Mage Manual
Chapter 658 - 520: Had to Send It!

Chapter 658: Chapter 520: Had to Send It!

"You didn’t see the layer of mud I just scrubbed off."

Ash shrugged. "Last night I was rolling in the rain and fighting with the Holy Sanctuary. I was dirty and tired. Let alone the Four Pillars God Sect breaking in, even if The Gods of Four Pillars came to trouble me personally, I’d still stay calm in this bath!"

Although Igula was enjoying the bath as well, he couldn’t help saying, "If we could use this time to find an escape route..."

"Escape? How would we escape?" Harvey put down his dish, burped contentedly, and said calmly, "It may look unguarded here, but outside there are thirteen mages watching, one of whom is a Holy Sanctuary Mage. Even if you just went to pee, they’d surely send someone to assist you. Where would you find a chance to escape?"

"I am a skilled Spirit Mage from the Dominion Faction," Igula said coldly. "I never need others to leave a gap, just as a Swindler wouldn’t count on others not guarding their wallets."

"But how many can you control?" Harvey asked with nonchalance. "And can you control the Holy Sanctuary? Not to mention the Four Pillars God Sect probably has surrounded the Tribulation Fire Temple. Any real escape route would have been sealed off by now. Ash’s suggestion is right—instead of exhausting ourselves thinking of strategies, we might as well take a bath and strengthen our spirits, waiting for Fate to serve us a feast."

"Funny, usually I’m the one who bathes most frequently, and you just use preservatives as cleaning agents. Now you finally see the benefits of bathing." Igula laughed irritably. "As the First Gospel, Ash will definitely attract the highest level of attention, but you won’t. You clearly have the ability and the opportunity to look for a chance, rather than sitting here contesting my suggestions with vain values!"

"You’re too afraid of dying," Harvey shook his head. "You clearly weren’t prepared mentally, so why did you come along? As a Swindler, is regret your professional flaw?"

"It’s you who wants to die. But you’re a Necromancer, so I can understand that. After all, who wouldn’t want to soak in preserving fluid?" Igula’s tone was full of mockery. "And I didn’t even want to come. I just got caught up in this trying to save Anfeier."

"...I’m sorry." Ash nearly sank into the water. "I’ve dragged you guys into this."

Their expressions froze, and no one responded to Ash’s words.

"...Let’s just say it’s for Anfeier," Harvey said. "But instead of hoping that we can leave unscathed, you’d better think about how we’re going to fight our way out."

"Combat is necessary, but not the goal. It’s a means and a bargaining chip," Igula stated. "If the Four Pillars God Sect really can annihilate the Tribulation Fire Temple, the chances are high that we won’t escape, but we can surrender."

"Surrender?"

"If Gospel thinks I can create a Four Pillars God Sect out of nothing, why can’t I blend into this Four Pillars God Sect here and even seize power when the opportunity arises?" Igula had already begun to change his thinking. "If we can’t beat them, join them. It makes sense, so even if we break through directly, we must demonstrate our value—consider it as an interview in a foreign land."

"...Whatever you say." Harvey lowered his eyelids. "You and Ash just need to agree on it."

Tension.

Panic.

Confusion.

Although no one would admit it, both Harvey and Igula were indeed affected by these negative emotions. Even if they were Necromancers who followed the footsteps of death, skilled at adjusting emotions as Spirit Mages, they couldn’t be immune to the influence of an unfamiliar environment, especially since they had just gotten used to the Kingdom of Gospel only to be thrown into this foreign nation. Anyone in their situation would be irritated, even cats have stress responses.

Thinking about this, the move by Hanna to immediately thrust them into carriages filled with anesthesia spray when she captured them seemed extremely considerate—they were so tired and drowsy that they had no time to consider their negative emotions.

Harvey and Igula didn’t truly have unresolved issues with each other, or rather, their mutual disdain wasn’t something new, merely finding a familiar person to relieve some mental pressure—thus their conversation was filled with tension. Complaining and blaming were indeed quick ways to reduce stress for humans.

But as Rusted Crow and Ghost King, they were capable of quickly adjusting their mental states. In contrast, another person who seemed completely unbothered by the current situation appeared very peculiar.

"Ash, how come you seem not worried at all?" Igula asked. "Do you have a way to escape this place, like an ace up your sleeve prepared by Belladett?"

"No, no," Ash waved his hands, smiling wryly. "If I had something like that, I’d have taken you guys with me already. Why would I stay here? But I truly am not that worried."

"To put it with high EQ, I’ve seen too many storms. To put it with low EQ, I’ve been so battered by destiny I don’t even want to whimper." He spread his hands. "Jail, Blood Moon Judgement, jailbreak, escaping the Blood Moon, being captured by Hanna to be sold, working for Hanna, being a tribesman of Senheiser, serving as Belladett’s dog, assassinating the Princess, the First Gospel... and that’s just half of it."

"Although our current predicament indeed seems unsolvable, when have I ever faced anything that was easy? Even if I were a chubby tadpole, by now I should have transformed into a Fish-Slicing Dragon. And..."

"And what?"

Ash stood up from the bathtub, wrapped a towel around himself, and said with a meaningful look, "Although this idea may not sound very positive, I sincerely feel that being able to drag you two into this is truly wonderful."

"Necromancer, who desecrates bodies, and Swindler, playing with people’s hearts. Embarking on an unknown journey with you two..." The Cult Leader couldn’t help but laugh, "(*￣▽￣) it really puts one’s mind at ease."

"Putting it nicely, it’s ridding the people of nuisances; putting it badly, even if we all die together, there are bodies to cushion our fall, right?"

Suddenly, Igula reached out and grabbed Ash’s ankle, pulling him back into the tub, causing a splash. Ash’s curse got stuck in his throat. Just as he came up for air, Harvey pushed him down again. This time, the Cult Leader got angry; he too was proficient in the Water Magic Faction. These two dared to play with water against him?

Ash then submerged like a Fish Dragon, dragging the other two down with him. The three Holy Sanctuary Mages fought in the tub to the edge of the universe, where even the grand paths were worn away. It wasn’t until half the water in the tub was gone that the three, sullen, wrapped themselves in towels and left.

However, Igula and Harvey seemed to have been influenced by Ash; their foreheads showed less worry and confusion, replaced instead by a hint of confidence and composure.

It was then that Ash revealed an inspiring speculation, "You don’t need to be so nervous. The Tribulation Fire Temple must have a card up its sleeve against the Four Pillars God Sect."

Igula asked, "Why do you feel so?"

"Because the First Gospel’s power is intelligence, not combat power," Ash explained. "When you are chased by a fierce dog, what do you need more: a stick or a ’Manual on How to Whack a Fierce Dog with a Long Stick’? And yet, the Tribulation Fire Temple rejoiced at summoning the latter, which can only mean..."

Igula realized, "They have the stick to beat the fierce dog, but they just can’t wield it!"

...

Indeed, just as Ash had anticipated.

When they stepped out from the palace, a red-robed Priest had already been waiting for a long while: "First Gospel, the Host God ritual is prepared. The creatures of the Tribulation Fire crave your benevolence, and the heretical villains fear your thunder."

Harvey proactively asked, "What is the Host God ritual?"

"A ritual that harbors the power of Great Skill of the Divine Beings," the red-robed Priest explained. "The Divine Great Skill of the Tribulation Fire Temple will march into battle alongside the First Gospel."

"Hosting a Divine Being?!" Igula was astonished. "Did you actually possess a Divine Being?"

The red-robed Priest glanced at Ash, confirming he had no intention of explaining further, then elaborated, "It’s not a true Divine Being, but a Great Skill that’s one step away from being a Divine Being."

"In our Land of Senluo, everyone can become divine, everyone is the Great Skill. During the Dawn of Gods a hundred years ago, Senluo had the spectacular scene of eight hundred Great Skills coexisting!"

"But not everyone can wield the power of a Great Skill; ordinary Mages can only bask in its glory. To contend against the Four Pillars heretics, one must fully unleash the power of the Great Skill!" The red-robed Priest gazed eagerly at Ash, "It is said that the First Gospel can command any Divine Great Skill. Please, follow me to perform the Host God ritual, and then you, the First Gospel, will wield the devastating divine might of Tribulation Fire!"

Ash blinked; his back, freshly washed, began to sweat again.

He hadn’t expected that after narrowly escaping the encroachment of the Gospel Divine Being, he would still be unable to escape the fate of being hosted by a Divine Being.

Moreover, these believers were crowding closely around, faint sounds of battle echoing from outside. The urgency in the Priest’s eyes was unmistakably clear, leaving him absolutely no chance to delay or hesitate.

Now, he truly had no choice but to be hosted!