Chapter 80 Transcendentalism 1

Looking at this black electronic telescope, I was speechless.

I just heard that Zhu Shi went to so much trouble for me in secret, yet Lu Youxun still managed to circumvent him. I actually have some reservations about Lu Youxun. Of course, I know very well that Lu Youxun was simply fulfilling his duties; he himself has no problems. This is a matter of my personal feelings.

But now, upon seeing this thing, those emotions were instantly dispelled, leaving only speechlessness towards Lu Youxun and Zhu Shi.

Lu Youxun, a demon hunter skilled in various divination and investigative spells, ultimately managed to uncover my secret using an electronic telescope—a truly astonishing contrast. Zhu Shi, on the other hand, took so many precautions—guarding against reading the land's memories and divination spells—yet in the end, he overlooked this very object.

I can't say anything bad about them, because I myself never expected a telescope to appear here.

"So... while we were fighting, you were watching us from a distance using this thing?" I asked.

“Yes. It’s my duty, I hope you don’t mind.” Lu Youxun smiled humorously first, then said, “Don’t blame Zhu Shi for not doing her job well. It’s not that she doesn’t understand modern technology, but that she has a stereotype of superhumans and thinks we despise modern technology. There are indeed many people among us who despise technology, but that’s just their stupidity, and we can’t generalize.”

"Transcendentalism?"

“Zhu Shi must have described the mountain I’m on to you before,” he said. “Transcendentalism is a general term for our thoughts. The mountain I’m on is also called the Mountain of Transcendentalism.”

"You used to refer to Witchers as monks, is that your transcendental terminology?" I asked.

“That’s right.” He pondered for a moment and then said, “Zhuang Cheng, when you first came into contact with the Witchers, were you ever confused as to why Luo Shan would refer to people with special powers as ‘Witchers’?”

I did think about this question at first.

If someone merely possesses special abilities, calling them a "person with special abilities" would be more accurate. The term "witcher," however, carries a sense of agency. If someone's abilities are unrelated to combat, they have no desire to fight supernatural beings, and they have no experience fighting them, then calling them a witcher is clearly inappropriate.

Luo Shan would even directly refer to those who use special powers to commit evil as "fallen witchers," rather than using other terms that better reflect their actual actions. If I were to awaken my superpowers at fourteen and immediately start committing crimes, I would also be defined as a fallen witcher—even though I've never actually been a witcher.

I can only come to one answer to this.

"It's for 'defining' the nature of it, isn't it?" I said.

“That’s right,” Lu Youxun agreed.

When children are young, some will give nicknames to peers they dislike and encourage others to do the same. While this is certainly childish behavior, in the adult world, "giving nicknames" also carries considerable power. Because naming something is, in fact, an act of power and a form of characterization.

Giving a serious object a comical title diminishes its seriousness, and vice versa. This phenomenon is common in real life. If someone with the ability to hunt monsters is called a monster hunter, those around them will gradually come to believe that it's perfectly natural for him to hunt monsters.

Even if he himself has no intention of hunting monsters, nor any experience in hunting monsters, society will still assume that since he is called a monster hunter, he is born with the obligation to hunt monsters. Even the person himself will unconsciously have similar thoughts, feel ashamed for not fulfilling his responsibility, or simply admit that he is a selfish person.

In reality, having the ability to fight and whether one should engage in combat are two completely different things. From the beginning, this person has no need to feel ashamed or selfish; that is an ideology acquired later in life.

Those whose strength is not suited for combat might have been drawn into this defining event because they were perceived as being able to provide support from the rear.

This phenomenon reminded me of the occult knowledge I had encountered in the past. In the world of occultism, names possess power; a correct name can even determine a person's fate.

Even from a purely psychological perspective, the name "Witcher" does indeed imbue this group with a "force of destiny." However, not in a mystical form, but in an ideological one. This isn't to say that mysticism is using psychology to create an air of mystery. Just as in ancient times, feng shui wasn't entirely mysterious; certain legitimate architectural disciplines were also categorized under feng shui. And long ago, some disciplines involving ideology were initially within the realm of mysticism.

However, considering the existence of strange objects, the act of "naming" might actually involve the so-called power of fate.

“Form is very important. Many self-proclaimed pragmatists look down on form, unaware of the magnificent power it has wielded throughout human history. A name establishes trust, and trust safeguards the instrument. Only the instrument and the name cannot be lent to others.” Lu Youxun sighed first, then continued, “One of the demands of transcendence is to transform ‘witch hunters’ into ‘monks.’ From now on, we will no longer be a group born to deal with the bizarre, but free and strong individuals.”

"And what about dealing with weird jobs?" I asked.

“We will continue to do it,” he said. “But this work is no longer a given. Historically, the state has taken it for granted that Luoshan should take huge risks to deal with strange organizations. This idea is distorted and we must correct it.”

Up to this point, nothing he'd said had offended me. People often say that with great power comes great responsibility, and the power here refers to social power. An individual who gains power with the support of a group should therefore consciously protect that group. However, if this principle is rigidly applied to "super-individuals" like Witcher, various contradictions arise.

The problem lies in what comes next.

"So, as a reward for dealing with the bizarre, you transcendentalists believe you should become the gods of this country?" I asked.

“If we are to bear responsibility, then we should relinquish the corresponding power. Isn’t that reasonable?” Lu Youxun retorted.

“I don’t know if the responsibility to fight the supernatural is equivalent to the right to enslave ordinary people; I lack the knowledge in that area. But if this is really so reasonable, why didn’t Luoshan do it in history?” I said intentionally, “There must be some crucial reason behind this.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” he said without hesitation. “The reason why the Luoshan people in the past did not choose to rule the world was simply because they ‘didn’t think of it.’ I’m not saying they were stupid or crazy, but there was some external force that prevented them from thinking that way.”

"It might be a form of mass hypnosis, or some other incredible phenomenon. In any case, that power is extremely strong, even influencing the Great Impermanence of past generations. As a result, they defined us, who should have been 'cultivators,' as 'witch hunters,' and forbade us from revealing our existence to the world, as well as from stepping onto the stage of history. We don't know why we didn't question this order at all, and it has continued into this era."

"But now, that power has dissipated. We should reclaim our true title and return to our rightful place."

"If that's the case, why haven't you taken any action yet?" I asked. "According to Zhu Shi, that force dissipated three years ago, but you haven't exerted any influence on society yet. Why is that?"

I've asked Zhu Shi a similar question. Zhu Shi attributed it to "internal disagreements within Luoshan," but I don't think that's a sufficient reason. Besides, Zhu Shi doesn't seem like the type to be concerned with the political situation in Luoshan; she likely has a lot of information she hasn't noticed.

Lu Youxun, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. He was clearly the type who valued "isms" and "factions," and he was in a completely different position from Zhu Shi, with a different perspective and the ability to see things differently.

I'm not interested in "isms" or "factions," but I am very interested in "mysteries."

Lu Youxun said in a deep voice, "Because we are on guard against the 'Divine Seal'."

Divine Seal?

Upon hearing this name, I was immediately jolted awake.

"What is the divine seal?" I asked immediately.

"This is the name given by a few people in Luoshan to the source of that power," Lu Youxun explained. "There are many different opinions within Luoshan about what that power that affected Luoshan and prevented it from taking the stage of history is. One of the less common hypotheses is that somewhere in this world, there exists a divine artifact called the 'Divine Seal,' which can grant any wish."

"This hypothesis suggests that long ago, a human obtained a 'divine seal,' and for some unknown purpose, he made an unknown wish upon the 'divine seal.'"

"This wish has spread throughout the world, making ordinary people the protagonists of the world, while we cultivators can only take a backseat and operate secretly in the world behind the scenes."

I touched the fragment of the divine seal in my pocket, then tentatively asked, "Do you believe in this hypothesis?"

“Actually, I find it hard to believe that such a magical artifact exists. Although I wouldn’t presume to claim I’m well-read, I have studied diligently. If such a magical artifact really exists, why have I never heard of it before?” He shook his head. “It’s just that my superiors chatted with me about this absurd hypothesis that only a few people take seriously, so I just started calling it that.”

In other words, although he just said "we are on guard against the 'Divine Seal'", most of the people in this "we" do not believe in it or even know of its existence. He just picked up a convenient name to refer to the source of that power.

But I know that the divine seal is real.

Even a mere fragment of the Divine Seal was enough to drag me, the traitorous Great Impermanence, the survivors of the apocalyptic world, and the unidentified Number One into that mysterious and unpredictable dreamscape. This thing, transcending space, even time, might truly possess the power to grant any wish.

The reason I say "maybe" is because the scale of the topic is too vast. It's a super phenomenon capable of shaping human history. Does the tiny fragment in my arms, in its intact state, truly possess such divine power? I still find it hard to believe without a doubt.

"So, you supernaturalists believe that... the Lord of the Divine Seal is still alive, and if Luo Shan makes any rash moves, the Lord of the Divine Seal will take action?" I asked.

(End of this chapter)