The golden brilliance at the bottom of Red Lake entwined and transformed into schools of fish.

Gu Nanfeng silently watched the elderly man in front of him.

The words spoken by the Light God’s Seat truly caught him off guard, to the extent that he didn’t know how to respond.

"Why, do you not wish for the alliance through marriage?"

The elderly man spoke with a smile.

"How could that be?"

Gu Nanfeng shook his head and said, "It’s just that I am well aware that the alliance between the Gu family and Light City is not so simple. On the surface, it might seem like an affair between two people, but it is far more than just that."

Alliance through marriage does not merely mean that he and Meng Xizhou could achieve a fruitful union.

Gu Nanfeng knew that there were too many obstacles between him and Meng Xizhou.

Precisely because Meng Xizhou is the future Hall Master, and he himself is the Gu Family Master, there are so many challenges.

Behind him is the Gu family and Changye.

Once choosing to form an alliance through marriage with Light City... then what about the alliance with Central City? How should the two factions that have already split be dealt with?

"The current two factions... only deplete the internal strength of the Five Continents."

The Light God’s Seat said softly, "Do you want to see another tragedy like the Ice Sea Ruins? If West Continent and the Source Tower choose revenge, then the next to suffer could be Changye, could be Central City."

"..."

Gu Nanfeng personally experienced the disaster at the Ice Sea Ruins.

About that matter, he had nothing to say.

The truth of what happened deep within the Ice Sea, even the Divine Throne did not know; if he were to speak of the truth from that day, the Divine Throne might not even believe him.

But in one aspect, the Light God’s Seat was quite right.

The situation among the Five Continents is increasingly tense; the complete split of the two factions and the involvement of the Storm Church have already stretched the situation to the extreme.

"I do not wish to see tragedies, nor do I wish to see wars arise within the Five Continents."

Gu Nanfeng said frankly, "It’s just that some things are beyond my control."

Not to mention he is just the Gu Family Young Master.

Even if he became Mr. Bai Shu, he could not stop the torrent of this era by himself.

"So you should do something more."

The Light God’s Seat said, "A Divine War breaking out benefits no one; I would perish, would not Mr. Bai Shu as well?"

"Your attitude leaves me wondering... during these past years, who exactly has been ’the enemy’ that Changye faced."

Gu Nanfeng responded politely, "If you truly love peace as you appear to now, then why has the world become as it is now? Why has Changye identified a whole ’underground line’ of Light City? How can the Northern Continent Border uncover hundreds of Hidden Children who have been dormant for many years?"

"..."

The Light God’s Seat fell silent briefly.

The elderly man said, "It is not my intention today to argue right or wrong with you; I merely hope the Gu family could consider one more possibility. This possibility benefits both you and Light City."

Gu Nanfeng said, "Of course, I am willing to unite in marriage with Meng Xizhou, but if the price is to thereby obliterate the ’sins’ Light City committed against the East Continent... I’m sorry, I cannot promise such a thing. Because I am not qualified to forgive the mistakes made by Gao Mo for those who died in Qingzhong."

Just recently, Wutuo betrayed the East Continent and killed an elite squad within the Judgement Institute.

The Hidden Children planted by West Continent have committed many "theft-like actions" over the years.

After the split of the two factions.

The debts and grievances between the continents have already become incalculable.

These accounts seemingly fall on Gao Mo’s shoulders.

But it cannot be ignored that behind Gao Mo... is indeed the Light God’s Seat.

Gu Nanfeng had one more thing left unsaid, which was that he could not forgive the Light God’s Seat’s "indifference" on behalf of the people of Qingzhong either.

Back then, during the most critical moment in Da Du, he went to Light City seeking a token and emblem.

The token emblem of that year helped Da Du solve the crisis of the Angel Envoy from the Wine God’s Seat.

He had thought the Light God’s Seat was generously helpful.

Yet, much later, Gu Nanfeng realized something was not right... he did not expect the temple had long targeted Song Ci’s [Undead] identity!

Because of the token emblem he brought with him, Song Ci wrongly became entangled with the Light Faith. If he were to go to Light City, he might encounter unforeseen misfortune; even if he stayed in Changye, he still lost the opportunity to ascend to the highest.

Due to his own mistake.

Song Ci lost the chance to become Mr. Bai Shu’s [Angel Envoy].

All these years, he has consistently held feelings of guilt.

Long ago, Gu Nanfeng once firmly believed in the "name of Light" because Mr. Gu Changzhi was a hero of the East Continent, and the Light God’s Seat was someone Mr. Gu Changzhi respected the most as a teacher.

Such a figure must also be an extraordinary hero, right?

Lately, he found out he was wrong.

Some mistakes simply cannot be remedied.

Gu Nanfeng cannot make amends for Song Ci, even though Song Ci says he doesn’t mind... But he himself cannot be indifferent.

"It seems you have quite a bit of resentment towards me."

The Light God’s Seat sighed quietly.

He said earnestly, "If I were to tell you that I am nearing the end of my life, that everything I do now is ’redemption’ for the mistakes I made during my life... would you believe it?"

Gu Nanfeng was stunned.

"In one’s lifetime, one does many things... some right, some wrong."

The Light God’s Seat slowly said, "No one can make the right choice all their life. The rights and wrongs of these matters will naturally be judged by future generations. Earlier, I chose to be an ’observer’ on the other shore of the Red Lake, leading to the current two major camps. Now I hope to do what little I can to make amends before I die, at least to prevent the outbreak of the ’Divine War’, allowing more people to survive."

Gu Nanfeng’s gaze became complicated.

"The reason I proposed the ’alliance marriage’ to you today."

"Is because in a while, I will announce the successor of the Light Fire to the Five Continents."

The old man said softly, "Meng Xizhou will inherit the entire temple. Once she becomes the ’Flame Master’, it won’t be so simple for the Gu family to seek an alliance marriage."

If the Light Goddess becomes the next Divine Seat.

Then how should he position himself?

Under such intense and turbulent circumstances, Gu Nanfeng’s status as the "Gu Family Master" compared to the "Light God’s Seat" appears insignificant; the weight of the two can no longer be balanced.

The Empress of the North Continent remained unmarried all her life; partly because there was no man in the Five Continents that could catch her eye.

Another reason.

Who is worthy of her?

The weight a Torch Inheritor must bear is not one that ordinary people can share.

Alliance marriage loses its meaning at this moment.

Gu Nanfeng took a deep breath, his voice somewhat hoarse, "The Light Fire is rightfully hers."

"If I were to die and Meng Xizhou became the temple master... then what part of the relationship between the West Continent and Changye would be irreparable?"

The old man tilted his head slightly, smiling, and said, "Like you, Meng Xizhou holds grievances against me. I condoned what Gao Mo did, which also hurt her... in a sense, she is also a victim of the temple’s actions over the years. Don’t forget, she was still confined in the Secret Dungeon yesterday, for a whole six years."

These words made the Heart Lake, which Gu Nanfeng had finally calmed, ripple anew with countless waves.

He truly saw hope for "peace."

If the temple changes its master, then all conflicts can be resolved.

He only looked at the old man blankly. The old figure shrouded in radiant light made it hard for him to see clearly.

The words from the Light God’s Seat were definitely not said casually.

Gu Nanfeng always thought this old man was letting things happen... but now he thought of a deeper, further possibility. All the sufferings Meng Xizhou experienced were seen by the Light God’s Seat, and perhaps this was even part of the old man’s plan.

Only such a "perfect victim" becoming the temple master would perfectly resolve the conflicts between the West Continent and Changye.

"I don’t understand... I still don’t understand..."

Gu Nanfeng murmured, "Why are you doing this?"

"I have already explained, I’m dying soon."

The Light God’s Seat smiled, "The relationship that I cannot mend, Meng Xizhou can, and she can mend it perfectly..."

Gu Nanfeng shook his head, "The Gu family is insignificant before the will of the Divine Seat."

"There are many things that even gods cannot accomplish."

The Light God’s Seat sighed lightly, "If the Gu family is willing to merge with Light City, then some words in the East Continent’s domain can be spoken by the Gu family."

"Wait—"

Gu Nanfeng frowned and spoke, "What is the price of this alliance marriage? Do you wish the Gu family to cultivate believers for you?"

"Of course... not." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The old man smiled, straight to the point, "I am already half in the grave, why would I care about the power of faith?"

Gu Nanfeng reacted quickly, "So... is there indeed a price for this alliance marriage?"

"Everything has its price."

The Light God’s Seat said sincerely, "But I do not wish for you to understand it this way... Whether or not this alliance marriage succeeds, I hope the Gu family will consider advancing the ’Awakening Bill’ in the East Continent’s domain, which is the second matter I wanted to discuss with you today; this matter is more important than the alliance marriage."

Gu Nanfeng stared intently at the light before him.

"I know you don’t understand, and I also know the East Continent successfully repelled the ’Awakening Bill’, which you spearheaded."

The old man said calmly, "But the experiment in the Sangzhou Cave has proven the stability of the Deep Sea’s spiritual connections, and a great amount of source material from the Ice Sea was drawn to the Sangzhou Cave... Those who have successfully awakened and transcended prevented the outbreak of the ’black spots’ along the Southern Continent’s coast. The Storm Church did not encounter the crisis of ’order breakdown’ during the Divine Seat’s absence. These data are enough to prove that the awakening experiment is controllable and stable."

"Sorry, the Awakening Bill cannot be implemented in the East Continent."

Gu Nanfeng coldly said, "The East Continent people will not hand over their destiny to the Deep Sea."

"The people of the world have already handed their destiny to the Deep Sea."

The old man standing in the radiant light raised his arms gently and said, "Every inch of ground you walk on, every breath of air you take... is closely related to the Deep Sea. The transcendent rely on the ’Spirit Network’ to cultivate, the ordinary rely on the Deep Sea to live, everyone has already handed over their destiny."

"..."

Gu Nanfeng looked at the sacred and solemn radiance, feeling a dazzling brightness.

He frowned, "You... want to push the ’Awakening Bill’?"

"It’s the only choice."

"Because... humanity’s time has run out."

Amidst the radiant light, numerous images flew forth. The old man’s fingertips wound with billions of golden rays, eventually freezing and condensing these images...

A vast, shattered land appeared before Gu Nanfeng’s eyes.

"Thirty years ago, Gu Changzhi encountered an unprecedented source material storm in the Old World."

"To block this storm, he suffered incurable injuries... after returning to the Five Continents, he perished."

The Light God’s Seat said word by word, "Gu Changzhi attempted to change the fate of the Five Continents with his life, but unfortunately, he failed. According to the Deep Sea’s latest calculations, this unprecedented source material storm has not dissipated... ten years, twenty years, perhaps shorter, perhaps longer, but compared to the Five Continents’ six hundred-year history, these ten years or decades are just a small wave; it is destined to reach a ’conclusion.’"

"At that time, everyone will face unavoidable destruction."

In a while, I will announce her as the successor of the ’Light Fire.’