Pillar of Yita

The blessing the Tada Lizardman Elder gave to Fang Hong was the Talk of the Stars of Ka Cuilan, the guardian of the stars and the night sky, and thus this blessing also leans towards mystery and protection:

Talk of the Stars of Ka Cuilan: The constellations and the firmament will reveal to us the ancient secrets protected by this world, Ka Cuilan, the whispers of the Ancients’ gods, hidden here and unchanged. If during a surprise attack, the blessed one’s perception is not less than half of that of the attacker, the blessed one is deemed to have the ’Intuitive Dodge’ ability.

Lesser Blessing—Foresee Death: The first fatal attack against the blessed one each day will inevitably fail (provided that the blessed one perceives the attack, and it excludes divine strength that always hits).

The rotund lizard elder’s thick lips writhed as he chanted a mysterious curse, and Fang Hong felt as if he were in utter darkness, but when he lifted his head, he saw the night sky spangled with stars amidst the ancient chanting.

It had not changed in a thousand years, the desolate starry sky had long watched over this land, its light originating from the old empire a thousand years past, also spilling over into today’s Saint Peru Valley.

A sense of inexplicable shock had just arisen in Fang Hong’s heart, but a massive shadow floated across the night sky, spreading its wings, with golden pupils gazing at him from afar. It raised its head, the four fierce horns almost piercing the enormous moon.

This terrifying illusion startled him awake, and all fantasies turned to dust; the hall was still that hall, with walls and obsidian columns reflecting the glow of gold coins.

But the Tada Lizardman Elder had already withdrawn his bumpy, plump hand, looking at him somewhat solemnly.

”Did you see that?” Fang Hong quietly asked the people around him, ”Nikopolas’s illusion.”

But everyone shook their heads; they had only seen the Tada Lizardman Elder holding his hand and drawing an ancient and intricate star chart on his arm. But like the pattern before, the star chart gradually disappeared, seeping into his skin.

Fang Hong looked at the attributes of the blessing, and asked the huge toad with some confusion, ”What does this lesser blessing mean?”

”It indicates you have a special connection with the stars, perhaps you have a special talent in the way of Ka Cuilan. You can perceive secrets imperceptible to ordinary people. This rite is a sign, reflecting something you are especially concerned about in your heart.”

It paused, ”Perhaps you have confronted death face to face, or have seen the embodiment of death. You are especially fated with Asuka and Ka Cuilan. If you have the chance, you could come to Ka Cuilan, and perhaps I could teach you something special.”

Although Fang Hong was curious about the ’special thing,’ in Eteliria, the paths to learning were nothing more than self-enlightenment and instruction. Most of the knowledge available on the market was commonplace goods, and the really good stuff was usually in the hands of major powers and legendary natives. To acquire such precious knowledge, Invokers often had to satisfy a variety of conditions.

Moreover, some of these conditions were incompatible. For instance, the Ishurian Trade Alliance and the Pale Flame Knights were opposed to each other; if you wished to be promoted by one side, it would inevitably result in hateful reputations with the other. But this was just the tip of the iceberg; beyond faction considerations, one’s personal stance and understanding of the world determined the skills one might acquire and the opportunities one might lose.

Such a free lunch was naturally welcome.

But Ka Cuilan wasn’t easy to reach; Ka Cuilan was the name for the ancient kingdom of the Guda Suoke Lizardmen. Today, that place is known as the Peeling Heart Forest; the primal lizard clans there are not only the Tada. Some lizardmen indeed maintain the tradition of cannibalism.

Simply put, it is Eteliria’s true high-level area, without Miss Sicape’s level, it would be better not to seek death there. Not to mention the Peeling Heart Forest is one of the Withered Treants’ habitats; even the lizardmen retreat from them, which suggests the terror of these beings.

However, the great toad’s mention of the ’embodiment of death’ reminded Fang Hong of Nikopolas again. Back at Traveler’s Rest, Mazak’s old butler had told him—’those who see dragon wings forsee death itself,’ and he had yet to understand the meaning of those words, not knowing whether the other party was just trying to scare him.

Or perhaps, was that the embodiment of death?

Because of this question, Fang Hong thought again about the unsolved mystery of Dolifen: why the people in that day’s disaster had starlight depletion; he always felt that had something to do with Nikopolas or the Dragon Worshippers. Maybe the old butler’s words had forseen something back then.

But unfortunately, there was no definitive answer.

After the Tada Elder, the Giant Dragon Toragotos slightly lifted its head, also summoning the two forward. So, under the envious gaze of the Papalarians, about to burst, Fang Hong and Tainaric cautiously climbed Gold Mountain, approaching the legendary dragon.

The Lizardman Prince moved agilely, and Fang Hong, not being from a combat profession, naturally lagged slightly. But the latter silently looked back, stretching out a claw and pulling him up.

”Thank you.”

”You’re welcome, my human brother.”

The two approached Toragotos; only then did it straighten up, growing taller amidst rumbling sounds, its golden pupils opening and gazing down at the pair from on high. Fang Hong looked up at the legendary Giant Dragon, only now truly feeling its imposing aura and the overwhelming sensation.