The darkness receded like a tide, and the first thing Li Wen felt was the residual burning pain in her wrist. She suddenly opened her eyes, only to find that she was standing in the middle of a dark palace, with countless pale candles hanging high on the dome, making the surrounding area look like a ghostland. She did not return to Amber Temple as expected.
Li Wen's heart sank.
"Crack."
A crisp sound of snapping fingers came from behind. The moment Li Wen turned around, Vantnirgen's Bone suddenly flew out of her hand and shattered into powder in the air. The dust outlines the outline of the human figure, and finally condenses into the black and sticky figure.
"What a surprise."
A familiar voice came from the shadows, and the dark "Impurities" was slowly walking out of the shadows. Its furnace-like pupils were brighter than at Leicester, and with every step it took, asphalt-like ripples appeared under its feet.
"I thought I would have to wait at least a hundred years." Its voice trembled like metal friction, "It is indeed the Chosen Apostle of Dusk."
Li Wen subconsciously clenched "Emerald Tablet" tightly, and the emerald stone plate felt slightly hot in her palm. She suddenly understood something, and her eyes suddenly turned cold. "You have been using me from the beginning."
The black existence let out a low laugh. There was no emotion in the laughter, it was just imitating the behavior pattern of normal life, but it made the candlelight on the four walls of the palace sway.
"Trading is all about mutual use." It stretched out its arm made of viscous liquid and said in a calm voice, "Give me "Emerald Tablet" so that I can let you leave alive."
Li Wen takes half a step back, Emerald Star Cloak is automatic without wind. She finally saw the truth of this palace - the so-called pillars were all solidified black liquid, and what hung from the ceiling was not candlelight, but spiritual flames trapped in pale crystals.
"You seem to have forgotten our deal." She said calmly, her voice echoing in the empty palace, "The temple's Sky Ladder has not yet been delivered to you."
The black existence let out a deep laugh, which was like countless tiny metal fragments scratching on the glass.
"Sky Ladder?" It tilted its head, its furnace-like pupils flashing with sarcastic light, "Do you think I really need that kind of thing?"
Sure enough, it is impossible for this being born from Sage's Furnace to be deceived by Moria's words.
"You can't enter Abyss of Dito, let alone face the remains of Sun's Offspring." Li Wen said suddenly, "That's why I need to take this 'key' to retrieve "Emerald Tablet" for you."
She should have thought long ago that "Impurities" is a mythical existence that transcends the life class. It may not know the whereabouts of Abyss of Dito, but it will never forget it, not to mention that it holds the "key" in its hand.
"Yes, that 'key' is the part taken out of my body. No matter where you go, I can use it to lock your position. No existence can prevent my part from returning to me." It nodded approvingly, moving gracefully like a noble. "The commandments he carved at the bottom of the furnace still bind me - 'Vantnilgen shall never enter the city of bottom.' But the commandments have never prohibited me from letting others do it for me."
Li Wen stared at the dark existence in front of him, his fingertips unconsciously touching the cold surface of "Emerald Tablet". The runes on the gem board felt slightly hot in her palm, as if silently reminding it of its preciousness and danger.
"You don't even have the courage to face the corpse of a god, so you can only plot against mortals like a rat in the gutter?" Li Wen said coldly, "The fact that I can get "Emerald Tablet" is itself following the will of the witch and even Calm Sun and other gods. Are you sure you want to defy their will?"
"They are just two dead gods. Even the one in the past could not completely kill me, but could only be sealed in a stone egg. Compared with the importance of "Emerald Tablet", there is nothing to fear. What's more..." Its voice was Still calm, the face made of viscous liquid grinned with a mocking arc, "Do you think the fallen Son of God will really give generous gifts? He has already seen the mark on the key, but he still allowed you to take away the original book... The kindness of the gods has always been more vicious than arsenic."
Li Wen's pupils shrank slightly. The burning pain in my wrist suddenly turned into a needle-like chill - it turned out that even this transaction was a game within a game.
Thinking about it, the deceased god was willing to let Li Wen take away "Emerald Tablet", but he never promised that she would always hold "Emerald Tablet". Whether you can keep "Emerald Tablet" depends entirely on Li Wen himself.
If she can't even do this, why should she help the grand plan of murdering the Pillar God? After all, Sun of Repose only needs a helper. As for whether this helper is Li Wen or "Impurities", is there really any difference?
"Then there's nothing more to say."
Li Wen took a deep breath. "Emerald Tablet" is a crucial thing for End Path's promotion. Let alone "Impurities". Even if the sage comes in person, don't expect her to obediently present the original scripture.
"You're right, I'm still too wordy."
The moment the words fell, Li Wen lost control of her body. She tried to activate Witch State, but there was no response. All the magic power in her body was sucked dry by some unknown force in an instant, leaving no room for resistance.
The pupils of "Impurities" flickered in the darkness like a dying fire. It stretched out its hand to hold it, and "Emerald Tablet" escaped from Li Wen's hand very naturally. The motto runes on the surface of the emerald slab lit up one after another, reflecting the entire palace with sparkling blue light. Li Wen could only watch as the gem plate fell into the opponent's hands. It was holding "Emerald Tablet", its furnace-like pupils burst out with frightening light, and the runes engraved on the surface of the gem plate began to flow, climbing up its arms like living creatures.
Just one thought, "Impurities" was enough to kill Li Wen, but it did not choose to do so. Perhaps it was concerned about Li Wen's so-called Chosen Apostle identity, or perhaps it was because of its previous promise that as long as "Emerald Tablet" was handed over to it, Li Wen would be allowed to leave alive.
The emerald plate gradually loses its light in the hands of "Impurities", as if the power contained in it is being absorbed by it. "Perfect... so perfect..." it whispered intoxicatedly and excitedly, "It's simply tailor-made for me."
In comparison, Li Wen's mood was particularly calm. The huge gap in strength between the two makes her unable to suffer any frustration or even despair. After all, "Impurities" is a mythical life born at the same time as the sage. According to the path, it is at least a stage nine god-like existence.
Faced with such existence, let alone Li Wen, even if there is any remaining saint in Mortal World, there is absolutely no possibility of saving "Emerald Tablet".
But... doesn't that count?
Li Wen would never give up like this. She decisively gave up the useless struggle, concentrated on her concentration, and entered a state of meditation.