Above the Gray Fog, massive stone pillars supported a magnificent temple.
Two deep red figures suddenly appeared beside the ancient and mottled bronze table, blurring and stretching into illusory human figures.
"Good afternoon, Mr. The Fool." Audrey, with an air of mystery, gave a curtsy and smiled faintly. "It's a pity there's no fine wine here, otherwise I could have toasted your success."
She was referring to Ritualistic Magic.
"Your strength far exceeds our imagination," Alger Wilson added in praise.
Klein was still shrouded in an extremely dense Gray Fog. He pressed his right hand down as if answering a trivial question:
"Very good, this shows we are on a very effective path. In the future, if you have something to do and can't get away on Monday afternoons, just hold the ceremony in advance and let me know. Well, you just need to change the 'praying for a good dream' part of the incantation to a specific reason."
"Okay." Audrey nodded lightly. "Mr. The Fool, I've acquired another page from Emperor Roselle's diary. I still owe one page."
"This week, I've been far from land and haven't found any new ones." Alger placed his right hand on his chest and bowed forward in apology.
"Don't worry about it, this process is destined to be lengthy." Klein leaned back in his chair, tapping his index finger lightly on the armrest, and looked at Miss " Justice." "You can now 'express' your diary entries."
Audrey bowed slightly and said:
"As you wish."
She picked up the pen that had suddenly appeared on the table, carefully recalled the runes she had forcibly memorized, and expressed the intentions she wanted to convey.
Within seconds, she saw that the parchment in front of her was filled with writing, densely packed, neat and orderly.
After checking it once, she put down her pen and said:
"Alright"
Klein gently raised his hand, and the parchment suddenly appeared in his palm.
His gaze shifted downwards, and he began to read without any emotional fluctuation:
"On July 9th, an interesting question suddenly occurred to me: since the Sequence Pathway is also called the God's Grace, the Divine Pathways, then why is the stone tablet that records the complete twenty-two Sequence Pathway called the Blasphemy Slate? 'Blasphemy,' what a profound word... Whom exactly was blasphemed?"
"Who created the Blasphemy Slate? Why can they control all the Sequence Pathway? What else is recorded on it? I really want to see it..."
"July 12th. Today I learned a fact: Sealed Artifact are an important part of the Church's strength, even though some of them are extremely dangerous. Among the seven major churches, the Church of the God of Craftsmanship possesses the fewest Sealed Artifact, and their relative level of danger is also the lowest... Have I joined an organization with no future? No, I should think of it this way: only a blank canvas is easy to paint on, and a weak organization is more conducive to my development!"
"On July 14th, I saw that mysterious Mr. Zaratul again. He turned out to be the leader of the ancient organization Secret Order!"
Upon seeing this, Klein's pupils contracted, and he almost showed an unusual reaction.
According to the Church of the Evernight Goddess, the Zaratul Family only Secret Order. However, under Emperor Roselle, the mysterious Mr. Zaratul was further proven to be the leader of the Secret Order.
Therefore, it is an undisputed fact that the Secret Order possesses the pathway to the " Seer " Sequence Pathway...
As Klein read his diary, Audrey looked up and began to observe, as was her habit.
However, her vision, her gaze, was completely blocked by the thick Gray Fog.
Startled, Audrey snapped back to reality, turning her head in alarm to gaze at the illusory, deep red stars.
"I was so reckless, so bold, so foolish to try and observe Mr. The Fool... Thank goodness, thank goodness, he's not angry." Audrey quietly stuck out her tongue, feigning a leisurely look as if she were admiring the scenery, almost humming a light melody.
Alger sat there silently, his gaze fixed on the surface of the bronze table, as docile as if he were facing a true deity.
Klein snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at the end of the diary in his hand:
"After learning that I had become a ' Reader,' Mr. Zaratul said that I had chosen a path that was destined to be arduous but relatively safe in the early stages. I asked why, and he just smiled and said that the secrets hidden in the Sequence Pathway were far more numerous than I had imagined. I couldn't help but ask which Sequence Pathway he was on, and he told me that his Sequence 9 was ' The Seer.'"
"I deliberately mocked him, saying, 'Does every ' Seer ' only tell half the story and never explain things clearly? Besides, he's clearly High-Sequence powerhouse; he doesn't need to Acting the ' Seer ' anymore!'"
"Mr. Zaratul said it was a habit he'd developed since he was a ' Seer,' and that only in this way could he pique my curiosity and get me to cooperate. He wanted my help to Stealing a dangerous Sealed Artifact from the Church of the God of Craftsmanship, a relic of the Antigonus Family."
"Obviously, this can only happen once I become a core member of the Church of the God of Craftsmanship. I then asked Mr. Zaratul how long it would take to digest the Potion using the ' Acting Method,' and by what standard that would be measured."
"He told me that in the Low-Sequence, as long as one can strictly Acting, one can digest the Potion in no more than six months, and in some cases as quickly as a month. The standard for measurement is very simple: once it is completely digested, each Beyonder can immediately feel it—either it is or it isn't."
I continued to ask for more detailed and specific information, but he just smiled and remained silent.
"Screw the silence! Once I become High-Sequence powerhouse, I'll beat up every ' Seer ' I see!"
... May you rest in peace, Your Majesty... Klein read it several times, then turned his gaze back to " Justice " and " the Hanged Man ":
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"It's our honor." Audrey was still in shock and had completely forgotten that she was just an " Spectator."
She looked at the " The Hanged Man " and, organizing her thoughts, said:
Where can I find the Psychology Alchemists?
The Psychology Alchemists... Klein suddenly remembered the gentleman who bought the " Spectator " Potion supplement materials in the underground market of Tingen City.
Perhaps he is a member of the Psychology Alchemists?
Just as Klein was considering how to contact the other party, " The Hanged Man " Alger Wilson shook his head and said:
"Miss Justice, firstly, I don't know any clues. Secondly, I don't think you need to rush to find the Psychology Alchemists. Your current focus should be on digesting the ' Spectator ' Potion."
Audrey glanced quickly at the Fool, and seeing that he had no intention of adding anything, nodded with slight disappointment:
"I just want ample time to prepare and connect with them more naturally. Okay, so when can I digest the ' Spectator ' Potion and end the Acting? Is there any standard for judging this? I've hardly experienced any more irritability or delirium anymore."
Alger, the " The Hanged Man," glanced at the Fool in the Gray Fog. Seeing that he made no move, he carefully chose his words and began:
"If the ' Acting Method ' isn't used, the general principle is to wait at least three years to confirm that there are no signs of mania, auditory hallucinations, or visual hallucinations. Then, a simple method is used to determine this: push yourself to your limit. If you still don't hear crazy whispers or see strange things in this state, then it means you can be promoted."
"As for the ' Acting Method,' I've only just come across it, and it feels great. It shouldn't take three years."
That's like saying nothing at all... Three years, that's too long... Audrey thought to herself.
Just as the idea formed in her mind, she suddenly heard a light tapping sound.
Audrey was taken aback at first, then delighted. She turned her head and saw the Fool tapping the edge of the long table.
Alger sat even more upright, waiting for the Fool to speak.
Klein said in a normal tone:
"In Low-Sequence, as long as the process is strictly Acting, it can be completely digested within six months, and a month is not impossible."
He looked at " Justice " and added calmly:
"The signs of complete digestion will come naturally to you; you won't need anyone to teach you."
"A month... that's wonderful! Thank you, Mr. The Fool!" Audrey's joy was palpable.
Miss Justice, don't think you're the chosen one. The key point is six months... Klein raised his right hand and put it to his lips.
"Six months..." Alger repeated in a low voice.
From his tone, Audrey keenly detected joy, relief, and intense doubt.
What was he wondering about? Audrey asked thoughtfully:
"Mr. The Fool, do you have any plans to add new members?"
Klein leaned back, having prepared his answer beforehand:
"At first, it was just an experiment; there weren't many other considerations."
"But now, as a regular gathering, members must be strictly selected, Concealment is our principle."
Audrey nodded slightly and said:
"In other words, it requires procedures such as observation, recommendation, and evaluation—well, procedures."
"Your understanding is not wrong either," Klein replied affirmatively.
He was pondering how to inquire about the Secret Order and the " Clown " Potion.
How should I ask questions that are appropriate for my "identity"? Klein was in a dilemma.
Seeing that " Justice " had nothing else to do for the time being, Alger took the initiative to speak:
"I've heard that an Aurora Order ' Listener ' is searching for traces of the True Creator, which they call the 'Sanctuary'."
" The True Creator?" Audrey asked in bewilderment.
"That's an ancient being worshipped by many mysterious organizations and Concealment cults. They believe that the Creator did not completely die, and that His remaining core is the True Creator," Alger explained roughly. "Since the Fifth Age, the True Creator has appeared in many forms, such as the 'Hanged Giant ' and the 'Eye Behind the Veil of Shadows.' Haha, many people believe that Emperor Roselle referenced the image of the True Creator when inventing the Tarot, hence the ' The Hanged Man ' card."
At this point, he looked at Klein and said:
"Is what I said correct, Mr. The Fool?"
Was this a test of my opinion on the True Creator? Klein recalled the blood-soaked, naked man nailed upside down on a cross that the captain had seen in Hynas Vincent's dream, and an idea immediately formed in his mind.
Whether it's hanging upside down or shadows, don't they both have an eerie feel to them?
Then he chuckled and said:
I prefer to call Him the Fallen Creator.
PS: July 7th, I've finished paying off the debt for the first half of the book. Please vote for me on Monday!