Chapter 2421: The Affinity Hasn't Arrived

"Identity Token?"

Sheng Nuode'er took out once again that jade identity token from before with the words "Chunhua Palace Lecture" on it. This action instantly stirred Xia Duo's emotions; perhaps through the identity token, he could find clues to how the Order Force interferes with Reality.

But Sheng Nuode'er immediately put that identity token away again. "This won't do. It represents my status in the Eastern court; handing it to you might cause that world to leave me behind completely."

Just when Xia Duo thought the trade was surely going to fall through, Sheng Nuode'er took out another jade identity token. It was somewhat different from his "Chunhua Palace Lecture" one; the openwork pattern on it was a small, handsome mountain peak, and the text had been changed to—

Outsider Wanderer!

Seeing this, Xia Duo's eyes lit up instantly. At this moment, he didn't even notice his own tone becoming somewhat fervent. "Is Your Excellency Sheng Nuode'er prepared to trade this identity token to me?"

"No, more accurately, it is a gift for you."

Sheng Nuode'er smiled slightly and handed the jade tablet in his hand directly over. Xia Duo took it without knowing what he was thinking, and until he felt the warm, smooth texture of the jade tablet in his hand, he still found it somewhat unbelievable.

"A gift for me? Why?" Xia Duo asked subconsciously.

"This identity token isn't actually that precious. If one day you can go to the Eastern World, as long as you are willing, you could easily obtain one like this," Sheng Nuode'er said in a relaxed tone.

"This—"

Xia Duo understood that although the other party said it wasn't precious, because it was separated by a world he might never be able to reach, the value of this item had long since exceeded its inherent worth.

Not to mention that through this kind of identity token, it was possible to find clues to how the Order Force directly interferes with Reality; its value was immeasurable.

At this moment, Xia Duo felt the light jade tablet in his hand weighed a thousand pounds, but he couldn't bring himself to refuse, because in his heart, he truly wanted it.

After a moment of hesitation, he decided to face his true inner self, put the jade tablet away, and after thanking Sheng Nuode'er again, he began to ask about the situation related to this jade tablet.

"Actually, Asuosi, I would have told you even if you hadn't asked. This jade tablet represents the extraordinary power outside the Heavenly Dynasty Laws of the Mortal Plane in the Eastern World."

The reason Sheng Nuode'er decided to gift it was partly because he had a good impression of this fellow enthusiast from the Red Heart Alliance before him, and partly because of that Wisdom Lamp.

Giving the jade tablet to Xia Duo was perhaps also with the hope that Xia Duo could discover something from it, then apply it to the exploration plan, and subsequently find a stable way to travel to the Eastern World.

Then, Sheng Nuode'er explained further:

"In the Eastern World, most extraordinary power is born from the Heavenly Dynasty Laws, but there are also some who obtain it themselves through study and experience. Those who possess this extraordinary power outside the secular world are usually called 【Outsider Wanderer】, which is the meaning of the text on the jade tablet.

"In the Mortal Plane, Outsider Wanderers do not need to take orders from the imperial court. The mountain peak pattern on the jade tablet also illustrates the characteristics of this type of person; they usually reside outside the secular world, on mountains or in islands.

"Of course, if they enter the secular world, they still need to respect the Heavenly Dynasty Laws. If they are willing to work for the imperial court, they can likewise obtain the power of the Laws.

"But on another level, they also need to obey the Heavenly Realm order. In fact, this status is their most important identity. Because of this, Outsider Wanderers have become the only group in the Eastern World that can freely travel between the Heavenly Realm and the Mortal Plane.

"Although the Ancestral Gods can travel freely in terms of ability, they are actually restricted by the Heavenly Realm order and usually can only descend to the Mortal Plane at specific times."

What Sheng Nuode'er said once again supplemented Xia Duo's understanding of the Eastern World. Outsider Wanderer? Free travel between the Heavenly and Mortal realms? Various descriptions made him unable to help but feel fascinated.

"By the way, Your Excellency Sheng Nuode'er, you just mentioned that Outsider Wanderers can freely travel to the Heavenly Realm. Have you been there?"

"Regrettably, despite obtaining the Outsider Wanderer status recognized by the Eastern World, I have not been able to go to the Kingdom of the Five Sages in Guangmo Zhiye."

"Why? Do the Easterners not allow it? And where is Guangmo Zhiye? Does the Kingdom of the Five Sages refer to the kingdom established in the Heavenly Realm by the five Holy Ancestors?"

Xia Duo asked a series of questions. He of course knew that the Heavenly Realm was the Outer Planes; in fact, there was also the concept of a Heavenly Realm in the Main Plane, which was not exclusive to the Eastern World.

And Guangmo Zhiye sounded somewhat like the Boundless Wilderness where the Kingdom of Radiance of the Outer Planes was located, only he had never seen or heard that there was another incomparably prosperous Shenguo on the Boundless Wilderness.

Considering the spiritual and Faith characteristics of the Outer Planes, before he knew of the existence of such a Shenguo, not discovering it should be considered normal; after all, it was beyond his cognition, and even if it were right before his eyes, he might be completely unable to see it.

By the same token, the other party might also be unable to see him; of course, it was also possible they could see him, but simply paid no attention.

And now he already knew of the existence of the Kingdom of the Five Sages. Although the information was obtained from a Projection Plane, a real Kingdom of the Five Sages might not necessarily not exist in the real world.

After all, for something like a Shenguo, if it is powerful enough, its influence on history should be similar to some kind of great trend, an almost unshakable existence.

In that case, when he returns to the Main Plane and goes to the real Outer Planes, he might truly be able to use this as a clue to find the Kingdom of the Five Sages.

It is just that the Eastern World is so isolated; does the Kingdom of the Five Sages also follow the same principle of seclusion?

Regarding this, Sheng Nuode'er's answer perhaps provided a possibility, "It is not that the Easterners do not allow it, but that the path to the Kingdom of the Five Sages cannot be found, just as I can never go to the Eastern World again once I return to my own world."

"Then how do other Eastern wanderers travel to the Kingdom of the Five Sages in the Heavenly Realm?" Xia Duo asked curiously.

"They have portals leading directly to the Kingdom of the Five Sages in the mountains or on the islands where they reside for a long time. I have also tried to pass through there, but failed repeatedly. According to the Easterners' saying, it is fate that makes me unable to pass at that moment."

"Fate? Do the Easterners believe in fate?"

"They face the existence of fate squarely, but they like to challenge fate. However, I can feel that the fate they speak to me about and the fate they understand themselves are not the same existence."

Sheng Nuode'er is a Elf after all. Even though the semantics of Elvish are very rich, it is very difficult to perfectly accommodate the unique culture of other civilizations.

However, Xia Duo could roughly guess a certain truth. Perhaps the real meaning of what the Easterners said—"fate makes Sheng Nuode'er unable to go to the Kingdom of the Five Sages"—was not "fate" in the general sense blocking him, but the concept of "affinity" (yuanfen) unique to Eastern culture.

If the affinity hasn't arrived, naturally one cannot pass or see it.

Of course, it can also be understood simply and crudely as—the Kingdom of the Five Sages is unwilling to open to Sheng Nuode'er, at least it is not yet time for it to open.