Sanders sat quietly at one end of the tea-colored ironwood long table.
Angel also sat down, directly facing Sanders.
"Regarding the Tidal World, although you already know some of it, I will go over it again from the beginning." Angel thought for a moment and decided to start from when he first returned to the Old Earth Continent, encountered the two nations at war, and met the pregnant Princess Shannon.
The fire in the fireplace continued to burn, emitting a hissing sound.
The open window occasionally blew in a lake breeze carrying moist vapor.
In such an atmosphere, Angel’s gentle and soothing voice reverberated within the room.
After narrating the general situation, everyone tacitly avoided mentioning the Abyssal Demon God. Angel had previously discussed it, but only vaguely, saying he fainted without elaborating on the details. From the tone of his current narration, it was clear he didn’t intend to reveal the full truth.
Although Lord Rhein was somewhat curious about the fall of the True Spirit of the Demon God, he was more concerned about Angel himself. Moreover, he didn’t believe Angel could handle the True Spirit of the Demon God alone, given Angel’s meager power at the time. Rhein assumed Angel was hiding something for a powerful figure.
So, bypassing those matters clarified many other things.
Everything stemmed from Feng’s obsession, orchestrating a centuries-spanning plot through the Book of Kael.
"So, it was Feng who arranged everything. No wonder you found so many of Feng’s paintings earlier."
"Your ability to break this plot is indeed remarkable."
Rhein pondered over the entire story’s threads, expressing continual astonishment.
"However, what I don’t understand is, since Feng discovered the Tidal World three thousand years ago, why didn’t he announce it back then? Wasn’t the plot from six hundred years ago?"
Angel: "Perhaps Mr. Feng’s compassion prevented him from wanting the life in the Tidal World to be entirely consumed by wizards."
The time distance was too great, and Feng wasn’t present to explain, making it hard to verify the specifics. Nonetheless, Rhein appreciated Feng’s decision to conceal the Tidal World.
"Although the reason remains unknown, if the Tidal World had been disclosed when it first merged three thousand years ago, it certainly wouldn’t have today’s form..."
Even if it were the same Tidal World, it would not have developed under the same trajectory.
Imagine, three thousand years ago, when the two worlds had just fused, the Tidal World had no high-level life forms, was in a state of disarray, and numerous witcher organizations had settled in. It’s likely that phenomena like Elemental Tides and Element Lords would not have existed.
The wizards’ eroding capabilities would have left not a blade of grass alive in the Tidal World at that time.
However, with a buffer period, now after three thousand years, if the Tidal World were to open, the elemental creatures within would have a certain self-preservation ability. Unless a total war were initiated, wizards wouldn’t easily eradicate all life within the Tidal World. Thus, opening now allows for sustainable growth of the Tidal World’s elemental creatures, preventing the initial vulnerability of the fused realm.
"Perhaps it’s as you said, it was Mr. Feng’s compassion."
Rhein sighed, no longer dwelling on past events, believing the past matters little as the present opportunities are crucial.
"The prophecy of the Book of Kael surprised me, adhering to a concept of equal value. Since you are a person within the plot, and indeed a crucial one, Feng, using you to break the plot, naturally had to pay a price to compensate you." Rhein: "Such equal value exchanges rarely occur in mysterious objects."
"Is the Tidal World the compensation Feng gave you?"
Angel shook his head: "The compensation is something else."
Under the gaze of Sanders and Rhein, Angel narrated his latest journey to the Tidal World, involving three Element Lords and... Feng’s consciousness in the paintings.
After describing the general situation, Angel began to explain the price Feng paid.
"Mr. Feng left me three things. The first is a tool, which I’ll temporarily keep secret."
Rhein and Sanders didn’t say much, nodding in agreement.
"The second is an oil painting. It was drawn personally by Mr. Feng’s avatar in the painting, which seems to hide a trace of his energy. Thus, I cannot manifest it with illusion techniques."
Rhein: "No worries, I’ll visit you later. Seeing the painting can wait."
"Lord Rhein is coming over?" Angel was somewhat surprised, as the site’s situation, though relatively calm, was still unpredictable, could Rhein really spare the time?
Rhein nodded: "Although I also worry about issues at the relic site, the matters of the Tidal World are far too significant, and I must make a trip. Ironclad Granny will guard the relic site for me, while I investigate the Tidal World’s situation."
Sanders: "I’ll come too."
Rhein: "Aren’t you still in the Red Plague followers’ investigation zone? Sumishe’s situation has only just made progress, won’t you wait a bit longer?"
Sanders said flatly: "They will handle it themselves. If they can’t even manage this small issue, then so be it."
Since this was Sanders’ teaching method, Rhein refrained from further inquiries.
"As for the third item Mr. Feng left me..." Angel paused momentarily, seeming to organize his words.
Rhein and Sanders perked up their ears, thinking the third item must be the most precious.
"... It’s the Authority of Heaven."
As Angel’s words fell, Sanders and Rhein hesitated momentarily, then both showed bright eyes in the next second.
"Are you sure it’s the Authority of Heaven?"
"Is it the Authority of Heaven granted by the world will of the Tidal World?"
The continuous rapid questions left Angel stunned for a while before he came to his senses: "Yes, it is indeed the Authority of Heaven granted by the will of the Tidal World."
"However, I’m not sure if I ultimately received it."
Rhein: "Explain the process in detail."
Angel, without concealment, recounted the ceremony in the Void, his resistance against the pressure, touching the world will through spiritual power, and having a prolonged dream, all narrated completely.
Rhein pondered for a moment: "Since the Authority of Heaven is just a concept, I can’t determine whether you’ve received it. But based on your described situation, you likely have."