Talks Between Both Sides

"Are you saying this Skywell has a master control mechanism like the Mechanical Beasts?" After hearing Xia Fan's plan, Venerable Shengtian was skeptical.

"In theory, yes. Though this place is enormous, it has many interfaces designed for human access. Perhaps one or two small commands would be enough to set the entire system running again." Xia Fan smiled. "Isn't that how you obtain food and clothing?"

"In that case, I'll go down with you." Venerable Shengtian seemed thoughtful. "If we are to communicate with the Skywell, a Venerable's power is indispensable."

Xia Fan raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because only we can make the Skywell dispense food and retrieve clothing from the storage vaults." Li Mengyun walked to his side and leaned against the railing as well, gazing down into the bottomless world below. "This is the foundation upon which the Salvation Sect was able to grow and thrive here, and also the price every Venerable was willing to pay."

"The... transformation by Black Gate aura?" He suddenly realized something.

"That's right. Only by accepting this transformation can one command those mechanisms to serve us." She spoke frankly. "But Miss Luo has seen it too—the so-called Black Gate aura is actually a symbiosis with Chaos. Given enough time, the aura within one's body will inevitably transform toward Chaos. I imagine you would not be willing to accept such a transformation, would you? After all, as a Listener, you can live a rather long life."

Xia Fan did not dispute that point.

But what he was considering was not how long he could live. He simply felt instinctively resistant to casually accepting the Skywell's transformation.

"What exactly is the process like?" he asked curiously.

"A pure white room, with many glass jar-like vessels. You only need to operate them according to the