Chapter 72:

The words on the paper were numerous, written densely, line after line.

It was a carefully constructed guide for Krisha’s life—outlining her growth, her path forward, and every aspect of her existence, down to food, clothing, and shelter.

Each crooked word and uneven line revealed how Xu Xi, in his final moments, struggled to write. The pressure of the gods, the final cries of a failing mortal body, made it almost impossible for him to pen even a single coherent thought.

Yet, even in that fragile state, he had written these words. His thoughts were consumed by concern for Krisha’s future, his love and care lighting a path for her even after his death.

“Master…”

Krisha’s trembling fingertips traced the ink, brushing over every letter. It was as though she could feel the lingering warmth of her master, the “sun” that had illuminated her life.

Tick.

Tick.

The faint sound of her tears landing on the paper echoed in the quiet study.

Krisha stood motionless, clutching the sheets. Her tears fell freely, yet she made no sound, her sorrow consuming her in silence.

Outside, the summer sun poured through the windows, its warmth spreading over the trees and filling the world with light. Birds chirped in the distance, insects buzzed—a serene harmony of life.

But Krisha remained in the study, engulfed in her grief.

Her eyes were vacant, and the light in them had dimmed. Tears glistened like crystals, reflecting the sorrow etched in her heart.

“I… I don’t deserve this…”

Her voice trembled as she spoke, her hands gripping the papers tightly.

“You gave me the meaning of my existence… That should have been enough…”

“I don’t deserve more…”

Krisha’s words hung in the air, laden with despair. Her grief seemed to envelop the room, an unspoken pain that resonated with the soul.

The witch’s tears fell silently, her body trembling as she reflected on her own perceived inadequacies. She felt utterly unworthy of the love and care Xu Xi had shown her.

She had been powerless, unable to stop his passing. She had no emotions, offering him only a false smile in his final moments. She believed she had failed him, over and over again.

Her pale, trembling hands clutched the pages tightly as her knees buckled under the weight of her despair.

“I’m so weak…”

Her heart ached with regret as she read each word Xu Xi had left behind. Even with his life slipping away, he had thought of her, crafting a future for her in painstaking detail.

Krisha wanted nothing more than to succumb to the darkness, to remain still forever.

But she couldn’t.

Her master wouldn’t have wanted that.

He had believed in her, encouraged her, and hoped she would soar beyond the boundaries of the world.

So, Krisha stood up.

Despite the crushing weight of sorrow, she straightened her back and resolved to follow his instructions. She would live, as he had wished.

But what was the meaning of this life?

The witch didn’t know.

It wasn’t until her tear-filled eyes landed on the word “god” in his notes that her gaze hardened.

“I want to…”

Her voice trembled.

“I want to do something for my master…”

“Even if it means opposing the gods.”

In the haunting silence of the study, Krisha clutched the ocean-blue necklace around her neck. Her fingers caressed it one last time before slipping it into her space ring.

Her wand appeared in her hand.

The creak of the courtyard door echoed sharply as she pushed it open. The rusty bolt groaned, its sound grating in the otherwise still air.

Krisha stepped outside.

The bright sun bathed her in light, but she felt only cold. Her steps faltered, her mind clouded with a haze of grief.

She didn’t notice the uneven ground beneath her feet and stumbled.

For a moment, she lay motionless. Then, slowly, she pressed her palms against the earth, forcing herself to rise.

From now on, no one would help her stand.

She had to do it herself.

The noon sun blazed fiercely, casting light and shadow in intricate patterns on the ground. Rays of sunlight filtered through the canopy above, falling on Krisha’s slender shoulders as though silently bearing witness to her journey.

From that day forward, the witch became an immortal, wandering monster.

She left the courtyard.

She left what was no longer her “home.”

No one knew where Krisha went. Years passed, and the house remained untouched. Curious villagers eventually climbed over the walls, only to find dust and silence.

The Magician Association conducted investigations but found nothing. All of Xu Xi’s belongings, from manuscripts to artifacts, had been taken by Krisha.

Only the empty house remained, its doors and windows creaking in the wind.

…

Thirty years later.

Under the gods’ relentless command, their churches continued searching for Xu Xi’s traces. They sought the Holy Domain Magister who might ascend to godhood.

But one fateful night, an event shocked the magical world.

The entire northern region’s divine churches were obliterated.

Not merely destroyed—annihilated.

In a single moment, a terrifying power descended, obliterating the faith of the gods.

The gods descended in rage, their fury shaking the heavens.

“Who dares?!”

“Disrespect to the gods is a death sentence!”

“Wait… This power… Could they have ignited the divine fire?!”

Even though these were not their true forms, the gods’ incarnations were still incomparably powerful.

But even with their strength, they could not defeat Krisha.

The gods and the witch clashed, their battle shaking the heavens. When the smoke cleared, neither side had triumphed. Krisha vanished without a trace.

This confrontation sparked a crisis of faith.

Countless mortals began worshipping the witch as the true god, further enraging the deities.

…

Another twenty years passed.

Krisha returned.

Standing high in the sky, she struck the void with her wand. Elemental magic roared to life, shaking the heavens and earth.

With a single blow, she obliterated the foundations of the gods’ power.

No church was spared.

Panic gripped the world.

The gods themselves quaked with fear.

“She’ll come for us next!”

“Run! We must escape!”

Even the gods, who had once seemed invincible, trembled at the witch’s power. Some sought refuge in other planes, while others desperately plotted their escape.

But it was too late.

The elements roared.

The heavens themselves were sealed, trapping the gods within their own domain.