Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2799: Chapter 2800: Facing the Goddess Directly

”Unique illusion technique? It must be more than that; being able to intervene in the mirror space is not something an illusion can achieve.”

Adanis would not forget the time Angel disrupted her painting.

The Wise Sovereign spread his hands: ”Regarding his abilities, all I can do is observe and have no reason to ask.”

Adanis: ”So, it seems you’re quite friendly with them? What if they were enemies?”

Wise Sovereign: ”There’s no ’what if’; in my view, doubts are presumed innocent.”

”Presumed innocent?” Adanis squinted her eyes: ”That’s not the ’Wise Sovereign’ I’m familiar with.”

The Wise Sovereign didn’t argue but followed her words: ”Though doubts are presumed innocent, cautious observation is still necessary. That’s my stance; I won’t use forced methods unless they make a mistake.”

Moreover, coercive means must be appropriate. Knowing Angel’s identity and Black Earl’s status, the Wise Sovereign had no intention of forcing them. The Noah Clan today, unlike the Wizard Family sheltered by Naraku City ten thousand years ago, has reached the pinnacle of the Southern Domain.

And Black Earl, as the Noah Clan’s leader, has indisputable power. With Black Earl in this group, even as an avatar, the Wise Sovereign wouldn’t act rashly. He doesn’t want millennia of watchfulness to be destroyed by today’s new generation’s strongmen.

Adanis: ”So, you constantly undermining the obstruction task I gave you?”

Wise Sovereign: ”Since I don’t use coercive methods, the obstruction task follows the tests required when previous Noah descendants came. They passed the tests with their abilities, so it’s not really undermining.”

”Moreover, didn’t Her Goddess personally act?” The Wise Sovereign pointed at You Nu hidden in shadow on the transparent screen.

Adanis: ”There’s internal dissent; I can only let You Nu act for me.”

The Wise Sovereign chuckled at ”dissent,” didn’t respond, and didn’t intend to argue.

The disagreement between him and Adanis was known, relying on agreements for peace. For them, the other was always oppositional.

However, as long as they’re not against the Underground Aqueduct or Naraku, peaceful dialogue is possible as now; disputes continue verbally, but neither acts.

”It’s fine if you don’t ask, but when observing his abilities, didn’t you have any thoughts?” Adanis asked.

Wise Sovereign: ”Thoughts? Has Her Goddess heard of Mirror Lady?”

Upon hearing Mirror Lady’s name, Adanis’s pupils slightly contracted, her mind stirred, but she maintained composure: ”Mirror Lady, I’ve heard of her, but what’s his relation to her?”

Wise Sovereign: ”I don’t know; it’s just a conjecture. In the Southern Domain, few Wizards study Mirror Domain, and those who freely enter and exit it are rare. Among the notable ones, I thought of her.”

Adanis: ”Mirror Lady is not a Wizard.”

Wise Sovereign: ”But she’s inseparable from Wizards, isn’t she?”

Adanis frowned, falling into contemplation.

Wise Sovereign: ”Does Her Goddess have any thoughts about Mirror Lady?”

Adanis frowned: ”No particular thoughts.”

Wise Sovereign smiled: ”Her Goddess asked me many questions, and I answered openly. Yet when I asked a minor question, Her Goddess grew impatient?”

Though speaking with a smile, Adanis sensed Wise Sovereign’s displeasure at her continuous questioning—or interrogation.

After a moment of silence, Adanis replied: ”For mirror creatures, Mirror Lady is indistinguishable from a Mirror Domain.”

Wise Sovereign: ”Her Goddess thinks so?”

Adanis: ”Not entirely, but if that woman—I mean Laplace—grows, she might reach Mirror Lady’s level.”

Mirror Lady’s strength in the Material Realm aside, she’s revered in the Mirror Domain. Her fame comes from creating a stable space in the Mirror Domain untouched for thousands of years, sheltering mirror creatures.

Such stable spaces are rare in the Mirror Domain; creating one shows Mirror Lady’s worthiness of respect. There’s also fear because creatures within the space admire her so much they consider themselves her subordinates. Over thousands of years, these creatures have grown strong, able to dominate parts of the Mirror Domain.

Though Mirror Lady unknowingly receives this admiration, as she rarely visits, the Mirror Domain isn’t ”home” to her; the Material Realm is.

Despite this, her fame in the Mirror Domain is notable, even Adanis has heard of her.

”I didn’t expect Laplace to have such potential,” the Wise Sovereign chuckled softly.

”... Do you truly think he relates to Mirror Lady?” Adanis asked after a moment of hesitation.

Wise Sovereign: ”I’ve never met Mirror Lady; how could I be sure?”

He paused, looking at Adanis: ”His goal is the inheritance site anyway; why not ask him directly then?”

Adanis paused, scoffing: ”He won’t reach the site; even if he connects to Mirror Lady, ultimately... he’ll perish here.”

The Wise Sovereign said nothing, raising his head to the transparent screen on the wall: ”Then let’s observe their abilities.”

Adanis fell silent, focusing on Angel’s group, doubting Angel’s ability to overcome You Nu’s test.

The screen’s perspective shifted constantly.

Having encountered Angel’s virtual livestream in the Hanging Jail Stairway, Wise Sovereign found it deceptively simple but challenging in execution. Thus, he chose a ”flat” livestream modified through the Magical Energy Array for the current task.

Initially, it seemed simple, but soon problems emerged.

This flat rendering differs completely from the immersive perception when spiritual power enters the Magical Energy Array. Numerous issues need addressing, like how to present the perspective for viewer clarity and comfort.

This issue delves into visual aesthetics, continuity geometry, and montages; expertise Angel undoubtedly possesses. For the Wise Sovereign, it’s unfamiliar territory, though Alchemy requires engaging with aesthetics, differences exist between them. Immediate proficiency isn’t easy.

Also, correctly switching scenes is crucial in flat live streaming.

Currently lacking ”lens language,” Wise Sovereign constantly adjusts angles, searching for a single best viewpoint.

The final screen presents a top-down perspective.

Thus, the corridors remain corridors, paths remain paths, viewed from above like a miniature maze.

Angel’s group is mostly head and partial body shown.

In the shadowy center is You Nu’s presence; Angel’s team gradually steps into this area.

”... You might as well return to showing their faces as before.”

Predicting the Wise Sovereign’s actions from his shifting views, Adanis spoke.

Wise Sovereign resisted yielding control to her, so he put on this absurd display, leaving Adanis speechless, but helpless.

The control over the Magical Energy Array is held by the Wise Sovereign. Whether or not to transfer the rights is up to the Wise Sovereign; she can’t forcibly demand it.

The Wise Sovereign went to such lengths, even risking some embarrassment, yet still refused to transfer the rights, showing his stance.

”But from this perspective, you can see the environment and everyone, including You Nu.” The Wise Sovereign’s idea was that although the view now looked somewhat uncomfortable, it was clearer and more direct.

However, Adanis disagreed; she only wanted to see Angel and the others engulfed, preferably with a clear view of their grim expressions as they were swallowed. That would be perfect.

When overlooking, expressions certainly can’t be seen; one can only see different hairstyles and hair colors.

”Then I’ll use him as the main viewpoint.” The Wise Sovereign pointed to Angel in the frame.

Initially, they were using Angel as the ”main character” of the frame, but when Angel was the main character, You Nu’s situation and the surrounding environment could not be seen clearly, prompting the Wise Sovereign to change the perspective.

Adanis nodded; her primary focus had always been Angel.

The Wise Sovereign did not hesitate and immediately began to switch the perspective again through the Magical Energy Array.

The image became briefly blurry, approximately two seconds passed before the image reappeared, now switched to Angel as the main character.

However, the Wise Sovereign’s adjustment was too close... the moment the image appeared, it was directly confronting his face.

The Wise Sovereign started to fine-tune, pulling the ”lens” back, but as he adjusted, he increasingly felt something was off.

How could it be that Angel and the others seemed not to be in the corridor?

The Wise Sovereign froze for a moment as if realizing something, then quickly turned to look at the entrance of the hall.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew into the hall, bringing along several figures. Leading them was a red-haired... Dox.

Dox was the first to appear, followed by others one by one, with Angel being the last to walk into the hall from around the corner.

As they came in, they immediately locked eyes with the Wise Sovereign.

Feeling uncomfortable, the Wise Sovereign turned back to the wall screen; the large screen still showed a close-up of Angel’s face, though Angel’s expression was somewhat subtle at this point.

Helpless, speechless, with a hint of disdain.

While interpreting Angel’s expression, the Wise Sovereign saw Angel’s mouth slightly open in the image, silently mouthing the words: What are you doing?

At the same time, the Wise Sovereign also heard footsteps behind him.

With a sigh in his heart, the Wise Sovereign raised his head to observe Adanis’s expression.

He saw Adanis staring intently at Angel and the others, muttering under her breath... ”Impossible.”

Suddenly, Adanis turned her gaze to the Wise Sovereign: ”Did you help them?”

The Wise Sovereign felt somewhat wronged, but he understood why Adanis would think this way. A moment ago, while overlooking, Angel and the others were still at the edge of the junction; the next moment, after switching the image, they were in the hall. What happened during the couple of seconds the image blurred? Was it intentionally blurred?

If the Wise Sovereign were in Adanis’s position, he might have been suspicious too.

The Wise Sovereign had to explain: ”If I had truly helped them, You Nu wouldn’t be obediently staying outside; it would have come to you long ago.”

”Then explain how they got in?”

The Wise Sovereign guessed how Angel and the others entered, but he couldn’t reveal it directly: ”I was adjusting the image just now and completely didn’t notice their whereabouts. This, you should have seen. As for how they passed the test, shouldn’t You Nu know better than me?”

Adanis knew that at least right now, the Wise Sovereign wouldn’t lie to her.

Moreover, You Nu had indeed sent her a signal through the light and shadow in the mirror.

Adanis wanted the truth; she could just summon You Nu for questioning. Yet, she didn’t do so immediately, because interrogating You Nu here would only be disgraceful for her.

She took a deep breath and shifted her gaze away from the Wise Sovereign... finally settling on Angel.

Everyone remained silent, merely watching the unfolding scene quietly.

Angel also quietly observed Adanis; previously, whenever he saw Adanis, it was typically in a side-view form, either through the Demon God’s emblem or a pre-painted oil portrait, or only her voice. This was his first proper meeting with Adanis.

Up to now, Angel still didn’t know why Adanis showed such ”favor” towards him.

Angel initially thought it was dissatisfaction due to him destroying the Hanging Jail Stairway’s oil painting, but later reconsidered, thinking it might not be the case. Now, it seems his guess was right.

When viewing others, Adanis’s eyes showed little emotion or hatred — cold and ruthless.

But in looking at Angel, her gaze was rather complex.

This complexity contained hatred, but that was not primary; more prominent were surprise, confusion, and... investigation.

Clearly, Adanis’s focus was on Angel as a person, not on any particular event.

”Tell me your purpose in coming to the remnants.”

Adanis’s voice echoed from the ancient bronze mirror above the fireplace.

Angel chuckled: ”It’s a long story. Actually, I have many questions that need answers, how about...”

Before Angel finished speaking, Adanis interrupted: ”You have no qualification to discuss anything with me, nor to set foot in the remnants.”

Angel’s polite and gentle expression gradually faded, his lips curls into a mocking smile: ”So, as noble as you are, do you plan to leave the Mirror Domain, come to the Material Realm, and hunt me down personally?”

”I kind of look forward to that.”

”Do you think I dare not?” Adanis squinted.

Angel: ”Yes, why not give it a try?”

Angel’s words made Dox and the two apprentices’ hearts pound with fear, but the Black Earl remained indifferent. If it were him, he wouldn’t even bother with formalities, having been on constant defense and interception; he would likely take action and smash that bronze mirror into pieces.

Someone hiding in the mirror, afraid to show themselves, still having the nerve to talk about superiority and qualifications?

However, the Black Earl had such confidence because his true body could descend at any moment.

And Angel’s audacity to refute Adanis like this confirmed to the Black Earl once again that Angel undoubtedly had some contingency plan.

To be this fearless, not having contingencies would be peculiar.