Chapter 752: An Ti Ge Nu Si

The shadows of history linger at a moment in the past; sunlight, air, even the secret idols in the city all freeze, and even colors appear dim.

Ahead of An Ti Ge Nu Si sits a woman on the grass; she has a delicate face, but at her ribs and waist sprout two beast legs covered with short, thick, hard black hair, and black filaments float around, like tentacles extending from her body.

She sits very quietly, immersed in the deep night, her face showing little expression, as if a refined doll lacking emotion.

Ke Lai En's gaze lingers on her; memories surge, he has seen her before, more than once, even summoned her—no, it should be his historical projection.

0-17, the vessel used by the goddess before the divine descent!

It seems An Ti Ge Nu Si and his sister get along well; at a time like this, the first thought is to come see each other.

An Ti Ge Nu Si does not turn back, his tone bearing an indescribable weariness as he says, "You arrived faster than I expected, the controller of 'Source Fortress'."

"Did you know I would come into the historical mist to find you? Then why not leave earlier? Even having mastered uniqueness, under the suppression of 'Source Fortress', facing me you still have little chance of victory."

Ke Lai En looks at An Ti Ge Nu Si with slight puzzlement and asks aloud.

For a moment he doubts this historical light spot might be a trap, but this place is merely an unchangeable objective history—what trap could be here? An Ti Ge Nu Si rises from the boulder, turns and looks at Ke Lai En.

Only then does Ke Lai En finally see clearly the ancient god's young offspring who survived from the Second Era:

His figure alternates between solid and ethereal, as if cloaked in a mysterious classical black robe, wearing a hood that hides his face, shrouded in a thin gray‑white mist.

These changes appear alternately, the frequency gradually slowing.

Whenever such a change occurs, strange patterned slick tendrils emerge from beneath An Ti Ge Nu Si.

After a while his figure stabilizes, revealing his truest form: dark eyes full of indescribable weariness, a surprisingly youthful face with decent features, cheeks sprouting tufts of coarse black hair like wolf‑hair, half‑white long hair—one side hidden, one side obvious—giving a contradictory sense of both aged and youthful, both rational and mad.

Ke Lai En asks with some confusion, "Haven't you already shed madness? Why does this still happen?"

"I have indeed shed madness, but that doesn't mean my problems are fully solved; it's like a bucket that keeps leaking—reviving merely refills the bucket, yet the crack remains and water still drips."

"Moreover, this era has almost no trace of me; no one remembers me. Without an anchor, it's hard to steady my mental state."

"And I have no chance to rebuild faith, whether it's you, A Meng, or A Man Ni Xi Si and the 'True Creator'; as soon as I leave any trace, you will follow the clue and find me."

"During this time I have gathered some information and roughly understand the current situation; I don't think I still have a chance to compete with you for that position."

"Whether as an ally or in my own condition, I am far too weak."

An Ti Ge Nu Si's tone is neither hurried nor suppressed, but rather carefree and relaxed, answering Ke Lai En's questions as if chatting with an old friend.

Ke Lai En listens calmly, without interrupting.

After a long while An Ti Ge Nu Si finally stops his rambling; the transparent slick tendrils extending from his robe's hem retract, and the thin mist around him also fades.

Only a black classical long robe remains on his body, along with a strange cold illusory mask with blank features that he holds in his hand.

His gaze lingers on the hazy mask for a moment, then he sighs and tosses it to Ke Lai En:

"This is my father's relic; you may take it directly. If you successfully assimilate it, I will grant you the final 'Mysterious Secret Servant' trait."

"Conversely, if you fail, I will silently replace you through my link to uniqueness and become the new master of 'Source Fortress'."

"This is a contest belonging to the 'Fool'; other existences find it hard to intervene and cannot offer you much help."

"How about it? Dare to gamble with me?"

Ke Lai En instinctively reaches out and catches the mask; it is icy cold, weightless, as if not a physical object.

An Ti Ge Nu Si's proposal was beyond his expectation, yet not wholly surprising; after speaking with the Night Goddess, he had a premonition that he could easily locate An Ti Ge Nu Si and easily persuade him.

He remains silent for two seconds, then lets out a light laugh:

"Heh, having mastered 'Source Fortress', the greatest advantage lies with me; why would I risk gambling with you? Gambling isn't a good habit."

"But I accept your proposal. I am not A Meng; I don't like playing cat‑and‑mouse. As a 'Mysterious Secret Servant', you should still have three chances to revive. If we make no changes, we could even stalemate until the end of days, which I do not wish to see. At least in my view, both you and I are more suitable than A Meng to become 'Lord of the Mysteries'."

An Ti Ge Nu Si nods with little expression and says, "I await you in the Night Realm. Out of courtesy I should wish you success, but I actually dislike seeing that scene, so let it be."

"I won't give you much time; while you attempt to assimilate uniqueness, I will also try to transform you into a secret idol."

As his words finish, An Ti Ge Nu Si's figure gradually becomes transparent, disappearing from this historical light spot and leaving the historical mist.

Watching where An Ti Ge Nu Si departs, Ke Lai En chuckles softly and says to the spot beyond the light, "He seems to have deliberately waited here for me, what do you think?" Beyond the spot, beams of civilization's brilliance burst from the mist, intertwining, outlining Lei Ke Dun's silhouette.

He looks down and meets Ke Lai En, who is within history, with a calm reply: "Perhaps, perhaps not."

"But He made the most advantageous decision for himself, giving himself a chance to pursue the 'Lord of the Mysteries' position; though likely to fail, it's still better than a direct clash that would have you or A Meng devour him."

"If prepared in advance, He can continue to exist as a 'Miracle Master'."

Within the illuminated historical light spot, Ke Lai En's figure quietly rises; he gazes at this Third Era history and sighs, "This is also most beneficial to me—no direct battle, no drawing the attention of A Meng or the 'True Creator'."

"Next I need to consider the matter of assimilating uniqueness; do you have any suggestions?"

Lei Ke Dun ponders and replies, "A simplified god‑making ceremony can suffice to prepare for assimilating uniqueness, or you could strive to complete a full god‑making ceremony, and after assimilating uniqueness directly merge the final 'Mysterious Secret Servant' trait to become the true 'Fool'."

"Tricking time is difficult; what has happened cannot be changed, and the authority over time belongs to A Meng; you can only act through history and fate."

Ke Lai En nods; the only method he can think of is the one An Ti Ge Nu Si once used— with 'Source Fortress''s aid he can likewise steal destiny, traits, and identity.

After a moment of thought, he looks at Lei Ke Dun and says:

"I intend to use Cha La Tu's identity; I still retain the spiritual imprint of that extraordinary 'Mysterious Secret Servant' trait, and I can find a way to bring Him back, then replace Him, becoming Him."

Lei Ke Dun remains silent until the silvery flash in his eyes fades, then nods and replies, "That is insufficient for a god‑making ceremony, but merely assimilating uniqueness is enough."

Ke Lai En nods, then changes the subject:

"I plan to go to the deep spirit realm's Ka Er De Long Cheng, fetch some water of the 'River of Eternal Darkness', and have the goddess craft a sufficiently solid dream."

"Hmm."

Lei Ke Dun lightly nods, his figure hazes, disintegrating into colorless "light" that surges out of the historical mist.

Ke Lai En is slightly stunned, surprised by Lei Ke Dun's reaction; he had expected the other to give him some hint or warning.

"Just leave like that? Do you think the tributary in Ka Er De Long Cheng poses little danger to me? Or do you trust I can solve it myself?"

Muttering to himself, Ke Lai En shakes his head, his figure quickly hazes and becomes transparent, exiting this historical mist and returning to the palace above the gray fog, preparing to obtain the 'River of Eternal Darkness' water from Ka Er De Long.

The Star Realm, a abstract illusory domain embraced by countless branch‑like colors.

Beams of civilization's "light" emerge from history, returning to Lei Ke Dun's body; he looks down at the milky‑white die he holds, chuckles:

"This is the best development; compared with the other gods and those candidates for 'Lord of the Mysteries', we are more eager for someone to succeed, then break the seal of the Western Continent."

The milky-white dice swayed weakly in his hand twice, revealing a four facing up.

Thud—thud, some illusory knocking sound suddenly echoed, as Lei Kedun lifted his head, an illusory shadow appeared in this divine realm.

Seeing Luo Sai'er suddenly appear, he clenched his right hand holding the dice into a fist and casually said:

"Since you've knocked, why didn't you wait for me to say 'please come in'?"

The knock merely represents my politeness; since you didn't refuse, that means agreement.

As he spoke, Luo Sai'er reached out and pulled from thin air, and an ornate high-backed chair appeared directly beneath him.

(End of chapter)