Chapter 1514 — 1514: Where the hell is Hell?

"Then we have an accord," Shireen said, holding out her hand. Lex shook it, expecting some kind of technique to take hold or something. Instead, it was just a good old-fashioned handshake. Even so, he could almost feel an additional Karmic link between him and Shireen.

The only reason Lex was able to sense even that was because he had already been studying contractual Karma.

"How long do you think it will take you to compile the list?" Lex asked.

"A few items I can inform you of right now, but for most, I will need to reach out to various sources. A rough estimate is that it will take me about a dozen years, at the very least. How much longer it takes depends on how rare these items are."

Lex resisted the urge to grimace. Time flowed three times slower here than in the Origin realm, and time flowed three times slower there than in the Midnight Realm. In essence, it would take a long time one way or another.

Without any prompting, Shireen made a list of the items the locations of which she knew and handed them over to Lex. Predictably, all of them had to do with Heavens.

Now all Lex needed to do was figure out how he was going to get them. Doing so personally was an option, but it would take an unnecessarily long time, and he was on the clock. He could get his workers to go fetch them, and yet he was hesitant to do so because it would involve unforeseen dangers.

He could host a Trial, and send his guests on fetch quests of sorts, but there was no guarantee that they would not take those treasures for themselves and would actually come back with them.

Even if he offered a reward for the treasures, there was no guarantee that once someone got their hands on the treasures, they would actually turn them in.

"It was a pleasure," said Lex as he put the list away. "I wish you luck with your granddaughter."

"Likewise, may you have luck hunting down your treasures."

Lex bid the angel baddies farewell, and quickly went to Licanderoth, who was holding a small, square box.

"The Brimming Dream Lotus is safely sealed within this one time use container, and can stay in there for about three years without suffering any harm. Before then, you will need to find a suitable environment for it - preferably one rich with divine energy or else it will begin to wilt fairly quickly."

"Thanks, I know just where to put it," said Lex, who was going to hand the box to the turtle and let him deal with the headache of planting it. There were a few spots within the Inn where there was divine energy, such as the Fire temple specifically prepared for Deities, so he wasn't too worried.

Besides, the World Seed Lotus, probably now called a Realm Seed Lotus or something along those lines for accuracy, would also take care of the new lotus.

Lex was about to leave, since everything was in order, but couldn't help but stall for a moment. There was one question, possibly an arbitrary one, that he couldn't help but wonder about.

"If you don't mind, there's a question I'd like to ask you," Lex said.

"Go ahead. I'd be happy to answer if I can," Licanderoth answered. The Seraphim was still studying Lex, somewhat. Although he had gotten a sense for how ridiculous Lex was personally, planning a military operation had little to do with personal strength and more was a test of tactics. He had yet to see the brilliance that allowed him to plan such an excellent operation, though that only made sense. Who would display all their strengths out in the open for the world to see?

"That space you told me about… the space that constitutes the true universe, or whatever. Does it have a name? I can't just keep calling it the true universe."

Lincaderoth's casual smile slowly faded, and an unusual expression replaced it. He looked solemn, and at the same time exasperated.

"It does, indeed, have a name. In fact, it has many names, but the one it is most commonly known by is…"

Licanderoth let out a deep sigh before he answered, as if the name of that place itself was the source of many of his headaches.

"That place is called Heaven. To be more accurate, it is the first Heaven, and the only true Heaven. It is the land of miracles, and it is, ironically, one of the most dangerous places that exists within the universe."

Lex did not immediately answer, for that… truly made no sense.

"So wait, is there a true Hell as well? Or a first Hell?" he asked.

"Well, yes, everyone thinks so, but as far as I know, there is no real consensus on its existence. Many people just believe that the Void is Hell."

"So what? All of our realms, Major and Minor, are all just… hanging in Hell? That doesn't make sense. Although, as inhospitable as it is, I'd see why people consider it to be Hell. That also explains why the Void Dwellers want to escape it… wait, does that mean sinners, after they die, go to the Void? Does that mean those who do good deeds end up in the first Heaven?"

Licanderoth sighed again, as if he was reliving a very tedious bane of his existence.

"No, there are no sentient living beings inherently in the first Heaven. And no, I don't know what happens after death. Please, I think you should put the topic of the first Heaven to rest. It does you no good to dwell on it now that… now that you no longer have a connection to it."

With that Lex nodded, though he was more confused about things than before he asked the question.

Why was the true universe, or the actual universe, or the physical space of the universe called Heaven? In fact, he still hadn't wrapped his head around the existence of the universe itself as a realm yet either, so everything else was a struggle as well.