Just One Step Away

In the Black Merchant headquarters, Nameless Town.

Under the night sky, Isaiah stood by the window, gazing in the direction of De La Town.

"Mr. Isaiah, we have prepared everything you requested," a Black Merchant said, approaching him from behind and bowing respectfully. "We have arranged everything in the designated locations according to your instructions. When the time is right, they will activate automatically, so you don't need to worry."

"Is that so?" Isaiah smiled and nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."

"It is our honor to serve the most powerful warlock of our time," the Black Merchant replied with a smile. "And it's the legendary 'Stars Array.' Without you, we might never have had the chance to witness the splendor of this legendary formation in our lifetime."

"I believe it will not disappoint you."

The "Stars Array" was the Star Relic Sect's most powerful formation, capable of converting stellar power into the power of a Star Relic Warlock to the greatest extent.

Within the Stars Array, a Star Relic Warlock's power was nearly infinite. Thus, there was a saying that a Star Relic Warlock within the Stars Array was the closest being to a god in this world, undeniably the strongest.

However, the conditions for setting up the Stars Array were extremely stringent. It not only required various expensive and rare materials but also a considerable amount of preparation time and a sufficiently clear night sky.

These layered restrictions were precisely why the theoretically strongest Star Relic Warlocks were confined to the remote corners of the continent in reality.

And Isaiah intended to set up the "Stars Array" in Nameless Town to prepare for the battle the night after tomorrow.

This also received strong support from the Contract Land. Therefore, as the "Black Glove" of the Contract Land, the Black Merchants bore all the expenses for the formation, helping Isaiah set up their own headquarters as the core of the "Stars Array," just waiting for the arrival of the Spotless Night.

Of course, the Black Merchants were doing this in preparation for future "whitewashing." They hoped to gain the support of the Star Relic Church and thus spared no effort.

However, for Isaiah, everything he was doing now was merely going through the motions.

After all, with Visas's Right Eye, Isaiah no longer needed to rely on the Stars Array to receive power. The sea of stars was within his eyes.

This allowed Isaiah to be in his full state at any time and place. The Stars Array could not even be considered adding icing to the cake for him.

But this did not mean he no longer needed the Stars Array. On the contrary, he still needed it, but the purpose of his need was different from before. Now, he needed to use the Stars Array to disguise himself.

After all, if he directly used his extraordinary power outside the Stars Array, wouldn't it be like engraving "I also have Corpse Pieces" on his forehead?

He wasn't Luo Qi; he certainly wouldn't do something as foolish as exposing his identity.

This was why Isaiah chose to make his move against Tongue and Luo Qi in Nameless Town, under the gaze of countless people.

He wanted to obtain what he desired while also having a legitimate reason and proving his innocence.

Therefore, the scenario of "with the help of the Contract Land and the Black Merchants, he successfully dealt with the two criminals wanted by the Contract Land by relying on the Stars Array during the Spotless Night" was undoubtedly the most suitable.

That way, no one would doubt his identity, even if he obtained the most.

This was a meticulously crafted play by Isaiah.

Both the Stars Array and the arrival of the Spotless Night required two days.

From here on, all that was left was to wait for time to quietly pass.

Three Sound·Storm Cut!

With a passionate melody, three enhanced Wind Blades flowed from He Wei Ni Ya's fingertips, slashing towards the four Players who were relentlessly pursuing her in the night wind.

The four Players immediately raised their staffs in response, and a graceful ensemble movement spell resonated, creating a faint barrier in the air.

The Wind Blades struck the barrier and dissolved like ice cubes dropped into boiling water.

Then, they shifted their tone, and the rippling air barrier transformed into arrows of wind, whistling with a chilling cold as they flew towards He Wei Ni Ya.

But He Wei Ni Ya merely swayed her staff lightly. Before they could even discern the melody, the rapidly approaching Wind Arrows vanished without a trace.

"They disappeared?"

"No, they didn't!"

The "disappeared" Wind Arrows suddenly shot from behind them. Even though they had sensed it, some reacted a beat too late and were struck, falling to the ground covered in blood.

"Damn it!" Seeing this, the leading Player couldn't help but curse. "We're not even in the same league!"

As he said, they were completely outmatched by He Wei Ni Ya.

Players were definitely the most talent-dependent profession in this world.

A Silver Sound Player could never compare to a Golden Sound Player, let alone the fact that He Wei Ni Ya possessed seven Golden Sounds.

No matter what movement spells they used, as long as He Wei Ni Ya used the same one, their movement spells would be directly integrated into hers due to her higher-tier notes.

As long as He Wei Ni Ya knew the melodic composition of their movement spells, she could arbitrarily replace, weaken, or even directly alter their effects.

This resulted in them being unilaterally crushed by He Wei Ni Ya, despite having the advantage in numbers, age, and experience.

Honestly, sending them to hunt down He Wei Ni Ya was already a difficult task.

Because even within the Holy Sound, they were not considered the most elite Players. The entire Orchestra combined couldn't produce a few Golden Sounds.

The reason they were dispatched as guardians to the Contract Land was precisely because they weren't that outstanding themselves. In the Holy Sound, the truly powerful Players were the direct descendants of the major families. Why would they give up their comfortable lives as nobles to become guardians in the Contract Land, forever unable to return? Wasn't it better to be a perpetual superior in the Holy Sound?

Of course, thanks to the person in front of them, most of those "superiors" had gone to accompany the Lord of Holy Sound during the upheaval a few months ago. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been pulled back from the Contract Land.

After all, before this, no one had ever been able to leave the Contract Land after entering it.

Ah, it seems I've digressed.

The leading Player mused again in his heart after narrowly dodging another effortless strike from He Wei Ni Ya.

That's not right. Why are only they chasing He Wei Ni Ya now?

According to the original plan, they should have been covering for the troops of the other three major churches.

So where are the other three major churches? Why is only this one here?

Who told them to make a move?

The leading Player suddenly felt a bit lost.

He vaguely remembered that before entering the town, they seemed to have met someone. That person said something to them, and then they arrived here and began their pursuit of He Wei Ni Ya.

But who was that person?

The leading Player couldn't recall at all. Then, he suddenly felt a chill beneath him. He instinctively lowered his head and found a large gash in his waist, with blood gushing out uncontrollably.

He had been hit too.

So, his body tilted, and he fell down as well.

He Wei Ni Ya stopped, looking at the last Player who had fallen. She frowned slightly.

Is that all?

While being pursued by these Players, He Wei Ni Ya hadn't used her full strength.

Because she felt that this group was too weak, and they were most likely bait. The real pursuit force was hidden in the shadows, waiting for her to expose a weakness before making their move.

So, He Wei Ni Ya had been holding back some of her strength to guard against them.

However, after guarding against them until she had dealt with the entire Orchestra, no reinforcements had emerged.

What was going on?

He Wei Ni Ya knew that there were at least troops from the other three major churches in this town. Where were they?

Why did they only send the half-crippled Holy Sound? Were they just watching from the sidelines?

"Swish swish swish."

As He Wei Ni Ya was wondering, a series of footsteps sounded.

She turned her head and finally saw Rhine's Knight rushing out from the street corner. They seemed to have just arrived in a hurry, not at all like an ambush.

What was going on?

Were they deliberately waiting for the Holy Sound members to finish before showing themselves, or did they simply arrive late?

Before He Wei Ni Ya could figure it out, there was another booming sound.

He Wei Ni Ya turned her head and saw a familiar burly man appear before her.

"Tongue... He Wei Ni Ya, you're finished!" Luo Qi almost let slip.

He Wei Ni Ya looked at Luo Qi's face, then her gaze gradually moved down to his bare right hand, which was missing all but one finger.

"Oh~" He Wei Ni Ya said, "It seems you're determined to give me your last finger."

Luo Qi's expression froze. He was so angry that he almost rushed forward to fight He Wei Ni Ya to the death.

Fortunately, his good sense (and his clear understanding of He Wei Ni Ya's strength) made him suppress the urge to fight her to the death, while constantly warning himself in his heart.

He couldn't fight to the death. He wasn't here to fight to the death.

He just needed to cooperate to force this guy into Nameless Town.

Moreover, not only could he not fight to the death, but he also had to let this guy know that he wasn't here to fight to the death. Otherwise, who knew if this damned tongue would go berserk and directly fight him to the death.

Thinking this, Luo Qi sneered, "You should be glad my target isn't you. The person I truly want to kill is someone else, so..."

Then, he gave He Wei Ni Ya a "you know" look.

Luo Qi thought He Wei Ni Ya would understand his meaning – "Tongue, I'm not fighting you. I really want to kill Ulu, so tonight I'll just put on a show. I won't fight you to the death, and you shouldn't call me out."

But He Wei Ni Ya clearly didn't understand this meaning. She looked at Luo Qi making faces at her like a lunatic and couldn't help but frown, wondering if she had damaged his brain the night before last.

Before He Wei Ni Ya could figure anything out, a series of breaking sounds came from behind her.

He Wei Ni Ya turned around and saw several Eternal Nightmare Cultists leaping high into the air. They spread their arms as if to embrace the night sky, and then several huge rifts surged out from their chests. These rifts contained all sorts of strange, indescribable things never seen in the real world.

Dream Shards!

Were these Eternal Nightmare Cultists trying to drag her into a dream?

He Wei Ni Ya immediately raised her Staff, and violent Note energy pulsed at the tip of the Staff.

On the surface, He Wei Ni Ya was preparing to deal with these Eternal Nightmare Cultists, but in reality, her attention was always on Luo Qi behind her.

These Eternal Nightmare Cultists were just a diversion. The real main event was surely Luo Qi.

So, He Wei Ni Ya deliberately exposed a flaw to Luo Qi. Once Luo Qi made a move, she could immediately counterattack.

But this time, Luo Qi had great composure. He let the Eternal Nightmare Cultists continuously expand the Dream Shards until they connected with each other, as if trying to swallow everyone present into the dream. He did not move.

He also did not move when He Wei Ni Ya raised her Staff, preparing to attack the Eternal Nightmare Cultists.

Even when He Wei Ni Ya was ready and used a Movement Spell, he still didn't move.

Instead, he took two steps back, looking as if he was afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

He Wei Ni Ya felt extremely surprised.

Why was this guy so cautious? Or did he think these Eternal Nightmare Cultists were already enough to deal with him?

He Wei Ni Ya couldn't figure out the answer for a moment, but since Luo Qi had retreated, she decided not to hold back anymore.

With a light tap of her staff, the air beside her rippled, and Ai De Wen's figure appeared. Blue ripples emanated from his fingertips – it was that Forbidden Knowledge.

"Go in there!"

Ai De Wen directly threw the Forbidden Knowledge into the fully unfurled Dream Shard.

The moment the Dream Shard was touched by the Forbidden Knowledge, it began to twist, then shattered inch by inch, startling the Eternal Nightmare Cultists who cried out.

"Ai De Wen, you scoundrel! Stop throwing dirty things into the Dream Shard!"

"Don't run, we'll kill you right now!"

Ai De Wen paid them no mind. Seeing the Dream Shard collapse, he immediately roared at He Wei Ni Ya, "Now's our chance, run!"

With that, he turned his head and sprinted towards the only direction without pursuers.

Seeing Ai De Wen run off like that, He Wei Ni Ya hesitated for a moment before following him.

Of course, she didn't think Luo Qi would let her go, so she kept her staff firmly gripped, ready to deal with Luo Qi's attacks and any ambushes that might spring from the surroundings.

But what she didn't expect was that Luo Qi had no intention of pursuing her at all. He just stood there watching quietly. The Eternal Nightmare Cultists, who had been shouting about killing Ai De Wen, also made no further moves after their Dream Shard was destroyed. They simply stood there watching them escape, all the way out of De La Town.

"That acting was too clumsy."

Outside the town, Mina, who had witnessed the entire pursuit, sighed softly.

"Anyone with a bit of sense would have noticed something was wrong."

There had been too many unexpected events tonight. Mina wasn't sure if Teacher Yi Sai Ya's plan could still proceed smoothly with this development.

But no matter what, she still had to report it to her teacher.

Mina raised her hand, preparing to use her Star Chart to report to Yi Sai Ya.

But at that moment, a gentle male voice sounded in her ear.

"You've already reported it, haven't you?"

Mina's movement froze, and a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes.

"I... I've already reported it?" she murmured, then suddenly realized, "Oh, I've already reported it to Teacher."

Then she turned and left, leaving Bai Wei alone to gaze at the departing He Wei Ni Ya and Ai De Wen.

"Alright," he said with a light laugh. "The audience is in place. Now... all that's left is the final step."