Li Wen opened his eyes in the darkness.
An amber halo fell from above, outlining the familiar outline of the temple's dome. She was lying on her back on the cold ground, with the pages of "The Final Codex" spread out under her. The half-withered World Tree tree on the book cover seemed more vivid than in memory, with tiny green fruits faintly visible among the branches and leaves.
She sat up slowly and found that the sun mark on her wrist was fading, like a pencil mark erased by an eraser. The temple was silent as usual, and the figure behind the gray curtain was still blurry. Only the faint smell of Sulfur remaining in the air reminded her that the thrilling battle just now was not an illusion.
"You succeeded."
Perfect Amber's voice came from behind the curtain, and it was still so cold and filled with some unspeakable sadness. Li Wen lowered his head to look at "The Final Codex" and found that there was an emerald green line on the spine, like a gem inlaid in it. When she touched the lines, thirteen lines of ancient maxims emerged in her mind - that was the core mystery of "Emerald Tablet", which has now been integrated with the original scripture.
"Almost failed." Li Wen's voice was a little hoarse. Even though she was ready to die, she still felt palpitated when faced with the nearly devastating power of "Impurities". It was a power that she could not understand and could not compete with. "Did you bring me back?"
She thought she would be resurrected in her room on the ship, but she didn't die at all.
There was a slight sound of clothing rubbing against the curtain, and Perfect Amber seemed to adjust his sitting posture.
"That's your achievement. Destiny always favors the brave." He paused, "But it's time for you to leave. Excessive use of that power will not do you any good."
Li Wen knows that he is referring to Urd's Thorn. Just touching this artifact will start to consume spiritual energy, let alone using its power to change destiny.
Just using it for a few short breaths, Li Wen could vaguely feel that her control and induction of magic power was more difficult. As for the deeper influence, she was not yet able to explore it.
What's more, it has already been used to change the fate once and reborn Li Wen. It is already full of cracks and its power has almost been lost. If we continue to borrow its power like before, I am afraid that not only Li Wen but also Urd's Thorn will be burned up. That is absolutely unacceptable. After all, Li Wen can change destiny, and everything depends on its power.
In addition, taking "Emerald Tablet" from "Impurities" has other consequences. The level of magical props and equipment such as Emerald Star Cloak, Crow Feather Dagger, Fairy Pocket and even the Eye of Transcendence has dropped by a level. I don't know whether to call it unfortunate or fortunate.
This is all because she witnessed and was affected by the divine influence of "Impurities", which should be the power that can cause all things to corrupt, decline, and wither. If "Impurities" is allowed to fully demonstrate its divinity, not only these equipment items, but also Li Wen itself may be assimilated into "Impurities". By then, it is difficult to predict whether the player's identity will still be useful. At least she had never heard of a player who had faced nearly complete divinity.
Fortunately, "The Final Codex" suddenly appeared at the last moment, and "Impurities" could not fully display the power of divinity, otherwise even Urd's Thorn would not be able to save her life.
She closed "The Final Codex" and felt the surging power in it - although the loss was great, everything was worth it. The conditions for End Path's Stage Two promotion have been met, and all she needs to do next is to complete the corresponding ceremony.
"Your Excellency the Witch." She suddenly said, "You already knew what would happen, right?"
The figure behind the curtain was silent for a moment.
"I saw the image of you returning with Emerald Tablet in the mirror. As for the story outside the mirror, it is the trajectory woven by fate." Perfect Amber's voice carried a subtle emotion, "I hope that the next time we meet, you will be able to truly use the power of dusk."
The power of dusk?
"You want to..."
"I will Long Slumber." Perfect Amber said calmly, as if discussing the weather, "Before Twilight of the Apocalypse comes, this will be my bedroom."
Li Wen nodded thoughtfully, stood up, straightened her cloak, and solemnly saluted the person behind the curtain. When she turned and walked towards the palace door, Perfect Amber's voice sounded again, "That's right."
His voice came faintly from behind the curtain. "Be careful of that mark. God's promises are both a gift and a curse."
Li Wen looked down at the sun mark on her wrist. It was slightly hot with her pulse, like a small heart beating under the skin.
"I understand."
She took one last look at the closed curtain, turned and walked out of the inner hall. The corridor was still empty and dead, with no figure of Daughter of Amber, only her footsteps echoed among the stone walls.
When Li Wen walked out of the temple gate, she suddenly stopped. She turned back and looked at the pyramid-shaped building. In a trance, she saw countless amber light spots seeping out from the dome, floating towards the dim Sky Dome like fireflies. It was the power of Perfect Amber that was dissipating, like the last afterglow of the setting sun.
"Goodbye, Your Excellency the Witch."
She said softly, and then stepped into the street of City of Eternity without looking back.
When Li Wen returned to the clock tower along the black stone road, the sky was gloomier than when he came. Amber City's Sky Dome has always remained unchanged, but at this moment, the yellow-brown halo seemed to have been diluted, showing a sickly paleness.
Giant Bell was still sitting on the top of the tower, tapping the surface of the copper clock rhythmically with his dry fingers. When Li Wen approached, its cloudy eyes rolled.
"You smell like Sulfur." Its voice was like muffled thunder rolling through the clouds. "There is also... unprecedented corrosion and decay. Ah, what a terrifying power this is. It can be said to be the nemesis of all material components... You have only been away for a while, what exactly have you experienced."
Li Wen stayed in Dream Abyss, the descendant of the old life, for seven days, but in reality it only lasted a moment. Shattered Eye of the Transcendent is still charging. She can only leave Amber City by dying and then resurrecting on the Adventurer.
But before that, she still wanted to finish what she had promised Wan Zhong earlier.
"How should I find that person in the Outer City domain?" Li Wen looked up at Giant Bell and asked directly.
Giant Bell's fingers stopped tapping, and it leaned down, its withered face looking particularly gloomy in the dim skylight.
"Outer City is the territory of Exiles, which is filled with madness and despair." Its voice was as low as thunder. "The name of the person you are looking for is 'Short Hand', or it may be another name. It doesn't matter... In short, he was responsible for part of the rituals of the Final Rite in Golden Age. When the master ascended to a higher level, he refused to acknowledge the end of dusk, so he was exiled forever."