Pillar of Yita

Fang Hong immediately thought of the Ring of Golden Flame absorbing the Strength of that Flame Specter, and then the peculiar array that flashed before his eyes and disappeared. At the time, he was too dazed to think much, but now recalling the strange glow, wasn’t that triple-layered array the alchemy formula for ’Elemental Filtration’, a Creation Covenant?

But he never intended to use this array at the time, and if Miss Ruotata didn’t intervene, then there was only one possibility left—Fang Hong glanced at the dark Crystal in Anluose’s palm, the same Strength of the Dark Giant Dragon, so is this the work of the ’Little One’ in his Mind World? But Eteliria has never had a Dark Element; how should he explain this?

”This is an Artificial Crystal,” Anluose spoke then, first confirming his suspicion, before adding: ”It has an internal sealed structure.”

Fang Hong couldn’t help but ask: ”Mr. Anluose, what is an internal sealed structure?”

Anluose’s silver eyes flickered faintly, answering: ”It’s a highly stable Ether Form, to the extent that external forces can’t penetrate, not even within the Ether World can its internal composition be observed. Generally, we call elements with such forms as having a sealed internal structure.”

Hearing this, Fang Hong was amazed; if its internal structure cannot be observed even in the Ether World, doesn’t that mean the Artisan System cannot work on such material? Then what’s the point of painstakingly summoning this Element?

But Anluose didn’t notice this point, or rather didn’t care, he continued: ”I try to perceive this Artificial Crystal from the Ether World, but the response is pure void, as if it shouldn’t exist in this world. Yet from the real world perspective, it clearly rests in my hand.”

He looked up at Fang Hong. ”I have seen such material before.”

”Mr. Anluose?” Fang Hong grew a bit nervous.

It seemed next moment the other might suddenly accuse him sternly of harnessing the Strength of a Dark Giant Dragon, marking him as a spy for the Dark Saints—and then the Tower Guard would promptly crush him onto the bed with a swipe.

That would be the better scenario; worse, if taken to Stargate Port authorities or the Super Competitive League’s office in Eteliria, Fang Hong seemed to envision a group of expressionless figures in black capes standing before him, solemnly speaking:

”Student Pigeon Fang, you’ve been exposed, you violated Clause Seven of the Stargate Declaration’s appendix, come with us.”

He finished mentally narrating his scenario, wiped some sweat, and sat somewhat guiltily on the bed.

But upon finishing his statement, Anluose seemed to realize something, his gaze gently shifted, changing his tone: ”Rest well,” he responded lightly, ”I’ll come again tomorrow, there’s one week left till the match, no need to rush.”

Having said, Anluose quietly placed down the Crystal, leaving it by the bedside—though naturally, he didn’t notice his hand brushing past Tata sitting nearby—Miss Fairy tilted her head watching this scene, the master of Nevade seemingly unaware.

Though Fang Hong didn’t have time to marvel at the sophistication of Miss Tata’s Invisibility Technique, capable of deceiving even Dragons, after all this wasn’t the first time, both Toragotos and Nikopolas had failed to spot Miss Dragon Soul too. Watching Anluose turn to leave, he was startled, thinking it was over, surely the other was going to contact Stargate Port’s people.

However, in his current condition, he couldn’t escape; running wasn’t an option, doing so would only prove his guilt, making it hard to defend—yet waiting passively seemed equally risky, not to mention he carried the status of a Stowaway, wouldn’t this be multiple offenses leading to dreadful consequences?

”Mr. Anluose, wait.” Fang Hong hurriedly called out, his voice weak as he was just recovering from great injury.

Anluose paused, turning back to look at him: ”Is there something else?”

Fang Hong considered, ultimately deciding to be frank—the other was a Giant Dragon, who must have seen through many things here, witnessed countless changes; with the minuscule wisdom of mortals, playing tricks in front of this Tower Guard would just be self-defeating.

He revealed the item in his hand—a fractured Ring of Golden Flame.

Upon seeing it, Anluose’s gaze flickered: ”Dragon’s Golden Eyes.”

Fang Hong was astonished; fortunately, he hadn’t planned to lie, until now, beyond those in the know, only this Tower Guard—the master of Holy Bow Peak—recognized the ring’s true identity at a glance. Before Fang Hong could speak, Anluose had already deduced the event’s cause:

”This ring was the one absorbing the Nightmare Creatures’ Strength?”

”Surely he noticed,” Fang Hong thought, but asked aloud: ”Are Nightmare Creatures those flame-like monsters?”

”Flame?” Anluose pondered briefly, nodded noncommittally.

But Fang Hong couldn’t help but pursue further: ”Speaking of Mr. Anluose, what exactly are those flame-like monsters? I’ve never heard of this Nightmare Kind category...”

After asking, Fang Hong instinctively glanced at the other. He thought if Miss Sicape were present, upon hearing this inquiry she would likely reply: ”There are many things you haven’t heard of.” Followed swiftly by a palm strike.

Yet that actually would merely be Miss Sicape’s own ignorance. Observing Anluose, Fang Hong reasoned that as the master of Holy Bow Peak, he should understand the implication of his question, how there wasn’t such a category in Eteliria’s basic biological classifications.