Chapter 64 - 61: Merit and Fault

"Why, why?"Die Lvxin let out a desolate wail, rushing towards the Elephant God on the throne, sobbing uncontrollably.

Throughout the banquet, all the butterflies listened to his rhythmic snores, tears streaming silently down their faces.

They had already sensed that he might never wake again, and even if he did, he would fall into senility and forget their existence.

Just as the Siren’s curse foretold:

"Oh brave and wise Knowledge Elephant God, you will fall into senility in old age, and die in that senility."

...

The Longevity Divine Spirit quietly led the Phoenix Emperor away from the tear-filled Divine Hall.

The Amber Swallowtail Butterfly appeared somewhat melancholy.

"Birth, aging, illness, and death are the constants of life. Longevity must always face these," the Longevity Divine Spirit said softly, quietly leading her away from the Divine Hall.

"Though you are exceedingly gifted and already a God of Wisdom, naturally romantic, if you don’t work hard in cultivation, his fate today will be yours tomorrow, and I will also send you away."

At the foot of the mountain, Liu Jun sighed softly, listening to the loud snoring and weeping sounds from atop the mountain.

"You’ve really had it tough."

He recalled that senior disciple of his, who was always so steady, never causing him worry.

He personally guided the spirit and morale of the entire Butterfly Race.

The world knows the beauty of angels.

Yet they don’t realize that without the insect atmosphere crafted by this emperor of the Butterfly Race, who fearlessly built cocoons in the Weaving Garden, there wouldn’t be angels.

Suitable soil is necessary for flowers to bloom.

Without him, the Butterfly Race might have already fallen apart.

Over time, gaps slowly emerged among the One Emperor and Four Marquis.

He secretly transformed into the roots in the darkness, using all sorts of schemes, yet it was to protect this beautiful flourishing flower and pave the way for future generations.

He conspired against the Angel Race, but also resolved the fragmentation of the ancestral land of the Butterfly Race.

Even now.

In his last moments, he used his own sins as a bargaining chip to awaken the sages present.

"You clearly didn’t have to say it, you could have died with glory and greatness, but you did."

The prophet’s voice seemed to turn into the wind, gently echoing in the mountains, pouring into the Divine Hall, and into the ears of the sleeping, snoring Elephant God.

"The one the Butterfly Race should truly honor isn’t me, but you."


The expressions of the Four Great Butterfly Kings and the Truth Angels were extremely complex, listening to the prophet’s whispers fading away from the mountain.

...

"I only spoke the law, but you enforced it on this land."

On the earth, the voice echoed.

The voice swept across the land, mountains, and rivers.

On the streets of countless tribes, the people came out, looked up, listening to the divine whispers echoing from the sky.

"I just opened a starting point for the Butterfly Race, but you laid down the spirit of the race on this land, establishing a legacy that will endure for ages."

"I only spoke, while you acted."

...

The entire mountain reverberated with the soft whispers of the Longevity Divine Spirit.

It was as though the Elephant God, snoring on the divine seat, heard and seemed to show a faint hint of relief.

...

In the Divine Hall.

Xu Changsheng, in the form of a butterfly, quietly watched this scene, his expression dazed.

Xu Changsheng left the Divine Hall, stepping outside.

Attached to him, the Angel King, through Xu Changsheng’s perspective, saw the Longevity Divine Spirit leading the Phoenix Emperor down the mountain.

Whoosh—

That Longevity Divine Spirit suddenly turned around and gave him a deep look.

Those eyes emitted a faint golden light, the noble and cold gaze seemed to penetrate the depths of the soul, falling upon the Angel King who was watching.

Boom!

His head exploded with a roar.

In the mind of the Angel King, a sudden thought flashed, disbelief in his heart:

"Across an era, can the divine spirit perceive me observing it from the distant history?"

...

...

Opening his eyes, another night had passed.

Ring, ring!~

Xu Changsheng opened his eyes in bed, and pressed the alarm clock by his bedside.

Glancing around the room, he found the projection of the Angel King squatting in a dark corner in a daze.

A pair of enormous snow-white wings enveloped him entirely, seeming to allow him to escape reality.

After all!

It’s one thing if he dreamed of other historical myths.

But he dreamt last night about the "Cangwu Tree Offensive Incident," intimately related to this Angel King!

That divine banquet turned into a major upheaval!

It overturned all preconceptions, whether it’s about his empress Insect Seventy-seven, or his faith in the Emperor of the Butterfly Race...

This made Xu Changsheng have no choice but to question, could it be that one’s dreams reflect one’s daytime thoughts?

Because he dwelled on the Angel King by day, he dreamt about the past related to him by night?

"Come, let’s have a chat."

Xu Changsheng sat in the living room, took out the meal he had prepared the previous night from the fridge, and began to eat.

"What’s wrong, are you disillusioned with the past?" Xu Changsheng laughed.

The Angel King said nothing.

He still pondered the gaze of the Longevity Divine Spirit, those faintly golden eyes.

He suddenly recalled recently feeling the Longevity Divine Spirit bestowing upon him longevity and the blessing of concealment.

Oh God.

What an awe-inspiring being, traversing through various Mythical Eras; what is his actual level of transcendence?

Now, on the surface, only the four great tiers of Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning exist in the world.

Is he dwelling in a tier yet unexplored by the current human civilization... Tier Five? Tier Six? Tier Seven?

Xu Changsheng mused aloud:

"Human nature cannot withstand tests; once testing begins, even if one passes, it leaves cracks."

"So, he chose the most reasonable way, not to test, but to witness the tragedy of a group of companions similar to them."

"That emperor of the Butterfly Race knew the ephemeral beauty, the tragedy is to tear apart the most beautiful beauty before one’s eyes, which is the most profound thing in the world."

"Therefore, he led the Butterfly Race on the Cangwu Tree, watching the Wise Angels angrily attack for their sons, watching you four split apart."

"Beautiful angels were torn apart before their eyes, they four became fearful, weaving cautious butterfly knots of friendship with each other."

Xu Changsheng’s analysis was deeply engrossed in human nature, showing no sign of mercy.

But at that moment.

The Angel King finally came to his senses and responded with a different voice: "You’ve got it wrong, completely wrong. After learning the truth, I don’t hate Die Lvxiang."

"Oh?" Xu Changsheng showed a hint of surprise and took another bite of the green rice porridge he prepared the night before, which mixed with some rainwater.

The acidic and metallic taste flowed down his throat, but he was indifferent, as no bitter tea could be harsher than the endless years and farewells.

Though just a projection, on the other side, the Angel King’s true form also sipped the bitter rainwater tea, drinking alongside Xu Changsheng across space:

"He merely followed the natural course, watching coldly as Insect Seventy-seven sought revenge."

"Even without his interference, Insect Seventy-seven would have reached that stage, leading an army to attack the Cangwu Tree."

"He did not incite evil but merely didn’t prevent it from occurring."

"He just tactfully added various objectives to the basis of this event, seizing the chance to better the life of the Butterfly Race."

"Because of the Cangwu Tree incident, my latter half of life has been a burden ongoing."

"I believe that emperor of the Butterfly Race was the same. Like me, he spent his latter half in guilt and pain from the event."

"Our latter halves bore the burden of varied guilt and repentance."

"He has no guilt; his only ’sin’ was not stopping Insect Seventy-seven but instead watching indifferently."

"In that era, aside from the life infected by the Wisdom Disaster, not a single one was truly wicked."

"In fact, I admire his intelligence, as his methods shaped the spirit and morale of the Butterfly Race, allowing our era to endure further."

The Angel King drank his tea deeply, contemplating, now admiring that individual instead.

The deceased are gone.

No matter how much hatred, pain, or despair, they have all drifted away with the wind.

He admired that individual’s wisdom even more, who unraveled the right-brain and left-brain issues of the Wisdom Disaster, worthy of the title God of Knowledge on the mountain.

Xu Changsheng drank his tea, lowering his voice: "Indeed, you are as expected to think so."

The Angel King sipped his tea, murmuring softly:

"He too was a king who upheld the spark of civilization. From the night he descended the Cangwu Tree, he was a butterfly flying into the flame, living a life with no regrets towards all creatures."