The pitch black tentacles that originally resembled oil now became somewhat transparent when summoned again. The previous thick, viscous feeling was gone, now looking more like dark jellyfish tentacles.
Sensing something in his heart, a black jellyfish streaked with red swam out from the void. Looking at this black and red jellyfish, Caelus's eyes could not help but lose focus. For some reason, after associating it with a jellyfish, he subconsciously created one in this form, as if in the depths of his memory, this was the most profound impression he had of a jellyfish.
However, the sudden surge of emotion soon vanished, and Caelus returned to his normal state. He knew why he suddenly felt a surge of inexplicable emotion, because the appearance of this jellyfish likely came from a residual impression of a jellyfish held by one of the two selves that composed part of him.
Several more identical jellyfish swayed out from the void. Looking at these jellyfish floating in mid air, Caelus nodded. Indeed, that ability symbolizing human evil had been mastered on a deeper level because of his realization regarding the extreme and chaotic emotion of love.
The black color on the jellyfish gradually faded, eventually turning them into a translucent white.
Finally, all color faded away, and the jellyfish lost all hue, becoming completely transparent as if they did not exist.
But they did indeed still exist. It was just that after shedding all evil and all obsession, these jellyfish had become tentacles of Nihility.
Caelus withdrew all his extended power and left Mount Taixuan. He had originally wanted to see if there was anything worth recording in this immortal's former residence, but after noticing that the few remaining buildings on Mount Taixuan showed obvious signs of maintenance and cleaning, he knew he would not find any historical remnants here. Besides, if he wanted to know, it would be better to ask the local power player.
And so, Otto, who was sitting in his office looking at a painting someone had given him and reminiscing about the past, received an inexplicable phone call and helplessly dispatched a Soulium avatar.
Inside the Taixuan Teahouse at the foot of Mount Taixuan, Otto, who had arrived looking travel worn, looked helplessly at Caelus, who was already sitting in the private room with his quill and notebook ready, waiting for him. He said, "Mr. Caelus, if there is something urgent next time, could you please let me know in advance? As the Overseer of Schicksal, I am actually not that idle. There are many matters that need handling. Your sudden request this time has disrupted many of my planned arrangements."
In reality, it had not at all. Otto was simply using this method to gain some benefit for himself. Even if that benefit was just a bit of goodwill, as long as he could get it, it was a gain.
"My apologies, I did not explain things very clearly during the call. As an apology, if you have any questions you need answered, you may ask me as well. As long as I know the answer, I will provide it."
"Ahem, since you have already shown such an attitude, it would be a bit too petty of me to continue being reproachful. I do indeed know the story of that past immortal on Mount Taixuan, though I am not particularly clear on all of her stories. I can only provide a general account from a bystander's perspective."
"It does not matter. Since you know her story, it indirectly proves her existence. I only wish to obtain the story that has been passed down."
"Could it be that you have some connection with this immortal, and that is why you want information about her?"
"No, I have no relationship with that immortal. The reason I want to know her story is purely out of the lingering curiosity in my heart, and since I am traveling here, I should learn about the local customs and epic tales."
Well, in fact, Caelus lied. As an existence walking on a Path, an extraordinary system that was unique even among the myriad worlds, because of his own uniqueness combined with the eerie nature of the Path of Nihility, as long as Caelus contemplated, realized, and grew philosophically regarding emotions and similar matters, he would gain substantial growth in power, just like his previous realization of love.
Therefore, he needed a large number of stories to touch his remaining heart, letting his heart drive his thinking and then guiding himself to contemplate.
According to the System, he had once been completely swallowed by Nihility, resulting in the loss of everything. Now, he was using his quill to smear and depict new colors and images in that void of nothingness.
Otto began to tell the story of the one named the Red Kite Immortal. It was a legendary past filled with mythological color.
As the last of the shareable information was revealed, Otto stopped speaking and calmly took a sip of the tea on the table.
Shortly after, Caelus also stopped his quill, revealing a person he had depicted based on the other's story.
Looking at the person in the drawing, Otto was momentarily stunned. That immortal posture, dressed in Taoist robes and untainted by the dust of the world, appearing as if transcending the mortal realm, was that not exactly the Red Kite Immortal who had single handedly shattered Schicksal's fantasies of an Eastern Crusade back then?
And also his current old friend, Fu Hua.
It was just that the chest area was drawn a bit too large, but such a detailed error was understandable.
"To be able to perfectly replicate the image of a character from a story based only on a few words, and so vividly at that, in the art of painting, Mr. Caelus can certainly call himself a master."
"Thank you for the praise. Then, as a reward, you may ask me questions as you please, and I will do my best to provide answers."
"It was merely telling some old stories. I cannot possibly use that favor to ask for too much. Therefore, Mr. Caelus only needs to answer two questions for me."
Seeing Caelus nod in agreement, Otto put down his teacup and asked with a solemn expression, "You know my story as well. The sole purpose of my life is to make up for my mistakes and resurrect Kallen Kaslana, who once died because of me. To that end, during these more than 500 years, I have done many wrong things and committed countless sins. But my goal is within reach. May I ask, will you stop me?"
Why was Otto acting so sincere, even having confessed his own story earlier?
It was because during these two years, he discovered that the more he tried to deeply research Caelus's existence, the more his own emotions and even his thoughts would suffer severe decay and frustration.
This abnormal emotion and inhibitory damage, combined with the fact that no matter how he searched, he could not find Caelus's true origins or traces of his existence.
Otto already knew. Caelus was not a lifeform from this planet beneath their feet. He came from the much more distant stars.
"Unless I have a mission, I will not stop you."
"Good. Then the last question. Coming from the stars as you do, do you have a way to resurrect someone who died 500 years ago?"
"Yes."
Caelus answered very quickly, faster than Otto expected, answering almost the moment he finished speaking.
"I know what you want to say, but the price is also very high. And would you really believe that the Kallen I resurrect is truly the Kallen from 500 years ago? Would you believe it?"
"…Point taken. Thank you for your answer. If there are any further questions, you can call my number anytime."
Otto did not ask how Caelus knew his private phone number. He bid Caelus farewell with a smile and then left.
Caelus watched Otto's departing back. Just now, an item the other man was carrying had been scanning and analyzing him.
Shortly after, in a laboratory located at Schicksal, Otto silently looked at the data obtained from Void Archives.
This was all the data derived from Void Archives' scan and analysis of Caelus.
A complete blank.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
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