Chapter 485 (1): Tree of Life, Tree of Knowledge

Heaven was divided into nine levels. The Heavenly Father’s residence was the ninth heaven, Supreme Heaven, also known as the Heaven of Crystals. As was the hierarchical nature of Heaven, each heaven corresponded to a tier of the angels. The Seraphim resided in the eighth heaven, the Heaven of Stars. Cherub Milia, Gerar, and Vilkul were allowed access to the eighth heaven because they outranked the other Cherubim as Virtues.

Hesione led Wayne through door after door, arriving at the Supreme Heaven above all heavens. She stopped, turning around to look at Hestia, who had been following Wayne.

“What’s wrong, Hesione?” Wayne asked intentionally. “Why did you stop?”

“Anointed One, even the four Seraphim needed to ask for permission before entering the Heaven of Crystals,” Hesione said professionally. “A throne has no right to enter your residence.”

“You’re getting way too personal.” Wayne shook his head, waving at Hestia. “Come here. The Anointed One permits you to enter the Heaven of Crystals.”

Hestia nodded and gave Hesione a pitiful look, looking heartbreakingly beautiful inwith her face still damp with tears.

Hesione ignored her to address Wayne. “The Heaven of Crystals is an ideal world and the manifestation of all things good. It represents absolute purity and perfection, so it’s only open to pure souls seeking truths. A Throne that resembles Lust falls far short of the requirement.”

“That’s unfair. Hestia just looks lewd. You and I both know that she’s pure. If Heaven judges a person by her looks, it’ll be too Hell-like.” Wayne shrugged. “By your standards, none of the four Seraphim will be qualified to enter this heaven.”

“But when Father was still around...”

“That was then. Now, I have the final say. The rules do not apply to those in power. She can enter because I say she can.”

Wayne made a wide gesture, having Hesione lead the way, and Hestia follow closely.

Hestia gave him a grateful look before following Hesione, still with no one but her Śār in her eyes. The Anointed One was far less important to her.

Was she loyal? But her respect for her top superior was only surface level; was she not loyal? But she wouldn’t even resist if Hesione swung her blade at her.

Wayne shook away the thoughts, stepping through the flickering portal and entering an infinite cosmos.

It was a cosmos where directions existed, unlike the actual universe. The sky resembled a fluid, softly glowing crystal, consisting of countless tiny crystal particles. Every particle radiated a divine light. From a distance, the place looked like a shimmering Milky Way.

Under the crystal dome, the cosmos was illuminated entirely rather than pitch-black. The light was warm and gentle, like a sacred spring that washed over and cleaned the minds. Every soul that entered would be purified and elevated.

Wayne raised an eyebrow. He smelled Laws. He looked around and confirmed that this was the Greater Universe, namely the Astral Plane.

Heaven was indeed the Heavenly Father’s Divine Realm, located in the Astral Plane. Moreover...

Wayne inhaled deeply to take in the information of the Laws. “The information hasn’t been corrupted, or perhaps it’s been filtered and distilled. While it isn’t completely pure, it’s safer than roaming the Astral Plane. Is this a Divine Realm? How impressive.”

He murmured to himself, taking in the crystal dome with his super vision. He speculated that the scintillating Milky Way was the filter, while the fine crystal particles consisted of faith and Holy Light.

“The Heavenly Father’s evolution is based on the ancient gods, but unlike me, he started as a human and feared corruption...”

“Hm, at least that was once the case.”

Wayne believed that was still the case now. According to Ines, the Heavenly Father was the unquestionable top deity, greater than any members of the Life Alliance. However, He still chose to flee in the face of the prophesied Judgment Day.

That meant that the Heavenly Father was still exploring His evolution. He had not become a true ancient god.

What was an ancient god? They could be everything, or they could be nothing.

There was knowledge that had been corrupted by ancient gods, but no ancient gods had ever been corrupted by knowledge. They were truly able to do whatever they wanted.

I don’t care how strong you are. You aren’t as strong as I am!

True ancient gods wouldn’t worry about a prophecy of the apocalypse. The Heavenly Father’s transcendent might only allowed him to go beyond the box. He wasn’t yet above the final judgment.

The Heaven of Crystals was infinite, vast enough to envelope all of Chosen Land. The scintillating light and shadow wove into endless fantasies, embodying all things sacred and beautiful.

It was clearly a filter. Without faith, the Heaven of Crystals would be nothing.

Faith had elevated the heaven to an unimaginable height. Only because there was faith could this heaven exist. It was clear which of them was the important one.

“Those who dream of harvesting without hard work raised a god who harvests without putting in any work,” Wayne lamented. “I learned something useless again.”

After a moment, Hesione reached the heart of the crystal dome, where a hovering crystal star was.

Temple Garden!

Temple Garden was also known as the Eye of Wisdom and the Eye of Heavenly Father. It was the Heavenly Father’s residence and a symbol of His omniscience over the world below. It was fertile ground with absolute purity. A faint floral fragrance and something refreshing permeated the air. Every plot of land and every ray of light radiated an infinite vitality and synergy.

The winding sacred river was so clear that one could see the riverbed. Gem-like flowers bloomed all along the riverbanks, fiery red, oceanic blue, and violet purple. Where the colors stretched, different trees carried scrumptious fruit on dense branches. There was no famine, no plague, no war, and no death here. Everything was nature’s purest gift.

Time had no meaning here. Anyone who had entered would be free of worldly concerns and mortality.

Wayne landed gracefully, picking up a golden apple. Wiping it on his sleeve, he swallowed it in one go.

“Tastes no different from the apples in the human world...” He picked another apple and tossed it to Hesione. “It’s not bad. Try one.”

Hesione accepted the gift with a bow. She didn’t start eating until she noticed Wayne’s unblinking gaze.

While chewing, she said, “I’m not allowed to taste the fruit here, but I cannot disobey your order, Anointed One...”

“Anything else?”

“Yes.” Hesione quickly finished the apple, pulling a long face. “Thrones are never allowed a taste!”

I was waiting for that! Wayne raised an eyebrow and picked another apple for Hestia. “Eat!”

Dumbfounded, Hestia looked at his warm smile, then at Hesione’s blank scowl, breaking into cold sweat.

What a dilemma!

After thinking long and hard about it, Hestia, with the belief that her superior’s superior wasn’t her direct superior, turned to Hesione for her opinion.

“Eat if the Anointed One tells you to eat,” Hesione said coldly. “But remember, you can’t eat everything, so keep your mouth under control.”

Hestia nodded, turning away to start nibbling on the apple.

“A question.” Wayne raised his hand like a diligent student. “Teacher Hesione, what can’t Hestia eat even if the Anointed One offers it to her?”

Hesione’s eyes twitched. “You know what I mean, Anointed One...”

“I don’t.” Wayne put on a curious look. “Tell me honestly. That’s an order.”

After a moment of silence, Hesione said, “There are two sacred trees in this garden, the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. Hestia can’t have those fruits.”

Life and knowledge? Wayne’s eyebrows jumped up. He had found his next goal. “So Hestia can eat everything other than the fruits of those two trees. Is that what you mean?”

Hesione cocked her head and gritted her teeth. “Anointed One, this is Heaven. Please do go for a more indirect approach when you give her redemption.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Hesione. Can’t you be a little more direct? You know how big of an idiot Hestia is. If you don’t say it, how would she know what she should and shouldn’t eat? What if she eats whatever I give her and gets it all over her face?”

His teasing left Hesione blushing. He added, “I understand. Some fruits are exclusive to you. As a Throne, Hestia has no right to fight you for a taste.”

Hesione groaned in her mind. She couldn’t say what she wanted to say, so she simply nodded in agreement.

“That’s more like it.” Wayne huffed. “You haven’t been as obedient as you were in the human world after coming to Heaven.”

“Anointed One, it’s because we’re in Heaven that you must maintain your divinity and nobility. Perhaps you have your plans, and I’m in no position to point fingers, but most angels are far from as wise as you are. As bad at thinking as they are, they won’t understand your actions...” Hesione launched into an earnest suggestion. Her word vomit could be summarized as: Please stop acting and just be a noble god!

“I’ve never been acting. It’s you who have been misunderstanding me...” Wayne picked his ear. “I’m not the Anointed One. Never was, and never will be.”

“You just admitted it.”

“That’s only because there’s something strange about Mikhael. I want to see what he’s up to...” Wayne held Hesione’s gaze. “I’m also trying to protect you. That guy gives me the creeps. The insistence on maintaining the image must mean it’s only an act. He isn’t Heaven’s sun!”

No good man would glow all the time with radiant hair like he was worried that others didn’t know about his virtues. He obviously created the image as an overcompensation.

Wayne’s white moonlight was Anastasia, and he knew two suns. The bigger one was the celestial body in the sky, while the smaller one was named Vera—or William. Neither looked like Mikhael. He tried too hard.

“Mikhael is acting strange...” Hesione thought for a moment. While his behavior was unusual today, it could be explained. Since she had found the Anointed One and become closest to him, Mikhael, not wanting to be alienated, would naturally show more respect to their new leader.

Seeing Hesione’s certainty, Wayne nodded and said, “See? That’s why I had to impersonate the Anointed One to protect you. Your idea of internal strife is about winning and losing. You don’t know that as conflicts escalate, in the end... the loser will face dire consequences.”

“Mikhael...” Hesione frowned. “Perhaps you’re right, but the winner has already been determined now that you’ve entered Heaven. No matter how aggrieved Mikhael is, he won’t do anything reckless.”

“Wanna bet?”

“...”

“I order you to accept the bet. If I win, you must forgive everything Hestia has done. Moreover...” Wayne beckoned Hesione over, whispering to her while pointing at the grove nearby.

Hesione’s expression distorted. “This is a sacred, pure temple and the most supreme site in Heaven. You cannot do something that frivolous here.”

“Do you find me filthy?”

“No, I’m the filthy one.”

“Then should I seek out Hestia instead?”

“...”

“Answer me!”

“Everything you do is sacred and free of filth, and everything around you will be cleansed by virtue of being in your proximity.”

“I knew you would find a good excuse.” Wayne nodded with a smile. “Lead the way. I want to get a look at the two sacred trees.”

“This way.”