Another One Comes

It's probably because he's 23 years old according to his ID card that he's particularly sensitive to that number.

Moreover, there are countless connections between Ghost Tree and him, including many previous "coincidences"... all of which were eventually proven to be intentional arrangements.

Twenty-three years old, the former Saintess who left and has not returned since...

Yu Xing's gaze dimmed.

There's a guess.

However, given the current situation, this former Saintess is not the most important information at the moment, and can be put aside for now.

The meal wasn't eaten quickly. Just as the cafeteria served as an information hub for the entire school, Yu Xing listened as she ate, gaining a considerable amount of useful information.

After dinner, it was still bright outside, and the fruits of the "Sunken Sun" on the vines swayed like human heads.

He and the others walked out of the dining room and were about to return to their living quarters when they suddenly saw a slender figure walking towards them from the distant hillside.

The Tree Witch does not participate in the daily meal activities and usually stays in a separate vine area, hidden by layers of branches. Her dwelling is more mysterious than the altar, so no one usually sees her.

Now that the Tree Witch has appeared near the food hall, more and more believers have stopped and are looking at her.

"Lord Tree Witch is here again. Has she found out the results of her investigation?"

"So fast!"

"Indeed, the Tree Witch is skilled in divination."

The beautiful yet aloof woman, though dressed in the same robes as the other believers, possessed an untouchable aura, like a flower on a high mountain, which made her otherwise unfitting robe appear even longer.

As she approached amidst the whispers of the crowd, the whispers grew fainter and fainter until they finally disappeared completely.

"There is a new oracle," said the Tree Witch.

Everyone held their breath, but Yu Xing's brow twitched, sensing that something was amiss.

Ghost Tree probably can't stand the loneliness and is planning to cause trouble for him again on the Oracle.

However, it turned out that Yu Xing had indeed worried Yu Xing. The Tree Witch didn't even look at him, and raised her voice in a businesslike manner, coldly announcing, "Tonight, we will welcome another new companion."

"Everyone, follow me to the altar now to welcome this companion's rebirth."

After saying that, he turned around without looking back and walked towards the altar.

This incident only erupted because of an unexpected event involving the believers.

"Didn't one just come yesterday? Why is another one here today?"

"Wow, this is the first time I've seen new teammates born only one day apart. The previous fastest record was at least a month."

"I don't know, but since I came here, I've only seen people come once every two months or so."

Ruben Reed was also in the crowd, his expression inscrutable. A strong sense of unease enveloped him, but he was no longer the foolish Ruben, but Niu Hulu... the Ruben whose intelligence had been unlocked. He knew how to keep a low profile and no longer reacted to this.

Then everyone walked together toward the altar.

Yu Xing stood next to the bearded Klaus and overheard the discussions around him, gaining some understanding of the frequency of new arrivals.

In other words, the newcomer who suddenly arrived tonight was an unexpected surprise, or at least someone who broke with convention.

That's most likely...

Yu Fengchen.

At this point in time, only those whom Ghost Tree actively pulls down and wants to assimilate will appear. Since he has already come down, it's normal for Yu Fengchen to be pulled down at the same time.

Moreover, this is definitely good news for him. Yu Fengchen is a very stable ally for the time being. If he can pull him into doing something together, the power should be more than 1+1=2.

With a hint of anticipation, Yu Xing observed the Tree Witch up close. He personally pushed open the altar door, leading more than 200 people into the dark, enclosed building.

Yu Xing was suddenly transported from a bright environment back to complete darkness, and her eyes needed time to adjust. However, the Tree Witch skipped this step. One candle after another was lit in the darkness, and with each candle lit, the Tree Witch's half-hidden figure could be seen in the darkness.

The arrangement of these candles was quite deliberate. He had thought the pattern formed by the candles resembled a strange array before, and after looking at several books placed in the room, he felt a growing sense of familiarity with the pattern.

This seems to have a similar effect to the nutrient-processing formations occasionally used in books.

However, Yu Xing had not systematically studied the culture of the Wizard Cult in terms of array formations, so he did not understand it very well. He could only be a pure spectator, watching as the candles gradually enveloped the altar and he looked at the person on the giant tree in the center of the altar.

Um?

Because there were many candles around the vine, it was like a bright stage and a dark audience. The people on the stage couldn't see the audience, but the audience could see the actors clearly. Last time, when Yu Xing was nailed to the tree, he could only see the robes next to the candles and pairs of pale, bare feet. This time, he quickly saw the figures of the people nailed to the tree.

She seems a little shorter and a little thinner than I imagined.

Wait, this doesn't seem to Yu Fengchen's size.

But it doesn't feel unfamiliar; it has a very familiar feel to it.

"Amber Bradley, the task is now in your hands. You will lead the believers here and wait. If the person in the tree awakens, he will be our new friend. If the person in the tree does not awaken before nightfall, then let him become nourishment." The Tree Witch's cold words echoed in the altar, bringing with them ethereal resonance.

Amber Saintess, this was her duty. She stepped forward, standing a little ahead of Klaus, and said softly, "I understand. Please go back and rest."

The Tree Witch doesn't need to be present to guide newcomers, and each time she receives a divine oracle, she expends a great deal of mental energy. After rushing over to inform them, she needs to return to her dwelling to rest.

The matters concerning guidance can be left to the Saintess and the person in charge.

The Tree Witch didn't stand on ceremony and silently walked towards the outside of the altar in the darkness. The door to the altar opened a crack and then closed again, and the atmosphere inside the altar suddenly became relaxed as if the ice had been broken.

"I'm still so afraid of the Tree Witch. Her aura is too powerful; I don't even dare to speak in front of her."

"Who isn't? It's just easier for us when she's not around."

Amber chuckled softly. Klaus's expression was complicated. Logically, he should have reprimanded these believers for their disrespect, but for some reason, he had the same thought as them and decided to turn a blind eye.

"Sigh, another new man. How long has it been since we've had a woman?"

"It's been about five months, I think."

"This newcomer looks... like Roy, he has a bit of an Asian look."

Yu Xing squinted, trying to make out the face of the person nailed to the tree, whose head was hanging low, through the darkness.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Another One Arrives