Leaves continued to sprout and grow on the branches, but by this point, it had fully understood that it was merely part of the canopy, an optional adornment rather than the tree's main trunk. It was no longer qualified to participate in many things firsthand and could only watch coldly from the edges.
Old Elers's reputation grew greater and his accumulated wealth more immense, until he had become a legend in people's minds. Yet he could only watch helplessly as he moved step by step away from the center of the world stage. Even though he commanded enormous capital, could stir up the markets, and influence the political landscape of most cities, the underlying Logic of this world destined him for a swift Separation from it.
Even if he, Bai Hao, Abner, and the others had Joint Construction of the Inner World's mode of existence, what did it change?
His Self Logic gradually became incapable of influencing the truest side of this world.
He had once had a chance.
Wave after wave of filthy bubbles rose and burst, revealing the version of himself Old Elers despised most: when he was over ninety, he had finally learned how to step aside, how to hide behind the scenes and play at mystery, how to preserve a glamorous facade in this real and cruel world.
Then, dragging this decrepit body along, he watched the magnificent Aberration Era swallow one hero and wave-rider after another, while countless gifted successors surged to the crest, trying to dominate the course of this world.
Of course, they were always separated by a layer, always scratching an itch through a boot and missing the point.
Even though that "young man" with strange steel-blue hair had not appeared for many years, the fact remained unchanged.
But what could that