Chapter 2613 Wood Spirit <TOC> Chapter 2615 Strange Dog Hole
Next page password is bold portion: co2ob4ACHE#p
Translator: SumTLMan
“I’ve already told you everything I can about the Wood Spirit. It’s exceedingly timid and usually disguises itself as prison bars within the Hanging Prison Stairs… Oh, a word of caution: if you can’t locate it, you’d better not go prying open the prison bars one by one. Such actions will not only expose your intentions but also make it even more fearful of you, rendering it absolutely impossible to persuade.”
“Most importantly, your act of prying open the bars may lead you into unforeseeable dangers.”
Angel asked: “What kind of dangers?”
Day shrugged: “I can’t say. Moreover, I haven’t entered the Hanging Prison Stairs in ages. Whatever goes on inside, I’ve only heard through rumors.”
After listening to Day, Daus pondered for a moment and then said: “He can’t speak because of the contract. Although I don’t know the specifics, generally, when the place being guarded has completely vanished, the contract would become null and void. Since Day’s contract is still in effect, does that imply that the Hanging Prison Stairs are still functioning as before?”
Daus squinted his eyes: “The so-called unforeseeable dangers might be that there are still ancient monsters who’ve lived for millennia imprisoned inside?”
It was rare for Daus to analyze so seriously; everyone listened attentively and found it quite plausible.
Angel hesitated for a moment and asked: “Did inspiration strike you?”
Daus retorted irritably: “Can’t I make analytical judgments without inspiration? You’re underestimating me.”
After a pause, Daus suddenly changed his expression and said playfully: “Why don’t you guess whether I’m inspired or not?”
Angel gave Daus a deep look but didn’t engage in his guessing game. Instead, he turned to Day and asked: “Is there any possibility in what he said?”
Day replied: “I don’t know. However, his theory about the contract is incorrect.”
Angel said: “You mean that the contract you signed involves not only guarding the Hanging Prison Stairs but also other places?”
This time, Day fell completely silent, his resistance evident.
Angel thought for a while and felt that Day had actually revealed quite a lot. Many of his answers were clearly skirting the edges of his contract; otherwise, he wouldn’t simulate the contract’s compatibility before each response.
Now that Day refuses to answer, it means this question touches directly upon the contract itself, leaving no room for maneuver.
Continuing to ask would probably yield no further information.
Therefore, Angel placed his hand over his chest and made a courteous bow: “Thank you for your answers. I believe we’ve asked enough questions, and it’s time for us to proceed.”
Day glanced at Angel and snorted coldly: “No need to thank me; it’s merely a transaction.”
Although Day said this, Angel sensed that his emotions were unsettled, a bit awkward. He had probably deliberated over whether to say those words and finally did.
After speaking, he seemed somewhat regretful, wanting to retract his words but unwilling to lose face, causing his emotions to become conflicted.
Through these subtle emotional shifts, Angel guessed Day’s thoughts, but the others were unaware. Vai even said through the mental connection: “What a cold fellow.”
“Indeed, quite cold. However, it’s rare to encounter someone we can communicate with; that’s our good fortune,” Angel also replied to Vai through the mental connection.
Vai, without thinking, immediately changed his stance: “You’re absolutely right, lord!”
While Vai was mindlessly flattering, Angel said to Day: “Although it’s a transaction, I am still very satisfied. If I meet your descendant in the future, I will tell him about you.”
Day was stunned for a long moment, then sneered, turned his head away, and murmured in an almost inaudible voice: “Busybody.”
This time, without Angel needing to read emotions, everyone could see Day’s awkwardness.
“Still acting so haughty, does he really think he’s still in his youthful prime?” Daus silently grumbled to himself.
Angel: “You’re not much different yourself sometimes.”
Daus paid no heed to Angel’s remark; instead, he seized the opportunity to continue his nonsense: “Compared to Day’s age, I’m not only genuinely young but also a kid who can make unreasonable demands.”
Seeing the gleam in Daus’ eyes, Angel knew that this guy was just waiting for him to respond so he could make his “unreasonable demands.”
Sensing Daus’ eagerness, Angel simply turned away, his back to him, and said to everyone: “It’s time to move on. If the path of the Wood Spirit doesn’t work out, we might need to rethink our strategy.”
With that, Angel took the lead and began to walk forward.
Daus grew a bit anxious, why wasn’t he taking the bait? But no matter. If you won’t respond, I’ll just say it outright.
Daus turned to Day: “By the way, Angel just mentioned something in the mental connection, but he was too shy to tell you. So I’ll relay it on his behalf.”
Angel immediately halted, turned around, and squinted at Daus.
Undeterred, Daus continued speaking to Day: “It seems there are people behind us, members of the Traveling Merchants Organization. If they come, please don’t reveal our whereabouts. Better yet, let that little piggy of yours come out and make an appearance so they can assess their own strength.”
Daus added: “Oh, you probably don’t know about the Traveling Merchants Organization. Let me enlighten you, they’re a very evil organization…”
Before Daus could finish, Day interrupted: “I know of that organization. Their people are deeply excavating this ruin, also for profit. However, they’re also maintaining order in this fallen city. Without their upkeep, the underground monsters and the corrosive gases from the sewers would have spread out long ago. So, while we don’t have a good impression of the Traveling Merchants Organization, we don’t harbor ill feelings either.”
“Also, that being is the same. As long as they don’t provoke him, he won’t act against the Traveling Merchants Organization.”
Upon hearing Day’s words, Daus’ expression changed instantly: “Actually, we also maintain a friendly and harmonious relationship with the Traveling Merchants Organization… If we disguise ourselves as their members, would that person perhaps let us pass?”
Daus’ abrupt change in demeanor left Day momentarily stunned.
The others were even more exasperated, holding their foreheads in disbelief. Daus’ opportunism was just too blatant. Especially Vai, who was utterly speechless. As Daus’ friend, he feared that Angel might misunderstand and think he was just as shameless and brazen.
After Daus posed this question, Angel walked over, conjured a Magic Hand, grabbed Daus by the collar, and flung him backward.
He then gave Day an apologetic smile: “Don’t mind his nonsense. In our team, he’s just the mascot, a decorative piece.”
After speaking, Angel bowed once more: “We’ll be on our way now. If anyone comes after us, handle it as you see fit. You don’t need to heed Daus’ opinions.”
Daus, however, was indignant, shouting protests from behind. Fortunately, they were still within the range of the illusion realm, so Angel directly muted the sound in Daus’ area. Then, nodding to Day, he prepared to depart.
At that moment, Day suddenly said: “Actually, I think he lives quite authentically.”
Angel chuckled: “That’s why I call him our team’s mascot. It’s not a derogatory term; it’s a compliment.”
Hearing this, Day smiled for once: “In honor of the mascot, and in appreciation for what you’ve told me, I’ll give you one last piece of advice.”
All chatter ceased immediately, and everyone turned their attention to Day.
“That person, after emerging from the Hanging Prison Stairs a hundred years ago, once told us: the higher you ascend the Hanging Prison Stairs, the more perilous it becomes, because…”
As Day spoke up to this point, his face flushed and contorted, he had evidently touched upon the constraints of his contract.
Angel quickly interjected: “We understand. There’s no need to say more.”
Day’s crimson eyes gleamed as he said: “It’s alright; I’ll just say one last thing.”
Day turned his head to look at… Kael.
“If he were stronger, perhaps you all could venture further up the Hanging Prison Stairs…”
After uttering these profound words, Day transformed directly into a ball of flame.
“Are you okay?” Angel asked with some concern.
“Rest assured, I just skirted the edges of the contract, nothing will happen. Besides, I didn’t say much; I hope you can understand my meaning.”
With that, Day slowly metamorphosed into azure mimic flames, gradually returning to the candlestick on the wall.
Angel sensed the surroundings slightly, confirming there was no intense backlash from the contract’s power, and only then did he relax. Lord Night had been kind to him, and encountering a member of the Dantalian Clan was rare; Angel didn’t want Day to inexplicably vanish into thin air.
Taking one last glance at the candle flame, Angel said to everyone: “Let’s proceed.”
This time, passing through the narrow passage, they encountered no obstacles.
Outwardly, everyone remained silent, but within the mental connection, there was a cacophony of voices.
Daus was vehemently refuting the notion of being a “mascot”; Vai was diplomatically explaining to everyone that he wasn’t particularly close to Daus; Kael, meanwhile, kept asking incessantly: “What exactly did Day mean by what he said to me just now?”
Everyone was talking at once; this mental clamor was even more vexing than noise heard with the ears.
“All of you, be quiet! Let’s address Kael’s matter first.” The Black Count’s voice resonated directly in everyone’s minds. Simultaneously, their mental connection became one-way, they could listen but not speak.
Seeing this, Daus was about to open his mouth. The Black Count turned his stone slab directly toward him: “Do not let me hear your voice.”
Daus pouted discontentedly but ultimately remained silent.
In the mental connection, the Black Count’s voice sounded again: “Although Day didn’t state it explicitly, by specifically mentioning Kael, he’s more or less implied his meaning.”
Angel pondered: “The collapse of the Hanging Prison Stairs has likely caused some spatial issues.”
“Perhaps spatial rifts or even spatial collapses,” the Black Count continued: “That’s why he specifically pointed out Kael, because only he specializes in space magic.”
“In other words, the known danger within the Hanging Prison Stairs is related to spatial anomalies. According to Day, the higher we ascend, the greater the danger. If we can circumvent or resolve the spatial issues, we should be able to reach higher levels.”
After speaking, the Black Count released Kael’s restriction within the mental connection.
“I understand you cannot mend spatial rifts or collapses, but can you detect in advance where spatial anomalies exist, especially hidden twisted rifts?”
Kael contemplated for a moment before confidently replying: “Yes, I can.”
Kael’s unequivocal response left no room for doubt, causing the Black Count to regard him with newfound respect: “You do exhibit a semblance of Aesop’s demeanor.”
After a brief pause, the Black Count added: “It appears Aesop has already taught you Bazel’s Twisting Secret Spell?”
Kael nodded: “I’ve more or less mastered it.”
“That’s excellent,” the Black Count remarked: “As long as we can detect problems ahead of time, bypassing or resolving them becomes a minor issue.”
“So, Day misjudged?” The speaker was Vai, who wasn’t communicating through the mental connection but engaging in a private dialogue with the Black Count within his own mind.
The Black Count replied nonchalantly: “All I can say is that Day didn’t fully grasp the space studies of later generations. Who could have foreseen that ten thousand years later, someone like Bazel would emerge?”
High Wizard of Twisted Space, Bazel.
A millennium ago, he was a grandmaster of space studies, a true prodigy in the realm of space. Almost single-handedly, he elevated the theoretical framework of space studies in the Southern Region to an entirely new level.
—On Distortion—, —On Entanglement—, —The History of Space Exploration—, these renowned works were all penned by Bazel.
Because of Bazel’s emergence, his theories influenced numerous high wizards of space studies in subsequent generations. For instance, Fivenda, who had a penchant for writing travelogues.
Fivenda’s —Strange Worlds—, —Space Odyssey—, and —The Infinity of Interstitial— all bear significant traces of Bazel’s influence.
However, in his later years, Bazel seldom published works on space theory. Perhaps, having witnessed myriad different worlds, he turned his reflections more toward the pros and cons of —Plane Conquest Record—.
After that, Bazel left the Southern Region and has not returned to this day.
As for Kael’s mentor, the “Dimension Walker” Aesop, he unexpectedly acquired Bazel’s legacy. Now, this legacy has been passed down to Kael.
It was precisely because he possessed the profound foundation of Bazel’s legacy that Kael dared to resolutely say “Yes” in response to the Black Count’s inquiry.
His reply was not only a display of confidence but also indirectly underscored how dazzling Bazel’s glory was a thousand years ago.
Kael said: “Although I cannot handle some intense spatial catastrophes, with Lord Super Dimensional present, I believe everything will be just fine.”
Kael’s sudden remark drew everyone’s gaze toward Angel.
Under Kael’s expectant eyes, Angel could only smile wryly in his heart. Although he knew Kael meant no harm by mentioning him, it was akin to putting him on the spot. While he knew many secret insights into space studies, these were gifts from the spotted puppy, and for now, they were more conceptual and had yet to be put into practice!
The Black Count asked: “Have you cross-trained in space studies?”
Angel didn’t dare to put on airs this time and candidly admitted: “I have extensive theoretical knowledge but almost no practical experience.”
The Black Count was not surprised by this revelation. Considering Angel’s young age, it was already commendable that he had grasped the dull and tedious theories of space magic. Practical application, however, depended on one’s innate talent.
“If you notice any anomalies, feel free to inform me; I’ll handle them,” the Black Count offered.
Angel nodded. Although he knew it was merely a polite gesture, the fact that the Black Count responded at all was already giving him considerable face.
Not wanting to beat a dead horse, Angel swiftly shifted the topic: “Regarding the last sentence from Day, we’ve more or less figured it out. The specifics will become clear once we enter the Hanging Prison Stairs.”
“Now, let me tell you about that being.”
Everyone’s attention was immediately captured. Earlier, Day had said: “Since you already know, why ask?” Clearly, Angel was privy to information about that being.
This was precisely what puzzled everyone. Had Angel met that being, or was there another secret he was hiding?
“First and foremost, I want to clarify that I wasn’t intentionally withholding information. In the intel I received, this individual was only mentioned in passing. I assumed it was similar to the Wizard Eye Ghost, a low-level monster not worth mentioning.”
Seeing the skepticism etched on their faces, Angel sighed inwardly and continued: “If I tell you that being’s race, you’ll understand why I thought so.”
“That being is not the ancient race you’ve been speculating about, the one the Karabians are searching for, but a non-human monster.”
“A monster? A monster can become the ruler of Nightfall City?” Kael exclaimed in astonishment.
Daus, who had just regained access to the psychic link, immediately retorted: “You’re completely disregarding summoning wizards with that statement. Many of the creatures summoned by summoners are highly intelligent and quite personable. So what’s so strange about a monster becoming a city’s ruler? Besides, it’s merely a ruler, not the city lord.”
After making his point, Daus added with a hint of sarcasm: “Of course, there are also some monsters that, although exceptionally clever, are utterly detestable, like a certain Crowned Parrot.”
When Daus mentioned the Crowned Parrot, Angel could distinctly sense a murderous aura… It seemed that Daus and Aubrey’s Crowned Parrot were at daggers drawn.
“If you don’t want to be muted again, stop veering off-topic and spouting nonsense. Let Angel continue,” the Black Count’s timely voice echoed. Daus and Kael immediately zipped their lips.
Angel actually found their banter rather entertaining. Traversing this endless path, listening to such amusing chatter was a welcome diversion.
Nevertheless, he hadn’t forgotten the matter at hand.
“That monster, I previously mentioned the first half of its name,” Angel said: “Surely, you haven’t forgotten?”
“Three-Eyed!” Vai immediately shot up his hand, his face radiating an expression of “Praise me! Praise me!”
Angel cleared his throat and smiled slightly: “Correct, Vai is spot on.”
In truth, not only Vai but everyone else also recalled “Three-Eyed.” However, countless monsters bore Three-Eyed. For instance, Cherie’s black cat Luna was a Lasting Night Caracal Cat, a creature with three eyes.
Moreover, many monsters in the Void had excessively long names, so wizards often resorted to naming them based on simple physical characteristics. There were quite a few that began with “Three-Eyed.”
Therefore, merely hearing “Three-Eyed” didn’t provide any substantial clues about the monster’s identity.
At this moment, everyone was waiting for Angel to reveal the final answer, because each of them had a “Three-Eyed” monster’s name in mind, including the Black Count.
However, when Angel announced the answer, everyone was stunned. Because all their guesses were wrong.
Angel: “Three-Eyed Blue Demon.”
They had considered many three eyed monsters, whether powerful or mediocre, but they never expected the final answer to be the Three-Eyed Blue Demon?!
The Three-Eyed Blue Demon is a low-level monster… uh, even lower than a Wizard Eye Ghost.
Its appearance is huge, with a dark blue skin and muscles that look bulky. But in reality, its combat power is very weak. As long as you have long-range attack capabilities, even an ordinary person, find an archer who’s slightly agile, and you can whittle it down arrow by arrow.
Because, although it’s massive, its speed is extremely slow, and its intelligence is on par with that of a ghoul.
No, perhaps ghouls are even smarter than the Three-Eyed Blue Demon.
At least ghouls will run away when they realize they can’t win. But the Three-Eyed Blue Demon is completely self-centered, thinking it’s invincible, can fight anyone, battle anyone, and then… it dies.
A monster that everyone remembers as clumsy, huge, and low-level actually became the sage and master in Day’s words?!
“You—you’re sure that the being with extraordinary wisdom, who understands alchemy and possesses various skills, is a… Three-Eyed Blue Demon?” Daus spoke with some stammering, showing how shocked he was.
Angel nodded: “If nothing unexpected happens, I am certain.”
The air fell into a moment of silence.
At this moment, without Angel’s explanation, they somewhat understood what he meant earlier. Why didn’t Angel mention it when sharing information before? Because it… really can’t even compare to a Wizard Eye Ghost, so why bring it up?
Chapter 2613 Wood Spirit <TOC> Chapter 2615 Strange Dog Hole