The Sage Sovereign offered no explanations, and with the contract on the True Words Tome still flashing, they refrained from questioning now, choosing instead to suppress their inquiries for the moment.
However, the Wise Sovereign was initially prepared to continue the previous topic. Yet, just as he was about to speak, he hesitated for two seconds and then said, "Soon, you may have to face some tests..."
"Tests again?" Angel furrowed his brow, "Or is it another bonus condition?"
The Wise Sovereign shook his head, "No, this is something you will inevitably face in the relic land. She has already made her move."
Angel realized instantly and quickly asked, "She? Are you talking about the Mirror Demon God?"
This time, the Wise Sovereign still did not directly answer, "I’ll tell you later. Now is not the time."
This time, before Angel could speak, Dox voiced his thoughts first, "The Sovereign has already made it clear that she has taken action against us, yet is still unwilling to reveal her identity?"
The Wise Sovereign glanced at Dox and said lightly, "You cannot confront her directly unless you reach the relic land. The actions being taken now are just some of the means she has left outside, like that painting you saw before."
After a pause, the Wise Sovereign continued, "If she had acted directly, I could intercept her for you. However, the means she left outside, or should I say... her pawns, I cannot deal with them. You’ll have to handle it yourselves."
Dox retorted, "Why not? Could it be, it’s still because this is supposedly a test?"
The Wise Sovereign explained, "Test is just my way of putting it. You can regard it as an obstacle, hardship, or checkpoint. If you do not give up on going to the relic land, this is a process you must go through."
"As to why I cannot intervene... I have my reasons." With a meaningful look, the Wise Sovereign cast his gaze upon the group, "Moreover, once you are done, you can leave. I have to stay and continue confronting her. Unless you have a way to make her disappear."
"Make her disappear? Does the Wise Sovereign want us to kill her? Kill a Demon God?" Dox said in an exaggerated tone, "How could that be possible? Do you think we’re still in the era of ten thousand years ago? In today’s Southern Domain, no one can kill a Demon God."
As Dox said this, he didn’t notice the subtle expression momentarily on Angel’s face...
The Wise Sovereign responded, "Whether she is a Demon God, you should have already guessed, no need to test me. Just because she is called a Demon God, does it truly make her one?"
"And, I never said anything about having you kill her. You can’t kill her." The Wise Sovereign added, "Moreover, I do not wish for her death."
The Sovereign’s words only deepened the group’s confusion.
His statements were filled with contradictions, seeming to be opposed to "her," yet not wishing for her death. But implied that they should make her "disappear."
What position is the Wise Sovereign truly taking, and what does he intend to do?
Dox directly asked the question troubling his mind. The Wise Sovereign’s answer remained cryptic: "Everyone left here has their obsessions, and so does she."
The Wise Sovereign did not hide speaking of obsessions; he and she both have them. However, he didn’t say what her obsession was. Judging from his contradictory attitude, their obsessions should be different.
Cicia had mentioned before, the Wise Sovereign’s obsession was to witness the revival of Naraku City with his own eyes.
This is also the thought of most slumbering ones still left in the underground aqueduct.
If "her" obsession differs from the Wise Sovereign’s, not aiming for Naraku City’s revival, then what could it be?
As the group pondered, the Wise Sovereign spoke again, "Once the contract is signed, when you come to my dwelling, I’ll tell you everything you wish to know."
"However, before that, you probably need to first face the test she has set for you."
At this, the Wise Sovereign looked at the Black Earl and... Vay, "Speaking of which, one thing I’m almost certain about now is that your Noah Clan seems to have completely forgotten about the relic land."
The Black Earl remained silent.
The Wise Sovereign was right. He indeed knew nothing about the situation of the relic land. This time, they came here solely because the Death Sense inspired him.
However, that said, previously, the Wise Sovereign couldn’t be certain because Noah’s descendants indeed came to the underground aqueduct with the relic land as their target.
But now, why was he certain?
Was the answer because of... "her"?
The Wise Sovereign continued, "Previously, I would have been very concerned about how you got here and why you know about the relic land. But now, those things no longer matter. Because, whether intentionally or inadvertently, your identity as Noah’s descendants has been exposed to her, and since you’re not planning to retreat, you have only one path left, to face her head-on."
Black Earl: "Face her head-on, and then what?"
The Wise Sovereign smirked, "That’s your Noah Clan’s secret, how would I know?"
The Black Earl didn’t quite believe the Wise Sovereign’s ignorance, because the Wise Sovereign had previously mentioned, "Make her disappear?"
The Wise Sovereign: "No need to test me, I truly don’t know. That kid Augustine was very secretive, leaving not a word to outsiders other than you Noah descendants."
The Wise Sovereign still claimed ignorance, but the Black Earl remained skeptical.
According to the Black Earl’s conjecture, perhaps the Wise Sovereign initially knew nothing about the relic land, but over the years, have no other Noah descendants ever approached him?
Even if the Wise Sovereign knew nothing before, after ten thousand years, could he not have any speculation?
And most importantly, he had just avoided the question of "making her disappear."
Could that be the key?
While the Black Earl was still speculating, the Wise Sovereign turned to Angel: "Continue discussing the contract matter, or do you also have questions?"
The Wise Sovereign seemed indifferent to the intentions of Noah’s descendants. But he was genuinely curious about Angel’s purpose. Was he truly here just to document?
Thus, the Wise Sovereign was quite eager to hear Angel’s questions.
As anticipated, Angel asked, but his questions were unrelated to the relic land.
"What exactly is the test?"
The Wise Sovereign: "That depends on what pawns she can activate."
After pondering, Angel asked directly: "Do her pawns include those strange little holes in the outer passages?"
Hearing Angel’s question, the Wise Sovereign was momentarily stunned before he chuckled:
"Earlier, the little one said it had detected your presence. I didn’t expect you to care about it as well?"