"Is this about the ocean?" Clyde thought helplessly, Well, actually it is, but this isn't what I wanted!
Joey, shrouded in dense fog, cast a slightly astonished glance at the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact.
Here, He seems to be able to know certain information that does not belong to Senegal? Perhaps this is another manifestation displaying the authority of the "Hermit"! Joey was already plotting how to dupe the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact into joining.
Swish, the pages turned, and a brand-new sentence emerged.
"Now it is my turn to ask a question. May I ask, do you think the chicken came first, or the egg?"
The Azure Dragon covered his forehead with a look of schadenfreude; this kind of expression was not something a "Hermit" should show.
Azure Dragon: I misjudged you. I didn't expect you to be such a book.
Helena tucked back a strand of long hair, perfectly masking her emotions: "This joke isn't funny at all. Poor Mr. Viper, looking at him, he seems quite distressed."
The scene fell into a bizarrely quiet atmosphere.
This simply would not do. If the stalemate persisted, they would be unable to carry out the subsequent matters.
At times like this, the importance of an alt account became apparent.
Controlling the Azure Dragon, Joey spoke up:
"You can answer that the chicken came first."
Helena covered her mouth in a light chuckle, secretly observing everyone else's expressions: This book seems rather interesting.
Clyde glanced at the Azure Dragon, then replied: "The chicken came first."
He had a feeling of being toyed with, though upon reflection, the rumored Book of Prophecy indeed possessed a quirky temper.
The pages of the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact were still turning, much like a child cooped up for too long who let themselves go a bit after breaking free from restraints.
Fearing that the other party might ask any more strange dad jokes, Clyde hurriedly spoke first:
"Azure Dragon, the things you wanted, I have already prepared."
As he spoke, he produced the potion he had long since prepared.
One portion each of deep-sea fish skull and Five-Colored Divine Turtle Sand.
As expected of an ocean thief, preparing the needed potion so quickly... The Azure Dragon put away the items, suppressed his excitement, and smiled calmly:
"Your efficiency is faster than I anticipated."
Everyone seems so amazing. Only I am merely a Sequence 9 Sheriff. I wonder if I can commission Mr. Viper to help me collect the advancement potion for a Sheriff.
Helena felt that in the gathering, she was like a background extra, and many matters were beyond her participation.
"Out of the principle of equivalent exchange, I can offer you an extra reminder: you can narrow the scope of your question."
To put it bluntly, he actually wanted to use Clyde's mouth to question the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact.
Having suffered a failed first attempt, Clyde's questioning this time was much more rigorous.
Everything about the ocean was far too generalized; this time, he prepared to narrow the scope.
Helena seemed to have grown accustomed to acting as a bystander, quietly observing everyone from the side.
"Is the current ocean safe? Can we set sail?"
Clyde had figured it out. What happened to the ocean did not actually concern him all that much, so long as he could determine whether the danger existed.
The pages of the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact turned, striking two characters into view: "Safe."
Immediately afterward, another line of text materialized.
"Do you like men more, or women?"
Joey covered his face, pretending to casually flip through the paper in his hands: This is not a serious book at all. Truly full of bromance.
Taking advantage of the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact attracting everyone's attention, Joey focused his gaze on the paper covered in tadpole-like script.
"God is the term they use to refer to me. They are as weak as ants. So long as I bestow a tiny bit of favor, they will willingly offer up sacrifices."
"Oh! The blood of a virgin, truly exquisite."
The recorded information was chaotic and disorderly, much of it starting and ending in the middle of nowhere.
"War is the best way to acquire nourishment. I love the taste of fresh blood."
"Those ignorant commoners actually attempted to resist me. This is truly a laughable matter."
Snap! The paper he finished reading dissipated like foam.
God... Put in the present era, this sort of thing was merely a few transcendent beings of a slightly higher Sequence. He just didn't know which authorities this one possessed; perhaps it was merely an evil god of a bygone era.
Records concerning the ancient eras still held fragmented information within Senegal.
Take the First Epoch, also known as the Epoch of Chaos, for instance. In that era, all things were at their inception, and countless rare and exotic species emerged across the continent. Dragons, elves, demons, and beasts-humanity was merely the slaves of demons and great dragons, until the ancient Sun God rose, and human conditions improved somewhat.
"Based on the limited records that can be searched, the era I existed in should be the world prior to the First Epoch. Records concerning it are perhaps only accessible to deities."
Had it been before, Joey would not have doubted these things, but touching the gray fog had made him understand one fact: this was not another world; it was the very planet where he originally lived. As for why it had undergone such drastic changes, perhaps the truth could only be understood upon reaching a certain height.
"That monkey went crazy. He actually attempted to eat everyone. We could only flee."
A monkey?
This word was truly nostalgic. Joey involuntarily raised his head, his gaze piercing through the endless gray fog to lock onto that Sky-Piercing Pillar.
This was Joey's first exposure to records concerning the ancient script, giving him an inexplicable sense of familiarity, even though that information was extremely scattered.
Going crazy-did the ancient era also experience mental pollution like mad ravings? Joey recalled the ravings that existed in this world every moment of every day.
Not a single transcendent being could shake off the ravings originating from the depths of the earth.
Perhaps those paranoid evil gods were merely the products of orthodox gods after being contaminated.
It was hard to imagine: if an orthodox god went mad, that would be a devastating catastrophe.
Before deities, humanity ultimately appeared far too weak. Even the slightest leakage of power would create a scene too unbearable to withstand.
"To a certain extent, deities cannot be killed; only the same standing can inflict damage. In Senegal after the sun sets, what is there to resist the threat from the starry skies?"
Joey expressed pessimistic concerns regarding Senegal's current plight.
He thought of much. The chaotic train of thought left him quite vexed.
"Oh! Dammit, so He had already set His sights on this planet. I shouldn't have believed His incitement; I shouldn't have launched the Apotheosis Calamity."
"What they have always coveted is flesh and blood. This allows them to possess bodies to walk the mortal world. I committed a monstrous mistake."
Apotheosis? This truly was astonishing information.
This was quite realistic to a certain kind of descent ritual, requiring the sacrificer to provide a vessel.
When he wanted to continue turning the pages, Joey abruptly discovered that the paper in his hands was gone.
At present, he was like a drunkard whose cravings had been hooked by the aroma of wine, yet he found himself stranded in a desert. That feeling was like having his heart scratched by a cat's claws.
Although the information recorded on these texts provided by Clyde was intermittent, it still allowed him to capture quite a bit of useful information.
Perhaps... the paths of certain Sequences were a conspiracy from the very beginning. Joey seemed to have thought of something, and immediately a calm voice rang out:
"The information on these texts reminds me of certain things. I think I should share them with you."
Helena raised her head in pleasant surprise to look at the figure shrouded in fog.
Everyone, if you encounter advertisements like "Are you a real person?", there is no need to pay attention-just close them. Absolutely do not scan codes or send text messages!
"Revelations from a deity-I am actually able to listen in person. This is truly an incredible matter." Helena restrained her excited emotions.
Compared to her, Clyde appeared much more restrained. After all, when he was a subordinate of the Sea God, he frequently received various revelations; hence, his expression did not appear overly abnormal.
"What do we need to pay as remuneration?" Helena couldn't help asking. After all, she currently possessed no chips in hand. If possible, she hoped the remuneration could be something she was capable of bearing.
If worst comes to worst, I can just play deaf for once! She sighed helplessly in her heart.
Joey shook his head, chuckled lightly, and slowly said:
"No need. This can only be considered a simple reminder."
"To a certain extent, as dependents of the 'Heavenly Court', I still hope your safety is guaranteed."
He was slowly driving the imprint of the "Heavenly Court" into everyone's hearts, causing them to gradually deepen their sense of belonging.
This would be of great help to his subsequent collection of potion materials.
"Praise you, Mr. Hermit!" Helena responded joyfully.
Though residing in Senegal, he had also learned a considerable amount of information regarding external deities through Helena.
It was precisely based on this that this reminder had occurred.
"First point: beware of everything concerning machinery and technology. Second point: beware of the Supreme Mother Goddess. Anything closely associated with Them runs the risk of being contaminated."
Although Joey's words were very brief, entering the ears of the two of them, they were no different than monstrous waves.
The Supreme Mother Goddess aside, that was already one among the evil gods; but the God of Machinery, that was one of the genuine Seven Orthodox Gods. He actually also had a connection to contamination? If this news were released, it would absolutely cause a sensation, or even a divine war.
As for deeper explanations-did the Hermit need to explain? No, he did not.
He had already offered the reminder; as for whether they listened or not, that was their problem.
As a Hermit, speaking too much would make it difficult to maintain one's standing, so Joey controlled the Azure Dragon to offer an explanation.
"Evil gods are unable to descend into the mortal realm. They wander the void, constantly spying on this planet. Descending requires a body."
Such a simple sentence was no different than stirring up layer upon layer of billows within Helena's mind.
She had never imagined that evil gods were so close to her. Under the protection of the Seven Gods, humanity lived and worked in peace and contentment, and even if evil gods acted up, the churches would resolve it at the very first instance.
Now, someone suddenly told her that even an orthodox god could potentially turn into an evil god.
Did that mean that once an orthodox god was contaminated, they became an evil god?
Then what was the justice she had always pursued?
Wipe that sleep from your eyes, Helena. You have already entered the world of transcendents. Perhaps this is the true face of the transcendent world.
He looked at Clyde, and saw that both he and the Azure Dragon appeared quite normal, showing no massive reactions to the matters recounted by Mr. Hermit.
Perhaps once I become a high Sequence, I will also be able to remain this calm.
Joey had anticipated Helena's expression long ago.
As a transcendent of the Arbiter Pathway, upholding the faith and justice within one's heart was important. This world was not simply black and white; what was righteous might also be evil.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this gathering concludes here."
Subsequently, he added another warning: "Next gathering, I will notify you. There is no need for sacrifice; sacrifice was only for the sake of transmission."
Mr. Hermit's gathering this time seems rather hurried. Did something happen? Helena curiously sized up the upper seat, though she had long since grown impatient to leave.
She then respectfully smiled and said:
"Farewell, Mr. Hermit."
Helena returned to her residence, tidied away her things, and walked into the study, where she began consulting records concerning ancient scripts.
The first thing Clyde did upon returning to the ship's cabin was to return to the campfire party.
In stark contrast to his previous mood, this time, he felt happiness originating from the bottom of his heart.
"Lads, tomorrow, prepare to set sail!"
The campfire dyed the sky crimson, and cheers resounded through the dark night.
After sending everyone away, Joey dispersed the gray fog on his body, stepped down from the high seat, and gripped the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact in his hand, flipping through it gently.
"Great Master, is there anything your most loyal servant Azrael can do for you?"
Due to the law of equivalent exchange, the prerequisite for the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact to answer questions was posing a question to the other party.
Frowning, Joey subconsciously closed the book, his hand gently groping across the book's cover, where a scarlet eye sat rolling its eyeball around.
"Does the deduction ability originate from this eye?"
Joey harbored the urge to pluck it out.
"Are you willing to remain by my side?"
A Grade 0 Sealed Artifact, coupled with deduction abilities-if such an item were kept for himself, it would be very important for his current self, allowing him to evade many dangers.
Judging by the state the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact had displayed, Joey believed that He would gladly accept.
However, reality often defied expectations.
The pages turned, and on the blank pages, first a crying little human face appeared before a line of text emerged.
"I am very sorry, my Master. Although Azrael wishes dearly to accompany your side, I cannot."
"Because of the Aaron Family's contract?"
"Yes, my Master."
That posed a trouble. A contract was the symbol of ironclad law; certain rules were things even deities could not evade.
In other words, so long as this rule existed, he had no way of taking the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact away.
Silent for a few seconds, Joey glanced at the Grade 0 Sealed Artifact, then waved a hand to wrap both in gray fog.
Returning to that study imbued with an antique aura, Joey contemplated the matters he needed to undertake next.
He sat before the desk, the dim yellow light of the gas lamp reflecting against his face, resembling a scholar deep in research.
Crack, crack!
Within the silent castle, a series of chaotic sounds burst forth.
Vade Wisker's clothes were stained with crimson blood, several figures trailing closely behind him.
He didn't dare pause at all; the slightest lapse in attention would result in an extra wound on his body.
His speed was extremely rapid, flickering a few times and leaving behind only afterimages in place.
Fortunately, Wayne was not among this team of pursuers.
Lacking transcendent abilities and firearms, it was the most primitive confrontation where human power could only win through sheer numbers.
Being continuously pestered made Wade's expression look quite ugly. He was very anxious now; time was pressing, and he had to find Earl Aaron. If Wayne found him first, the consequences would be too dreadful to contemplate.
What Wade did not know was that the Aaron he was frantically worried about was currently quietly sipping coffee inside a resplendent room.
Seated opposite her was a man-none other than Wayne.