Fan Ning's Choice: Candle

"Caloen, these are all the 'Drift Waymarkers' we currently have on hand. The teams in the other districts may still have some, but there won't be many."

"So, you have four choices now."

Fan Ning curiously studied the symbols on the blueprints and asked, "What do they each mean?"

Vyadlin explained, "Although the ring-shaped outer circles of the symbols all look more or less the same, if you observe them carefully, you'll see that they're actually formed by overlapping arcs of different lengths in different ways. They reflect the spatial coordinates of a certain location in the Migrant Surge..."

"Like QR codes..." Fan Ning felt that this was a more vivid way to understand it.

"As for the central patterns, they're the Witnessers' reference symbols. There are two methods..."

"The first is specific reference, which means directly carving the symbol corresponding to the Lord of Witnesses!"

"In mysticism, it's believed that above the dome of the Core Radiant Tower at the heart of the Migrant Surge, beneath the Radiance, lies the residence of the Lords of Witnesses. Therefore, when exploring the Migrant Surge, one is more likely to attract Their attention than in the surface world. The Witnessers' reference symbols serve as a mystical pact, similar in principle to the construction of Mystic Rituals."

"The second is vague reference. Instead of carving the specific symbol of a Lord of Witnesses, one carves the symbol of a certain 'Phase'!"

Fan Ning asked doubtfully, "Then what's the difference between the two methods? Can carving a Phase's symbol also form a mystical pact with a Lord of Witnesses?"

"Of course. The Lords of Witnesses are in charge of the Phases in the first place, and some of them control several Phases. Each method has its advantages. Carving the symbol of a specific Lord of Witnesses allows you to resonate more precisely with the several Phases They control. Carving the symbol of a certain Phase is more limited, but it allows us to establish mystical pacts to varying degrees with all the different Lords of Witnesses connected to that Phase."

"As long as the coordinates reflected by the waymarker correspond to the Witnesser it points toward, that's enough. Be cautious when using waymarkers of unknown origin, lest you encounter danger."

"All right, it's a bit complicated. I more or less understand it, but I'll need time to digest it." Fan Ning smiled wryly.

"Researching Hidden Knowledge and Mystic Rituals is enough to burn through ten lifetimes of a Knower's Inspiration." Vyadlin's words were meaningful.

"Now, make your choice."

The center of the first waymarker was a sunken circle, with flame-like rays spreading around it.

"This is the symbol of the Lord of Witnesses, 'Undying Fire,' the Orthodox god of the Church of the Sacred Sun, which originated in the Holy Kingdom of Janus on the Western Continent. The divine Phase They control is 'Candle.' This Phase is related to the mind, passion, art, and flames. It is the law of Inspiration and enlightenment, and is naturally more closely connected to Radiance and the Migrant Surge."

The symbol on the second was a tower with cracks running through it.

"This is the symbol of the Lord of Witnesses, 'Tower Builder.' They don't belong to the three major Orthodox Churches, but the Guidance School has conducted extensive research on Them. The divine Phase They control is 'Key.' This Phase is related to matter, reason, science, and lightning. It is the law of shaping and dismantling."

The symbol on the third was a six-sided fractal snowflake.

"This is a waymarker using vague reference. The divine Phase represented by the symbol is 'Wasteland.' This Phase is related to seclusion, memory, careful thought, and frost. It is the law of death and silence. The Order of Secluded Spirits, one of the three major Orthodox Churches originating from the Lydian Kingdom on the Western Continent, worships 'Raven,' who controls the Phase 'Wasteland.'"

The symbol on the fourth was an upward-facing hand emerging from liquid.

"This is also a waymarker using vague reference. The divine Phase represented by the symbol is 'Pool.' This Phase is related to eating, pain, childbirth, and blood. It is the law of the senses and temptation. The Floral Temple, one of the three major Orthodox Churches originating from the United Grand Duchy of Phaeton on the Southern Continent, worships 'Floral Poet,' who controls the Phase 'Pool.'"

Fan Ning didn't think too much about it. He reached toward the Drift Waymarker of the first, "Undying Fire," because the Phase "Candle" was connected to Inspiration and art.

But he suddenly thought of a very important question.

He pulled his hand back. "Are the waymarkers single-use?"

"Yes and no." Vyadlin replied, "Once you know how these waymarkers are made, you'll understand."

"I just said that the waymarkers point to certain areas in the Migrant Surge, and under normal circumstances, those areas more or less have some value. But have you ever wondered how those areas were discovered?"

"Someone had already been there?" Fan Ning ventured.

"Exactly." Vyadlin nodded.

"But to return from the Migrant Surge to the waking world, you need to retrace your steps to the point where you entered. More than eighty percent of cases of 'Lostness' happen because people fail to find their way back before their Inspiration runs dry."

Fan Ning broke into a cold sweat.

The Migrant Surge was no paradise at all. Every exploration could become a journey to death. The fundamental nature of the world's will was indeed mystery and danger.

"So, if there's a new area ahead but you're not confident about continuing, you can use special materials or methods to turn its coordinates and Phase into a waymarker and bring it back to the waking world. After that, this place can become a new starting point, allowing you to look for another opportunity."

"Things from the Migrant Surge can actually be brought back to reality?" Fan Ning asked in astonishment.

Although he had accepted this Hidden Knowledge about the essence of the world, his habitual understanding had always led him to think of the Migrant Surge as a special area extending from dreams, distinct from the real world.

"Exactly. As I said before, the surface of the world and its will together form the real world. However, the ability to bring Migrant Surge matter back to the waking world can only be acquired after advancing to the fourth rank—in other words, after becoming a mid-rank Knower. You'll understand it later."

Vyadlin pointed at the waymarkers on the table. "So, these are all reliable waymarkers recorded and brought back by our members. When used again, they need to be activated with Luminous Essence Elixir corresponding to the relevant Phase, forming a resonance with the Migrant Surge."

"Luminous Essence Elixir?"

"When I let you glimpse the Migrant Surge just now, I used Luminous Essence Elixir of the 'Key' Phase. The purple one. You forgot?"

"I remember now."

"To return to your earlier question, a waymarker naturally becomes invalid after use. However, in a Clear Dream, the user can still recall the characteristic aura of the Astral World entrance and enter again. Although there's a chance of forgetting or confusion, it generally isn't a problem to remember the characteristics of four or five waymarkers at once.

"Be cautious when using waymarkers of unknown origin. Waymarkers obtained through trades with strangers aren't necessarily reliable either, unless a certain form of notarization ritual was performed. You'll learn to judge that flexibly through experience."

Fan Ning nodded. "So I can continue using other waymarkers in the future, as long as I have enough Inspiration, right? There's no such thing as having to choose only once?"

Vyadlin took two more gulps of sweet tea. "No. You can indeed use others in the future, but a Knower's first time is very important."

"When you enter the Migrant Surge through different Phases, you see different colors of the world's will. The Phase you choose the first time determines your spirit's initial perception of the Migrant Surge."

Fan Ning asked, "Does that mean I won't be able to acquire Hidden Knowledge and Inspiration from other Phases in the future?"

"No. As long as you maintain normal sanity, it's fine for a Knower to focus on studying the Hidden Knowledge and Inspiration of two or three Phases. Don't exceed three. However, all your future perceptions of the Migrant Surge will use your first experience as a reference. You know the saying about first impressions taking precedence? We generally call this first perception the 'Light of First Acquaintance.'"

"More importantly, when the Light of First Acquaintance illuminates a spirit, the Radiance will grant it 'a gift.' This is related to the Lord of Witnesses or Phase chosen at the time, though there's also an element of randomness."

"A... gift...?"

"Exactly. It's the first mysterious power you control..."

"What kinds of powers are there?" Fan Ning was very curious. "Flying through the sky and burrowing through the earth? Hurting people from a distance? Blowing apart a wall with one punch? Breaking through the limits of lifespan?"

Various scenes from the fantasy novels he had read before appeared in his mind.

Vyadlin shook his head helplessly. "Have you been reading too many of those legendary novels filled with magical elements sold on the streets?"

"Knowers are merely skilled in Hidden Knowledge and Inspiration. Their abilities rarely directly harm people, and their bodies are still as fragile as paper. But using certain mysterious and bizarre methods is enough to make ordinary people collapse—or to make it easier to blow an opponent's head off with a single shot in actual combat."

"Caloen, don't underestimate this gift. You must understand that for the vast majority of Knowers, this kind of direct ability may only be obtained once in their entire lives. To obtain another one, they must pass through a certain door, enter the Radiance Tower at the heart of the Migrant Surge, and advance to become a 'Deep Knower.'"

"What rank is a Deep Knower?" Fan Ning had heard the term several times.

"Ranks one through three of the Knowers are low-rank, ranks four through six are mid-rank, and ranks seven through nine are high-rank. A Deep Knower is the realm beyond rank nine. There are extremely few powerhouses at this level, and their strength is terrifying."

Fan Ning nodded. "I understand. Thank you."

His eyes flickered. After considering for a moment, he spoke:

"My choice is: Candle!"