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Klein gasped a few times, then looked up and around, discovering that the eternally unchanging majestic palace and ancient long table had both suffered damage, far exceeding the extent of damage from the lucky gold coin divination.
This discovery, almost equivalent to the backlash received by the sapphire ring when divining Trissy, made Klein's heart sink.
"If it weren't for this mysterious space above the gray fog blocking it, I probably wouldn't even have ashes left."
"Was that golden liquid divine blood? Did I just see the Eternal Blazing Sun, or a powerful angel under his command?"
"No, that was a Sun. I feel it's more like the former.... Oh my, did I just directly gaze upon a deity?"
Klein recovered slightly, letting the charred skin on his body peel off, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt lingering fear, thinking he had almost completely perished there.
"If what I spied on earlier was truly the Eternal Blazing Sun, then... did that sapphire ring also represent a true god?"
Klein's figure had now returned to normal, no longer charred, but compared to before, it was a few shades dimmer and more illusory, and the thoughts in his mind were difficult to suppress:
"Everything I'm experiencing now, could it be arranged by 0-08? No, Mr. Blessed once said that 0-08 cannot affect beings of higher Beyonder characteristic than itself."
"If it can be suppressed and sealed by the Church, even a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact cannot be higher than a true god. So that means...."
"Am I really just unlucky?"
After a few seconds of silence, Klein raised his hand and rubbed his temples, proposing the idea of restoring the palace and the long table.
He sat down, leaning against the back of the chair, and chuckled self-deprecatingly:
"This isn't entirely a bad thing. At least I've figured out the approximate limits of this mysterious space and have a clear goal."
"At the very least, an angel close to a deity should be able to fully leverage the power above the gray fog, right?"
"Additionally, the 'Seer's Acting Principles' must add another rule: 'Do not casually divine matters that may involve high-Beyonder characteristic beings.'"
If he were to glimpse something that shouldn't be directly gazed upon, there would be no mysterious space in the outside world to shield him from most of the severe backlash, nor could he use it to conceal himself.
Suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind, Klein began to organize the knowledge that surged into his mind, and a look of pleasant surprise quickly appeared on his face.
The complete Beyonder potion formulas for Sequence 9 Bard, Sequence 8 Light Supplicant, and Sequence 7 Solar High Priest.
Crystallized Sunflowers, Lava Giant's Heart, Luminous Contract Tree Fruit.... Klein silently recited the names of these materials, which he had hardly heard of.
The Church of the Lord of Storms in Loen was extremely repulsed by the Eternal Blazing Sun, so Beyonders of the Bard Pathway and corresponding materials were rarely circulated in Loen.
Besides that, what surprised Klein the most was that he had actually obtained the manufacturing method for another type of advanced charm, as well as an incomplete Beyonder potion formula at the demigod level.
The manufacturing technique for 'Flaring Sun Charm'.... Its effect can last for a year before decaying. It can be used without performing a ritual to pray to the Eternal Blazing Sun, but instead by using Sealed Artifact '3-0782' to steal power from this mutated Sun Holy Emblem.
Sequence 4 Unshadowed Beyonder potion formula:
The main ingredient can be the golden divine blood extracted from the mutated Sun Holy Emblem. Alternatively, three tail feathers of an adult Sun God Bird and a piece of Sacred Radiance Stone can be used. Supplementary ingredients are missing, and the advancement ritual is missing....
Looking at the words manifested on the parchment, Klein couldn't help but tap the edge of the bronze long table.
The harvest was much more than he had imagined!
"Unlike the previous ones, this Beyonder potion formula also listed substitutes or material names from different periods.... As expected of a formula divined directly from the Eternal Blazing Sun!"
Klein thought with some relief, it seemed his luck wasn't bad after all. However, when he saw "advancement ritual missing," he was a bit surprised. Could it be that from a certain Sequence onwards, besides the Beyonder potion formula, a so-called ritual was also required?
Was this a peculiarity of the Bard Pathway, or was it true for all Pathways? Although he didn't know the answer, Klein's spiritual intuition leaned more towards the latter.
Amidst the swirling thoughts, Klein felt his head empty and aching. Just as he was about to return to the real world, he noticed that the crimson star with the prayer sounds earlier had produced another faint fluctuation.
After a moment of hesitation, Klein touched the illusory star by responding to the prayer and saw a brown-haired youth in unique black tight-fitting clothes.
The youth was still on his knees, still facing the pure crystal ball, muttering something in a low voice.
As a former top student in the history department of Khoy University, Klein also mastered Ancient Feysac, one of the ancient languages of the Northern Continent. As a language derived from Jotun, with some basic knowledge, Klein could barely understand one sentence:
"Pray... save... father and Mother."
Where can Jotun still be used now?
What a pity, I, the mysterious master above the gray fog, am just a figurehead. I wish I could save them, but I don't have the ability....
Thinking this, Klein shook his head and sighed, deciding to observe for a while longer, then withdrew his spirituality, enveloped himself, and plunged downward.
-----------------
At the junction of the Berserk Sea and the Sonia Sea, the 'Moon Shadow' had left the safe shipping lane and was lingering near the dangerous waters, an area frequently frequented by Vice Admiral Bulatov Ivan's pirate crew.
Louise Sears looked at the solemn-faced crew members. For some time, the 'Moon Shadow' and Vice Admiral of Dusk's fleet had been in frequent conflict.
Even though the 'Moon Shadow' crew was mostly Sanguine, with a high proportion of Beyonders who were all mid-sequence or higher, they couldn't stand against an entire pirate crew.
Earlier, at the Council of Entropy, the reason Louise wanted to acquire a Sanguine Viscount Beyonder characteristic was to allow her first mate to advance to Viscount through it.
Louise believed this would attract more Sanguine eager to advance further to leave the continent and join her. The new Viscount could also expand her strength and establish a true pirate crew, not just a standalone flagship.
Looking at the crimson moonlight filtering through the storm's crevices, Louise's expression shifted slightly. Her body turned illusory, tinged with light red, transforming into a hazy moonlight that instantly appeared in the deepest part of the ship's cabin, which was also the 'Moon Shadow's' storage room, holding various Beyonder materials, Sealed Artifacts, and charms.
The teleportation-like ability she just displayed was the moonlight transformation ability possessed only by a Scarlet Scholar. Within a certain range illuminated by moonlight, she could transform into moonlight to gain instantaneous movement and flashing abilities, and also become immune to a certain degree of attacks.
This was also the fundamental reason why the 'Moon Shadow' itself was not a ghost ship, yet could repeatedly escape from Vice Admiral of Dusk's fleet without exposing a Grade 1 Sealed Artifact.
Louise passed through shelves filled with spiritual materials and looked directly at a mirror with ancient and complex patterns in the deepest part. This was the demigod Sealed Artifact 'Mirror of Arcane' that the Sanguine high-ranking members had entrusted to her.
It was formed at the end of the Fourth Epoch, originating from the Abraham family, a great noble family that supported the Solomon Empire. After Mr. Door disappeared, the Abraham demigods, lacking protection, suffered heavy losses in that disaster, turning into Sealed Artifacts scattered among various organizations.
Next to the 'Mirror of Arcane,' a hazy, illusory 'Door' inscribed with numerous mysterious symbols stretched out of thin air. Marquis Mistral, tall and with eyes as red as stored blood, stepped out from it.
After achieving the Sanguine Marquis, Mistral made some modifications to the 'Door of Summoning,' solidifying the contracts signed with Spirit World creatures into bloodline contracts.
Relying on his bloodline bond with Louise, and without too strong external obstruction, Marquis Mistral could directly descend through the 'Door of Summoning' without time restrictions, but only once within a certain period.
As yin power rose and spirituality became increasingly active, Marquis Mistral sensed the situation of the 'Moon Shadow' and smiled:
"Although the current Sanguine rarely lose control due to good Beyonder potion digestion, most rely on long lifespans to slowly accumulate. This is both our race's Beyonder characteristic and a curse."
"Long life and comfortable living have caused some Sanguine to lose their ferocity. Their combat ability and will are even inferior to you younger generations."
"I will formally propose to the Dukes, along with Marquis Nibbs, that the Sanguine must undergo tempering through blood to not lose their past glory."
Louise nodded but did not respond. Although she strongly agreed with her grandfather's view, within the Sanguine, she was just a junior. Some words could only be spoken by Marquis Mistral, who was among the Sanguine high-ranking members, but not by her.
Looking at Louise, Marquis Mistral smiled and added:
"In the future, promotions within the clan will only be for the capable, with the mediocre stepping aside, unlike the seniority-based system before. Also, in a while, you will accompany me to the ancestral land."
"You are now, both in strength and reputation, the leader of the younger generation of the Sanguine. Duke Jorna of 'New Moon' wishes to meet you."
Duke of 'New Moon'? Louise was stunned for a moment. Although she didn't know why this important figure wanted to see her, having seen many grand occasions, she wasn't overly excited.
After confirming the approximate time, Louise looked at Mistral and asked expectantly:
"The message I conveyed to you earlier through ritualistic magic..."
Taking out two dark red boxes, as if soaked in fresh blood, from his storage and handing them to Louise, Mistral smiled and introduced:
"After receiving your message, I searched the Sanguine treasury in Backlund. There was a Wraith Beyonder characteristic, but not the Dream Stealer Beyonder characteristic you mentioned. There was only one Marionettist Beyonder characteristic."
"I have already exchanged it with merit points. The Grade 1 Sealed Artifact from before is considered a reward from the clan to you, and these two Beyonder characteristics are my personal reward to you. As for what you can exchange for them, or how you use them, I will not inquire."
It seems that after advancing to Marquis, Grandfather's influence within the clan has greatly increased.... Thinking this, Louise put away the two boxes and, after a moment's consideration, asked:
"Grandfather, now that Vice Admiral of Dusk is constantly harassing the 'Moon Shadow,' I want to try to ambush him using the 'Mirror of Arcane.' Do you have any suggestions?"
Louise was no longer the naive Sanguine girl she once was. From Feysac to Backlund, from the Northern Continent to the Southern Continent, and now as 'Vice Admiral Moon,' she had long matured.
The attitudes of various nations towards pirate admirals showed that those pirate admirals would not be without supporters; they often represented a faction, an organization.
Louise also wanted to confirm with her grandfather, this ancient Sanguine who had lived long enough and had experience on the high seas, the force behind Vice Admiral of Dusk.
Marquis Mistral smiled and shook his head, explaining:
"The areas where Vice Admiral of Dusk frequently appears are mostly concentrated in the Sonia Sea. Whether it's Sonia Island in the far north or the East Balam Coast of the Southern Continent in the far south, those are Feysac territories."
"Someone always has to do some unsavory things for the Church. Whether to maintain the Church's dignity or to conceal some secrets, the Feysac people, heh, or rather the Church of the God of Combat, will not sit idly by and watch Vice Admiral of Dusk be hunted down by you."
"Moreover, even to avoid provoking the displeasure of the Church of the Lord of Storms, Bulatov Ivan only reveals a Sequence 5 level, but he should at least be hiding a powerful Sealed Artifact that can help him hold out until the Church of the God of Combat's aid arrives."
"The only way to quickly defeat him is for me to personally intervene, but that would be tantamount to the Sanguine tearing off their masks with the Church of the God of Combat."
Louise nodded, somewhat troubled, planning to observe further later. Seizing the rare opportunity, she continued to ask:
"What about other pirate admirals or pirate kings? For example, Vice Admiral of the Deep Sea?"
A smile flashed in his eyes, Marquis Mistral continued:
"Pirate kings are still a bit distant for you right now. Besides Agalito, the 'King of Immortality' who was hunted down earlier, the remaining ones are all very dangerous."
"If you encounter that false king of the Rose School of Thought, immediately call me. Do not be reckless."
False king? Louise was stunned for a second before realizing her grandfather was referring to the 'King of the Crimson Moon.' This name, for the Sanguine, especially high-ranking Sanguine, was indeed a title for a false king.
Looking at the attentively listening Louise, Marquis Mistral pondered for a moment and added:
"The Sanguine's main goal for the next period is to eliminate Primordial Moon believers. That false king is also one of the targets. If you have any information, you can inform me promptly."
"As for Vice Admiral of the Deep Sea you mentioned, I don't know much either. He has some Naga bloodline, possibly from the mysterious waters of the Abyss Vortex."
Naga? Louise frowned slightly, recalling carefully, then shook off the big question mark that had formed in her mind and asked with great interest:
"What are Nagas? Some kind of Beyonder creature?"
Moonlight suddenly appeared in the enclosed cabin, transforming into scrolls of images. Marquis Mistral used his finger as a pen, drawing as he explained:
"In the ancient Dark Epoch, sea monsters submitted to Elf King Sonia Solemn, helping him rule the seabed. Nagas were among the quite powerful sea monsters."
"Their typical appearance is a human upper body and a giant snake lower body, with six arms, and they are very agile. As a Beyonder race, they are also the source of many ritual materials."
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