Pillar of Yita

Fang Hong only knows that after the other party returned to Fenris, they left Fenris several more times. The last time, they went to Nogness, seized the ’Divine Body’ of the Lizardman Deity from the Osh Empire, and hid it with the War Lizard People.

That departure triggered the Battle of Bain thirteen years ago, and the ’Divine Body’ was later brought back to Fenris by the Rain Listening Guild. It can be said that this event was the beginning of all subsequent disasters in Fenris.

But beyond that, he knows little more about the experiences of this legendary Green Dragon.

He is even unsure whether the other party truly perished in Idus, whether they really died at the hands of Rolin, or if there were other hidden truths.

However, hearing the old bishop speak, Fang Hong thought that the other party would tell him in detail the origins of this legendary Giant Dragon, and whether its death in Idus was true. But unexpectedly, the old man merely mentioned it in passing, then changed the subject—to say that before going to Nogness, Toragotos had once visited the Scepter Coast.

This piece of information, although rather vague, still caught Fang Hong’s attention. This is because he knows a lot about the Scepter Coast, whether it’s the frigid kingdom west of the Ancient Tower, the Ancient Monarch Hunters, or the emblem of the bounding wolf of the Rogsel family that repeatedly appears in his vision; Nikopolas, the Dragon Worship Sect, all seem to have a complex web of connections to this place.

But on this topic, the old bishop brought up another matter: ”After the disaster in Fenris, we have been monitoring changes in the underground Dark Forces. But we haven’t disclosed some things; after you left, the underground Dark Forces in Fenris didn’t abate; on the contrary, they became extraordinarily active.”

Fang Hong was startled upon hearing this. The Ring of Golden Flame on his body had absorbed a part of the Lizardman Dark Deity’s power at that time, but afterward, whether the other party was dead or alive, or had truly sunk into silence, he did not know.

He inquired about Cloud Harbor later, but he didn’t learn much. Except there were rumors that the massive earthquake during the Fenris event had damaged the foundation of Fenris Isle, causing the island to slowly sink at a rate of several meters per year.

The old bishop, seeing his expression, continued: ”Your guess is right; the claim that the earthquake damaged the foundation was indeed spread by us intentionally. It was to quickly relocate the population on Fenris Isle because the true reason for Fenris Isle’s sinking is the reactivation of its internal Dark Forces.”

”How could this be?” Fang Hong couldn’t help but ask.

But the old bishop didn’t answer, merely looking silently out the glass window; his age-spotted face crisscrossed with wrinkles. After a while, he turned back and said: ”Before we left Fenris heading south, the Astrologers made a new discovery.”

”They observed a new star that appeared in the sky east of Colin Ishurian, a star that had never existed before, as though it had sprouted from thin air. According to your categorization, it is a sixth magnitude star, very faint, with a bluish-white glow, occupying the southeastern sky, and located below and to the left of the Serpent Bearer constellation.”

He closely observed Fang Hong, asking: ”Do you know what that is?”

Fang Hong began to feel confused, but suddenly, a possibility flashed through his mind.

Giant Serpent Tail, Black Throne.

Golden Star Fire, Calamity Star Verdant—

He suddenly lifted his head, murmuring: ”Could it be...”

The old bishop’s eyes sparkled with a knowing light: ”Young man, it looks like you really do know this secret—Sta believed you to be a Star Patron, and it seems it was not an empty claim.”

He then continued: ”The Lizardmen’s insight far surpasses that of humans and elves, hence they had long observed that star. They believe that star is suspended alone over the Shining Sea, precisely the third disaster foretold in the ancient prophecy, the Third Calamity Star—Azure.”

”This can’t be...” Fang Hong blurted out reflexively.

”Of course, nobody knows for sure if this is true,” the old bishop replied: ”But the Lizardmen have many of their own unique traditions, some of which we have yet to understand. Yet, the reason I agreed to come south with them to find you is because of certain memories I have.”

Fang Hong’s expression also turned serious as he understood that what the other party was about to say was the main point of this conversation.

The old bishop said: ”As the supreme Guardian of Cloud Harbor, I visited Toragotos many times at the Mountain Palace in my youth; of course, it hadn’t revealed its true nature at that time but was already very old, thus particularly fond of speaking to us young people about its past travels.”

”I was close to it at the time, and the related stories it told me were particularly detailed. I remember once when it returned from the Scepter Coast, it mentioned a peculiar tradition there that left a deep impression on it. The locals would select a youth to seek out and slay a Bipedal Flying Dragon, cut off its head, and bring it back to the tribe—they would repeat this peculiar tradition every few decades, calling it the ’Pilgrimage’ there.”

”At the time, when Toragotos mentioned this peculiar experience, I was actually quite curious. Because I realized that there is a similar tradition in Colin Ishurian—do you know where that is?”

Fang Hong shook his head.

”In Idus,” the old bishop replied slowly and deliberately.