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

“Tch. And then, I saw Ohmma in there. And… my former comrades.” Wan Di began to recount his past.

“Hephaestus, Perdiccas, Leon, Ptolemy, and Poseidon…these five have been my constant companions since I returned from the underworld.”

"During our years of exile, they shared my life and death. Those ten years were filled with hardship and displacement, but they are also worth remembering. Every night, we would sit around the campfire, drink honeyed wine, and sing our hearts out..."

In the scene, the slightly younger Wan Di and five warriors with different personalities but no fear of death are drinking around the campfire, creating a lively atmosphere.

"The winds of Onphalus have the smell of rust. Hephaestus always laughs at me for drinking honey with sheep's milk, saying it makes the bright red blood look awful. He is small and thin, but he is incredibly fierce on the battlefield and kills without hesitation."

“Padiccus is an expert in medicine, and he's good at making up all sorts of unorthodox remedies; Leon is a fast runner and the most trusted messenger.”

"Ptolemy always loved to nitpick over words. When he left Suspended Peak, he took quite a few ancient books from the Great Library... They're all mine, so I don't need to return them. As for Possetta... well, he's not much of a talker, but he plays the violin beautifully..."

When talking about his former comrades, Wan Di spoke eloquently and endlessly, wishing he could tell everyone the story of each of them.

Bai E: "These five... this is the first time I've ever heard of their names."

“Of course. They died before the Suspended Vanguard and Ohma joined forces.” Although Wan Di spoke lightly, Bai E could still see a trace of melancholy in his eyes.

"First was Padiccas, who died in the second month of cultivation, shot in the abdomen by a poisoned arrow from the Ladonians. His remedy could save everyone except himself."

Perdiccas's dying words echoed in his ears, "Medemos, do not grieve. I have earned glory, and I repay my mortal enemy with a glorious death..."

Wan Di continued, "Leon died in the fifth winter, when the blizzard in Aidiria lasted for three whole months. On the night of the heaviest blizzard, the enemy launched their attack."

“Aidiria…is the city-state where Xia Die used to live?” Bai E thought.

"It's those fanatics. They are just as fearless as the Suspended Peak people, but they lack the reverence for honor."

"They pursued him relentlessly through the bottomless swamp, and Leon was crippled while covering their retreat. He vanished into the mud of a foreign land, leaving no trace."

Leon, undeterred by death, said, "How wonderful, Medemos... I can finally bring the news of your ascension to kingship to the underworld..."

Similarly, one less person is seen in the scene celebrating with Wan Di around the campfire.

Chapter 330 Tining's Kidnapping

"On the second evening after that, we finally launched a counterattack into the city of Aedria and accepted the tyrant's pleas for peace, but the stubborn rebels had laid an ambush in the city..."

"Ptolemy and his cavalry were wiped out before they could even taste victory. The burning and collapsing obelisks became their graves."

He gripped Wan Di's hands tightly, his heart gradually stopping. "Medemus, please tell my family: what brought down me, Ptolemy, was not a wicked scheme, but the weight of all history of Onphalus."

Wan Di sighed softly, his voice choked with emotion, "Later, in the city of Eneonus, he lured the enemy deep into the city with his songs, buying us precious time."

"Enraged, the enemy set fire to our army and the entire city, burning them to the ground... His last words were left on a small piece of mud slab cracked by the fire."

“Maidemus, put on the crown.” Poseidon said calmly, as if he were not the one who had died.

"Finally, Hephaestus, whom I trusted most... He was supposed to be with me to witness the dust settle, but his old illness relapsed on the eve of my duel with my father..."

"He concealed his illness, and by the time I returned victorious after personally killing my enemy, he was barely clinging to life."

Hephaestus lay on the simple hospital bed, barely breathing, and said with a bitter smile, "As a member of the Suspended Peak, I can only spend my life in bed... It would be a laughing stock if word got out."

Wan Di covered him with a thin blanket. "Hephaestus, my dear friend... save your energy, I'll go get the doctor..."

He closed his eyes, embracing his fate, "No need... Even if Padicas were still here, he couldn't save me from this fate."

"No one can take your destiny away!" Wan Di roared.

He used his last bit of strength to prop himself up. "Madmus... our king... do not shed tears, for that is not befitting your status."

"Farewell, dear friend. You must... lead us back home..."

And so, all the close friends who used to sit around the campfire passed away, leaving only Wan Di to raise a glass.

Perhaps... a king is destined to be alone.

[Fou: No wonder Wan Di didn't believe what he saw in the trial; it's because Padikas had already died before his eyes, and wasn't killed by the Ohmans at all.]

Wendy: Although I cannot see the winds of Onphalus, please escort their souls back to the River Styx, lest they become lost in the Black Tide.

[Star: The pressure from myriad enemies is immense. Comrades, clansmen, friends... all are driving him to fight and die, to become a demigod of conflict.]

[Aglaia: It's not that we choose our fate, but that fate chooses us. If there were even the slightest possibility, I wouldn't want you to go against your own will. But the journey to the fire is just that cruel.]

[Wan Di: I don't reject the identity of the Golden Clan. Onfaros's fate is far heavier than mine. I'm content that my people can live in peace now.]

[Bai E: Don't be so sad, things are moving in a positive direction now.]

[Walter: Our allies have gathered outside of Onpharos and are determined to thwart Lygus's plot.]

[Support the Golden Generation and the Star Train! Our world is our own to decide!]

I am willing to follow Lord Wan Di into the Black Tide.

[Kainese: Blindly acting impulsively. They say it all, but who can guarantee anything? Even if they're just data, what does the High Priest need? All they need are those twelve Golden Bloods. Let them die, won't that be enough?]

[That makes sense. If we offer up the Golden Descendants, perhaps the Lord can take us back to the Golden Age!]

[Kaze Sumire: To be honest, I've never felt the people of Onphalus could be so united... well, except for a very few.]

[Paimon: Sure enough, there are people like this in every kind of place.]

[Star: I really want to beat you all to death with a baseball bat! You dare dream of a golden age? Pah!]

“It is truly a heavy trial.” Bai’er empathized. “Now I can understand why you regarded immortality as a flaw, even a curse.”

Both have experienced losing everything and facing life and death... Now they fight for the flame.

"The late king cast me into the sea of ​​the underworld to sever my past karma, but he never expected that this would create my immortal body and bring him the revenge of fate," Wan Di sighed.

Through this scene, he revealed his inner conflict to Bai E.

“After his death, I thought about leading my people back to their homeland. But by then, Suspended Peak was a wasteland, where only darkness and madness could grow.”

“Despite the opposition of many people—including Kratrus…, I left the Lone Blade in Ohma. But I know that their glory can never be erased.”

"...The time for conflict will eventually come."

A hint of worry crossed Bai E's brow. "Once you take over Nicardoli, you must embark on a journey home."

"So, you think it's a better choice to let your people stay in the Holy City?"

Wan Di remained silent for a moment, then said, "I don't know."

"But because I was never crowned king, those five were never made kings...and no one knows their glory."

“…This is truly complicated; your situation is quite complicated.” After listening, Bai Er was also at a loss for how to resolve it. “Perhaps…you could talk to more people, such as the Great Craftsman. Hattonus’s people must have experienced similar predicaments.”

"And your teacher, Kratrus..."

[Xingqiu: This is tricky. Ordinary members of the Suspended Peak Sect would die if they went back, but they're not afraid of death and have a deep faith in the Conflict. It can only be said that Wan Di made this decision after a long period of deliberation.]

[Bai E: You say I'm all pretentious, but I'm no different.]

[Wan Di: You talk too much.]

[Ju Fufu: Although it's heartbreaking, Wan Di and his clan are all back on track, so hopefully nothing else will happen.]

[Clatrus: Yes, it's because I'm such an old man and too stubborn. If only I'd realized it sooner.]

"Little enemy—something terrible has happened!" Tibo shouted as she rushed over.

Bai E's heart tightened, and she quickly asked, "Teacher Tibao? What happened that made you so panicked?"

"Quickly, save her! Tining, Tining, she..."

"—They've been kidnapped by Kratrus!"

[Xia Die: Huh?]

[Clatrus: ...This, this, how could I have done such a thing! Medemos, I...]

[Wan Di: Sigh, I think I know why.]

[Nicole: Why did you kidnap Tinning?!]

Wan Di rushed to the heart of the cosmic vortex, only to find Kratrus clutching his injured left arm, while Tinin had already been taken back behind by Aglaia.

"...Clatrus! What's going on?"

He hung his head dejectedly. "Ah, Medmos... I never expected that I would expose my weakness first... Ha."

Wan Di turned his head and said, "Aglaia! Give me an explanation."

Aglaia's eyes were cold. "This man used force to kidnap Tinin and forced her to bring him to the center of the cosmic vortex."

"Then, he actually dared to step into the trial of the Spear of Divine Retribution... Of course, it ended in failure."

Chapter 331 The Former King Euriporn

An oppressive aura rose from Wan Di, questioning Kratrus, "Is what she said true? Why did you do this?"

"Because I don't want to wait any longer; your hesitation is agonizing."

As the link between the Xuanfeng clan and Wan Di, all grievances would be relayed to Wan Di through him. But this time, Wan Di's decision to give the spark of conflict to Bai E filled him with despair.

He glared at them, “If you want to escape your destiny as king, then run away. Someone will always step forward to fill the void left by the conflict… and lead my people back home.”

“My master, how could the years have made you so ignorant!” Wan Di roared, as if trying to wake him up. “Haven’t you seen clearly yet? The reason I’m so confused is precisely your recklessness and impulsiveness that are ingrained in your very bones.”

He not only understands the obsession of those who strive for excellence, but also works hard and makes changes to achieve it!

Suspended Peak was able to live in Ohma with Aglaia's help, so how could he feel at ease now that this has happened?

Aglaia's eyes were cold. "Kratrus, do you really think you're qualified to meddle in the trials and blaspheme the divine oracle?"

"Is the mission of us Golden Bloodlines such a trivial matter in your eyes?"

Kratrus looked at her with his single eye and sneered, "Want to know what you look like in the eyes of the Suspended Ones, Aglaia?"

"Hypocrite... ambitious! The Oracle of Creation, the Journey to the Fire, are nothing more than rhetoric you use to seize power."

"Shut up, Kratos! Do you know what you're saying?" Wan Di quickly stopped him.

Craterus said incredulously, "You're going to defend this woman, Medemus? For the past thousand years, how many wars have been fought and how many city-states have been destroyed because of her... and the oracles they proclaimed?"

"Even if the so-called creation myth truly exists, will the Suspended Peak Clan have a place in the new world?"

Beside her, Tinning seemed hesitant to speak, her face obscured by her red hair, making it impossible to discern her emotions.

[Rin: Never before has the importance of this realization been so clear. The Golden Descendants are simply not on the same level as everyone else, so it's no wonder they are misunderstood, doubted, and questioned.]

[Walter: The peculiarity of the oracle means it cannot be understood by everyone.]

[Clatrus: Alas, I'm getting senile. Even now, knowing that Onpharos is an experimental field, I still don't know what to do.]

[Clatrus: I apologize, Lady Tinin. Please forgive my rudeness; how could I have kidnapped you?]

[Tining: It's okay... We know you didn't mean to hurt us.]

[Bai'er: It's good that the misunderstanding has been cleared up. Right now, Ohmar should unite as one. Our goal is to fight against the Firewalkers, Lygus, and the Iron Tomb.]

[Xia Die: May death resist you and me.]

"Have you finished speaking?" Aglaia remained indifferent. A thousand years had passed; hadn't she experienced enough?

"According to the agreement reached between the Golden Descendants and the Senate, those who trespass into the heart of creation need not be tried by the council and can be dealt with by me."

“Clatrus, your actions are unforgivable. I hereby pronounce your sentence…”

Tibo called out to her, "Aya! Wait a minute!"

“We… have a proposal. Someone has to step forward and resolve this conflict between the city-states.”

Tinin spoke slowly and deliberately, “Lord Kratrus did not harm us with violence. We can sense that his anxiety stems from his concern for the future of his people.”

Tibo pleaded, "Please, Aglaia, listen to our thoughts first."

She turned and sighed, "I'm listening."

Tinning spoke slowly.

“I apologize, Lord Clatrus. We have been so busy interpreting fragments of prophecy that we have neglected those who are not favored by the oracle… Your accusation, though harsh, is reasonable.”

“We want your trust, and the trust of the Suspended Peak Clan. I think the best way… is to take you to witness the source of the prophecy firsthand.”

"How can you make me see something ethereal and intangible?" Kratrus asked, puzzled.

"You've heard about the stranger, haven't you? For some reason, she's made contact with Oronis and can perfectly recreate the landscapes of the past."

“We will ask for her help. Tomorrow, in the Abyss of Fate, at the Temple of Janusapolis… Craterus, we are willing to show you that ancient memory, without reservation.”