Chapter 870: Facing (Second Update)

Above Trier, an ancient, weathered giant shadow emerged, resembling a stone-carved wall clock divided into twelve segments, each either gray-white or blue-black, intermingled with clear boundaries and distinct symbols.

Ding!

The distant, ethereal chime seemed to cross vast spans of history, causing all of Trier to appear suspended in stillness.

In this brief pause, creatures composed of alternating transparent and opaque rings crawled wildly in twelve circular patterns, burrowing into different places, seeking exploitable patterns to escape fate's influence.

Lumian and the others also froze in motion, caught within the chime that echoed from ancient times.

Not long before, upon hearing Lumian utter the term "Person of the Ring," Francia and Jianna simultaneously drew a Tarot card from "The Traveler's Satchel."

The card depicted an angel blowing a horn to guide the souls of the dead.

The Major Arcana card: "Judgment!"

Immediately, the two "Witches" whispered in Hermesian:

"We invoke Judgment!"

Both felt the response of Lady Judgment, but it was faint, indistinct, unable to establish true connection.

The two "Witches" instantly understood that the area around the botanical garden or the cottage suffered even stricter restrictions—not merely from the "Person of the Ring"'s ability.

As they invoked Lady Judgment's descent, Lumian, Anthony, and Lu Jianuo saw the cottage around them rapidly rot and collapse, like a tree trunk buried in soil for countless years.

Boom!

A blazing white fireball surged upward, exploding the collapsing ceiling and preventing the rotting timber from touching anyone present.

As the cottage decayed and crumbled, Lumian saw two figures appear dozens of meters ahead.

One figure was slender, of average height, wearing a crisp white shirt and black formal suit, a gray tie knotted neatly, with sharp, defined features.

Though his appearance suggested advanced age, he had clearly been handsome in youth; his hair was now streaked with gray but meticulously combed, his face dotted with brownish age spots that seemed ready to rupture and ooze pus.

The other figure also wore formal attire, in his fifties, with thick golden hair streaked with gray, eyes as clear as lake water, a neatly trimmed beard of exceptional elegance—despite his years, still a handsome man.

Seeing this second figure, Lumian, though mentally prepared, still forced out a hoarse voice:

"Vazan Sansong!"

He was the leader of the "Sinner" organization, Aurora's biological father, a believer in fate who brought tragedy upon Aurora!

"Sansong, leave those two Witches to me," said the man with multiple age spots, eyes brightening as he spotted Francia and Jianna, immediately addressing Vazan Sansong, the "Person of the Ring."

This was not merely lust for beauty, but an attraction rooted in deeper factors.

Vazan Sansong gazed at Lumian and smiled lightly in reply to his partner:

"No problem, Higton."

Lumian suppressed the urge to charge forward and seek revenge at all costs, quickly telling Ludwig:

"You deal with the blond!"

Last time, Lumian had relied on the residual aura of the "Blood Emperor" to unsettle Vazan Sansong, causing the "Person of the Ring"'s effect within the painting world to collapse on its own and escape its influence. This time, the "Blood Emperor"'s residual aura had been sealed by the "Man of the Mingdao," and Vazan Sansong, having suffered once before, would certainly be wary.

So Lumian hoped Ludwig—with his angelic body and angelic rank—would strike Vazan Sansong, using brute force and rank to overpower and break the "Person of the Ring"'s influence.

If they failed to break free from the "Person of the Ring," all efforts by Lumian, Francia, Jianna, and the others would merely revert to the present moment, yielding no effect.

Ludwig hesitated, as if silently asking Lumian: "Me? Fight that formidable old man? I'm still just a child!"

Partly because Ludwig had never expected to fight himself, partly because he inexplicably felt he shouldn't fight—that he should cooperate with the two old men and let them take him away.

Faintly, Lumian heard the chime, his thoughts briefly blurred.

Francia, Jianna, Anthony, and the others, along with Vazan Sansong and Higton opposite, all felt the same.

Soon, Lumian regained his composure and swiftly pulled "Black Tear" from "The Traveler's Satchel," tossing it to Francia.

From the tone of the enemy Higton's speech and his attitude toward Vazan Sansong, Lumian believed he was undoubtedly a Saint—a true half-god—so Francia could only counter him long enough to buy time for breaking the "Person of the Ring"'s effect by using "Black Tear."

As he tossed "Black Tear" to Francia, Lumian urged Ludwig:

"Go now!"

"Afterward, I'll prepare the most lavish feast for you!"

Ludwig was tempted, but his feet remained firmly planted.

At this moment, Vazan Sansong and Higton, lacking angelic rank, still seemed affected by some strange force, appearing sluggish and not launching immediate attacks.

Lumian's voice then turned authoritative, growling out:

"Do you want to be sent back to the Church of Knowledge?"

Ludwig startled, instantly turning his body toward Vazan Sansong.

"Don't you like your current life?" Lumian added, based on his understanding of Ludwig.

Ludwig unconsciously pressed his lips shut, then shoved a chocolate into his mouth and dashed toward Vazan Sansong.

Lumian gave Francia and Jianna, who had just shaken off their sluggishness, a meaningful glance.

He meant: Francia should distract Higton and keep him occupied; Jianna should assist Francia but avoid direct combat.

Francia and Jianna both nodded solemnly.

The former wound the "Black Tear" forehead ornament around her wrist and vanished instantly.

Jianna likewise disappeared from sight.

Lumian did not hesitate; after withdrawing his gaze, he immediately pulled out the "Whisper of the Demon" bone ring and slipped it onto his right middle finger.

His body instantly ignited with intense blue-purple flames smelling strongly of sulfur, malice surging forth.

He was relieved: during this time, he had vented most of his pent-up desires and emotions—far better than when he used this "Siso" relic in Morola.

Then he gripped the hilt of the "Sword of Courage," drawing it from "The Traveler's Satchel."

Courage flooded his body. He fixed his gaze on Vazan Sansong, who sought to manipulate Ludwig's insignificant fate, and transformed into a blazing spear of white flame tinged with blue, shooting forward with a hiss.

Revenge! Revenge!

I will not retreat!

—Before using the "Sword of Courage," Lumian had already planned his strategy:

Francia and Jianna would hold back Higton; he and Ludwig would launch a direct assault on Vazan Sansong, trying to break the "Person of the Ring"'s influence; Anthony would support both sides while serving as his external brain.

As for Lu Jianuo, he need not fight—just find opportunities to provide healing.

…………

Inside the dim "Black Emperor" mausoleum, dark walls encircled a central dais of the same color.

Upon the dais rested a massive chair forged from black iron, engraved with intricate, twisted patterns; its backrest extended upward into the shape of a crown.

At this moment, a colossal black shadow sat upon the chair, its facial contours clearly defined:

Blue eyes, a high nose bridge, thin lips, two neatly groomed sideburns…

The shadow's body was also slowly becoming clearer, as if clad in black armor and draped in a magnificent cloak.

Luo Saier.

The Emperor of Intis who gave his name to an era!

He was continually being reborn and dying, but both processes were distorted and slowed, allowing him to awaken and manifest a partial form.

Seeing this Luo Saier, "Mystic Queen" Bernadette's eyes welled with tears—painful yet joyful—as she cried:

"Father!"

Luo Saier's eyes turned blood-red, and two slits opened on his face, revealing glowing crimson light within.

But these vanished again in the next cycle of death and rebirth.

And whether dying or being reborn, both processes grew even slower.

Luo Saier gazed at his eldest daughter and sighed:

"Didn't I tell you never to return?"

Bernadette answered firmly:

"Father, I want to save you!

"I dare not gamble that the one who awakens will be Mr. Fool—or 'Fusheng Xuanhuang Tianzun' as they say. At least let you remain conscious and stable without external aid."

The "Mystic Queen" paused, her voice deepening as she added:

"Moreover, I cannot foresee when the apocalypse will come or what its outcome will be. I refuse to wait any longer."

Luo Saier sighed with faint relief:

"Foolish child…"

"Who helped you bypass my restrictions and return here?"

"Him," Bernadette answered without hiding anything from her father.

"Adam? The current 'True Creator'?" Luo Saier was not surprised.

Bernadette gave a slight nod.

Luo Saier sneered, then looked at Bernadette with a complex tone:

"You chose to ally with the followers of the 'Vague Uncertainty'? Don't you know how dangerous that is?"

Bernadette fell silent for a second, then said:

"It's exploitation.

"All those capable of balancing your corruption now lie beyond the barrier; among those within, only the 'Vague Uncertainty' can relatively easily pass through the barrier and transmit a little.

"I've made preparations to prevent the vortex from advancing further:

"I deliberately didn't reply to Gardelia's letters, so she would join the 'Tarot Gathering'—when on the Gray Mist, she could quickly sense danger. With the gathering's own strength and connected forces, once they identify the problem, they can respond effectively…

"I also foresaw some of Perle's arriving traders, noticed the 'Rose Sect's' indulgent faction stirring, and arranged for my subordinates to leak the information to the temperance faction…

"…

"I also foresaw the outcome of this matter—the situation has not worsened.

"He also hinted as much."

Luo Saier shook his head and said to Bellnade in a solemn, instructive tone:

"Perhaps the situation has not worsened because many have made sacrifices.

"For Adam, this may be necessary.

"But what about you?"

PS: There will be an extra update at 10 PM~

(End of chapter)