Even though she had prepared herself mentally, Li Yue still couldn't hide her shock at the mention of that name. Why would a man who researched steel and technology be interested in a God's legacy?
Helen watched Li Yue's expression; it seemed this was exactly what she had expected. She calmly set down her small bowl of porridge.
“His magic stagnated long ago,” Helen sighed. “The most devastating thing for any magic user is to suddenly lose their way while walking their path.”
“For some, their magic ends at the Magician stage. After that, they must carve out a path for themselves until they hit a complete dead end.”
“Reinhardt is one of those people. He created his own system of magic, but he has reached a total standstill at the rank of Great Mage.” Helen shrugged. “Gods are the possessors of Supreme Arts. Many magics that lead directly to the Calamity rank were researched from their legacies.”
“Are you saying Reinhardt is studying His magic in search of a further breakthrough?” Li Yue's eyes widened in disbelief.
“His magic cannot create life, so he believes the turning point will come when he can,” Helen nodded.
“He’s taken a wrong turn,” Li Yue shook her head.
“When it comes to the path, we take it one step at a time. No one knows if they've made a mistake until they take the next step,” Helen said, looking out at the bright weather. “And once you’ve gone the wrong way, there’s no turning back.”
“That's why choosing a new type of magic takes courage. People like Reinhardt are pioneers in the truest sense.” Helen gave Reinhardt her highest praise.
“Choosing magic?” Li Yue repeated the phrase.
“Didn't you eventually choose one as well? The forbidden magic in the Royal Court cathedral is His magic.” Helen smiled. “That is a magic only a King is qualified to learn.”
“I’m curious, how did you steal it from right under the noses of a dozen Great Mages in the church?” Helen leaned in closer, pulling her chair toward Li Yue.
“There weren't actually that many guards before, not until a madman used mirror magic to bypass the warning arrays and reach that magic book.” Helen spread her hands. “Otherwise, no one besides the most noble bloodline of the Royal Court would even know of its existence.”
“When I left the Royal Court, the three Great Mages permanently stationed at the cathedral, the Great Mages rotating from local garrisons, and the Great Mages in the palace all kept a portion of their attention on that book.”
“Tell me, how did you get it?”
“I don't know.” Li Yue frowned. “I had a dream, and then I knew it.”
“A dream? Did a God send you a vision?”
“No.” Li Yue shook her head. “I killed the Joker who had peered into the magic book. I saw it in the memories of his blood crystal. When I woke up, I knew how to use it.”
“You mean you didn't choose the magic; the magic chose you?” Helen propped up her chin. “It seems you truly are His vassal. However, I’ve never seen a vassal who has merged with two of a God's legacies, especially from the same God.”
“Why can you only take one?”
“If you were to obtain all the legacies one day, what would be the difference between you and a God?” Helen raised an eyebrow. “If you have His flesh, soul, and magic, are you still you?”
“Excessive amounts of a God's legacy will cause a person's mind to collapse from identity issues before their body even gives out,” Helen explained patiently.
“So even if you find the Death Abyss, just seal it. If you really can't control it, we can all brainstorm a solution after the cold wave ends.” Helen picked up her bowl, blew on it, and took a careful sip. “I’ve waited so many years. The children I took in back then are now old enough to look after my daily needs.”
“I have the patience to wait through a month-long cold wave.”
“Then what about the heating?” Li Yue pursed her lips.
“The ‘business’ was already discussed. There aren't enough supplies.” Helen blew on her steaming porridge. “After the cold wave, probably less than one percent of the population will survive.”
Li Yue stood up, seemingly feeling a sense of urgency.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to find Reinhardt.”
“He’s on the opposite side. He has no intention of sealing the Death Abyss; he’s the person who wants to find and study it the most.” Helen seemed unhurried. “I’ve even considered trading the resources of our gathering for the rights to the Death Abyss once he’s finished his research.”
“Then there’s no other way...”
“Indeed. If you want to find it yourself, it would likely require long-term detection to pinpoint the general location, followed by further investigation.”
“There’s no time.”
“That’s why I plan to hire several groups of pirates to set out after the cold wave ends.” Helen smiled. “I’ll just use my magic. I won't even need to pay them. Any magic user below the rank of Mage will have to ‘obey.’”
Helen's eyes flashed with a hint of red. She was a magic user specializing in consciousness and spirit. It was precisely because of these magics that she had successfully neutralized Li Yue's surging killing intent during their clash that day.
Only now did she notice that the girl's eyes looked as if they were about to shed tears of blood. Li Yue stared at the ground, her eyes half-closed, something brewing within those blood-red depths.
“I will go kill Reinhardt and trade his death for the location.”
“Cough!” Helen choked on her porridge. She covered her mouth and pulled out her handkerchief. This was the first time she had lost her composure like this since becoming a Mage.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.” Li Yue nodded.
“You’ll die.”
“Does Reinhardt... possess a God's legacy?”
“His unique magic makes it impossible for him to absorb any God's legacy.”
“Then it’s not certain.” Li Yue slowly released her magic. Although she hadn't practiced much, her mana fluctuations easily reached the level of a Mage—a limit many apprentices could never reach in their entire lives.
But it seemed to have stabilized there, stuck before the chasm that separated a Mage from a Great Mage.
“Great Mages have already touched upon the threshold of divinity. They are demigods, beyond anything a Mage can compare to.” Helen shook her head, her brow furrowing slightly in what seemed to be displeasure.
“And...”
A red moon rose within the room. Li Yue had precisely controlled its range to the confines of the room, but its boundaries trembled incessantly, appearing unstable.
A translucent black barrier covered the floor. The room's layout seemed to vanish, replaced by an orange-red dusk overhead and moonlight that felt almost tangible.
Countless crimson patterns spread across the girl's chest from the blood crystal. With two God's legacies, she easily stepped across the chasm. Standing on the surface of the sea, Helen felt as if this were impossible. She could only silently marvel at the miracle.
“I’ll come back alive. It’ll be fine,” Li Yue said calmly. She had almost extinguished the very concept of death. Even if her heart were torn out or her body blown to pieces, she would simply be reborn amidst the collapse and pain.
Helen remained silent for a moment. She felt her heart, which had been still for so long, gradually begin to race. She thought in silence, already beginning to form a plan around Li Yue's idea.
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