One-Eyed Monster

”Where am I?” Kadi looked around, as if everything around him had suddenly become unfamiliar.

”You haven’t gone anywhere! You’re still in this cave, the so-called safe house,” the Spirit Book immediately answered Kadi.

”How is that possible? I clearly felt myself falling into a whirlpool just now. I was spinning and spinning. During the whole process, I saw many places, some I’ve never even been to, but somehow, I suddenly have impressions of them in my memory.”

”ERM, all I can say is that your imagination is quite vivid. I just incorporated your Spirit Power; it wasn’t as dramatic as you’re making it out to be.”

”But I did experience all those things! Are you calling me a liar?” Kadi hated it when people didn’t believe him. He was so frustrated he was about to jump up and down.

”SHH—” The Spirit Book ignored Kadi’s anxious state, signaling him to be quiet. ”If you want to know why, listen carefully. The Master and the others are discussing the profound mysteries of this technique. You might understand if you listen.”

Speechless, Kadi obediently looked down as the Spirit Book directed.

He saw Igor and Senior Kuren sitting opposite each other, with Senior Joseph meditating to the side.

”What are they doing?”

”Communicating. This technique isn’t as simple as you think. Even if the Master himself has comprehended Spirit Connection, you would still need guidance to enter.”

”Can you explain it more simply? I don’t understand at all,” Kadi admitted honestly.

”ERM, how to make it simpler? What I know is already the simplest explanation. It can’t be put any simpler.”

”You could give an example!” Kadi reminded the Spirit Book from the side. He always struggled with such complicated things, but if you gave him an example to explain them—put plainly, an analogy or a metaphor—he’d grasp it faster than anyone.

Kadi was that kind of person; profound or simple, if it was described in words, he couldn’t understand it at all. But if you explained it to him using images or stories, he would comprehend it faster than anyone.

”ERM, this mainly involves illusion and reality. Let me think of a good metaphor or a fitting example to tell you later.” The Spirit Book, this typically proud Spirit Book, had suddenly become humble. It was one thing for it to be respectful to Igor, but now it was being unusually polite to Kadi as well.

To be honest, this made Kadi a little uncomfortable.

”Alright, let’s begin as soon as possible. Time is short. I hope everything goes smoothly this time,” Senior Kuren, sitting opposite Igor, suddenly spoke.

”WOW!” Kadi was very surprised. ”Senior Kuren, you’ve recovered so quickly! You can already speak so fluently. It seems the Slumber Room really is effective.”

Kadi’s words made the Spirit Book feel quite melancholic. It regretted dragging such an idiot in; this monster’s current behavior was proving to be a disaster. He can’t even tell illusion from reality.

”This is an Illusionary Realm formed after Spirit Connection, you idiot! They are communicating using Spirit Power,” the Spirit Book quietly reminded Kadi, looking at him.

Similarly, Kuren and Joseph also cast pitying glances his way. Why can’t this Kadi grasp even the most basic things?

”HUH?” Kadi was baffled. He looked left and right, hoping to discern the profound mystery.

”Illusion? Is all of this fake?” Kadi looked towards the Spirit Book beside him. Honestly, he had wanted to ask Igor, but seeing Igor’s forehead beaded with sweat, he hesitated and chose to ask the Spirit Book instead.

The Spirit Book felt an overwhelming urge to shove this One-Eyed Monster into a ditch. It had already told him this was a manifestation of Spirit Power, a form of Spirit Communication, yet this blockhead kept harping on about illusion versus reality! What was this if not an idiot? This was even more exasperating than a mere idiot!

”Kadi’s current state is typical for most who enter this level; they become overly fixated on distinguishing illusion from reality,” Kuren continued. His words were currently meant only for Igor. The Spirit Powers of those present had been authorized by them, so they felt at ease discussing the profound secrets of the World Setting Technique.

”Illusion and fantasy, truth and reality—these should be interchangeable!” Igor managed to say with difficulty. He was struggling to push into Kuren’s world, but Kuren wasn’t inclined to let him enter so easily. Entering is easy, but leaving is hard. Once inside, if one cannot get out, it’s worse than anything imaginable.

”You’re right. But can you distinguish what is illusion and what is reality? Take this cave at this very moment: is it truly existing, or merely our conjecture?” Kuren was slowly guiding him, with Joseph channeling Spirit Power to Kuren. Without Joseph, Kuren would also find it very difficult to guide Igor.

”I can’t distinguish, nor do I need to. Right now, it is both utterly real and completely ethereal. As long as I am here, I will not go mad, even if many things are trying to drive me to that point.” Igor still spoke with great effort, as if he were wrestling with something.

”You need to distinguish. You need to know north, south, east, and west. You need to distinguish the ’east’ here from the ’east’ outside. Although it’s the same direction, you still need to differentiate them properly,” Kuren said calmly.

”What is he talking about?” Kadi interjected again. Although he was asking the Spirit Book, this action still caused Joseph to cast a pitying look his way.

”I can distinguish East from West. Here, the East here is East. There’s no such thing as illusory,” Igor suddenly opened his eyes, appearing to have broken free from some entangling foes.

”Correct. Wherever you are, you must integrate with that place. This is the most fundamental rule of the game. Since you’ve grasped this rule, I have nothing more to worry about. I initially thought those convoluted Illusions would ensnare you, making you unable to extricate yourself, ultimately driving you to madness,” Kuren said with satisfaction.

”Those convoluted Illusions were indeed quite powerful; I nearly fell for their trick.” Igor gasped for breath, as if he had just survived a great battle.

”ERM... what are they talking about now? How come I don’t understand any of it?” Kadi piped up again. Every word he uttered was jarringly out of place, making the Spirit Book beside him regret its actions profoundly.

”Actually, I’m a bit envious of Kadi,” Igor said suddenly, which made Kadi feel quite flattered.

”Envious that he won’t go mad?” Kuren followed up.

”Precisely. Someone like him won’t go mad because he can always clearly determine what is illusion and what is reality.”

”That is indeed the case. However, it also means he cannot enter the deeper levels of the World Setting Technique,” Kuren said, a hint of regret in his voice.

”Oh, is that so?” Igor still sounded somewhat disbelieving.

”Next, we will enter the ultimate profound mystery of the World Setting Technique. When that time comes, you will understand the meaning of my earlier words,” Kuren stated.

”The path ahead is for you two alone. From this point on, even if the rest of us connect our Spirit Powers, we can’t offer much help,” Joseph said.