Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 1295: Chapter 1293: Lights

Weak yet resilient, the lantern’s light inside the glass cover, though small, stubbornly carved out a space for conversation within the dark room.

While staring into it, one could even faintly sense its heartbeat-like pulse.

“What do you mean?”

Orintel didn’t allow much time for further observation, his response triggered strongly by Fu Qian’s words.

“Your critique of Mr. Winslow seems a bit overly condescending.”

Fu Qian shook his head as he surveyed the surroundings.

“Self-deception is his choice, not yours. Do you genuinely believe you can change that?”

“Why not?”

“Simple. Judging from my perspective, if you were to share our earlier conversation with Mr. Winslow, his reaction would show profound gratitude, yet he would persist with his original beliefs.”

“So while it may appear as though you control the truth-telling dynamic, the essence of this matter is still entirely dictated by his will.”

“You’re too eager to establish some advantage over him, which ironically makes you lose faster.”

As Fu Qian spoke, his gaze locked onto a particular point.

In the corner’s hazy shadows lay not one, but several lanterns.

“Me? Lose to an ordinary person?”

Orintel was already teetering on the edge of biting sarcasm from rage.

“You’ve already lost once, even in terms of charm. By the way, can those lanterns over there be lit? The lighting here is absolutely terrible—or perhaps your injury requires a dark environment for treatment?”

Fu Qian flippantly jabbed at his pride, motioning toward the corner with his chin.

…

“No need. Do as you like.”

Clearly stung by the remark, Orintel took several breaths before replying again.

“But no need to worry. No one is hiding in those unseen corners.”

“Then I’m relieved. Being polite, I prefer causing as little disturbance as possible.”

Fu Qian nodded slightly.

“Hard to argue with that sentiment, since so far it seems they haven’t spotted you… So, are you planning to simply wait here, or state your intentions beforehand?”

Orintel’s face darkened yet validated Fu Qian’s understated comment, bluntly admitting it was only a matter of time before he got noticed.

“It’s simple—just a courtesy visit to check on your recovery.”

Fu Qian gestured toward Orintel’s face.

“That distinctive scar… So, you did it intentionally after all!”

This straightforward confession clearly caught Orintel off guard, but he quickly seethed through gritted teeth.

“That’s right, it was intentional. Also, it appears the Sect’s Sainted healers are highly capable.”

“So you want to know how they managed it?”

Orintel sneered, his resolve utterly unwavering.

“I don’t. Comparatively, I’m more interested in the Saints’ qualifications. Would you mind sharing?”

But Fu Qian once again shook his head.

“…Saints are shorthand for members of the Coordinating Law Sanctuary, essentially the Sect’s decision-making body.”

As if confirming he wasn’t joking, Orintel paused for a moment before speaking earnestly.

“Anyone wielding Taboo-Level Star Law is qualified to enter the Sanctuary.”

Taboo-Level…

Fu Qian recalled the decayed flesh from Orintel’s past display of skill.

“It seems you’ve already mastered it?”

“That’s why I’ve already begun undergoing the evaluation process.”

Orintel didn’t deny it.

Indeed, a young man with boundless potential, seemingly stronger than Reginald.

Fu Qian admired silently.

If this world were truly a nightmare, then the foundational elements composing it were undeniably of a high caliber.

At the same time, he arrived at his first crucial conclusion for this visit.

Dimensional Poison was unquestionably repelled by Star Law.

The wielder was still far less skilled compared to those Children of the Stars like Yack.

Yet the Withering scars that troubled all the Gods were seemingly erased without a trace.

The laws had evidently proven their “mighty correctness.”

“If you really came just to check on my recovery, I’m very curious about your motivation for doing so.”

When Fu Qian didn’t reply immediately, Orintel couldn’t help but ask.

“Didn’t I already explain earlier?”

Fu Qian appeared genuinely puzzled by the question.

“I wanted to spar with the Sect over healing techniques, so I devised a deep mystery illness. I must admit, the Saints’ performance pleasantly surprised me—it wasn’t a waste of my handiwork.”

Spar over healing techniques…

The absurdity of this answer left Orintel too stunned to respond at all.

Such is the limitation of a mind shackled by preconceptions, reducing even honest discussions to a struggle.

Fu Qian sighed quietly while observing.

He wasn’t bluffing. He had left the Dimensional Poison precisely to see how it stacked against Star Law.

Having confirmed the results, knowing that the Sect’s Saints were capable was sufficient—their methods didn’t matter in the slightest.

Unfortunately, Orintel clearly couldn’t comprehend this, only deeming it insincere.

The atmosphere grew momentarily rigid, yet the next moment, light flickered. In the silent dim chamber, visibility suddenly increased and even continued to brighten.

Fu Qian glanced upward to find that among the cluster of lanterns spotted earlier, one was slowly lighting up, even though there was no one around.

This miraculous scene noticeably eased the awkward tension.

For instance, in the corner of his eye, Orintel visibly exhaled in relief.

“Looks like you were right—it’s lit.”

Meeting his gaze, Fu Qian spoke in a casual tone, standing as he walked toward the lantern.

The spontaneously ignited lantern resembled the one Orintel held, with similar brightness in the flickering flame within.

But it was only seemingly identical—Fu Qian knew well the two were worlds apart.

Standing close, he felt an even stronger sense of connection with the lantern flame.

Indeed, the moment he first spotted it, Fu Qian knew the flame was ignited by him.

To be precise, it was sparked by his Flame of Life.

At this moment, under resonance, it had become his life’s symbol—its extinguishment would signify death.

Such overbearing binding was undeniably tied to the governing law recently proven.

“It was even lit by you. Do you feel it?”

Orintel’s voice came from behind at just the right time, laden with irrepressible satisfaction.

“Sorry, I forgot to mention earlier. There are indeed no others lying in wait, because my welcome is more than enough.”

“This lantern takes time to ignite. My sole task was ensuring you stayed longer in this room, which wasn’t difficult—I knew you wouldn’t leave simply because you’re so conceited.”

“Relying on the belief that you can see through everything, that every shift is within your grasp, people like you wouldn’t leave easily.”

“You flatter me.”

Faced with this declarative confession, Fu Qian responded humbly, his expression unimpaired.

Unperturbed in the slightest, he then leisurely extended his hand to pick up the lantern, savoring its unique feel.

At last, his time wasn’t entirely wasted.

If he had merely wanted to confirm whether Dimensional Poison could be cured, he could have left right after their first encounter.