When Angel entered the Wilderness of Dreams this time, it was on a whim, mainly to get a definite answer from Cicia. Now that the answer has been obtained, Angel did not choose to return to reality immediately.
He frowned slightly, and his index finger unconsciously tapped on the tabletop, as if pondering something.
After a while, Angel’s figure gradually turned transparent and disappeared. When he reappeared, he had already moved from Pat Manor to the distant New City.
More precisely, it was the Airborne Rose Garden on New City Sky Street.
Ironclad Granny was the same as before, sitting at a white lacquered carved flower table in the Rose Garden, admiring flowers, drinking tea, and watching the ever-changing New City.
However, unlike before, there was now a stooped and skinny figure sitting across from Ironclad Granny.
Angel didn’t rely on God’s View; just by glancing at the cane beside this stooped figure, he knew her identity.
——"Measuring the Starry Sky" Maya. Currently the only prophecy system Official Wizard in Barbarian Cave.
"Ironclad Granny, Maya Witch." Angel gently bowed to the two witches to show his courtesy.
Ironclad Granny tasted her tea and nodded lightly at Angel. Maya Witch, however, slowly stood up, leaning on the cane beside her, and looked at Angel: "Good day."
After speaking, Maya Witch looked back at Ironclad Granny: "Angel probably has something to discuss with you, so I’ll take my leave. Granny, you might consider what I said."
Ironclad Granny smiled and nodded: "I will consider it. Also, don’t stay cooped up on Starry Sky Island all the time; visit the Wilderness of Dreams more often, perhaps it will give you some inspiration."
Maya Witch was silent for a moment, then nodded: "I understand."
With that, Maya Witch leaned on her cane and passed by Angel, disappearing at the end of the Sky Street.
After Maya Witch left, Ironclad Granny indicated for Angel to sit down and talk.
Angel glanced back at the place where Maya Witch disappeared and softly said, "Maya Witch seems a bit troubled."
"Your perception is indeed keen." Even if complimenting, Ironclad Granny maintained an elegant demeanor.
As the Core Authority Manager of the Wilderness of Dreams, Angel’s initial body condition was similar to others, but his ethereal Hyper Perception was not weakened here in the slightest.
Previously, Maya Witch had given him the impression of being stooped and thin, yet spirited. But today, Maya Witch’s stoop seemed more like it was weighed down by heavy burdens. Just passing by her, Angel felt a suffocating oppression.
It was precisely because of this that Angel took the initiative to show concern for Maya Witch’s situation.
Ironclad Granny took a sip of tea and continued: "Since you have detected her trouble, what do you think her trouble might be?"
Angel: "Granny tossed this question to me, which suggests her trouble either involves me or is within my scope of knowledge... or it was hinted at in the previous conversation between Granny and Maya Witch."
"So what is your answer?"
Angel contemplated seriously for a moment before responding, "I haven’t had any interactions with Maya Witch recently, so her troubles shouldn’t be about me. But if they do relate to me, could Maya Witch’s trouble be... Dororo?"
Ironclad Granny was about to respond, but Angel continued:
"It might be related to Dororo, but I sense Maya Witch’s steps are too heavy, more likely burdened by her own concerns. Previously, Granny mentioned that Maya Witch should visit the Wilderness of Dreams more to find inspiration... Could it be that Maya Witch has reached a bottleneck and seeks a breakthrough?"
Ironclad Granny waited a few seconds, ensuring Angel had finished speaking before saying, "Your attention to detail is even keener than I imagined."
Beginning with praise naturally meant that Angel’s guess was quite accurate.
And indeed, that was the case.
"Maya Witch came to me with three matters, and you guessed correctly on one and a half of them."
"One... half?" Angel was taken aback for a moment. Does that mean something incomplete?
"You were right about Dororo. This student, who shone brilliantly on Stargazing Day, has been a source of worry for the Maya Witch. Although Dororo leads a disciplined life every day, the external pressure is all borne by the Maya Witch, which is why she came to me, the first thing she did was to pour out her grievances."
Angel knew that Dororo’s outstanding performance on Stargazing Day would definitely attract attention, but he didn’t expect that even with the Barbarian Cave supporting Maya Witch, she would still feel the pressure. This showed just how much of a stir Dororo had caused.
"As for the second thing, it’s indeed related to Maya Witch herself. She is indeed in urgent need to breakthrough, you are right about that, but it’s not because she’s reached a bottleneck period that she’s choosing to breakthrough."
Angel: "Not for the bottleneck period? Then why breakthrough?"
Ironclad Granny looked at Angel’s serious inquiry, feeling a mix of emotions. Perhaps, only someone like Angel would think of breaking through as soon as they hit a bottleneck... She could even guess Angel’s thoughts: If you’re at a bottleneck and don’t break through, are you just going to waste away?
Angel had his own path of cultivation, but his path was not one that others could refer to. Other people, or rather ninety-nine percent of wizards, do not immediately seek to break through when encountering a bottleneck. Instead, they let their roots settle, enrich the soil of knowledge, and only then choose the most suitable time to prepare for a breakthrough. Because rushing into a breakthrough often results in severe injury, with death being the more common outcome.
The process of settling one’s roots is calculated in years. Several decades is considered fast, and a hundred years is not unusual.
Only Angel breaks through whenever he faces a bottleneck, and for him, breaking through is a simple matter. Even if stuck at a bottleneck, it only lasts a few months, after which he will turn around and settle his roots.
This approach is completely different from everyone else.
And that’s why Angel would say something that outsiders would laugh at, but those who knew the inside story would merely sigh.
"Maya Witch has been in a bottleneck for hundreds of years, and after being guided by your mentor a few years ago, she recently felt the time was coming and is preparing to breakthrough. This is why she feels so anxious."
"So, I said you only got half right. She is indeed preparing to breakthrough, but not because of the bottleneck. For most wizards, a bottleneck is actually a good thing. It’s a reminder that your roots aren’t deep enough, and rushing the breakthrough would only lead to a tragic outcome."
Ironclad Granny gently pointed out the differences between Angel and others, and Angel, who was not stupid, immediately understood. At the same time, he secretly felt grateful. Luckily, it was Ironclad Granny who he was talking to, not an outsider. If it were someone else, they might have already punched him.
Angel didn’t dare to say more about this, quickly changing the topic: "What about the third thing?"
"You didn’t guess the third thing, so I won’t say it. However, the third thing is also troubling, and together with the first thing, they both affect Maya. This also makes her feel pressured about her breakthrough. It’s as if these two things are challenges that specifically appeared to test Maya’s breakthrough."
Angel showed a look of enlightenment. No wonder seeing Maya earlier, she seemed heavily pressured, even to the point of suffocation. It’s likely these troubles came at her all at once, making even Maya feel powerless.
"Did Granny suggest that the Maya Witch visit the Wilderness of Dreams more often because you think her breakthrough opportunity is there?"
Ironclad Granny shook her head: "Of course not."
After speaking, Ironclad Granny put down the teacup in her hand and gazed into the distance at the new city under construction.