Xingtie: Starting with an in-depth analysis of the Yellow Springs

"Whoa—!" From the depths of the tree hollow came Tian's loud shout, startling the two of them. When they turned around, she and Mimi were gone!

"Little Gray, Little Butterfly—come and see—!"

"Little Mimi—it's about to ignite—!"

Judging from the location of the sound, Xia Die determined that it came from the Zhuxing Sky Well, and the two immediately set off.

Tian stood at the edge of the platform and looked down. Mimi lingered on a glowing crystal, surrounded by monsters that looked like Pegasus and eagles.

"Whoosh... Little Gray, Little Butterfly! Something's happened, something terrible has happened!"

Mimi felt weak all over and swayed, as if she might fall to the ground at any moment. "It's okay... good friend, I'm fine...! It's just that my body... is a little hot...!"

"However... it would be even better if you didn't let them become snacks in these little creatures' mouths...!"

The thirsty beast stared intently at Mimi, drool dripping from its mouth as it roared.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have called you little things...!"

Xing happened to overhear Mimi's statement, "In that case, let's make our way back."

Upon questioning Tian, ​​they learned that the two of them were looking for a mechanism. Mimi saw the large, glowing amber and wanted to take a look, but they ended up being surrounded by monsters.

Mimi said weakly, "Then... I'll have to leave it to you all...!"

"Before it's fully ripe... I need to think about how to apologize... Waaah..."

After solving a series of puzzles, the group successfully reached the lowest level. Xia Die's expression changed. "Oh no, Your Excellency. I can smell the fragrance."

Mimi stubbornly retorted, "Haha...that must be the elegant charm that she couldn't help releasing, right?"

"Finally here, my friends! We've been waiting for you for so long..." Mimi seized the opportunity to fly away from the amber crystal. "Let's surround them! Let's make these ungrateful creatures taste our scalding, deadly attraction!"

Shaking herself, her face flushed, she said, "I'm burning hot right now...it feels seven-tenths...no, nine-tenths or even ten-tenths hot!!"

Xing and Xiadie exchanged a glance, unleashed their moves, and quickly dispatched the strange beast.

Mimi clapped her hands, feigning ease, "Precise and elegant, it's practically effortless... Can this really be considered a challenge?"

Under the watchful eyes of the group, it conceded defeat, "...Just kidding! I was just admiring how easily Xing and Xiaodie manage to overcome every crisis."

"It's good that everyone is alright." Xia Die looked at the glowing crystal surrounded by butterflies. "Getting back to the point, what is this amber...?"

“It’s the remnant of Meneta’s fire.” Calypso appeared from behind like a ghost.

"If you all swear an oath with the golden branch to gather the embers before you and offer them to the divine butterfly, they will become the throne that goes to the treetop."

After saying that, Calypso disappeared, and this was yet another test.

Xing took out a golden water lily and connected it with amber; flames then flowed from the petals. Miraculously, the flames did not engulf the entire flower; only a few tiny sparks gathered at the tips of the petals, burning faintly.

Return to the place where you previously offered sacrifices to the butterflies and place the Golden Branch Oath on it.

In an instant, the withered branches that emitted an orange glow were replaced by dazzling golden light, and countless colorful butterflies fluttered, forming a path leading to the tree canopy.

Calypso: "Ha...you all have indeed passed the test."

The radiance manifested as a phantom butterfly, a vision of Meneta, and the Titans groaned in sorrow.

Calypso sighed, his tone clearly tinged with sorrow, "I'll be right back."

The Titans groaned sadly.

“Of course, we had an agreement long ago... but now... it’s my turn to sacrifice myself.”

“Ah…” Calypso sighed deeply, “If the west wind has an end, then we shall meet again there.”

Farewell... my love.

[Star: This is...this is juicy gossip! It turns out that rationality and romance have a hidden secret—they're actually lovers!]

[Fufu: This is even more interesting than a performance at the Grand Theatre! The macaroni is ready, the desserts are prepared, and I have a cup of black tea. This lady is going to savor it carefully.]

[Bai E: The two Titans have such a good relationship, so why are Aglaia and Teacher Naksha...?]

[Aglaia & Naksha: Shut up!]

[Feng Jin: Oh dear, I told you not to mention it, but you insisted. You know the relationship between Ms. Aglaia and the teacher, be careful you don't offend both of them.]

[Cersei: Oh dear, how could such a secret be known to all? I blush with shame. My love, wait for me at the end of the west wind.]

[Yae no Miko: So, the Romantic Titan Meneta actually pursued the Rational Titan and succeeded? Indeed, love is the best thing to ship, General~]

[Shadow: Don't force me to draw my sword.]

[Ling: Wow, it's a two-way street! I love it! I want more storylines like this!]

[Ju Fufu: Junior sister! Don't try to touch my tail! Haven't you heard that you can't touch a tiger's tail?]

"Lord Calypso, what is this...?" Xia Die asked tentatively.

"Hehe...it's nothing." She turned her head. "Thank you all for your help—now it's my turn to fulfill the promise."

Xia Die took a deep breath. "Since things have come to this, I'll start... You... are actually Cesis herself, aren't you?"

“Ah, sons of man… you have finally passed the final test.” Ceres said calmly. “I was just wondering when you would finally expose me. How did you find out?”

Xia Die replied, "The enigmatic trials, the suspicious yet honest nature that makes Meneta my beloved, and..."

"The leader of the Lotus Food School is named Medea, not Calypso."

From the very beginning of their meeting, Xia Die had her doubts. She simply didn't want to believe that Cesis could walk on the earth in human form, and she was also worried that it had been controlled by the Black Tide and wanted to kill them...

Every word spoken is based on evidence… This is the valuable knowledge that Xia Die acquired while studying at Shu Ting.

Similarly, Cecilia also needs help. She is also wary of several people, and no one can be sure that they are not villains who want to steal the fire, or that they have the ability to deal with the threat.

"Is this threat related to the Kuroshio Current?" Xia Die pressed.

"Indeed, and it's also related to the lost item (the charred black cloth). Its owner was a silent and suspicious hunter who seemed to have emerged from the Black Tide and came along with it."

"I really couldn't do anything to him, so I had to tear myself apart and flee to avoid being harmed, to prolong the days and wait for an opportunity to seek help. Unfortunately, this was not a long-term solution."

Chapter 320 Three slashes...that's enough.

Tian: "Hmm...you mean, you've hidden your own fire?"

“Indeed, it was divided into three parts.” Cecis raised his hand. “One part is hidden within the Golden Bough Oath, and another part, along with the embers of Meneta, is sealed in amber…”

"As for the last one... it is currently within the body of Na Kexia, urgently awaiting restoration."

"What?" Xia Die exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be that you used this method..."

Serhis sighed helplessly, "After all, the scholars of the Tree Court were willing to face the flames and die calmly in order to defend my fire... As a noble god, it would be too shameful of me to just watch the sons of man sacrifice themselves for humanity."

“Especially that heretic named Nakasha… who did not hesitate to shatter his soul as a foundation stone to trigger a miracle, laying a net in this tree garden to trap all the Black Tide creations in a cage, so as to prevent them from harming others.”

"I felt that this idea was so strange that it was a pity to let it disappear into the black tide, so I took action to save the life of the Son of Man."

"Of course, I was also able to hide and conceal myself... Hmm, isn't that another aspect of equivalent exchange?"

"So that's how it is," Mimi understood. "You want to use us to piece together your own embers and save Na Kexia!"

Serhith laughed, "What a clever little rabbit. In this way, I can reclaim my true identity, and you can also welcome the fire and your mentor back to Ohma..."

"...Also, we will join you all at the throne hunt and capture that black-clad swordsman in one fell swoop."

"But... Sersis, aren't you a rational Titan?" Tian asked, puzzled. Not all Titans possessed extraordinary combat power.

Sersis chuckled, "Heh... Although I am not entitled to contend for power, I am still a god after all."

"If only you all could buy me some more time under the sword of that warrior... once the spark is forged, I will be able to test its power."

"It's just a fight, I, Galaxy Baseball Man, have never been afraid," he said, patting his chest and guaranteeing, "Leave it to me, I'm the best at pulling and tugging."

“Very well. Then, let us climb upwards to my throne.”

"Let the oath of the Golden Bough be turned into kindling, so that the fire of reason may be reignited..."

[Star: We're finally going to meet the Firewalker you've been talking about. I wonder how strong he really is. I don't believe he'll be any more troublesome than Sunday.]

[Danheng: We can't be careless until the very end. No one can predict his hidden special abilities, especially since the administrator of Onpharos is Laigus.]

[Bai E: That's right, buddy. We haven't even fully understood the Fire Thief's strange abilities. He was also reborn from the Black Tide, so he might be able to control Black Tide creations to attack.]

[Xia Die: Teacher Xia, will you come to Ohmma again?]

[That Summer: We've reached the most crucial step. If successful, I can delay Lai Gu Shi, giving the Fire Chaser ample time.]

[Laigushi: Your Excellency, by stating this so openly, aren't you afraid I'll thwart your plans?]

[That Summer: Heh... You wouldn't refuse a factor that willingly chooses to destroy itself.]

[Bai E: Teacher...]

Climbing up the path, the locked doors turn their gears, and once again traverse the secret path to reach the Throne of Enlightenment.

That was also the battlefield they were about to step onto.

Mimi seemed slightly uneasy. "The memories here have a very strong flavor... It's the flavor of rushes, flying sand, and the blazing sun."

[Xi Lian: It really breaks my heart. Xing, you must take good care of Bai E for me. When we meet again, I'll give you a reward.]

[Star: Isn't Bai E perfectly fine?]

[Bai E: Yeah, Xi Lian, I feel like you're hiding something from me, and you haven't even told me where you are.]

[Xi Lian: Hehe, is this a secret?]

On the path, the lingering memories of that summer resurfaced, and she sighed, rubbing her forehead, "Ha... I can't see anymore..."

He walked forward, leaving another afterimage. "It doesn't matter... as long as this body is placed in the core of the formation..."

He looked toward the throne and said, “For Onpharos… be buried with me, Titan.”

Leading to the treetops is a lush, verdant meadow, where blue flowers bloom like dancing blue butterflies.

Beyond the flowers and grass, the tree canopy is a platform with rings of growth, and at the end of the road stands a wooden throne woven from branches, with a fire-stealing pilgrim in black robes holding a sword and his back to them.

As the crowd drew closer, they saw that Xia sat on the throne, his head bowed, as if he had lost his life.

The Fire Thief slowly took out a silver crescent-shaped weapon.

Xia Die's expression was solemn. "Cersis was right, he really is here."

“Who is that guy in the black robe…?” Tian frowned.

Mimi whispered, "This person, it's the source of that scent, that memory... no, it's the memory itself!"

Using his memory powers, the image of Xi Lian being stabbed in the chest by a sword flashed through his mind: "The burning fairyland, the shattered sun, and..."

"...slaughter, death, and destruction."

The Fire Thief let out a heavy sigh, seemingly hesitating whether to kill Xia before him.

Xia Die stepped forward. "Everyone, prepare yourselves... This must be the hunter that Cesis mentioned earlier, the one that emerged from the Black Tide—"

"A black sword and a cloak... the owner of that tattered veil... the north wind that brings the death fog of Senatos."

The Fire Thief turned his head, puzzled, his tone heavy with age, "Not... a demigod."

"Step back. Or die."

Memories like an abyss! Mimi, her pink fur trembling, cried out anxiously, "Everyone...run! Only we...only we can't beat it..."

Xing shook her head, "Is it too late to escape now...?"

It has spotted us; we must buy time for Ceres' attack.

"Tian will protect everyone too, Tian is very brave!" Tian said stubbornly, gathering the last of her energy into her palm.

Xia Die: "Your Excellency Xing..."

"Only this time...may death defend us!"

The Fire-Stealing Walker turned, raised his arm, and his cloak fluttered behind him. He didn't want to fight, but this was the path they had chosen.

Tian flapped her wings and flew, assisting in the attack from the side.

Gripping the bat tightly, Xing assumed a fighting stance. A dark purple, viscous liquid flowed from Xia Die's palm, the ground corroded by death. "Watch out."

The Fire Thief's mask glowed faintly as he pointed, "One Slash."

Ripples spread through the void, and a white phantom, identical to him, emerged wielding a sword. The sword light was like a shadow, tearing apart the death unleashed by the butterfly, causing his figure to retreat continuously.

The gray phantom arrived in an instant, slashing the flying Tian to the ground.