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

Xia Die placed her hands on the wheelchair and slowly pushed Senatos along the path. The girl muttered to herself, "Not for a long-awaited reunion embrace, but for an eye for an eye, for retribution..."

“Tell me the answer I’ve already written… to put an end to this long destiny.”

The two were getting closer and closer to the eggshell hanging in the air, as if they were bathing in moonlight.

"It's been far too long. I've been here alone, watching day after day as desperate souls are shut out by this desolate wasteland..."

"Among them, I always hoped to see you, yet I was also afraid to acknowledge you. I didn't know how to face you..."

"What I fear even more is seeing...my former loved ones forget that I exist."

“I understand.” Xia Die’s gaze softened. “But you see, Polycia, no matter what… I’m back here. You no longer have to bear the weight of death alone… after all, it should be lifted up by two hands.”

"Therefore, let the stars carry our flame back to the human world, so that mortals may reclaim their right to life and death..."

“Our duty, that of Senatos, has never been to choose lives, but only to look after them.”

"Let us together...care for this warm sea of ​​flowers that belongs to so many souls."

The girl in the wheelchair was breathing rapidly. Happiness had come so suddenly, and the feeling of reuniting with her loved ones... was truly heartwarming.

"Is that alright, Polycia?"

Chapter 416 Embracing Death

"Of course. Now... only the last step remains."

Senatos recited the oracle, "You will perish, and the dead will sprout from the remnants, and the fire that died with you will be reborn..."

"As the oracle foretold, the divine authority of Cenatos can only be held by one person. One who is the Golden Blood of Death, one who is its demigod, one who is a Titan..."

"Our destined moment has arrived once again."

Xia Die: "Just like before..."

“Yes, just like before. But, unlike that time… this time, both sides of the trial are well prepared.” Senatos looked at Xiaodie seriously once again.

"You've...made up your mind?"

"Hmm... this is fate. But as long as you are here, I will not be afraid. Please complete this trial of life, grant me the embrace of death, and ignite the flame of life."

Senatos smiled. "If it were you, after experiencing the trials of life and death, you would surely bring the first glimmer of life to this wasteland..."

"Like a butterfly heading to the underworld, landing on a branch of death."

Xia Die assured her, "I will. After that, I will dwell in the underworld forever, bringing the River Styx back here, turning it into a gentle rain from the sky, scattering souls across this land..."

"Life and death will turn again. This sea of ​​flowers you planted with your own hands will henceforth carry countless souls, whether they are sad or happy, and will forever be full of vitality."

“…Thank you.” Senatos smiled sweetly. “Finally, could you… grant me one wish?”

"Of course. What is it?"

Senatos paused, "Please...don't forget me."

“…I promise you.” Xia Die met her gaze, her tone utterly sincere, “Even if I have to cross the cycle of reincarnation again…when we meet again in the next life, I will be just like I was when I was first born…”

Even if we don't know each other's names yet... I will hold you tight, very tight.

"Xia Die...Xia Die..."

Senatos kept repeating the words, as if trying to etch them into his heart and never forget them: "As beautiful as her name... how lovely she is."

[Cenathos: Xia Die… Sister, I've finally seen you. So you've been in Ohma all these years. That's wonderful. Your Golden Clan friends there all love you. For some reason, I feel so content.]

[Xia Die: You've regained consciousness? Wait for me, I've arrived in Stikosia, I must see you.]

[Star: Waaah, Xia Die, are you really going to stay in the Underworld forever?]

[Qingque: So the eternal separation refers to my sister... This damned divine decree, couldn't you have been a little more profound? Why did you have to use the most plain and unadorned words to stab me like this?]

[Fu Xuan: The predetermined future cannot be changed, just like Eriol's script. Even though the cosmic landscape has changed drastically, the overall trend will never change.]

[Bell: Do all you fortune tellers believe in fate?]

[Fu Xuan: Ha, I didn't believe it before. In order to rebel, I resolutely chose to come to Luofu and become the Grand Diviner here. But only after experiencing it firsthand did I understand that it was fate.]

[Cenatus: After the embrace comes eternal separation... How romantic.]

[Aglaia: Ah, may we all be reunited in the next life, so that you sisters will never have to suffer the pain of separation again. I hope... I can see her again.]

[Little Candle: What are you looking at, Sword Banner Lord? Your little golden trout is thinking about you. I really don't know what kind of love potion you gave her.]

[Little Fish Knight: Is Caesar angry?]

[Little Candle: The great Caesar would not hold a grudge against his subjects.]

Butterflies danced around the two of them, the endless sea of ​​flowers was blown by the west wind, and under the moonlight, the butterflies pushed Senatos slowly forward, forming a beautiful picture.

A moment later, Xia Die squatted down and wrapped her arms around Senatos from behind, both of them smiling at the same time.

Amidst the vibrant butterflies, Cenatos loses his last vestige of consciousness, revealing the true form of the Death Titan... Polycesus emerges from the sea of ​​flowers, the fully-fledged Death Dragon lying down around the butterflies, bestowing upon death its gentleness.

"I will bring peace to the dead."

"From this moment on, life, which had been stagnant, will begin to flow again."

Polycia will forever remain by the side of the fairy in another form, and the underworld will return to normal life and death, so that the dead will no longer have to be stranded on this shallow beach.

[Hu Tao: What a beautiful sea of ​​flowers in the underworld! I wish I could travel to Onphalus, maybe I could even admire the flowers with Xia Die.]

[Yae no Miko: Yes, yes, we've already published many fanfictions about Onpharos. "Reborn Onpharos: I'm Actually Bai E's... Socks?", cough cough, who gave it to me?]

[Yae no Miko: That was an accident. We still have, "About Me Becoming the King of the Earth Beasts and Being Proposed to by That Summer."]

Paimon: Isn't that even stranger?

[Bai E: Um… actually I’m quite interested, not the first book, but the second one.]

[Star: Unbelievable! Someone's even more abstract than me! I, Galaxy Baseball Man, am determined to reclaim everything I've lost! Partner... quickly, give me a slash and help me become a god!]

[Silver Wolf: Hahaha, I've reached the pinnacle of the Onpharos mini-game "If You're a Brother, Come Poke My Tenth Thoracic Vertebra," so everyone sit down.]

【All-powerful: HKS!】

Meanwhile, Ohma.

The assembly hall was bustling with activity, filled with excited members of the demigod council, discussing the topic: whether to suspend the fire-chasing journey.

However, two people were out of place.

Not far from the council chamber, Sersis sighed, "Time flies... In the blink of an eye, the fifteenth door is almost here. When this farce ends, your soul will be placed on the scales of life and death. Are you ready?"

Xia remained completely calm at that moment, saying, "There's no need to confirm this repeatedly, of course."

"Then why are you still hesitating? Is it because your fear of crowds has resurfaced?"

"I just find it too noisy. Those stupid and arrogant idiots are a waste of my time to even glance at them."

Serhith shook his head. "How heartless. In my opinion, you are just as arrogant."

“I wholeheartedly agree with this.” Xia said expressionlessly at that moment.

"Oh? This reaction is quite unexpected. You're not going to refute me?"

Xia said indifferently, "Do you think I don't know what kind of person I am? At least I know better than you, my tenant."

“Truly, a dying man’s words are often ill-chosen.” Cecily liked his unconventional way of thinking. “But that’s precisely why I chose you, isn’t it?”

"Hmph, you flatter me."

"So, the time for the test has come. How do you intend to prove my point?"

At that moment, Xia lowered her arms and smiled, "Since we've come this far... do you remember where I left off last time?"

"You claim: The history of Onphalus is a cycle—"

Chapter 417 I

"That's right. The demigod who carries the flame will become the new Titan at the ends of the world..."

"Do you remember what you saw on the sacred mountain? Calypso, Gnaeus... those heroes reached the end of their fate and left one after another, leaving only the twins to take their place in death."

"Unfortunately, even if their journey is somewhat similar to ours, and even with your and Calypso's, Nicardo's and Gnaeus's corroboration, it can only outline a blueprint for the conjecture of reincarnation."

"Although we've gone through so much trouble to get to this point, I've already given up all hope of proving anything. After all, the past is the past, and trying to prove that we are the successors of the heroes of yesteryear is nothing but a pipe dream..."

At that moment, a hint of anticipation welled up in Xia's eyes, "Until... we met the girl named Polycia and his sister."

“Xia Die—if she is indeed a being sent from the past to the present by the Titans out of selfishness—then, having personally experienced two cycles of reincarnation with Stikocia as the node, she will surely become the link connecting everything.”

"If the twins who died can cross two lifetimes and reunite at the edge of the underworld—my conjecture will no longer be just empty talk, and your question will be answered."

“That’s good.” Cecilia asked, “But how can you be so sure? What if this guess is wrong? Won’t the girl be disappointed?”

"Hmph, so what if I'm wrong?" Xia laughed indifferently. "The most important quality for a scholar is precisely reckless impulsiveness. If one is always cautious and unable to take the first bold step, then no change can be expected—"

He turned toward the Senate, “Moreover, I, Anaxagoras, am destined to overturn this illogical world.”

"Let's go, let's teach those poor bastards one last lesson."

[Magic Technique: Hmph, as expected of Anaxagoras from the previous cycle; the truth of the world was meant for me to discover. What kind of scholar am I if I dare not break with convention, let alone boldly seek proof?]

[Feng Jin: I had a feeling that Teacher Xia was implying something at that moment.]

[Wendy: As expected, that girl was definitely the first local in Onphalos to figure out the truth. How is her brain structured? She's the most brilliant person in Onphalos!]

[Danheng: It's truly unbelievable that someone could deduce the workings of Onpharos single-handedly. But why do you believe that Xia Die could do it?]

[Magic trick: Hmm, let me think. Probably it's that I always trust my students.]

[Bai'er: Teacher, is that including me?]

[Magic trick: Don't ask, just say no.]

[Walter: Wait a minute, what did Natsumi say in that video? The Last Lesson… was it the last lesson I was thinking of? Himeko, are you alright?]

[Himeko: What's wrong, Welt? I'm discussing with Lady Black Tower and Mr. Screwgoom how to intervene in Onpharos. Just focus on protecting Xing and Danheng; I'm safe.]

Walter: I'm glad you're alright.

[Star: I'm dying, I feel like I'm dying a little, and I desperately need a beautiful girl's CPR. March 7th, where are you? I miss you so much... Hey, why did the camera move slightly?]

As he climbed the steps, Xia arrived at the entrance of the parliament. "Bai E... the final debate is up to him." As he spoke, he went to Bai E's side and looked towards the parliamentary stage.

Katniss stood in the center of the stage, waving her arms, indignant and righteous, declaring, "Let them hear—those Golden Blood who waged a brutal war—!"

"Let them hear the voice of the people—!"

The blindly devoted members of parliament cheered enthusiastically. They had long been dissatisfied with the Golden Clan, and now that Katniss was leading the charge, they readily joined the opposition.

At the entrance, Bai Er's expression was grave; the situation had clearly tilted in favor of the Senate.

"That woman is still as adept as ever at manipulating people." Xia stepped forward and sneered.

“Naga... Teacher? I thought you weren’t planning to be there.”

"Votes must be cast, otherwise this conference would be meaningless."

Bai E's eyes held a hint of confusion. "Teacher, do you really think... it's the right thing to entrust the fate of the world to a grand conference?"

“Ohmah has stood firm for a thousand years under this system, which naturally proves the legitimacy of its existence.” Xia Yuguang glanced at him. “But I think that’s not what you want to ask.”

"What truly confuses you is... whether it was the right decision for Aglaia to entrust you with the opportunity to decide the fate of the world."

The teacher is still the same teacher.

"...Always so insightful." Bai E couldn't help but sigh.

Xia looked at him as if it were the most natural thing in the world, saying, "After all, I've been teaching you for so long, while others graduate in four years at most."

"Haha... To be honest, I feel more like I'm going to the execution ground than to a speech." Bai Er chuckled awkwardly, then pleaded again, "So, what's the answer?"

"I can't answer that question for you—"

Bai E sighed softly, his tone slightly dejected, "That's true..."

"—Because this issue has absolutely nothing to do with you." At that moment, Xia turned to face Bai E, a smile curving her lips. "Was it right for Aglaia to entrust this opportunity to you?"

"Don't make me laugh. Isn't this that woman's own problem? Why are you considering these things for her? Or have you always seen yourself as her tool?"

He stopped smiling and became serious, saying, "Listen carefully, turn your thinking around—how should I decide the fate of the world to make the right choice? That's what you should really be thinking about."

"There's still time. Think carefully about how you'll answer, and don't tell me... go tell those who are begging the gods for salvation."