Chapter 871: The Final Lesson (Bonus for the 37th Great Demon Lord of the Golden Alliance)

Trier, within the botanical garden.

Higton of the "End of All Things" saw the two "Witches" vanish and immediately raised his right hand, scratching at the dark brown age spots on his face.

The spots instantly ruptured, spewing out maggots that crawled through decaying corpses, dripping greenish-yellow pus.

That nauseating pus, upon contact with air, immediately hissed and evaporated, spreading without a trace.

Just as Jianna circled to Higton's side, waiting for Franca to launch her attack and assist from the flank, she suddenly felt a sluggish apathy, as if afflicted by a disease called "Laziness."

It felt as though corresponding desires had withered, showing signs of decay, and as if certain brain tissues had begun to deteriorate.

Following her own spiritual intuition, Jianna unhesitatingly activated her "Mirror Double," refusing to wait until the problem became severe enough to trigger passively.

Two sharp cracking sounds rang out simultaneously; Franca, who had stealthily approached Higton to unleash the "Black Tear" plague, made the same response.

Their figures first outlined themselves, then rapidly transformed into mirrors.

During this process, before Franca's and Jianna's "Mirror Doubles" had fully transformed, their internal organs could be seen sprouting obvious, self-sustaining growths, and multiple blood vessels around the heart and within the brain rapidly became fragile.

If the "Witches" manipulated pathogens and controlled disease, then Higton's Path seemed to be the pathogen itself—the very symbol of disease.

Had Franca and Jianna not actively triggered their "Mirror Doubles," and waited until their bodily tissues truly deteriorated, using a double to respond would no longer be easy; they would have to perform a ritual, petitioning the "Primordial Witch" or the corresponding angel to transfer the disease onto a pre-set mirror, or have one person cling to the target while the other retreated from the area, allowing Lu Jianuo to use surgery combined with the "Physician's" ability to treat it.

On the other side, before the disease had spread, Vazan Sansong, whose golden hair held faint streaks of white, had already located several manipulable fragments within the mercury-colored river of Ludwig's fate.

As long as he did not touch the most critical parts of the angel's fate, he had no fear of backlash or immediate loss of control.

Similarly, as one who already possessed divinity, if he avoided peering into fate fragments containing dangerous scenes or knowledge, he could observe most of Ludwig's fate.

As Ludwig sprinted halfway, opened his mouth, and extended his palm to strip the target of his "Person Within the Ring" ability, Vazan Sansong, who had already raised his arm, lightly pressed down, magnifying a certain tributary of fate through the air.

Thud!

Ludwig, the child, tripped over a protruding stone and fell face-first into the dirt.

While manipulating fate, Vazan Sansong also turned his gaze toward Lu Mi, transformed into a blazing white-and-blue flame spear.

His eyes brightened, instantly Ningju two You green rays.

This was a power Vazan Sansong had only recently contracted.

——The greatest problem with the "Fated One" of the Destiny Path is that the upper limit of contracted powers cannot exceed the contracted entity itself; meaning, early-contracted abilities rarely grow unless the initial contract was with a semi-god-level being, and even then, one's current spirit and flesh may be too weak to fully unleash the power, so each sequence advancement might enhance the contracted ability.

Below Sequence 4, without the transformative factor of divinity, even a Sequence 7 or 8 contracted ability can still participate in Sequence 5 battles and play a crucial role; but once reaching Sequence 4, facing opponents of the same level, most such abilities become useless, requiring the search for new suitable contracted entities.

The You green rays had barely erupted when they struck the white-and-blue flame spear, leaving Lu Mi no chance to dodge.

Yet, within the blazing spear, there was no trace of Lu Mi.

The fierce spear rapidly withered and decayed, revealing nothing inside but individual flames.

As Franca's and Jianna's figures reappeared within the ruins of the wooden house, Lu Mi's body, wielding the "Sword of Courage," materialized behind Vazan Sansong.

"Teleport!"

After the "Pus-Swollen Severed Hand" regained its complete body, Lu Mi's "Spirit Realm Transit" ability had significantly strengthened!

At that moment, a semi-transparent figure crawled out from behind Vazan Sansong.

The figure resembled Vazan Sansong but was colder and more detached.

This was another power Vazan Sansong had contracted after becoming a "Person Within the Ring," belonging to the Domain of Death.

He had always been wary of Lu Mi using "Teleport" to ambush his back!

Though it would likely trigger the "Person Within the Ring" effect, he still had to prepare for the worst—and it could also serve as a trap.

As the cold, detached phantom of Vazan Sansong lunged toward him, Lu Mi's thoughts grew heavy, his body slowly chilled, and the white-and-blue flame on his "Sword of Courage" gradually dimmed.

…………

On the original island housing the "Black Emperor's" tomb, within thick white mist.

Perle's face, twisting and swelling intermittently, fixed its gaze on three glowing points.

What followed would be the most vital and critical part of the Vortex Plan.

As Perle's face observed, two of the three glowing points suddenly expanded.

One revealed a villa shrouded in white mist, pierced by blood-red figures yet enveloped in sacred light;

The other was hazy, as if a figure hung suspended in midair, bound in yellowed bandages, completely pierced by countless brownish branches, with thorns and thorny roses entwined between the bandages and branches, constantly withering and falling.

At this moment, the suspended figure's belly periodically swelled and deflated, as if new life churned within.

Beside this figure stood a massive tree drenched in black asphalt, its branches twisted into grotesque, terrifying arms, each surface covered in rolling black-and-white eyes streaked with blood.

Another glowing point had already expanded, showing the "Gourmet School" member Topsey gnawing at an invisible seal upon the sea.

…………

Within the dim "Black Emperor's" tomb.

Hearing her father's question, Bernadette fell silent for two seconds before replying:

"I will strive to prevent this."

Luo Saier looked at his eldest daughter and smiled wistfully:

"Everyone makes mistakes. When I was young—no, even until I was trapped here, afraid to resurrect—I kept making mistakes, doing many wrong things, even evil ones. Only after moving into this tomb, occasionally gaining quiet and clarity, and finally being able to seriously examine my past life, did I realize how many of my choices caused vast, unnecessary suffering. Of course, I also did many right things, even good ones."

Seeing Bernadette's expression darken with stubbornness, Luo Saier affectionately raised his right hand and pressed downward slightly:

"Don't blame yourself too harshly. I am truly happy and relieved by your choices and actions. Seeing my little princess willing to abandon her long-held principle of 'Do as you please, but do no harm,' and risk falling into the abyss to save her old father—this fills me with genuine joy and pride. It proves I haven't raised you in vain, and that my family life hasn't been such a failure!"

On the massive iron-black throne, the increasingly clear figure rose to his feet.

He descended the dais, walked to Bernadette's side, and opened his arms.

In a daze, Bernadette felt as if she had returned to childhood; instinctively, she threw herself into her father's embrace, feeling his familiar, once-warm, now-cold embrace.

After a brief hug, Luo Saier stroked Bernadette's chestnut hair, then passed her, walking toward the tomb's entrance, his figure growing larger.

"Dad?" Bernadette turned, calling out involuntarily.

Luo Saier turned his head, smiling:

"The Vortex Ritual has already begun. Due to the unique nature of the 'Unstable Mist' Path, it will be difficult for you to halt the subsequent transactions—even if you tried to kill that woman, you likely couldn't succeed."

"But it doesn't matter. Father will handle it."

Bernadette suddenly understood what her father intended to do. She lunged forward, trying to catch up, but found the distance between them impossible to close.

At the same time, she cried urgently:

"Dad, your corruption hasn't been balanced! If the Vortex Ritual is disrupted, you won't even be able to return to your previous state!"

Luo Saier paused at the entrance of the "Black Emperor's" tomb, smiling at his daughter, whose face was filled with anxiety, panic, and pain.

He raised his arm, full of vigor, and declared:

"I have been emperor for years, standing at the pinnacle of human power. I faced true gods. I fought angels. I had followers willing to die for me.

"I brought civilization's light to that era. Even after a hundred years of death, countless people still chant my name. I slept with many beautiful women. I ruled the fates of countless others. And now, when I fell from grace, no longer emperor, my daughter still abandons everything to save me, to resurrect me!

"What regrets do I have in this life?"

Bernadette heard the finality in her father's tone. Her eyes reddened, her voice choked:

"Dad!"

She unleashed every ability she possessed, trying to close the distance to her father, but the gap between them was like the separation of heaven and earth—impossible to bridge.

On Luo Saier's nearly fully visible face, a gentle smile appeared:

"Bernadette, do you remember how often I used to give you lessons when you were little?"

Bernadette's nose tingled, her vision blurred:

"I remember. You taught me words, gave me vast knowledge, and told me countless, countless fairy tales…"

On the face of the "Mystic Queen," glistening tears fell.

Luo Saier nodded in satisfaction:

"I remember too."

He continued with a faint smile:

"Today, Father will give you your final lesson."

Luo Saier's expression grew solemn. He looked at Bernadette and spoke with weight:

"A true man acts, and refrains from acting!"

Shuowan, Luo Saier turned away, no longer looking at Bernadette.

The great door of the "Black Emperor's" tomb before him instantly swung open.

Outside light flooded in, illuminating the giant figure of Luo Saier, his black armor, his ornate cloak.

Light. Radiant.

ps: Third update delivered! Bonus chapter for the 37th Great Demon Lord of the Golden Alliance!

(End of Chapter)