Chapter 1608
Chapter 1608: Section 1609: The Disappearance of Irene
Xiliu: “I started to deeply contemplate that phrase, and right after, I felt like my body became a feather, lightly descending from the sky. That sensation was very comforting, as if I had found where I belong.”
After that, when Xiliu regained consciousness, she was already in a lucid dream.
“So, I don't really know what exactly happened at that time. But I'm certain it was that phrase that brought the subsequent ripples.”
After listening to Xiliu's recount, enlightenment flashed in Angel's eyes.
The whispered sentence Xiliu mentioned comes from “The Faith of Oblivion,” a tome discussing religion. It describes various kinds of religions that have existed throughout the history of the Flourish Continent. Most of these religions have already faded into obscurity, either forgotten over time or overthrown by the enlightened populace.
While it outwardly discusses religion, and indeed covers the origins, meanings, and certain thoughts of religions, to the upper-class Nobility of the Flourish Continent countries, it's more like a text on governance and political science.
After all, religion can, in a sense, be seen as a means of controlling the hearts of people– very pertinent for governance.
Without a doubt, this whisper was definitely spoken by Onassis.
It initially comes from the teachings of the Hall of the God of Courage, where its place in the doctrine means to acknowledge one's true heart and liberate one's nature, for it is only through this that one can unlock the courage within.
Onassis quoted this phrase and did not alter its meaning.
It was meant to make Xiliu recognize her true heart and liberate her nature. The so-called true heart is precisely what Xiliu wanted to unleash– her self; naturally, she would feel comfortable, as if she had found her place.
And if her physical body recognized its true heart and returned to the Origin Point, then even the effects of drug ingestion could not prevent it.
It's very much in line with Onassis's style, still wielding philosophy as his weapon. But this time, Onassis seems to have simplified his approach, casually using Xiliu's vulnerability to sleepiness, easily breaching her defenses.
Although from the perspective of a competitive match, it doesn't have high entertainment value, using the easiest method without expending much effort to resolve a fight is the best from both a strategic and a personal perspective.
Moreover, it demonstrates that his vision has already transcended his peer Apprentices by a significant margin.
With enough accumulation, he might join the ranks of Official Wizards even earlier than Jiebo. At the very least, in terms of thought and consciousness, he already qualifies.
While Angel was pondering silently, Xiliu asked curiously, “Is that also a philosophical phrase? Did he defeat me with philosophy like he did with the others?”
Xiliu had already learned from Shan that it was very likely that philosophy was Onassis's method of attack, hence her question.
Angel nodded: “Yes, but this time he didn't speak it directly, he conveyed the message through another method.”
This method of conveying a message also proves that the danger of fighting Onassis is higher than imagined. His presence can manifest without any warning.
“So, will his kind of attack cause me any harm?” Xiliu sounded somewhat concerned, “Will I become more prone to sleepiness than before?”
“Don't worry, as I said before, you have not been harmed. That phrase he said doesn't do you any harm either, whether you remember it or not doesn't matter.”
If you don't remember it, it's as if you've returned to how things were; for Xiliu, there is no change.
If you do remember, it will also be fine. Unless Onassis comes to express the phrase himself, its meaning will not impact Xiliu much. Of course, if Xiliu actively seeks to delve into the true meaning of the words and actually manages to decode it, that's a different story.
After hearing Angel's assessment, Xiliu also breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it doesn't affect her in the future, it's alright even if she lost. Her goal for this competition was merely to earn the right to enter the “Endless Corridor.” She had achieved her goal after the preliminary rounds ended; advancing to the semi-finals was already exceeding expectations.
Compared to the predetermined outcome of the match, what Xiliu is actually more interested in now is this dream realm.
She is eager to know, how did Angel make dreams so vividly real?
Angel's response to that was just to smile without a word. Soon, Xiliu would know the truth; there was no hurry for now.
Next, Angel manipulated the Authority of the Gate of Dreams and sent Xiliu out of the Wilderness of Dreams.
Angel woke up first and immediately received attention from Nausicaa and Shan.
“Xiliu should be waking up soon, for specifics, it's better if you ask Xiliu directly.” As soon as Angel finished speaking, Xiliu, lying in bed, opened her eyes.
When she connected to the Mind Space and felt the abundant Magical Core, along with the talent to freely manipulate water transmutation, Xiliu understood that she was back to reality.
Xiliu sat up without immediately answering the questions from Nausicaa and the others, but instead looked toward Angel: “Was it real, what happened in the dream before?”
Angel nodded.
Xiliu seemed to realize. That meant, she really had had a long conversation with Angel in the dream; this experience was a first for her.
What followed was a conversation between Xiliu and Nausicaa and the others, and Xiliu also shared the conclusion Angel had given her.
Knowing she was unharmed, everyone else felt at ease.
However, just to be on the safe side, they decided to take Xiliu back to Fangling Hall to rest first.
Angel did not follow; he planned to stay at the Infinite Battle Tower. After all, he was quite interested in the afternoon's battle between Asaz and Trom.
Although he stayed at the Infinite Battle Tower, Angel didn't intend to idle away; he prepared to find a quiet place to rest for a while and, by the way, check on Frode's research progress in the Wilderness of Dreams.
But before Angel entered the Wilderness of Dreams, he received a message on his communicator.
After reading the message, Angel fell silent for a moment, then still decided to leave the Infinite Battle Tower.
Before long, Angel arrived at the Signal Tower of the Sky Mechanical City.
Just having arrived at the Signal Tower, he saw Glenn in the hall, bored to death. Next to Glenn sat a little fat boy with a lost expression on his face, it was Allen.
“What's the matter?” It was Glenn who had sent the signal to Angel, only to say that Allen seemed a bit off.
Angel's voice reached Glenn's ears, and his look instantly brightened. His previously bored demeanor also vanished: “Lord Pat, to be honest, I'm not very clear myself. Anyway, I assisted him in contacting the Signal Tower, and when he came out from inside, he was like this.”
Angel looked at Allen, whose eyes conveyed a sense of bewilderment and confusion.
Allen came to the Signal Tower to contact Moro about inquiring into Irene's situation. His current behavior–could it be that something happened to Irene?
Angel hesitated for a moment, then used a calming trick to snap Allen out of his daze.
Without waiting for Angel's question, Allen somewhat dejectedly recounted what had happened.
Moro was not wrong; Irene indeed had come to the Sky Mechanical City to participate in the newcomer's tournament. However, she disappeared not long after leaving the White Coral Floating Island Academy.
“Disappeared? One can teleport from White Coral Floating Island Academy to the Sky Mechanical City. Do you mean, she disappeared after arriving in the Sky Mechanical City?” It was Glenn, not Angel, who spoke first.
Allen nodded: “According to the friends who came with her to the Sky Mechanical City, she said she wanted to go out for a stroll the night she arrived, and then she never came back.”