Chapter 597

Early Saturday morning, after breakfast, Xia De first went to Midhillburg and brought back the information about local legends and the boundary of life and death from the Home for the Blind.

At the same time, he heard good news. The 【Spiritual Cultivation Order】 acted very quickly and had already found a suitable entrance to the boundary. The preparation of the ritual would take about a day, and the ritual could be held tonight.

This was much faster than Xia De had imagined. In his imagination, even if the Order didn't want him to pay any price, at least they would say that important materials were missing and let Xia De collect them, and then Xia De would do follow-up tasks such as defeating monsters and evil spirits, delivering letters, mediating family disputes, and exploring ancient ruins, before he could complete the final ritual after much hardship.

But now it really didn't need him to do anything, but that was fine. Rescuing the priest earlier was better than always thinking about this matter.

It was already ten o'clock in the morning when he got home. Xia De took a carriage to Miss Galina's manor and brought back the blood of the Abyss-Eyed Dragon Squid. Of course, Xia De didn't mention what he was going to do at night, and the witch wouldn't agree with Xia De's approach either.

Because there was a meeting in the afternoon, he didn't go out again after returning home, but carefully read the information he had obtained and prepared for the action at night.

After lunch, Luweiya, Dorothea, and Dr. Schneider arrived one after another. The doctor shared the latest news with Xia De, and it was good news:

"Because of the disappearance of his own students, the academy forced the church to give the situation in Midhillburg. The church relented yesterday!"

The middle-aged psychologist with blue eyes looked very happy:

"Since the middle of last month, missing person cases in Midhillburg have occurred frequently. As of the priest's disappearance, a total of 32 missing person events meeting similar conditions have occurred within a month. And this is just a rough statistic at present. In fact, there will be more. After all, it is difficult for mountain people in the mountains to be included in official statistics."

"Doesn't that mean one person goes missing almost every day?"

Dorothea asked in surprise.

"There were 32 events, but most of them were groups of people disappearing together. Partners living in the same room disappeared together, and young people who went to explore the Sikail Mountains collectively never returned. The total number of missing people, conservatively estimated, should be greater than three digits."

The doctor said.

"I read the past materials Dorothea gave me, and the missing person events in the local area in autumn in the past didn't have so many at all. Losing dozens of people in one autumn is a normal phenomenon."

Xia De said, and the doctor nodded cautiously:

"The materials the academy gave me state that this year is a special situation. There is a big problem under Midhillburg. The church has been preparing since last year to reinforce the seal, and summoning devout old priests to Midhillburg is also because they hope they can join the ritual."

"Did the academy mention the 【Boundary of Life and Death】?"

Luweiya also asked.

"In fact, the church is also vague. It only knows that once there is a problem underground, the entire Sikail Mountain will become a ghost domain, which may even affect the entire eastern part of the Old Continent. However, there is no need to worry too much. This kind of high-frequency missing person event has not appeared since Wednesday this week, and Priest August was the last batch of missing people."

Xia De raised his eyebrows, not knowing whether "priest disappearance" or "disappearance phenomenon disappeared after Wednesday" was the cause and which was the result.

But the Midhillburg matter seems to be another major event with a scale and influence no less than the "Tobesk 1853 Summer God Descent Event" and the "Coldwater Port Shadow". After the outsider arrived, this world is really not peaceful.

"Could it be that devouring living people is the way that seal maintains stability? The sudden cessation of missing person events doesn't seem like a good sign either."

Dorothea guessed with a frown.

The doctor shook his head, his expression very serious:

"The church doesn't want to tell other ring warlock groups because they are worried that the news will leak and hostile forces will destroy the large-scale ritual that is about to be launched. This matter must not have any mistakes, otherwise the consequences will not be less than the descent of an evil god. Moreover, the academy also mentioned that this ritual is related to some chosen person...... Sorry, this part of the information given by the academy is very messy, just let us wait with peace of mind, and don't be nosy."

Xia De raised his eyebrows and looked at Luweiya on the side. The purple-eyed diviner also looked at him.

"The academy said that Priest August will definitely be rescued, let us rest assured."

The doctor was full of confidence.

"When did the academy become so concerned about correspondence ring warlocks like us?"

Dorothea asked strangely.

The doctor hesitated for a moment and lowered his voice:

"The academy didn't let me say it...... They suspect that Priest August is that 'chosen person'."

Luweiya pursed her lips, and Xia De's mouth twitched. Hearing Dr. Schneider say this, the priest is indeed likely to be the chosen one. The church's special actions clearly mean that the third chosen one will appear in Midhillburg, and they have already interpreted this part of the content from the "Whispering Poetry".

And the priest himself does have very special abilities. The blessings he bestows can even allow Xia De to travel safely in the 【Dark Domain】.

Although that ability seems to come from a level 0 relic in an accident the priest encountered when he was young, it is also possible that it is the priest's own power. Coupled with Priest August's inexplicable fall into the edge of life and death, and his magical performance all along, not to mention the academy, even Xia De had doubts at this moment.

"The academy and the church are cooperating, I think Priest August will definitely be rescued!"

Dorothea's voice pulled Xia De back from his chaotic thoughts. He nodded, and then saw Luweiya wink at him, so he said:

"But we can't stop on our side either. After all, no one knows what will happen next."

"That's right, Xia De, this will be hard for you."

The doctor patted Xia De on the shoulder beside him:

"However, there is no need to be as anxious as the past few days. Now we are mainly waiting for the actions of the church and the academy. As for our efforts, we only need to use them as a backup option."

He originally wanted to let everyone relax a bit, but saw Xia De shake his head seriously:

"Although the church and the academy have already intervened, whether they can succeed is uncertain now. In fact, I have already found a way to rescue Priest August."

"What? So fast?"

Dr. Schneider was very surprised.

"Did you know yesterday? Why didn't you tell us?"

Dorothea frowned slightly, while Luweiya immediately understood and looked at Xia De with purple eyes:

"Wait, Xia De, you don't want to enter that strange place and then rescue Priest August, do you?"

Although Xia De didn't say anything, Luweiya still guessed it. This might be the unique talent of diviners.

"Yes, and it's tonight. To be precise, it's after the sun sets......"

"What? This won't do!"

The doctor's reaction was more intense than anyone else's:

"We have already lost Priest August, we cannot lose you again. This group, this group......"

The doctor with blue eyes widened his eyes, his chest heaving violently, as if he couldn't breathe:

"Cannot lose anyone else! I have sworn that I want to protect everyone, just like......"

He didn't say the name of the previous team leader, but Xia De could understand the doctor's mood;

"Calm down, doctor, this is the best and most feasible method at present. None of you can go to Midhillburg, only I can go, so this matter should be done by me."

"Xia De!"

Dorothea's serious voice interrupted the conversation between Xia De and Dr. Schneider. The blonde young lady looked at him with wide eyes:

"You are going to take risks again?"

"If I don't take risks, I will never be able to catch the things I want."

Xia De's right hand was palm up, making a grasping motion in the air. Before Dorothea could object, he turned to Luweiya and said:

"You won't oppose me too, will you?"

Looking at Xia De's eyes, the purple-eyed girl pursed her lips and didn't say anything.

"The ritual is tonight, you can wait for my good news here."

Xia De had decided to take this risk, and judging from the information obtained so far, the risk this time was far lower than breaking into the dark domain and mistakenly entering the 【Fishbone Pirate Ship】.

The other three didn't speak. After a long while, Dr. Schneider sighed:

"You are going to take risks, what can we do for you? If you told us in advance, we could prepare some relics or alchemical props for you."

"These are not needed, I have prepared myself. However, we need to pool 3000 pounds for ritual materials. Friends in Midhillburg can help me for free, but we have to pay for the materials ourselves. My capital occupation is tight......"

Because he still had to acquire special blood, and the cash in Xia De's hand was only the 2000 pounds he got yesterday. On the premise of not selling valuable items like the Queen's ruby ring, he was really poor now.

The doctor interrupted Xia De's words:

"No need to be so troublesome, I'll take this 3000 pounds first. It just so happens that betting on you to win the Big City Player Championship made me win some money, so I'll use this money to rescue Priest August...... Although he is not in Tobesk, he is really reminding us not to gamble at all times."

No one laughed at this cold joke, only the orange cat who didn't understand anything yawned, and then patted Xia De's arm to let him hold it.

"I was actually just suggesting that the three of you take out 1000 pounds each first."

Xia De raised his eyebrows, and then Dorothea asked everyone's question. Dr. Schneider's performance was very suspicious:

"Doctor, how much did you bet on Xia De?"

Originally the doctor said he would bet 800 pounds, but taking out 3000 so easily this time, it was clear that he had won a lot.

"This."

The doctor touched his nose and turned to look out the window:

"Since my luck has always been bad, then when I finally encounter an opportunity to be lucky, how could I let it go, right? Our detective, hasn't he never lost when playing cards?"

The female diviner then gestured a "5" to the other two, not knowing whether it referred to 5000 pounds or a five-digit number...... It should be 5000 pounds. After all, even for this wealthy doctor, it was absolutely impossible to easily take out a five-digit gold pound.

There was nothing worth discussing in this week's study group. It was only two o'clock in the afternoon after the meeting. The doctor returned to his clinic for the time being and brought the 3000 pounds of cash to Xia De. However, he left immediately. After all, waiting at St. Teresa Square wouldn't be of any help.

Luweiya went upstairs to continue installing stargazing instruments and took care of little Mia by the way. Dorothea went to find Princess Lei Lei Qianya. Originally, the princess intended to leave the Swan Castle today to teach Xia De knowledge about 【Sleep】.

"What a pity."

When Xia De went downstairs to send Dorothea away, the blonde female writer said regretfully, and then suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed Xia De on the cheek:

"Be careful tonight."

As for Xia De, he didn't waste time in Tobesk. After saying goodbye to Mia at home, he took the prepared things and went directly to Midhillburg.

Of course, he didn't forget to remind Luweiya, who was busy on the third floor at home, that several maids would come here to clean in the afternoon.

Walking out from behind the hidden wall, he reached the ground through Lagley's Leap from the basement of the ruined tower. The bats were gone. After being attacked by Xia De last time, they probably understood that this place was no longer safe enough.

After walking out of the ruined tower, Xia De still looked at Midhillburg stretching to the north in the distance from behind the tower as usual, and then turned to walk into the forest.

He had walked this path more than once. When walking through the mountain forest, he identified the direction by the position of the sun. If there were obstacles that were difficult to cross, he would use "Lagley's Leap" to continue moving forward.

The time point for entering the mountain forest this time was just afternoon, and not long after Xia De left the ruined tower, mist rose in the mountains.

In the past few days, he had seen the mist of the Sikail Mountains in the city, but today, while walking, he was suddenly surrounded by the mist surging from the mountain. This was somewhat like the snowflakes collapsing during an avalanche, and also like the seawater swallowing the land during a tsunami.

The rolling thick fog poured down, but in a moment's time, the mist lingering in the mountain forest made everything around it become foggy.