Chapter 20: The Storm Wrought by the Butterfly’s Wings

The reason why Miss Vilyric decided to seek out Xi Fu Lin first was, of course, due to careful consideration from multiple angles.

Firstly, as the Life Goddess, the deity currently worshipped and revered in the Winged Country, one could say she is among the few—if not the sole—deities that can still move about freely in the Original Realm. Although she does not directly govern this country, her status is undoubtedly higher than that of the Wing Emperor Aistini Kurke.

At least up until now, Miss Vilyric indeed had not seen any living deities in this world apart from Xi Fu Lin.

With the perspective and power of an experienced main deity, combined with the Kingdom of Azure as her realm of influence, Xi Fu Lin’s understanding of most matters is bound to be far more profound than that of an ordinary person, making her the best source of support for Miss Vilyric, who has just returned home.

In summary, when in trouble, just turn to Xi Fu Lin.

In fact, even before they had crossed through the Ancient Spirit Realm and returned to the Original Realm, Xi Fu Lin had already sensed their arrival. She contacted Miss Vilyric using the token left on her, even earlier than Priestess Aida thought of searching for her beloved pet.

Although she didn’t voice it, Vilyric was genuinely moved in her heart. Partners who could provide such meticulous care and warmth, while possessing comparable strength, and who could help each other out, are indeed rare.

After ending a rather prolonged embrace, the goddess gracefully shifted her steps, carrying a faint fragrance reminiscent of flowers and sandalwood that enveloped the air with comfort. She led Vilyric to a wooden chair and sat down, her gentle smile seeming to deepen even more than when they first met.

“What’s wrong? Looking at me like that, could it be that Vilyric actually misses me?”

Through a connection of divine consciousness, they had roughly exchanged recent updates, but at the time, the distance and the significant interference from the Ghost Sea and Great Whirlpool made detailed communication draining of divine power.

There are many things that are difficult to convey without face-to-face interaction. So, once Priestess Aida settled down, she prioritized crossing borders to meet Xi Fu Lin.

As the goddess asked her questions in return, the black-haired girl didn’t hesitate or feel embarrassed; she was never that kind of person.

“Well, I can’t deny that I’ve missed you a bit. After all, I’m not some cold-hearted person. So, how have you been lately?”

As she said this, the blue-haired girl pouted, feigning dissatisfaction as she turned her head away. Her innocent, affectionate demeanor didn’t resemble that of a deity at all, but if the devout winged priests from the Sky City were to see this, their jaws would probably drop.

“What do you mean by ‘fine’? Things have been awful! Someone went missing without a word, do you even know how worried we were? We worked so hard to find you, we even formed an unprecedented international alliance over this!”

“Uh, ahaha…”

Miss Vilyric scratched her head in embarrassment.

Actually, even without Xi Fu Lin explaining, she could probably guess who the members of that grand alliance were…

The girl quickly clasped her hands together, bowing her head in guilty acknowledgment, taking the initiative to admit her fault first.

“I’m really sorry! But it really happened so suddenly, I didn’t expect to encounter such a situation. I had no choice but to prioritize the more pressing matters. I promise to let you all know next time… How about it?”

“You dare to think there will be a next time?!”

Hearing this insincere apology, Xi Fu Lin shot a fierce glare at someone. While the Life Goddess’s face, brimming with gentleness and divine aura, didn’t quite fit the words “fierce glare,” it was evident she was genuinely trying to convey her displeasure.

However, although Vilyric was somewhat surprised by Xi Fu Lin’s rare emotional display, the goddess was still considerate and noticed the Priestess’s awkwardness in responding. She soon stopped pursuing the matter like a complaining little wife, letting out a gentle sigh and shifting the topic instead.

“Forget it, regardless of anything… It’s good that you’ve returned safely. Is there anything I can help you check about your physical condition?”

“Ah, right, right, right!”

The black-haired girl nodded as if she had been granted a reprieve and, as if suddenly remembering something, added, “On one hand, yes, but on the other hand, has anything significant happened in the Original Realm recently? Do you know about Xiao Guang, and what about my companions?”

“Hmm, come here.”

Xi Fu Lin beckoned her over. Miss Vilyric promptly understood and leaned in, extending a pale wrist from her sleeve towards Xi Fu Lin, allowing her to infuse a bit of emerald light into her palm, manifesting as a gentle flowing motion around her body.

With the Life Goddess’s power and vast divine consciousness, checking her status did not require complete focus. As she controlled the flow of vitality within Vilyric, she thoughtfully began to answer her questions.

“Tilysha and those two little angels, along with the little demon you saved, are still in the capital of the Holy Empire. Due to your disappearance, the Divine Tree planting has also been temporarily halted. That little demon is currently studying in the holy capital, while the others act as her guardians and live with her.”

“If you’re worried, you can go see them directly later. They reside in that mansion in your holy capital, or you could wait until you resolve the issues at sea before going; either way, it’s fine.”

“As for your little dragon pet, I have indeed kept an eye on her. Shortly after you disappeared, she suddenly left the Holy Empire without consulting anyone and went eastward alone, as if sensing your approximate direction and attempting to find you.”

“But after that, she crossed into the boundary conflict zone of two major nations and entered the Ost Empire, seemingly drawn by something local, momentarily halting her journey.”

“I’m not entirely sure what that is, but the region she stayed in is reportedly a place that worships dragons to an extreme degree, almost to the level of faith. It might have something to do with certain relics of the dragons.”

After a pause, seeing the black-haired girl quietly listening without much reaction, Xi Fu Lin summarized, “In short, she stayed in that area for a while. Then, for some unknown reason, she seemed to abandon her plans to continue eastward and instead stayed there, beginning to accept the worship of dragon worshippers. She likely hasn’t left yet.”

“Dragon worshippers… worshippers… huh.”

Reflecting on the information provided by Xi Fu Lin and connecting it to what she sensed about her little dragon daughter, Vilyric thoughtfully nodded, her long-held concern finally beginning to ease, replaced by a stronger sense of gratitude.

Although Xi Fu Lin spoke casually, Vilyric knew quite well that it wouldn’t be easy for Xiao Guang to track down an extraordinary existence at level 100 without any leads; this wasn’t a simple task even for a deity.

After all, the Sky Island where she dwelled was thousands of miles away.

That Xi Fu Lin could calmly and clearly articulate Xiao Guang’s actions thus far indicated that since the Priestess’s disappearance, she had been vigilant and protective over the companions left behind, likely investing considerable effort and resources to do so.

This subtle aid and tenderness truly embody her greatest charm.

“Thank you… I really appreciate it this time.”

In response to Miss Vilyric’s sincere gratitude, the goddess merely smiled gently.

“It was but a trivial matter. Compared to the help you’ve given me, these are all small things. Let’s not keep thanking each other; that feels a bit strange, doesn’t it?”

“You’re right, I’ve been rather formal… Haha, sorry about that.”

Feeling the gentle vitality flowing within her as it inspected and nurtured her body, Vilyric forced a smile before continuing.

“Well then, Xi Fu Lin, could you please provide me with as specific a location as possible? Even though Xiao Guang is currently safe, after I finish dealing with things on my end, I still need to head over and see what’s happening over there.”

The goddess nodded slightly.

“Of course. During this time, I’ll also have my subordinates keep a close watch on the situation there.”

After pondering for a moment and seeing that Vilyric had nothing else to say, Xi Fu Lin cheerfully redirected the topic downward.

“As for significant events, there’s probably nothing more astonishing than someone slaying the Incarnation of the Lord of Slaughter and rewriting the history of the Holy Empire, right?”

“However, because you altered the dynamics of that nation, many changes have gradually surfaced over the past six months. The Church of the Goddess has adjusted its operational policies, shifting to a gentler stance while losing the serious belief-based magic weapon. Some cults hidden in the shadows and traces of evil deity activities have also started to emerge…”

“Today’s global situation has become more intricate than it was over six months ago when you left, even escalating to some national-level conflicts and tensions. While they are still playing out in relatively mild ways, …it’s hard to say how long they can be contained, even for me.”

At this, Xi Fu Lin’s expression turned serious.

“Do you remember the alliance I mentioned earlier? That alliance was initially established to search for you, but as the world’s situation has dramatically changed, it’s now close to becoming a genuine coalition among nations. It’s practically just one formal external announcement away.”

“Vilyric, the Original Realm is gradually dividing into two opposing major factions.”

   

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