Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2639: Chapter 2640: A Spark of Starfire

Angel’s question was not without reason.

Since they entered the Underground Labyrinth, along the way, they encountered a lot of emblems related to the Baiyuanians, such as the Snake Entwined Staff and Snake Entwined Cone. Moreover, most of them were found in the ruins of laboratories.

From these small details, it can be glimpsed that a thousand years ago, Naraku City seemed to have some connection with the Baiyuanians.

However, at this time, Angel hadn’t linked the Box of Cicia with the Baiyuanians.

It wasn’t until Cicia wanted to pull Angel into the ”Dark Space,” but was blocked by some power in his left earlobe. Coupled with Cicia’s curiosity about Angel’s left earlobe and her previous mention of a ”familiar fluctuation,” it made Angel wonder if Cicia had sensed... the Primeval Flame?

And just now, Cicia’s ”dissatisfaction” with Angel’s answer confirmed Angel’s guess that the ”familiar fluctuation” Cicia mentioned indeed referred to the Primeval Flame.

Since Odeclass bestowed the Flame Mark, it has become increasingly rare to directly sense the presence of the Primeval Flame through the Flame Mark. Even Rhein can only feel the Flame Mark itself and cannot perceive the Primeval Flame sealed within it. However, Dororo, being a Baiyuanian himself, can vaguely detect some clues.

Cicia’s ability to detect the Primeval Flame, just by this alone, was enough for Angel to ask the speculative question, ”Are you a Baiyuanian?”

Moreover, Cicia’s name also quite matches the Baiyuanian naming conventions.

Popota, Hua Que, Dororo, Cicia... Baiyuanians seem to have a penchant for cute, repetitive names.

So when Angel asked this question, he was already seventy to eighty percent sure in his heart.

On the other side, upon hearing Angel’s question, Cicia fell into a long silence.

Previously, Cicia’s demeanor of ”I’m tired, ask quickly and then leave” seemed to have dissipated, and the dark space was filled with a stifling atmosphere.

”...Why are you asking this question?”

Angel listened to the calm voice in his ear and thought to himself: This is more like it, an old monster trapped in a dark box for millennia still acting so lively was obviously a facade. Now, this cold, dark, sinister, and ruthless tone is more normal.

While pondering the ”reasonable tone” in his heart, Angel had completely disregarded the possibility that Cicia’s feigned voice might be a friendly gesture.

”I originally intended to ask other questions, but suddenly thought of this one, so I asked. There’s no particular reason,” Angel said casually. In fact, it was true; it just happened to connect, so why not ask?

Cicia once again fell into a long silence.

But Angel could feel that in the surrounding Dark Mist, there seemed to be a pair of cold eyes silently observing him.

The atmosphere began to slowly slide toward indifference, the stifling feeling not only not dissipating but becoming even thicker.

In such an atmosphere, Angel spoke up, ”Was your earlier question considered a question? If it was, I’ve already answered it. Now it’s your turn to answer my previous question.”

”You are a Baiyuanian, right?” This time, Angel’s tone was no longer doubtful but rather certain.

”Does it matter to you whether I am or not? Or do you think that if I am a Baiyuanian, you could use me like the other massacred Baiyuanians?”

Cicia’s voice already carried anger, with a hint of hatred embedded in her words.

Even if Cicia didn’t admit it, having captured these hidden emotions, Angel had by now almost confirmed that Cicia was indeed a Baiyuanian... or rather, at least once was a Baiyuanian.

”A thousand years ago, Baiyuanians shouldn’t have been completely massacred yet, right? If you’ve been here all along, how do you know these things?”

Cicia: ”I have my own channels.”

Angel feigned realization, ”Oh, I remember, Baiyuanians have a shared ancestral altar that exists in every Baiyuanian’s mind. The extinguishing of the altar’s flame should be visible to all Baiyuanians, and they understand what it signifies.”

Angel: ”So, is this how Cicia knows outside information?”

However, before Cicia could answer, Angel denied this inquiry himself.

”Ah, I almost forgot, you’re unable to perceive souls, so even if you are a Baiyuanian, you shouldn’t be able to sense the altar. So, someone else must have brought you the outside information. Would it be other intelligent life living in this Underground Aqueduct?”

Angel was really tempted to directly ask if it was the Triclops Blue Demon sage who told her. But he held back. After all, these details were not important.

Following the style of raising tension first, he had already stirred enough hatred, and it would be difficult to raise it ”up” any further.

”How do you know about the ancestral altar? Who told you?” Cicia’s voice, inexplicably calm, felt to Angel through his super senses that her tranquility was only a surface appearance, with deadly undercurrents beneath—

Cicia had already birthed murderous intent.

Upon sensing the killing intent, Angel knew it was time to reveal something; otherwise, it would really be difficult to ”boost” it.

”How do I know this secret? It was, of course, a Baiyuanian who told me directly.”

Angel deliberately emphasized the word ”directly.”

Cicia: ”...There are still living Baiyuanians outside?”

Cicia’s voice remained as calm as before, like a casual inquiry. But in Angel’s perception, Cicia’s real emotions were far from this.

Previously, there were hidden undercurrents and rising killing intent. Now, it’s like a turbulent storm, disbelief mixed with a slight hope.

Angel: ”So, is the question and answer game over?”

”To hell with the question and answer game, I now declare that from now on, there’s no such game. You either answer my question or leave. I don’t have time to waste with you.”

Cicia elevated her emotions again, but beneath her elevated emotions lay careful caution. Evidently, even though she switched to an intense response style, it was still her performance.

”Even if there’s no question and answer game, I still hope that before I answer your question, you can answer mine first. Cicia, are you a Baiyuanian?” Angel repeated the question once more, but this time, his expression was more solemn and serious than before.

In the darkness, Cicia gazed deeply at Angel. Only after a long moment did she finally speak, ”You’ve already guessed it. Why insist on me confirming it for you?”

”Because if I can’t confirm that Cicia is a Baiyuanian, then there’s no reason for me to stay here any longer.”

Angel didn’t explain why, and Cicia didn’t ask. After a brief silence, she finally gave a decisive answer: ”Yes, I was once a Baiyuanian. Now... I still am.”

Upon hearing Cicia’s words, Angel finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He’d held ”down” for too long; if he didn’t ”raise” it now, there’d be no way to ”raise” it. Fortunately, Cicia answered his question, and the answer was more than Angel wanted to know.

”Once was a Baiyuanian.” There was nothing wrong with this statement. Cicia admitted her identity.

”Now, it is as well.” The latter part of this sentence is thought-provoking. Cicia is indirectly saying: No matter how my form changes, no matter if I am alive or dead, regardless of the passage of time, whether there are any living Baiyuanians left, she will always be a Baiyuanian.

This clearly shows her stance, regardless of Cicia’s current situation, as long as it involves Baiyuanians, she will always side with them.

Angel originally just wanted to confirm Cicia’s identity, then based on that, selectively reveal some information about Popota or Hua Que Que, to gain Cicia’s favor as a fellow Baiyuanian, to better inquire about other information.

But now, Cicia has presented her attitude, which makes Angel feel more at ease, as he might be able to reveal more information, even mention Dororo’s situation.

Before Dororo successfully ignited the Primeval Flame, having guidance from a clan elder should be beneficial.

However, whether to mention it now, Angel still plans to observe further.

”I have answered you. Now it’s your turn. Are there still Baiyuanians outside? From whom did you learn about the existence of the Primeval Flame?”

Angel: ”So, are we back to playing a game of questions and answers now?”

Angel’s sudden remark made Cicia’s anger rise instantly: ”I’m not playing a game with you...”

However, Cicia’s words were abruptly cut off.

Because a faint white flame appeared on Angel’s fingertip.

Feeling the familiar fluctuation in the flame, Cicia couldn’t help but cover her mouth with her hands, her eyes wide open.

This is... this is... Primeval Flame?!

Looking at that familiar yet warm flame, she seemed to see the scenery from ten thousand years ago... At that time, every Baiyuanian could see the ever-burning ancestral altar when they closed their eyes.

And what burned in the ancestral altar was the Primeval Flame.

The original flame, representing the fire of the earliest civilization, also signifies the fire of creation and continuity.

In Baiyuanians’ legends, as long as the Primeval Flame in the ancestral altar remains unextinguished, Baiyuan’s legacy will never be severed. But Cicia knew that besides truth, nothing is permanent, even the World Will would wither, let alone the elusive Primeval Flame.

Moreover, many High Priests have prophesied that the Primeval Flame would extinguish, which is a catastrophe from which Baiyuanians cannot escape or avoid.

Yet, ”nothing lasts forever,” but similarly, nothing is predestined.

The fire of a star can ignite a prairie. And the Primeval Flame is that fire of a star, as long as even the slightest spark can be obtained, it can make the ancestral altar reignite.

The premise, however, is that there are Baiyuanians still alive and obtaining this original flame.

But over ten thousand years, Cicia has not received any news about the reappearance of Baiyuanians. Every time, the news brought was bad.

One after another, Baiyuanians were manipulated, used, and eventually died.

And a thousand years ago, the last news of a Baiyuanian’s death was brought.

The catastrophe of extinction ultimately became ”destined.”

Since then, Cicia has always asked in the dark, are there any companions? Is she the last ”Baiyuanian”? And...

Is she a deserter?

Cicia’s mind instantly thought of many things, and all of these were because this sudden intruder had brought a glimmer of hope.

...

While Cicia was mesmerized by the white Primeval Flame, Angel was also looking at the Primeval Flame.

However, he didn’t think as much as Cicia did; his thoughts weren’t even related to Baiyuanians, but rather to a descendant of Demon God.

At the same time, Monty’s primary target in the previous Lassudral battle—Aoluxiya.

During the final moments of the Lassudral battle, a total of four Primeval Flames appeared. Besides the one in the possession of Master Ye, the other three were in Angel’s hands.

The most complete and vibrant one was the orange Primeval Flame.

The other two were one purple and one white; originally given to Aoluxiya, he used them to unlock a path to a lost city. Since Angel had obtained Aoluxiya’s physical form, giving these Primeval Flames to Aoluxiya was harmless. But unexpectedly, at last, Aoluxiya allowed Young Demon Greerwu to return the purple and white Primeval Flames to Angel.

So, when looking at this slightly dim white Primeval Flame, Angel couldn’t help but think of that proud yet uniquely acting descendant of Demon God.

”Aoluxiya’s goal, reportedly a lost city called Asgard, even he as a descendant of Demon God longed for it, indicating that Asgard holds very significant secrets... I wonder if he has found it now.”

”Also, Greerwu, that little brat, I wonder how he’s doing...”

While Angel’s mind was drifting to unrelated matters, his ears suddenly caught the crisp sound created by glass stepping on a smooth ground.

Angel lifted his head and saw, in the dark mist ahead, a tall figure slowly walking out.

This was a very beautiful woman.

She was wearing a tight-fitting purple-black gauze dress, not only a seamless piece but also showcasing the wearer’s impressive figure. Paired with the sparkling lights on the dress, she appeared like the Goddess of Night, draped in a starry gauze dress, gracefully approaching.

Her black curly hair was casually draped over her smooth shoulders, lazy yet still elegant.

It’s hard to associate such a divine-level figure with someone who casually calls herself ”old lady.”

Yes, this is Cicia.

When Cicia saw the white Primeval Flame, she knew it’s impossible to continue pretending indifference. Angel had a considerable understanding of the Baiyuan Clan, and he had even obtained the Primeval Flame coveted by Baiyuan Clan.

Perhaps Angel had been waiting for this moment from the beginning.

His every word had been guiding Cicia’s thoughts.

Smart, cunning, and highly malicious.

This is Cicia’s current impression of Angel, not a good one. But, since he revealed the Primeval Flame, even if Cicia had no soul at the moment, she had to step out.

Not only for herself but also for the possibly existing... faint spark of Baiyuan Clan.