Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2491: Chapter 2492: Life Pool

In the blink of an eye, another day had passed.

After nearly sixty consecutive hours of desk work, Angel finally looked up. He rubbed his slightly swollen temples and let out a long breath.

Feeling slightly relieved from fatigue, Angel lowered his head again, refocusing on the handbook on the table.

The handbook had already been flipped through over ten pages, and these pages were densely filled with his writings.

On the latest page, there appeared a very irregular but strangely harmonious framework model.

This was the green pattern structure that Angel deduced by analyzing the green dot the Dalmatian had spat out previously.

Since the answer was already known, it was just a reverse deduction, thus it wasn’t too difficult, taking only three days. However, even with the result, Angel still didn’t quite understand the mode of operation of the green pattern and why different green patterns could combine together.

Pinching his brows and thinking for a while, Angel decided to temporarily abandon his research.

Because the green pattern structure is entirely different from the Wizard’s power system, akin to the difference between ”Talent Theory” and ”Bloodline Theory.” In the Wizard’s system, ”Talent Theory” is not absolute; talent is merely a threshold, not the decisive factor for ultimate achievement, and even those without talent can gain talent through Magic Potions. But the green pattern system is similar to Bloodline Theory, where the bloodline determines everything; your bloodline dictates your future upper limits.

The reason for this thought was that Angel had previously completely opened the green pattern for Sanders to study. But Sanders was unable to construct this power, similar to ”Bloodline Theory” – if you don’t possess this bloodline or this green pattern, you simply can’t use this power.

And each green pattern has significance; the number of green patterns determines the strength of power that can be used. This is eerily similar to Bloodline Theory.

Because Angel himself possesses a green pattern, he can use this power, but to fully understand this power, he must begin understanding from the very base of this system. Just like learning to use a trick requires starting from understanding magic power and spiritual power.

But Angel remains relatively unfamiliar with the foundational green patterns, not even solidifying the basics. How can he comprehend this complex combination structure of green patterns that the Dalmatian spat out?

Though he regretted not being able to analyze the essence of the green pattern structure for now, it did not hinder him from using the green pattern.

The green pattern structure recorded in the handbook, Angel could already use at this point.

And he had deduced its effects.

——Removing additional effects in the mental layers of living beings.

The so-called additional effects are those originating from external sources, not from the beings themselves. Like the madness symptom, which actually stems from the twisted sentiment imposed by Meina, almost every patient of madness has this twisted sentiment hidden deep within their spirit sea.

Because it’s from an external source, belonging to additional effects, this combination structure of green patterns can remove this twisted sentiment, thereby treating patients of madness.

Of course, this removal isn’t limited to twisted sentiments; other types are possible too. For instance, previous parasitic light spots, which also affect the mind as external entities, can be expelled with this green pattern.

Moreover, it’s not just negative effects that can be removed; positive effects imposed on the spirit layers can also be removed. For example, spell techniques similar to spiritual encouragement, or spiritual class potions not yet fully digested, including Song Without Rhyme, Lawless Rhyme, Agility Potion, Windsor Umbrella-style Witch’s Brew... etc., can be removed with this green pattern. However, once the potion effects are completely digested, they no longer count as ”additional effects” and cannot be removed.

Overall, this is a remarkably powerful auxiliary ability, although it doesn’t affect the physical body’s additional effects, its general applicability in the spiritual realm is quite extensive, filling in Angel’s previous gaps in the domain of spiritual capabilities.

Now that he could use this green pattern structure, and further research yielded essentially no outcome, Angel prepared to leave his retreat.

The longer madness symptoms drag on, the more they gradually damage the patient’s spirit sea. Though this damage isn’t irreversible, completely restoring it requires a great deal of time and effort.

Therefore, to prevent the weakening of the Wizards’ spirit sea, Angel decided to return to the Barbarian Cave first and awaken them before proceeding.

...

Three days later, Angel pushed open the door of the ruins, and a wave of cold air immediately rushed in from outside.

Outside the ruins, snowflakes were swirling from the sky, and the avatar of the Tree Spirit at the door was also adorned in a silver snowy coat.

This is the climate of the plateau, where changes are often unexpected. Angel vividly remembered that upon returning earlier, the sky was clear and the accumulating snow seemed to melt; but today, a heavy snow had unexpectedly fallen again.

Judging by the fog-covered sky overhead, this heavy snow likely won’t stop anytime soon.

Angel himself wasn’t afraid of the severe cold, but he wondered if Dangross could withstand the plateau’s climate?

Angel looked at Dangross, who was gazing affectionately at Toby: ”Do you want to stay inside the bracelet?”

Dangross asked, puzzled: ”Why?”

Angel pointed to the heavy snow outside, and Dangross suddenly understood: ”Although I don’t like icy weather, I’ve been to the Malaya Ice Mountain; this snow is nothing much.”

Dangross spoke boldly, but once outside, he realized that the severe cold of the Malaya Ice Mountain and the plateau were entirely different.

The former was a tranquil cold, while the latter was a dynamic cold. The flat wilderness, swept by winds accumulated for who knows how long, immediately extinguished the flame protection Dangross had painstakingly maintained.

With the flame protection extinguished, Dangross immediately felt the terrifying cold wind outside.

No choice, Dangross had to construct a new layer of flame protection. But each time, the cold wind extinguished it, and with the considerable consumption of flames, it became somewhat weakened.

Angel had only been a few miles from the ruins when Dangross was frozen to the point of having glazed eyes.

Dangross seemed to have quite a bit of pride, stubbornly enduring without asking for help.

Eventually, Angel actively opened a constant temperature field, and Dangross’s pale palms began to regain redness. However, perhaps it had been frozen for too long; his fingers looked uneven, white and red, like they had been painted with colors.

Toby, nestled in Angel’s pocket, chuckled at Dangross’s appearance.

Dangross silently stayed quiet, but his fingers curled up, rubbing vigorously, trying to return to their original color.

Although Angel also found Dangross’s appearance quite funny, he remembered that the Elemental Sprite is akin to a child among humans, and considering the child’s self-esteem, he maintained his expression and didn’t ridicule Dangross.

Marching west along the snowy path, traveling under the stars and moon, Angel soon reached the chasm leading to the Barbarian Cave.

As they descended from the sky trench into the underground, the surrounding chill finally began to dissipate. Angel noticed that Dangross’s mood also shifted from being downcast to more lively, its eyes sneakily glancing around, filled with curiosity about the changing environment.

While descending, Angel started to talk to Dangross about the situation in the Barbarian Cave.

Hearing about the Underworld Kingdom and the Mirror World, Dangross’s spirits finally lifted. For this little elf, who had been confined to the Tidal World for years, everything outside was unfamiliar. The Black Demon Country and the Mirror Space, just listening to it had an adventurous feel.

After the explanation was more or less finished, seeing that Dangross was no longer gloomy, Angel asked, ”By the way, back when we were in the Mist Belt, you said you wanted to ask me a question after everything was over. What was it?”

Previously, when Angel first encountered Ferro in the Mist Belt, Ferro was in a stalemate with No. 03 and the mechanical head. Angel decided to use an Illusion Technique to disguise Dangross as ”Ferro,” allowing it to team up with Earl Mi to temporarily confuse No. 03 and give Ferro more fighting space.

Dangross agreed at the time but made one request to Angel, hoping that when the Mist Belt journey was concluded, Angel would answer one question for it.

Since Angel was previously occupied with studying the green pattern, he hadn’t had time to communicate with Dangross, so he took this opportunity to inquire about it.

Dangross hadn’t expected Angel to bring this up suddenly.

It seemed a bit caught off guard, falling into a daze.

Seeing that Dangross was silent for a long time, Angel asked in confusion, ”What, you haven’t thought of your question yet?”

After a brief silence, Dangross finally said, ”I’ve thought about it a long time ago.”

”So what is your question? If you want Toby’s signed photograph, I can teach Toby to write right now~” Angel said with a smile.

Toby, however, rolled its eyes, annoyed, within Angel’s pocket, then quickly perked up its ears, also curious about what Dangross would ask.

Dangross hesitated for a moment: ”Actually, I wanted to ask if you... you...”

Angel: ”What about me?”

Dangross: ”Will you take me...”

”Take you where? Go on?” Angel looked at Dangross strangely, wondering why it wouldn’t just ask a simple question.

”...Nothing.” Dangross’ eyes tilted slightly upward: ”I just wanted to ask, what is the Wilderness of Dreams?”

”Are you sure that’s what you want to ask?” Angel had a feeling that Dangross was hiding something.

Dangross nodded quickly: ”Of course, I heard Mr. Pat say before to let Lord Toby go play in the Wilderness of Dreams. But Lord Toby was obviously sleeping... I’ve always wanted to know what kind of place the Wilderness of Dreams is.”

Even Dangross believed what it said. However, although this question did puzzle it, whether it was its true inner question was another matter.

Angel gave Dangross a deep look but didn’t expose its deliberate cover-up tone, nodding: ”I can answer this question for you. However, a simple answer might be hard to explain, so after we return, I’ll personally take you on a walk around the Wilderness of Dreams.”

Dangross: ”Alright, it’s a deal!”

Angel nodded.

Dangross then bent down, exhaling a long sigh, its eyes filled with both luck and an inexplicable regret.

...

Through the mirror surface, returning to the Mirror World.

Beside him, Dangross looked around at the changing surroundings with surprise, chattering and asking Angel various questions. For a moment, it seemed to Angel like he was seeing himself when he first entered the Mirror World.

Familiar questions, familiar excitement, familiar feelings, everything was so familiar, except for the absence of Lady Mirror, who was made of white mist.

Lady Mirror was still asleep, and it was uncertain whether she could wake up before the Tea Party.

While introducing the Mirror World to Dangross, Angel flew towards the direction of the Eternal Tree.

Although Dangross had previously seen the Tree Spirit, it had no idea that its true body was so large, and the rich natural aura even surpassed most of Tidal World’s wood territories.

In Dangross’s view, the only one whose natural aura could compare to the Tree Spirit was perhaps Lady Nami Midori.

Amid Dangross’s amazement, Angel brought it to the Spirit Tree Hall.

The moment Angel entered the Mirror World, the Tree Spirit had sensed his aura, so by the time he arrived at the Spirit Tree Hall, the Tree Spirit was already waiting in the hall.

Since Angel still used his red-haired and golden-eyed appearance, the staff in the hall did not recognize him, but seeing Lord Tree Spirit personally greeting him, they curiously speculated about Angel’s identity.

Under the curious eyes of the hall staff, the Tree Spirit led Angel into the depths of the Eternal Tree.

This was a space much larger than the Spirit Tree Hall.

The life aura here was even more intense than the outside world.

So intense that the life aura had transformed into liquid, forming a pool of pure white, dimly glowing lake at the center of the space.

This lake was the Life Pool where Lianna had long wanted to hold a sub-venue for the Tea Party.

And at this moment, above the Life Pool, there were densely hanging cocoons woven from wooden vines.

At a glance, there were at least thirty or forty of them.

Through the gaps in the vines, faint human figures could be seen inside the cocoons.

And the people bound by these wooden vine cocoons were the targets of Angel’s visit this time—the patients afflicted by the frenzy induced by Meina Varro’s whispers!