Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2645: Chapter 2646: The Sage Is Not Foolish

”Does the Holy Light Vine Staff of Lord Red Sword have any special meaning?” As Dox walked away, Kaier immediately asked Vay with curiosity.

Vay hesitated for a moment: ”There is indeed a story behind it, but from my position, it’s not my place to tell. Why don’t you ask Dox directly later?”

Kaier quickly waved his hand: ”No need, no need, I was just casually asking... really just casually asking! I absolutely, absolutely didn’t mean to dig into Lord Red Sword’s gossip.”

Vay: ”...” You’ve already revealed your intention, hey!

At this moment, Angel, who had just finished setting up the last corner of the barrier, stood up, dusted off his hands, and casually said: ”The Holy Light Vine Staff is a good choice in the middle and early stages for apprentices. It contains a fixed energy structure that corrects Healing Technique and Guiding Technique. Even if your skills in Healing Technique and Guiding Technique aren’t that great, you can still perform them smoothly with the staff, without any backlash.”

”If you’re already good at these two tricks, the Holy Light Vine Staff can greatly amplify their effects. It’s very useful in dangerous situations or when in pain, a healing-type alchemy staff.”

Healing Technique is a level 1 trick, and Guiding Technique is a level 2 trick. Despite Healing Technique’s lower level, it requires a comprehensive understanding of the human body structure, involving a broader and more extensive field of knowledge, which generally takes apprentices a long time to learn.

Spending time learning Healing Technique can also delay one’s own cultivation, so in a way, Healing Technique is similar to Shapeshifting Technique. Neither is of a high level, but because of various reasons, it’s something desirable, yet unattainable.

However, due to the high learning requirements of Healing Technique, staffs like the Holy Light Vine Staff, which can correct its structure, were created.

Of course, this might also be a work of compassion by the ’Holy Light Walker’ Gandolf after seeing the current state of apprentices.

”The effect of the Holy Light Vine Staff is indeed very useful for apprentices... But how come I feel that this staff doesn’t quite match Lord Red Sword’s character?” Kaier wondered.

Angel’s intention in explaining the function of the Holy Light Vine Staff was actually similar to what Kaier said. However, it’s not that the staff doesn’t match Dox’s character, but that the staff was of no use to Dox at all.

Why are Bloodline Wizards considered the strongest at the same level? It’s not just because of their high explosive combat ability and terrifying mobility, but also because of their strong recovery ability after activating their bloodline.

It can be said that after activating their bloodline, Bloodline Wizards, even as apprentices, have a recovery ability far surpassing the insignificant Healing Technique.

After all, despite the learning difficulty of Healing Technique, it’s still just a level 1 trick.

Angel: ”Maybe that Holy Light Vine Staff wasn’t even Dox’s in the first place.”

Kaier: ”Huh?”

Angel: ”What’s surprising about that? Your piece of parchment wasn’t originally yours either.”

Kaier scratched his head, seeming to agree.

After a moment of silence, Vay spoke again: ”The master is right, that vine staff indeed isn’t Dox’s. It belongs to a good old friend of ours and is kept with Dox. The staff holds great significance to our old friend.”

Kaier: ”So, the vine staff doesn’t hold much significance for Lord Red Sword?”

Vay: ”You can’t say it like that. It’s just that it holds more significance for our old friend.”

Upon hearing this, Angel roughly understood the situation with Dox. It was, in a sense, a gift borrowed from someone else.

Not willing to part with his own items, Dox simply resorted to using someone else’s. And judging from Vay’s tone, it’s a vine staff kept by Dox for a friend they had a good relationship with.

Tsk, tsk.

Angel couldn’t help but shake his head privately. Although Dox often takes unorthodox paths and has a very peculiar train of thought, this move was rather... ungentlemanly.

Giving away something entrusted by a friend for safekeeping is something Angel would never do.

After hearing Vay’s explanation, Kaier exhibited shock, astonishment, and disbelief.

Vay hesitated for a bit: ”There’s actually more to this story, but it’s not really my place to say because...”

Vay stopped mid-sentence, his gaze suddenly focusing as if he’d seen something, quickly closing his mouth and pretending nothing had happened.

Kaier turned to look back and saw that Dox had already returned from the vicinity of the Alchemy Golem.

Dox hummed a tune as he walked over leisurely, looking entirely at ease. By now, the Holy Light Vine Staff was no longer in his hand, and instead, the red light symbol representing the ”ticket” was being juggled up and down by Dox with energy tendrils.

When Dox walked over, Vay asked: ”Succeeded?”

Dox rolled his eyes: ”If your eyes aren’t blind, you wouldn’t ask such a stupid question.”

Vay was momentarily silenced: ”I mean, did you really hand over her vine staff?”

Dox nodded: ”Of course, it was of no use to me and was just taking up storage space.”

Though Dox spoke nonchalantly, Vay’s gaze was complex, sighing deeply without saying more.

Dox also didn’t want to dwell on the topic of the Holy Light Vine Staff any longer, as it involved a past he preferred not to recall. He looked around: ”Hey, where’s Angel?”

Kaier instinctively turned to point to where Angel had been, but upon looking back, found Angel had disappeared, leaving only a shadowy dome in place.

Others also noticed the dome composed of shadows.

As everyone’s gaze fixed on the dome, the shadows suddenly shifted, revealing a pair of cold eyes within, responding to all gazes with indifference.

Under that cold gaze, Kaier and Vay felt a chill down their spines, quickly turning away and not daring to look back. Even Dox sensed a hint of threat.

The shadow was none other than the Demon from the Panic Realm, Earl Mi.

Undoubtedly, Angel had already entered the protection barrier of Earl Mi.

”Master Chaowei must be conducting alchemy inside, right?” Vay speculated, knowing of the deal between Cicia and Angel, and with Angel being able to prepare on-site, alchemy seemed the only explanation.

However, while everyone speculated that Angel was conducting alchemy under Earl Mi’s protection, Angel was actually just yawning and entering a state of rest...

...

Angel’s rest wasn’t truly sleep, but rather a step through the door bridge, pushing open the Gate of Dreams, arriving at the Wilderness of Dreams.

What he meant by ”preparing in advance” as he told Cicia was to inform Popota about Cicia’s situation and discuss response strategies.

Yes, for this long-awaited Baiyuanian ”meeting” over millennia, Angel intended for Popota to represent them and meet with Cicia.

Because of Dororo’s unique situation, even though he’s the only known living Baiyuanian, Dororo himself doesn’t have a strong sense of clan identity.

In fact, compared to his Baiyuanian tribal identity, Dororo probably cares more about being known as ”Angel’s follower.”

But Popota was different. He earnestly and fervently yearned for the revival of the Baiyuan Clan. From this perspective, he was actually in tune with Cicia.

But being too passionate and in tune wasn’t necessarily good, as it could lead to being influenced by Cicia’s words and end up supporting him.

Therefore, Angel planned to meet with Popota beforehand to clarify the stakes and avoid getting fooled.

Actually, Popota wasn’t the best choice; the best choice would have been Hua Que.

Although Hua Que is Popota’s sister, she lacks any of Popota’s impulsiveness. She’s more composed, rational, and calm, and with her cute childlike appearance, winning Cicia’s favor shouldn’t be a problem.

Unfortunately, Hua Que wasn’t yet in the Wilderness of Dreams, so Popota had to take on the role.

...

Angel is currently outside the Marine Theater in Originheart City. According to the location, Popota is inside the Marine Theater.

This is also where Popota spends most of his time.

Since becoming Jon’s assistant, Popota joined the Tree Group Research and Development Team, tackling various technical challenges related to the tree community. Popota has quite a talent in this area; often, Jon would propose a concept, and Popota could rally the team and turn the idea into reality.

Now, the forums, graphic and text sections, and chat group functionalities within the tree community were all developed by Popota along with Kudodo and several other youths.

At present, the workspace for the Tree Group Research and Development Team is the backstage on the second floor of the Marine Theater.

Upon entering the Marine Theater, the first thing Angel saw was Flafiel on stage, diligently practicing her voice, even though there was no audience. Judging from her level of seriousness and frequent practice of lifting her skirt and bowing, Angel estimated that Flafiel might perform at the Marine Theater soon, secretly rehearsing now.

Not interrupting Flafiel’s solitary performance, Angel, under the cover of Ghostly Shadows, made his way to the second-floor backstage.

Walking through the corridor, Angel found Jon’s office.

Jon wasn’t in his office at the moment; he was still at the library doing his usual book sorting.

Previously, Jon’s office was the main base of the Tree Group Research and Development Team, but as the team grew in number, even the Tree Spirit occasionally joined in the fun, prompting them to relocate to a spacious and bright room next to Jon’s office.

Originally a dance rehearsal room for dancers, it was currently unused since there were not many dancers at the Marine Theater and thus became the primary base for the research team.

The effect displayed by the tree community was quite impressive. Once the Wilderness of Dreams is open in limited capacity, given the development potential of the tree community, they’ll likely need a dedicated base in the New City. But that’s for the future; for now, it’s better to stay in Originheart City, as the sole desire of the research team regarding their base is proximity to Jon.

After all, all current ideas essentially stem from Jon’s creative and whimsical thoughts.

Opening the exquisite double doors, Angel walked into the dance rehearsal room where the Tree Group Research and Development Team was located.

Originally, Angel thought he would witness a busy scene, but he didn’t.

It was rather quiet here.

Only two people were present.

One was Popota, and the other was... Dororo.

...

About ten minutes later, Angel opened his eyes and returned to reality from the Wilderness of Dreams.

He didn’t immediately take down Earl Mi’s shield but instead sat cross-legged, contemplating for a while.

Angel knew how powerful Dororo’s prophecies were, but seeing it again today, he was still amazed, almost beyond imagination.

According to Dororo, the reason he appeared was: ”I was originally in seclusion today, but during my routine prophecy, I saw a scene of you talking with Popota, and Popota looked somewhat unusual in the picture. After deliberating a bit, I decided to come...”

The content of this statement alone was already astonishing; Dororo perfectly calculated the time Angel was going to find Popota.

And the answer Dororo came up with through his so-called ”deliberation” was even more astonishing.

At that moment, Angel asked Dororo, ”What did you deliberate?”

Dororo candidly replied, ”You met a Baiyuanian who should have died long ago but continues to exist in an unusual way.”

When Dororo said this, Angel almost couldn’t maintain his composed demeanor, feeling a storm rising in his heart.

It must be noted that Angel and Cicia’s meeting place was inside Cicia’s Box.

The Box of Cicia was strong enough to cut off the Mind Ribbon of the Black Earl, and although the Black Earl was merely a nose avatar, the strength of his Mind Ribbon far exceeded that of ordinary wizard level. Yet, the image Dororo saw pierced through the box and sensed across unknown thousands of miles.

From this, it’s clear that Dororo’s prophetic ability has at least reached the wizard level.

This also indicates that Dororo’s own strength level is not far from becoming an Official Wizard.

Many outsiders commonly call Angel a genius, but in Angel’s mind, Dororo might be the real genius. He has spent less time cultivating than Angel... although Dororo might be much older than Angel.

Because of Dororo’s prophecy and his early arrival, many things became simpler.

Dororo came here not to warn Angel, but specifically to caution Popota: speak less, wait longer.

This essentially resonated with what Angel wanted to communicate to Popota. Popota was quite enthusiastic about rebuilding the Baiyuan Clan and surely clicked well with Cicia. Therefore, when Popota and Cicia communicate, they need to be cautious and avoid saying anything unnecessary.

Originally, Angel needed to spend effort to explain to Popota and clarify the stakes. But because of Dororo’s advance notice, Angel’s job was much easier.

He simply laid out some details to Popota, spending only two to three minutes to complete the ”preparation.”

Popota wasn’t foolish; though Cicia might be an ancestor, they aren’t truly alive. The ones capable of saving the Baiyuan Clan were Dororo and Angel.

Therefore, cooperating with Angel and Dororo is evidently much more reliable than with Cicia.

Afterward, Angel engaged in conversation with Dororo.

They discussed topics about cultivation and the situation of this relic.

Angel discovered that although Dororo saw Cicia, he wasn’t very clear about the entire underground aqueduct’s relic and wasn’t fully aware of the relationship between Baiyuanians and Naraku City.

Dororo’s prophecies seemed to radiate outward from Angel as the center rather than overseeing the entire chess game from a higher perspective.

So, Dororo didn’t know much about Naraku City, but he did have some foresight regarding Angel’s experiences.

— ”The Sage is not foolish.”

Angel silently muttered this phrase in his heart.

This was the only advice Dororo gave Angel for this journey. Upon further inquiry, even Dororo couldn’t fully explain the true meaning of the phrase, frankly stating it was a kind of psychic resonance. Angel didn’t press for more; Dororo’s appearance had already helped him greatly.

Moreover, their destination on this journey might very likely be related to the ancestor of the Noah Clan. The ancestor’s level was at least Legendary, so it’s normal that Dororo couldn’t foresee it.

As for interpreting the phrase, Angel, situated within the relic, would probably find it easier to deduce.

The Sage is not foolish... The Sage is not foolish...

Could the ”Sage” here refer to that Triclops Blue Demon?

To be dubbed the Sage in the underground aqueduct and be mentioned repeatedly, it must be that Triclops Blue Demon. But ”The Sage is not foolish”... it somewhat resembles an unnecessary tautology.

Or could it be that the Triclops Blue Demon knows something but feigns ignorance, hence ”appears foolish but is not”?

Angel shook his head, temporarily setting this speculation aside, and instead called upon Earl Mi to withdraw the external barrier.

”Preparation” time was nearly over, and now it was time to meet Cicia.