Chapter 795: Chapter 616: Saint, Monster, Ordinary Person
The Fire Technique Sanctuary had completely calmed down, “We are all trapped in Dead City, should we still obey the orders of the Mercury Wooden Horse and fight to the death against Silver Lamp? Silver Lamp is probably trying to leave Dead City just like us.”
Igula smiled and said, “You changed the title from ‘Honorable Seat’ to ‘Mercury Wooden Horse’; it seems that the faith in the Four Pillars God Sect isn’t very strict, is it? Just the threat of death makes you disrespect the Sect Hierarch?”
“Bullshit Sect Hierarch.” The Fire Technique Sanctuary dismissed it, “She is just a mouthpiece of the Gods of Four Pillars. We respect the Gods of Four Pillars, not her.”
Ash and the others exchanged glances.
Speaking of which, this was the first time they had heard the inner thoughts of a believer of the Four Pillars God Sect. After all, outside, any believer could have been remotely controlled by the Mercury Wooden Horse. They wouldn’t be foolish enough to engage in heart-to-heart chats with believers.
But now, since the Mercury Wooden Horse couldn’t infiltrate Dead City and the three from the Fire Technique Sanctuary were full of resentment due to the threat of death, it was the perfect opportunity for Ash and his companions to delve into the believers’ inner worlds.
“There’s no meaning in dawdling here,” Igula suggested, “Why don’t we search the city together to see if there are any other anomalies?”
Invisibly, Igula had included everyone under ‘we,’ even those from the Fire Technique Sanctuary. However, the latter did not object; firstly, Dead City was dangerous, and moving together could at least provide some early warning. Secondly, everyone there held a sanctuary and was not afraid of backstabbing.
However, conceding any authority, even a little, often leads to conceding a little more. And exploiting that to subtly blur the lines between right and wrong is hardly more complex than breathing for a Swindler.
They flew over Dead City, using various lighting abilities to inspect the ruins.
“It’s said that most bodies that died here have no wounds,” Igula initiated, “Perhaps it was some kind of Spirit Attack.”
“There is also something strange with Magic Power,” Ash suddenly said, “It hasn’t restored at all.”
The battle had been over for a while, and naturally, the Holy Sanctuary Mages noticed their consumed Magic Power had barely recovered.
Magic Power could be used, it was not blocked, but the restoration was being prevented—Sealing Technique, Host God?
This situation puzzled everyone, but as Ash and others were willing to exchange information, the Wind Skill Sanctuary reciprocated calmly, “It has become night, yet Senluo has not appeared.”
Ash and his companions jerked with realization that their necks were free of Senluo.
Normally when camping outdoors, the moment it became dark, something like a glowing green noose would wrap around their necks. If one wasn’t determined enough, they’d be strangled by Senluo and turned into a beast.
Ash and his companions didn’t camp outdoors often, so it took them a moment to catch on. Compared to anomalies in Magic Power and the Great Skill, the absence of Senluo was truly bizarre—it almost violated the natural Laws of Senluo.
“Didn’t the Mercury Wooden Horse inform you about Dead City beforehand?” Igula grasped Gwen’s arm, “Compared to this Two-winged Mage, you, as a Sanctuary, would definitely receive more attention from the Mercury Wooden Horse.”
Fire Technique Sanctuary and the others understood the logic immediately but were too emotionally driven before to think about it. After a moment of silence, the Fire Technique Sanctuary said, “She just told us to trap Silver Lamp and that could retreat in the last 30 minutes, she had other plans.”
“Indeed, she had other plans.” Ash said, somewhat reflectively.
“Facing Silver Lamp, entering such a dangerous place as Dead City, you didn’t have to listen to her. After all, you are Holy Sanctuary Mages, why must you risk your lives for her? If you go to the Qinri Alliance, there are plenty of sects willing to welcome you,” Igula deftly steered the conversation in another direction.
“But aren’t other sects the same?” the Gun Technique Sanctuary couldn’t help but blurt out, “Equally great, equally lofty, equally unattainable…”
Ash said, “Aren’t all ideals like that?”
“Yes, all ideals are like that,” the Gun Technique Sanctuary said, “That’s why we stay in the Four Pillars God Sect. We don’t need to fill our lives with empty ideals; we just need to live honestly.”
“The Four Pillars God Sect destroyed their sect, and also broke their spine,” Black Crow commented from atop Ash’s back, calmly, “The destruction of the Great Skill made them feel that no matter what, they could never reach their ideals, so they simply escaped into realism, willingly becoming mediocre, incompetent, and corrupted, and they also condemn others’ ideals as ‘meaningless’ to barely console their pitiful self-esteem.”
“They, even the most powerful Mages of Senluo, lost the qualifications to attain the Great Skill.”
Igula was moved by this, but he did not speak out to stop Black Crow’s denigration.
However, the Gun Technique Sanctuary did not provoke a fight, only cast a cold glance at Black Crow, “I know you, remnants of Ya Sha Jin, still adhering to Ya Sha Jin’s doctrines after its demise… just like countless saints who founded sects in the past.”
“But in my eyes, you are the most pitiable,” he said, “Do you know the purpose of the existence of Sects’ Great Skill? Do you know the truth of the Divine Era? Do you know that other realms are nothing like Senluo, without Great Skills, without so many sects?”
“The reason Senluo has the competition of the Divine Era and the ascension of the Great Skill is merely to cultivate powerful Divine Beings!”