Facing an Ancient God for a Year

He didn’t waste any time. As soon as he came out from the center of the island, Fu Qian headed straight for the white tree.

According to Mr. Luo, it should be called the Fool’s Tree.

One had to say that both its shape and meaning were quite fitting.

The effect of the Fool’s Tree was to divide the same being into various strange segments based on different concepts.

He had already experienced its effects a moment ago—this thing affected not only the physical body but, over time, it could separate the mind into different parts that had a special connection to each other.

To put it more simply, staring at it for too long could cause mental division.

...And at this moment, even though his Transcendent powers were fully accomplished, when he stood before it, Fu Qian still felt his mind inadvertently become hazy.

Great!

The next moment, Fu Qian didn’t retreat but instead pressed forward, placing his hand directly on the tree.

Very quickly, a jumble of images appeared in his mind, as if he were observing the world from various different perspectives.

Even every thought in his head came to life, each separate from the others, attacking one another and throwing his thinking into chaos.

Its effects were indeed impressive!

Talking to himself, Fu Qian released his hand, and his head cleared up considerably.

No, his mental resistance was too strong now; he recovered too quickly.

Fu Qian looked into the distance, estimating the time.

Crack!

With a crisp sound, a side branch of the Fool’s Tree, resembling a human hand, was broken off directly by him, and droplets of blue liquid seeped out from the broken end.

After testing its elasticity, Fu Qian bent the branch in his hand gently, and in a few moments, he had woven it into a headband.

He placed it on his head, and with a heavy mind, the feeling of jumbled thoughts returned.

Great!

Fu Qian took a deep breath together with his counterparts and strode off the island, heading straight for the battlefield they had left a short while ago.

…

There was almost no difference from when they had left.

Above the scorched earth and rotting soil lay scattered remains and limbs, while Delin and Archer Brother had obviously not returned.

The girl still maintained the position she had when he left, sitting on Ailei’s tree branch and rhythmically patting the trunk as she hummed a tune softly to it.

Ailei, half of his body destroyed, looked even more chaotic.

He was not only shaking his head and swaying but also seeped blood-like sap from his wounds, which emitted a distinctly unpleasant odor.

The girl, however, seemed oblivious to it all.

So that was it!

Looking at the girl on the tree branch, Fu Qian sighed in his heart.

Such an obvious clue, yet he had been completely unaware of it before.

This sister, lacking any Transcendent abilities and not particularly robust, had almost no survival skills, so how did she manage to stay alive in a place like this?

It definitely wasn’t Lei hunting for her outside the door.

At the same time, when he had last seen her, she had an unfinished flower crown in her hands.

He had felt it was strange at the time, and now he finally understood why.

Normally, making a flower crown would always serve a certain purpose.

However, the size of that flower crown was really quite unsuitable; too small to be a bracelet and too big to be a ring.

Now, at last, he knew for whom she was making it.

Currently, amidst the chaos in Fu Qian’s mind, there were many points of view.

One part of him saw the girl sitting there all alone.

And another part, on her left shoulder, was a Porcelain Doll so exquisitely made that it wore a flower crown on its head.

Seeing you is truly not easy!

Fu Qian “looked” at the doll, feeling a wave of emotion in his heart.

The girl was not a Muggle; on the contrary, she manifested the perfect doll he had been seeking.

Only, this doll possessed peculiar abilities, similar to a kind of psychological invisibility—a mental deception.

This rendered everyone unable to see it and unaware of its existence.

This was also why the first time he followed the girl home, his mission hadn’t been triggered.

Because although the target was right in front of him, he hadn’t observed it.

And the last time he returned from the island, because he had already been up close to the Fool’s Tree and retained a hint of the effects of mental division,

when the girl and doll were hiding in the tree and he approached to touch Mr. Luo’s Frenzied Spirit, that slight split personality observed the existence of the doll.

That’s why the mission was completed!

Unfortunately, because the sub-personality was extremely weak, it wasn’t sufficient to allow his main consciousness to recognize this fact.

It’s okay now.

Is madness indeed the only way to see the true face of the world?

Fu Qian couldn’t help but recall a saying.

Hm?

At this moment, the girl in the tree suddenly frowned, for the swaying body of Ailei had flung a drop of liquid onto the Porcelain Doll’s face.

She extended a finger, carefully wiping it until it was immaculately white again before revealing a satisfied smile.

Just as she was about to continue humming, she suddenly spotted Fu Qian under the tree.

“You’ve returned?”

The girl’s tone even held a hint of surprise as she leapt down from Ailei’s body.

Mm.

Fu Qian smiled and responded.

“Did you kill that person?”

The girl eyed Fu Qian up and down before suddenly asking.

“Yes, it’s been taken care of.”

Fu Qian made a throat-slashing gesture.

“So, you’re going to leave now?”

“There’s no rush; I still have things to do.”

Fu Qian said, smiling at the Porcelain Doll on her shoulder.

Following Fu Qian’s gaze, the girl suddenly realized something, took a big step back, and her face drained of color.

“Don’t panic! I’m not exactly a good person.”

Fu Qian repeated a phrase they had exchanged when they first met.

“So, I have a few questions for you.”

…Mm.

The girl stared at Fu Qian for a long time, finally nodding her head.

“Is this doll a part of you that split off?”

“…Mm.”

Her response was low and soft.

“Was it like that from the beginning?”

“Mm.”

“Has anyone other than yourself ever known about it?”

“…My mother knew. I told her immediately, and then she told me to keep it a secret and not to tell anyone.”

So that’s how it was!

Fu Qian nodded, understanding the mother’s perspective.

Given the conduct of those pilgrims, if this doll were exposed, it would be hard to imagine what the girl’s life would become.

“What else did your mom say?”

…

The girl fell silent for a moment, then pointed to her face.

“Mom also told me to make sure to paint it well and never wash it off.”

WTF?

Fu Qian followed where her finger pointed, suddenly realizing that the coral-shaped blotch was actually painted on!

The love of parents truly knows no bounds!

Fu Qian sighed inwardly.

“I’m sorry, but I still have to deal with your doll.”

“Why?”

The girl cried out in alarm, clutching the doll tightly to her chest.

“Madam Madeline has never done anything bad!”

It even had a name!

Fu Qian looked at the doll wearing a floral wreath.

Unlike the others, this one appeared very tranquil—so tranquil that it seemed somewhat dull.

“It’s true, I’m not lying to you! Madam Madeline has always been by my side, she even never participates in the Free Hunts!”

The girl’s expression grew more desperate.

“I believe you.”