After discussing some of the secrets of the world's past with SilverAsh—things that weren't really worth keeping secret—Fujino didn't hide anything and told SilverAsh everything. However, she chose to conceal some things; after all, they concerned future events, and there wouldn't be much benefit if SilverAsh knew.
Bidding farewell to SilverAsh, who was digesting this knowledge, Fujino did not head to First Snow's room. Instead, she sent a message to 2B and used Heavenly Movement to leave the house and arrive at the Holy Mountain.
The people of the religious order lived at the foot of the Holy Mountain, guarding the Holy Mountain. Fujino used Heavenly Movement to arrive directly inside the Holy Mountain, avoiding the people of the religious order.
At this moment, Fujino was in a stone chamber. This was no ordinary stone chamber; it was called the Holy Shrine by the people of the religious order.
The Saintess selection took place here.
After the current Saintess passed away, all eligible young girls participating in the Saintess selection would have to enter the Holy Shrine. Only those struck by the first drop of melted snow in the shrine that day would have the qualification to become the Saintess.
After that, the chosen one had to take the trial bell and set off from the Holy Shrine, traveling along the Heavenly Road to the divine abode on the mountain, and it would only be considered over when the trial bell was hung on the bell rack.
Along the way, one had to strictly follow the rule of bowing every three steps and shaking the bell every five steps. Violators would lose the qualification to become the Saintess, and a new chosen one would be produced from the melted snow of the second day.
Because the Heavenly Road was long, the entire selection was actually extremely harsh. Some people gave up directly, while others fell on the sides of the Heavenly Road. Only those with excellent physical constitutions, abundant energy, devout faith, and who were favored by the gods had a chance to become the Saintess.
The ceremony for selecting the Saintess was undoubtedly sacred and cruel.
However, none of this mattered to Fujino.
She wasn't here to participate in the Saintess selection, so there was no need to follow any rules.
The so-called Saintess could be said to be the agent of the god, sprinkling the glory of the god they believed in upon the world.
Given Fujino's status, no god could treat Fujino as a Saintess unless they wanted their own status to be backlashed by Fujino's status, leading to their death.
It was just like the relationship between a higher dimension and a lower dimension.
Fujino looked around the Holy Shrine. At this moment, the Holy Shrine was empty, and the trial bell was not there either.
With a wave of Fujino's hand, the tightly closed door opened, and the Heavenly Road covered in white snow appeared before Fujino's eyes.
As the Heavenly Road appeared, Fujino had already found the place where the so-called god was located.
Previously, because of the Holy Mountain, Fujino's perception of this god had always been somewhat blurry. Although it was because Fujino had only used a sliver of her spiritual power, the means this god used to hide itself made Fujino feel interested; that god actually had some tricks.
It wasn't some advanced technique; it was just that this god, after so many years in Kjerag, had boldly integrated her aura with Kjerag to some extent, using the vast area of Kjerag to shield her presence, making it impossible for anyone to pinpoint her. This approach was somewhat risky; if the integration went too deep, the god would be completely bound to Kjerag. It would be akin to Kjerag becoming her body, and if Kjerag were destroyed, then she, as a god, would naturally perish with Kjerag's destruction.
However, that god was quite resourceful. For many years, she not only avoided complete integration with Kjerag but also maintained a very safe distance. Her power had also recovered significantly thanks to the faith of Kjerag's people, now at about thirty percent, which was quite good.
And the Heavenly Road was like a seal, a great door. Opening the door meant opening the way to the god's hiding place.
Now that she had found the god's presence, Fujino did not linger. Heavenly Movement activated, and in the next moment, she arrived in a cave entirely forged from ice and snow.
Fujino looked ahead. There was a staircase made of solid ice, leading up to a beautiful ice throne. And upon this beautiful ice throne sat a woman as beautiful as an ice spirit.
This was the so-called God of the Holy Mountain!
"Mortal."
"Slap!"
A crisp slap echoed through the icy cave.
"Ant, who are you calling!"
Eerie red light flickered in her purple eyes. The so-called god was now filled with terror.
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