[Dead Knot]

[Dead Knot]

"The constellations in the night sky, the positions of those stars, hold boundless mysteries. Their positions undergo strange changes as time passes, and these changes have always been regarded as some kind of hint bestowed upon humanity by the gods. People often believe that astrologers are merely those who specialize in studying the riddles the gods have left for mankind.

"But all of that is wrong!

"The stars themselves contain infinite power. That power is even greater than the massive storms, raging floods, and sky-swallowing flames we see—greater than all of them! So great that... it has made me begin to doubt.

"Could such immense power truly have been created by the gods?

"Moreover, these stars seem to have hung in the sky since time immemorial! They were there long, long ago—earlier even than anything we know. Perhaps they existed even before our world was created!

"Then, were these stars truly created by the gods as well? According to every book and religious scripture that can currently be found, whenever stars are mentioned, the most universally accepted explanation is this: 'When the gods created this world, they left the stars in the sky as ornaments to adorn the beauty of the night. At the same time, the gods alter the positions of the stars according to their moods and the changes of certain events in the world, and these changes are often revelations left for humanity.'

"Yes, according to such claims, the stars seem to have been created alongside our world as mere accessories to the night sky... But was that truly so?

"Then, six years ago, when I was thirty-four, an abnormal change occurred in the heavens. At night, a star fell from the sky. Every astrologer desperately studied what message the gods had left us through this phenomenon, but I... chose another path instead...

"Based on the direction in which that star fell that night, and after consulting every record I could find, I decided to seek out that fallen star! I spent a full three years traveling across the northern reaches of the continent before I finally found it!"

As she spoke, Semel's phantom gently raised a hand. One palm emerged from her red robe, facing upward, lightly supporting a fist-sized chunk of blackened stone.

"This is the 'fallen star' I found. Look—it appears to be nothing more than a stone! Of course, what I have here is merely a small piece chipped from it. When I found it, it was as large as a house. The terrain there had been smashed into an enormous crater by its impact. I could even see where a terrible fire had once swept through—the forest had been burned to ash, and the plains had been struck into a valley! That kind of destructive force could probably only be achieved by the most supreme forbidden spells of magic."

Du Wei could not help sighing.

From Du Wei's perspective, this female astrologer named Semel was truly remarkable!

At the very least, in this place where people devoutly believed that the gods had created all things, she had dared to raise doubts... And in some ways, she had truly come close to the truth!

"What is difficult to imagine is that a so-called star is nothing more than a gigantic stone. More importantly, this stone is completely different from every known substance in this world! It is hard, and it possesses a kind of magical attractive force... I spent a great deal of time seeking out many experienced magical alchemists, even some elderly blacksmiths, but not a single one could identify this new 'substance'! In other words... stars do not belong to our world at all!" Semel's phantom began flickering, clearly a sign that its magical power was about to run out. Du Wei hurriedly focused, praying inwardly that the magic would last a little longer.

"From then on, I began to question all the writings that claimed the gods created this world. If the gods created this world, gave it all living things, gave it day and night, the turning of the seasons... then tell me, who established the laws governing all of this? Was it the gods?

"I spent nearly my whole life studying the stars, and in the end I discovered that the claim that 'changes in the positions of the stars are revelations granted to humanity by the gods'... was utterly absurd! I spent ten years recording and studying the positions of certain stars visible in the sky. During those ten years, every night, I studied and recorded their positions.

"Gradually, on certain nights when the sky was dark and clouds covered the heavens, I could not observe the stars with my naked eyes. At such times, I could only seek another method... I thought of magic. Since magic can sense every minute change in nature, then when I could not see the stars, could I use magic to sense their positions?

"In the end, I discovered the power of the stars! And if I could wield that power, then just as mages borrow the power of nature... I could borrow the power of the stars!

"And after finding a way to sense the power of the stars, I made another discovery that astonished me!

"That was... the power of the stars could not only be sensed at night!

"Even beneath the blazing sun of day, I could still sense the stars' existence through meditation, through expanding my spiritual perception! They exist in the sky—whether it is day or night! It is simply that during the day, their radiance is concealed by the fierce light of the sun!

"And after ten years had passed, after I had spent ten years recording the positions of those stars I observed, I discovered that though they underwent certain changes, those changes were actually cyclical, following fixed laws! It was like a cycle! For example, a certain star would be in the east during summer, then move to the west in winter, and when the next year came, it would return to the east... Everything seemed to repeat in cycles, over and over, following a specific trajectory!

"So this absolutely is not some revelation from the gods to humanity! Nor is it a riddle the gods left for mankind! All of it repeats according to fixed laws—the rules of the stars! The laws of the stars!"

Semel's phantom gradually weakened. This was the final moment before its spiritual power was exhausted.

Her voice also became incomparably solemn. "The Temple told us that the stars were riddles and revelations left by the gods for humanity, yet I discovered that changes in the stars' positions seemed to repeat according to a fixed set of laws, entirely unrelated to any riddle of the gods. The Temple told us that stars were decorations left by the gods in the night sky, yet I discovered that their existence was not limited to nighttime. Even in the bright daylight, though invisible to the naked eye, they still existed. The Temple also told us that this world was created by the gods, yet I discovered that the material of the stars was a kind of stone never seen before, one that did not belong to any known substance in our world."

The great female astrologer finally raised her head and spoke her final conclusion. "I began to doubt whether the stars had been created by the gods... And in the end, I began to doubt the so-called... gods!"

Looking at the female astrologer's phantom before him, Du Wei suddenly felt his heart fill with respect for this woman! Since coming into this world, she was the first person he had encountered who had dared to question and challenge common sense and authority!

Compared with those people who single-mindedly believed only in "the gods created all things," this woman, who had dared to raise questions, challenge authority, and devote her entire life to research, earned Du Wei's boundless respect.

"My life's research is all hidden within this room. These rows of cabinets are what I have left for you. As for the other door outside, it is a deceptive formation I left behind. Those who cannot understand the hint about the stars I left behind can at most find the false door outside. Behind that door are nothing but worldly treasures. This place, however, is the true legacy I, Semel, have left in this world!"

Suddenly, the pillar of light flashed, and its glow began to dim. The female astrologer's phantom gradually became blurry, and her voice weakened as well.

"One final hint. The oil painting in the study contains a magical creature I created. I sealed it within that painting, and it will become your guide in learning all of this. You must have its help and guidance when studying everything in this room. For safety, I did not leave the spells of the Star Magic I created in writing or on paper. I entrusted them to that magical creature. You must release it from its seal.

"My child, although I do not know how many years will pass before you discover this place, I believe that the great Roland Family will surely produce a genius in magic. You must understand that my life's research and discoveries question the authority of the gods. Such things are destined to be unacceptable to this world! Especially to those who represent authority—they will go to every possible length to destroy them. I cannot leave all this behind openly and honorably. I can only do so in this secretive manner.

"I placed a spell upon that magical creature. It can only awaken each night, while in the daytime, it falls into slumber... Heh, just like the stars: they cannot be seen with the naked eye during the day. Moreover, only those with powerful spiritual strength can see its existence at night. Since you were able to reach this place, I believe your spiritual power should be sufficient for you to become an outstanding mage. I can entrust all the Star Magic I created to you... Remember this spell. You can use it to break the seal on the painting outside. Once released by this spell, it will obey your commands unconditionally... After that, everything will depend on your own efforts."

The female astrologer slowly recited the final spell, pronouncing every syllable with perfect clarity. At the same time, her fingers slowly formed several hand seals... Du Wei carefully memorized everything. Then—with a whoosh—the light suddenly flared, before vanishing abruptly!

The room immediately fell into darkness. Du Wei hurriedly lit a candle and inspected the room. Seeing that there was nothing he could do for the time being, he carefully retraced his path and crawled back out through the secret passage.

By the time he returned to the study, Du Wei was covered in dust. Fortunately, there was also a large pile of dusty account books in the study, so the dust on him was not difficult to explain.

After closing the hidden door in the bookshelf, Du Wei walked over to the oil painting. "I went in and saw everything. Including her final words."

The eyes in the painting seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then revealed a trace of pleading.

Du Wei understood its meaning and smiled. "You want to ask how to break your seal? Oh, I found it. She left behind a spell. But apparently, there is one small problem with it..."

Du Wei gave a bitter smile.

Semel's original clue had been the painting on the wall! And anyone able to see the moving person in the painting had to possess powerful spiritual strength! A person with powerful spiritual strength was almost certainly a mage! Even if they were not a mage, they could learn magic!

Semel's Star Magic required a mage to study and inherit it. That was why she had arranged such a setup.

If one could not see the person moving within the painting, it meant their spiritual strength was insufficient and that they had no talent for magic.

Those who could see it could learn magic... and then the spell Semel had left behind could break the seal on the painting!

But even clever Semel probably could never have imagined that, years later, the Roland Family would produce such a freak as Du Wei!

He clearly possessed extraordinary, peerless talent in spiritual strength! Yet when it came to magical perception, he utterly and completely lacked even the slightest talent!

In other words, Du Wei could not use the spell Semel had left behind to break the seal, nor could he break the seal on the painting.

Without the magical creature Semel had left behind... he likely could not learn the Star Magic Semel had left behind either! After all, every magic spell was recorded by the creature inside that painting!

It was as if he had fallen into some strange deadlock, wasn't it?

Du Wei could not help but smile bitterly.

He was clearly guarding an enormous treasure, and the gates had even been thrown open before him, yet he simply could not enter. That feeling was truly rather helpless...

Suddenly, Du Wei's eyes lit up... Didn't I capture a mage?

That fellow could use the most basic first-level magic with the most advanced "Instant Casting Art." Maybe...

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