Chapter 1153

""What…?!" Bai'e shot his head up, face full of shock as he looked at Xiadie."

""From this, I promise that the fire seed brought back by Your Excellency Xiadie will be personally managed by the Senate. Thereafter, if we gain your support at the Citizens' Assembly, we will spare no effort to ensure the Golden Age returns to the world!"

Amid the crowd's repeated cheers, Laigushi also came to the center of the venue and solemnly announced: "The balance has been broken, the outcome is clear. KefaLe and Talandon above, in the name of the divine rite spectators, I see—Aohema has chosen her fate. This Citizens' Assembly agenda will be changed to 'Pause the Fire Pursuit Journey'; this resolution will also be posted before the Wall of Heroic Names, and all citizens should know the city-state's future path."

——

Chinese Paladin.

""What the hell is this! I'm so pissed off!"

In the backyard of Xinandang, the afternoon sun lazily fell on the blue stone slabs—what should have been a good time for a noon nap was turned into a boiling pot by Jing Tian's complaints, bubbling up gudugudu.

""Could the 'price' Nakesia mentioned just be letting Xiadie side with Kaines? Sigh… Xiadie really should have discussed this big matter with Aglaea beforehand; this sudden stab in the back leaves no time to react."

Meanwhile, Xuejian was peeling an orange, listening to Jing Tian's noisy clamor, helplessly rolled his eyes, and shoved a few peeled segments into his mouth to stop his further complaints: "Alright, alright, my big boss, you're shouting so loud people might think Xinandang is going bankrupt. Eat your orange and say less."

""I feel frustrated on Aglaea's behalf!" Jing Tian chewed his orange, cheeks puffed, but his anger hadn't subsided: "I thought the biggest enemy was Kaines and Nakesia, yet suddenly Xiadie pops up, saying the fire seed should be personally managed by the Senate—isn't that slapping her in the face publicly, making the Fire Pursuit Journey all for nothing?"

""If my brother's life were in danger and someone happened to know how to save him, I would cooperate with that person." Long Kui said softly, "Brother, perhaps Xiadie Miss didn't intend to defect to Kaines; rather, saving an important person's life matters more to her heart, leaving her no choice."

——

""Nakesia wore a wistful look: "Aglaea, Aglaea… what has made your heart soften, your words lose their former sharpness?""

""Aglaea replied coldly: "Flap your lips all you want. The Fire Pursuit Journey is a fact written in the divine edict; we will not fail.""

""Seeing Aglaea not losing her momentum, Nakesia grinned even wider: "Then let's see the outcome at the Citizens' Assembly.""

As Laigushi declared the debate over, attendees dispersed one by one, and Aglaea also found Xiadie, sighing deeply: "It seems sending you to find Nakesia has instead fostered your cooperation with him?"

""Sorry, everyone. I know you have many questions, and I will hide nothing." Xiadie lowered her head full of apology: "This is of great importance… Your Excellency Star should know the whole process."

""What exactly happened when you went to find Nakesia?"

""Xiadie's brows slightly furrowed: "He showed me…… a long, heavy past."

……

""Have you heard of it? The story of our homeland about the ocean god's pearl——" Bolvqieya said softly, "It was a small coastal town under a wise queen, enjoying sea breezes and bright peaceful times. One day, an evil dragon descended. Its wings could cover the sun, its claws could cleave the waves……"

It stormed into the tower, devoured the queen's most beloved daughter, and took up residence in the sleeping chambers, looking like a tyrant. The queen gathered warriors and killed it, but when they cut open its belly, they found the princess had become a skeleton. She was grief-stricken, weeping for days… At that moment, a silver-tongued scholar came to the court. He suggested using dragon bones and dragon blood to revive the princess—in the story, the charlatan called this secret method 'Alchemy'.

The princess was reborn, and the queen was overjoyed, unaware that her body housed an evil dragon's spirit. The evil dragon, seeking revenge, gulped down the poor queen, the charlatan, the warriors, and all the innocent citizens of the city. What's worse, the souls of the dead died with regret, being refused entry to the underworld. The resentful spirits wandering the human world coalesced into a river of the dead, unable to dissipate for a long time.

——

Labyrinth Meal

Isn't this the story from the allegorical poem left by the bard that Xiaodie once recited? Could it be…… that this story is actually true?

Marlusil suddenly recalled the wandering souls that Naxia had seen in the 'Underworld' back then, drifting aimlessly across the vast plain, even saying things like 'the Death Titan refuses them'……

Upon thinking this, Marlusil shuddered all over, instantly connecting these clues.

If Roselia's story is true, those lingering dead spirits are the Stikokisia people, who cannot enter the living world nor reach the underworld, being completely stuck in the gap between life and death. Moreover, the Alchemy that Naxia now masters could very well be the technique left behind by that charlatan.

Zirchak stroked his chin: 'Ulfaroth actually recorded real history as an allegorical poem and passed it down, but the problem is, if this is true history, why didn't it indicate when the story took place?'

Since Roselia is a golden heir, this indicates that the three calamity Titans have already descended—without a doubt, this is a story from the Age of Conflict. But why, in the Age of Conflict, does someone inherit KefaLe's divine office?

Countless questions surged forward, many clues contradicting Ulfaroth's reality.

What baffled Zirchak was that reality was undeniably true, yet what Naxia saw was something else?

——

""The dreadful death devoured everything, and our homeland perished with it. Until……"

""Calypso looked at the girl in the wheelchair: '…Until?'"

""Roselia gave a playful smile: 'Until what? Actually, I don't know either.'"

""Ah… little Roselia, you still love to keep people in suspense as ever."

These images appeared again, but this time the audience was not just Naxia alone; Sysis and Xiaodie also saw this scene.

""According to you, this is what I once looked like? Indeed, it's exactly the same." Sysis earnestly examined the 'self' conversing before him, "But what exactly is this……?""