Chapter 669: The World Tree's Game (Part 1)

The second drop of the "Eternal Dark River" water fell onto the gray‑white crystal sphere, quickly soaking into it.

Crack— Crack— on the surface of the gray‑white crystal sphere, fine fissures appeared, and pale white mist continuously surged out, threading its way into Azuk's body and merging with his soul.

Leikdun watched silently for a while, the pale blue light in his eyes coalescing into one complex, illusory symbol after another, and a massive torrent of living knowledge surged into the other half of Azuk's soul.

Under his control, these activated pieces of knowledge rapidly dissolved the memories of the other half of Azuk's soul, erasing the crazy, suppressed parts, sealing the remainder; after Azuk merged that half of his soul, he would digest them piece by piece.

During the deep slumber induced by the "Eternal Dark River" water, Azuk's own consciousness and the other half of his soul merged without much resistance, and the discord between the torn soul fragments was mended by the river's emanating aura.

Having finished, Leikdun snapped his fingers, and pure, clear starlight materialized out of nowhere, filling the entire basement.

Bathed in the starlight, Azuk's eyelids fluttered, gradually waking from the slumber.

After a brief bewilderment, Azuk's mind quickly cleared; he rose from the coffin and looked at Leikdun and Kelei En standing nearby.

Frowning silently for a moment, and after digesting the memories in his mind, he smiled warmly and said:

"Long time no see, Kelei En, and Mr. Tai En Si, you already seem to be the 'Knowledge Emperor.'"

Having merged the other half of his soul, his gentle features gained a sharper edge, and the ever‑present world‑worn look in his eyes acquired a cold indifference, as if he were straining to suppress many emotions and madness.

Azuk closed his eyes, exhaled a long breath, then stepped out of the coffin, looked at Kelei En, and gently nodded: "I need some time to adjust to the suppressed madness in the other half of my soul and to sort out the memories that belong to me. After a while, I'll come find you again."

Kelei En nodded, intending to pull a "Yesterday Reappearance" talisman from his pocket, which could let Mr. Azuk retrieve memories and emotions directly from his past self, better stabilizing his condition.

But his hand passed straight through his own body, and at that moment he remembered that he had come over only as a spirit and was not carrying the talisman.

He had to halt the motion and looked at Azuk, saying:

"Mr. Azuk, I have crafted two 'Yesterday Reappearance' talismans; they can let you borrow power and memories from your past self. After I return, I'll have a messenger deliver one to you."

"Hmm, thank you for the trouble."

Azuk rubbed his forehead with one hand and gave a heavy nod in response.

Kelei En turned his head toward Leikdun and whispered, "Let's leave first."

Leikdun nodded, placed a hand on Kelei En's shoulder, helped him transform into a torrent of information that surged swiftly into the spirit realm, raced toward the gray mist above the spirit realm, and returned to the magnificent ancient palace perched atop that mist.

After a brief exchange, Leikdun left the gray mist and awoke on the recliner on the second floor of the manor.

At dusk, layered illusory prayers suddenly echoed in his ears.

That fast—who knows who entered the immersive game experience first? He sighed inwardly, patted Tu Ba Ge lying nearby, and shook it awake from its dream: "We can play the game today; remember to invite Anu and those two cats as well."

"Hmm, is it finally time? I'm going right now."

Tu Ba Ge groggily woke, rubbing its eyes, then leapt swiftly out the window and dashed toward the garden behind the manor.

After seeing off Tu Ba Ge, he finally responded to the prayer directed at him; relying on the connection forged by the ritual, he projected his consciousness outward.

In the Beikelaide Queen District, inside the Hall family villa, Ao Daili watched the quietly burning candle before her with a hint of unease.

While she was still pondering what response she would receive, the amber flame suddenly took on a ghostly blue hue; the room's temperature dropped several degrees, the light dimmed, a whimpering wind hissed but not violently, merely stirring her skirt and the room's hanging ornaments.

Pure starlight spilled from the ghostly blue flame, dot by dot, darting quickly, outlining a pair of eyelash‑less eyes filled with countless brilliant stars, cold and indifferent.

Those eyes seemed alive; they scanned Ao Daili up and down for a while, then shattered, turning into specks of starlight that entered the palm of her right hand, forming a pattern of an eye surrounded by a galaxy of stars.

"…What is this?" Ao Daili hesitated; information about the usage and cautions of this seal appeared in her mind.

It resembled a meticulous product manual; Mr. Bai Ta is truly rigid in this regard—perhaps it's a habit formed by constantly ingesting information.

As thoughts drifted, she concluded the ritual, then moved the unused materials to her dressing mirror, and, following the knowledge in her mind, used the mirror as a conduit to summon a passage that connects to the World Tree.

When the candle was lit again, she deftly dripped essential oil and hydrosol, scattered some herbal powder, then sat before the dressing mirror and whispered in Gu He Mi Si: "Insightful sage of the world, great erudite, you are the essence of knowledge, the source of mysteries, the brilliance of civilization, the keeper of truth. I pray to you in the name of 'Justice';"

I beseech your gaze;

I pray that a passage into the World Tree may descend here."

As she chanted the incantation, she was astonished to see the dressing mirror before her become kaleidoscopic, with illusory rushes of water sounds at her ears, as if a slow‑flowing river existed inside the mirror.

"The passage into the World Tree is a river?"

She let out a surprised sigh, glanced toward her bedroom door; Su Xi was on guard, so no one would disturb her now, and even if someone came, it would be cleverly deflected.

Gathering her thoughts, Ao Daili pressed the right palm bearing the eye‑shaped seal against the mirror; in a brief trance she saw herself enveloped by a brilliant rainbow, moving swiftly toward some direction.

The process didn't last long; as the colored light curtain fell, Ao Daili realized the surroundings had changed—not her bedroom, but a magnificent fountain plaza carved from a single slab of gray‑white marble.

At the plaza's center, within a water curtain woven by the fountain streams, stood a sculpture identical to the seal on her right palm.

The sculpture rose dozens of meters high, seemingly inlaid with countless sand‑like gems that, refracting the light, glittered as if containing an entire radiant galaxy.

Leikdun's figure silently materialized before her; after nodding in greeting, he smiled and said:

"Good evening, Miss 'Justice', you are the first person to experience this today."

"The first rank always comes with certain privileges."

As his words ended, he snapped his fingers; brilliant starlight brushed Ao Daili, instantly altering her appearance: golden hair braided into a ponytail that looped from her left shoulder to the front, a crystal‑clear cape, an ornate long dress, crystal shoes, sheer gloves—so exquisitely beautiful she resembled the master craftsman's finest doll.

"Your status is princess; of course, as the first entrant, you may choose other identities—that's your privilege."

While speaking, Leikdun swept his hand through the void before him; card‑sized papers depicting various creatures, outfits and identities materialized, circling Ao Daili and moving continuously, allowing her to pick freely.

Ao Daili watched the floating identity cards and, curious, asked, "Knight, postman, fisherman, sheriff, prince, witch, even dragon, hound, giant?"

"Hmm, here can identities be chosen at will? Or, can't we use our original identity?"

"These are the rules of this place; only by integrating into this world can you interact here, and it also serves as protection for everyone."

Leikdun lightly nodded in response and raised his hand to point at the edge of the plaza.

Instinctively, Ao Daili glanced sideways and saw a three‑to‑four‑meter‑tall, somewhat rounded massive machine, with two adorable kittens perched on top as if piloting it.

In midair, a strange bird whose body was cloaked in pale flames and mysterious patterned feathers hovered and descended.

On the other side, a rabbit wearing a crown, a red cape, and wielding a scepter set with a massive gem stepped out of the void.

It was dressed like an arrogant king, chin lifted, striding forward; behind it, a rabbit dressed as a minister, guard, and servant followed.

Ao Daili examined the scene with great amazement and remarked:

"I thought few would choose non‑human beings to experience."

"Perhaps they were never human to begin with."

Leikedun chuckled lightly and replied; as he spoke, layered illusory prayers echoed again in his ears, somewhat noisy, as if several people were whispering at once beside him.

How could someone still be praying at the same time? While thinking, he gave Audrey a slight nod; then his body became illusory and transparent, vanishing directly from the square.

Feeling curious, Audrey approached the rabbits dressed as the imperial palace's Chinese king, ministers, and attendants.

The rabbit dressed as the king, leading the group, stopped, planted its scepter on the ground, looked up at the much taller Audrey, and asked solemnly in a stern voice:

"Princess of the neighboring country, what brings you to audience with me?"

(End of chapter)