"What... is he saying? Isn't this... a tremendous blasphemy?"
At that Anaxa ignored every word, covering her eyes with her blindfold. "I, a despicable and shameful Blasphemer, deserve the death penalty..."
"And the Senate, which sheltered me, indulged me, and assisted me in committing blasphemy, should be held equally guilty as I am!"
That Anaxa not only proved his conjecture but also dragged the long-standing opposition Senate into the fray; it was simply invincible.
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, a wave of excitement swept through the crowd:
"Oh my god, even Canis has betrayed Okhema..."
"I have absolutely no knowledge of the sinner's actions... All his crimes are unrelated to the Senate...!"
Canis rubbed her aching temples and suddenly looked at ' Lygus ':
" Lygus... as the most noble Audience of Divine Ordeals ceremony, do you intend to remain indifferent after hearing the Senate being so slandered...?!"
"If the dereliction of duty is true, I will readily admit it; if not, I have no worries."
"Your Excellency Canis, the Senate's credibility is not built overnight, nor will it collapse overnight."
' Lygus ' turned around. He had no particular stance; he was a pure centrist.
Those who deceive the people will be punished, and those who break their oaths will be tortured. We should respect this beautiful city and its people.
"You..."
" Aglaea Goldweaver, I implore you to uphold the fairness of Talanton and the justice of Kephale, and preside over the judgment—"
"--Given the current situation, and according to the Code of Okhema, only you, as a 'demigod,' possess this right among those present."
"... I am deeply honored."
Aglaea ignored the chatter around her. "Elders, citizens, please be quiet!"
" Anaxagoras of the Grove of Epiphany, your statements are already clear to you. Now, according to the Code of Okhema, I ask you citizens to join me in exercising the power of judgment."
"First, Elder Canis of Okhema and the ' Audience of Divine Ordeals,' Lygus, are accused of dereliction of duty and abuse of power, resulting in the serious desecration of the sacred divine body..."
"In the name of Talanton and Kephale: Okhema should instruct the committee to conduct an investigation before the seventh execution and to publicly announce the results for further review!"
Upon hearing this, the citizens raised their hands and shouted, "Agreed! Agreed!"
"Secondly, regarding Anaxagoras of the Grove of Epiphany, he is accused of committing a grave blasphemy against Kephale— "
"In the name of Talanton and Kephale: Before execution, the condemned should have the right to a chorus of cheers in order to gain leniency or pardon!"
"Death penalty! Death penalty!"
Upon hearing this result, Anaxa, then burst into laughter again. "Hahahahahaha~"
"What would you choose, Lady Goldweaver?" ' Lygus ' asked Curiosity.
The citizens cheered. "Death penalty! Death penalty! Death penalty! Death penalty!"
Aglaea hesitated for a moment, then a sigh escaped her lips, "So, based on the result of the 'unanimous cheers'..."
Before he finished speaking, the surrounding citizens erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
"By Talanton... may you bring him the fate of 'death'."
Meanwhile, on the other side
"Hahahaha~ The power of 'death' is in my hands! This is... the Fallen Moon's Doom!"
Xing, manipulating the " Hand of Ashen Gloom," couldn't help but burst into laughter. If he continued laughing, he would prematurely enter the " Elation " Path.
" Teacher Ye Yan, would you like to practice with me?"
"I regret to decline."
Ye Yan smiled calmly, "It's getting late, goodbye."
"Huh? Wait a minute..."
A dazzling white light flashed, and when Xing opened her eyes again, she had arrived in the Underworld where Antimone Flower bloomed.
"A sea of flowers...?" Xing looked around. "Where... is this?"
Xing slowly turned her head and noticed Castorice, who had her back to her.
"My lord, let us reintroduce ourselves: My name in the mortal realm is Castorice, and I am now the demigod of 'Death,' the living facet of Thanatos..."
Welcome to the End of the West Wind, my Underworld.
Xing stroked her chin and commented, "Your Underworld is beautiful."
"Every spirit that comes here utters the same sigh," Castorice smiled.
"Do you know, Your Excellency? Every single flower in this sea of flowers was planted by Thanatos himself."
"They were originally neither born nor died, but in the first rain brought by the River of Souls, they were reborn, carrying countless souls to flourish and grow..."
"As the master of 'death,' I should take good care of them, allowing them to sprout and bloom in this tranquil world."
Just as life and death follow their natural order in the mortal world, these flowers will also wither and fade at the end of their growth, turning into soil, and rising into the sky on the mist and tides...
Finally, they will become silent drizzle, falling upon the earth. The same soul will reincarnate in different forms until the end of the world...
What is the aesthetics of "death"? In Xing's view, it is what Castorice said.
Unfortunately, Amphoreus will not live to see the next bloom of flowers.
"Now, 'death' is a ripple at my fingertips; it once guided the souls of the dead to this place, but I—will open the gates of the underworld, and let you return to the world of the living..."
In exchange... please bring back the Core Flame of "death," complete the Journey of Flame-Chase, and don't let all our efforts so far go to waste.
Xing looked at Castorice, "What's the price?"
"Rest assured," the " Death Denial " is Thanatos's divine right. Fortunately, your soul is intact; this is not a resurrection, but rather a transfer of you back to the mortal world.
"So... you're not going back?"
"Yes, like the other demigods, I will stay here... to embrace my destiny."
Castorice raised her head, "However, guiding a lost soul back to the human world is by no means easy."
"The whispers of death are sweet and peaceful, but if the will is weak, one will be firmly restrained by the long arms of the underworld."
"Please treat this as an exceptional case within an exceptional case. I will do my best for the Journey of Flame-Chase..."
"And for the only 'life' I can save in this lifetime."
Xing nodded seriously. "I will do my best."
That's... wonderful.
Then, Xing resolutely turned around and strode forward.
"Um... wait!" Xing suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"With the protection of ' Eternity,' the negative effects of the Underworld seem to have no effect on me."
Thinking of this, Xing's lips curled up in a smile, which meant... she could turn back at any time, whenever she wanted.
Before leaving, let's take one last look at this sea of flowers...
Oh~ it really is... so beautiful...
Goodbye, Underworld.