"...You really are strange."
Reiya stared at Westheid for a long moment. Seeing not a shred of reverence for the Celestial God in his eyes, she muttered.
'A guy who was so flippant and disrespectful toward a Celestial God... He's just like me, a born half-breed. We're kindred spirits.'
Westheid said nonchalantly, "Some great beings are born great, while others choose greatness... The great Radiant Holy Tree is clearly not the latter, so it doesn't have my full respect. Compared to the Radiant Holy Tree, I admire your fortitude far more."
The fortitude and perseverance shown by a sixteen-year-old girl made him, a former corporate drone, break out in a cold sweat.
Westheid put himself in her shoes. 'If I knew in advance that my suffering was a trial by fire, a path to rebirth, I might have been able to grit my teeth and endure. But to suffer without any glimmer of hope... that's just outrageously cruel.'
Reiya gave a wry smile. "What's there to admire about it...? I just have no other choice."
She said that, but being genuinely praised by Westheid, the slight upturn of the Silver-haired Princess's lips betrayed her true feelings.
Westheid wasn't just denouncing the Celestial God to comfort Reiya; his stance had always been clear.
'That position can be taken and replaced!'
'Not only will I not fear it, I'm going to poach the Radiant Holy Tree's chosen one!'
In the game, Reiya eventually underwent the complete Blessing of Life and Death, sublimating into the Radiant Holy Tree's Demigod descendant in the Mortal World—the Withered and Flourishing Dragon Emperor who commanded the Empire.
That Iron-blooded Emperor, who had cast aside all weakness, would unite the fractured Empire by her own will in the dim future era when the Celestial Gods no longer manifested. She would participate in the great war for supremacy, reaping endless victory and glory.
However, that was something that would only happen many years from now. Since Westheid currently had the ability to interfere with the future, he had to consider how he could maximize his own gains.
'While Reiya is still a dragon lurking in the abyss, I'll recruit her to my side!'
Poaching from a Celestial God sounded like an audacious, suicidal act, but the Radiant Holy Tree was one god whose prospects could indeed be poached.
If it were a Celestial God like the Yonglan Riding God or Emperor Qianlu, who had ascended from mortality, they might be quite human-like. If their chosen descendant was snatched away by someone else, they certainly wouldn't let it slide and would insist on having a serious talk with you.
However, the Radiant Holy Tree was a tree.
Its thoughts and ideas were completely alien to a normal person's. Although it wanted to elevate Reiya to a Demigod, if she was unwilling to become its descendant, the Radiant Holy Tree would simply consider her as having "failed the test" and give up.
Its core principle was to let nature take its course.
Not to mention, in a future version of the world, under the assault of the Chaos Tide from the old world, all Celestial Gods would sever their connection to the Mortal World. By then, the heavens would be high and the emperor far away.
That was why, even though Westheid knew the Radiant Holy Tree was watching Reiya, he dared to sow discord right in front of it:
"I would have thought that under the Holy Law, there would at least be a clear system of reward and punishment."
Westheid frowned. "Anyone could have been at fault in that matter, but not you. I can understand the misplaced anger of a fool, but for a Celestial God of astounding wisdom to mete out such a punishment is truly unjust."
"Faced with the Divine Ancestor's decision, what can a mortal do, no matter how unwilling they are?"
Reiya moved from the edge of the bed to her wheelchair. Listening to Westheid speak out against the injustice she faced, the Silver-haired Princess even let the corners of her lips lift in a happy, faint smile.
"All I can do is endure. No matter what the Divine Ancestor sends down, I can only endure; I don't have the right to refuse. The only thing left for me is to laugh at all the suffering that has failed to kill me, and to scorn all the torment that has failed to make me weep."
Westheid listened to Reiya's confession with the focus of an Apprentice, nodding to himself.
'What is this? This is the heart of a Powerhouse!'
'She scorns fate and laughs at suffering. No wonder she'll become one of the supreme Powerhouses of the Mortal World in the future.'
"But I do have a few questions."
Perhaps because she had finally met someone she could open up to, Reiya found herself speaking more of her inner thoughts. She touched the Dragon horns on her forehead and said:
"If the goal was to punish my filth and impurity, shouldn't the first things to be taken away be these Dragon horns? And what's more, it's hollowing me out while simultaneously using its great power to keep me alive. Would the Radiant Holy Tree really carry out such a tasteless, pointless judgment?"
"I even suspect this is a trial from the Divine Ancestor—you know, to taste the sweet, you must first taste the bitter... Heh, what a laughably hopeful thought."
Westheid's brow twitched as he listened. Reiya's speculation was infinitely close to the truth.
He silently moved behind Reiya, took hold of the wheelchair, and said:
"Since no one knows what the Celestial God is thinking, why not go and ask the Divine Ancestor in person?"
"The Radiant Holy Tree doesn't always answer even the Emperor's prayers, but there is one occasion where it is guaranteed to answer those who ask."
Reiya turned her head, her eyes wide. "Are you talking about... the Secret Realm Trial?"
The Holy Tree Festival, held once every three years, is a grand celebration in praise of the Divine Ancestor, the Radiant Holy Tree. During this time, even the Celestial God itself will personally come down to run an event.
That event is the Secret Realm Trial, a specialty of nearly every Celestial God. They directly create a small world to serve as a stage, where participants can perform to their heart's content, displaying their courage and wisdom to please the Celestial God.
All participants who satisfy the Divine Ancestor will receive bounteous grace. If their performance is truly outstanding, they can even make a wish directly to the Divine Ancestor!
Besides Celestial Gods, Demons or Spirits of Nature from a Holy Land can also create similar Secret Realms, though their scale is far inferior to those of the Celestial Gods.
This was, in fact, the dungeon mechanic from "Poem of Destiny."
Westheid said with certainty, "Participate in the Secret Realm Trial and earn the right to question the Divine Ancestor."
"...And I thought my own speculation was already far-fetched."
Reiya turned to look at Westheid, her gaze practically screaming, "You're joking!"
When wasn't the Secret Realm Trial a stage for all the brilliant talents of the Empire to compete in splendor? Among so many chosen ones, only a rare few managed to catch the Divine Ancestor's eye and receive its grace, to say nothing of earning the right to make a wish—something that hadn't happened in nearly a hundred years.
On the magnificent stage created by the Celestial God, to receive the grace of the Divine Ancestor's personal favor, one had to display absolute courage, wisdom, and Charm, putting on a grand performance that would mesmerize and astound even a god.
Such a miracle was a once-in-a-century event.
"How will you know if you don't try? A person needs a reason to dream, after all."
Westheid revealed his true intentions. He happened to know exactly what this year's Trial Secret Realm was; it was a dungeon he had run countless times himself.
He had memorized all the key information and every minor detail, making it entirely possible to pull off something big.
Unfortunately, the cards in his hand were far too few. Even if he brought Yolanda along, he would only have a Tier Two Elite and a Tier Three Prominent. No matter how skillfully he played his hand, he couldn't make much happen with that.
But if Reiya became his teammate, everything would be completely different.
And so, Westheid began his gentle persuasion:
"Lady Reiya, why not participate in the Trial with me?"
"Mr. Westheid, don't you know? A half-breed like me, despised by the Divine Ancestor... I'm not allowed to participate in the Trial."
"..."
'There's a rule like that?'
Westheid only knew that Reiya was the descendant beloved and favored by the Holy Tree. Wasn't something like the Secret Realm Trial practically tailor-made for her?
But on second thought, how could any mortal know about that? In their eyes, a Dragon Girl with tainted blood was absolutely forbidden from participating in the sacred Trial.
"Besides, in this state, what's the point of participating anyway?"
Reiya shook her head slowly but firmly. "Mr. Westheid, the fact that you came to see me is more than enough. You don't need to do anything more for me."
"Alright... Would you like to go for a stroll outside?"
Westheid had no choice but to give up on the idea of having Reiya join him in the Trial.
'But that's fine,' Westheid thought. 'The most important thing is to get Reiya's Talent for free.'
"If you don't mind, then please."
The Silver-haired Princess no longer resisted Westheid's goodwill. According to her usual principles, she would never have wanted to accept help.
So Westheid pushed the wheelchair out of the bedchamber. Leaving the palace that felt like a prison, the sky above the Holy Tree Palace seemed bright and vast.
"Where would you like to go?" Westheid asked.
Reiya pondered for a moment. "The gardens below, I think."
In the past, because she had to descend a steep set of stairs to reach the gardens, it was difficult for Reiya to manage on her own, so she rarely went. But with Westheid's help, the stairs were no longer an insurmountable chasm blocking her way.
Westheid simply lifted the wheelchair and carried Reiya down to the palace gardens.
Ornate, holy pillars and architecture blended harmoniously with exotic flowers and plants, forging a breathtakingly magnificent scene together with the pale golden Holy Tree Illusion.
Under the Radiant Holy Tree, even ordinary flowers and trees were blessed, growing lush and delicate. No matter how hard the court painters tried, they could never replicate the vividness of their colors.
A heart-refreshing fragrance drifted from the sea of flowers that billowed in the wind. The blessed purples and reds possessed a Magic Power that could soothe the soul.
Even as a half-breed who was discriminated against and loathed, Reiya was still a descendant of the Tree God, and she loved the beautiful scenery formed by the flowers and plants from the bottom of her heart.
A pure glimmer entered the young woman's eyes, reflecting the beautiful, dreamlike garden.
She lifted her head to meet the caress of the breeze, her eyelids gently lowering.
"It's so beautiful," the silver-haired girl sighed.