Chapter 1065: Weng Falosi 3.1 (111)

"Maybe it's... what Na Ke Xia left using Alchemy, trying to teach us something?" Mi Mi guessed.

Ti An lowered her head, thought, and said: "Ti An thinks it's not. Because when Ti An picked it up, saw nothing... and from the golden thread, that aura seemed to be running around!"

"... Lord Ti An, where is this aura now?"

"Um..." Ti An closed her eyes and felt, "It seems... just a bit higher up, not far ahead of us."

Xia Die lowered her head, fell into thought: "Ka Lu Pu Suo... what are you really hiding?"

The three pressed on, and when the road passed through a cave, a twisted giant tree's vines blocked the way. Countless golden butterflies perched on the vines, and from afar it looked as if the tree were cloaked in a golden woven garment.

"Unbelievable. Is it to resist Heichi, or..."

Ti Bao curiously examined the golden butterflies in the sky: "What exactly is this 'Gentleman's Butterfly'? Is it a formidable gate-guarding monster?"

"No, how to say... it's a safeguard for the Titan Flame Seed. These butterflies are formed from Moneita's lingering divine consciousness, bearing the duty of guarding the flame seed. Legend says only by proving one holds 'pure selfless love' can one pass the butterflies' test, awaken the tree to open a way, and behold Se Xisi."

Ti Bao was startled: "Then how do we prove it?"

Mi Mi flew out first: "Can we just say 'I love you' to the Titan? I'm good at that!"

Xia Die lowered her head guiltily: "Sorry, I don't know either... after all this is a secret of the entire tree courtyard, even of Weng Falosi, known to only a handful. Compared to that—Lord Ti An, has the golden thread shown any reaction to its surroundings?"

Ti Bao shook her head: "Um, no. That unknown thing seems to be further ahead, higher up."

Honkai 3.

"Pure selfless love?" Yi Dian gently swayed the wine glass in her hand, and through the curved rim her gaze fell kindly on the pink-haired girl opposite wearing Mi Mi's hat, a knowing smile curving her lips.

"If we speak of 'pure' and 'selfless', I think perhaps there's the most suitable candidate here." Yi Dian smiled at her, "Do you agree? Ailixiya?"

The girl who was named froze for a moment, cupping her face with both hands; she tried to pose shyly, yet her face showed no sign of shyness.

"Oh dear, Yi Dian, praising me like that makes me embarrassed ♪" Ailixiya playfully blinked, "But... since Yi Dian says so, I'll openly admit it! After all, a cute, kind, love‑filled girl like me was indeed born for 'love'~"

"But even so, dear Aili sister can't help them overcome the obstacles in the sky veil." Pa Duo whispered softly, "Do Xia Die and Xing have 'pure selfless love'? It seems those who meet that condition aren't ordinary people..."

"Indeed, if I were to name the closest candidate in the sky veil, there's only one person..."

Xingqiri.

Meibiwusi calmly took the word, "That man's 'selflessness' is evident to all, his 'love' is closer to the lofty concept of 'God's love for humanity'. Though that fellow's control desire is extreme, it is indeed pure to a shocking degree."

Presumably Moneita would permit that kind of 'love' filled with control and devotion, right? After all, who could refuse a 'god' willing to sacrifice itself for you?

"Perhaps we could try... would the dissipating butterflies react to the 'Golden Branch Oath'? If it's truly a mythic token, it should work."

At Xia Die's suggestion, Xing removed a petal from the lotus and offered it with both hands.

The butterflies remained motionless.

Xing, based on his understanding of the general standards of human society, believes that striving for superiority is a natural instinct— butterflies are no exception— and seizing a common prey will surely awaken this primal instinct hidden in their genes.

Xing made an extremely provocative expression and chewed the petal.

Xia Die: "...?"

Xia Die didn't understand, but was greatly shocked.

Regrettably, the butterflies did not accept her duel invitation, so it was abandoned. Xia Die also recited the earlier prayer again, yet it remained ineffective.

Just as the two were at a loss, a cry for help from Ti Bao echoed from outside the tree hole; the two rushed out, followed the voice, and arrived at a sealed, dimly lit room.

On the platform beneath the room, Mi Mi was surrounded by two hungry strange beasts; she flew onto a massive amber, which continuously radiated high heat scorching her.

Using Oloronis's Miracle Orb, the three swiftly reached the lower platform, eliminated the beasts, rescued Mi Mi, and Xia Die was nonetheless firmly drawn to the massive amber.

"Everyone's fine, that's good. Back to the point, this amber is...?"

"... it's the residue of Moneita's flame seed."

Ka Lu Pu Suo suddenly appeared behind the group, leisurely walked to beneath the amber, "As long as you all harvest the remaining fire before you with the Golden Branch Oath, offering it to the Divine Butterfly, you can proceed to the tree crown's throne."

Ti Bao was startled: "Whoa... where did you pop out from?!"

"Finally you appear... Lord Ka Lu Pu Suo."

"Hmm... it's been a while since we met. That battle just now was truly exhilarating, my heart is delighted... it seems indeed I can rely on you all to reclaim my rightful form."

Offer blessings to the beautiful world.

"Reclaim rightful form...?" He Zhen furrowed his brow, for a moment not quite grasping the meaning, "... Isn't she, like Na Ke Xia, voluntarily separating her own soul?"

"Heh heh heh... He Zhen, your understanding of Weng Falosi is still insufficient."

Hui Hui spoke in a lyrical tone, and the staff in her hand thudded heavily onto the ground.

"The woman... Ka Lu Pu Suo, she was not proactive. My eyes have long seen through everything!" Hui Hui raised her hand toward the sky veil, as if an epic prelude were unfolding, "She is the 'Forbidden Shadow of Weng Falosi'! Presumably during the Heichi crisis, she used her body to seal the unspeakable evil within Heichi, or perhaps to save Na Ke Xia, turned her body into a container... forced to become a wandering ghost in the world!"