Mage Manual
Chapter 679 - 537 Half-Touch

Chapter 679: Chapter 537 Half-Touch

"The other half of the Tactile Ability must belong to that woman," Igula spoke, "Can the Tactile Ability actually be split in two?"

"Each kingdom should have only one person with the Tactile Ability; that is an unchangeable rule," the Mercury Wooden Horse explained. "But there are four Gods of Four Pillars, and since there can be only one with the Tactile Ability, sometimes they also encounter disagreements."

"Even though the Gods of Four Pillars are very fond of you, the other individual also receives no less favor. Since the Gods of Four Pillars have not come to a consensus, both of you became half of the Tactile Ability, until their views are unified, or until only one option remains. Only then will the true Tactile Ability be chosen."

"So for you, it’s still good news—at least that person is not yet the complete Tactile Ability, and she can’t compel the Four Pillars God Sect to protect herself."

"The bad news is, we also can’t compel the Four Pillars God Sect," Igula said indifferently: "Because Ash is not the complete Tactile Ability, he cannot automatically become the leader of the Four Pillars God Sect either. That’s why you’re so happy—before the true Observer emerges, you still have control over the Four Pillars God Sect!"

"Yes," the Mercury Wooden Horse smiled: "Although my Tactile Ability will gradually degenerate, the sect I’ve built will continue to operate according to my will."

For the Mercury Wooden Horse, indeed this was the best-case scenario. Whether it was Ash or that woman who became the Tactile Ability, it meant she’d have to surrender control of the Four Pillars God Sect, and clearly, she was that sort of power monster; plus, having built the Senluo’s Four Pillars God Sect from the ground up, there’s no way she’d willingly depart from her laboriously managed business, right?

For her, the transition of the Tactile Ability was an unforeseeable accident— who would have thought that after a massacre (and the victims being the believers of the Four Pillars God Sect), the Pillar Gods would shift their attention? The Mercury Wooden Horse must be quite dissatisfied in her heart, but in order to survive, she had to sever her losses to save the rest.

Now, with the Tactile Ability yet to emerge, the Mercury Wooden Horse had more time to prepare her exit strategy, how could she not rejoice? However, Igula concluded that she would not quietly step down. Although she dared not kill Ash and that woman (for the death of either would mean the new Tactile Ability emerges), she would surely find a way to prolong this standoff.

"So does a half Observer not have abilities like Eternal Damnation or Mercury Wooden Horse?" Ash inquired.

"Being a half Observer is like having a disabled organ. Can a disabled organ be used? Yes, but it requires a lot of training and luck," the Mercury Wooden Horse responded. "But you don’t even know what your disabled organ is, how will you train it?"

"Can’t you see it?" Igula asked.

"My abilities are already fading," the Mercury Wooden Horse revealed with a look of regret. "The Tactile Ability is a deeply hidden secret; I can’t see it."

Even without Tamasi’s testimony, Ash could tell she was lying; she just didn’t want to disclose it to keep Ash from developing the Tactile Ability.

Thick-skinned, power-hungry, full of cunning, with a vicious nature. Without a doubt, as a leader of the Four Pillars God Sect, she was definitely up to the mark.

Ash’s tone grew colder: "Is there anything else you want to say?"

"Even though you’ve become a half Observer, your crisis remains unchanged," the Mercury Wooden Horse said. "The Blood Seed is still constantly consuming your bodies. I can arrange for some Gray Fox resources to be sent to you, which might slightly supplement your diminished life force, but that’s just a temporary fix."

"The Dragon Blood cultivation system is too domineering. Every day without removing the Blood Core, you are a Blood Seed being drained. You wouldn’t want someone else to suck away all that you’ve accumulated over the years, right? So, you still need to kill the Blood Core."

"I’ll provide you with intelligence on the Blood Core and will try my best to assist in your pursuit. However, once the Blood Core dies, it signifies that Ash, you completely become the Observer—are you truly prepared to serve the Gods of Four Pillars for life?"

Ash’s expression subtly changed: "Even if I become the Observer, I won’t serve the Gods of Four Pillars."

"I’m sorry, I misspoke and caused a misunderstanding. ’Serve’ makes it sound like it was our own choice, but in reality, the relationship between the Observer and the Gods of Four Pillars is not master and servant, but symbiotic," the Mercury Wooden Horse clarified. "Even if plants leave the earth, sunlight deserts the sun, or direction betrays the gun bullet, the Observer cannot defy the Gods of Four Pillars."

"By that time, your desires will hardly matter, because your life is parasite upon the Gods of Four Pillars. Even if the fingers loathe the body, they must serve it nonetheless."

Ash and his companions wore a very grim visage—they had to kill the Blood Core to survive; yet by killing the Blood Core, Ash would become the Observer, and his life would consequently change.

"Increase what they desire, gift what they need," Igula suddenly interjected. "It seems you have a proposal we can’t refuse."

"Very simple," the Mercury Wooden Horse said: "You want to kill the Blood Core, but also Ash can’t become the Observer. The solution is to let the Blood Core become the perfect Observer, and then kill her immediately after, that would solve all the problems."

"But doesn’t one of them have to die for the other to become the perfect Observer?"

"I have other ways," the Mercury Wooden Horse declared with a smile: "Just bring her to the Four Pillars God Sect, I’ll resolve all the issues for you."

Ash’s lips quivered, but seeing that Igula remained silent, he also held his peace.

The Mercury Wooden Horse’s proposal seemed good, but the Killing Intent it contained was too blatant—if they brought the Blood Core to the Four Pillars God Sect with both half Observers present, the Mercury Wooden Horse would just need to kill them both, and the Gods of Four Pillars would have no other choice but to continue favoring her!

Even without Tamasi’s testimony, Ash had no doubt about the Mercury Wooden Horse’s evil nature! It would be more apt to say that she hadn’t concealed it at all, rather, she had arrogantly exposed her wicked thoughts.

Because what the Mercury Wooden Horse offered was not so much a suggestion as a challenge!

She would help Ash to survive, she would help him capture the Blood Core, and then during that time she would prepare a perfect trap for Ash and his companions. If Ash and the Blood Core both died in it, she would remain the Mercury Wooden Horse; if Ash overcame it, she would solve the problems for them.

And most crucially, if Ash didn’t want to become Tactile, then he must accept this challenge!

"...Even without Tactile Ability, you would certainly manage the Four Pillars God Sect well," Igula said. "Seizing every opportunity, discerning every thread of human nature, your success with the Four Pillars God Sect is no coincidence."

"The sentiment is mutual," Mercury Wooden Horse replied. "By the way, there’s something else I need to tell Ash. Although you haven’t yet enjoyed the benefits of being Tactile, you still have to pay its price."

"What price?" Ash asked. "Do I have to thank Them before meals for blessing us with plump meat?"

"It’s not really such an important price," Mercury Wooden Horse said with a laugh. "Starting from the third layer of the Void Realm, Tactiles will be loathed by the Void Realm."

Loathed by the Void Realm?

"Wait!" Ash found a loophole. "Didn’t you just say that the Gods of Four Pillars are the masters of the Void Realm? If I’m Their Tactile, why would I be hated?"

"Because the Void Realm was stolen by other villains, it turned against its original masters," Mercury Wooden Horse explained. "Just like if the Blood Core became Tactile, the Four Pillars God Sect that I created would also become my enemy."

"Speaking of which," Harvey said, "we don’t know that person’s name, which is fine, but why don’t you refer to her by name either?"

"Because she hid her True Name with a Miracle, and since I’ve never truly seen her, I don’t know her name either," Mercury Wooden Horse replied. "She used to be known as ’The Holy Daughter of the Silver Lamp in the Dust Tribulation Fire,’ and she seems to be rather fond of the name Silver Lamp."

Silver Lamp... As Ash and the others contemplated the name, Tamasi suddenly asked eagerly, "Tanomu, do you have any other advice?"

"No more, what remains is to discuss how the Four Pillars God Sect can support you—"

Crack.

Tamasi decisively chopped off Mercury Wooden Horse’s head and threw it into the bonfire, feeling it was not enough to quell his resentment, he then tossed the body in as well. He clapped his hands as if feeling slightly embarrassed, then turned to Ash and the others, "Shall I get you something to eat? What would you like?"

"...Roasted plump meat."

...

...

In the midst of the night, a streak of red light was moving swiftly.

Even without any vision, the Flame White Tiger with five tails moved effortlessly across the wilderness. Silver Lamp sat on its back, her neck encircled by a thick layer of fluorescent green that looked like a noose ready to tighten at any moment.

"Ah, I almost forgot; there’s a small matter I want to tell you."

Silver Lamp turned her head to look behind her. The demure girl brought by the Illusion Mirror Dragon hadn’t left and was still enthusiastically embracing her waist.

The demure girl said, "Because your world line is very similar to mine, I was thinking about what I encountered back then, which you might soon encounter too."

Silver Lamp: "If it’s related to the Four Pillars God Sect, then it’s of no relevance to me."

"Can’t say it’s unrelated, but the connection isn’t that deep," the demure girl spoke casually. "There’s someone who can form teams in the Void Realm to explore it with other Mages, and you might be pulled into this team."

A team of Mages exploring the Void Realm?

Even knowing there was no reason for the other party to deceive her, Silver Lamp couldn’t help but show an ’are you kidding me’ expression. Yet, she nodded, "I’ll remember that."

"Even without my reminder, you would know what to do," the demure girl said. "It’s time for me to leave. May you glimpse the truth before awakening from your dream."

"Thank you," Silver Lamp said. "I hope you can have a pleasant dream in your world line too."

"My dream has already ended." The demure girl smiled, fading away like wisps of smoke.

As Silver Lamp turned her head to continue forward, a final hint from another world line reached her ears:

"By the way, the captain of that team of Mages is called the Final Observer."

"His True Name is Ash Heath."