Chapter 285: Fate of the Planar World (22)

Those that can be placed in the Lakeside Study are naturally a batch of the Empire's most important documents.

The study's defenses are extremely tight, making it hard even for an ant to get in.

But the method of flipping them was so covert that it left no trace for investigation.

So, Luosen immediately suspected an insider.

It was likely the study's assistant mages, since they could legally access those documents.

He promptly summoned elite agents from the Security Bureau to begin a covert investigation.

There were twenty assistant mages in total; the screening was quickly completed, and everyone was cleared.

This result surprised Luosen somewhat.

"Could I have been mistaken?"

That's almost impossible.

Because Emperor Luosen is always the last to leave the study each day, and before leaving he makes a detailed record of its condition.

He noticed someone had moved the documents only because their positions had changed by a minuscule amount.

The change might be less than a tenth of a millimeter, but it couldn't escape Laifu's precise comparison.

After another careful comparison, Luosen was certain someone had entered the Lakeside Study after him.

That person had handled many documents, almost every one of them having been flipped.

"Sneaking into my study unseen and leaving no trace afterward—this skill is quite impressive."

If one can slip into the study silently, they could also get into the backyard, even his underground lab.

Therefore this matter is extremely serious and must be figured out.

Luosen simply locked down the study, then set aside his Emperor Luosen persona and sent Combat Luosen, who possesses extraordinary perception, to investigate.

Shortly after Combat Luosen entered the study, he found a new clue.

This discovery was not magical but olfactory.

"A very faint trace of scent lingers in the corner of the study, coming from the fireworks of Mondania's bustling market."

Those who can come and go from the Lakeside Study are of extremely high status, rarely visit the market district, and wouldn't normally have fireworks scent on them, so this odor must have been left by the intruder.

Since it was still early and the Swan Castle Government Office hadn't started work, the night‑lingering scent hadn't been fully dispersed, so Combat Luosen followed that faint whiff of fireworks all the way.

He exited the study, went through the garden, crossed the defensive wall, and ended up outside Swan Castle, arriving at a secluded spot by Swan Lake.

Then he saw an unnatural cave entrance, neat and clearly dug out by magic.

From within the cave came an extremely faint magical aura.

From this aura, Laifu concluded: "Basic soul strength Legendary 17, magical power strength Legendary 17, magical scale 3000 Luosen."

At first glance he looks like a disciple of some great god, but the disciple's basic soul strength is absurdly high, completely unreasonable.

Even if Combat Luosen were armed to the teeth, he'd have no confidence facing this person.

Considering the opponent's movements were extremely secretive, likely also not wanting to make a big scene, Luosen tentatively called out to the cave: "I've found you, come out."

After waiting a dozen seconds, a female voice came from the cave: "Oh~~ This is truly unexpected; how did you find me?"

The voice carried a hint of surprise.

"You've achieved near perfection in magic, but you left a slight flaw in the elemental aspect."

"Oh~~ Okay, I'll improve next time."

After a pause, the voice from the cave said: "I'm sleeping now and don't feel like moving. Either you come in and talk, or you wait outside until I wake up."

What Luosen had sent was a puppet; after a brief thought, he walked toward the cave entrance.

At the same time, his main body stood ready to sever the link with the puppet at any moment.

If he sensed something wrong, he would abandon the puppet to save himself.

The cave entrance is about two meters high and one meter wide, with many vines hanging above for camouflage, making it look inconspicuous.

Luosen had expected the cave to be dark and cramped, but after walking a few meters inside he felt he passed through a strange membrane, and suddenly his vision brightened to reveal an exquisite, fresh, bright bedroom.

It was in no way inferior to his bedroom in Swan Castle.

In the bedroom lay a soft couch, on which a beautiful woman with black hair and black eyes reclined lazily, covered only by a silky, smooth-as-water thin silk quilt.

The view was great, just that her head was a bit small.

This beautiful woman was actually under a meter tall, like a dwarf.

But she differed from ordinary dwarves, since a typical dwarf's proportions differ from a human's—head large, body small.

Yet the dwarf before him was a perfectly scaled‑down version of a normal person, looking very well‑proportioned.

This strange sight stirred Luosen slightly, reminding him of a bizarre newspaper story about a mare giving birth to a dwarf.

Meanwhile, upon seeing Luosen, the dwarf woman yawned lazily and asked: "Luosen, guess who I am?"

Luosen naturally had some guesses: "I suppose you're related to the Life Goddess Adela, probably a disciple she carefully cultivated?"

The black‑haired woman shook her head: "You got half right."

She didn't hide it, saying: "More precisely, I am the elemental projection of the Life Goddess Adela, or rather, I am Adela herself."

"Elemental projection—that's a new term; I don't know it."

Adela laughed: "It's normal you don't know, since this is my latest magical development, a unique ability of mine."

Luosen sincerely praised: "Impressive!"

While speaking, he sized her up and added: "But the projection seems to have a slight problem."

Adela's face showed a hint of embarrassment: "Well, the result is indeed not yet mature. Do I look strange now?"

Luosen nodded: "Indeed strange—how did this happen?"

Adela sighed: "The elemental projection disk malfunctioned, getting both the projection scale and coordinates wrong, putting me through some terrifying ordeals."

Luosen immediately recalled the newspaper oddity he'd seen: "So you're not really crawling out of a mare's rear, are you?"

Adela's expression grew increasingly embarrassed: "Your news is indeed well-informed, but I hope you don't bring this up again, because I don't want to recall those past events."

"Alright, then what is your purpose for coming?"

Speaking of this, Adela's expression turned serious: "First, I need to formally introduce myself."

"I am the Life Goddess Adela in the mortal realm, but this title is used to gather faith, making it easier for me to manage the elemental plane. My true identity, however, is that of a Plane Overseer."

"Or perhaps more accurately put, I am a Plane Overseer who has lost glory."

Luosen felt a slight jolt in his heart: "Oversee what?"

"Oversee the development level of planar arts; once it exceeds the critical point, the Plane Overseer must intervene, using various means to press the development level back below the critical point."

After saying that, Adela smiled and asked: "Do you think that gods and demons are all non-human beings?"

Luosen suppressed his surprise and lightly nodded: "Indeed, I think so."

"Your thought is not wrong; demons are indeed non-human beings, lesser gods are also non-human, but great gods are not."

"Yet great gods are soul projections."

The terms "Elemental Projection" and "Soul Projection" gave Luosen a rather peculiar feeling.

He instinctively asked: "Then does that mean there exists a source used for projection?"

Adela lightly snapped her fingers: "Exactly, there is such a source."

"This source exists within the higher law-ring plane internally. We call it the God Body, namely the body formed by the perfect fusion of element and soul."

A flood of unfamiliar terms left Luosen somewhat shocked; he also carefully scrutinized the other party, discovering that they looked almost identical to a mortal, with no trace of the demon's non-human aura at all.

This was the result of a detailed investigation of battle Luosen, so what the other party said is likely true. "Then what is your purpose for coming?"

"I want to talk with you."

Adela's face showed a hint of solemnity.

"I heard the words you had Laruixiya bring to me."

"To be frank, those words pose no threat to me, because our planes are far apart, and I have no particular feelings about the plane I inhabit."

"But I clearly sensed your determination and confidence, which has aroused my curiosity about you."

"Curious about what?"

"I am very curious; I want to know what exactly you rely on."

"Then I came here quietly, and afterward I saw the magnificent imperial capital you built, and at the same time heard an astonishing plan."

Speaking of this, Adela gazed at Luosen: "Your Heart of the Ocean plan, though not explicitly stated, has already astonished me greatly, for it is highly likely to be a crucial critical point in the development of the arts."

Luosen did not answer but countered: "So, you sneaked into my study just to confirm this point?"

"Exactly, but you have hidden it very well; I didn't get an answer, so I simply asked directly."

"I want to know whether you have truly discovered the secret of the sun."

After saying that, this Adela's elemental projection added: "I know this question is very sensitive, so I will first state my position."

"I was indeed a Plane Overseer, but my oversight duties have basically dissipated, so I don't want to meddle in other affairs."

"I am also the Chief God of De Rui Tan, because I wish to obtain his Life Tree Branch. To that end, I have helped him slightly improve the Golden Warrior."

"If I can continually obtain the Life Tree Branch, then I will not intervene in this planar war."

"Whether you win or De Rui Tan wins, it has nothing to do with me."

Luosen listened half-believing, half-doubting, but given the means displayed by this so-called great god, it's best not to speak too definitively.

Thus he said: "Since you don't wish to exercise your oversight authority, why do you want to know about this?"

"Quite simple: if this is true, then De Rui Tan will never be your opponent, no matter what."

"I will sever ties with De Rui Tan, and after you defeat De Rui Tan, I will cooperate with you."

Luosen pondered a moment, then nodded: "I have indeed obtained some secrets of the sun."

Given the other party's means, since I suspected it, I couldn't hide it; since I couldn't hide it, I might as well speak frankly.

Adela's face showed a hint of shock, which quickly turned into deep emotion.

"Oh, after twenty thousand years, finally an elemental civilization has reached this point again."

Luosen didn't quite understand this, but he had a premonition that the other party would soon tell him the reason.

Indeed, Adela spoke: "If you haven't deceived me, then you and your empire stand at a crossroads."

"Before you lie two paths: one leads to utter destruction; the other is to fall and become the Abyss."

Luosen felt a slight ripple in his heart, but his expression remained blank: "I didn't understand."

Adela raised her hand, pointing at herself, then at the sky.

"Near this sun, there once were three supremely glorious higher law-ring planes. But now, the glory of these three planes has completely faded, and they have fallen into the three great Abysses."

"The demons of the Abyss created non-human void demons to prevent other elemental civilizations from obtaining the glory their ancestors once attained."

Luosen still didn't understand: "If one masters the sun's might, they should possess inexhaustible power, create inexhaustible wealth, and ought to become a true divine state; how then could it become the Abyss?"

Adela let out a light sigh: "The process of falling is very long, very long; I can't explain it briefly, but you surely understand nobility, right?"

"Of course."

"Nobility, especially high nobility, can also be said to possess inexhaustible resources, able to enjoy the most delicious food, the finest clothing, the most splendid dwellings, and also to dominate the fate of countless commoners."

"But these high nobles: the first generation may strive forward, the second generation will emulate their father's glory, the third generation may still uphold tradition, yet the fourth and fifth generations usually only think of using every means to maintain their glory."

"Their greed, coldness, and ruthlessness are no different from that of demons."

Luosen understood: "Is it the sands of time that have corroded the divine state into the Abyss?"

Adela nodded: "Exactly, time is far too long, far too long—over three hundred thousand years; the predecessors' glory has completely faded, the heroes' virtue has blown away with the wind, leaving only a pack of vile rats, and an Abyss composed of those rats."

"Twenty thousand years ago, there was once an elemental civilization that reached this point you have, and even went further."

"The civilization and its creators saw the tragedy of the three great Abysses; they wanted to escape time's curse, so they continually explored higher realms, attempting to break free from the sun law-ring's constraints to enter a more profound star realm."

"But in the end, they failed, and their civilization was destroyed in a horrifying blaze of war."

Speaking of this, Adela turned her head to look at the distant Swan Lake, a faint sadness showing on her face.

"Then Luosen, which path do you intend to take? Destruction or depravity?"

Luosen thought for a moment, then said, "While I am alive, I will choose to keep moving forward. After I die, I won't be able to worry about so much."

Adela nodded: "Based on your answer, I will do my best to conceal all this for you, but you too must keep a low profile; don't let the other void gods and demons know about this."

"Because although the Abyss is depraved, there still remains some legacy of the predecessors' glory; once they sense the appearance of a challenger, they will surely try every means to destroy it."

"And the thoughts of the other six great ones may not differ from mine."

"Luosen was a bit puzzled: 'Why are you helping me again?'"

"Because I don't want to be an accomplice to the fallen; I want to see some new scenery in this lifeless world."

"After a pause, she added: 'At the same time, I also need powerful allies who can help me completely escape from the depraved Abyss.'"

"Luosen's heart stirred slightly: 'Can you tell me more news about the Abyss?'"

"Adela shook her head: 'Sorry, it's not that I don't want to tell you; it's because I don't know much.'"

"For self-preservation, my true form hides in the deepest part of the Abyss, basically cut off from contact with the outside world. So I don't know the current situation of the Abyss."

"But I estimate that the Abyss has become even more depraved. Because in the past three thousand years, everything that has emerged from the Abyss are cold-blooded demons."

"Now let's get back to the main topic."

"We have two mutually beneficial cooperations."

"One is long-term: I will help you conceal the development of your civilization, and once you become strong enough, you will help me escape the Abyss."

"One is immediate: you will hand over the Branch of the Tree of Life to me, and I will not interfere in the war of this plane."

"Do you agree?"

"Luosen nodded: 'I agree.'"

"Very well, then farewell for now, Emperor of Mortals."

"With those words, Adela's body gradually turned to stone, finally becoming a beautiful stone statue."

"Luosen turned and walked out of the cave, pausing by the Swan Lake shore, watching the sun slowly rise opposite the lake, his heart feeling somewhat heavy."

"But this feeling soon dissipated."

"He shrugged: 'Hey~ this Goddess of Life isn't bad-looking.'"

"On Earth he was just an ordinary person; coming to this world, to have come this far is already a huge profit."

"As for the grand destiny of civilization, if it works out, go for it; if not, forget it."

"Faced with the corrosion of time, even the sun will eventually extinguish, let alone mortal civilization? So, forcing things is worse than letting nature take its course."

"But there is one thing that must be done: kill De Rui Tan."

"Merely defeating him is not enough; I must definitely kill him."

"I haven't had enough of these good days yet; if you insist on messing with me, don't blame me for being heavy-handed."

"(End of chapter)"