CHAPTER 443: CHAPTER 347: RETURN TO BLACK STONE TOWN_2

"A hazy halo began to radiate."

"The ’Battle Angel Maid’ and the ’Stone of Truth’ were fusing at a speed visible to the naked eye."

"The process was not slow. About half a minute later, the light enveloping the body faded away. The cold expression on the face softened in the blink of an eye, warming with a visible excitement. Looking here, glancing there, bounding twice, delivering a horizontal kick that released a fierce Gang Wind—utterly satisfied with this body."

"Ascended already?"

"Your face also showed a look of exhilaration. From a revelation deep within, you understood that, with the fusion of the ’Stone of Truth’ and the spiritual self of ’Seventeen’ taking control, the rank of this ’Battle Angel Maid’ had ascended to the Legendary level."

"In other words,"

"This ’Battle Angel Maid,’ in some sense, now possessed the power of a ’Divine Sovereign.’"

"No longer merely a projection from the ’Truth Hall,’ but a living entity—a transcendent creature bearing the rank of ’Divine Sovereign.’ ’Seventeen’ must be elated now. She might even give you a big hug in a moment. To accept it or... to accept it—ah, such choices."

"Your mind wandered unconsciously, unable to resist imagining what might happen next."

"However,"

"What happened next did not unfold as you had envisioned..."

"In your sight, the previously exhilarated ’Seventeen’ suddenly froze. Her gaze turned vacant, deep pools of sorrow welling in her eyes, tears streaming uncontrollably, as though struck by an unimaginable grief."

"What’s wrong?"

"You instinctively asked."

"Seventeen,’ occupying the body of the ’Battle Angel Maid,’ looked at you with tearful eyes and said... Just now, the ’No. 17 Truth Hall’ was destroyed. Everything within it has ceased to exist."

...

The ’No. 17 Truth Hall’ was obliterated so quickly?

Reading these words, Yang Qizhou was initially stunned, then his expression swiftly turned grim.

In his heart, he began analyzing:

"The destruction of the ’No. 17 Truth Hall,’ and the inability of the ’Master of Millions’ to find the game character therein—this might make Him suspect that the flaws left behind by the ’Doomsday Land’ are traps, redirecting His focus back to ’Asgard.’ Waiting for the Divine Curse to fade, He may once again prepare to open the gates to the ’Mysterious Town.’"

"This could buy the game character significant time,"

"But this is merely the most optimistic scenario,"

"In reality, things are far less hopeful."

"The ’Master of Millions,’ as the ruler of the ’Mysterious Town’ and the embodiment of the Nameless Land, possesses unquestionable power. It’s highly likely He will detect the traces left by the game character in the ’Truth Hall,’ as well as the Temporal-Spatial Ripples from the use of the ’Teleportation Scroll,’ thereby locking onto the game character who has already teleported to ’Blackstone Town.’"

"If the game character cannot reach the ’Land of Radiant Prayer,’ or even the gods-forsaken ’Land of Truth,’ before then..."

"Their situation will become exceptionally precarious."

Various thoughts surfaced in his mind. Taking a deep breath, Yang Qizhou stared intently at his phone screen. "Given the degree of convergence between the ’Old Earth’ and the ’Real World,’ the game character should come to the same realizations and strategize accordingly. What happens next depends on them."

The text continued to refresh.

...

"The ’No. 17 Truth Hall’ was annihilated?"

"Following a subtle sense of guidance, you quickly began piecing together the cascading effects this event would have, along with the precarious circumstances to come. Despite wanting to comfort ’Seventeen,’ to tell her not to grieve, now was clearly not the time."

"Don’t worry, ’little one.’ When I ascend the throne of the ’Lord of Blasphemy,’ I will craft a Truth Hall just for you."

"After saying this, you didn’t wait for ’Seventeen’s’ reaction but promptly stowed her away."

"You began considering countermeasures."

"The ’Master of Millions’ could direct His gaze here at any time by tracing the remnants of ’time’ and ’space.’ The time you had left was evidently running out."

"Soon, a bold and risky plan took shape in your mind."

"You retrieved the ’Hidden Wizard King’s Notebook’ and asked in a low voice... Itas, are you still there?"

"You didn’t hold much hope,"

"For when the ’Divine Curse’ first appeared, this already-fallen ’Wizard King’ had vanished entirely."

"But to your astonishment, this time, your call was answered."

"I’m here."

"Shortly after, Itas, the ’Hidden Wizard King,’ spoke again... Congratulations, you have successfully shepherded the ’King of Nature.’ You are one step closer to returning to the throne of the ’Lord of Blasphemy.’"

"Under normal circumstances, receiving praise from an existence on the ’Pillar’ level would have inflated your pride, spreading a smug grin across your face to broadcast your good mood."

"But now, such feelings were absent."

"You summarized what had transpired—how the ’Master of Millions’ might soon zero in on your location. Sincerely and earnestly, you pleaded... I need your help. Can you mask the existence of this town without anyone in ’Blackstone Town’ noticing and buy me some time?"

"Since Itas had invested interest in you, of course, they wouldn’t refuse. A faint voice of response emerged again..."

"I will try my best, but the opponent is the ’Master of Millions.’ I can’t guarantee how long I can keep the town Hidden."

"That’s enough. Thank you."

"You expressed your gratitude earnestly, watching as the [Hidden Wizard King’s Notebook] dimmed once more, your gaze unknowingly deepening."

"You recalled the final words spoken by the ’King of Nature’ before their demise."

"In a barely audible murmur, you began to whisper... ’Hidden’ doesn’t always mean ’hidden,’ does it? Itas, you’ve admittedly staked your interest on me. But what is your true goal in doing so? Is it really as simple as ’resurrection’?"

"Itas, the Blasphemous Wizard King of ’Hidden Pillar,’ was indeed unparalleled in shepherding secrecy. Even in death, their powers were far beyond what non-’Pillar’ beings could comprehend."

"In no time at all,"

"An invisible barrier encompassed the entirety of ’Blackstone Town,’ imbued with mystical elements of ’Hidden,’ reaching levels of unfathomable magnitude."

"At that very moment,"

"The sky above began to quiver violently. An indescribable tentacle pierced through the Void, sweeping across the land with abandon. The terror it radiated, infused with the presence of a ’Pillar,’ subjected the world to unspeakable torment."

"Thanks to the Hidden power of ’Itas,’ however, no one in ’Blackstone Town’ but you perceived this horrifying situation. Life within the town continued as usual, with townsfolk offering prayers to the gods of the ’Five Great Orders.’"

"Though the ’Master of Millions’ was yet to fully divert His focus away from ’Asgard,’ only allotting some attention to the traces of ’time’ and ’space,’ His powers were incomplete, leaving Him incapable of detecting the Hidden ’Blackstone Town’ in the short term,

"But you knew very well,"

"That ’Itas’ was far from in good shape. Having already fallen, they could only make use of certain symbols and were unlikely to hold off the ’Master of Millions’ for long."

"With no time to lose, you immediately traversed the streets paved with black stone, following a remembered route. Thanks to the effects of the ’Dream Hidden World Clothes,’ none of the townsfolk noticed your presence. Before long, you arrived at the church of the ’Black Mist Ancient God.’"

"You stepped inside."

"Your eyes fell upon the grand divine statue and the sacred throne. Without hesitation, you unraveled the Hidden effect."

"Instantly, black mist engulfed the church. All the ’believers’ disappeared in an instant. A woman’s figure materialized on the throne, her expression icy as she glared at you with wary eyes. Her hostile voice resounded... "

"You’ve taken so long. I thought you’d leave ’Blackstone Town’ and suppress your curiosity.