Chapter 389

There is a term called vivid and lifelike.

Lin Ke's true spirit that emerged from the aperture on his head is just like that, exuding an incomparably vivid feeling.

The true spirit of the suspected isotope, however, is deathly still, completely lacking liveliness.

It is not even comparable to the undead fire of the undead civilization world.

It does not resemble a living being; rather, it looks like a fragmented true spirit that some mighty expert fished out of the river of time, patched together and glued together, a plaything.

Ha!

Luotesinuo let out a strange laugh, saying with a hint of regret, 'I was just about to unveil the mystery, but you figured it out yourself.'

"Discover what?"

Lin Ke, hearing this, retorted with a puzzled, clueless expression, speaking sincerely from the heart.

"You don't understand?"

Now it was Luotesinuo's turn to be suspicious.

"I don't understand."

Lin Ke shook his head, withdrew his out-of-aperture true spirit, and replied candidly, 'I merely sensed that his true spirit was abnormal.'

As he said this, Lin Ke couldn't help but recall his experiences in the immortal martial arts world.

Those memories are veiled like frosted glass, not clear, and one cannot deeply immerse oneself in them, like watching an old black-and-white film.

Yet the images and sounds do exist, and can be recalled at any time.

In the immortal martial arts world, one's cultivation, study, and breakthroughs cannot be feigned.

Lin Ke not only based himself on construct martial arts, formally establishing the current construct wizard school, but also drew much nourishment from the immortal martial arts system.

Such is the development and growth of the wizard civilization.

Embracing all, accommodating a hundred rivers.

Never despising other civilizations, and extremely adept at drawing nourishment from them to strengthen itself.

Therefore, the significance of the immortal martial arts world to Lin Ke goes far beyond merely being his natal world.

This realization sprouted deep in his heart, and Lin Ke suddenly felt moved.

The barrier between the fourth-rank sage and fifth-rank sage has disappeared.

As long as Lin Ke wishes, he can advance at any time.

"Huh?"

"Oh?"

Even the fleeting aura fluctuation that vanished from Lin Ke's body in an instant was still noticed by Dean Fulisite and Luotesinuo.

The two almost simultaneously voiced their doubts, looking at Lin Ke speechlessly.

Is this the result of deep accumulation leading to sudden breakthrough, or merely a flash of inspiration?

A matter of discerning truth from falsehood and investigating the underlying intent unexpectedly became an opportunity for advancement.

Doing it this way makes advancement seem far too easy!

However, Dean Fulisite and Luotesinuo are both well-informed and knowledgeable.

Especially Luotesinuo, what kind of genius has he not seen?

The two were merely surprised for a moment, then each composed their emotions and focused on the matter at hand.

Luotesinuo continued the topic that had been interrupted by Lin Ke's out-of-aperture true spirit operation, explaining, 'Strictly speaking, this person is not Lin Ke's parallel-universe isotope; merely, their true spirit affinities are highly similar. The Heavenly Court of the Immortal-God Civilization can, based on highly similar true spirit affinities, make an anchor, thereby arranging some matters related to Lin Ke on the level of fate.'

"So, the layout of Xu Jing Heavenly Master in the immortal martial arts world came about like this?"

Lin Ke, upon hearing this, immediately asked with concern.

"Of course."

Luotesinuo nodded, then added, 'Although Xu Jing Heavenly Master's rank is high, equivalent to a ninth-rank grand sage, he alone still cannot achieve a cosmic layout. Even if the passage between the two universes was destined to open thousands of years ago, even without a passage for personnel to travel back and forth, the two universes can still exchange information.'

Dean Fulisite then spoke up, asking, 'Therefore, do you think the layout targeting Lin Ke in the so-called immortal martial arts world is the collective work of the Heavenly Court of the Immortal-God Civilization?'

"At least it is the collective work of the Heavenly Master's Abbey, and the Zu Heavenly Master, who holds the rank of a Sage, definitely participated."

Luotesinuo answered with firm conviction.

However, upon the utterance of the three words 'Zu Heavenly Master,' Dean Fulisite did not feel the happiness of having his doubts resolved; his expression turned exceedingly grave.

The Sage rank possesses a characteristic: whenever its name is spoken, it must be known.

According to the unseen connection, a Sage can, even across distant voids, lock onto anyone who utters their name.

Luotesinuo is the reincarnation of the Nuosite Luodamu Sage, specializing in prophecy and curses.

According to the Immortal-God Civilization, in the fields of probing heavenly secrets and concealing heavenly secrets, they possess an extremely high, extremely high, extremely high level.

However, Dean Fulisite and Lin Ke are not like that.

Luotesinuo can freely speak the name of Zu Heavenly Master, but Dean Fulisite and Lin Ke, even without mentioning it, merely being in this place will inevitably be known to Zu Heavenly Master.

Even a single Xu Jing Heavenly Master has already given Dean Fulisite a huge headache, making him feel extremely hard to deal with.

And then comes an even more formidable Zu Heavenly Master.

Isn't this equivalent to the Ruowesos i Academy directly facing off against the West Coast Elemental Wizard Sage and its subordinate Elemental Arcane Society that rules the West Coast?

In other words, that's basically courting death!

"Don't worry, nothing will happen."

Luotesinuo saw Dean Fulisite's worry, waved his hand, and said unconcernedly, 'With me here, he cannot sense what is happening in this place.'

"Is that so?"

The suspected isotope brought by Luotesinuo suddenly spoke, its voice hoarse, revealing the weight of long ages: 'Old man, I cannot sense it, can I not even hear it?'

This aberration startled Dean Fulisite.

Lin Ke instinctively stepped back a few paces, increasing the distance from the suspected isotope.

The pentagram between the eyebrows shone brightly; the natal construct and all other series sets could be activated at any time.

Whether to fight, defend, flee, or survive at the limit, it all lay in a single thought.

Full of confidence, Luòtèsīnuò obviously hadn't expected such a thing to happen, and was caught off guard.

When he found this suspected isotope, he had clearly conducted an extremely detailed examination.

From inside to outside, from top to bottom, no suspicious spot was found.

Who would have thought he'd be caught off guard—really somewhat embarrassing.

Whether Dean Fúlǐsītè, Lin Ke, or Luòtèsīnuò, all are individuals of great composure.

After a brief shock, the three quickly regained their composure.

Dean Fúlǐsītè and Lin Ke exchanged a glance, tacitly handing over the speaking initiative here to Luòtèsīnuò.

The reincarnation of this Sage Nuòsīluòdámù is to face the Ancestral Heavenly Master of the Immortal-Deity Celestial Court's Heavenly Master Office, whose rank equals that of a Wizard Civilization Sage.

Luòtèsīnuò had no time for Dean Fúlǐsītè and Lin Ke's petty thoughts and schemes; stepping forward, he was directly confronted by the suspected isotope whose body had been taken over by the Ancestral Heavenly Master, who asked in puzzlement: "Ancestral Heavenly Master, how did you evade my inspection?"

"Whether I evaded or not makes no difference."

Facing Luòtèsīnuò's very direct question, the Ancestral Heavenly Master waved his hand and chuckled, "I merely seized the first-move advantage. This body is one I refined; this true spirit is one I pieced together. Things made by my hand—how could retrieving them be difficult?"

"I see."

Luòtèsīnuò nodded, grasping the crux of it.

It indeed had a factory-installed backdoor, truly indefensible. No longer paying attention to this, Luòtèsīnuò directly asked: "I don't know what the Ancestral Heavenly Master aims to achieve with such elaborate arrangements and a personal appearance."

The Ancestral Heavenly Master's reply was also simple, and he chuckled: "Your disciples all say that in your Wizard Civilization you value directness, straightforwardness, disliking beating around the bush. Indeed, I have experienced it—truly straightforward."

"Heh..."

Luòtèsīnuò returned a cold snort, but had no intention of continuing to speak.

His attitude was quite clear.

"Not answering my question and beating around the bush is useless."

"Since you've shown yourself in person, you surely have a plan; let's see how long you can keep evading."

The Ancestral Heavenly Master was utterly unaware of Luòtèsīnuò's intent; seeing that Luòtèsīnuò showed no sign of continuing his questioning, he actually cast Luòtèsīnuò aside, turned his gaze to Lin Ke, who made no effort to hide his vigilance, and greeted with a smile: "Long time no see."

That greeting directly caused countless questions to arise in Lin Ke's mind.

"Have we met before?"

"Probably not."

"If we haven't, how can it be 'long time no see'?"

Dean Fúlǐsītè was also puzzled, eagerly awaiting the Ancestral Heavenly Master's explanation.

Luòtèsīnuò was not angered by being ignored by the Ancestral Heavenly Master; he simply observed the Ancestral Heavenly Master's words and deeds in silence.

Suppressing the doubts welling up in his heart, Lin Ke met the Ancestral Heavenly Master's gaze and calmly asked: "Ancestral Heavenly Master, when did we meet?"

The Ancestral Heavenly Master chuckled: "Back then, your true spirit was ignorant, so you don't remember, but I recall it clearly. Although it was over 1,700 years ago, it remains vivid in my mind."

"Please enlighten us, Ancestral Heavenly Master."

Lin Ke thought for a moment, then, following the etiquette of the Immortal-Deity Civilization, bowed with his hands clasped.

Dean Fúlǐsītè and Luòtèsīnuò both heightened their attention, wanting to hear carefully the Ancestral Heavenly Master's account of "past events".

The Ancestral Heavenly Master raised his right hand, pressed his index and middle fingers together, and touched the glabella of this body, forcing out the lifeless true spirit, and said in a low voice:

"That year, I wandered the starry universe, probing the limits of cosmos, tracing back along the river of time."

During that period I encountered various difficulties, overcame them one by one, and finally arrived at the source of the river of time.

The rivers of time of various universes differ in length and speed.

Only the source appears to be common.

The barriers between universes are also weakened to the extreme at the source.

Although they still hinder direct communication between different universes, information can still be transmitted through certain means.

Because of this trait, I happened to encounter the True Spirit Sage of your Supreme Council at the source of the time river in our respective universes.

Thereafter, separated by the barrier between the two universes, we conducted an extremely hasty exchange, establishing the tone of mutual aid between the Immortal-Deity Civilization and the Wizard Civilization.

The True Spirit Sage departed first, while I lingered on, observing the source of the time river.

Just then, a great battle suddenly erupted at the source of the time river in the other universe.

The battle's intensity was extremely high, actually disturbing the source of that universe's time river and even affecting me here.

Although this influence was minuscule, I could not ignore it, so I intervened to help ease the source of the time river.

Had I not acted, all would have been well; but by acting, I brought trouble upon myself.

For some reason, the barrier at the source of that universe's time river developed a small breach.

Two beams of light burst forth from that small breach.

At the time I was busy stabilizing the time river, unable to act to block them, I could only watch helplessly as the two beams of light dissipated.

Afterward, one beam of light vanished without trace, while the other miraculously passed through the link between our two universes and entered your Wizard Civilization's starry realm.

Later, when I had free time to review what I had observed, I discovered that those two beams of light concealed two true spirits.

At this point, the Ancestral Heavenly Master paused, pointed at Lin Ke, and continued: "You are precisely the true spirit that entered the Wizard Civilization's starry realm; during the process you dropped some insignificant debris, which I collected and formed into what you call an isotope."

After hearing the Ancestral Heavenly Master's origin, Lin Ke fell into deep thought.

Dean Fúlǐsītè furrowed his brows tightly, wondering what he was thinking.

Luòtèsīnuò then asked curiously: "Is it really unknown where that other beam of light ended? I doubt it, Ancestral Heavenly Master. Sages know their own capabilities, and I am quite clear on that. I don't believe you were truly so busy then that you couldn't act, nor could you track it."

"Indeed, I do not know where it ended."

Facing the doubt, the Ancestral Heavenly Master chuckled, then responded seriously: "That is the fact; if you don't believe me, I won't force you to."

"Heh..."

Luotesinuo returned with a cold snort, his attitude quite obvious.

Disbelief is disbelief.

Lin Ke came out of his contemplation just then, sincerely yet directly asked: "Ancestral Heavenly Master, I don't know why you have gone to such trouble to arrange things—what do you want to get from me?"

"What do you want to get?"

The Ancestral Heavenly Master repeated a few words from Lin Ke's sentence, then said: "Actually, there's not much. First, I want to know what exactly happened at the source of the cosmic time river on that side back then. Second, I want to trace the whereabouts of another beam of light through you."

"Through me?"

Lin Ke was quite puzzled: "Why do you need to find out where that other beam of light is? Why can I find out where that other beam of light is through me?"

"The reason involves heavenly court secrets; it's not convenient to reveal."

This time the Ancestral Heavenly Master finally did not answer every question, apologetically saying: "Little friend Lin Ke, I have appeared this time with no other purpose—just a sudden whim to greet you. When the interest arises, I act; when it fades, I return. I'm leaving now; we'll meet again next time."

As his words fell, the Ancestral Heavenly Master's consciousness disappeared from the body that seemed like an isotope.

Before Luotesinuo could make a move, the isotope-like figure was erased like a drawing on paper rubbed away by an eraser, starting from the soles of his feet, bit by bit.

In a moment, all traces of the isotope-like existence vanished.

"Quite a method."

Luotesinuo sighed from the heart.

Rank is rank, realm is realm, strength is strength.

The three cannot be lumped together.

Luotesinuo, as the reincarnation of the Nostradamus Saint, through some arrangements made in his previous life, can still forcibly regain the saint's rank after reincarnation.

However, the wizard's realm and strength require a recovery process.

To put it bluntly, Luotesinuo now has high aspirations but low ability.

He had just been able to see what the Ancestral Heavenly Master intended, but couldn't react in time to stop it.

This, however, was a response from the Ancestral Heavenly Master.

Aimed at Luotesinuo's earlier arrogant remark, "With me here, he can't sense what's happening here."

"Indeed, quite a method."

Dean Freister also sighed at this moment.

Only, the point of his sigh was very different from Luotesinuo's.

The Ancestral Heavenly Master left quietly, just as he had come quietly, flicking his sleeves without taking away a single cloud.

Yet he left behind several riddles.

All riddle people deserve to die!