He could sense that Cicia had not logged off from the beginning to the end and was still in the Wilderness of Dreams. In other words, she was still asleep in the real world.
However, the people from the Merchant Organization had clearly entered the space where Cicia was located.
Without Cicia’s permission, they actually managed to break through?
The Wise Sovereign might have seen Angel’s confusion and explained: "Don’t you all think the Hanging Jail Stairway is very similar to the other-dimensional space where Cicia resides?"
The Wise Sovereign asked and answered himself: "Because they are essentially in a primary and subsidiary relationship, connected by a secret passage in the void. You can think of these two spaces as... a double gourd shell."
A so-called double gourd shell is a shell of a magical vine fruit that resembles a gourd, used as a material in alchemy, with extremely high hardness. It can also be directly cut in half and used as a heart protector.
When the Wise Sovereign compared the two spaces to a double gourd shell, he was actually highlighting their similar shape implications.
"Since they are primary and subsidiary spaces, as long as you avoid danger, you can transport through the secret passage to the Hanging Jail Stairway," remarked the Wise Sovereign. "Her talent in the magical energy array is incomparable. Moreover, I once opened the magical energy array of the Hanging Jail Stairway for her restoration, and she left many safeguards inside, including that secret passage."
"Since she has already contacted the Gray Merchant to deal with you, she will certainly find a way to get them here as quickly as possible. That passage is the shortcut."
After speaking, the Wise Sovereign’s gaze accurately penetrated through the Luxury Nightmare Realm, looking towards the direction of the Hanging Jail Stairway.
"They are now inside the Hanging Jail Stairway. However, they are still on the third layer, so you have ample time to understand the trial rules she has set."
At the long table, everyone remained silent, all looking at the Wise Sovereign, awaiting his explanation.
The Wise Sovereign said, "The Gray Merchant’s group consists of twelve people, but half of them, including an Official Wizard, are held back in the Ghosteye Witch’s area. Therefore, in total, you will face six people this time, including two Official Wizards, among whom the Gray Merchant is also included."
"She has established three rules, and the first two are not necessarily bad for you."
"The first rule is one-on-one combat. As long as you don’t die or lose, you can keep fighting. You can even take a break and have someone else fight during that time, and then come back once rested enough."
In other words, this is the cheat version of a wheel battle. No one has any objections to this, as both sides can cheat; it depends on which side has stronger experts.
No one resisted the first rule, but as the second rule began, everyone’s brows furrowed.
"The second rule: Official Wizards can only fight Official Wizards, and apprentices can only fight apprentices. Whichever side wins on the two stages gets to proceed. The loser loses the qualification to advance."
That is to say, if Angel’s side wins the Official Wizards’ match, their Official Wizard can continue. Meanwhile, if the Gray Merchant’s group wins the apprentices’ match, their apprentices can also advance.
The losers can no longer progress.
"Did I hear the Wise Sovereign say earlier that the first two were not bad for us? But we only have two apprentices while they have four? This is clearly disadvantageous to us. How is this not bad?" Dox protested.
The Wise Sovereign: "I only said it’s not necessarily bad, but I didn’t say it’s definitely good... Besides, these are the rules set after negotiations with her. Or, do you prefer to follow the original rules she set?"
Angel: "What were the original rules she set?"
"Still one-on-one combat, but without distinguishing between apprentices and wizards. Moreover, in each duel, it would be the Gray Merchant who decides who fights whom."
Upon hearing these original rules, Dox fell silent.
The original rules were no rules—they were meant to massacre.
If the Gray Merchant gets to decide who fights, he could have their wizards eliminate all of their apprentices first.
Even if they win the Official Wizards’ duel, Vay and Kaier would be sacrificed in vain.
"It seems you don’t want to follow the original rules either, right? The new rules separate the fights, and either side can leave if they surrender," the Wise Sovereign continued, "This might not be good, but it’s not bad either. At least you have three Official Wizard level fighters, while they only have two."
After a moment of silence, the Black Earl spoke up, "We accept the first two rules, but what is the third rule?"
"The third rule is her designated match," the Wise Sovereign said, with a subtle expression and a peculiar tone, "She requires that one of you must participate."
Must participate?
Given the previous details, they already knew that ’she’ hiding in the mirror was wary and resistant to Noah’s descendants, so they could roughly guess who must participate this time.
It’s either Vay or the Black Earl.
At this moment, Vay had already started to get nervous, not daring to breathe heavily. The Black Earl, however, seemed unconcerned.
But when everyone’s gaze turned to Vay and the Black Earl, the Wise Sovereign shifted his gaze to Angel: "Angel, you must participate."
Everyone: "???"
While Vay let out a sigh of relief, upon hearing that Angel must participate, his brows furrowed again: "Why? Why him?"
This question wasn’t just Vay’s; it was a doubt in everyone’s mind, including Angel’s.
The Wise Sovereign said, "I don’t know. However, since this is her arrangement, she must have her reasons. You’ll see from the attitude of Angel’s opponent later."
If the wizard fighting Angel appears resolute and desperate, it means she simply wants Angel dead and doesn’t want him to reach the legacy site.
If they’re not fighting to the death, it might be her setup.
"Alright, those are the rules," the Wise Sovereign paused, "They are now on the second layer of the Hanging Jail Stairway. You still have some time to deeply ’analyze’ these three rules."
The Wise Sovereign emphasized the word "analyze," undoubtedly reminding them: Rules are unavoidable, but if contracts can have loopholes, can’t rules have loopholes too?
Of course they can, all three rules have loopholes.
It’s precisely because there are loopholes that the Wise Sovereign revealed them early, allowing them time to prepare.