Chapter 2498: Only the Dead Can Keep Secrets

The Saintess looked him over. "You don't look as critically injured as you did a moment ago."

Just a moment before, Moghade had barely saved his life from the Demon Lord by using the Flesh Puppet technique. However, employing this technique came at a great cost, as his condition then clearly showed. Otherwise, the Lord of Slaughter wouldn't have believed him so easily. Yet now, Moghade appeared completely normal, showing no signs of injury.

Moghade smiled faintly. "As the former Illicit King, I always have a few trump cards up my sleeve."

"Is that so?" The Saintess chuckled, her usually gentle smile now tinged with coldness. "Just now, I heard Zu'an wondering where the Chronicler of Ages had gone. Now I realize, isn't he right here with us?"

Moghade's expression subtly changed. "Saintess, you jest. Surely you're not suspecting me of being that Chronicler of Ages? I am Moghade. Surely the Young Lady and Master wouldn't fail to recognize me."

"The one who risked his life to hold back the Demon Lord earlier was likely the real Moghade, but..." The Saintess paused intentionally, her scrutinizing gaze fixed on him. "However, the one who appeared just before we entered may not be."

Moghade chuckled awkwardly. "With Master's power, how could he not tell the difference?"

"Never mind whether the Lord of Slaughter knew of the Chronicler of Ages' existence; even if he did, he and Sarame at the time hoped Moghade would escape safely. You simply exploited their subconscious, then concocted some 'flesh puppet' excuse, making those present believe the legitimacy of your appearance, allowing you to openly infiltrate among us as Moghade."

The Saintess watched him coldly. "I was fooled by you at first too. It wasn't until Zu'an mentioned the Chronicler of Ages just now that I realized there was something wrong with your appearance."

At this, Moghade sighed, his entire form began to distort, finally reverting to his original shape. He was cloaked in a voluminous black robe, his face particularly hidden in the shadows of the hood. "Once our existence's legitimacy is questioned, our disguise can no longer hold. This time was too rushed; we couldn't make full preparations."

The Saintess understood his meaning. If the Lord of Slaughter hadn't been about to lead them through the portal, he wouldn't have appeared so hastily. At that moment, the only identity he could fake was Moghade, who had just fallen defending the rear. After all, none of the four present had actually witnessed Moghade's death, so he had enough room to manipulate the situation. The subsequent excuse of the flesh puppet was also plausible, successfully deceiving everyone. However plausible, the entire matter couldn't withstand close scrutiny.

"Why aren't you with the Lord of Slaughter, recording events? What are you doing here?" the Saintess asked coldly.

She recalled Zu'an mentioning that the Chronicler of Ages only followed the "protagonists of the world." Previously, both the Lord of Slaughter and the Demon Lord significantly surpassed others in their importance and influence on the world, which was why the Chronicler of Ages had left Zu'an's group to record major events alongside them. It was understandable that he wasn't with the Demon Lord now; he must be here to record the legendary Heavenly Court. But not continuing to follow the Lord of Slaughter, and instead secretly trailing her and Zu'an, was quite suspicious.

"Because I've only just realized that the one with the most flourishing destiny and the deepest entanglement with this world's timeline is not the Demon Lord, nor the Lord of Slaughter, nor even Zu'an," the Chronicler of Ages said, looking at the Saintess with fervent eyes. "It's you!"

Upon hearing his words, the Saintess's expression immediately grew colder.

The Chronicler of Ages took out a book and quickly flipped through it. "According to historical records, you are the Young Lady of the Yumon family. Yet, the Yumon family is merely a small clan on the fringes of the demon race. How could they possibly cultivate someone as exceptional as you? Historically, records of you appear abruptly. When the entire demon race was on the verge of collapse, you suddenly emerged, leading the demon race to an incredible reversal, even ultimately sealing the Lord of Slaughter. I truly cannot fathom how you managed to do it."

"I don't know what you mean by 'history' or 'not history'," the Saintess said coldly. "All I know is that I did everything possible to lead the demon race in resisting foreign invaders. With Brother Zu's arrival this time, perhaps it was his assistance that allowed us to accomplish that."

"Are you trying to say you are Miss Xie, who traveled through time to this era?" The Chronicler of Ages smiled. "Actually, I initially thought so too. I even believed it was Zu'an and you working together, perhaps even uniting with the Demon Lord, who sealed the Lord of Slaughter. But after seeing you and interacting closely, I realized how incredibly wrong everything was."

A faint smile appeared on the Saintess's face. "Oh, what exactly was so incredibly wrong?"

"Because I discovered your entanglement with this world's timeline far surpasses anyone else's. That Miss Xie absolutely does not possess such ability," the Chronicler of Ages closed the book in his hand. "I found no records of you in historical texts before you became the Saintess. So, who... exactly are you?"

"You've been following us for so long just to say these pointless things?" The Saintess's expression remained calm, as if what she heard had no relevance to her.

"I didn't intend to reveal myself. We, Chroniclers of Ages, are supposed to quietly remain hidden behind everyone, recording all major event nodes that occur in the world. But you insisted on calling me out," the Chronicler of Ages smiled. "Since that's the case, I'll just ask you directly face-to-face."

"Oh, aren't you afraid of being silenced?" The Saintess raised an eyebrow.

The Chronicler of Ages shook his head slightly. "Saintess, don't be alarmed. I mean no harm. We Chroniclers of Ages merely record history; we never participate in it, so we won't reveal your identity."

"Is that so? But I recall you personally intervened in the timeline before, in my demon world's underground city," the Saintess said, staring at him coldly, unconvinced by his words.

"Oh, you actually have Miss Xie's memories too? That's strange..." The Chronicler of Ages scratched his head with his pen. "Could it be body snatching? But it doesn't seem like it... Right, it's that..."

The Saintess slowly raised her hand. "It seems only dead people can keep secrets."

Seeing that she seemed intent on acting, a hint of mockery appeared at the corner of the Chronicler of Ages' mouth. "Given that you seem about to do something ill-advised, I feel obliged to kindly remind you: We Chroniclers of Ages traverse various times and spaces, entering all sorts of worlds. We long ago abandoned the physical body, such a primitive existence. In a sense, we are now immortal and indestructible, so you simply cannot kill me."

"Oh? Is that so..." The Saintess stopped speaking. A ball of light suddenly glowed in her palm, instantly becoming more brilliant and dazzling than the sun. Following this, an omnipresent light enveloped the Chronicler of Ages.

The Chronicler of Ages' body began to disappear. His voice, filled with terror, emanated from within the light orb: "How is this possible? You can actually harm me! This power... I know who you are. You are..."

He didn't finish his sentence before his entire being completely turned to dust.