"Opening the Forbidden Book Tower to everyone..."

The old man’s gaze became profound.

"If the answers within the Forbidden Book Tower can only be seen by the ’chosen ones’, then the obstacles of Light City are actually meaningless."

Song Ci said, "I hope everyone can witness this ’Divine Miracle’ left by the God of Destiny."

Everything is encompassed within cause and effect.

Those who are meant to see will naturally see.

If it cannot be seen, and is not meant to be seen, then one will remain ignorant.

"This is a very grand wish."

The old man spoke softly, "But the Divine Miracle of the God of Destiny is always reserved for a few. Even if I lift the obstacles and open the Forbidden Book Tower to the outside... those who can gain something from it are destined to be very few indeed. I cannot agree to your request, as it would consume a significant amount of Light City’s resources."

Song Ci continued, "Then what if... it is opened to a portion of those ’very few’?"

The old man smiled.

"So your request from the beginning was for those ’very few people’."

He pondered for a moment and asked, "If I agree, whom do you wish to enter the Forbidden Book Tower?"

"My previous request was serious. If the Book Tower could be opened for all the world to see, it would be a grand wish, and also a great blessing," Song Ci said slowly. "But I also know that now Light City has exhausted its strength and only remains a dim light, radiating limited brilliance. I hope the obstacles of the Book Tower can be temporarily set aside, allowing the ambitious and virtuous to pick the fruits of wisdom left by destiny."

She earnestly stated, "I hope Gu Shen and Gu Nanfeng can enter the Forbidden Book Tower. If only these very few can receive guidance from destiny... then the two of them are likely among these ’very few’."

She met Light’s gaze.

It was a very determined look.

The old man said, "If I refuse, you will certainly make this request again, until I agree."

Song Ci said, "Yes. Although this is very rude, it is my last insistence."

"I can agree to your request."

The old man said warmly, "Since it is a gift left by the God of Destiny, regardless of whether it is locked in the Book Tower or not, sooner or later, it will be seen by those meant to see it."

Song Ci breathed a sigh of relief.

"As a condition for agreeing to this request, I hope you can also do something for me."

The old man lifted his head, looking toward the direction Song Ci came from.

...

...

After the Goddess left the lake, everyone was anxiously waiting.

The most anxious among them was Batu, the Third Elder of the temple.

Batu paced back and forth by the lake, restless.

He was waiting not only for Song Ci.

The Great Elder and Song Ci were on the other side of the lake... he wanted to know how the Great Elder was doing, whatever happened, why was there no news from the other side of Red Lake?

On the other side, Gu Shen remained very calm.

The most important thing he had to do tonight had been accomplished.

However, he was also very curious.

He was curious about the current situation in Light City. The heavens were almost pierced, yet the Light God’s Seat still hadn’t made an appearance?

Just as everyone was eagerly anticipating, the mist at the center of Red Lake dissipated, and Song Ci returned alone.

"Song Ci... you’re finally back!"

Batu hurried forward, he was very anxious, but after thinking it over, he could only tactfully ask, "Did you... not see anyone else?"

The intention is elsewhere.

Song Ci knew what the Third Elder wanted to ask.

He said lightly, "I saw Miss Meng."

The Third Elder was taken aback, then immediately asked, "What else?"

"Nothing more."

Song Ci smiled slightly, the events that happened over there in the mist of Red Lake, he wouldn’t divulge so easily.

Batu did not get the answer he was hoping for, so he hurriedly asked, "Did you not see the Great Elder? How did your trial end?"

"I’m sorry, I voluntarily gave up the trial."

Song Ci said casually, "I’m not interested in the Light Fire, so I only went halfway and returned. I can swear in the name of the Banner of Flowers about the truth of these two statements."

"Banner of Flowers?"

It was the first time Batu had heard someone swear by such a thing.

His face turned red, feeling very aggrieved, yet he could not say any more.

After receiving this response, he felt very uneasy inside, and had a rather ominous premonition.

A thought emerged in Batu’s mind.

The Great Elder... could something unexpected have happened?

He knew Song Ci was very powerful, but no matter how strong, that was Red Lake. Could the Lord Divine watch the Great Elder encounter an accident?

Soon.

A second silhouette emerged from the mist of Red Lake.

Still not the Great Elder.

It was Song Ci.

"Lady Divine, did you see the Great Elder..."

Batu still hurried forward, but this time he was interrupted as soon as he started speaking.

"I saw him."

Song Ci glanced at Batu, coldly saying, "He is already dead."

"??? "

Batu was struck like lightning, standing there stunned.

The next moment, Song Ci’s voice echoed over Red Lake.

"Temple Grand Elder Gao Mo has severely violated the Light Law, stolen the blood of the [Undead], murdered innocent lives, caused chaos in the Western Continent, and shaken faith! This is an unforgivable crime, and Lord Divine has brought him to justice!"

The woman’s majestic voice was like thunder.

This news was truly shocking, causing the entire temple to stir. The Holy Judges, who had obeyed the Grand Elder’s orders for years, could hardly believe it.

Unless the person speaking was the temple’s Goddess.

If it had been someone else, they might have been taken down on the spot as a rumor-mongering slanderer.

"The evidence is at the bottom of the Heart-washing Pond!"

Miss Meng Xizhou raised her hand to beckon.

Boom!

Countless rays of light extended from the mist of Red Lake.

Not far from Red Lake, the water of the Heart-washing Pond suddenly exploded, and the "Undead corpses" buried at the bottom were pulled out by the blazing light... With these corpses, alongside them, emerged buried calamities and ominous signs. After Gao Mo’s death, these omens should have dispersed, but due to the suppression of the array patterns in the Heart-washing Pond, they dissipated slowly.

Now they saw the light.

These wrongly dead Undead quickly transformed, dissipating along with those calamities! They finally found their peace!

"What is going on with the bodies in the Heart-washing Pond?"

"No wonder someone felt calamities in the Heart-washing Pond..."

"Did Gao Mo bury all these bodies?!"

A new wave of exclamations erupted amongst the crowd.

They really didn’t expect the night’s "spectacle" to be so exciting, one climax followed by another, proving that under the seemingly calm Light City, dark currents were flowing, never stopping.

Batu looked at the bodies, his complexion paled by a third.

He knew nothing about the Heart-washing Pond!

The Grand Elder actually did such sordid things?

Now the evidence is right before him... He has no choice but to believe it, with no room to argue!

With the Grand Elder committing such crimes, if Batu dared to stand on the same side, what wouldn’t he face next?

Batu sighed lightly, bowed his head silently, and said no more.

He understood that whatever happens tonight at Red Lake’s shore, it has nothing to do with him anymore.

Earlier, as Meng Xizhou waved her hand, Red Lake released a large amount of Light of Lightness, in quantity and purity impossible for Meng Xizhou to command... Clearly, Lord Divine was still alive and appeared to all through another means. Now, reflected by the [Deep Sea], every spectator could see the light gathered above Meng Xizhou’s head.

Even though the Light God’s Seat didn’t appear.

These beams of light... equated to his presence.

"Lord Divine has been watching the dark currents of Light City. But due to grave illness, he isn’t fit to appear in weak condition."

Meng Xizhou bowed to the crowd at Red Lake’s shore, "Taking advantage of the sacred text’s final day, it’s apt to sweep away the remnants of rebellious parties... I appreciate everyone’s gathering at the temple tonight to witness this tumultuous event not fit for stage, the impurity of the Heart-washing Pond, making you laugh."

A wave of sighs arose among the crowd.

Even the Holy Judges lamented.

Turmoil...

No one had detected even a trace of turmoil.

Tonight seemed no different than any other night, except night fell without a new dawn...

After calming the hearts, Meng Xizhou bowed again, but this time not to the crowd at Red Lake’s shore, but solely to one person.

Gu Shen.

Meng Xizhou said softly, "Mr. Xiao Gu, concerning Jia Wei’s assassination... Lord Divine expresses deep regret. He was unaware of such incidents happening in Sangzhou Cave years ago."

Bullshit!

Gu Shen’s expression remained unchanged, but he wouldn’t believe such lies.

After assassinating him, Jia Wei returned to the Western Continent to be promoted, receiving countless titles and rewards, always reaching the peak.

What [Barrier], what [Shield of Western Continent], what [Red Lake Guardian]...

Could Light God’s Seat not have known about the Sangzhou Cave assassination?

"No problem."

Gu Shen smiled slightly, saying, "Who hasn’t misjudged sometimes? The grievances from six years ago are settled tonight... Lord Divine did not intervene, and I, Gu, feel grateful."

"To express apologies."

Meng Xizhou hesitated for a moment, complicatedly saying, "Lord Divine would like to invite you to sit at the end of Red Lake’s other shore."

Upon hearing this, Red Lake boiled with uproar once again.

Not everyone possessed Batu’s discerning eyes, understanding the significance of the light summoned by Meng Xizhou.

Red Lake was shrouded in severe mist, witnessing a major change, yet the Divine Seat hadn’t appeared, perhaps genuinely gravely ill?

But so far, no one had seen the Light God’s Seat...

Without seeing it with their own eyes, they couldn’t affirm its truth.

But now Meng Xizhou brought the invitation to the other shore of Red Lake--

Those spectators at Red Lake’s shore recognized only one person from their hearts.

Gu Shen!

Gu Shen turned slightly, seeing numerous gazes on himself, from East Continent, North Continent, the Gu Family Envoy, and scattered Night Watchmen in various locations.

Of course, many others who he couldn’t name, Loose Cultivators of unknown origin.

And those not present at Red Lake, yet observing through the [Deep Sea], the Transcendents.

Everyone wanted to know the Light God’s Seat’s "situation."

If they couldn’t see the light, but Gu Shen did.

It would partially fulfill tonight’s "wishes."

"Since Lord Divine wishes to see me..."

Gu Shen smiled, saying, "Then Miss Meng, please lead the way."

...

...

(PS: For readers puzzled by these Chapters, feeling they lack foreshadowing, you can refer back to Traveler’s Volume Chapter 114 and Chapter 115 for reading.)