Mage Manual
Chapter 670 - 529 The Wind Rises

Chapter 670: Chapter 529 The Wind Rises

"Gunshot."

Harvey immediately stood up and took a coffin out from the Space Card, calling for Alice to get up.

"Internal strife? Invasion?" Igula frowned slightly, "Unless someone is specifically coming to rescue us, this would only delay our escape—once that leader finds the time to inquire about the technology system of the Blood Moon Gospel, the three of us Holy Sanctuary Mages can easily find an opportunity to escape. But if that leader is too preoccupied with the chaos to care about us, or forgets about us, or even dies, then we’ll be locked up here indefinitely."

Ash murmured, "Locked up here indefinitely..."

"Scared?"

"I’m wondering, if we’re going to live here for a few years, how exactly are we going to divide our territories," asked Ash. "Is it going to be divided into thirds or quarters?"

"There are only three of us, why would we need to..." Igula began, but then he saw Alice looking at him and promptly shut his mouth.

"If we are to stay for a long time, I would like a research area," Harvey said seriously. "Plus, Alice’s routine maintenance and modifications will require space."

"Even if you are given space, where will you get the materials?"

Harvey appeared slightly bewildered, "Aren’t we all materials?"

Igula was at a loss whether to refute ’not us, only you’ first, or to refute ’why take materials from living people’ first. Every time Igula thought he had figured out Harvey’s bottom line, he discovered that Harvey had silently broken through anew, forever young, forever with tears welled up in his eyes.

"In that case, I need a bathtub," Ash raised his hand. "It’s unbearable not to bathe."

Igula couldn’t resist any longer, "Even if you’re given space, where will you get a bathtub?"

Ash pointed at the coffin.

Harvey thought for a moment, "It’s not impossible, as long as it’s dried afterward, Alice wouldn’t mind."

Igula suddenly felt out of place, "Are you guys serious?!"

"If we’re locked up here for several days, Igula, will you bathe or not?"

"Of course I’ll... bathe!" Igula pulled a face, hopelessly joining the conversation, "In that case, I suggest we hang curtains to protect individual privacy!"

"No," Ash, Harvey, and Alice opposed in unison.

"Why not? Your outrageous ideas can be discussed, but you all reject my perfectly normal proposal?"

"Because there’s no space left, with a bathtub and a research area," Ash shrugged. "We will definitely have to sleep huddled together, maybe even under the same blankets, and you still want to hang curtains?"

"If you think about it, we’re all capable of flying, so there’s no need to confine ourselves to a tiny space on the ground," Ash stood up and patted the padded wall. "For instance, we could attach furniture to this wall, and then—"

Boom!

Accompanied by a dull boom, the padded wall burst apart. Ash stepped back a half step to shield himself from the dust and debris, saw a figure appear in the gap, and then immediately drew out his sweet words and hidden dagger to stand ready with the others.

Igula and Harvey were also on high alert, Alice clutched Harvey from behind, and Harvey’s hands, bound with Ghost King Chains, emanated a green glow, clearly ready to merge into one; Igula also hid behind Ash, lips slightly parted, a Spiritual Scream already gathering in his throat.

Their tension was understandable, for the newcomer was eerily strange.

He was wearing a fierce, sharp Black Crow mask, cloaked in a mantle that seemed woven from hair, with a necklace of fingernails around his neck, draped inside in a black and red coat that exuded a heavy scent of blood, and his belt of chains held an assortment of tools—a hatchet, dagger, darts, rope, with black steel boots full of spikes.

Such an appearance wouldn’t pass censorship even in a Gospel melodrama, and even by Blood Moon standards, it was an extremely radical post-modern style, the kind that could secure the first place in the Blood Moon Judgement in advance.

"Is the First Gospel here?" a deep voice came from the Black Crow mask.

Ash asked, "What do you want with him?"

"I heard from the tribulation believers that the tribulation Holy Temple summoned the First Gospel, who could host any Great Skill, but was unexpectedly defeated due to a sneak attack by the evil Four Pillars God Sect. The Divine Sect, fearing yet coveting the powerful force of the First Gospel, kidnapped him to use his power to conquer Senluo," the Black Crow said. "Firstly, I wanted to see for myself what abilities the First Gospel has, and at best, measure my strength against his."

Ash glanced at the hole in the wall, "I don’t think there’s any First Gospel in this world..."

"Secondly, I want to rescue the First Gospel and will commit all the forces of my sect to guard the First Gospel from the attacks of the Four Pillars God Sect." The Black Crow continued, "Are you the First Gospel?"

"I can be," Ash said with certainty.

"Let’s go." The Black Crow leaped down decisively, and Ash and the others followed suit, jumping down. Though the third floor was somewhat high, they could safely land by spreading their Void Wings and gently buffering their descent.

Not many people were around, and it seemed there were no patrols here; the Black Crow caused such a ruckus yet no one came to check. The campsite not far away blazed with bonfires, and the air was filled with laughter and merriment; just by looking from a distance, Ash felt the urge to join in the festivity.

The Black Crow seemed unfazed and led them through the shadows between houses, skirting the edges of the campsite. As they approached the camp’s center, Ash and the others saw how agitated the believers were—dancing, embracing, fighting, self-harming—all of them making noise, crying and laughing, with the bonfire at the center like a vortex, sweeping everyone into it.

No wonder there were no patrols and no one came to check; everyone here was too preoccupied!

"Hey!"

Pulled by Igula, Ash realized that he had unconsciously moved closer to the center and broke out in a cold sweat. The Black Crow shot him a glance, reminding them, "If you’re not believers, do not approach the believer’s worship rituals."

Worship?

Ash observed those unrestrainedly reveling people and could not associate their actions with the word ’worship’ at all.

Suddenly, he squinted his eyes and stared intently at the area around the bonfires.

Igula wanted nothing more than to slap him and hurriedly pulled him away, "You dare to look around recklessly?!"

"Mm-hmm."

Ash withdrew his gaze—he had just seen a quiet person standing by the bonfire, so quiet that they seemed out of place with their surroundings. Although he was curious, now clearly wasn’t the time to satisfy his curiosity.

Soon, Black Crow led them to the edge of the camp and into an abandoned house, saying, "We’ll wait here until dawn before we leave. If the Four Pillars God Sect chases us down, we have to hold out here until morning."

"Why?" Igula was curious, "Are there guards outside? But with our strength, ordinary guards—"

"No. No camp sets up guards at night." Black Crow shook his head, "There’s no one in the darkness outside."

"Then why don’t we just leave?"

"Because," Black Crow sat down by the door and spoke deliberately,

"In the darkness outside, there’s no one."

...

...

The festivity by the bonfire was gradually coming to an end. Amongst the collapsed crowd, Silver Lamp stood with a tranquil demeanor, like a lotus flower in chaos. A squirrel poked its head out from her small round hat, only to be promptly pushed back by the Flame White Tiger.

"This means that your timeline and mine are completely different now."

The demure girl next to her, also watching the bonfire, said, "I never left the Four Pillars God Sect until the very end, and never activated that backup plan."

"I wish mine had gone as smoothly as yours," Silver Lamp sighed, "Maybe I should have spared the Tribulation Holy Temple, or even found a way to help them grow strong again. Alas..."

"Isn’t this also good?" The demure girl smiled, "Since you know from me what the future looks like if the main plan succeeds, why don’t you go see for yourself what the backup plan holds? That way, you can unlock both endings, right?"

"You have a point." Silver Lamp couldn’t help but glance at her, "Your way of thinking really is similar to mine, different from the ’other me’s that Illusion Mirror Dragon brought from other timelines. I thought Illusion Mirror Dragon was merely fabricating a version of ’the other me’ based on my different choices, with differences but only in a labeled sort of way. However, you make me feel very real, as if... I truly lived on another timeline for many years."

"You think I’m real because you see your own shadow in me." The demure girl laughed, "Following this logic, do you feel everyone around you is fake?"

"That’s right."

"So, you really want to use this thing?" The demure girl looked around, "80% here are mages; the elite of the Four Pillars God Sect in the Tribulation area are all here. The Mercury Wooden Horse will surely despise you for this."

"I’m not going to stay in the Four Pillars God Sect anyway, let her come after me if she dares."

As she spoke, Silver Lamp took out a crystal skull-shaped key from her bosom. She poured her magic power into the key, pushed it forward as if it were inserting into a lock, then turned it clockwise. A crisp ’click’ sound was emitted from space, and in the air spread a line of light path, eventually forming a Light Screen.

This was Silver Lamp’s biggest gain over the years—the legacy from the Gray Fox Era!

One of the auxiliary cultivation tools used by mages in that splendid era!

"Respected user, welcome to the Dragon Blood Cultivation System!"

"User detection incomplete, would you like to login immediately? Experiencing as a guest, you can only select one type of Primary Dragon Blood. Remaining uses of the system: 1/3."

"...User data collected!"

"...Surrounding environment data collected!"

"Please select the Dragon Blood gene you wish to cultivate: ① silver dragon blood ② golden dragon blood (locked) ③ rainbow dragon blood (locked) ④..."

"Silver dragon blood selected!"

"Please confirm the life energy collection range. Note: It is recommended to use creatures such as the Lala Fat, Fish-Slicing Dragon, Fox Lamp Dragon, or other Void Realm entities as sources of life energy."

A map of the surrounding area appeared on the Light Screen along with a movable and scalable red circle, which Silver Lamp expanded to encompass the entire hospital camp, then confirmed her selection.

"Basic life energy required for 1 drop of silver dragon blood: 100 units. Total life energy within the collection range: 54,111,300 units, enough to condense 541,113 drops of silver dragon blood."

"Warning: Detection of some life units with energy similar to intelligent beings. Continue anyway?"

"Confirm continuation. Dragon Blood Cultivation System will conduct three safety checks."

"...No official citizens detected."

"...No official citizens detected."

"...No official citizens detected."

"Cultivation begins, please remain still, the system will condense and transfuse the blood for you."

The wind began to pick up.

The believers felt a gentle breeze on the back of their necks, which took away all their energy, leaving behind only withered husks and feeble souls. A new Vortex appeared—it was quiet, gentle, and cruel. One by one, the believers closed their eyes in exhaustion, mage after mage fell in the Void Realm, their everything converted into silver energy, gathering around Silver Lamp.

The Vortex grew larger and larger, encompassing not just the bonfire but also houses, the kitchen, and spreading to the edge of the camp, until the largest camp in the Tribulation area fell prey to the Vortex.

"This scale of death, even in my history, ranks in the top ten," the demure girl remarked wistfully, "It’s rare to see so many extinguished at once."

"Compared to the eternity of the Void Realm, a moment in reality is but an illusion," Silver Lamp said, "Death is not a fall into eternal sleep but an awakening from a dream."

"Since they’re returning home," Silver Lamp smiled faintly, "why don’t I keep everything for myself?"