Olympus District, Tree of Eternal Life Club.

An ancient tree stands in the center of the room. Underneath its massive trunk, thick roots are entangled throughout the entire club. Ancient patterns are interspersed on the bluish-gray bark, with a faint golden radiance flowing within.

The interior of the trunk is hollow, with a vast space inside, like a small world. Looking up, countless birds stand on swings woven from purple vines and branches. The swings are arranged in a spiral, winding up to a skylight, where sacred light pours down, casting a grid of light and shadow on the ground.

A few figures are intensely discussing something within this small world. Everyone present has made outstanding contributions in their respective fields and is a highly respected artist in the Star of Art. Yet now, these influential artists are arguing passionately about something.

"Those lunatics, knowing there's still a world-class myth wandering in the city, yet they still held the Starry Competition and have been covering up the truth!" one person said indignantly.

"Should we spread panic? A world-class myth is different from a disaster-level incident. Once it erupts, the entire city will inevitably become a purgatory," the man at the head of the wooden table said coldly.

Behind the man is a painting, and upon closer inspection, the scene within it subtly changes.

The clouds of the sky gently ripple under the glow of brilliant light. On the undulating blue surface, red fish swim, and lazy clusters of purple coral grow between the clouds. The powerful fin of the cloud whale sweeps away clouds for miles, appearing at the junction of the sea of clouds and the sun's rays. The shadow it casts covers mountains and lakes, and pure blue teardrops flow upward, becoming an inverted rain curtain that fills the sky, with all living things growing freely under the ancient whale's sound.

The cloud whale, a legendary creature borne from the fruits of the World Tree, is a colossal mythical being that roams the skies. Its size is unknown, and modern technology is insufficient to measure its magnitude. When it appears above a certain Nest City, it heralds the onset of a long rainy season. From that moment onwards, the concepts of sky and sunrise become blurred, and the land transforms into a vast ocean.

"Impression Cloud Whale," the pinnacle of the Impressionist style, was created by Roquel, the Patriarch of the Withered Flower family, a hundred years ago when he once glimpsed a part of this mysterious creature while traveling on the world's highest peak. Deeply moved by the cloud whale's grandeur and beauty, he returned to the Star of Art and created this painting.

Standing beside the painting, one's mind involuntarily calms down, as if standing in a vast and limitless world of a lake mirror, with comfortable and pleasant breezes blowing by.

"In such a situation, would notifying the public make any difference?" the man sneered. "How can you not understand such a simple truth?"

"Ventel!" the person retorted, their frustration choking them, their face flushed and neck strained.

"Belvedere, that bastard, Alephan was taken away by the Tuner, just like the monastery incident years ago. He's oppressing our people with unfounded charges," said another.

"And the suicide case of the student council vice-chair Alan three years ago, we still don't know what happened to his body."

"The power of the family is simply unable to counter that guy. We must find a way to get assistance from the association!" one person said, their face filled with unwillingness.

"The Starry Gallery has almost become Belvedere's backyard. Most matters on the Star of Art are decided by him alone. He's a dictator now," someone said bleakly. "Is there really any necessity to continue next month's student protests? We can't let anyone else sacrifice..."

"Ventel, you're the one who incited those students, you let them with their naive thoughts and passionate energy come in, concealing the truth, leading to their unknown deaths!" someone in the crowd pointed at Ventel, raising their voice.

"No struggle is without bloodshed. Change requires sacrifice," Ventel responded impassively. "What they did is meaningful, just that the time hasn't come yet."

"And you." Ventel emphasized, "I can't believe I've been with a group of wavering, shortsighted fools for so long. Truly disappointing."

"In my opinion, you are not even as good as those academy students, at least they are full of passion and courage."

"Ventel!" the crowd said in unison, their words caught in their throats, left staring wide-eyed.

At this moment, a young man who had been sitting quietly suddenly stood up: "Teachers!"

The room quieted down, everyone looking at the young man in surprise, seemingly not expecting usually humble and amiable youth to act so out of character.

"Are we not supposed to be thinking about how to solve the current problem?" Lancelot said. "Right now, the association's attention is on the Star of Art. If we can gather enough evidence of Belvedere's deeds on the Star of Art and let the upper echelons of the association know..."

"Even if just to prevent the birth of high-risk mythical creatures on the Star of Art, the association should take action."

"Lancelot, sit down, this is not your place to talk!" Daphne, sitting beside him, said softly.

The young man's eyes showed a faint complexity. Ultimately, he sighed helplessly and sat back down.

After this interruption, the previously angry crowd calmed down, and Ms. Fandony stepped in to mediate the atmosphere.

"What's gotten into everyone today? Why is everyone so heated? Oh, right, Daphne, didn't you say earlier you'd invite a new member to join our Tree of Eternal Life?"

"Is she here today?"

Everyone turned to the old man. He looked at the clock on the tree, scratched his head: "It should be about time, she told me she would come today."

"Everyone."

At this moment, a young girl's voice came from the tree hollow, and everyone turned their gaze again. They saw a golden-haired girl in a black coat appear, her waist-length hair shining brilliantly under the holy light, the attractive golden gleam flowing within.

"Is it her?" Ventel sneered.

"Huh, I think I've seen this little one before." Fandony pondered, finally recalling that the girl before them was indeed the one who followed Tang Xin at the Opera House back then.

Xu Xiaoyou waved her hand and sat down amidst the eyes of some wary and scrutinizing onlookers. Daphne looked over.

In that underground Church, she deliberately left a ginkgo leaf stained with her golden hair for the old man to see, intending to observe his reaction.

If the other party showed anything unusual, she would act decisively to eliminate future problems.

But she saw hesitation and struggle on the other party's face at that time, indicating he was weighing pros and cons.

As she expected, shortly after, the other party chose to resign, and a few days later, a paper letter from the old man was received in the mailbox at the security booth: a Black Gold invitation to the Tree of Eternal Life.

Originally, she was weighing whether to get involved with these people embroiled in the vortex of struggle, but today's incident with Tang Xin led her to decide to make good use of these highly influential artists on the Star of Art.

"Hmph, it really is you!"

At this point, Ventel's aura suddenly turned cold. He sensed the same presence from the golden-haired girl as he did back in the underground sanctuary. She's the one who eavesdropped on their conversation back then!

"This person knows our secrets. Why would an outsider be present in the underground sanctuary, eavesdropping on our conversation? I cannot tolerate such an unstable factor among us."

Vantier's tone was icy, with pitch-black lightning patterns like Arabic numerals lighting up on his bronze, muscular body, the deterrence of a Three Tier Thunder Holder spreading.

"Ventel, what are you doing!" The sudden change caused Daphne and the others to react.

Just as the atmosphere tensed, a spiral storm gathered in the man's palm, the free-floating arcs of electricity ready to strike.

Xu Xiaoyou chuckled unexpectedly, a golden-patterned card forming at her fingertip. Casually, she tossed the card onto the table like a chip. A terrifying, indescribable aura suddenly descended from the dome, erupting from the small card, freezing the air in that moment.

——[Fire God's Dao Opening].

"Did you all get something wrong?" Xu Xiaoyou looked up and said. "I came here on my own to find you."

With a wave of her hand, the shimmering Skill Card rose into the air, and the black death energy burst from every crevice of the golden patterns, like a surging invisible tide, flooding the entire room in an instant.

"As long as I wish it, no one can leave this room today."