Xingtie: Starting with an in-depth analysis of the Yellow Springs

“Say what you will, you lowly Ohmama…” Padiccas’s gaze was as sharp as a knife, “I would rather die in battle than return in glory—the spirit of Suspended Peak will forever defend me!”

Wow, you've got quite a temper.

The Ohm soldier raised his knife and sneered, "Foolish barbarian, since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Wan Di grunted, turning his head away, unwilling to see the next scene, but his tightly clenched fist remained clenched for a long time.

"Die, you pig—!" The soldier grinned maliciously, the warmth of his blood bringing him genuine pleasure, especially since the man was a foolish man named Suspended Peak.

With a soft "thud," the blade of the Ohma soldier was stained red, and Padikas collapsed powerlessly, his eyes wide open.

"Ah...ah..."

“Madmos… Your Majesty…”

Why must we... be placed under the swords of a foreign land?

Suddenly, the shouts of war echoed throughout Ohmma, their buzzing echoes causing restlessness.

Wan Di's pupils constricted sharply, "This is..."

Hearing the voices behind him, the Ohm soldier turned around. "You are... Ha, the leader of the Wild Dogs has delivered himself to our doorstep!"

"Since everyone in the Suspended Peak Sect is so eager to die—I'll give you a quick death!"

The soldier's body twisted and turned, emitting crisp cracking sounds and ferocious roars. When the flesh stopped throbbing, he had become a member of the strife.

"Cowardly king... die!!"

Xing took out his baseball bat, ready to knock him down first.

Wan Di reached out to block it, staring at the monster before him. "This unfathomable killing intent... it's Nicardoli's wrath."

After saying that, the scorching iron fist pierced straight through the monster's chest, and with a wave of his hand, he wiped away the bloodstains.

"...Utterly absurd. I recognize this Ohm man; he is an upright warrior, yet the conflict has distorted him into this twisted form."

"And this noisy sound... when it starts, the killing intent in my heart is hard to suppress." Wan Di felt a surge of annoyance.

"Bai'er must have been blinded by this war cry and lost his mind... Hmph, useless fellow."

Chapter 302…

Padicas... Wan Di watched silently.

"Who is he?" Xing's intuition told him that Wan Di knew the murdered Suspended Man.

Wan Di strode away, "...It's nothing, let's go."

Suddenly, Hatonus's roar echoed from around the corner. Could it be that he, too...

Hattonus knelt on one knee. "Medemus, you are... the destroyer of everything, the vile king... come to take my life, finally?"

It's happening again! What has Nicardoli's rage turned this place into?!

An unnamed fire ignited in Wan Di's chest, but quickly cooled down. "I will not ask why all this happened, nor will I, as you said, harm you in the slightest."

"I just want you to tell me where Bai E is?"

“You know all this perfectly well,” Hattonus said with hatred. “Get out of our land, you hateful sons of the Goergo!”

Desperate to save Bai'e and unwilling to cause further casualties, Wan Di declared, "Hattnus, I have no intention of harming you!"

“Humb me, no need—get out, get out of Ohma!” However, the great craftsman, whose mind had been warped by the trials, remained unmoved.

"Get out! Your kingdoms, take the scathing rings, and revel in your blood-stained glory!"

Hattonus tossed out a gold ring, branded with the mark of the fire.

"This...is Mother's mark?" Wan Di's eyes flashed, and the Mad King's battle roar rang in his ears again.

"Here we go again, I knew it...!"

Hattonus laughed, seeing the struggle on the face of the enemy. "Ha! You've finally gone mad, you vile flies. Destroy yourselves together, with your mad king, in the vortex of that battlefield!"

Damn it... that annoying yelling, trying to drive me crazy? No way!

"Enough, shut up!" Wan Di clenched his fist. "You're not Hattonus at all..."

A long, narrow shadow ripped through the air, piercing through Hattonus's phantom. Wan Di stepped forward, blocking Xing's path, shouting, "Watch out!"

When the newcomer revealed himself, Wan Di breathed a sigh of relief, "...Impressive skills."

"Likewise." Dan Heng calmly withdrew his attack.

[Star: Ji Yun is always with me, Dan Heng, you've finally arrived.]

[Wendy: Danheng remained silent, simply starting with zero frames per second, paying homage to the legendary javelin thrower.]

[Barbara: Barbara...Wendy, why are you saying that? And please stop surfing! My faith is crumbling!]

[Wendy: Hey, every time Danheng plays, the screen is filled with these same few lines. I'm keeping up with the times.]

[Nicole: Teacher Danheng is truly reliable. But the more I look at this trial, the less it seems to be aimed at Bai E, and more like it's designed for Wan Di.]

[Xia Die: The trials of strife reflect humanity's deepest fears, the fear of the all-powerful Lord.]

[All Enemies: Fear? Alas, I am no longer afraid. I am conflict itself, and even fear must bow before me.]

"Is this Danheng's illusion...?" After experiencing all sorts of traps, Xing no longer believed that what she saw was real.

Wan Di stared intently. "Wait. His aura is off; it's extremely calm."

“Not bad, it seems we can still communicate.” Dan Heng probed, “Hey, you gray-haired warrior over there, answer me—”

"What were the last things you said to me before I opened the sea in Lin Yuan Realm?"

Wan Di was bewildered, "Opening the seas...?"

Lin Yuan Realm... Opening the sea, how could I remember? Did I even speak back then...?

Xing racked her brains but couldn't remember, and said awkwardly, "Why don't you just shoot me dead..."

“It doesn’t seem like acting; it looks like it’s really him.” Danheng finally relaxed; only she possessed such abstract thinking.

[Star: Uh… so, what exactly did I say back then?]

[Danheng: You didn't say anything.]

[Star: ...To be honest, have you been looking for an opportunity to ask me this?]

[Yanqing: Haha, the teachers are so funny. If he met Miss March in Onphalos, he wouldn't ask her that question too, would he?]

[Dan Heng: ...]

[Bai E: Partner, this is the start of the fishing season...]

[Star: Oh, this sea opening. A deafening roar, like a thousand thunderbolts tearing through the heart and shoulders… Whoosh, and then the sea is ripped open.]

[Bell: Can Danheng inherit the flame of the Ocean Titan?]

[Fou: Danheng and Navilette are both water dragons, so Danheng equals Navilette. Ying can be a pioneer, and Paimon is a pet, so let me be Miss March 7th! Teyvat Pioneer Team is established!]

Paimon: No, no, I don't want to be a pet.

[Ying: Good idea. If I find my brother and leave this place in the future, can I join the Star Train?]

"Finally found you... It wasn't easy."

Wan Di: "It's me. What happened to you before?"

"I just encountered some past events, it's better not to mention them." Dan Heng was unwilling to bring it up.

[Silver Wolf: Let me guess, maybe we've run into Blade.]

[Jingyuan: I'm afraid it's more than that. Nearly a thousand years have passed, yet you still have to endure torment. Must we wait until everyone from that time is gone before our sins can be absolved?]

[Danheng: Jingyuan…]

[Ren: You shouldn't have gotten involved, Jingyuan. Only you can live up to everyone's expectations.]

"So, you also saw your own past?" Wan Di sneered. "The trials of strife are truly vicious."

Danheng: "What did you think of?"

Based on his experiences along the way, Wan Di guessed, "I'm afraid this trial doesn't belong to any one person... but is a battlefield where all challengers and delusions fight each other."

“Just now, I also saw an old friend... but Bai E has never met him.”

If that's the case, then it means that we can find Bai E here.

The group decided to move closer to the source of the fighting to investigate the situation.

“I have a feeling… although it doesn’t belong to Bai E… this battlefield has another master.” Dan Heng suddenly spoke.

As they descended the stairs, the three arrived at the source of the battle cry… the true gateway to the Nicardoli Trials.

And Gnaeus, the embodiment of conflict, stands in the center with his back to them.

That profound killing intent... undoubtedly belonged to Nicardoli himself, the master of this battlefield.

The divine echoed: "Ah, Medemus...you are indeed a warrior with shining eyes."

"You recognize me?"

“I certainly recognize you, Wang Gui, the blasphemous one. I also understand that you have come for the spirit of that white-haired warrior.”

"That makes things easier. Hand over that cowardly swordsman and let's end this farce as soon as possible."

"I reject."

Upon hearing this, Wan Di glared angrily at the embodiment of conflict. Xing and Dan Heng locked eyes; it seemed a fierce battle was inevitable.

The divine echoed: "I acknowledge your courage and strength along the way. But since you have attempted to trample on the dignity of the defeated, I cannot stand idly by."

"The defeated one...did he fail to overcome the trial?" Dan Heng grasped the key point.

"He fought bravely against his deepest fears, and was defeated and fell in the fierce carnage. Therefore, I bring him into this battlefield behind me and bestow upon him the glory commensurate with courage, perseverance and sacrifice."

"Want to take him away? Sure: take the bronze spear and come forward to prove your beliefs match his..."

"As for cowards who have no intention of shedding blood... get out of my sight now."

Chapter 303 I've found you...!

[Paimon: Hehe, Nicardo doesn't think Wan Di is insulting Bai E, does he? Isn't this just his stubbornness? He clearly cares about Bai E, but he just won't say it.]

[Ying: It seems not. Bai E failed the challenge, and Nicardoli left him here, believing that it would be an insult for Wan Di and the others to bring back the defeated.]

[Qingque: Who is Bai'e fighting? Logically speaking, his strength is on par with Wan Di, so he shouldn't be unable to pass.]

[Wan Di: The man in black robes, his deepest fear.]

[Dan Heng: If he is a Fire Thief, his defeat is understandable. His ability to contend with all the Golden Blood for the fire seed alone shows his formidable strength.]

[Bai E: I still can't defeat him. I won't give up, I can still grow stronger, I must kill him. Whether it's for the sake of fire or for revenge.]

In response to Nicardoli's challenge, Wan Di sneered, "Hmph, I'm not interested in the 'high opinion' of your pathetic mad king..."

"But since you want to fight, then come on, Titan—let me close your eyes once more with my death."

Warriors never fear battle; if you want to fight, then fight!

The divine echoed: "Indeed! Your noble mother once showed me the same spirit with her spear."

"...Don't mention her name." Wan Di gritted his teeth, his anger about to burst forth.

"Why? To defend your dignity, she knew she would die from a poisonous plot, yet she threw herself into a gladiatorial contest against the late King Xuanfeng. Are you suggesting that all of this was in vain for her?"

"Her tragedy is your doing—the embodiment of strife—how dare you speak of her past?" Wan Di's gaze was burning hot; if anger had a physical form, the embodiment before him would already be riddled with holes.

"Enough with this nonsense. As the God of Conflict, why not declare your resolve with your sword and let us finish this quickly!"

He quickened his pace and headed straight for the conflict.

This soaring fighting spirit and fury also drew the attention of all the warriors in the training ground, drawing them towards this place.

Nicardoly: "Ha! Your hatred is plain to see, Medemos. These words must have stung your heart. But it is precisely because of this that I finally understand..."

"This is why you murdered your father to seize the throne, yet allowed the seal of authority to sink into the underworld, unwilling to continue the glory of the Hanging Blade..."

"This is your reason for destroying the Titans of Strife, yet refusing the spark and perpetuating the conflict..."

The murmurs of countless Suspended Warriors, accompanied by the Titan's war cry, flooded Wan Di's mind. The fate of escaping had finally returned to him; it was a choice he had no choice but to make.