Chapter 1145: Wengfaluo Si 3.2 (191)

"The collection at the Hall of Benevolence is too vast to browse through volume by volume. We used the archive stone tablets to retrieve the necessary materials and brought them all back to the Ohma Research Institute."

Dan Heng agreed: "This place is dangerous and not suitable for lingering. There are still some scattered scrolls on the ground. While you were working, I checked the area thoroughly—this way, nothing should be missed."

The two split up, and Dan Heng quickly found more materials related to Nataxia among the scattered scrolls—entirely complaint letters directed at her, stacked thick. Based on the accumulated dust and intact packaging, it was clear the recipient had never opened them; they were simply discarded in a corner.

"It seems to be Nataxia's materials? Worth noting—Fengjun should also take a look."

Fengjun took the dust-covered stack of letters, fanning them in front of himself: "Cough, cough—so much dust… Are these all the complaint letters he received? Even without opening them, I know they must say things like 'Nataxia disrespects the gods, and her very existence threatens social order'… and so on."

"He has that much influence?"

"Otherwise, how could he be called 'The Great Performer'? It's said that after founding his school, the teacher's first act was to publicly read his own work before everyone—"

Recalling the past, Fengjun pinched his throat and began imitating the teacher's old tone of voice, spot-on: "As for the Titans—do they truly match mortal conceptions of gods? A world crafted by gods must be perfect, yet Englawros is filled with foolishness and ugliness!"

"... That's very much his style. And then?"

Fengjun shook his head regretfully: "He never got to finish speaking before being dragged to the interrogation stand."

——

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

"No surprise there," Zayn shrugged, saying matter-of-factly, "Although his academic ideas were ahead of their time, honestly… with his personality and beliefs, it's surprising he wasn't executed."

To advance further in truth, someone must always break authority and become the first to blaze a new trail. Such a person will surely be remembered by posterity, but often meets a poor fate in their own time.

Zayn felt that if Nataxia were still alive and able to conduct research, there must have been assistance from other Golden Descendants behind her. Otherwise, under a one-person-one-vote system, even if she hadn't died, she would likely have been exiled to a distant land.

"But fortunately, he didn't suffer too much persecution," Feilan said, relieved. "Although the Arboretum has some conservative academic factions, at least the academic atmosphere remains good—despite Nataxia's flood of protest letters, he still became one of the Seven Sages of the Arboretum."

"Although those scholars disliked Nataxia, we cannot deny that her alchemy concerning the 'soul' is indeed a technique transcending ordinary logic—and unlike demigods or Golden Descendants, this alchemy is a supernatural power ordinary people can master through postnatal study. As the Arboretum's research into the soul deepens, creating weapons directly targeting the soul is not impossible," Frieren said calmly.

Ruhartak stared blankly: "Direct… directly targeting the soul…?"

"Hmm." Frieren slowly closed her grimoire, "Even if the Arboretum's other scholars despise Nataxia, they cannot ignore her research in alchemy and the soul. Killing someone on the charge of blasphemy is simple, but the loss brought by her death… is immeasurable."

——

"Although it's called a trial, it's actually a debate. He had to respond to each accusation from the scholars, or else be expelled from the Arboretum." Fengjun recalled briefly, then mimicked Nataxia's voice: "The first accusation was: 'Cough, cough—Do you agree that the Titans shaped heaven and earth, and that mountains, rivers, and oceans are their masterpieces?'"

Seeing Fengjun's serious expression, Dan Heng asked curiously: "... Are you asking me to respond from Nataxia's position?"

After a moment's thought, Dan Heng nodded in agreement: "According to myth, the oceans, sky, and earth are all creations of the Titans—undoubtedly true."

Fengjun sighed deeply: "If the teacher could have answered that way, he might not have suffered. But instead, he cited the history of the Flame-Chasers, arguing that humans too could inherit divine authority. Naturally, opponents disliked this answer, leading to the second accusation."

"'You, in the name of soul research, defile the soul, conduct transactions abhorred by the gods—do you admit to this?'"

Dan Heng's expression hardened: "A serious accusation—did he actually do such a thing?"

"'The teacher always wears an eye patch, even in solitude—some say he used one eye as alchemical material. All people are protected by the Khepri, especially those bathed in divine blood, the Golden Descendants. If true, this would undoubtedly be blasphemy against the gods.'" Fengjun continued, then exhaled in relief: "Fortunately, lacking evidence, this accusation ultimately came to nothing."

"'The teacher debated the scholars one by one, facing challengers in turn. Until finally, one scholar asked him: 'Anaxagoras, do you disrespect the divine spirits?'"

"'He paused for a few seconds, then replied: 'I never deny that the Titans ought to be great.'"

Dan Heng: "Clearly, there's more beneath the surface. His implication is that the Titans are not great."

"'Well… I don't know how that uproar was quelled, but the teacher ultimately remained in the Arboretum. Even if seen as a heretic, he continued his research.'"

——

Genshin Impact.

"Indeed, it's hard to deny—Nataxia's argument still holds considerable merit." Rosalia slammed her wine cup onto the table, sending snow-white foam flying over the rim, nearly splashing onto Venti's face: "... If the Titans were truly supreme, then the Golden Descendants shouldn't have the right to succeed their divine roles—let alone kill them."

"Compared to the words 'god'… it's obvious the Titans are closer to humanity. Just like Mondstadt's wind god, Barbatos."

"Hah… Miss Rosalia, the correct pronunciation of the wind god's name is Barbatos." Kaye smiled helplessly, "Good thing Barbara doesn't usually come to receive angelic blessings—otherwise, if she heard you mispronounce the wind god's name, she'd get angry again."

"Oh, it's just a mispronunciation—surely even if the Wind God heard it, he'd forgive you." Venti chuckled "Eh-hey," had Charles refill his glass of dandelion wine, then added: "But getting back to the earlier topic about the Titans—Titans and Barbatos alike bear the title 'god,' yet they cannot do everything a true god can. They have life, emotions, joys and sorrows… Compared to 'god'… they seem more like administrators."