With Dox’s ability, he could break this silencing seal, but ultimately he didn’t do so. He just slightly protested with his eyes before backing up to Vay’s side.
A few seconds later, Angel finally pieced together the mask left by the Rabbit Girl.
When the three fragments of the mask were assembled, they seemed to have a magical property, blending with each other. In an instant, the cracks disappeared, revealing a complete mask to everyone.
The mask appeared quite ordinary, at least, aesthetically it fell far short compared to the mask of the Gray Merchant and his underlings.
Indeed, calling it a human face mold would not be inappropriate.
Its overall color was greyish-white, sized according to normal specifications, with three-dimensional features but lacking distinct traits. The eyes, mouth, and nose had no openings. —— This is a trait often seen in the Wizards’ Realm, not needing to breathe through the nose, not eating, not needing eyes to see, it’s basically standard for a mature transcendent being, so the mask is straightforwardly made without such features. Unlike Angel’s right-eye-derived mask, which is quite unusual.
"Sir, does this mask have any special effects?" Vay asked curiously.
Previously, in the eyes of everyone, this mask was just an ordinary item except for its somewhat baffling material. But the scene where the mask fused itself just occurred right before their eyes, proving it was no ordinary item.
Angel shrugged nonchalantly: "I don’t know, you have to wear it to find out."
Having said that, Angel looked at Dox: "Do you want to try it on?"
Dox’s eyes suddenly lit up, but quickly showed signs of wariness. There were obviously many people present, and Angel himself could try it on, yet he chose to focus on him... There must be a trick! Definitely a trick!
Based on Dox’s understanding of Angel, there was definitely something off here.
Thinking of this, Dox, although somewhat curious about the mask’s effect, still made a gesture of resistance.
Angel squinted slightly but said nothing. Yet this calm demeanor made Dox feel even more confident that his choice was correct.
The Black Earl spoke up then: "Earlier, you said this is Old Stone?"
Angel nodded: "Yes, the entire mask was made from Old Stone. So, the mask should have inherited some effects from Old Stone, but Old Stone is a very peculiar material, its trait is determined by the holder."
Black Earl: "What do you mean?"
Angel: "This requires discussing the effects of Old Stone."
"In the materials that I’ve read, Old Stone is described as a ’living’ stone, and it has effects similar to prolonging life."
"Living stone, similar to Stone Spirit?" Black Earl asked in confusion.
Angel shook his head: "Not at all."
If it were truly like Stone Spirit, Angel would directly say it is a type of living stone, or a rock-like organism.
But Old Stone and these stone-natured creatures are actually different, it lacks life, yet it possesses memory.
Its memory comes from the holder.
The most basic effect of Old Stone is actually life extension. As long as you carry Old Stone with you, your life, your time, everything is fixed from the moment you start carrying Old Stone.
After that, as long as you continue to carry Old Stone, your life will be fixed in that state without aging.
And the concept of ’old’, which comprises time and experience, is recorded and replaced by Old Stone.
It is also because Old Stone replaces the holder’s aging, it was named ’Old’ Stone.
The holder won’t age because of Old Stone, but there isn’t an absence of side effects either. Throughout this process, Old Stone records all the holder’s experiences, which translates to—memory.
In the Wizards’ Realm, a certain faction defines living as possessing memory. They believe that memory is the essence of all life, as long as memory exists and can continually expand, then that is living, and living implies you have life.
So, according to this faction’s definition, when Old Stone possesses memory, conceptually, it is the ’living’ other you.
Whether this definition is right or wrong isn’t up for discussion now. But once Old Stone gains memory, some changes indeed occur.
Initially, Old Stone only had the effect of prolonging life, but once memory exists within Old Stone, such memory can be referred to as living and can become power.
And this power of memory is derived from the holder. So, when Old Stone exhibits special effects besides life extension, determining its exact effect is difficult, as it depends on what the holder experienced.
"Ah, I see..." Vay showed a look of realization: "Then, in that sense, Old Stone can serve as a medium for knowledge inheritance?"
A wizard’s experience is also a process of knowledge accumulation and digestion. If these memories are recorded by Old Stone, wouldn’t that be a form of alternate inheritance?
Angel: "That depends on how much memory Old Stone has recorded."
Vay: "Ah, what do you mean?"
Angel smiled, not responding. Instead, the Black Earl at the side said: "If a holder carried Old Stone for ten thousand years, what effect would another face?"
Angel: "Probably be overwhelmed by the torrent of ten thousand years of memories and directly become a fool."
At the moment Angel finished speaking, Dox’s eyes became wide open, his finger tremblingly pointing at Angel. Although he didn’t say anything, the accusation was apparent.
Angel smilingly said: "If not ten thousand years, but several decades or a hundred years, as long as your brain can bear it, the inheritance Vay mentioned isn’t actually impossible. So, it’s quite a precious opportunity."
Vay directly rolled his eyes, turned his head to sulk.
"If someone really wore this mask for ten thousand years, then we shouldn’t wear it casually either?" Vay asked.
Angel: "Wearing the mask for ten thousand years was just an example given by Black Earl, I simply went along with it. But I never said it could actually be worn for ten thousand years."
"Old Stone doesn’t offer unlimited life extension, it depends on the quality and mass of Old Stone. This mask’s quality and mass are quite good, but saying it can last ten thousand years, it probably won’t reach that extent." Angel paused, then added: "I estimate a thousand years is even unlikely."