Once upon a time there was a greedy snake.

Chapter 104 Peaceful Evolution
"I understand the doubts in your heart."

After listening to the Thirty-Sixth Generation Akakage's account, the seeker named Suixin nodded.

Everything seemed to be fine, and the interactions with seekers were similar to those before. However, when he saw the feathered headdress swaying with the nodding motion, the Thirty-Sixth Akakage still felt that something was amiss.

However, apart from the strange-looking feathered headdress, the young seeker named Suixin in front of him seemed to be fine in other aspects.

So, the 36th Akakage temporarily suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and continued to ask.

"So... how can I make my people understand my good intentions? Everything I've done is for their benefit."

"This is where the problem lies."

The seeker named Suixin shook his head.

"Your so-called concern for them is only at the level of thinking. In terms of practice, you actually lack the wisdom to solve all of this... Otherwise, things wouldn't have turned out this way, and you wouldn't have come here to ask for advice."

"This……"

The Thirty-Sixth Generation Akakage remained silent for a long time.

The seeker, Suixin, was absolutely right. This approach, which starts from both ideas and practice, is indeed the style of seekers of the Way—but no matter how right it is, it's still just empty talk.

That's not what he wants to hear; he wants a solution.

Or rather, it doesn't matter if it's not a solution; he can accept even just a suggestion that will allow him to get a good night's sleep.

However, it was at this moment that the seeker of the Dao, Suixin, spoke up once again.

Do you want to gain wisdom?

That's just another pointless statement. Who doesn't want to gain wisdom? That's why he entered the holy mountain.

However, upon seeing the Seeker of the Dao, Sui Xin, with his mysterious expression, the Thirty-Sixth Generation Akakage felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

For a seeker of the Tao who lives in seclusion deep in the mountains to make such an expression... could it be that this young seeker has a way to meet the serpent god and obtain the wisdom from the Supreme God?

Just as the Thirty-Sixth Akakage was pondering how to ask for a favor, the seeker named Suixin produced a rather strange scripture made of feathers.

"If you want to gain wisdom, then you must become a Mani person... On the other side of the snowy mountains, those ancient Mani people possess boundless wisdom."

"...Mani people?"

The thirty-sixth generation Akakage were all stunned.

Who is that?
However, the seeker before him, Suixin, was adamant that this thing would definitely be useful, and he even forbade him to take this stack of feather scriptures back with him, only allowing him to copy them with birch bark.

The Thirty-Sixth Generation Akakage had no choice but to copy down the patterns and study them later.

However, the journey back was not peaceful either. Just as he was about to enter the city gate, a group of Ignivas surrounded him. The Ignivas, with red eyes, loudly questioned him about the purpose of digging that tunnel.

"Are we still going to attack or not? Give me a straight answer!"

The leader of the Ignivas roared loudly.

"If this is all there is to being an Ignivas, then we might as well become Katan!"

"...The Catan?"

The Thirty-Sixth Generation Akakage was even more confused.

Who are the Catan? And yet another name he's never heard of before.

The doubts in his heart grew stronger, and the Thirty-Sixth Akakage urgently needed to figure out what was going on—fortunately, these ordinary Ignivas were no match for him. Even if they blocked the city gate, he simply leaped and scaled the city walls. He flew across rooftops, a path only elite warriors could traverse; the ordinary Ignivas running on the ground couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.

"It must be those Hennu people..."

Clutching the birch bark scroll in his hand, the Thirty-Sixth Generation Akakage vaguely realized the crux of the matter.

Yes, it must be those Hennu people. After all, he remembered that the seeker of the Way had said that this thing came from the other side of the Great Snow Mountain... It must be that those minotaurs have already launched an offensive, and they have begun to corrupt the spirit of the Ignivas people!
"The promotion of the various doctrines... must be intensified!"

Seeing that this bloodless war had already been launched by the other side, the Thirty-Sixth Akakage knew that he could not wait any longer.

But before the 36th Akakage could gather the guards...

The guards, however, reported to him a piece of news that left him speechless.

What do you mean by saying that a bunch of people who practice various paths have gone mad?

The Thirty-Sixth Generation Akakage was dumbfounded, knowing that he was certain that his method would not have any problems whatsoever.

But this illogical thing just happened.

A group of practitioners of various paths have begun to go mad. Their skin has become rough and thick, and they have become mentally unstable. They have even lost their reason and no longer know how to use magic, becoming even more foolish than the people of the Ice Plains.

They no longer even call themselves Ignivas, but instead state what they are: Natas.

"What is this?"

Hearing unfamiliar names three times in a row, the Thirty-Sixth Generation Akakage felt his brain was starting to malfunction.

But no matter how the Thirty-Sixth Generation Akakage thought about it, this sudden news was a fatal blow to him.

The path of pleasure, which originated from the Way of the Pleasure, was his only means of fighting against the Hennu people, but now even this only means has run into problems.

"I……"

As night fell, the thirty-sixth generation of Akakage stared blankly at the starry sky.

The stars in the sky twinkled, winking at him as if they were telling him something, but the Thirty-Sixth Generation Akakage had no interest in looking at the stars at this moment—he was completely consumed by frustration and had no idea how to continue.

He originally thought that he could be like those Crimson Shadows before him... no, he was even going to surpass them. If everything could be accomplished, he would have completed the spiritual world of the Ignivas people, and he would become the most memorable Crimson Shadow.

But now...

It's all over.

Perhaps he will indeed be the most memorable Akakage, but in a different way—he will be the worst Akakage in history, and even this vast empire will be ruined in his hands.

"It's all my fault..."

Thinking this, the Thirty-Sixth Generation Akakage sighed.

The next morning, he selected his successor. This was his duty as the Crimson Shadow, and the last thing he could do for the Ignivas.

After that, he entered the sacred mountain alone.

The corruption of a race must be blamed on someone.

He was willing to bear all the punishment from that serpent god.

(End of this chapter)