CHAPTER 318: CHAPTER 285: HOUSE OF TRUTH

Finally, they had arrived at the House of Truth. The journey here had been rather arduous... they had tapped the screen hundreds of times.

Yang Qizhou’s thoughts unconsciously drifted elsewhere.

"This is fantastic, dear lamp holder. If everything goes as planned, we’ll soon find the Taboo Treasure." The Secret Cultivator’s slightly excited voice came as no surprise. Thinking about the opportunity to ascend to godhood within reach, her heart brimmed with determination.

It seemed as though this woman had entirely convinced herself that their game character would undoubtedly secure the ’Taboo Treasure.’

Though Yang Qizhou didn’t want to shatter her illusions, out of kindness, he casually offered a reminder, "It’s still too early to celebrate. The game character hasn’t even entered the ’House of Truth’ yet. No one knows what kind of dangers might be lurking inside."

Who could have guessed that the ’Secret Cultivator’ wouldn’t feel disheartened by this at all? Instead, she flashed a faint smile...

She gazed at the ’lamp holder’ before her with utmost sincerity and said, "Sir, your godlike power and unfathomable techniques have already proven that no matter how strange or terrifying the crises faced by the game character, they can be resolved with ease. With you around, finding the ’Taboo Treasure’ is only a matter of time."

Well then... she wasn’t wrong, was she?

Yang Qizhou instinctively puffed out his chest and said, "Not too bad, I suppose. It shouldn’t be an issue. In that case, let’s not delay. Let’s move on."

"Alright."

The Secret Cultivator’s face was alight with excitement as she gave a resolute nod. Without further delay, the two of them turned their gaze to their phones and continued tapping the screen.

The game resumed.

...

"A mountain as black as coal, with faintly lingering fragrances; gray-black fog churned within a black curtain connecting heaven and earth. Occasionally, terrifying roars could be heard."

"As you climbed toward the mountain’s summit, the full outline of a giant door gradually emerged, becoming ever clearer. When you finally reached the peak, the grandeur of the colossal structure came fully into view."

"You call *this* a ’house’?"

"Faced with the sight before you, a sense of absurdity surged through your mind. You even felt an impulse to drag the ’Mad Creator’ over and ask them again, ’Are you sure this is supposed to be a house?’"

"It was a clocktower-like structure, towering dozens of meters high with a circular, spired roof. Suspended in its center was a gargantuan, scarcely imaginable clock. The entire structure was shrouded in faint gray-white fog, appearing almost fused with the black mountainside and the black-gray fog cutting off the Lost Heaven. This was why the ’House of Truth’ had remained hidden from view while you were at the foot of the mountain."

"Before you stood a door nearly ten meters tall, something only fit for a giant’s palace. Engraved upon it were bas-relief carvings—a somewhat abstract depiction. You could just make out a figure clad in a pristine Divine Robe, with golden hair, gemstone-green eyes, and the faintest trace of a smile at the corners of their mouth. Like a priest, the figure sat upon a jade-crafted throne, surrounded by countless ’divinities’ bowing in reverence, serving at their side."

"This must be the ’Correct Wizard King’ mentioned by the ’God of Justice.’"

"No denying it—this guy’s posturing is next-level..."

""A solid 101 points."

"One extra point, don’t worry about getting cocky."

"’Dark Crow of Profane Fortune’, according to the ’God of Justice’’s revelation, the Taboo Treasure lies deep within the ’House of Truth.’ Let’s go inside quickly..." The Secret Cultivator’s voice called out. Thinking of the potential godhood opportunity hidden within the Taboo Treasure, her heart fluttered with a mix of unease and anticipation."

"Another revelation from the God of Justice?"

"Although, per the agreement, after helping them repel the Evil God of the ’Land of Prayer Light,’ they would guide the ’Secret Cultivator’ in spirit to the House of Truth. But isn’t this a little too eager, too enthusiastic, too impatient?"

"You pondered this for a moment..."

"Still, you saw no reason to refuse. First, because your curiosity about the ’Taboo Treasure’ was undeniable. Second, you were interested in seeing just what tricks the ’God of Justice’ was plotting."

"With that, you feigned indifference and gave a slight nod."

"Through the slit that was naturally present in the massive door, you stepped into the ’House of Truth’..."

"The grand ’cottage’ was not shrouded in darkness. Slightly blinding light poured in through large floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing you to faintly but somewhat clearly discern the surroundings."

"Passing through the doorway, the first thing you saw was a massive hall spanning thousands of square meters. Paintings filled the walls, there was a prayer platform at the highest point, and rows of long benches in the center, with a massive crystal chandelier hanging down from the ceiling."

"It resembled an enormous church."

"As you stepped into the hall, your gaze instinctively shifted to the oil paintings. You noticed a recurring theme of ’god worship’ in their designs."

"For example, the painting on the far-left wall depicted a massive embryo shrouded in mist, obscuring the features of the fetus inside. Surrounding it were countless believers cloaked, masked, and hooded, their faces hidden, all engaged in prayer."

"Another painting portrayed an abstract, twisted starry sky, with every star and streak of starlight flowing like liquid. Below it, figures such as black dragons, giants, Ancient Gods, the Mother Tree, and other creatures clearly tied to the Ancient Dominators gazed upward in reverence."

"The third, the fourth, the fifth..."

"They were all more or less similar in this vein."

"’Could the ’embryo’ be a metaphor for the primordial universe?... The worship depicted in these paintings doesn’t seem to center on any specific deity but rather the entire Star Realm, or perhaps the universe itself... Speaking of which, isn’t the ’Correct Wizard King’ supposed to be a taboo figure, one who desecrates divinity, usurps authority, and enslaves symbols? Why would he allow these kinds of images to be displayed in his pastures, his laboratory, or his academy?’"