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

[Aglaia: Okay, see you tomorrow.]

The scene shifts to the Tree Garden, where Bai E and Xing easily deal with the Purifiers who come to attack.

The captain saw his teammates lying on the ground on either side and sneered, "It seems she misjudged you."

"She...?" Bai E pressed, "Are you referring to your mastermind?"

"She thinks you are weak. She thinks that even when facing the evil you believe in, you still hesitate when you swing your sword."

Bai E sighed helplessly, "To mistake kindness for weakness, it seems your master is both arrogant and foolish. They are all still breathing. With a little care, they should recover in a few days."

“But I must warn you—it’s been too long since I’ve pointed my sword at humans, and I can’t guarantee I can control the force of my swing. They’re lucky to be alive…”

"Could you be as lucky as them...? Want to try?"

Xing exclaimed in surprise, "Dude, that's a little scary."

“Bai’er, he’s really angry…” Mimi chimed in.

Bai E's eyes were icy: "Get out of here and never show your face again. Tell your master that if she wants to stop the Fire Chasing Journey, she'd better assemble an army even more powerful than the once mighty Suspended Edge."

The Cleaners captain, contrary to his usual behavior, shook his head and said, "I have emphasized more than once, Lord Bai'e... we are not here for conflict."

"We came here just to make sure you're not somewhere else."

"Unbeknownst to us, we have already accomplished our mission of stalling for time... Well then, Lord Bai'e... until we meet again."

Bai Er's expression turned solemn as he watched the Cleansers captain leave.

“Those guys dared to use citizens’ lives as leverage…that’s crossed the line.”

Xing: "Do they really think they have a chance of winning?"

"It's probably a desperate gamble... I suspect the opposition in the Senate is still making a desperate struggle to stop the Fire Chaser. If their plot is exposed, they'll be like rats in the street, hated by everyone. Even those skilled at concealing their whereabouts..."

Xing's phone received an urgent message.

Clothing Craftsman: Due to force majeure, the World Wide Web will suspend services.

Xing: What happened?

Sending failed —

Cloth Maker: Enable local gold wire, for internal member communication only.

Cloth Maker: Jin Zhi has passed away. Please return to the Holy City immediately.

Kaze: I know this is hard to believe, but please come back soon.

Danheng: I'll head back right away.

Chapter 443 Bone Bracelet

"Aglaia?! This is—"

A buzzing sound filled Whiteton's mind, "Damn it! Those guys..."

"Was it those guys who did it?" Xing immediately prepared to capture the Cleansers captain.

Bai E said in disbelief, "But how could they possibly..."

"Calm down...this could be some kind of scheme of hers. Until we see it with our own eyes..."

Compared to the impetuous youth of the past, Bai E now possesses the mindset of a leader. Even when heartbroken, he cannot let impulsiveness make things worse.

Mimi worried: "Bai E..."

"What... should we do now?"

"Everything as usual. I'll first send a message to Teacher Tibo, asking her to reassure the citizens. We'll ride as fast as we can back to Ohma to check on the situation in the city. If we encounter any more enemies blocking our way..."

Bai E was furious: "...I will not be merciful this time."

[Fufu: Watching Bai Er grow step by step, from a confused boy to a leader who can quickly and calmly think through problems, I really feel sorry for him.]

[Magic Technique: As a demigod of romance, you managed to maintain absolute rationality even at the moment of death. Aglaia… how about you inherit this spark of rationality?]

[Aglaia: Ha, it's nothing more than offering this body to the journey of fire.]

[Gold Sand: I admire you. She even orchestrated her own death, using it to completely sway the people of Ohma towards the path of fire. Even with her extraordinary abilities, the Senate's Kaines was powerless against her.]

[Feng Jin: But is it really worth it? The contributions Lady Aglaia made far surpass those of the Senate.]

[Xiadie: Lord Aglaya...]

[Saifei: You fool! The seamstress thought you were very clever; sacrificing yourself for everyone's sake is your answer!]

[Aglaia: Sefaria, my humanity is almost nonexistent, my soul has reached its limit. Do you think I would choose to prolong my life?]

[Sai Fei: You idiot.]

[Tian: Aya, don't be afraid, Tian will be here soon too. Then we'll reunite with Little Butterfly in the Underworld.]

[Bai'er: My growth isn't fast enough... Partner, I need more battles involving Firewalkers.]

[The Fire Thief: Suspended Arena... I... am waiting for you...]

[Star: Good heavens, this is a trap. Bai'er, we absolutely cannot fall for it. You are now the leader of the Golden Blood.]

"...Hattonias." Aglaia's voice rang in Hattonus's ears as he was hammering steel. He then put down his hammer and looked around.

The golden thread nymph rested on the iron table not far away.

"You're forging a sword for Bai'e, aren't you? It's been so long since I've seen you wielding the hammer and tempering a sword; I was quite mesmerized just now."

Hatonus said, enunciating each word clearly: "You...Aglaia."

"To meet me in this state. This means..."

The golden nymph shimmered with golden light. "That's right. At this moment, my body has shattered. In this world, my journey as a human has come to an end."

"It's time to fulfill our previous agreement."

“The agreement, of course… I keep it in mind.” Hatonus nodded slightly.

"Is that thing I entrusted to you still there?"

"Too simple, the container... doesn't suit your taste. You insist on this?"

“I insist.” The light emanating from the golden nymph gradually dimmed. “For the past thousand years, all the fabrics I’ve handled have been tainted by this cold divinity. As a result, I have come to loathe their colors, their textures, and their smells.”

“But this piece of jewelry is different…it was a gift from a child. She was innocent and kind—I wish I could have had a childhood like hers.”

Hattonus: "Saying goodbye to everyone...you've planned everything perfectly?"

"I'm afraid there won't be such a comprehensive plan this time. I feel deeply regretful that I can't say goodbye to them."

But the best time has come… My departure will clear away any worries for them. This parting gift should at least somewhat make up for the regret of this hasty farewell, right?

Hatonus let out a heavy sigh.

"The Soul-Forging Technique of the Suspended Edge, invented by the Titans, can preserve divinity... but it will completely filter out the remnants of humanity."

"Is this what you wanted, Aglaia?"

The golden nymph is Aglaia's final human manifestation. "You have confirmed with me again and again. Yes, Hattonus, I need you to do this for me."

"I will gather my divinity and infuse it into this ornament... Perhaps it will be useful in the future to help them complete their mission."

It was an unremarkable hip bone bracelet, with short white and brown bones strung together by red thread. It was even less valuable than the cheapest item in her treasure trove.

But this seemingly ordinary piece of jewelry became Aglaia's final choice.

Humanity…humanity…divinity, she will experience three distinct deaths.

"Selfless, until the very end."

Hattonus shook his head: "That child, there's no need to envy... Your humanity has already lived its great life."

"Ah... Your praise puts me at ease, Great Craftsman. Now... please lead me through the final trial of fate."

The blazing furnace surged like lava, and the master craftsman Hattonus picked up his hammer and, with the utmost reverence, forged the hip bone bracelet, stripping away the last vestiges of humanity from her divinity.

[Star: Selfless, until the very end. Aglaia, thank you for all your dedication.]

[Paimon: Waaaa, this part made me cry. No one in Ohma cared about her sacrifices while she was alive, only after her death did they realize the immense contributions Aglaia made to Onphalos.]

[Little Fish Knight: Beautiful little golden trout, welcome back to my embrace. You've done enough. Now you can let go of everything and await the miracle called Savior.]

[Little Candle: Jin Zhijue...you've worked hard.]

[Sai Fei'er: If there truly is an afterlife, I hope you and I can both be ordinary people, living ordinary lives. Seamstress, you run your tailor shop, and I'll stay by your side.]

[Jing Yuan: Fu Qing, Yan Qing, you two must work hard! I, the general, also want to retire early and take one last look at the magnificent Milky Way while I still have time.]

[Fu Xuan: How much longer... do you have?]

[Yanqing: General!]

[Jing Yuan: Haha, just kidding. When you stop being so impatient and reckless, when Yan Qing is capable of protecting Luo Fu... then it'll be my time to step up.]

[Walter: Lady Aglaia, as Hattonus said: Your life was great.]

[Fou: Why?! Fontainebleau's water element is way too abundant! I can't take it anymore! Violet, don't cry!]

[Navilette: ...]

[Bai'er: I will carry on with your wishes, Aglaia.]

[Ju Fufu: Junior Sister Ling, I'm so sad. Why did none of Onpharos's friends have a good ending? Everyone left with regrets.]

[Rin: Every member of the Golden Clan brings tears to my eyes; perhaps this is the epic tale of heroes.]

[Lagushi: Lord Aglaia, the greatness of the journey and the grandeur of the epic are due to the inevitable passing of all things. As a spectator of the divine ceremony, I mourn your departure.]

[Aglaia: Ah, I believe in Bai'er.]

Chapter 444 Become a Leader, Bai Er

After Bai'er and Xing returned to Ohma, the city fell silent, and unease was building every second.

It seems the news has spread, and everyone is staying indoors... shops are temporarily closed.

“She really was one of the purges…” Xing still refused to believe it.

Bai E's heart was heavy: "Unbelievable, how could she be killed by just a few assassins... unless they were also part of her scheme."

"If all of this is a scheme, then Teacher Tibo must know something, but it's inconvenient for her to say it out loud in the message."

So he decided to look for Tibo.

Upon arriving at the Golden Baths, Danheng and Clatterus had been waiting for a long time.

Bai'er quickly asked, "Lord Kratrus, were you in the city when it happened? What exactly happened...?"

“Unfortunately, no one knows the details of what happened.” Kratrus shook his head, ultimately unable to finish his sentence. “The witnesses only saw… um…”

Bai E, shrouded in melancholy, said, "...It's alright, please speak frankly."

"...Witnesses at Marble Palace saw Aglaia fall from the Golden Bath."

Before he could finish listening, Bai E closed his eyes and mourned in silence.

Mimi was dejected: "Oh my god..."

"When the Holy City Guards went to check on her, she showed no signs of life." Kratrus was also incredulous.

"But they didn't even dare to draw any conclusions... because she was a demigod who had lived for over a thousand years, the leader of the Golden Clan. Most of the citizens in the city thought she had nothing to do with the word 'death'."

"She was stabbed through the heart with a strangely designed dagger. I only became certain of it after seeing it with my own eyes; it was a concealed weapon carried by the Cleansers."

Xing asked in confusion, "Then why didn't they attack us?"

To be honest, those two seem easier to deal with than a demigod.

Bai Er agreed with Xing's point of view, "I think the same thing as you... This is completely illogical."

"The guys who appeared in the Tree Court, and those who confronted Chongyuan and Danheng, did not immediately resort to violence; they only monitored and deterred them."

"They have no reason, nor the guts, to attack Aglaia. Could it be..."

Regarding the group's speculations, Danheng suggested going directly to Ms. Tibo, as she understood Aglaia's thoughts best.

Kratrus, on the other hand, planned to stay at the Golden Baths and maintain order with the guards. The leader of the Golden Blood could not be left vacant; someone had to take her place and lead Ohma.