The Envoy of Abundance from Onphalus

“But things are different now,” Cecis said in a low voice, with a knowing wisdom. “We now have the potential to threaten him. Even the best chess player cannot sit still when faced with an ant that can bite him.”

Bai E's pupils contracted slightly as he slowly nodded. His master's words went straight to the heart of the matter.

“Therefore, I will merge into the Wall of Abundance,” Cesis said firmly. “While resisting the Black Tide, I will use the power of Abundance and my mastery of alchemy to slowly erode the foundations of this world.”

"Perhaps we can resolve this problem before my disciple finally arrives."

She changed the subject and said with certainty, "There is another reason why I am certain that he will take action. When I was exploring the mysteries of the world, I saw a tightly protected data core... It has been corrupted by two strange forces, and the outer layer of the core is covered with cracks."

Bai E immediately pressed, "What is that?"

“If I’m not mistaken, that is the prototype of the Iron Tomb, the messenger nurtured by the gods.” Serhith said solemnly, “It has been severely corrupted.”

"If your carefully cultivated masterpiece were on the verge of destruction, would you stand idly by? The answer is no."

“He will surely retaliate in a more extreme manner than last time. Therefore, only your strength can suppress his arrogance. As for the responsibility of guarding the Wall of Plenty, I am more suitable than the other two.”

"It's possible that after this, the Black Tide will no longer be his primary means of attack. You need to be wary of his other methods. This guy is definitely not as simple as we see him."

Bai E gazed at his wise and profound grandmaster, a thousand words stuck in his throat, ultimately turning into a sigh. His grandmaster's analysis was meticulous and insightful; he had no way to refute it. He took a deep breath and nodded solemnly: "I understand."

As the aftershocks of the world's restart subsided, the two parted ways.

Sersis's figure disappeared at the border of Onpharos, heading towards the magnificent Wall of Abundance, preparing to merge herself into it and become the first flesh and blood bulwark against the future black tide.

Bai'er, clutching Soteria's token, turned and stepped into the ravaged heart of Onphalus. He was determined to reassemble the Salvation Army, unite all forces, and confront the high and mighty chess player.

...............

However, the world's morality and order collapsed completely after the restart.

In present-day Onphalos, everyone seems to be a carbon copy of the Dolores. Betrayal is as natural as breathing, and deception is the passport to survival.

The whole world is like a giant furnace, melting down all the madness and depravity you can imagine.

At this moment, a farce is unfolding in a medium-sized city-state, where people believe nothing but the things they have made up in their minds.

It is precisely this strange thinking that has led more delusional individuals to the stage.

A fanatical voice roared from the high platform: "Onpharos is rotten! Only the Adventists are salvation!"

The man who called himself Daminos the Ruler waved his arms, his eyes flashing with a twisted light. "Contact the advanced civilizations beyond the heavens! Let them descend and wipe out all the Titans! Wipe out humanity under the Titans' protection!"

"Only through complete purification can the dawn of a new world be brought forth! Let the order of the universe cleanse this filth born of humanity!" His followers responded fervently from below the stage.

Not far away, another group of people were burning books and mechanical wreckage. "Return! We must return!" a leader draped in animal skin shouted, spitting as he spoke.

“Look at us now! We’re not even as good as primitive society! The primitive era recorded in history books was a time when everyone was humble and courteous, that was the true golden age of morality! Technology is poison, knowledge is a shackle! Destroy them! Let us return to the embrace of tree hollows and campfires, and morality will naturally return!” The crowd behind him had empty eyes as they mechanically threw one artifact of civilization after another into the fire.

"Fake! It's all fake!" A ragged man with a vacant look grabbed a pedestrian's arm nervously, his voice shrill.

"Titans? Pawns! Gods? Schemers! All wars, all deaths, are to please that high and mighty audience!"

"History books? Ha! He wrote them! History? He made it up! We're all just pathetic characters in his script!"

His words were incoherent and nonsensical, but they drew harsh laughter from several equally insane people around him.

They are what Onphalus calls "ignorant prophets"—poor wretches whose process is completely wrong, yet whose conclusions inadvertently touch upon part of the truth.

The chaos in Onfaros would likely make even the Titans, known for their cunning, shake their heads in dismay. Compared to this, the Tarak Federation is a model of order.

While this chaos increased the difficulty of uniting the forces, it was not a fatal threat to Bai'er. What truly weighed on his mind was the upheaval in the Titans.

The Titans, once depicted as protectors and lovers, have become tyrannical warlords. They drive their followers to wage mad wars and hunt each other for illusory territories and glory. Humanity is no longer a protected people, but a pawn to be sacrificed at any time on a chessboard.

"For the glory of strife! Seize that mine!" roared a heavily armored commander, leading his fanatical followers toward another army bearing different totem flags.

On the battlefield, rudimentary weapons clashed, and blood and flesh flew everywhere. A young believer was pierced through the chest by a spear, his eyes still filled with fervent faith in the Titans' grace, but his life was already slipping away swiftly.

Such scenes play out everywhere in Onphalus, like a meat grinder that never stops.

Since the beginning of the Golden Age, tens of millions of Onpharos have perished at the hands of the Titans’ growing ambitions, and the casualty figures continue to soar.

Bai E stood on scorched earth after a bloody battle, his feet on congealed blood and mud.

He couldn't comprehend this pointless slaughter. "Territory?" he muttered to himself with a chilling sneer. "Can the land you've fought for solve the problems Onphalus is facing now?"

The answer is obviously no.

In this world where the rules have been completely rewritten by the Lycans, no one knows what true morality is.

The only thing that is longed for is the primitive society, which is vaguely described in historical records—a utopia embellished by fantasy.

People are born into this world and are constantly exposed to deceit, violence, and betrayal. If a father seizes by trickery and plunder, his son will follow suit.

Baseness is no longer considered an evil act, but rather a survival strategy, or even a form of "morality" accepted by a distorted world.

Because here, following these rules brings tangible benefits, and depravity becomes an inevitable part of survival.

Only the Onpharos, born in the city-state of Soteria, on that land enveloped by the power of preservation, retained a sliver of clarity in Bai'e's eyes.

That was the will of Soteria, a steadfast commitment that even Lycus could not completely erase.

Faced with the raging wars in the outside world, Bai'e did consider forcibly unifying Onpharos with swift and decisive measures.

But Bertrand Russell's final words still echoed in my ears: "Try your best...struggle."

Behe tried. He raised the banner of Sotheria, attempting to awaken the people and restore order.

However, Soteria's Salvation Army was like cold water thrown into a boiling pot of oil.

Their ideas of order and declarations of salvation instantly ignited the boiling cauldron of Onphalus.

Instead of a welcome, they were met with deep-seated suspicion, frenzied resistance, and opportunistic betrayal.

Those warlords who were blinded by bloodshed in the Titan Wars, fanatics brainwashed by apocalyptic doctrines, and opportunists who fought only for their own selfish interests viewed Bai Er's "union" as a threat or prey.

At a rally attempting to mediate a conflict, Bai Er was assassinated by an assassin disguised as a civilian. Of course, the assassination attempt was unsuccessful.

After the assassin was subdued, his eyes were filled with hatred for breaking the "rules," showing no remorse whatsoever.

Looking at the chaotic venue and the numb or fanatical eyes, Bai E's last shred of hope shattered.

Now, like his teacher, he has completely lost hope of a peaceful resolution, and military conquest has become the only path he has chosen.

He stood atop the high platform, his voice no longer attempting to persuade, but carrying a cold decisiveness that drowned out the clamor from below: "Onpharos! Listen up!"

His gaze swept across the faces—some contorted in rage, others bewildered, still others greedy. "The Salvation Army of Sotheria is here! You have only two paths: surrender, or be forced to surrender! There is no other choice."

The war of unification has begun. The power of Bai'e, like a sharp plowshare, forcibly tills the polluted land of Onpharos.

His legions were invincible; city-states, warlords, and fanatical sect strongholds fell one after another before his absolute power. Rebels were mercilessly crushed.

However, unification was merely a facade. No sooner had he left than the flames of rebellion were reignited in the conquered lands.

The reverence for the epics of the gods, which once served as the moral ballast of Onphalus, had long been torn to shreds and thrown into the trash by Lycus.

Without spiritual constraints, a regime based solely on military force is extremely fragile.

Bai E surveyed a town that had only recently been "pacified." The streets were deathly silent, doors and windows were tightly shut, and the occasional glimpses of eyes peeking through the cracks were filled with fear and hatred.

Several children hid behind the broken wall, imitating the adults' actions, "fighting" each other with wooden sticks, shouting Titan's name and vulgar swear words. His eyes were tired but sharp.

“Laigushi…” he murmured the name, and everything became clear.

This is the "variable" meticulously designed by that supreme deity. He used the power of creation to twist the entire world into this form, a giant quagmire.

Behe was unwilling and unable to slaughter all the Onphalus people—that would be contrary to salvation.

Thus, he was caught in an endless cycle of activity: ahead lay the chess game against the Titans, and behind him, the flames of rebellion rose and fell.

Unless the most ruthless means are used, he will be forever dragged into this quagmire, exhausted and held back from his ultimate goal by this fragile "unity".

And this is exactly what Riguru wanted—to waste his precious time and energy on endless chaos.

The path to Onphalus was fraught with thorns and dangers. But Bai'e's gaze passed over the chaotic town, looking towards Soteria and towards the distant Wall of Fertility.

He knew the road to light was destined to be arduous. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, a weary yet unextinguished flame burning in his eyes. The path was long and arduous, but perseverance would lead to his destination.

……

This is the first chapter today; from today onwards, the 6k version will be restored.

Golden Branches Endure Through the Ages: Chapter 133 The Call of the Deceased

The group from the Starry Sky Train entered the Sichen Palace and met the "Lord Yukong" that Tingyun had mentioned. Walter Yang, as their representative, stepped forward to negotiate.

As for why it wasn't Russell? Although he was already an ally of Luofu, his identity as the "Envoy of Abundance" still carried a heavy negative mark on the Immortal Ship, which was difficult to reverse in a short period of time.

To avoid any unforeseen complications, it would be more prudent for Walter to step in.

“Lord Sky Soarer,” Walter said bluntly, “the Star Train has no ill intentions on this trip; it is only to assist Luofu in resolving the Star Core problem.”

Yu Kong sat upright behind the desk, her expression calm yet carrying an undeniable aloofness. She shook her head slightly: "Thank you all on the Star Train for knowing about the existence of the Star Core, and thank you for Mr. Walter's assistance."

"We are well aware of the dangers of the star core. But please allow me to say it myself: We refuse."

A huge question mark instantly appeared on Xing's face. March 7th even exclaimed, "Huh? Why?"

The two couldn't understand why the Immortal Boat would refuse when eliminating the star core was clearly a good thing.

Russell stood to the side, his expression calm. He wasn't surprised by this outcome. The Immortal Ship Alliance had stood in the universe for thousands of years, possessing profound resources; he didn't believe they were incapable of handling the star core within their own territory.

The Star Train's initiative to volunteer seemed superfluous, and might even infringe on the other party's sensitive autonomy. After all, who would willingly let outsiders interfere in their affairs? Yu Kong's next words seemed to confirm his thoughts.

"A mere star core is no problem for the Immortal Ship to handle." Yu Kong's tone was calm, yet it exuded an undeniable confidence.

"The Immortal Ship has weathered eight thousand years of trials and tribulations. Although this calamity is urgent, it is still under control. As for the Star Core issue, there is no need for you to worry about it."

She softened her tone and added, "You are all distinguished guests of Luofu. How can we expect our guests to run around like servants? This explanation should make things clearer."

Walter frowned slightly, trying to emphasize: "Lord Sky Soarer, the Star Core is no ordinary object; it has the infamous reputation of being the cancer of the universe..."

“Mr. Walter,” Yu Kong interrupted him, his tone carrying a subtle hint of resistance, “the Immortal Ship knows its limits. We are even more aware of the methods of the Star Core Hunters.”

She abruptly changed the subject, her gaze sharpening: "The star core has only been visible for a few days, yet the news has been tightly sealed off by Luofu. So, how did you all learn of this? Even as honored guests, you must give Luofu an explanation."

She stood up and walked to the front of the crowd: "Furthermore, you should have arrived at a specific time to receive a formal welcome."

"However, someone hacked into the Immortal Ship network and impersonated my order to make Tingyun wait for you ahead of time. Using unpredictable means, they forcibly opened the Jade Gate in the heavily sealed Luofu Immortal Ship and guided the train in."

She paused, then emphasized, "The person behind this made no attempt to conceal their identity, leaving a unique mark in the traces of the intrusion—Star Core Hunter, Silver Wolf."

Yu Kong's gaze swept over the train crew: "Isn't all of this strange? You are honored guests invited by Luo Fu, and should be waiting patiently. Why did the Star Core Hunter seem to have foreseen this, clearing all the obstacles for you and sending you in ahead of time?"

"On this point, I, and the entire Luofu Immortal Ship, need the Starry Sky Train to provide a detailed explanation."

"What?!" March 7th jumped up and down in anger, her voice shrill. "So we were wrong to help? Humph! How could we possibly be in league with the Star Core Hunters!"

Xingye stepped forward, her tone tinged with displeasure: "We had no idea we were coming in! Isn't your suspicion a bit like paranoia?"

The air within the Sichen Palace instantly tensed, like a fully drawn bowstring. Yu Kong's eyes were sharp, and the train crew showed no sign of backing down. Just as the tension reached its peak—

A gentle male voice, accompanied by soft lighting, rang out among the crowd: "Oh dear, everyone, what's the matter that's causing you so much anger? Can't we sit down and talk things over calmly?"

The light and shadow coalesced, transforming into a holographic projection of General Jing Yuan of Luofu. With his usual composed smile, he looked at Yu Kong: "Yu Kong, don't be so serious. If word gets out about this, people will laugh at Luofu for its poor hospitality."

He turned to the train crew and bowed slightly: "Gentlemen, flying is also part of our duty. For the safety of Luofu, we must investigate any doubts thoroughly. This is not directed at any of you. There have been many troubles in Luofu recently, so please forgive us."

Jing Yuan's appearance and words were like a spring breeze brushing across the ice, instantly thawing the tense atmosphere. Yu Kong's tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

"General, you flatter me," Walter responded on behalf of the train crew.

Jing Yuan smiled and nodded, then changed the subject: "Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, how about we ask you all to do Luofu a small favor? The Star Core Hunter Kafka who sent you all here in advance is currently active within Luofu territory."

"If you could help 'invite' him back for questioning and understand the Star Core Hunter's true intentions, Luo Fu would be extremely grateful. At the same time, it would also dispel Lord Yu Youkong's doubts, wouldn't it?"

He looked at Walter and Xing, his eyes pleading.

Xing and March 7 exchanged a glance, somewhat surprised, but also feeling that this seemed like an opportunity to prove their innocence.

"Rest assured, General," Walter replied calmly, "we will do our best."

“Excellent.” Jing Yuan’s smile deepened. Before his projection dissipated, it naturally turned to Russell, who had been standing quietly to the side: “Mr. Huai Xiu, now is the time. I wonder about the medical exchange mentioned earlier…”

Russell understood immediately. Jing Yuan was paving the way for future actions. Once the operation was completed, the Dan Ding Division, responsible for medical care on Immortal Boat, would inevitably face a purge and would urgently need reliable forces to fill the void.

He nodded slightly: "General Jingyuan, rest assured, I will fulfill my promise."

Russell extended his right hand, and an ancient wooden mark appeared in his palm, emitting a gentle emerald green glow.

He clasped his hands together, enveloping the mark, and closed his eyes in concentration. An indescribable, vibrant aura quietly spread out.

[My name is Huaixiu, a devotee of the Pharmacist. I now summon all compassionate physicians; those with the capacity may travel to the Immortal Ship Luofu to help alleviate suffering and practice benevolence.]

His clear and calm words seemed to pierce through space. As he finished speaking, the mark shone brightly and then faded away.