Chapter 392: Ancestral Precept

Night deepened, and a campfire ignited in the forest of Snow Peak, its flickering flames reflecting on the four faces, slightly dispelling the surrounding chill, yet unable to drive away the heaviness in the air.

"Huo La, are… the things Regigigas mentioned really true?" Xiao Zhao lightly brushed the firewood with her fingertips, sparks fluttering, her voice low, tinged with lingering shock and bewilderment, her eyes full of disbelief.

Huo La's gaze also fell on the fire before him; the dancing flames flickered in his eyes, and he first let out a low nasal "hm," as if conceding, yet also as if weighing his words.

A moment later, feeling it was too absolute, he added, "From the current situation, it's most likely true. After all, the details in that projection and Regigigas's condition don't seem fake."

Beside them, Bin Lian and Shan Kui exchanged a glance, each hiding complex emotions.

Bin Lian let out a soft sigh, his tone firm: "It's not 'most likely'; it's definitely true."

At those words, Huo La and Xiao Zhao both looked up, their gazes darting toward Bin Lian, eyes full of doubt.

Bin Lian inhaled deeply, slowly drawing back the lingering sigh, steadied himself, then spoke slowly, his tone bearing a hint of reverence for the ancestors: "The Snow Peak Temple was originally built together by my ancestors and Shan Kui's ancestors."

"Although we now belong to two separate teams, each busy with our own affairs, the guardianship of the Snow Peak Temple has always been a shared responsibility of our families, never a point of disagreement."

Shan Kui nodded lightly beside him, adding, "Our tribe has always kept clear records; generation after generation we have been the temple's guardians."

Bin Lian continued, his voice growing more solemn: "Moreover, the tribe's ancient texts preserve an ancestral precept—if one day someone receives guidance from the god Regigigas, regardless of where our descendants are or what circumstances they face, they must abandon everything, walk with it, and exert all effort to fulfill the god's command."

Huo La's gaze instantly clouded, his fingertips tightening slightly; after a moment of silence he spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of understanding and some complexity: "So, the Shanbei Owner didn't hesitate to leave with me then—not on a whim, but because of that ancestral precept."

"Exactly," Shan Kui said calmly, nodding, a relieved smile appearing on his face, "Actually I discussed it with Bin Lian for a long time, agonizing over who should follow you. In the end I decided to come, and he stayed behind to guard the temple and the tribe."

"Then... have you now fulfilled the ancestral precept?" Xiao Zhao asked.

Binlian shook his head, Shan Kui nodded.

Finally it was still Bin Lian who spoke: "We have confirmed that you, Huo La, are the one guided, but... we have not fulfilled the god's instruction to you."

Huo La again gave a low "hm," the darkness in his eyes gradually fading, his mind now understanding Bin Lian's intent.

He exhaled a breath of foul air slowly, fatigue evident in his brows, turned his head toward Xiao Zhao, Bin Lian, and Shan Kui, his voice calm: "Today's information shock was too great; my spirit needs proper rest. Tomorrow, there are even more important tasks to do."

Seeing Huo La's weary expression and eyes full of fatigue, Bin Lian said no more and voluntarily spoke: "You all rest easy; I'll keep watch tonight and won't let anything approach."

Huo La offered no objection; after days of battle and successive secrets, he was already exhausted in body and mind.

He gave a slight nod, collapsed, lying on the dry straw beside the campfire, eyes closed, falling into deep sleep, though his brows remained slightly furrowed, as if even in his dream he was sorting through yesterday's events.

Xiao Zhao and Shan Kui exchanged a glance, each seeing fatigue and tacit understanding in the other's eyes; they no longer delayed, moved to the straw pile on the other side of the fire, huddling together, and, warmed by the lingering heat, soon slipped into slumber.

Only the crackling of the campfire remained in the forest; Bin Lian sat alone beside the flames, his gaze vacant as he stared at the dancing fire, his expression inscrutable, lost in thought.

The next morning, the first ray of sunlight pierced the forest canopy, spilling over the camp and dispelling the night's chill.

Everyone finished a quick wash, nibbled a few bites of carried rations for breakfast, then promptly packed up and prepared to set out.

Bin Lian rose first and said to Huo La: "You go to the Sinnoh Temple first; I'll relay the news here to Ma Jia Mu, Gangshi, and Zhu Bei, and we'll part for now, reconvening later."

Huo La nodded in agreement.

After parting, Huo La, with Xiao Zhao and Shan Kui, summoned a Gyarados and leapt onto its broad back.

The Gyarados let out a deep roar, swaying its massive body, and sped toward the Sinnoh Temple.

Sitting on the Gyarados's back, wind blew against him, ruffling Huo La's hair.

He closed his eyes, repeatedly calling Deoxys's name in his mind, but no matter how he called, his thoughts remained empty, receiving no response.

As Huo La and his companions rode the Gyarados toward the Sinnoh Temple, inside the Sinnoh Temple a tense, charged atmosphere already spread.

Inside, the light was slightly dim, reflecting two opposing figures, the atmosphere oppressive enough to choke.

The opponents were not mortals, but two god‑level Pokemon at the pinnacle of power.

One of them was the Time God—Dialga; its former domineering arrogance had vanished without a trace, replaced by unmistakable dread, each syllable of its roar trembling with fear, no longer exuding the confidence of controlling time.

The other Pokemon it faced, its form identical to the primordial creation, was cloaked in a dark sheen, the once‑holy Arceus now stripped of its radiant light, its whole body exuding a chilling aura.

At this moment, it wore an expression so indifferent there was no ripple, emitting no extraneous aura, yet it carried an innate, suffocating Intimidation.

It stood there silently, its gaze calmly fixed on Dialga, making no extra movement, not even a sound, as if merely inspecting an inconsequential object; that ultimate calm was more unsettling than any display of fury.