Chapter 268: The Peaceful Capital of Kyoto Appears!

I also think Yoto might be trying to use this to figure out something else, like a cultivation system—hasn't there always been a saying that orthodox and heretical cannot coexist? Maybe the opposition between past and future is precisely about systems—the future cultivation system is rejected by the past, causing the past and future to stand against each other.

Said Section Chief Saito.

Others nodded in agreement; no matter the country, there's always a notion of orthodox versus heretical. Take ancient Chinese martial circles: any martial art that used humans as cauldrons or absorbed others' cultivation was deemed heretical, especially if it was rare and not widely accepted—and such arts were relentlessly hunted down by the orthodox.

"This possibility is very high—systemic opposition causes the past and future to oppose each other," replied a senior official.

"Could it be that the opposition between past and future involves competition?" Director Takahashi mused.

Everyone paused, confused.

What do you mean?

Director Takahashi glanced at them and said: "Whether ancient or modern, power and money are always what people fight hardest for. In ancient times, princes battled for the throne, willing to slaughter their own blood relatives."

As he spoke, Director Takahashi coughed softly.

"Even today it's the same. Look at all of us here—we each reached our current senior positions by competing against others."

At these words, every senior official present—except Professor Zhongtian and Professor Beishan—began coughing violently.

I get that you're giving examples, Director Takahashi, but why bring us into it? Even if what you're saying is the unspoken rule everyone knows, you still shouldn't say it outright… but honestly, using us as examples is the most fitting.

The others didn't dwell on Director Takahashi's example—after all, they were all insiders now. What was said here wouldn't leak; this was private talk.

"There's an old Chinese saying: where there are people, there is the jianghu," Professor Beishan drew on his cigarette.

Section Chief Zhongtian looked at Director Takahashi.

"Director Takahashi, power and money may be coveted, but that's only true for humans. Even if gods and demons crave power, they wouldn't go so far as to destroy the past."

"Mythological history does often feature battles for the position of King of Gods—fierce, bloody struggles. Even Tsukuyomi and Luxi have said that in the era before the Initial Realm shattered, the four mythologies clashed, each vying for dominance, likely to seize control of the Initial Realm."

"But… if the goal was to seize the Initial Realm's dominance, why destroy the past?"

Professor Beishan spoke, clearly skeptical of Director Takahashi's speculation.

"Indeed—the past is already the past. Even if a mythology in the future becomes the Initial Realm's dominant force, it's already achieved that status. Why bother targeting the past? Unless the past refuses to let the future become the dominant force."

As this senior official finished, another stepped in.

"It's impossible the past would block the future from becoming the Initial Realm's dominant force—it makes no sense. If a mythology in the future becomes dominant, even if it used underhanded methods, if it lacked strength, it would fail. To become dominant, it must be overwhelmingly powerful."

"Besides, every ruler rises through deceit, betrayal, and life-or-death struggles. If a dominant force emerges in the future, the past has no grounds to complain—it's each side's own merit."

"And even setting that aside, the very emergence of the Initial Battlefield clearly shows the future is actively seeking to erase the past—that makes your theory even less plausible."

Everyone nodded in silent agreement.

According to Tsukuyomi and Luxi, the past never had an Initial Realm dominant force—it must have emerged in the future. But if the future achieved dominance, why would it still target the past? The logic was contradictory.

This isn't about seizing a throne and killing all rivals—this is past versus future.

Therefore, if a dominant force emerges in the future, it should erase its own rivals in the future—not obliterate the past.

"I'm not referring to power and money in the mundane sense," Director Takahashi said.

Everyone looked puzzled.

Sensing their focused gazes, Director Takahashi didn't delay—he spoke plainly:

"To ordinary people, power is something anyone can compete for. But gods and demons are different—their power is directly tied to strength. The stronger the being, the greater the authority. Who among the kings of mythologies is weak? None.

In the world of gods, demons, and the transcendent, strength equals everything."

"You mean…"

Everyone's eyebrows twitched.

At that moment, Director Takahashi nodded—he clearly knew what they were thinking.

"Exactly. My point is: could the future's destruction of the past be tied to divine power? Put simply—could it be about achieving unprecedented strength, like the Nine Steps of the Divine and Demon?"

"So far, we've seen many gods and demons—but never one who reached the Ninth Step of the Divine and Demon. Could it be… that reaching the Ninth Step requires something special? Or perhaps…"

Director Takahashi paused.

He glanced nervously around, fearing eavesdroppers, then lowered his voice and spoke gravely:

"The Ninth Step of the Divine and Demon—only one being in existence can reach it. And by 'existence,' I mean past, present, and future."

Hiss!!

Those leaning in to listen suddenly widened their eyes, gasping in shock.

The moment he spoke, their minds exploded—as if each hair on their scalp were tied to a mountain, ready to rip their skin off.

Dead silence.

So quiet you could hear the sound of blood flowing.

Every single person stared fixedly at Director Takahashi—his theory was horrifying, yet not impossible. In fact, the likelihood was enormous.

Past, present, future—competing for the "one and only."

One being would seize control of past, present, and future, becoming the eternal, singular sovereign.

In that moment,

everyone stood frozen, their minds holding only one thought:

The gods and transcendent beings of the future had decided to become the eternal, singular sovereign—and so they sought to erase the past, eliminating all rivals.

At this moment,

Director Takahashi spoke again, his voice drifting: "Of course, this is only my speculation. I still haven't resolved a major flaw: if the future is fighting to become the one and only, then which god or transcendent being in the future wants to claim that title?

Why would other gods and transcendent beings help him destroy the past instead of seeking the title for themselves?

Unfortunately, we don't know which era the 'others' invaded from to create the Initial Battlefield—if we did, studying that era might reveal what triggered the future's decision to erase this past…"

Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted across the entire Earth.

It came from the other side of the Russian sky's void—the Initial Battlefield. The thunder shook the heavens, shaking the Initial Battlefield itself.

Then,

divine and demonic blood rained down from the depths of the Initial Battlefield's starry void.

Abe Yasachika fell downward, no longer the towering figure he once was, his body drenched in blood, as if woven from billions of starlights, beginning at his surface, disintegrating continuously as he plummeted.

At the same time, countless people saw a vast, ancient city.

That was… Heian-kyō?!

……