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

"The accomplishment of what is known as a blasphemous act may allow mortal souls to be drawn to Titans..."

“Although Cenathos has been almost completely forgotten over the past millennium and has never been found by believers, that gravity… might be able to summon it here.”

Mimi seemed to understand but not quite, "Oh! So, we're going to use that Philosopher's Stone to... conjure up the Titans here?"

"That must be it." She nodded. "However, the only clues we have right now are the name of this city-state and the dragon fairy tale..."

"Cenatos is even more mysterious than others..."

"Yes, the wisdom of teachers can only illuminate the small patch of land beneath our feet. Once we take the first step, the road ahead is shrouded in unknown fog... But this is not the first time in my long journey."

Xia Die stared intently at the city-state before her, a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes. "I believe... it's better to set off than to hesitate. Perhaps today, fate will show mercy and spare a little kindness."

[Hu Tao: Yay! We're finally going to see Cenatos in person! Do you guys think that dragon from the fairy tale might actually look like Cenatos? After all, the Titans these days don't seem to have humanoid forms.]

[Star: Doesn't that mean the Butterfly can summon dragons? I want to be a dragon knight!]

[Xia Die: Your Excellency...you're so naughty.]

[Little Fish Knight: How could a once prosperous city-state have fallen to such a state?]

[Ju Fufu: The moon in the sky is so beautiful, it feels like it's from another world, a fairytale kingdom.]

[Wan Di: Xia Die, you have finally found your own path. Death is not frightening. Since the destiny borne by the Golden Descendants cannot be escaped, then face it head-on!]

[Xia Die: Thank you, Lord Wan Di. If it weren't for you, my mindset wouldn't have changed so quickly.]

[Magic trick: I'll save the sentimental talk for later; I want to witness the secret of death. Was my conjecture from the previous life right or wrong?]

Chapter 406 Buying Fish?

Next, the two decided to explore the ancient city of dragon bones and search for the entrance to the underworld.

As soon as I stepped onto the ancient bridge over the River Styx, an ethereal female voice echoed in my ears, "Turn back...turn back...ahead lies the realm of the dead..."

"What a coincidence, I happen to be a dead man," Xing thought, scratching his head.

At the entrance to the ancient city, a purple butterfly flutters up and down.

Mimi waved, "What a beautiful butterfly! Is it talking to us?"

“These are Death Butterflies. Where there are many dead, you can always see them fluttering about,” the Butterfly explained. “In Aidiria, some people believe they are the mercy of Cenatos. They transform the last lingering thoughts of the dead into these creatures, as if they are specimens of life.”

"Some people also believe that they were followers of Senatos, guiding the souls of the dead to the underworld."

The fact that you can hear butterflies whispering means they are approaching the world of the dead.

Pushing open the gate, she saw many figures standing on the road. Xia Die guessed they were reflections of the River Styx, repeating the same thing over and over. Strangely, reflections couldn't possibly be so lifelike.

The merchant-like spirit spoke: "Do you... want to buy fish?"

"Huh? He can see us?" Mimi was startled.

He sighed, "What... is it someone still alive?"

“The living… I won’t sell to you… you’re shameless. You bought the fish but didn’t pay… When I see her again, I’ll… I’ll…”

[Star: Saifei, who do you think this person is who bought fish but didn't pay? They even cheat the dead, aren't they wicked? They're so hard to guess.]

[Sai Fei'er: Hui Zi, you need evidence to back up your claims. You think I did it just based on a stranger's words?]

[Bai E: But apart from Senior Sai Fei'er, I'm afraid there aren't many people who would dare to make a deal with a dead soul.]

[Saifei: Who said there weren't? There was that Naksha before, who could even shatter his own soul and still tried to usurp Kephale's place.]

[Magic trick: That's a necessary step in verifying a hypothesis. Besides, what does what scholars do have to do with you?]

[Fufu: Hahaha, no wonder Saifei ran away as soon as she arrived. I bet quite a few souls got taken advantage of.]

[Bartles: We earn our money through our own abilities, who has the right to say anything?]

[Sai Fei'er: You're so stupid, isn't this just admitting it in disguise?]

[Nicole: When will the new Ellie have something like this? What's wrong with souls? We must respect all life, and their money is money too.]

Xia Die tentatively asked, "Could it be that you... are souls who have not found peace?"

"The underworld... a complete fabrication..." the merchant spat out, his voice blazing with rage. "Titans... refuse... you... I..."

He suddenly calmed down. "So...do you want to buy fish?"

Mimi glanced around, "But there aren't any fish nearby..."

"The fish... are gone? The people... are gone too..." The merchant's words were incoherent. "I can only... sell fish. Do you... want to buy fish?"

Xia Die stepped forward. "I'm sorry, I don't have much savings left. But perhaps there's another way to relieve your pain."

"Please relax. May you sleep peacefully in the gentle land of flowers." She reached out to touch the merchant's soul, but in less than half a breath, the soul before her vanished.

"Indeed, these people are not phantoms, but the spirits of the victims."

"They should have followed the River Styx to the end of the West Wind... but now they are stranded on the shallows of the Styx, hesitant to move forward. Has Cenatos rejected them? Or have they never truly died?"

Xing thought for a moment, "Maybe we can still be saved."

"Why are you acting like a dead person now? Don't give up!" Mimi said, her eyes filled with worry.

After a moment of silence, Xia Die suddenly realized, "Did he just say... people who are alive? The living people he has seen are not just us?"

"Could it be that the souls of the dead are lingering here because they have been tricked by someone?"

An unexpected voice joined the conversation: "If it's out of good intentions, can it still be considered a lie?"

"Kindness? This is just..." Xia Die turned around, "Wait... Lady Sai Fei'er?"

She emerged from a corner of the castle, a smile on her face. "Yes, it's me."

Xing clutched her chest, feigning grief, "You died too?"

"Uh...we're still separated by life and death for now!" Sai Fei'er finally understood the thought process of this legendary pioneer.

[Star: It really is you. Others have connections in both the legitimate and criminal worlds, but you have connections in both the life and death realms.]

[Saifei: Consider this a compliment, Grey.]

[Fireworks: Oh, I see. @Laigushi, if I'm not mistaken, the Titan of Deception is simulating the Fate of Pleasure.]

[Lagushi: You guessed right, madam.]

[Magic trick: If that's the case, then isn't the Titan of Necrostic simulating destruction? He really took destruction as Onphalus's ultimate answer; isn't rebirth precisely about being reborn from destruction?]

[Fu Xuan: Onpharos's reflection of the universe is becoming increasingly realistic. It's hard not to suspect that the Star God might be monitoring Onpharos's development. The war of the gods may have already begun.]

[Jing Yuan: Fu Qing is absolutely right. Luofu should also prepare for war.]

Xia Die guessed correctly; the living person the departed souls encountered was Sai Feier. She couldn't bear to see them suffer, so she pieced together some things to give these souls a reason to live.

Mimi was indignant, "It's because of awful people like you that we're misunderstood by everyone!"

“Otherwise, you’ve all seen what this place looks like.” Sai Fei’er didn’t think she was wrong. “These poor people are turned away from the underworld and trapped in the few snaps of their fingers from their previous lives, unable to move forward or backward.”

"Did you see those two blacksmiths on the road? I wonder how long they've been there, trying to forge a shield over and over again... Ugh, Stikocia, that's terrifying."

Her purpose in returning was certainly not to help them explore; she hated all water, especially the Styx, which reeked. She left behind a few words: "That child who refused to die, I found his footprints here."

Xia Die was taken aback, "Wan Di... Your Excellency?"

"I remember now, that's the name! Anyway, I've delivered the message... As for whether it's useful or not, you can decide for yourselves."

She waved her hand, "See you later, Princess of the Snail House, Ash!"

A flash of lightning, and Sai Fei'er disappeared from sight.

[Bai E: Wan Di? Wasn't he supposed to be blocking the Black Tide in Suspended Peak City? How come he's in the River Styx? Strange...]

[Wan Di: You think the Black Tide is easy to deal with, Savior? It's probably just a temporary pause in the Underworld during a lull in my life. Don't worry, I'll be back soon.]

[Hu Tao: No way, your immortality... the principle is just running back and forth across the River Styx? My god, bro, you're too awesome.]

[Magic trick: I see. I thought you actually possessed power surpassing Onphalus. However, your perseverance in breaking through the Underworld through sheer willpower is unmatched.]

[Star: So, can I do that too?]

[Danheng: Ahem, Xing, I think you'd better not try this lightly. We are ultimately different from the Golden Blood.]

Chapter 407 The Remnants of the Soul

Although Sai Fei'er didn't stay behind, she brought valuable information. If Wan Di were also on this shallow beach, he would surely be a beacon of guidance. Unlike the undead, he could find his way even in the world of the dead.

By performing the miracle of Oronis, the road that had been submerged by the River Styx was restored to its original state, and Xiaodie and her companions quickly passed through it, heading towards their destination.

After speaking with the ghost of a centurion, I learned that they lived in the late Golden Age before death had arrived; and that the dragon had brought something called Death to Stikosia.

What's puzzling is that Xia Die, Xing, and Mi Mi are exactly as the Queen described them: a savior sent from heaven!

Unfortunately, the soldiers were also trapped in those fragmented moments, day after day, year after year.

As usual, the butterfly escorted the departed souls away, completing the encoffining of the deceased. Unexpectedly, those souls did not all dissipate, leaving behind some unknown memories.

Touching their souls, two lingering images from their memories appeared before them.

Aglaia said to the girl before her, "Then how can I trust you, saint who has come from afar?"

Xia Die: "I don't understand what you mean..."

“The oracle has already revealed your name, the Golden Descendant of Death, and Ohma should treat you as an honored guest.” Aglaia said thoughtfully, “But you don’t seem to intend to hide your contact with the Senate… and our conflict with them is probably no secret.”

“I cannot deny it. It was those people who provided me with this cabin, and they had only one request: that the curse of death be entirely at your disposal…”

Xia Die affirmed, "I... can accept it."

"Appreciate further details."

“It is a curse I was born with… I cannot relinquish it. But from now on, I will use it as you see fit, and I will not do anything unnecessary.”

“Of course, because this is how they try to control the Fire Chasing Journey—” Aglaia saw through the Senate’s intentions, “to shift the blame for this person’s death onto me. Once I become obsessed with punishment, they will have a reason to cut off the Golden Blood’s journey.”

Xia Die was somewhat surprised, "But you seem... not to care?"

"Because... the destiny we are born to bear is far heavier than our individual lives. And this is not the only case of something that is not in prophecy but has been woven into my fate."

Aglaia's tone softened considerably. "Pack your beloved clothes and come with me. Welcome to Ohmma, Xiaodie."

[Xia Die: This was the first time I met Lady Aglaia. Looking back now, I was a bit naive back then.]

[Star: Um... actually you are now too, haha.]

[Bai'er: I really can't learn Aglaia's charisma that attracts Golden Blood members. Just a few words, and she's won over a Golden Blood member.]

[Aglaia: Bai'er, do you really think your charm is inferior to mine? Take a good look. You are the undisputed core of the Golden Blood, the bridge that holds relationships together, and no one can replace you.]

[Xingqiu: That's true. Actually, I prefer Bai'e a bit more.]

[Robin: So Miss Xia Die joined the Golden Clan so early, but her innocent personality really makes it hard to believe she's been through so much.]

[Saifei: The title of "Queen of the Home" isn't just for show. Aside from the seamstress, who can order her around, I barely see her a few times a year in Ohm. According to you, she's... a homebody, right? Also, she likes to write.]

[Xia Die: Lady Sai Fei'er, please stop! My secrets are almost all out.]

They continued along the road submerged by the River Styx, but there were many more slain monsters along the way, which Xia Die guessed were traces of battle left by Wan Di.

Even in the Underworld, he did not forget to fight against the Black Tide. Yes, the Black Tide's creations still exist in the Underworld.

After many twists and turns, they finally arrived at the King's Treasury. Even though a thousand years had passed and the treasury was now completely empty, the spirits that guarded it still diligently continued their duties.

After calming down, the administrator said, "Thank you all for your concern. I only encountered a... warrior. The ghost didn't harm me, but his powerful punches... were truly astonishing."

Xia Die was overjoyed. "A warrior? Could it be..."

“Wait, you all seem different from him… You are the living? How could you possibly be alive and walking around here?”

Xia Die put aside her speculations for the moment and replied, "It's a long story... We've come here to pay our respects to Senatos."

The administrator asked in confusion, "Cenatos? What is that? Death... Are you here to slay the dragon Polycesus?"

Having finally obtained a clue to their destination, Xia Die suppressed her joy and hurriedly asked, "Polyces...it's Sena...no, the embodiment of death?"

"According to the centurion and his warriors, the dragon is long dead, and the deadly curse did not originate from it... Instead, they found a maiden in the dragon's embrace... She is the true Grim Reaper!"

"...Excuse me, where is that girl?"

"It is said that the Queen spared no expense to bring her back to the castle, intending to use this unprecedented power to bring the entire Onpharos under her control... As for whether it is true or not, no one knows."

After expressing her gratitude, the butterfly reached out and touched him, granting him liberation.