One more catty, one more attribute point

West Continent, the vast and solemn square of the Monastery.

The sky was gloomy, filled with dense clouds that no wind could penetrate, the wind blowing across the wide wilderness, making a wailing sound as it swept through the corridors, sounding like the low growl of a monster, oppressing one's mood, almost feeling suffocated.

The firelight reflected on Henos's face, she gently touched her cheek, able to smell the stench of burning corpses, as if still lingering in her ears were the terrified and desperate screams of women at the brink of death.

In front of her stood a fiery execution frame, forged from Shining Gold, which should have been gleaming, was now stained with an eerie dark red by fresh blood and flames.

Henos had always been kept in the deepest garden of the temple by the Great Clan Chief.

She didn't have much memory of Agni.

In her limited memories,

This blood relative was a graceful and elegant woman.

Liking the soft texture of flamboyant red long skirts, gentle in dealing with people, and always carrying a very affable smile on her face.

But now she was dead, and died a particularly tragic death. Her arms spread out, hung on a cross, with her flesh charred all over, the rotten bones exposed, her head limply hanging down.

"Ooh!"

A cold wind blew.

The blackened skull fell off from the neck and rolled on the ground a few times before stopping.

Henos felt as if her own heart had also abruptly stopped for a moment.

Her face showed reluctance, and she turned her gaze away.

The reactions of her siblings were different; Fa Yu and Surya had faces of satisfaction, while both Jubiro and Giashinten, being women, showed some compassion.

Among the crowd, the reaction of Indra, the eldest brother, was the strangest.

His whole being was engulfed in shadows, his face expressionless, neither sad nor happy, but Henos felt she could sense some sort of resolute determination from him.

Footsteps came from behind.

Dressed in a white research suit, leaning on a cane,

The Great Clan Chief, whose eye sockets were deeply sunken and who looked older, came from the corridor.

All those present kneeled in salute to him, the Great Clan Chief just nodded slightly.

His gaze stopped briefly on Agni's corpse, his face showing no additional emotion, as if an unrelated wild animal had died in front of him.

Even though such an outcome was anticipated, the other Descenders still felt a bit of 'empathetic sorrow'.

"This matter ends here; disperse on your own," ordered the Great Clan Chief, his voice emotionless. Then his gaze fell on Henos, he didn't say anything but nodded slightly.

Henos obediently followed.

The two walked side by side down a corridor leading away from the temple.

The surroundings here were dim, only the oil lamps on the walls provided a bit of red light.

Henos pursed her lips, seeming hesitant, but still spoke up, "Father, do you think this matter is really as simple as it appears?"

"What do you think?" the Great Clan Chief rarely asked.

Even for Henos, who was considered most favored, interactions with the Great Clan Chief rarely involved him asking questions proactively.

Henos felt momentarily flattered by the attention, quickly gathered her thoughts, "Although I don't know much about Sister Agni, I feel that she is not a particularly strong-willed person. Such actions would not benefit her, so I believe this incident might not be as simple as it seems."

Henos thought for a moment, then lowered her voice and added, "And... I feel the reactions of several elder brothers are a bit strange."

"You think that the real culprit is not Agni."

"Yes," Henos nodded lightly.

The Great Clan Chief sighed softly, his hand gently caressing Henos's soft hair with affection, "You are really very intelligent."

By then, they had crossed the long corridors inside the stronghold; outside was a cliff by the sea, under a sky filled with dark clouds, the pitch-black tidal waters crashed wave after wave against the jagged rocks and sheer cliffs, shattering into white foam amid the continuous loud noises. The moist sea breeze also swept in, and sea birds could be seen circling in the sky.

Henos had always been protected inside her own garden.

Thus, she loved the sea, loved the wind.

Sometimes she would imagine herself as a seabird, soaring in the infinite sky, overlooking the cities scattered across the plains.

Such weather used to be her favorite scene, but now feeling the same sea breeze, Henos suddenly felt a chill.

A layer of fine mist lingered on her fair skin.

Henos hesitated a bit, "Father, do you share the same thoughts as me?"

"Yes," the Great Clan Chief lightly nodded.

Henos unconsciously gripped the old man's lean hand, "Then, what should we do next?"

"What to do... I don't know either," said the Great Clan Chief, his voice dissipating like dandelions on the grass, disappearing into the air soon after.

...

...

...

Meanwhile, in the Blood Realm;

Su Heng was unaware of what exactly was happening in the West Continent at that moment, and even if he did know, he wouldn't spend much thought on it.

As Li Hongxiu had said before, this attempt was merely a casual move.

If it could bring some influence, or lay some hidden troubles,

That would naturally be best.

Even if it ultimately achieved nothing, it would merely mean the loss of some corpses.