Chapter 396

Lotessno did not let his guard down.

Michel, this old brat, is not easy to get along with.

The Heavenly Master's Mansion is no pushover.

A Xu Jing Heavenly Master, blending truth and falsehood, leaves one unable to discern the context.

An Ancestral Heavenly Master, deep and inscrutable, leaves one unable to tell his position.

In this meeting, it's unclear whether the Ancestral Heavenly Master is laying a trap for Great Sage Michel or for Lotessno, and Lotessno can't be sure.

That's the crux of the problem.

So, facing Michel the Great Sage's self-revelation and earnest request, Lotessno merely replied in a cold voice: "What deals you made with the Celestial Gods Civilization Heavenly Court and the Heavenly Master's Mansion, I don't want to know. I also don't want to know how you learned that the Heavenly Master's Mansion can summon me. Your connections, your channels, your lifespan, your promotion—those are your affairs; handle them yourself. As for my affairs, don't overreach. I will direct my killing intent toward whomever I choose, and I will kill whomever I choose. Do you understand?"

Having said that, Lotessno pushed aside the tea cup in front of him, stood up, and was about to leave the hall.

The seated Great Sage Michel remained expressionless; though he felt a surge of anger inside, he spoke calmly: "Sage, why not give it more thought? After all, having one more friend is always better than having one more enemy."

No need to think about it. I won't befriend someone who tries to rob me.

Lotessno firmly refused and at the same time walked toward the hall's door.

This hall is where the Ancestral Heavenly Master practices his Dao.

No matter who arrives, while the Ancestral Heavenly Master is present, one cannot break through space to achieve the shifting of heaven and earth.

Thus, Lotessno's multiple entries and exits were all on foot.

It's just a few steps, taking only a few seconds, and requires hardly any effort.

Just as Lotessno reached the hall door and was about to pull it open, Great Sage Michel let out a soft sigh: "Sage, I truly have little time left. To stay alive, I am willing to do anything, and I can do anything."

Oh?

Lotessno stopped, turned around, and with a slight smile looked at Great Sage Michel, asking, "Are you threatening me?"

I wouldn't dare threaten the Sage; I'm merely stating the facts.

Great Sage Michel lifted the tea cup, took a light sip, then indifferently said, "But treating the Sage as a threat is also acceptable."

Heh...

Lotessno, the Sage, burst into a happy laugh.

After laughing for a long while, Lotessno gave Great Sage Michel a deep look, said nothing more, turned, and left the hall.

Great Sage Michel watched Lotessno's retreating back, his eyes deep and unfathomable, wondering what he was thinking.

The Ancestral Heavenly Master's silhouette appeared suddenly, just as it had when he vanished.

Did the talks fall apart?

After pouring himself a cup of tea, the Ancestral Heavenly Master smelled its fragrance and asked slowly.

As expected.

Great Sage Michel sat down again, saying, "It's normal for talks to break down; it's abnormal for them to succeed."

If that's the case, why bother talking at all?

The Ancestral Heavenly Master inquired curiously.

How can we know the exact outcome without discussing it?

Great Sage Michel took another small sip of tea, then abruptly shifted the conversation: "Ancestral Heavenly Master, I always have a feeling that the Heavenly Master's Mansion has other plans, not genuinely helping me; please enlighten me."

Why do you feel that way?

The Ancestral Heavenly Master did not answer but instead posed a counter-question.

Intuition.

Great Sage Michel stared into the Ancestral Heavenly Master's deep, abyss-like eyes and gave a brief explanation.

Intuition? Your intuition seems spot on—no wonder you once tried to seize the position of the Mystic System Witch Sage.

Also term: Michel (already).

The Ancestral Heavenly Master let out a sigh, then frankly and directly answered Great Sage Michel's earlier question.

Upon hearing this, Great Sage Michel straightened his posture and solemnly asked: "Ancestral Heavenly Master, could you please tell me the reason and your other plans?"

Of course... I cannot.

After gently setting down the tea cup he had been playing with, the Ancestral Heavenly Master took a breath and spoke his sentence in two parts.

Great Sage Michel was unaffected by the heavy breath.

Because when he made that request, Great Sage Michel did not expect the Ancestral Heavenly Master to agree.

With no expectations, there is naturally no disappointment.

Then why ask at all?

Obviously, he was just probing.

From the Ancestral Heavenly Master's answer and demeanor, Great Sage Michel already obtained the answer he sought.

The Heavenly Master's Mansion, regarding its support for Great Sage Michel's change of cultivation, indeed has other intentions.

Moreover, this plan will surely harm Great Sage Michel's interests.

Having confirmed this, Great Sage Michel rose to prepare his departure.

Won't you stay a little longer?

The Ancestral Heavenly Master spoke up to retain him, though his tone lacked enthusiasm.

No, I've already disturbed the Ancestral Heavenly Master's retreat; I dare not bother him further.

Great Sage Michel politely declined, then turned and left the hall without looking back, departing the Heavenly Master's Mansion.

Not long after, the Xu Jing Heavenly Master who had seen off both Lotessno and Great Sage Michel entered the hall.

All items related to tea have been cleared away by the Ancestral Heavenly Master.

The hall returned to tranquility.

The Ancestral Heavenly Master sat on the mat, unworldly and free from dust.

Void Tranquil Celestial Master did not rashly speak out to disturb, and patiently waited a while.

Not long after, Ancestral Celestial Master opened his eyes and said, "Void Tranquil, our attitude has been expressed clearly enough; the Wizard Civilization's Supreme Council, having gone through this, will not further obstruct our progress in developing their universe. Let's get the necessary preparations underway."

"Yes, Ancestral Master."

Void Tranquil Celestial Master received the order, left the hall, and carried out the established plan.

On the other side, Lo Te Si Nuo crossed the boundless void and returned to the vicinity of the forward detachment's wartime defense zone at Ruowosisuoxueyuan.

He did not rush to reveal himself.

Lo Te Si Nuo briefly resumed the Sage's status, and a seven-colored light flashed in his eyes.

Countless lines of various colors—straight or slanted, thick or thin, long or short—rapidly appeared and shifted before Lo Te Si Nuo's eyes.

Each line represented a possible fate.

Prophecy consists of selecting, from these countless possible fates, the one most likely to come true.

Most likely does not mean absolute.

After all, this moment, that moment—times change, circumstances shift, and fate is constantly changing.

A couple of months ago, Lo Te Si Nuo had foreseen that Moxieer Daxianzhe was highly likely to order a killing strike on the forward detachment of Ruowosisuoxueyuan, but after having just met Moxieer Daxianzhe, that changed.

Moxieer Daxianzhe changed from ordering a killing strike to ordering a deadly strike, and the timing of the move was also moved up by over half a month.

In other words, Lo Te Si Nuo's meeting with and refusal of Moxieer Daxianzhe this time gave the latter a great stimulus.

It caused a change in Moxieer Daxianzhe's mindset.

"Fate, you little bitch!"

Withdrawing from the prophetic state, retracting the Sage's status, Lo Te Si Nuo spat out a curse, feeling somewhat displeased.

Fulisite. Diomande had a saying that was quite correct.

Even if Ruowosisuoxueyuan were destroyed, it would actually not have too great an impact on Lo Te Si Nuo.

The key is that it should not be destroyed at this time.

From any angle, Ruowosisuoxueyuan has given considerable help to Lo Te Si Nuo's renewed growth.

Whether it's human favor, investment, bearing burden, or karma, these four ways can all describe the bond between Lo Te Si Nuo and Ruowosisuoxueyuan.

Moreover, Ruowosisuoxueyuan also houses Lo Te Si Nuo's in‑law family—his older brother, sister‑in‑law, and niece—in this lifetime.

These bonds truly exist and cannot be severed in the short term.

Therefore, Lo Te Si Nuo cannot stand by and watch Ruowosisuoxueyuan collapse now.

Whether Moxieer Daxianzhe's advancement or conversion, from any angle, Lo Te Si Nuo must destroy it.

Originally, Lo Te Si Nuo did not want to confront Moxieer Daxianzhe directly.

After all, he currently possesses only the Sage's status and lacks the full combat power of a complete form.

Even if he could pay some price to unleash his full pre‑reincarnation strength in a short time, it would be extremely uneconomical.

Drawing ahead is a loan that must be repaid.

However, whether it is the will of the Wizard World or the celestial court and Celestial Master's residence of the Immortal‑God Civilization, all are pushing Lo Te Si Nuo and Moxieer Daxianzhe into direct confrontation.

"Alas!"

He drew a deep sigh, and Lo Te Si Nuo decided not to evade any longer.

What is meant to come will come; you cannot dodge it.

Since all sides want him to face the Moxieer Daxianzhe whose lifespan is ending and who will inevitably stake everything in a life‑or‑death struggle, let's grant their wish.

After due consideration, Lo Te Si Nuo straightened his expression, and the Transformation Period quietly ended.

After reincarnation, his true realm is that of a Fourth‑Level Sage.

Thus, the cost of drawing ahead will be somewhat less, and the time he can exert his full strength will be a bit longer.

The other party, Moxieer Daxianzhe, who had already returned to the new base, suddenly felt something.

"Is this my Sage's tribulation?"

After carefully contemplating the feeling that had just arisen, Moxieer Daxianzhe murmured to himself.

Whether it is the Wizard Civilization's wizard system or the Immortal‑God Civilization's immortal‑god system, advancing to Sage, Heavenly Venerable, or Heavenly Immortal always entails a tribulation.

Overcoming this tribulation allows one to advance.

If one cannot break it, advancement fails—lightly resulting in serious injury and regression of realm, heavily leading to death.

Moxieer Daxianzhe's earlier seizure of the position of the Mystic System Wizard Sage can be seen as the tribulation of reincarnation of the Nuositeluodamu Sage, or as Lo Te Si Nuo's incomplete Sage tribulation.

Nowadays, under the joint push of many parties, Lo Te Si Nuo and Moxieer Daxianzhe facing each other are both tribulations.

To Moxieer Daxianzhe, this is the Sage's tribulation and also the lifespan tribulation, which he must pass.

If he cannot pass it, there is no other outcome—only death and disappearance of the Dao.

To Lo Te Si Nuo, this can be regarded as the aftermath of his previous incomplete Sage tribulation, or as a bond‑tribulation.

There are many paths ahead; whether he can get past it or not is irrelevant.

The Immortal‑God Civilization's celestial court promised Moxieer Daxianzhe that it would ensure his successful conversion and advancement to Heavenly Venerable.

The crux lies in Lo Te Si Nuo's mindset while undergoing the tribulation.

From this point of view, Void Tranquil Celestial Master, representing the celestial court in negotiations with Moxieer Daxianzhe, did not lie.

Only, the Celestial Master's residence has its own calculations in this matter.

In this affair, the weakest and most innocent party is none other than Ruowosisuoxueyuan.

Fulisite. Diomande, the president who was striving for self‑preservation and trying to avoid danger and seize opportunity in this crisis, hung up the encrypted video call, feeling rather heavy‑hearted.

The spokesmen of the other three Ninth‑Level Sages, upon hearing that Moxieer Daxianzhe had accepted the Immortal‑God Civilization's celestial court's support and was vainly seeking to convert to its system and advance to Heavenly Venerable, all expressed great shock.

This is already a concrete act of betrayal!

However, when Fulisite. Diomande mentioned that, if the Supreme Council issued a call to jointly attack Moxieer Daxianzhe and his tower, the three spokesmen all resorted to evasive talk.

Everyone is a leader of a witch faction, each a crafty person with eight hundred little schemes.

Dean Frister's calculations are crystal clear.

How could the spokespersons of the three ninth-level great sages possibly be used as pawns by the Rivulet Soth Academy to do something that benefits them nothing?

Most importantly, even if the Supreme Council truly regards Great Sage Michel and his tower as rebels and launches a punitive expedition, the main force should be the five direct-line sages of the Supreme Council.

They three only need to lend a hand, or even just wave flags and shout.

There's no need to charge to the front.

Thus, the spokespersons of the three ninth-level great sages directly refused Dean Frister's 'lianheng'.

This outcome, Dean Frister had already anticipated before placing the call.

What weighs heavily on him is not this result, but his current situation.

Great Sage Michel's tower wields too much power in the parallel universe.

Should a conflict truly arise, Great Sage Michel's tower need not exert its full strength; deploying less than a quarter of its power would be enough to rout the Rivulet Soth Academy's vanguard.

If Great Sage Michel himself takes action, and the Supreme Council's parallel universe office cannot respond in time or refuses to, while the other three ninth-level great sages stand by, even if the Rivulet Soth Academy's vanguard fields all four of its seventh-level great sages, they would only delay things briefly.

We lack one person to confront Great Sage Michel head-on.

Having gathered his heavy feelings, Dean Frister muttered to himself and continued his calculations.

In fact, regarding this matter, he has already done everything he can.

Now he's still mulling it over, simply because he's unwilling to accept it.

What are you thinking about?

Suddenly, a voice echoed faintly from behind.

Dean Frister's body jerked, he slowly turned around, and saw Lotessno—without a grimace, his demeanor greatly changed, his conduct even more unhinged—and felt utterly helpless.

People scaring people can frighten them to death, you know?

After the helplessness comes surprise and contemplation.

Lotessno was actually emanating the aura of someone who had just been promoted to fourth-level sage.

As a reincarnated sage, could Lotessno possibly fail to control his aura?

Dean Frister absolutely does not believe that.

Then the question arises: why would Lotessno deliberately show, in front of him, that he has recovered to fourth-level sage?

Dean Frister's eyes flashed with sharp insight.

One thing after another surfaced in his mind, and detail after detail became linked.

Suddenly, Dean Frister understood.

Looking at Lotessno, even if he merely stands still, one can see an unmistakable madness; Dean Frister's lips moved as he spoke.

So that's how it is.