"This is the Grove of Epiphany? It fits the name..."
Fu Zhu looked at the expanse of forest before him. Those towering trees surrounded a colossal tree like stars surrounding the moon. On those large trees, various styles of architecture could be seen.
Although the Grove of Epiphany looked magnificent, there was one thing Fu Zhu didn't understand.
"Tixi, the Grove of Epiphany doesn't look like it has much defense. Why doesn't the Black Tide invade here?"
Tixi shook her head beside him.
"I don't know, but the Grove of Epiphany is not completely without combat power. Many city-states have studied the Black Tide. They found that the Black Tide seems to advance according to a set path. It started from the ocean and the sky, then gradually surrounded the various city-states on the continent. Because the Grove of Epiphany is located in the center, it hasn't been attacked by the Black Tide so quickly."
"Ocean? How is the Siren Kingdom doing now?"
Fu Zhu didn't know how many years had passed since he left and came back. The Siren Kingdom couldn't have fallen during the time he was gone, right?
At the mention of this, Tixi's face revealed a happy expression.
"No, the Siren Kingdom is living very well up to now. After you left, Fu Zhu, we received a message that Hysilens had accepted the Siren's [Coreflame] and went to the Holy City for the Journey of Chasing Fire. We still have to thank you for this."
"Hysilens?"
Fu Zhu was somewhat unfamiliar with this name. Is there someone besides Helektra among the Chrysos Heirs in the Siren Kingdom?
Seeing Fu Zhu's confused look, Tixi smiled and explained: "It's Helektra. She is called Hysilens now."
"So that's it."
While the two were chatting, they had already walked into the range of the Grove of Epiphany. Two guards guarding the Grove of Epiphany saw unfamiliar faces approaching and immediately surrounded them.
"Halt. Please state your identity and purpose."
Fu Zhu glanced at the two guards. They were wearing wide white robes and had no weapons in their hands. The only thing that could be called a weapon was a thick book hanging at their waists.
Rather than saying they were guards, Fu Zhu felt they were more like missionaries from some story.
"Fu Zhu, a mere Nameless. These beside me are..."
Tixi took the initiative to step forward, introducing herself.
"We are the Fragments of Tribios who have inherited the [Coreflame] of the [Gateway] Titan."
The name Tribios was still quite resounding. Upon hearing this name, the two guards immediately had an impression.
"So it is the Saintess of Janusopolis. We wonder what business you have coming to the Grove of Epiphany?"
"We wish to see the Titan of [Reason], Cerces."
Hearing this, the two guards were instantly somewhat troubled. After all, this was not something two small guards like them could decide. However, since the other party wasn't a bad person, they didn't have the intention to continue blocking them.
"Please enter. However, regarding Lord Cerces's matters, the two of us cannot make the decision."
"Thank you."
The guards made way, and Fu Zhu's group walked straight in.
Unlike a city-state, the Grove of Epiphany felt more like a gigantic academy. The pedestrians passing on the street all carried a scholarly air.
Cifera was attracted by this atmosphere she had never seen before. Her small hand clutched the corner of Fu Zhu's clothes while her gaze darted ceaselessly to the surrounding streetscape.
Fu Zhu looked for a few moments and lost interest, turning his head to look at Tixi beside him.
"Did you guys not come to the Grove of Epiphany to find Chrysos Heirs?"
Tixi shook her head.
"We had this idea, but the location of the Grove of Epiphany is relatively secluded. If we wanted to come to the Grove of Epiphany, we would inevitably have to pass through other towns. But as you know, Fu Zhu, the attitude of those Lords towards Chrysos Heirs is... not very good. Even over at the Holy City, our personal freedom is restricted."
"...You've suffered."
Fu Zhu's goal was clear. With the minimap marking Cerces's location, he led Tixi and the others straight to where Cerces was.
Before long, Fu Zhu stopped in front of a white palace. Behind that white palace was a large tree whose leaves all emitted a crystalline green light. And that large tree was the Cerces marked on the minimap.
"Cerces is a big tree?"
Fu Zhu was somewhat surprised. He thought these Twelve Titans were all living creatures.
Tixi explained for Fu Zhu from the side.
"Cerces descended into the world in the form of a giant tree. She allows humans to stroll beside her, awakening their minds and debating, gaining knowledge. So she has always been stationed in one place, making it more convenient for humans to observe her, hasn't it?"
Hearing Tixi's words, Fu Zhu's hands itched a bit. A [Diamond Axe] appeared in his hand at some point.
A tree transformed from a Titan. If I chop down a block of log, I wonder if I can craft something special?
"Then I must ask little friend not to experiment on me at will."
Suddenly, a slightly husky but very mature female voice rang out beside Fu Zhu. He turned his head abruptly and saw a slightly illusory female figure appearing beside him at some point.
Judging from the appearance alone, she bore a few points of resemblance to Yaoshi the Abundance.
"With this look of yours, are you really not afraid of The Hunt coming down to strike you?"
"The Hunt? Who is that?" Cerces couldn't quite understand Fu Zhu's words.
Seeing Cerces appear, Tixi and the others on the side immediately bowed politely.
"Greetings, Lord Cerces."
Cerces naturally sensed the aura of the [Coreflame] belonging to her former colleague, the [Gateway] Titan, on Tixi's body. She just nodded to them, her attitude not considered too warm.
After simply greeting Tixi, Cerces's gaze fell on Fu Zhu again. She could tell at a glance that Fu Zhu's body contained power that did not belong to Amphoreus, especially that scythe he kept holding in his hand.
"I wonder if little friend has business coming to my Grove of Epiphany? Could it be to inquire about the Center of the World?"
"Eh?!"
Fu Zhu, who was originally planning to state his purpose, was suddenly surprised to hear Cerces speak it directly.
"How do you know?"
Cerces closed her eyes and chuckled.
"Not long ago, a Divine High Priest found me and told me about you, little friend. Tsk tsk... your reputation isn't too good, little friend."
"Divine High Priest? Who?"
"Mn, let me think. Oh right, the other party is an Antikytheran. He seems to call himself Lycurgus, Lygus."
Hearing this name, Fu Zhu instantly raised an eyebrow.
Good, I didn't go find you, but you popped up yourself.
"Where is he?"