Chapter 403: Throat

Within the light cone, that is fate.

Enveloping Michel the Great Sage…… oh, no, it should be Michel the Celestial Venerable's, not a net, but fate.

No matter how sudden the incident, Michel the Celestial Venerable, who had just completed his promotion, could still react in time and respond immediately.

However, Michel the Celestial Venerable's attempt to break free from the light cone's enclosure and the bonds of fate failed.

It failed utterly!

"Don't try anymore, you can't break free."

Lotessno beside him spoke, his tone devoid of mockery, only a faint pity and the sorrow of empathizing with another's plight.

Upon hearing this, Michel the Celestial Venerable truly heeded Lotessno's advice, ceased struggling, turned his eyes toward Lotessno, and awaited his explanation.

Lotessno shook his head slightly, sighed, and said: "Michel, you are too impatient. Your intense desire for survival blinded your eyes, preventing you from seeing many things, leading you to make many mistakes. Repeatedly extending your lifespan is one, abandoning the founding of your own wizard school is one, attempting to seize the position of the Mystic System Wizard Sage is one, going all‑in to come to a parallel universe is one, accepting the sponsorship of the Celestial Gods' Heavenly Court is another."

He paused, and Lotessno's tone grew even darker: "These mistakes, if you weren't so impatient and remained calm, could have been avoided, and you wouldn't have ended up in your present situation."

"What is the present situation?"

Michel the Celestial Venerable's voice suddenly turned hoarser.

"The situation of being helpless."

Lotessno replied in a low voice.

"Helpless?"

Michel the Celestial Venerable frowned tightly, as if, inspired by Lotessno's hint, he thought of something.

After a moment, Michel the Celestial Venerable quickly reviewed his recent mental journey, each decision, and many important matters, as if gaining some insight.

"Have you figured it out?"

Noticing the slight change in Michel the Celestial Venerable's gaze, Lotessno asked softly.

"I have figured it out."

Michel the Celestial Venerable nodded, then explained: "The Void‑Quiet Heavenly Master told me that as long as I accept the Heavenly Court's sponsorship, I will surely succeed in changing my cultivation path and ascend to Celestial Venerable, and he also said the Heavenly Court does not require me to completely abandon wizard civilization, to discard the Supreme Council, only hoping I could become a special existence that can balance both sides' interests between the Heavenly Court and the Supreme Council, between the Celestial Gods civilization and the wizard civilization."

"You are exactly that now."

Lotessno's words carried a hidden meaning.

"Yes, I am exactly that now. From this moment on, I am the special existence that can balance both sides' interests between the Heavenly Court and the Supreme Council, between the Celestial Gods civilization and the wizard civilization, not truly a Celestial Venerable or a Sage, nor a wizard or Celestial God with free will."

Michel the Celestial Venerable then spoke aloud what Lotessno had left unsaid.

After speaking, Michel the Celestial Venerable glanced left and right.

To the left were the Heavenly Court's immortals observing the movements here.

To the right were the Supreme Council's wizards observing the movements here.

He withdrew his gaze, looked again at Lotessno not far ahead, and continued: "The Mystic System wizard school once absorbed a large part of optical knowledge from a certain technological civilization; I recall a saying: 'Within the light cone, that is fate.'"

As he spoke, Michel the Celestial Venerable raised his head, gazing at the beam of light enveloping him: "Even if I have not yet succeeded in promotion, I am still a Ninth‑Level Great Sage wizard, not ordinary light, and ordinary fate cannot bind me. Moreover, I have indeed successfully switched cultivation paths and achieved promotion. I want to know what kind of light this is, capable of binding a Celestial Venerable."

His words fell, Michel the Celestial Venerable fixed his eyes on Lotessno's; his pupils, gradually clearing from a murky state, revealed an earnest pleading for guidance.

Lotessno fell silent for a short while, then replied: "The Ancestral Heavenly Master told me that he once, at the source of the time river of this universe, vaguely witnessed events occurring at the source of the time river of other universes, and then discovered two beams of light entering this universe from that universe's time‑river source, flowing through. One beam reached our universe, carrying Linke Grand's true spirit; the other beam's contents and whereabouts are unknown."

"So, this is that beam of light?"

Michel the Celestial Venerable slightly raised his head again, continuing his question.

"I think it should be."

Lotessno gave the answer.

"Should?"

Michel sounded doubtful: "Even a Sage cannot be certain? If even a Sage cannot be certain, what about the Heavenly Court and the Supreme Council?"

Lotessno did not answer that question.

Not answering is actually the best answer.

Michel instantly understood what Lotessno wanted to convey.

The Heavenly Court and the Supreme Council probably also are not certain whether this beam of light is that beam.

Having reached an agreement, they set a trap for Michel; might as well kill two birds with one stone, and also conduct a verification to see whether this beam of light truly is that beam.

Realizing this, Michel sighed deeply: "I thought I had the qualification to hold the chess piece, but I didn't expect I am still in the game, still a pawn."

This sigh completely drained Michel's spirit.

Having succeeded in switching cultivation paths and ascended to Celestial Venerable, he ought to be full of vigor, to test his mettle in a great battle against Lotessno, this reincarnated Sage, to prove his worth and display his ability.

But now, Michel wants to verify nothing, to show nothing.

He only wishes to remain quiet.

"Farewell, Sage."

Michel sincerely bade farewell to Lotessno, then ceased resisting the guidance of the light enveloping him, and walked toward an unknown place.

Lotessno watched Michel's desolate fading silhouette, as if seeing his own past life.

On that day, the Sage Nostellodam met his extinction amidst equal or even greater desolation.

Who would willingly die while alive?

Who would willingly accept bondage while free?

Until Michel's figure vanished from sight, Lotessno still did not emerge from his recollection.

During this period, the Parallel Universe Office of the Supreme Council, acting upon a certain Sage's will, began to act, forcefully intervening in all levels of management and all affairs of Michel the Great Sage's Tower.

The massive interstellar fleet besieging the advance team of the Ruiwo Si Si Academy successfully blocked the small interstellar fleet of the star‑vessel where Linke Grand was located, and both received the stern order from the Parallel Universe Office of the Supreme Council to return immediately, otherwise they would be treated as traitors of wizard civilization and dealt with severely.

This time, the Parallel Universe Office of the Supreme Council did not merely go through the motions as before.

Verbal warnings were given, written warnings were also given, and they dispatched a wizard legion of enormous size and overwhelming strength to come supervise—or rather, suppress.

Furthermore, the three other Ninth‑Level Great Sages and their forces responded enthusiastically to the Supreme Council's summons, also dispatching their own legions and fleets, acting together with the Supreme Council.

Faced with the Supreme Council's high‑handed stance, and unable to reach Grand Sage Michel—the heaven‑propping white jade pillar, sea‑bridging purple gold beam at the top of Michel's Tower—one had no choice but to obey the Council's orders, even if unwilling.

Translate: "Faced with the Supreme Council's high-handed attitude, the highest level of Grand Sage Michel's Tower—the pillar that props up the heavens and the beam that bridges the sea—could not reach Grand Sage Michel, and even unwillingly had to obey the Council's orders and intervention."

Faced with the Supreme Council's high‑handed posture, and unable to contact Grand Sage Michel—the heaven‑propping white jade pillar, sea‑bridging purple gold beam at the top of Michel's Tower—one could only comply with the Council's orders, even if unwilling.

We'll produce a concise translation.

Fortunately, the Michel family still has two other eighth‑rank sages besides Grand Sage Michel.

"Fortunately, besides Grand Sage Michel, the Michel family still has two eighth-level Grand Sages."

Michel's Tower also has an eighth‑rank sage, who is the commander of the small fleet besieging Linke Grand.

"Grand Sage Michel's Tower also has an eighth-level Grand Sage, namely the commander of the small fleet that surrounded Linke Grand."

There's no need to fear that Michel's Tower will be torn apart and devoured by a pack of wolves.

"There's no need to worry about a scenario where Grand Sage Michel's Tower is torn apart and devoured by a pack of wolves."

This time we may lose some face, but the substance can still be saved.

"This time, face may suffer some loss, but substance can still be preserved."

"Withdraw."

"\"Withdraw. \""

The small fleet commander, an eighth‑rank sage, received orders from the Supreme Council and the highest level of Michel's Tower and immediately carried them out.

"The small fleet commander, an eighth-level Grand Sage, upon receiving orders from the Supreme Council and then from the top level of Grand Sage Michel's Tower, without hesitation chose to carry them out."

The seventh‑rank sage's aide dared not object this time, faithfully relaying and carrying out the order.

"The seventh-level Grand Sage's deputy dared not question this time, obediently relaying and executing the order."

The captains and crew of the fleet's warships were quite relieved.

"The captains and crew of the fleet's warships were quite relieved."

The fact that the Supreme Council would so blatantly ignore the prestige of Grand Sage Michel and his tower, issuing such harsh intervention and orders, shows that something major has occurred.

"That the Supreme Council could so disregard the face of Grand Sage Michel and his tower, issuing such stern intervention, interference, and orders, clearly indicates that something major has occurred."

It's even possible that this is worse than the last time Grand Sage Michel failed to seize the Mystic System Wizard Saint's seat, was punished by the Supreme Council, and was 'driven out' to the parallel universe.

"It is even possible that this is worse than the last time Grand Sage Michel failed to seize the position of the Mystic School's Wizard Saint, was punished by the Supreme Council, and was 'driven out' to a parallel universe."

No one knows what punishment Michel's Tower will face this time.

"We don't know what punishment Grand Sage Michel's Tower will suffer this time."

Anxious, the small interstellar fleet withdrew swiftly.

"With anxious hearts, the small interstellar fleet withdrew swiftly."

At the Luvosoth Academy's forward detachment station, the large interstellar fleet's withdrawal was not so smooth.

"At the Ruiwosuosi Academy advance detachment's warzone station, the withdrawal of the large-scale interstellar fleet was not so smooth."

Both sides have been engaged in bloody combat for a long time, each suffering enormous losses.

"Both sides had been locked in bloody combat for a long time, each suffering enormous losses."

Those wizards who fell were living people, longtime companions and comrades‑in‑arms.

"The fallen wizards were living people, longtime companions and comrades-in-arms."

Wizards merely pursue reason; they are not cold‑hearted monsters.

"Wizards merely pursue reason; they are not cold-hearted monsters."

Watching comrades and friends die before one's eyes inevitably stirs emotion; one could even say both sides have gone berserk.

"Seeing comrades and friends die before one's eyes inevitably stirs emotion; indeed, both sides have fought until their eyes are red."

Under such circumstances, a mere order to cease fire wouldn't be enough.

"In such a state, how could a mere order to cease fighting be obeyed just by saying one doesn't want to fight?"

If we truly stopped fighting just because we were told to, what meaning would the sacrifices of our comrades and friends have?

"If fighting truly stops just by saying so, what meaning would the sacrifices of those comrades and friends have?"

Especially the Luvosoth Academy's forward detachment, as the attacked party, is even less willing to end the battle in such a confused manner.

"Especially the Ruiwosuosi Academy advance detachment, as the attacked party, is even less willing to end the battle in such a confused manner."

Either we avenge our grudges, or we perish together; there is no other option.

"Either they avenge their grudges, or they perish together; there is no other option."

Thus, both sides tacitly ignored the Supreme Council's interference and orders, continuing to fight fiercely together.

"Thus, the two sides tacitly ignored the Supreme Council's interference and orders, continuing to fight each other."

Dean Freest watched the forward detachment's wizards fight bravely without regard for their own safety, his eyes reddening.

"Dean Friest watched the advance detachment's wizards disregard their own safety and fight bravely, his eyes turning completely red."

He ignored the video communication request from the person in charge of the Supreme Council's parallel‑universe office and stepped out of the cramped, confined encrypted communications chamber.

"He ignored the video communication request from the person in charge of the Supreme Council's parallel universe office, and also stepped out of this cramped encrypted communications booth."

At the final moment of the bloody battle, as the dean of Luvosoth Academy and commander of the forward detachment, Freest Diomande had to fight side by side with the academy's and detachment's wizards.

"At the final moment of the bloody battle, as the dean of Ruiwosuosi Academy and also the commander of the advance detachment, Frisst Diomande wished to fight side by side with the academy's and the detachment's wizards."

As the saying goes, desperate troops are bound to win.

"It is said that desperate troops are bound to win."

Under Freest Diomande's leadership and encouragement, the forward detachment erupted with astonishing fighting spirit, launching a desperate, all‑out charge heedless of casualties.

"Under Frisst Diomande's leadership and encouragement, the advance detachment burst forth with astonishing fighting spirit, launching a death-defying charge that disregarded casualties."

Only when the Supreme Council arrived to oversee the withdrawal of Michel's Tower's large interstellar fleet, and the fleet tasked with suppressing the rebellion arrived and forcibly intervened, did Freest Diomande formally issue the order to cease fighting and withdraw from the battlefield.

"Only when the Supreme Council arrived to oversee the withdrawal of Grand Sage Michel's Tower's large-scale interstellar fleet from combat, and the fleet tasked with suppressing the rebellion arrived and forcibly intervened in the battle, did Frisst Diomande formally issue the order to cease fighting and withdraw from the battlefield."

The strong emotions released in the desperate charge left the forward detachment's wizards with little resistance this time, and they all complied with the order.

"The strong emotions released by the death-defying charge left the advance detachment's wizards with little resistance this time, and they promptly carried out the order."

Soon after, the wizards of Luvosoth Academy's forward detachment silently watched Michel's Tower's interstellar fleet flee in disarray under the surveillance of the Supreme Council's fleet.

"Not long after, the wizards of the Ruiwosuosi Academy advance detachment silently watched as Grand Sage Michel's Tower's interstellar fleet, under the surveillance of the Supreme Council's fleet, fled in a disheveled manner."

No one cheered, no one celebrated.

"No one cheered, no one celebrated."

In the end, this battle was a defeat for Luvosoth Academy's forward detachment.

"This battle ended in defeat for the Ruiwosuosi Academy advance detachment."

Without the Supreme Council's intervention, the forward detachment would not have been annihilated, but at least would have been utterly crippled.

"Had it not been for the Supreme Council's intervention, the advance detachment would not merely have been wiped out; at the very least it would have been completely crippled."

Many legions would be wiped out in formation.

"Many legions would suffer losses in formation."

The situation of the four allied legions was no better.

"The situation of the Four United Legions was no better."

Sage Cody was severely wounded.

"Grand Sage Kedi was severely wounded."

Sage Para lost an arm while shielding Sage Serin and fell unconscious.

"Grand Sage Paro broke an arm to shield Grand Sage Selin and fell unconscious."

Half of Sage Serin's face was scarred by burns, the other half corroded into pits, completely ruining her appearance.

"Half of Grand Sage Selin's face was burned and scarred, the other half corroded and pitted, utterly disfiguring her."

Six or seven out of ten warships were lost.

"Six or seven out of ten warships were lost."

Wizard casualties exceeded forty percent.

"The wizards' casualties exceeded forty percent."

This, however, is lower than the forward detachment's overall casualty rate of as high as sixty percent.

"This, however, is lower than the advance detachment's overall casualty rate of as high as sixty percent."

The reason is the remarkable performance of the Constructed Servant Legion.

"Tracing the cause, it was precisely the stunning performance of the Constructed Servant Legion."

Seeing the enemy depart, Dean Freest began organizing personnel to clean the battlefield and tend to the wounded.

"Seeing the enemy off, Dean Friest began organizing personnel to clean the battlefield and tend to the wounded."

Meanwhile, aboard the star‑skiff, Linke and Molly watched the small interstellar fleet speed away, each with different thoughts.

"Meanwhile, aboard the starflight vessel, Lin Ke and Mo Li watched the small interstellar fleet withdraw swiftly, each with their own thoughts."

But both remained silent, both waiting.

"But both remained silent, both waiting."

Molly was waiting for news from the forward detachment, for the battle report of the four allied legions, for the numbers she dreaded to know but had to know!

"Mo Li was waiting for news from the advance detachment, for the battle report of the Four United Legions, for the numbers she dreaded to know yet had to know!"

Linke was waiting for the arrival of certain people or something.

"Lin Ke was waiting for the arrival of certain people or things."

This wait lasted a full two hours.

"This wait lasted a full two hours."

Molly received the battle report of the four allied legions, saw those numbers, and felt heart‑wrenching pain as if cut by a knife.

"Mo Li received the Four United Legions' battle report, saw those strings of numbers, and felt heart-wrenched as if cut by a knife."

"I want to go back."

"\"I want to go back. \""

She sniffed, turned sideways, looked into Linke's eyes, and earnestly said, "Do you want to come back with me?"

"Sniffling, Mo Li turned sideways, looked into Lin Ke's eyes, and earnestly said, \"Do you want to come back with me? \""

Faced with Molly's hopeful gaze, Linke said in a low voice, "You go back first; I'll wait a bit and then return."

"Meeting Mo Li's hopeful gaze, Lin Ke said in a low voice, \"You go back first; I'll follow later. \""

Molly's eyes dimmed for a moment, then she nodded as if nothing had happened, without speaking.

"Mo Li's eyes dimmed for a moment, then she nodded as if nothing were wrong, without speaking."

He gently patted Molly's head, stroked her soft long hair, and said softly, "Molly, I'm not a heartless person. Not returning immediately isn't because I don't value it; on the contrary, it's because I value it deeply. The blood feud has been forged, and we must seek an explanation."

"He gently patted Mo Li's head, stroked her soft long hair, and said softly, \"Mo Li, I am not an unfeeling person. Not returning immediately is not because I don't value it; on the contrary, it is precisely because I value it deeply. The blood feud has been settled, and we must seek an explanation. \""

"Hmm."

"\"Mm. \""

Molly lowered her head, rubbing her cheek against Linke's palm, very obedient.

"Mo Li lowered her head, her head rubbing against Lin Ke's palm, very obedient."

Linke sighed, handed over control of the star‑skiff to Molly, and in a flash appeared in space.

"Lin Ke sighed, handed over the starflight vessel's main control authority to Mo Li, his figure flickering as he arrived in outer space."

The natal construct's silky smooth covering enveloped the whole body, entering interstellar protection and survival mode.

Mo Li glanced at Lin Ke's silhouette through the porthole, then immediately turned her head, entered commands, and piloted the star‑skiff back to the vanguard team's combat zone base at top speed.

Ke Di was seriously injured, Pa Luo fell unconscious, Se Lin was disfigured, and the Four Families United Army needed her or Lin Ke to return and take charge of the overall situation.

"Desertion in battle," having not fought side by side, Mo Li's heart was already filled with guilt.

Now she doesn't want to delay even a moment.

As for revenge, Lin Ke said it, so let Lin Ke do it.

Mo Li merely hopes that Lin Ke can return together with her; it's not an absolute demand.

Does Lin Ke know Mo Li's thoughts?

Of course he knows.

But Lin Ke cannot act according to Mo Li's thoughts.

This matter is merely a temporary pause, not an end; there are still many places shrouded in mist.

If we don't clarify those problems hidden in the mist, how can we set our minds at ease?

Especially the feeling of being controlled by fate, unable to resist, is truly unbearable, like a bone stuck in the throat.

Lin Ke wants to strangle the throat of fate, that bitch.

Let that bitch also taste the feeling of being choked!