There is a small island in the middle of the lake, with an aqua blue church built on the island. Gongsun Ce made a small white boat and sailed towards the center of the lake carrying everyone.
Qin Qianbai sat at the stern of the boat, humming cheerful nursery rhymes with Qiluo. The idol girl looked her up and down as she sang.
"What's wrong, Qiluo?"
"It's so strange..." Qiluo was deeply confused, "I always feel that Qin Qianbai has become more powerful?"
Qin Qianbai told her seriously: "I have only become a little stronger, and I have just created a move that suits me. It is still far, far away from my martial arts."
"Why can you become stronger just by looking at the lake water?"
Qin Qianbai thought for a while and said, "Because it will make me feel better."
"ah?"
Rei Shigure, who was watching, rolled his eyes: "You still understand how martial arts practitioners become stronger? If you could understand it, wouldn't you also be able to become a master of Kaitenjutsu?"
"It sounds a bit exciting to be a martial arts master, idol or something like that."
Qin Qianbai pinched her arm: "Get rid of the fat first before practicing martial arts."
"This is not fat, but healthy plumpness."
Qin Qianbai raised his hands and said, "Damn it, I look so angry, I'll crush all the flesh off now."
"No, there are bad female college students who use their skills to bully people."
"I'm here to help you!" Shigurei said enthusiastically.
The girls behind the boat were fighting in a group. Gongsun Ce quietly turned over and used telekinesis to control the oars, while he watched the showmanship after lifting the boat.
Alandia reached out and scooped up a piece of lake water, observing the crystal-like water drops.
"The lake is the source of the magical mist. This lake is the center of the charming mist state. The magical mist is produced by the lake water, and then blends into the land and flows into the lake, thus achieving an endless cycle."
"Do you remember that we used to say that one-sided truth is the best lie?" Gongsun Ce said, "I have a very good new idea..."
"Not now, Ce." Alandia warned, "Wait until you fully grasp the current situation before you consider developing new moves."
"I won't let my thinking control me." Gongsun Ce smiled, "Hey girls! Guess what the totem of Charming Mist State will be like?"
Qin Qianbai guessed it would be a crystal, Shigurei thought it might be a mirror, and Qiluo firmly believed it would be a liquid creature like slime. Their heated discussion continued until the boat docked. There was a priest in red waiting on the shore early. A man in his late forties, his eyes were as calm as the lake.
"It is a pleasure to welcome you, guests from the Sky City. I am Prince Galion, Red Governor, associate of God."
Prince spoke slowly, pronouncing each word clearly. He led everyone towards the inside of the church. At first he asked Xuying to stay outside, but Gongsun Ce suggested taking her with him.
"You should have heard the information. She is the one who suddenly appeared." Gongsun Ce said, "I guarantee you that Miss Phantom is not the incarnation or doll of some one. I think it will satisfy her." All needs are... wise choices."
"Of course, Mr. Gongsun." Governor Prince nodded, "The Catholic Church will trust your judgment."
They walked all the way to the upper level of the church and saw the totem of the Charming Mist State in a glass room with light from all sides. Contrary to everyone's expectations, the entire totem was a group of crystals about the size of an ordinary person. The crystal has countless facets, but it flows continuously like a liquid, just like a slime that has been possessed by the crystallization ability.
"Woo!"
The totem screamed happily after seeing Prince, and quickly transformed into the outline of a human being. The countless sections became flat at the same time, turning him into a red governor who was ten years younger. Prince stood with him and introduced to everyone: "This is the totem of the Charming Mist State. We call it the Mimic Crystal. When the folk activities of 'driving the fog back to the earth' started a few days ago, it seemed very uneasy. But after the news came from the Xuanci State, the church quickly responded. As you can see, he is in good condition now."
"Mr. Prince, is this totem completely controlled by the church?" Qin Qianbai asked curiously.
"As you said, madam. The church and the Mithril Pillar also manage many totems, which are also the foundation for us." The red governor introduced, "Since a thousand years ago, the Charm Mist State has been the most important place for the church. One of the bases. The saint told us in the holy scriptures that a strong heart is more reliable than all power. Therefore, every official clergy and every agent who has completed training will come to the Charming Mist State before officially taking up their posts. Participate in long-term training. This helps us see clearly the qualities of our successors, and it also helps them see themselves.”
Having said this, the red-dressed governor smiled at Qin Qianbai: "I think you can understand the teachings of the saint."
Qin Qianbai nodded generously: "I see the saint's foresight. Charming mist can help an organization maintain healthy and good development. This is a help that is better than any powerful weapon."
"What you said is really good." Prince looked very happy. He was not as enigmatic as most people in power, but had a childlike simplicity.
While the two were talking, the mimic crystal was still moving around curiously. When it came to Gongsun Ce, it turned into a sword-wielding man wearing a fancy dress. This change shocked it. It quickly ran to Qiluo and turned into Xingli with black hair and white dress. "Huh?" After completing this change, it looked particularly confused. The mimic crystal immediately transformed into Qiluo's usual appearance, but it hesitated halfway through the transformation, feeling at a loss with its black and pink highlights.
"Am I such a complicated woman..." Qiluo thought to herself.
"Woo..."
The mimic crystal was pressed against her face, pouting like her. At this time, it finally caught a glimpse of the last shadow of the queue. At this sight, it jumped up in fright and hit its head on the roof of the church.
"Woo! Woo!"
The mimetic crystal rushed down like a ball of water, sliding around the shadow, and there was an extremely human cheer in the action. The shadow raised his hand, and the mimic crystal immediately became quiet and turned into a strange-shaped table. The appearance of the table seemed to be carved from the same mold as the test bench in the Wood Machinery State.
"Experiment No. 23 is running well." Xuying said, "The underlying logic loop is complete, and the execution layer is written with new instructions... callback history..."
She made movements like a conductor, and the mimic crystals changed into different shapes. After a series of dizzying changes, it turned into a vague human form whose details were unclear. The man was wearing a windbreaker, holding a hatchet in one hand and a revolver in the other, with a big smile on his blurry face.
The red-clothed governor's inhalation sounded like a bellows. He immediately clasped his hands together and shouted excitedly: "Holy One!"
The "saint" transformed by the mimetic crystal did not speak. Gongsun Ce noticed that the vague performance was not an illusion or a deliberate concealment, but more like the "memory" of the crystal itself had become incomplete over a long period of time. The shadow looked at the "saint" intently and showed a smile that was very similar to him.
"The 'Civilization Front'... a battle that assimilates the opposing concepts of civilization and nature through the symbolism of a vast collective... is so interesting!"
She clapped her hands happily and gave out crisp applause. The sound rushed through the empty space and turned into a huge cheer like thousands of people cheering in unison according to her will. The mimic crystal turned into a huge mirror amidst the applause, and the mirror reflected a young girl with a hot figure, wearing a fiery red leather jumpsuit, with colorful hair that just reached her shoulders.
The phantom snapped her fingers, and her short body stretched and twisted like plasticine, turning into the image of the person in the mirror in the blink of an eye. Xuying, who had grown up by more than ten years, put his fingers to his lips and blew a kiss to everyone.
"Goodbye, little guys." Xuying's voice was as misty as mist, "Observation is always an interesting thing. I look forward to the new changes you will bring."
The shadow suddenly turned into a red mist, dispersed little by little in the air, and disappeared. The mimic crystal waved goodbye excitedly and ran to the middle of the room after the fog cleared, pretending to be a bonfire.
Everyone had expressionless faces, as if they had just watched a whole post-modern art exhibition.
Qiluo said with difficulty: "Her personality has changed?!"
"Is this your first reaction after hearing so many horrifying things?!" Rei Shigure was shocked.
"Compared to those things that are incomprehensible, the impact of a flat loli suddenly turning into a tall and long-legged sister is obviously greater." Qiluo tried to explain her idea, "And her way of speaking has also become like a brain. Got it!"
"Qiluo, your nerve of steel makes me want to marvel even more." Gongsun Ce rubbed the girl's head, "Thank God she is finally gone. When she applauded, I was almost scared out of Nirvana."
"Ace, would it be better for us to control her?" Qin Qianbai suggested seriously.
"Don't." Gongsun Ce shook his head, "Never take the initiative to do anything to Xu Ying, because we are like a blank sheet of paper in front of her, but she is a sea to us. There is no way for you to know a small piece of paper. Is the wave a trivial joke or a sign of an approaching tsunami? Letting the shadow move freely is the most responsible choice for everyone, and it is also the greatest respect we can show to her."
"I agree with Mr. Gongsun's opinion. If Gaius Optimis was still rational, he would not choose to actively contact such a being." Prince nodded, "Please understand, I need time to adjust my emotions..."
"Do you need to report to your superiors?"
Prince smiled bitterly: "The three red governors are the highest leadership of the church. I'm afraid I can only pray to the saints."
Gongsun Ce originally thought that the Holy Church of Ustes should always have a pope with a big eyebrow and a beard to guard the local area, but he did not expect that the Jago and Prince he met at the beginning were already the top people. He thought about it carefully and found it reasonable. The totem of Charming Mist State was inseparable from the spiritual construction of the organization. How could he rest assured that it would be guarded by middle-level personnel?
He thanked Governor Prince and circled around the mimetic crystal. This time, the saint's message was distributed in many aspects. It took Gongsun Ce a while to piece it together.
【False is the silhouette of reality】
Like the previous two totems, it starts with a sage's advice. What follows is similar to last time’s “broken thoughts”.
[I gradually understood His train of thought. You must first understand the world before you can change it. If all laws and rules are "feelable", they become easy to recognize. Being able to recognize can interfere, modify, even reproduce and create.
Charm Mist is the embodiment of this idea extending into the spiritual world, recognizing oneself first, and then expressing oneself. It really is the idea of impermanence, and the design is really wonderful. I didn't even know I wanted to eat honey barbecue the first time I came.
I have to leave this place to the church, so that people who see themselves clearly will be less likely to do stupid things.
Later, when I have time, I will go to the Yongguang Empire and ask the emperor what the Impermanence Law is all about. 】
Gongsun Ce was speechless for a long time after reading it, and asked: "Mr. Prince, do saints like to eat honey barbecue?"
"Have you ever seen such a niche story?" Prince looked surprised. "This is a local legend in the Charming Mist State. It is said that the saint led the apostles through the fog to the center of the lake, and used honey barbecue as a test to achieve success. The reward of refining.”
"He is so friendly to the people." Gongsun Ce said with a subtle expression, "Thank you for your cooperation. It's time for us to leave. Is there anything we can do for you?"
"Can I ask where your next stop will be?"
"No surprise, it's the Blade Rain State."
Governor Prince's expression became serious.
"If conditions permit, Mr. Gongsun, I request you to conduct an investigation locally. The changes in the Blade Rain State have puzzled us deeply. The Mithril Pillar sent two senior agents from the Manifestation Realm to investigate, but we found nothing."
The solemn expression on the governor's face made Gongsun Ce alert: "How do the agents repay?"
"The agents did not report back." The Red Governor shook his head, "Their whereabouts are unknown."
·
The capital of Usters, Meteor City.
Klein Ayman rummaged in the wine cabinet and pulled out a bottle of ice wine. He blew half the bottle into his mouth in one breath and exhaled comfortably.
"It's terrible!" Klein said, "I feel uncomfortable all over as soon as I go to the south. The hot and humid air can penetrate into your bones along the pores and cause mold to grow on your bones. I need to drink more to wash it away. Bad luck."
"Last time you went to the west to give a speech, you said that the hot climate there would burn your lungs, and your secret recipe for relieving the heat was to drink a bottle of ice wine." Gaius didn't even look up at his desk, "When you go back to the north What excuse will you make? Thaw?"
"We northerners never need an excuse to drink locally. Spirits are a universal drink." Klein chuckled, "How have you been busy with your big plans these days?"
Gaius threw him a thick analysis report, and Klein turned to the end to read the conclusion.
"Combining the Dragon Machine and Changlong Body technology, it is possible to construct a pseudo-infinity machine... Did you really put these two things together? I thought that in the end, each would have to fight for his own success."
"Qing Hongyi has provided some help." Gaius said, "He is very interested in this aspect."
"Including the church's technology, the machine aspect should be solved. But who will be a living sacrifice for your machine? The Manifestation Magus cannot afford this thing."
Gaius stood up and looked out the window. It was a rainy day in Meteor City today, and gloomy raindrops fell from the sky, dyeing the earth black.
"The sword holder is heading to the Blade Rain State and is waiting for the test results of Wuxiang Shen before making a decision."
"I'm really looking forward to it. What kind of bad show will its big troupe put on in the Blade Rain State?" Klein said in a weird voice, "Work harder, Commissioner Ace, everyone is looking forward to you ruining the show." .”
"At this stage, the failure of the Formless God will do us no good."
"There are benefits." Klein smiled, "We will feel relieved."
Gaius thought for a long time, took out a cross-shaped communication weapon from the drawer, and set a message to be sent at a scheduled time. He put away the small cross and said, "You're right, I would rather fight face to face with the sword holder than see the formless god smiling behind my back."
(End of chapter)
