Chapter 191: Secret Covenant Ritual

After Dai Li Ke saw the face of the tall figure before him, he was first stunned, then, with a sudden, life‑saving joy, he spoke:

"Chief!"

The one standing before Dai Li Ke was the Chief of Silver City's Six‑person Council, a powerful demon‑hunter over a hundred years old, Colin Iliat!

Colin glanced at Dai Li Ke, gave a slight nod, and said:

"We have always known he was problematic, but to discover what purpose the one called A Meng truly has, and why those oddities exist, we deliberately did not eliminate him outright, instead confining him to the base of the Circular Tower."

"We often place extraordinary individuals showing signs of losing control next to him, converse with him, and see if we can coax abnormal changes, thereby obtaining the information we seek."

"Unfortunately, he has behaved perfectly normal, up until today."

"It turns out they deliberately arranged for me to live next to that former expedition squad captain," Dai Li Ke fell silent for a few seconds in sudden realization, then, after a slight hesitation, said:

"Perhaps I was drawn into that gathering again today; A Meng sensed the change in me, which is why the sudden mutation occurred."

"A Meng?" Colin narrowed his eyes slightly, then a complex dark‑green symbol appeared in each eye, his gaze fixed on Dai Li Ke as he said:

"Tell us what you know."

Dai Li Ke nodded lightly and recounted all the information he had obtained at the Tarot Meeting:

"A member of the gathering told me that the former expedition squad captain had his body, memories, even fate stolen by A Meng, and he has become one of A Meng's many avatars."

"He also said A Meng is the Angel King of the Thief's Path, amalgamating the vast majority of extraordinary traits of that path, possessing countless avatars."

At this point Dai Li Ke paused, hesitated slightly, and asked aloud:

"Chief, do you know what the Angel King is?"

Colin was silent for two seconds; when Dai Li Ke thought he would not answer, Colin spoke again:

"The legend says that beside the all‑knowing, all‑powerful Lord who created everything, there are eight Angel Kings."

Dai Li Ke was stunned; he hadn't expected the Angel King to mean this, and then recalled that at the Tarot Meeting, Mr. White Tower had said A Meng is a descendant of the Ancient Sun God, which now seemed logical.

"What are you thinking?" Colin noticed Dai Li Ke's distraction and asked aloud.

Dai Li Ke did not conceal anything and said directly:

"A Meng is a child of the Ancient Sun God, and the Ancient Sun God is the Lord we worship who created everything."

"However, the member who gave me the information also warned that A Meng will not favor us merely because Silver City worships the Ancient Sun God."

Colin's voice, tinged with some emotion, said:

"I understand; regarding your situation I've already reached a consensus with several elders."

"You may return; from now on your life will return to normal, though necessary monitoring is indispensable."

Dai Li Ke stared blankly and said, "Alright."

He had previously even thought he would, like that former expedition squad captain, be confined at the base of the Circular Tower for decades.

Colin turned toward the room, picked up the pure‑white, razor‑sharp straight sword, and repeatedly lifted it.

Dai Li Ke took a deep breath and walked down the corridor toward the exit.

Strolling back home and closing the door, he carefully surveyed his surroundings for a while, but found no trace of the so‑called monitor.

Perhaps they haven't arrived yet, or perhaps he is hiding better.

Dai Li Ke mused for a moment, then sat on the edge of the bed and softly recited Mr. Fool's honored name:

"O Fool beyond this era, you are the mysterious ruler above the Gray Mist, you are the yellow‑black king who commands good fortune."

"I just experienced something terrible, being imprisoned next to me."

Dai Li Ke recounted the entire previous incident to Mr. Fool, and his tense nerves finally eased.

Fatigue followed, so he simply lay down and soon slipped into sleep.

In the quiet, dim room, flashes of lightning intermittently illuminated everything, then vanished into darkness.

In his sleep, Dai Li Ke's right index finger twitched on its own, leisurely tapping the bed.

Bei Ke Lan De, the house at 15 Mingsike Jie, was pondering the magician's role guidelines and how to later digest the magical elixir of Ke Lai En, when an illusory layered plea suddenly rang in his ears.

Ke Lai En rose, re‑locked the door, walked back four steps, and arrived above the Gray Mist.

Within the towering ancient palace above the Gray Mist, Ke Lai En sat on the high‑backed chair belonging to the Fool, extended his right hand, let his spirit flow, and touched the deep‑red star representing the Little Sun.

In an instant, the pleading voice clarified, and Ke Lai En clearly heard the Little Sun's narration.

Unaware that the Little Sun had already been released from the Circular Tower's base by Silver City's Chief, Ke Lai En's attention was wholly drawn to A Meng's movements.

He did not think A Meng would be eliminated so easily.

His thoughts swirling, Ke Lai En gazed at the Little Sun's pleading scene, and his eyes suddenly froze mid‑air.

On the barely discernible Little Sun, a transparent, illusory figure coiled!

It had a right hand and left foot, yet twisted around the Little Sun like a python, its head tucked behind the Little Sun's head!

In the hazy vision, Ke Lai En could vaguely see the figure clad in a black classic robe, wearing a pointed soft hat, with a single crystal lens perched on its face.

The Little Sun was completely unaware of all this on its own body.

Ke Lai En silently observed the scene, and he vaguely understood the other's purpose:

Residing within the Little Sun's spirit, awaiting the next Tarot Meeting summons, it can silently infiltrate this Gray Mist region.

Indeed, it came for this space above the Gray Mist; this is what A Er called, "Are we not absolutely sure it won't emerge easily?" It had already acted right after the Tarot Meeting ended.

Ke Lai En took a deep breath, striving to calm himself.

At this moment, the ultimate goal is to find a solution; before the next Tarot Meeting begins, A Meng parasitizing the Little Sun must be eradicated.

Ke Lai En's gaze swept over the cluttered pile of items, contemplating what could be used.

A Er had said that each of A Meng's avatars possesses an Angelic stature; to purge the avatar inhabiting the Little Sun, one must have something or an aura of equally high stature.

The first name that came to Ke Lai En was Lei Ke Dun; he knew Lei Ke Dun possessed a Sage trait, which is an Angel‑level attribute.

"No, that's not possible; A Er's condition is poor, we can't let him casually use that Sage trait, and I also lack a suitable reason."

Ke Lai En shook his head slightly, keeping Lei Ke Dun as a backup option.

Looking around, pondering briefly, Ke Lai En focused his gaze on the space source fortress above the gray mist, which must possess something of equally high rank; if he could wrench the fortress's power.

Ke Lai En recalled the earlier sacrifice and bestowal rituals; following that line of thought, he turned his attention to the secret book.

Ke Lai En vaguely remembered that among the things he had read were many Mysterious Secret rituals praying to the primal moon for aid.

Redirecting the ritual toward the Fool might resolve the current problem.

Ke Lai En pulled the secret book from the pile of junk, flipped through it rapidly, and soon paused at a secret covenant ritual titled "Blood Moon Rite."

Ke Lai En silently read through the entire "Blood Moon Rite" procedure, then materialized paper and pen and began revising it; he intended to reshape the "Blood Moon Rite" into a secret covenant ritual belonging to the Fool.

After a busy spell, Ke Lai En finally fashioned a secret covenant ritual aimed at the Fool, though he still did not know whether it would have any effect.

After checking several times and confirming no errors, Ke Lai En extended his spirituality, lowered his voice, and responded to Xiao Taiyang's prayer.

"I understand."

"I have a task for you, to test whether this ritual works."

In Bai Yin Cheng, Xiao Taiyang Dai Li Ke suddenly awoke from his dream; boundless gray mist surged before his eyes, and the ethereal, lofty voice of Mr. Fool echoed in his ears.

After listening to Mr. Fool's response, Dai Li Ke energetically rolled over and sat up, retrieving monster hide, herbs, and other materials.

He swiftly set up a ritual, grabbed the Hurricane Axe, and cut a slash into his own arm.

Silently using his own blood as ink, he drew a mysterious symbol corresponding to the Fool on the uneven monster hide.

After arranging the ritual, he briefly tended to the wound on his hand.

Gazing at the flickering candlelight, Dai Li Ke closed his eyes, slightly bowed his head, and began chanting Mr. Fool's honored name in Giant Tongue:

"The Fool beyond this age, the mysterious ruler above the gray mist, the yellow‑black king who holds good fortune."

As his spirituality slowly flowed, Dai Li Ke, already in meditation, felt his spirit drift toward the infinite heights, contacting the gray‑white mist and a hidden great presence.

Above the gray mist, Ke Lai En sat calmly in a high‑back chair belonging to the Fool, awaiting Xiao Taiyang's secret covenant ritual.

Suddenly, he felt the entire space gently tremble, and the seemingly still gray‑white mist began to flow noticeably!

The deep‑red star corresponding to the sun flashed brilliantly in an instant, spreading an illusory radiance like a tide.

These lights coalesced, forming a vague silhouette of Dai Li Ke, who assumed a praying posture, eyes closed, head bowed, awaiting a slight alignment with the great presence.

Around Xiao Taiyang's body, a transparent, snake‑like figure coiled tightly, already lifting its head, gazing toward the infinite heights.

The single crystal lens on its face flashed a faint glimmer, as if seeking a subtle, hidden connection!

(End of Chapter)