Chapter 72: Turbidity and Pool Water

"It's even brighter than the Underground City I'm from. This is the first time I've come to such a bright and beautiful place." A middle-aged Apprentice sighed in admiration nearby.

Several nearby Wild Wizard Apprentices whispered quietly for a bit, then walked off together into the distance.

Everyone was excited about this enigmatic City; at least, that was the case for now.

Luge looked at Ba'angte. Ba'angte likewise glanced at him, then turned and walked away. Luge chuckled, thick-skinned, and followed after him.

"Ah! Manson? Manson! I only took two steps and figured out a problem. This place is too terrifying. Let's leave, okay?" An Apprentice in the distance called out to his companion in inexplicable panic.

Everyone within earshot slowed their steps. Even Ba'angte stopped and looked over.

"Idiot. That's what you deduce every day. You just happened to figure it out here."

"Those terrifying things from the Knowledge World might really burst a person's head..."

"Relax. Knowledge doesn't seek out idiots..."

The two Wizard Apprentices spoke quietly, gradually fading into the distance.

Luge looked back. Ba'angte had somehow already walked far away. He hurriedly took quick little steps to catch up. Before getting a general grasp of the situation, he planned to stick close to this burly man for a while.

The buildings in the City were all white stone — walls, pillars, roofs, all of it — looking exceptionally clean and tidy.

Many pillars were also carved with patterns, either exquisite or rugged, coiling around them.

The only thing causing some discomfort was that those places he had seen before, those bustling spots, were completely empty of people upon approaching.

Following behind Ba'angte, when they passed a Spire-roofed House, Luge crouched down and touched the steps in front of the door. Not a speck of Gray Dust on them.

He curiously touched and looked around everywhere, but didn't dare do anything outrageous.

Ba'angte, on the other hand, seemed to have his own destination. This was also something that made Luge happy. It showed that Eldest Brother Ba'angte knew this City, or at least knew a part of it.

A sound of Argument came from afar. After turning a street corner, they only saw a single Wizard Apprentice. That rugged-faced Apprentice's voice rose and fell, as if arguing with the empty air before him.

Ba'angte seemed to perceive Luge's Doubt and said slowly: "First, don't think wildly. In this place, don't randomly ponder difficult problems. Everyone's capacity to endure is limited. Save your opportunities for things truly of value. Of course, this is just one possibility..."

Suddenly, that Apprentice excitedly waved his arms, then angrily clawed at his own neck.

Immediately following a roar, blinding light surged out. When everything quieted down and the light dispersed, only a square black thing remained on the ground.

"He's already dead."

Ba'angte walked over and, under Luge's astonished gaze, picked up a book from the ground.

The burly man observed the book in his hand, inexplicably letting out a sigh.

"This book is his remnant. He was merely a Catalyst. The book's content isn't necessarily related to him. It was generated from a combination of what his level of strength could access, plus a certain power of this City, plus the Knowledge World's gift, plus even what he thought in his heart before death — all these coincidences combined to produce a book."

As Ba'angte spoke, he put the book away. It seemed to be a Spellbook.

"These warnings count as your reward for helping me pick up my Wizard Staff. Next, don't follow me. I still have things to do." With that, Ba'angte turned to leave.

If there's one, there'll be two, Luge thought.

"Are you looking for that friend named Kalu? You suspect he might not be dead?" Luge hurriedly grabbed a Topic to stop him. "Tell me what he looks like. I'll be wandering all over the City anyway. I'll help you keep an eye out."

Ba'angte's steps paused.

"When wandering, pay attention. Don't randomly enter the houses in this City."

Ba'angte said this and tossed over a Painting Scroll. The back had experimental record handwriting — obviously just a randomly grabbed sheet of paper. Luge received it and unfolded it. He saw that with just a few sparse strokes, a figure's face full of spirit was outlined.

Luge's breath caught, then returned to calm.

"Amazing. The painting skill is truly astonishing." He said.

Ba'angte looked at him and said: "This guy cares a lot about his face. Advanced in years, yet he makes his face look very young. But he's Cunning. If he's not dead, he'll definitely change his appearance and blend in here."

Meaning he has no expectations of me whatsoever, Luge thought.

"Take this. If you really see him, just throw it out. I'll arrive." Ba'angte handed over a Small Round Ball the size of a fingernail.

Luge nodded vigorously, put it away, then watched the burly man's departing figure.

Once the figure had completely vanished, he hurriedly unfolded that Painting Scroll again. With just one glance, he recognized it was Half-Man.

But many things couldn't be explained.

He didn't Entangle himself further. Instead, he first sought a secluded, quiet place to test whether he could open the Abyss Bedroom Space. Last time's incident had already given him a psychological Shadow, and this City was also a special place.

The thought to Open Door stirred in his heart. The Spatial Door had just shown a hint of appearing when he felt a resistance. Fortunately, it was merely resistance. After his effort, the door ultimately failed to open fully, but it wasn't a complete failure either. A stable crack remained — just wide enough for someone of his height to squeeze in sideways. Everything was that perfect.

With this, he could set his mind at ease. Luge began his wandering journey.

His wandering naturally wasn't entirely aimless. He recalled the street corner where he had seen the Crybaby Worm disappear, striving to recognize the surrounding buildings and Environment. With an acquaintance here, he naturally still wanted to visit. That little guy seemed like the key to this City. His coming here definitely wasn't simple. And besides, the other party's younger brother was still in his hands. He naturally had to show more concern. They all counted as half family.

He walked while still thinking about Half-Man's matters.

Thinking about this kind of problem shouldn't attract any Danger, right? He thought.

Half-Man's every action was Completely Not Like a Wizard Apprentice. Those things weren't something an Apprentice could do. And Ba'angte had explicitly said Wizard Apprentices cannot erase Marks/Imprints on others' Storage Bags.

If Half-Man is Kalu, then how could he be so easily defeated by Ba'angte? What was the deal with Half-Man's illusory state? And that appearance where even eyes and Nose could barely move? And the split into two individuals? That half a head — it seemed both halves had independent thinking ability.

If Half-Man could appear before him now, he definitely wouldn't be able to resist asking the other party — at least asking whether the other party was Kalu.

No, Luge suddenly thought. It's best if Half-Man never appears before him. As long as it's while he's in this City.

Random Thoughts swirling, he circled a few more streets.

A large trapezoidal overlapping Pool appeared before him. Clear water flowed down from the topmost layer, sequentially filling the stepped fan-shaped pools below. The pool water trickled, as if it would never run dry. Over a dozen Wizard Apprentices had already gathered at the poolside.

Luge walked over. First, he looked up at the highest point. At the Pool's End stood a Tall building, like a Palace.

He looked Left Right Look. He discovered an interesting phenomenon. Quite a few Wizard Apprentices had already walked into the Pool, sitting happily in the water in Meditation posture. The Pool had twenty-odd tiers stacked layer upon layer. Those who entered the third tier and above were mostly Wild Wizards. Those self-important types mostly sat cross-legged on the first two tiers.

Luge Boldly guessed that many of these guys might still be Ji Ji Xue Tu like him.

(Chapter End)