Chapter 401: with translation of chapter title

Fishing is a technical task.

There are many nuances to it.

Even just the topic of bait has many theories.

By definition, bait is any substance that can attract fish or induce them to bite in angling, and it is indispensable.

Based on how they attract fish, bait is divided into real bait and fake bait.

Real bait refers to edible animal or plant matter that fish can eat.

Fake bait, also called an imitation or lure, is a small device made of plastic, metal, or other materials that resembles small fish, shrimp, or insects.

The difference is that one can be eaten and digested, while the other can be eaten but not digested.

Lotesno, taking advantage of the situation, laid two baits for Michel the Great Sage, who wanted to fish.

One bait is his cheap older brother and sister-in-law; the other is the advance team of Ruiwosuosi Academy.

As for which bait is real and which is fake...

Judging by the current situation, the Ruiwosuosi Academy advance team is more likely to be the real bait.

After all, the advance team's losses are real, not feigned.

Those damaged warships, equipment, and arcane implements; those sacrificed elite mages of every rank; the wreckage and corpses—all still lie there.

Even the advance team's losses are still growing.

Dean Fulisite tried every means to halt this trend, but many proved ineffective.

Thus, Dean Fulisite simply changed his tack.

Since we cannot reduce losses, let's trade injury for injury, life for life.

Does Michel the Great Sage's Tower intend to wipe out the Ruiwosuosi Academy advance team entirely?

Yes.

Let's exchange equal or even greater losses.

Besides, Dean Fulisite is also scheming to deal Michel the Great Sage and his Tower a harsher blow.

To carry out this retaliation, relying solely on Ruiwosuosi Academy's strength will certainly not suffice.

Even the High Council's parallel-universe office is no longer reliable.

Then we can only seek ideas from the other three ninth-rank Great Sages.

If not forced, Dean Fulisite would not want to face the spokespeople of the three ninth-rank Great Sages with such a hardline stance.

Doing so, whether it succeeds or not, will earn Dean Fulisite, Ruiwosuosi Academy, and the three ninth-rank Great Sages a grudge.

However, Dean Fulisite no longer can afford to worry about that.

The spokespeople of the three ninth-rank Great Sages fell silent after hearing Dean Fulisite's extremely hardline questioning.

At this point, it's a test of who has greater composure.

Whoever speaks first will lose more than a notch in momentum.

Nobody likes being in a weak position.

Moreover, the one who should be most anxious now is Ruiwosuosi Academy—specifically Dean Fulisite. Diomande.

Not the three ninth-rank Great Sages!

Do you really think ascending to Holy One is that easy?

Does receiving aid and support from the celestial court of the immortal‑god civilization guarantee ascension?

It's practically a huge joke!

The immortal‑god civilization is only slightly stronger than the present wizard civilization, but this is not the wizard civilization's heyday.

What the heavenly court can do, even if it is not as good as before, the High Council can do as well.

Ninth-rank Great Sages who are disciples of the five Holy Ones are not few; among them are even the personal disciples of five Holy Ones.

If they receive aid and support, they will certainly be able to complete ascension; the High Council's balance would already have shifted dramatically.

Thus, the spokespeople of the three ninth-rank Great Sages are not at all anxious.

Even if Fulisite. Diomande is quite correct.

Seeing this, Dean Fulisite also said nothing further.

Many things are uncertain; as long as one does one's best, that's enough.

After briefly composing himself and giving the three ninth-rank Great Sages time to consider, Dean Fulisite received no reply, ended the video call, and then waited.

He waits, wondering whether any of the spokespeople will choose to contact him privately.

In the Void, Lotesno, by some means, witnessed all of Fulisite. Diomande's various attempts.

Upon seeing Fulisite. Diomande sitting in a dark corner of the room, guarding several encrypted communicators, his face half in shadow, half pallid from the glow of an exploding starship, Lotesno let out a faint sigh.

"For the greater good!"

He whispered softly; Lotesno's eyelids drooped slightly, veiling the complex emotions in his eyes.

"What are you sighing about?"

Suddenly, a feeble, elderly voice came from behind Lotesno.

"Nothing."

Lotesno was not surprised by the arrival of the person behind him; he naturally turned and gave a perfunctory reply.

"Really?"

The visitor obviously did not believe it, expressed skepticism, but did not press further.

"Long time no see; the last time we met, I was thinking, still…"

Lotesno raised his left eyebrow, then frowned as he spoke, adopting a thoughtful look, and finally chuckled, asking, "The last time, then?"

"Yes."

The visitor nodded very solemnly, earnestly agreeing, "The last time we met was still the last time."

Getting a response and cooperation from the prank, Luotesinuo instead found it boring.

Perhaps, pranking is not something that varies by person.

It's not just anyone; responding and cooperating with one's pranks can make oneself happy.

Luotesinuo really wanted to get a response and cooperation from his cheap older brother and sister-in-law, but unfortunately didn't.

"You've changed, become somewhat unfamiliar."

The visitor is very familiar with Luotesinuo, or rather Luotesinuo's past life, the Nostredamus Saint.

Through some very inconspicuous details, this conclusion was drawn.

And they said it outright without hesitation.

"Of course."

Luotesinuo grinned, revealing eight neat white teeth, and cheerfully admitted, "I've also noticed that I've changed, differing greatly from before."

After a pause, Luotesinuo wiped the smile from his face and asked back, "Otherwise, why does everyone treat me as a reincarnated saint rather than as the Nostredamus Saint? Reincarnation is reincarnation; the true spirit hasn't changed, so that only means the core of a person remains unchanged. Accessories and decorations change, and so does the person."

"You've had this mindset for a while—how good!"

The visitor wholeheartedly agreed with Luotesinuo's view on core, accessories, and decorations, and their words revealed deep regret for Luotesinuo.

It seems some of Luotesinuo's choices have led him down a rough path, causing some negative effects and situations.

"If only I'd known earlier? Who has that many opportunities to know beforehand?"

Luotesinuo curled the corner of his mouth in a sneer: "Nostredamus, as a mystic wizard saint specializing in prophecy and curses, couldn't manage to know beforehand either, which led to his later extinction and rendered the many reincarnation backups he set up useless; what can I, a mere saint reincarnation, do?"

"What are you trying to say?"

A few tiny arcs of electricity flickered in the visitor's eyes, suggesting some displeasure with Luotesinuo's rather sarcastic tone of speech.

"Nothing much; those who understand get it, those who don't can just forget it."

Luotesinuo wouldn't indulge the visitor, firing back directly: "But to understand and then pretend not to is truly shameless and base."

"Really?"

The visitor paid no heed to Luotesinuo's sarcasm, forcibly switched the topic, and asked, "Do you think you can wait for the person you're waiting for?"

"I don't know."

Luotesinuo shrugged his shoulders, shamelessly playing dumb, and said, "I don't want to guess either. If you know something, say it; if you don't want to, just forget it. No need to waste my time here."

"He won't come."

The visitor gave Luotesinuo, who was playing dumb, a deep look, his voice low.

"Really?"

Luotesinuo mimicked the visitor's demeanor and tone, squeezing out a sound from his nose.

As the words fell, another person entered this Void, joining the conversation: "Who won't come? Me?"

"Not you."

"Not you!"

Luotesinuo and the first visitor replied in unison with the same wording but different tones.

"Then I'll leave."

Seeing that, the second visitor responded cheerfully, dropped that line, and left this Void.

The kicker is, this person also isolated and protected the coordinates of this Void.

From now on, no one can freely enter or leave this Void.

To enter, one must obtain the unanimous consent of Luotesinuo, the first visitor, and the second visitor.

"Zhenling, this guy is still so annoying."

Luotesinuo suddenly let out a sigh, then looked at the first visitor: "Yuansu, you're just as annoying."

"Really?"

The first visitor, called Yuansu, replied likewise.

It seems 'Really?' has become his catchphrase.

"Yes."

This time, Luotesinuo gave a very direct response.

"Then, in your view, how about the Mechmasters, Body Refiners, and Beast Tamers—are they annoying too?"

"They annoy me even more than you do."

"That's truly my honor."

"If you feel honored, just enjoy it to yourself."

After several exchanges, Luotesinuo and Yuansu both fell silent, not speaking or laughing.

This Void suddenly fell into silence.

The second visitor, called Zhenling, poked his head in, wondering: "Did your talk break down? Why no sound? I was enjoying it! Keep going, keep chatting. I love listening to you two bicker—it's fun."

Saying that, Zhenling looked at Luotesinuo and earnestly emphasized: "Over all these years you've been gone, I've often missed watching you and Yuansu bicker."

"Shut up."

"Shut your stinking mouth!"

Yuansu and Luotesinuo simultaneously turned their ire toward the contemptible Zhenling, shouting in unison.

Their tones were similar, both showing disgust and annoyance.

Their wording differed slightly.

Yuansu's wording was somewhat more indignant.

Obviously, according to Zhenling's account, over all these years Luotesinuo has been gone, the nostalgic Zhenling must have often disturbed Yuansu.

Oh.

True Spirit gave a muffled reply, looking somewhat downcast, and sullenly drew its head back.

The Void returned to silence.

However, not long after, True Spirit again poked its head in quietly, looking at Luotesinuo, and said weakly, "It seems the person you're waiting for has arrived."

As it spoke, True Spirit blinked its left eyelid.

The Void suddenly displayed a light curtain, showing a star field not far from this location.

The Great Sage Mixieer, who had just shared tea with Luotesinuo not long ago, stood in space with hands clasped behind his back, his eyes deadened and devoid of luster, staring blankly ahead.

After a moment, his lifeless eyes gained a flicker of spirit, slightly shifted, and changed his gaze direction.

Huh! Has he noticed us?

True Spirit suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the light curtain where the Great Sage Mixieer seemed to be making eye contact with Luotesinuo, and asked in surprise.

Luotesinuo had no patience for the lowly True Spirit at the moment, calmly locking gazes with the Great Sage Mixieer from afar.

Instead, the Element gave True Spirit a glare, revealing some displeasure.

What are you glaring at?

True Spirit, unwilling to tolerate the Element, immediately snapped, "Do you still resent me for taking the Central Plains from you years ago and driving you to the West Coast? I'm not criticizing you, Element—you should broaden your horizons. It's just the Central Plains; if you want it, you can take it back, as long as you can defeat me."

Upon hearing this, the Element glared at True Spirit again, utterly displeased, but too lazy to quarrel with this lowly one, stepped forward and vanished.

Ah! Wait! Come back! Explain yourself clearly—what do you mean by staring at me like that? Come back and explain!

Seeing the Element leave without a word, True Spirit refused to stand for it, immediately cursing and chasing after it.

However, before leaving the Void, whether by accident or design, True Spirit casually shifted the Void instantaneously to the star field where the Great Sage Mixieer resided, and accommodated the Great Sage within it.

This brought Luotesinuo and the Great Sage Mixieer into face-to-face confrontation, rather than remote gazing.

A flicker of resentment flashed in Luotesinuo's eyes.

The Element showed up without greeting; Luotesinuo felt annoyed but didn't mind much.

It was merely a few exchanged taunts, with no real effect.

True Spirit's actions were far beyond mere mischief; they were outright malicious.

Fulisite Diomande's plans were actually not problematic; neither the Supreme Council nor the three Ninth-level Great Sages, aware that the Great Sage Mixieer had defected to the Immortal-Deity Civilization and, with Heavenly Court support, stood a high chance of ascending to Sainthood, could remain indifferent as before.

At the very least, they would exert seventy to eighty percent of their strength, if not full force.

Thus, the Advance Team of Ruowosuosi Academy might truly be able to avoid danger and seize opportunity amidst the crisis.

However, True Spirit's several covert maneuvers steered events in a completely different direction.

Not only did Ruowosuosi Academy's Advance Team suffer heavy losses, but Luotesinuo's fishing scheme was utterly ruined.

Although the fish had reached his hands, the true bait he cast was swallowed, the fake bait struggled to preserve itself, and the hook failed to pierce the fish's mouth, naturally lacking the process of playing the fish that would exhaust its strength.

In short, Luotesinuo would have to engage in a genuine battle with a dying Ninth-level Great Sage who was at peak condition and desperately seeking survival.

If Luotesinuo were willing to do that, why would he need to expend such effort scattering bait and preparing grounds?

How vexing.

Alright!