Baili Xiao remained silent for a long time after hearing this, merely sitting composedly.
Just as Zhong Yichuan thought he would return in vain, he glanced sideways and addressed Wusi, "Go fetch my outer robe. I'll be back shortly."
Avoiding the Divine Realm indefinitely was not a suitable solution...
The Second Elder gazed at the gaunt Baili Xiao, worry etched in his eyes, "What is wrong with your body?"
It was the same last time he visited; he had suddenly fainted, frightening him immensely.
"Perhaps it's the freezing cold, I've caught a chill," Baili Xiao offered a faint smile and put on the outer robe Wusi had brought. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"But Divine Lord..." Wusi pursed his lips, looking extremely hesitant, "Your spiritual energy..."
The Divine Lord's body was growing weaker day by day, his spiritual energy gradually dissipating, and this journey was fraught with danger. How could he not worry?
Baili Xiao walked towards Zhong Yichuan, a tender smile hidden in his azure eyes, "It's nothing."
Zhong Yichuan nodded slightly towards Wusi behind him, "No need to worry. This time, I will be responsible for the safety of the former War God."
"Demon Lord, you are too kind. However, please relay this to him: Baili Xiao does not need anyone to protect him."
Meeting Baili Xiao's azure, somewhat stubborn eyes, Zhong Yichuan did not retort.
As the former War God of the Divine Realm, despite being exploited for centuries and his body weakening, he still possessed his own pride.
If he hadn't met his wife, he would have been a mighty figure, standing proudly and aloof...
"Wusi, you stay here," the Second Elder said, looking at her. "The Divine Realm is full of schemes. If you come along, Baili Xiao might need to be distracted protecting you."
"But..."
"The Second Elder is right. You stay in the courtyard and wait for us to return."
Hearing the Divine Lord echo the sentiment, Wusi bit her lower lip and slowly lowered her head, "Yes..."
...
Another two hours passed. The night sky was already steeped in darkness, and even the usually radiant moon seemed to be hidden behind layers of clouds today.
In the empty great hall, Mo Ze's black hair fell onto his shoulders. He propped his head up with one hand, resting in his high seat with his eyes closed.
"Your Majesty, Zhong Yichuan and... the War God request an audience..." the morning attendant bowed respectfully.
Mo Ze, seated on the main throne, slowly raised his eyes and responded in a deep voice, "Summon Baili Xiao to the hall."
"Yes." The attendant straightened up and exited the great hall. A moment later, two figures strode inside.
Mo Ze glanced sideways. Clad in white with blue eyes, it was indeed the former War God of the Divine Realm, Baili Xiao.
He slowly rose, his cold gaze sweeping over Zhong Yichuan, "I did not summon you. You may withdraw."
Hearing this, Zhong Yichuan glanced at Baili Xiao, momentarily caught in a dilemma. If they met alone, even he would not have time to rescue Baili Xiao if he encountered danger...
"I will not harm him."
Zhong Yichuan stiffened, then looked up to meet Mo Ze's dark, indifferent eyes, which seemed to have already seen through his thoughts.
Zhong Yichuan turned, glanced at Baili Xiao beside him, and then, after bowing, retreated from the hall.
"I will wait outside," he transmitted to Baili Xiao before leaving.
Stepping out of the palace, the Second Elder's eyes widened. He rushed towards Zhong Yichuan, "Why did you come out alone! Where is he?"
Zhong Yichuan turned his head to look at the palace, "Mo Ze wishes to see him alone..."
"Kid, you should have stayed inside! Mo Ze is cunning and treacherous. What if he harms him!"
Listening to the Second Elder's furious outburst, Zhong Yichuan frowned, recalling Mo Ze's expression before he left.
'I will not harm him...'
For some reason, Zhong Yichuan had an inexplicable intuition... Mo Ze would not harm Baili Xiao...
No moonlight entered the great hall, only a few lamps on the walls flickered with dim light.
Mo Ze slowly rose and stepped down the stairs, stopping before Baili Xiao.
"You can divine fortunes. Can you cast another for me."
His tone was flat, devoid of any inflection, and his expression showed no hint of emotion.
Baili Xiao looked up, meeting his gaze, neither refusing nor accepting.
Mo Ze did not get angry at the lack of a response. He merely stood before him, watching him.
After an unknown amount of time, Baili Xiao shifted his gaze away, looking elsewhere.
"Your Majesty overestimates Baili Xiao. He cannot even fathom his own fortune, how would he dare interpret Your Majesty's?"
Hearing this, Mo Ze lowered his gaze, the corners of his lips curving upwards slightly, "Should I say you are overly modest... or ungrateful?"
As Mo Ze's words fell, the great hall returned to silence.
After a long pause, Mo Ze spoke again, "I recall when I was young, you once cast a divination for me, didn't you?"
At that time, he and his father had just been brought back to the Divine Realm.
Schemes, calculations, foresight, and cunning – all the darkness of the Divine Realm had overwhelmed the young, ignorant Mo Ze, leaving him breathless...
But it was Baili Xiao who, on a moonless night, cast a divination for him.
'A turning point in fate, from love to sorrow, on a moonless night, another choice arises...'
At the time, Mo Ze had no understanding of the divination's meaning. Returning to it today, he felt he had grasped some of it.
"It was merely childish words, Your Majesty should not take it to heart," Baili Xiao's tone was indifferent, but the hand resting by his robe was clenched.
Mo Ze looked up, gazing upwards, "Today is a moonless night. I am curious, what choice arises this time."
Hearing this, Baili Xiao's brow furrowed, his tone gaining some inflection, "Your Majesty has been severed from emotions by the Qihuang Array. Yet you still harbor such thoughts?"
Mo Ze was startled, not expecting him to suddenly mention the Qihuang Array, but then again, considering his abilities, it was not strange.
Perhaps prolonged eye contact had allowed him to see through all his memories...
"Cast another divination, or I will cut off your head."
Though the words were icy, they were spoken with a hint of a smile by Mo Ze at this moment.
Ultimately, Baili Xiao accepted Mo Ze's command. He formed hand seals, and complex ancient characters appeared on Mo Ze's forehead.
The ancient characters swirled, spun, and slowly formed a four-line phrase.
Mo Ze looked at the words and read them aloud, "On a moonless night, a choice approaches, the path of fate quietly turns..."
"It has changed, hasn't it," he chuckled deeply.
Baili Xiao's divination would change with events that had already occurred, yet it remained as obscure as ever.
Hearing this, Baili Xiao slightly raised his eyes and noticed a corner of a chain peeking out from under Mo Ze's layered collar, reflecting a faint silver light.
"What is that you wear around your neck..."
"Boom—!"
Before Baili Xiao could finish his sentence, an extremely loud explosion echoed from outside the palace.
"Bad news! Your Majesty! The Shifang Temple has been breached—!"
"That man has been rescued—!"