Chapter 627: Two Methods

"This isn't something that needs to be kept secret." The Hermit Jia De Li Ya nodded in response, then narrated the fairy‑tale story she had interpreted.

"In the bountiful Black Forest live many wondrous creatures: some are cunning, ferocious wolves, some are towering savages, some are beautiful bats, and some are lizards adept at hiding themselves."

"One day, the silent strange bird discovered a great river flowing at the forest's edge. The bird had never seen a river in the forest and found it fascinating, so it exerted all its strength to dig a shallow trench through the woods, connecting it to the outside river, allowing the water to flow into the forest. From then on, the forest had river water that would carry away fallen leaves and irrigate the trees."

"The story is very brief, a nondescript page in a magazine; at first I paid it no mind. By chance, a crew member's conversation sparked a hint of inspiration, reminding me of an ancient legend I had heard from an elder. I interpreted it and drew power from the occult knowledge packed within the tale to create a peculiar magic."

It's a somewhat odd story, tinged with absurdity and strangeness, a bit unreasonable, yet on closer thought it feels like a subtle metaphor. The Magician Fo Er Si placed both hands on the table edge, listening attentively.

As a best‑selling novelist, she was very interested in this non‑mainstream storytelling style. After hearing the Hermit's account, she grew curious about the author of the tale—whether the writer was still a child with a hint of innocence or a wise elder with broad knowledge. The brief, straightforward narrative felt like a children's book; was it meant to lower the reading difficulty? Justice Ao Daili let her thoughts wander with curiosity; this was her first time hearing a story in this style.

"Strange story, like describing an absurd dream," Xing Xing Lun Na De said outright, then looked at the Hermit Jia De Li Ya and asked curiously:

"What legend or ancient history corresponds to this story?"

"It is related to the Immortal Phoenix Progenitor Ge Lei Jia Li," she paused briefly, Jia De Li Ya's gaze sweeping over the members of the Tarot gathering, then continued: "In some ancient legends, this ancient god opened a netherworld in a part of the spirit realm, but according to my elder's account, the netherworld was merely a by‑product of Ge Lei Jia Li's single act; what he truly intended was to create a peculiar river."

She had previously heard it while aboard the Li Ming Hao from the Mysterious Queen; it is said to be a discovery made by Emperor Luo Sai Er Da Di in an ancient ruin on the Southern Continent. "Ancient god Ge Lei Jia Li?" Under the Tarot gathering's eyes, everyone instinctively looked toward Sun Dai Lik sitting at the right side of the weathered long table.

Noticing the gazes, Dai Lik thought briefly, then shook his head: "I don't know; Silver City has few records on ancient gods, only mentioning that the Immortal Phoenix Progenitor once opened a netherworld."

Justice Ao Daili shifted her gaze to Lei Ke Dun sitting beside Dai Lik, and asked with a tone of certainty:

"Mr. White Tower, you should know, right?"

"I know," Lei Ke Dun nodded lightly, offering no further explanation.

He only knows, but is unwilling to share; rather, he hopes we, like the Hermit, will decipher the hidden meaning ourselves.

After a brief analysis, Ao Daili looked at Lei Ke Dun and smiled:

"Mr. White Tower, may I order some newspapers and magazines from Clock Tower Publishing?"

Lei Ke Dun nodded and said:

"Sure. In fact, before long you can buy them in Bei Ke Lan De; with the Night Church's support, books from the Southern Continent will soon spread to Lu En."

"I thought the relationship between the Southern Continent and the Kingdom was rather rigid now."

Ao Daili was slightly surprised, but quickly realized that the Kingdom and the Church are not the same.

As the discussion wound down, Sun Dai Lik finally seized the chance and asked:

"Everyone, to ascend to Priest of Light I must immerse my whole body in solid ice that doesn't melt, within pure darkness. However, in Silver City, exposing oneself to darkness is extremely dangerous—it could cause you to vanish outright or attract monster attacks."

Leonard opened his mouth, about to say that pure darkness is easy to create, but Sun's following words made him abruptly stop the words that were about to slip out: "Is the darkness of the Divine Abandoned Land really that dangerous?" He fell silent for two seconds; seeing no one answer Sun Dai Lik's question, Lei Ke Dun raised his hand, tapped the table, and held up two fingers, saying:

"There are two methods. First, voluntarily accept the contamination of darkness, allowing yourself to transform into a monster of the dark, protected by the authority of 'Fall'. You will not disappear in the darkness nor be attacked by other monsters; thus, all darkness becomes pure darkness."

"The second method is to create darkness that carries a temporary dream world, letting the spirit be protected by a 'Dream'. This can effectively slow the erosion of darkness, and the duration should be sufficient for you to complete an ascent."

"As for how to complete the ascent while asleep, your Silver City should have a way to achieve it."

Ke Lai En, his figure shrouded in dense gray mist, furrowed his brow as thoughts of the darkness with a temporary dream world floated through his mind one after another. It reminded him of the sea of Divine War Ruins Evolution; there, at night, if one cannot enter the dream world, one vanishes outright. What is the connection between the two? The same sea of Divine War Ruins Evolution also came to mind, recalling the Hermit Jia De Li Ya and the Chariot An De Sen, who had been there.

The former, deep in thought, glanced at Lei Ke Dun; the latter, decisively, spoke up and asked:

"So that's why, in that sea of Divine War Ruins Evolution, night causes disappearance if one cannot enter in time? What relation does that place have to the Divine Abandoned Land?"

"They both originate from the lingering divine power of the Night Goddess," Lei Ke Dun replied calmly. "And the monsters spawned from the darkness of the Divine Abandoned Land?" the Hermit Jia De Li Ya asked.

Lei Ke Dun glanced at Sun Dai Lik seated to his right, then said:

"That influence is the legacy of the creator worshipped in Silver City; he himself wields authority over shadows, fall, darkness, and corruption, representing the dangers of darkness and can cause darkness to spawn monsters."

Sun Dai Lik's expression was momentarily bewildered, but he quickly composed himself and asked earnestly: "Mr. White Tower, do you know how to create darkness that carries a temporary dream?"

Lei Ke Dun and the gaze of World simultaneously turned to Xing Xing Lun Na De, who paused, then cleared his throat lightly and spoke calmly:

"It's simple; I can forge a talisman for you, but I can't guarantee it will counter your darkness. Your description just now sounds very dangerous."

"Xing Xing" is a member of the Night Church, or perhaps once was. Justice Ao Daili, the Hermit Jia De Li Ya, the Hanged Man A'erjie, and the Chariot An De Sen all simultaneously entertained this thought.

Sun Dai Lik subconsciously turned his head toward the head of the weathered long table. "Mr. Fool" responded, "That should be fine, I suppose." At this thought, he looked at Xing Xing Lun Na De and thanked sincerely: "I understand, Mr. Xing Xing, thank you very much for your help."

Being thanked so formally made Lun Na De somewhat uneasy; he raised his hand, chuckled lightly, and replied: "It's not a particularly troublesome matter."

With the little Sun's issue resolved, the Tarot gathering's members continued to share other matters.

Time passed gradually until Fool Ke Lai En announced the end of today's Tarot meeting; after everyone rose and bowed, shafts of deep red light rose, carrying the group away from the space above the gray mist.

After the Tarot meeting ended, Ke Lai En prepared in the room a ritual to communicate with the Seven Lights of the spirit realm; he intended to seek assistance from Red Light Ai Er Mo Rui Ya, who possesses knowledge of spirit‑realm creatures and locations.

The arranged candles were lit, then herb powder and pure distillate were sprinkled into them, and a faint herbal fragrance gently filled the room.

"Red Light shouldn't mind that these ritual materials were cobbled together casually,"

He muttered softly, stepped back, clasped his hands, and whispered in ancient Hermes language:

"The never‑fading light of the spirit realm, embodiment of endless knowledge, the red of authority and will."

Having just finished the reverent chant, before he could state his request, Ke Lai En felt a vast will flow through the ritual's connection, seemingly ready to breach the spirit realm and descend into reality.

Sensing Red Light Ai Er Mo Rui Ya's movement, Ke Lai En calmly pulled a paper figure from his pocket and tossed it out.

A sudden wailing cold wind gusted among the central candles; the paper figure hovered in midair for a moment, deep red light burst from the flames onto it, cloaking it in a deep red robe, then it gently descended to the ground.

Ke Lai En bowed slightly toward the suddenly robed, now imposing paper figure and said:

"Good afternoon, Mr. Ai Er Mo Rui Ya."

The Red Light Ai Er Mo Rui Ya inhabiting the paper figure returned a very solemn bow and said:

"Good afternoon, Your Highness, congratulations; you have taken a great step toward returning to that supreme position."

Ke Lai En lightly nodded: "No need for such formality."

"Very well, Your Highness," he paused, seeming to notice Ke Lai En's lingering doubt, and continued: "Our Seven Lights are very close to the location of that gray mist, so we have also observed some changes above the mist, and have seen the aura gradually restoring on you,"

"Your Highness, is there any question you wish to ask me?"

(End of Chapter)