Chapter 552: Chernobyl

In the God‑abandoned Land, within the almost completely collapsed temple, green vines hung down, then quickly turned transparent until they vanished.

During this process, Lei Kedun's figure silently emerged.

He gently rubbed his fingers, and specks of golden starlight spread, bursting into pure, clear rays that illuminated every corner, dispelling the surrounding darkness and leaving no shadow.

In the light, a creature with bat wings, a childlike human body, and gray‑black short hair clinging to its skin appeared, and was swiftly melted by the light into droplets of transparent liquid.

Having eliminated the monster hidden in the darkness, he walked straight toward the half‑collapsed altar ahead; above the altar lay a statue toppled onto a cross.

As he approached, the statue seemed to come alive, exuding a deep, decadently ominous aura; its surface slowly secreted a black, viscous liquid that spread like a shrouding shadow.

In the pure, clear light, the sticky black liquid on the statue kept spreading outward, forming a pitch‑black, lightless shadow curtain; deep within the curtain, an eye stared at everything with extreme madness.

In Lei Kedun's pale‑blue eyes flickered a deep, faint violet glow; he radiated an unusually holy, wise presence, yet appeared rather indifferent, without warmth.

He stood there, gazing at the eye deep in the shadow; after two silent seconds, he suddenly spoke:

"It seems your condition has improved."

From the depths of the shadow, the True Creator's detached, rational voice said:

"No wonder He Labogen cooperated with you."

"The seal left by the Seven Gods remains; I cannot leave this continent, and I cannot intervene in your reclaiming the authority and traits on Steam."

Lei Kedun nodded calmly, then said:

"I understand. The matter I seek your help with is another issue."

"I can help you recover the authority of the 'Sun'; in exchange, I need at least one 'Pure White Angel' trait."

"Go find Sasilier." The True Creator's reply was concise.

As the words fell, the viscous black liquid flowing from the statue quickly retracted, vanishing into the light like an intangible shadow.

"You didn't let me retrieve the first defiled stone tablet of the Giant King's Court for Him; were you guarding against me, fearing I'd simply take that tablet away or seal it?"

"The third 'Knowledge Emperor' trait may require asking the Goddess of Night; I originally thought it was hidden by the 'Hidden Sage' or lost in the God‑abandoned Land, but I sense no 'Knowledge Emperor' trait here—it must have been deliberately concealed."

"No concealment can evade the 'Mother of Secrets'; perhaps only He has a clue."

While muttering to himself, he turned toward the temple's exit; during this, his body gradually became ethereal, breaking into countless streams of tangled knowledge that plunged into the depths of the spirit realm, flowing forward like a torrent.

He had originally planned to gather a group of believers from the remaining city‑states of the God‑abandoned Land, but now must abandon that plan and shift the focus of his faith to missionary work on the Southern Continent.

In the spirit realm, the torrent of light composed of pure, tangled information suddenly halted, and Lei Kedun reconstituted his body from the chaotic pure knowledge.

He gazed beyond the spirit realm to a city whose style differed completely from both the Northern and Southern continents—a grand metropolis built of steel rebar and concrete.

Although the city has become decayed and collapsed over the ages, its distinctive features still allow instant recognition of its era.

In the depths of the spirit realm, Lei Kedun subconsciously stepped out, entering the sprawling gray‑white city.

The air reeked of rust and sand dust, unpleasant, yet he breathed deeply, as if something deep in his soul was stirring.

Chernobyl. The former traveler ultimately left something behind, even though this is not his home, merely a once‑similar place.

Speaking of it, what am I now—a ultimate patchwork monster, an unnamed traveler, Lei Kedun Sos of Fei Neibo Te, whose 'Knowledge Wilderness' persona 'God of Knowledge and Wisdom' seems to be deliberately strengthening my perception beyond the 'Knowledge Wilderness' persona.

If this identity were reclaimed by the 'Knowledge Wilderness' but it could not digest, or refused to digest this surplus identity perception, would it strip away another identity, allowing me to, in a sense, be reborn? While pondering, a flash appeared before his eyes, and A Meng, dressed in a white‑coat‑like garment, materialized before him.

A Meng's eyes flashed with curiosity, yet his tone remained calm as he asked, "What are you thinking? I can't steal your thoughts anymore?"

Lei Kedun, curious about A Meng's attire, said:

"The 'Sage' has already grasped a certain 'Secrecy'; though not as much as the 'Servant of Secrets', it is still sufficient to conceal one's inner voice."

A Meng lifted his hand, pinched the monocle over his right eye, and curved his mouth as he said:

"As a qualified 'Thief', I can not only steal others' thoughts, but also read from your recent facial expression and demeanor that you know this place, know this city's past; you were reminiscing? 'I'm curious what's worth remembering here. It's just an ordinary city, with no mystery.'"

Lei Kedun walked straight past A Meng, moving through the ruined streets, and said, "You should ask your father that question."

After a two‑second pause, he added:

"Some things can only be understood by someone who possesses normal humanity."

A Meng's expression did not change; his figure flickered briefly, reappearing before Lei Kedun with a smile, saying, "Normal humanity? I feel my humanity is now more abundant than yours."

Lei Kedun gave him a faint glance and said:

"You're a bit punch‑worthy now, fitting for a brat raised by Meidiqi."

"Is that so? I suddenly feel like punching you too." As he spoke, A Meng lifted his hand, removed the monocle from his right eye, and pinched it in his hand.

In the surrounding void, successive wisps of pale white light rose, converging toward the monocle in his hand.

During this, his aura continuously rose, and within moments reached the level of Sequence Two.

Lei Kedun, somewhat surprised, watched A Meng's aura settle, and calmly said:

"It seems you were prepared; how did you know I would come here?"

A Meng put the monocle back on, then, as if showcasing his work, tilted his chin slightly and said:

"I didn't know you'd come here; I was merely betting on a possibility."

"This is where my father emerged; I think this place holds extraordinary significance for him and for those similar to him."

"After you evaded me using the lingering aura and divine power of night and storm, I dispatched several avatars here."

Lei Kedun smiled lightly and nodded, not overly concerned about falling into A Meng's trap; with the change in sequence and stature, A Meng could hardly steal anything significant from him now, unless his true self arrived.

After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly asked, "Do you know the whereabouts of the three 'Knowledge Emperor' traits?"

A Meng raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing, "You're looking for the third 'Knowledge Emperor' trait? I can give you a hint, but what will you offer in exchange?"

"How can I be sure you truly know anything?"

In Lei Kedun's eyes a deep, faint violet hue surfaced as he locked gazes with the monocle‑wearing A Meng.

A Meng lifted his hand, attempting to grasp forward, and calmly said, "You can take a gamble; perhaps I won't deceive you on this matter."

Lei Kedun frowned slightly; the next moment he felt he had lost something—some knowledge.

So easily stealing my extraordinary ability—he's lucky, huh. While sighing inwardly, his body instantly became illusory, breaking into countless streams of tangled knowledge that roamed the ruined city.

After a moment, his silhouette reappeared on a largely collapsed gray‑white concrete wall.

A Meng followed closely behind, also appearing on the high wall; behind him, patches of pure white, illusory feathers materialized, spreading outward to form a pair of pure white wings.

Beneath the pure white wings were a series of Time Worms each bearing twelve‑segment floral patterns, forming an ancient, mottled twelve‑segment clock.

The surrounding ruined city instantly changed; many illusory, twelve‑linked Time Worm light‑shadows fluttered rapidly, wandering silently, subtly influencing the environment and creating conditions more favorable to the Time Worms.

This is the "Mysterious Reappearance" that A Meng just stole from Lei Keton, which can cause the user to manifest the mythic creature form of the "Ugly Duckling".

After becoming a Sage, the "Mysterious Reappearance" he mastered also changed; in the mythic creature form, the "Ugly Duckling" can make the surrounding environment more suitable for itself.

Lei Keton smiled at A Meng, who was displaying a mythic creature form before him, his light‑blue eyes tinged with a deep shade of pale violet.

He stared unblinkingly at A Meng's mythic creature form, analyzing and recording the corresponding knowledge.

As this process progressed, his appearance, demeanor, and temperament changed rapidly, becoming somewhat akin to A Meng, as if he had become a true "Fate Trojan Horse".

(End of chapter)