Chapter 2575: The Thirteenth Demon

"I know the risks, I know your worries."

Dr. Schneider looked at everyone:

"But this is my last sublimation word, and generally speaking, the power and effect of high-ring sublimation words will be subtly enhanced compared to low-ring and middle-ring ones. In order to solve some of my future troubles, I must treat this sublimation word seriously."

"You don't have to worry about me. I only have ideas now. If I really want to implement it, Xia De, I will ask you for help."

Any method of adding core spirit runes acquired later has risks, unless the true gods directly bestow power, but such things won't happen once in a few hundred years.

Xia De was not an easy person to be persuaded, but the doctor's words really made sense. He thought for a long time and didn't know how to refute, so he had to continue to remind:

"If you really want to do this, remember to tell me before the action. No matter what ritual you use, you still need someone to help you, right?"

"Of course."

The doctor nodded, drawing with his fingers in the air. Groups of black smoke appeared in front of him until eleven different marks were formed. Those marks represented the eleven ancient evil spirits ravaging the material world:

"And now I still lack some necessary conditions. Currently, I have devoured eleven demons—"

"1837 - Parallax Demon - Cosani, 1841 - Longevity Demon - Habail, 1845 - Venomous Spider Demon - Sergei, 1847 - Terror Demon Worm - Juerwinter, 1850 - Brain-eating Demon - Byngulens, 1853 - Pus of Man, Arsonist - Flame Demon Socphis, Proliferating Demon - Fanni, 1854 - Stone Mirror Demon - Goth, Maze Demon - Yalu, Doom Demon - Fanalius."

"If I really want to engrave a new core spirit rune for myself, then it's best to gather thirteen different demon powers, so I am still missing the last one."

Xia De looked carefully at the marks representing different evil spirits. The doctor certainly knew that 11+1=12, and the one he didn't mention should be the demon power he possessed himself, the power of the legendary "Demon King."

"If you need a new demon, it's a pity that the demon in the Vesta Woodlands was sealed by the Nature Sect hundreds of years ago."

Xia De said, knowing that the doctor had made up his mind:

"So you definitely can't gather the ritual conditions recently. Yes, I will help you, but during the wait for the new demon, you must think carefully about whether you really want to do this."

"If you prepare to hunt demons in other places, please also tell me. Although I am not idle recently, I should have no problem taking a few days off."

The doctor nodded with a smile:

"Meeting you probably really used up most of my luck in the past few decades. But detective, you should deal with your own affairs first. Have you gathered the sin of cowardice?"

Xia De went to the Vesta Woodlands in the morning and came to the meeting in the afternoon, so of course he didn't have time to find a new second "cowardice." However, the files Galina gave him were not just one, and now cowardice was only missing "0.2 units." Although it wouldn't be obtained casually, it shouldn't be difficult.

It's just that Xia De wanted to deal with the Cumming family's affairs tomorrow before opening the key, rather than opening it tomorrow morning against time. Plus today is Saturday, and the time after the meeting was defaulted to "Dorothy and Leisia's dating time," so Xia De of course wouldn't be insensitive and tell Dorothy that he wanted to visit victims or criminals.

Vanessa and Siris didn't come to visit that night, but Luvia seemed to have visited them. Therefore, after dinner, Xia De and Dorothy walked back home holding hands, and there were only the two of them in the house.

"Let's continue to study the fairy tale of 'Crystal Light'."

Dorothy was very serious and responsible. After washing up, she and Xia De came to the study.

The prepared materials had been piled up in the corner of the desk, but she didn't study these different versions of stories with Xia De immediately, but said to Xia De with a smile:

"In a week, Leisia and I have already mastered the most famous strange art corresponding to this fairy tale - Crystal Touch. Hamilton, recall the effect of this strange art."

"Yes, 【Crystal Touch】 can turn life into crystal. This is a branch of human transformation, and the crystal produced by the strange art has the characteristic of being near 'eternal.' As long as it is not destroyed by external forces, time cannot damage it at all."

Xia De said seriously, and then couldn't help but praise:

"I remember you said this is a standard high-ring strange art. It's amazing that you and Leisia could learn it in a week without any foundation."

The blonde writer nodded reservedly:

"It's okay. Ajelina also practiced with Leisia, and I see she is almost mastering it too... So the bloodline of the Cavendish family in this generation is really powerful."

"Let's get back to the point. The strange art 【Crystal Touch】 is also considered a kind of sealing technique. Even if an ancient person with enough resistance might be turned into crystal for a short time, they will recover within a certain period."

"We didn't find living people to practice the strange art, but look at this."

She took out a lifelike crystal mouse from the box and handed it to Xia De. Xia De took it and marveled. The crystal mouse reflected near-seven-colored light under the gas lamp, which ordinary crystal couldn't do.

Plus it was exactly the same as a real mouse, this was simply a work of art:

"Mia~"

So he put the crystal mouse in front of Little Mia who was lying on the table. The cat "meowed" and had no reaction. When Xia De moved the crystal toward its mouth, the cat "meowed" impatiently again, then stood up and jumped to the windowsill to lie down.

"The mouse's soul is no longer here. I thought the soul would also crystallize."

Xia De said, and Dorothy nodded:

"The story of 'Crystal Light' says so, and the young elf in the story was also made into an eternal statue. But soul transformation and solidification are ultimately too difficult, and I have no grudges with this mouse, so there is no need to do such terrible things."

"So I didn't touch its soul, and after its body crystallized, the soul continued to walk on."

"May it rest in peace."

Xia De prayed for the mouse that brought help to his study.

The story of "Crystal Light" is generally about an elf who couldn't resist temptation and finally turned into eternal crystal under the drive of desire. This simple fairy tale can be turned into different versions as long as some elements are added.

Therefore, although this elf fairy tale is not as famous as other fairy tales Xia De has come into contact with, Dorothy and Leisia still found many different versions.

Because the study of "Crystal Light" had just begun, the lesson tonight was Dorothy and Xia De reading these stories together. During this period, Xia De proposed whether he could learn the strange art 【Crystal Touch】, but Dorothy didn't recommend him to do so:

"You often have your own understanding of fairy tales, and the meaning contained in this strange art is undoubtedly 'eternity.' Leisia and I are worried that once you learn this strange art, it will affect your perception of other powers of the story later."

"So even if you want to learn, it's best to wait until you have mastered a new maze."

And the strange art 【Crystal Touch】 can also work on dead objects, which means this high-ring strange art can also turn items like water cups into crystal products.

However, every Ringed Shushi who masters "Crystal Touch" will be warned not to manufacture crystal crafts casually when not necessary. This eternal crystal will not degrade with the passage of time once manufactured, so in order to prevent the material world from being filled with crystal in the distant future, the use of strange arts must be cautious.

"This is for you."

When the lesson was about to end, Dorothy finally opened the second box she brought, which contained a very bright red rose:

"It's a gift from me to you, not from Leisia."

She emphasized specifically, and then pointed with her finger. With a rustling sound, the whole rose turned into a white crystal flower:

"My mastery of the strange art is not very proficient, otherwise I could turn it into a red crystal."

She pursed her lips and smiled, handing the crystal rose to Xia De, her green eyes looking at Xia De expectantly, so Xia De kissed her while holding the crystal rose above the table.

Later, he tried it with a handkerchief, and it could actually turn this crystal flower into a toy:

"So the change of Crystal Touch is really absolutely irreversible?"

"Absolutely not, it's just irreversible under normal circumstances. Of course, the gods have the ability to reverse the effects of mortal strange arts, and a few angel-level relics should also be able to."

"Other than that, there are only two ways. One is that the caster themselves forces the spell to be broken at the cost of their own serious injury; the second is to reverse time. Although crystal is not damaged by the passage of time, it does not resist the power of time flowing backward." ===== CHAPTER 2576 =====

However, every Ring Mage who masters "Crystal Touch" is warned not to casually create crystal crafts when unnecessary. Once this eternal crystal is created, it will not degrade over time, so to ensure the material world is not filled with crystal in the distant future, one must be cautious when using this miracle.

"This is for you."

As the lesson was about to end, Dorothy finally opened the second box she had brought, which contained a very vibrant red rose:

"It's a gift from me, not from Lei Qianya."

She emphasized specifically, then tapped it lightly with her finger; with a rustling sound, the entire rose turned into a white crystal flower:

"My mastery of miracles isn't very proficient yet, otherwise I could have turned it into a red crystal."

She pursed her lips and smiled as she handed the rose to Xia De, her green eyes looking at him with anticipation, so Xia De held the crystal rose and kissed her above the tabletop.

Afterward, he tested it with a handkerchief and was surprised to find that he could also turn this crystal flower into a toy:

"So, is the change from Crystal Touch truly absolutely irreversible?"

"It's not quite 'absolute,' just generally irreversible. The gods, of course, have the ability to reverse the effects of a mortal's miracle, and a few rare Angel-level relics should be able to as well.

Other than that, there are only two ways: first, the caster forces the spell to break at the cost of severe injury to themselves; second, reversing time. Although crystal is not damaged by the passage of time, it does not resist the power of time flowing backward."