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Chapter 1310: The End of an Era
At this moment, Heaven City.
Sherlock, clad in an Anxi-style robe, stood by the central pond, gazing intently eastward. Unlike what was previously agreed upon, Sherlock had not managed to evacuate everyone from Heaven City before the last moment.
His initial plan had been simple: allow refugees to escape Heaven City in batches, carrying water towards Rock Cell City. He would remain, holding the Geometric Heavenly’s Water Fragment, to defend the city. With him holding the line, no one would dare plunder the city, and Sherlock could continuously supply clean water with his Mana.
For the first few days, the plan proceeded without issue. People evacuated in an orderly fashion, batch by batch, and Sherlock successfully deterred several waves of looters. However, when Sherlock prepared to leave later, an unexpected accident occurred.
Those who had escaped earlier were either Free People living on the surface or slaves in relatively good health. But there were simply too many slaves living underground in Heaven City. The slaves who had help had already escaped Heaven City with resources during the previous days, with the assistance of friends and family. They had all tacitly agreed to take only a few people with them.
This led to a situation Sherlock had not anticipated: after all these people had left, a large number of slaves, who had never seen daylight, emerged from the hidden corners underground. Not everyone could endure the long trek through the desert. These individuals included those who had angered their slave masters, resulting in severed limbs but miraculously surviving; those disfigured or severely weakened by curses or diseases, rendering them incapable of labor; and the very elderly, abandoned by their descendants. They had been barely surviving on the surface dwellers’ wastewater and scavenged food scraps. Even other slaves avoided them. Undoubtedly, their bodies could not withstand the grueling journey across the vast desert, and others were unwilling to share precious resources with them, fearing that these “people they happened to help” might cling to them stubbornly after reaching a new city-state. While a small minority of kind individuals did their best to help one or two people leave, most slaves abandoned these burdens when they fled. These people had managed to cling to life by relying on the sacred aura formed by Heaven City’s unique prayers. As other slaves left, they gradually emerged from their dark corners into the sunlight, where Sherlock discovered them.
If Sherlock hadn’t discovered these people, it would have been fine for him to leave. He wouldn’t have known about their situation. Perhaps by now, he would have already reached Rock Cell City with the others and successfully reunited with Isabel. He wouldn’t have known that so many people here were incapable of leaving Heaven City.
But now that he knew the truth, Sherlock could not pretend ignorance and abandon these people. Even if these people were merely despised and abandoned, useless individuals with no labor capacity or knowledge, unable to create any value. Regardless of where they died, no one would erect a tombstone or mourn them. Even if they were saved, they would remain a burden in the new city, disliked by everyone, the discarded ones. Yet, Sherlock still couldn’t accept their fate of abandonment. Many of them couldn’t even care for themselves. If he abandoned them, the outcome would be no different than killing them himself; the latter might even offer them a more peaceful end.
Furthermore, this wasn’t one or two people, but a staggering number of over eight thousand. So, would he kill eight thousand people for his own safety and survival? Undoubtedly, Sherlock could not choose such a possibility.
“—Knowledge is poisonous.”
Only now did Sherlock finally understand Eivass’s oft-repeated words. In the past, Sherlock had always dismissed them. He always believed that no matter how painful the knowledge, knowing was better than not knowing; no matter how unacceptable the truth, one had to face and accept it.
“…It turns out I just hadn’t experienced it yet.” Sherlock murmured. Some things, once known, can never be forgotten.
Thus, he gave up the possibility of survival, choosing instead to accompany these people towards their potential end. It wasn’t that Sherlock’s presence there would make a difference—he even knew he couldn’t change anything. He simply couldn’t accept his own weakness in the face of such a disaster. Rather than fleeing here and being awakened by nightmares every night thereafter, it was better to face the tide of the Abyss Heavenly Envoy’s descent head-on, until the very end.
Sherlock also knew, of course, that this was an irresponsible form of escape. He was trying to use his own death to offset his previous work errors. However, there was a slim possibility. That Eivass could defeat the Abyss Heavenly Envoy as quickly as possible, preventing Heaven City from being submerged by the sea. If things truly developed in that direction, they could all survive. Conversely, if he abandoned these people and fled, only to learn that they had survived safely, Sherlock would not have the face to return and see them again.
Fortunately… in a sense, things did happen this way.
When the Water Fragment in Sherlock’s hand suddenly disappeared, he immediately knew something was wrong—not only had he lost the authority to create infinite water, but more importantly, it meant the descent of the Geometric Heavenly! Following that were continuous reports of Heavenly Envoy’s demise and the succession of Pillar Gods. Sherlock had no idea what tricks that fox had played again… but he knew Eivass had never disappointed him. The Abyss Heavenly Envoy had indeed been defeated, and even the Geometric Heavenly, summoned at some unknown time, had been defeated. Given that fox’s perverse personality, it was likely his strategy of “driving the tiger away by enlisting the wolf’s help.” Sherlock breathed a sigh of relief and leaned against a sculpture, somewhat exhausted, murmuring:
“It’s finally over.”
“—It’s over.”
At this moment, in Rock Cell City, Lixia also sighed, “The Heavenly Envoys are dead, the Pillar Gods have been succeeded… that Eivass kid… truly admirable.” Lixia was beside Isabel. Unlike Sherlock, her work had gone exceptionally smoothly. The Harpies held a very high degree of recognition for this “only Winged One in the world.” Their “stubbornness, barbarism, and conservatism” were nowhere to be seen. The Harpies were as obedient as pet dogs. There was no friction among them, no suspicion towards Lixia; they believed every word Lixia said without reservation. Even among blood relatives, trust was never this high! Even when they learned that Lixia had temporarily lost most of her Extraordinary Power, they didn’t try to confine, arrest, or control her. Instead, they escorted her with great concern, changing guards diligently in shifts, ensuring no one could approach Lixia unexpectedly. This tribal consciousness was even higher than the internal unity of the Harpy tribe! Harpies would attack and bully other Harpies, yet they placed one hundred percent trust in Lixia upon their first encounter. It was as if… although their race had degenerated due to the fall of the sun, the markings of the Winged Ones were still engraved deep within their bloodline. Of course, it was possible that part of the elements Lixia used to construct her Winged One body included that of a Fallen Heavenly Envoy—after all, the Fallen Heavenly Envoy was once the King of Winged Ones, so having a natural command over the tribe was normal. Isabel had previously just calmly stared out the window, silent. Only the sudden relaxation of her hands revealed her state of mind. Lixia looked at Isabel and teased, “What, still not at ease about the kid’s safety? I think he’ll be fine—he always emerges from miracles. Perhaps he himself is the bringer of miracles.” She had watched Isabel grow up, and was now considered Isabel’s most important elder. Compared to Isabel’s father, who was currently acting like a cat in the royal palace, and her mother, who had left no impression on her, Lixia, who was then Meg, had been closer to Isabel, like an elder. “I trust him completely.” Isabel’s face, which had been expressionless for a long time, finally revealed a gentle and resolute smile again. She gazed at the eastern sun, watching the clear blue sky with dispersed dark clouds, and replied with focus, “He will be fine… even facing Heavenly Envoys, facing Pillar Gods, he will surely win.” “…So confident?” Lixia seemed somewhat surprised. “No. This isn’t confidence.”
Isabel turned back, looking seriously at her elder. “It is that I have made my resolve. If Eivass’s soul returns to the Dream Realm, I will not keep him waiting long—wherever he goes, I will follow shortly after.” “Whoa, whoa, don’t say such unlucky things…” Lixia was so startled she almost flew up. “It’s not good for the child to hear that—” She hadn’t expected that the soft and sweet little princess from back then would, in less than a year, become a queen who could say “follow shortly after” without changing her expression. “…Truly admirable,” Lixia could only try to distract Isabel, genuinely afraid that Isabel might hear something wrong and end her own life without a second thought. “Although I knew that kid would achieve great things when I first met Eivass, who could have predicted that before your children were even born, he would have grown to the extent that he could challenge Pillar Gods…” “The Way of Unity should always be better than the Way of War,” Isabel asked softly, “Are you still feeling uncomfortable?” “Haha, it’s fine now!” Lixia laughed heartily. “I don’t know who the new Pillar God is, but they are quite benevolent. Calamity Red invited me not long ago, and I refused. So, that Red Dragon directly erased the power the Crown Lord bestowed upon me.” Not long ago, the Dragon Blood Edict, which Lixia prided herself on, was stripped away by the Red Dragon. Now, with the Red Dragon’s rule collapsing again and a new Pillar God ascending, Lixia was surprised to find… her Dragon Blood Edict not only restored but even stronger! “Therefore, I believe the Crown Lord may not be dead, and they must have some connection with the new Pillar God…”
While Lixia was chatting with a smiling Isabel, Lily felt she was about to collapse. From the moment the Grey Heavenly Envoy died, the grey cave began to collapse. But Lily realized the battle was likely not over then—the battle had only just begun when the Grey Heavenly Envoy’s domain collapsed. If she released people at this point… those Red mob members would likely be drowned immediately. Lily was not a good person like Sherlock or Isabel. As the “Son of the Beast,” she harbored a near-instinctive desire to kill—the more bloodthirsty and cruel she was, the more excited she became. From any perspective, this was not a good person’s talent. Usually, Lily masked her inner shock and discomposure with loyalty and elegance. If Eivass hadn’t changed Lily, hadn’t taken her to and from school, and if Lily hadn’t been wanted and hunted by her father, Lily might have become a notorious serial killer by now, with countless lives and cases on her hands. She wasn’t afraid of killing—and besides, she hadn’t killed them herself. However, Lily feared failure. Lily now admitted her baseness. When Eivass was put in a wheelchair, she had felt a flutter of joy because Eivass finally had a place where she could help him… that feeling of being needed was exceptionally reassuring. She could protect Eivass, thus giving her existence meaning. But when Eivass stood up from his wheelchair, she felt a sense of loss. Lily realized then that she might be abandoned by her Master, as she had nothing special to offer. Not until she studied the Grimoire and became a genuine Extraordinary did she finally feel she could be of some help to her Master! —But soon Lily realized that Eivass still didn’t need her. He was too intelligent, always achieving twice the results with half the effort. Others’ efforts simply couldn’t keep up with him. This led him to always be at the forefront, scouting ahead, and bringing all sorts of resources for others to use. Lily, thanks to Eivass’s gift, was allowed to study and become an Extraordinary; she also resolved the lingering Grey Heavenly Envoy within her, clarified various secrets about Heavenly Envoys, and split off another self to solve her homicidal urges… What about the reverse? What could she help Eivass with? The most satisfying thing she had done was in the Church—when Eivass, as the Pope, controlled the Church, she was the assassin who eliminated dissenters, causing a bloodbath; and shortly after, there was nothing she could do to help Eivass. She was called a bodyguard, but in fights, she wasn’t needed; she was called a maid, but Eivass wasn’t the type who needed serving, and he disliked trouble. Eivass was always giving, rarely asking for anything in return… and this personality made Lily uneasy. Conversely, her other self could always chat with Eivass—which only made her more jealous. To this day, Eivass finally needed her help again. Even if she had to grit her teeth and endure it, she didn’t want the grey cave to shatter prematurely, leading everyone to die in the aftermath… or to become a “burden” that affected Eivass’s state! She had also once been a Grey Heavenly Envoy! Since the Grey Heavenly Envoy had now fallen, she would continue to maintain the grey cave! As an adapter, as long as Lily fully recalled the feeling of being invaded by the Grey Heavenly Envoy and then extracted, she could “regain” this lost state!
“Sister! Go for it!”
Several Red mob youths, barely in their teens, cheered. The vast majority of them didn’t understand what Lily was doing at all. However, this didn’t stop the Red mob members from instinctively realizing Lily wanted to protect them… but all they could do at this moment was offer encouragement.
Hearing the encouragement, Lily’s spirit instantly lifted. She didn’t even know how long she had lasted in the grey cave, devoid of sun or moon, day or night—she continuously squeezed out lingering traces of the Grey Heavenly Envoy from within her body. She constantly transformed her Mana into the unique ripple of the Grey Heavenly Envoy. Gradually, she could no longer hear the outside sounds… She endured for a while longer before finally collapsing, allowing the grey cave to shatter naturally.
Lily looked up, a little lost. The sky had already darkened. Eivass stood beside her, and beside him were the Snake People priest, the Dragon in human form, the Goblin merchant, and other dignitaries in Holy Spring City—they bowed their heads respectfully, standing beside Eivass, almost to the point of kneeling. Seven hours had already passed outside.
“You held your breath for quite a long time.” Eivass looked at Lily, unable to contain himself. He had been waiting outside for a very, very long time, but he hadn’t expected Lily to push herself this hard this time… She had even fallen unconscious, yet was still maintaining the grey cave.
“…Really impressive.” Eivass sighed. “Thank you for your hard work, Lily. To control a Heavenly Envoy’s domain as a mortal… It’s truly not easy for you to achieve this.”
“…Mm.” Lily could only nod weakly. Her Mana was completely depleted, and a slight movement of her head sent shooting pains through her skull. But because the children behind her looked up to her as a hero, she managed to stand straight, maintaining her composure and grace. Of course, perhaps if it weren’t for Eivass, radiating with a halo above his head, looking exceptionally sacred, and accompanied by a group of detestable and fearsome high-ranking individuals, they might have celebrated their survival alongside Lily.
However… another question arose in Lily’s mind. Why had Eivass been waiting here? Waiting for her? So, if she had held on longer, would Eivass have stayed until the end?
And Eivass read Lily’s confusion. He simply smiled coolly and looked at the Red mob. They didn’t know who Eivass was, nor did they know about the fallen Pillar Gods and Heavenly Envoys… They instinctively recognized Eivass as someone not to be trifled with. This was an instinct for survival in Anxi.
“People always say I have the power of miracles, but I think if I truly have any miraculous power… I must showcase a miracle then.” Eivass said with a smile. “So, I have some things I want to show you, for you to witness. For example—turning a desert into an oasis. It would be a shame to miss this scene, wouldn’t it?”
At this point, there was an unresolved question. Eivass’s body was constructed from the Heavenly Envoy Fragments of the Geometric Heavenly. The Secret Heavenly Envoy Fragment was still in Eivass’s hands. The Knight Heavenly Envoy Fragment had merged with Helchin, and the Grey Heavenly Envoy Fragment had merged with Don Quixote… So the question was: —Where was the Abyss Heavenly Envoy’s Heavenly Envoy Fragment? Originally, Eivass thought it might have been shattered or fallen into the Dream Realm. But now, Eivass had found the standard answer to this question. Because the Abyss Heavenly Envoy wasn’t completely killed by Eivass in the end—He had turned into an information body like Sin Thorns. After that, Eivass decompressed the Sin Thorns and reconstructed his Yin-Yang balanced body with the Geometric Heavenly’s Heavenly Envoy Fragment… and the material used at that time was the Sin Thorns converted from the information state Abyss Heavenly Envoy. In other words, the Abyss Heavenly Envoy’s Heavenly Envoy Fragment might have integrated into Eivass’s body. Eivass’s current artificial body could actually accommodate Sin Thorns. Therefore, if the Abyss Heavenly Envoy could do something, Eivass had no reason why he couldn’t. If he revealed his Great Sin true form, in the dawn state, he could also wield the authority of the “Four Elements Domain” of the Geometric Heavenly! And as the Sin Eater Beast, Eivass could extract the Sin Thorns from underground and store them within himself! If Sin Thorns were essentially mobile hard drives, why not directly import the data into Eivass’s body, which had a vast storage space? This way, there would be no need to constantly water these “ashes of their elder brothers.” Recovering Sin Thorns, creating water, controlling water… If these powers were combined— “—Perhaps the era of the Ancient Kingdom of Anxi is about to end.”
