National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

Under the bone-chilling threat of death, which followed as closely as a shadow,

it was as if a heavy hammer had smashed into Amaterasu’s proud spine, forcing it to bend. Her face contorted, fear and defiance warring deep within her eyes.

Her lips trembled for a long moment before she finally forced the words out, as if squeezing them from between her teeth.

She divulged a long-buried, heaven-shaking secret: "To transcend mortality and become a deity,

one’s body undergoes an arduous transformation, coalescing into an entity of supreme power and mystery—the Divine Format.

As long as this Divine Format remains stable and undamaged, its owner effectively possesses an Undying Golden Body. The scythe of time cannot reap their life, and they will exist in this world forever.

However..."

At this, she paused, stealing a glance at Chu He, her eyes filled with dread and alarm. "But to destroy a Divine Format... only another deity who also possesses a Divine Format has such a heaven-defying power."

Amaterasu knew perfectly well.

This Chu He before her looked like a mere mortal, but the aura radiating from him...

...was like a biting gale that pierced straight through to her soul,

making her feel an inexplicable, ghastly chill of death from the very depths of her being.

"A g-god... can kill another god?"

Chu He’s sharp brows twitched, and a flicker of confusion flashed in his eyes.

Amaterasu swallowed with difficulty, nodding her head mechanically. "Y-yes... they can.

There is a strict hierarchy between Divine Formats, a gulf as wide as a heavenly chasm.

And I... I am just an insignificant lower-rank god at the bottom of the pyramid.

Above me are the Middle-Rank Gods, and above them, the Upper-Rank Gods.

Those lofty Upper-Rank Gods possess power beyond imagination. They are terrifying to the extreme.

If they were to become angered, a single, casually spoken word from them...

The supreme divine might carried in that word would be enough to obliterate us,

and instantly reduce lower-rank and Middle-Rank Gods like myself to ash, without the slightest chance to resist, completely erased from existence."

As she spoke, she seemed to snap back to her senses, realizing the cold, predatory gleam of the Grass Cutting Sword at her neck was like the specter of death itself,

pressed tightly against her skin.

She hastily raised her slender, delicate fingers and gently pushed the blade aside.

As the blade slowly pulled away from her skin, the threat of death receded.

Amaterasu let out a clear sigh of relief. Her body, taut like a fully drawn bow, relaxed slightly.

The terror on her face subsided, replaced by the relief of having survived.

"So where have all the Deities gone?"

Chu He posed another sharp question.

A fervent longing flashed in Amaterasu’s eyes,

a light as brilliant as the stars in the night sky.

Her voice softened unconsciously, as if she were recounting a beautiful dream. "The Deities are all in the Celestial Palace.

It is a place suspended high above the sky, a realm as mysterious as a paradise.

It’s shrouded in celestial mist, like a waking dream, filled with magnificent jade pavilions and countless priceless treasures.

Only Deities are worthy of setting foot in that sacred place.

Legend says that every inch of air in the Celestial Palace is filled with auspicious light.

It is the most sacred and desirable place in this world."

At the mention of the Celestial Palace, Amaterasu’s expression grew distant and wistful,

as if her soul had broken free from the shackles of her body and drifted toward that unreachable holy land,

to bask in its endless glory and splendor.

It was clear she held a fervent, all-consuming desire for that legendary place.

"Where is the Celestial Palace?"

A jolt went through Chu He, and a glint of excitement appeared in his eyes.

He had a sharp sense that the information he was prying from Amaterasu

was like a set of keys, unlocking one door after another on the path to the truth,

drastically shortening an investigation that had until now felt like a long, arduous trek through a maze.

’Based on the information I’ve gathered so far,’

’Deities and humans have become adversaries, or at least some of them have.’

’After becoming gods, they were blinded by selfishness and greed, and they schemed to monopolize the path to godhood,’

’unwilling to allow other humans to reach that supreme, divine realm. And so, they cut off all hope for those who would follow.’

’Yet, back in the very beginning, those who first became gods...’

’...every single one of them only broke through their mortal bonds and ascended with humanity’s full support.’

’At the time, they even solemnly promised...’

’...that once they became gods, they would lead the rest of humanity to that same sacred hall.’

’Now, it seems it was all just a sham.’

Chu He had long harbored this suspicion, and he now wanted confirmation from Amaterasu.

Upon hearing his words, hesitation flickered across Amaterasu’s face. She bit her lip, and for a moment that seemed to stretch for an eternity, she wavered.

Finally, she slowly nodded and responded in a low voice, "That’s true. The promise from long ago..."

Her voice trailed off. After a moment, she seemed to collect herself and continued, "As for where the Celestial Palace is actually located, I truly do not know.

That is not a holy place that mortals can spy on. Even just raising one’s head in an attempt to catch a glimpse...

...will result in the most severe suppression. The unlucky ones might even be executed on the spot.

If I were to leak even the slightest bit of information, I would be branded a traitor to the Deities,

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