... and Father..."
Qin Shuyue blinked, surprised to find a tear falling from her eye.
Hei Shisan gently placed a hand on Jin Huang's shoulder. The others listened.
"For everything they deserved to have in life, I will persevere."
"And at the end of my life, regardless of what height I'll have reached by then, I will stand proudly before Heaven and say that the Supreme Immortal was raised by two humble farmers."
"Heaven itself will know that if it fears me, then it cannot ever hold a candle to my parents. I will carve that knowledge into its very core."
Jin Huang opened his eyes, fierce golden light briefly flashing in them.
"There's a lot about you that no one understands. The Stamp of Approval, specifically," Cho Yanshi stated as she shut the journal.
"But I know this for certain: You were lucky enough to be born with two sets of parents that love you beyond measure."
Hei Shisan gave a knowing smile; Qin Shuyue grinned happily.
"Why do you say that?" Jin Huang pondered.
"Because the only people that could have given you such a high-level Stamp would have to be from the Upper Echelons of Heaven. Beings like that would undoubtedly have figured out that something about you was special."
"I believe, out of nothing but love for their son, your birth parents chose to forsake the Laws of Heaven and send you away, so you would be safe."
Cho Yanshi paused, already choked up. Qin Shuyue was no better.
Lu Chen exhaled, picking up where Cho Yanshi left off due to her emotions getting the best of her.
"Knowing that their status would prohibit them from ever being able to raise you in a safe environment, it seems they instead gave you everything you would need in order to live a good life."
"Unfortunately, they must have underestimated just how hard it is for the Supreme Immortal to lead a quiet life."
Jin Huang fell back in his chair, thinking deeply about the subject.
"Then I suppose that's one more reason for you to walk the path laid out before you. Not only can you exhalt your foster parents above Heaven, but you can find your true parents as well." Hei Shisan folded his arms and stated.
Shen Wuyou let out a breath, "All roads lead to a total upheaval. As crazy as that is, I wouldn't miss it for anything."
They shared an amused look amongst them while Cho Yanshi and Qin Shuyue tried to regain their composure.
"No..." Jin Huang murmered, flipping his hand over to look at the subtle glow of the Stamp of Approval, then back again to look at his birthmark.
Finally, he stared at the stone key. Meanwhile, their attention returned to him.
"No?" Qin Shuyue probed.
"If they wanted me to live a quiet life, why bother taking me to the Academy? Why pave the way?" As Jin Huang spoke, he fiddled with the stone key.
"This key... It allowed me to enter the Sacred Realm. It caused the Lunar Goddess to malfunction, allowing me to get the Divine Herb."
"Someone even spoke through it. A voice that I didnt recognize. A voice that changed... somehow."
Jin Huang ruminated as he held onto the key.
Hei Shisan frowned, finding himself in total agreement.
"Are Heavenly beings the only possibility? Could his parents have been something else?"
Lu Chen scoffed and chuckled in one breath, "Hard to fathom, isn't it? That Heavenly beings would turn against the Heavenly Daos."
Hei Shisan's silence was his answer.
"If not Heavenly beings, what could they even have been?" Shen Wuyou groaned.
Jin Huang echoed that, "Whatever! If I'm fated to find out, I will. All I care about now is getting out there and doing something."
Hearing his words, Hei Shisan and Lu Chen ceased all pondering, while the others reluctantly dropped the topic.
They knew, however, that the answers would not come to them.
"You said this continent is called Albion? And that those colorful lights above us are called Avalon?" Jin Huang stood, stretching.
"That's right," Cho Yanshi nodded. "Albion is among the oldest of the Continents in all the Three Realms, despite the Hellish Realm being the youngest of the three."
"We were told that it was here before the formation of the Netherworld," Lu Chen stressed the term and shot a look at Cho Yanshi.
Qin Shuyue's brows furrowed. "How can that be?"
"The Three Realms took shape, but there was something here- the space itself- that they occupied. In that space, many things were present that we know little about." Lu Chen briefed.
"What do we know about Albion?" Hei Shisan listened attentively.
"Like anywhere else in the Netherworld, it is home to a variety of races. However, unlike anywhere else, it is a land of forest, water and magic." Cho Yanshi shifted to clear the table.
"There are various nations that thrive here, as well as a clan of secretive people. Beyond that, all we know is the story of the Old Warlord who called this house home, and eventually died in it."
Lu Chen nodded at Cho Yanshi, "We heard he was a great and powerful man, who fought against some Great King and was gravely injured. Knowing his time was limited, he built this house and chose to live out the remainder of his days in solitude."
Jin Huang's eyes sparkled, "What was his name?"
Hei Shisan listened close as well.
Lu Chen and Cho Yanshi looked at one another; Cho Yanshi gestured toward him.
"His name," Lu Chen smiled, "was Mordred."