The funeral was set to begin two days later, at six in the evening.
Since the Continuance Institute had yet to wrap things up and much still needed to be prepared, this funeral was announced only internally and not made public.
Aside from representatives and members of the major lineages, Huai Shi, as a member and successor of the Heavenly Kingdom Lineage, received a notice and invitation from the secretariat through Russell's arrangements. He attended alongside Russell.
As expected, the atmosphere was grave. Beneath the projection of the Present Realm in the vast ceremonial hall, every participant sat calmly and solemnly in their seats without saying a word.
The returned natural enemy, Chu Hai, sat silently beside Xuanniao, staring at the names engraved upon the walls. It was said that the siblings Lucius and Luciya were still receiving treatment at the Continuance Institute and could not attend in person.
Huai Shi had originally thought he might see Old Man Luo, but the old man, who looked coldly upon life and death, had not come. After obtaining what he wanted from the Astronomical Society, he had returned to hell once more.
He had not even met Huai Shi again, merely leaving him a note asking him to tell Luo Xian where he had gone when he saw her again.
He did not wish to say much about the details. Huai Shi sighed and put the message away.
Then he looked up at the stage.
Yegor, who had arrived slightly late, looked exceptionally haggard. Too many things had happened these past days, constantly wearing down his spirit and endurance. Yet Yegor was only an ordinary man; even with the Astronomical Society's technology, its effects were ultimately limited.
If he had not managed to get even a little rest, there might have been