Chapter 896 - 434: Eternal Prison (2)
"Because of spiritual transcendence, they have surpassed Nebis, connecting material and Magic Power dimensions together, above the Star Dome, in the flow of spirituality throughout the world, and also outside Nebis, which the world has denied."
Li Ang felt a sense of familiarity with the last concept.
It’s the Demon Curse.
Whether it’s Akuya, who taught him the temporary sealing method, or others who are somewhat knowledgeable about Demons, they all mentioned the concept of "being excluded by the world."
Especially the sealing technique taught by Akuya, the essence of which is a spell called "Dimensional Cutting." It precisely converges the spatial blade of dimensional cutting onto the arm, utilizing the exclusion power of the world itself to suppress the Curse.
"The realm of what is denied must be where the Demons reside?"
"Yes."
The imagery of "sinking" and "black mud" reminded Li Ang of what he recently learned through Livi’s words, the Dark Dragon discovered a sudden change in the "Dark Abyss."
If the Lotus of Reincarnation is the entrance to the Spiritual Dimension, then the Dark Abyss under the Tower of the Abyss is the entrance to where the Demons reside?
Li Ang couldn’t confirm this, so he decided to set this issue aside for now.
"Is the Demon Curse still here with me, and is this why I was pulled towards the mire when I entered the Transcendent Realm?"
The Great Witch Priest stood silently for a moment like a withered old tree, before responding.
"It’s possible."
"What do you mean? You can’t be sure?"
Li Ang was a bit surprised, what else might exist within me that prevents me from staying in the normal area of the Oil Painting World?
"I can’t be certain either, but the Ten Thousand Spirits do not deny you, let’s continue."
If we continue, then he would again witness those statues that "came to life."
"Do they want to attack me?"
"They... Honestly, I’m quite surprised."
The Great Witch Priest’s gaze swept over the numerous statues that stood around, starting from the Stone Gate.
"The predecessors have long returned to the Ten Thousand Spirits, their manifestation before you must have a special purpose. This useless old man read the words left by the predecessors related to the pioneers as much as possible, and I assure you, they won’t harm you."
Won’t harm me?
Li Ang roughly understood, the physical pain was due to the Demon Curse or other reasons, when he looked into the actual Spiritual Dimension, he was dragged to the position of "viscous black mud" by some force.
Well, calling it black mud always felt abstract, maybe it could be called "Eternal Prison" or "Sealing Crevice," something fitting for a place where Demons dwell.
The "pioneers" mentioned by the Great Witch Priest were the ancient witches who first researched the ways of Spiritual Manipulation. In this place, one could see the statues of figures gradually transitioning to tribal clothing, indicating that the people of Zultin Marsh indeed inherited their knowledge.
Li Ang had always struggled to understand the origin of these statues, which neither seemed to be erected for memorial nor were they resembling those who were solidified before their death.
Just as if sensing his confusion, the Great Witch Priest spoke.
"After the pioneers returned to the Ten Thousand Spirits, Nebis will forever remember them, these before you are the marks they left."
Marks...
Precisely because this place is the boundary of the true Spiritual Dimension, thus such phenomena occurred.
Li Ang nodded, confirming that his recently wounded skin had healed, and with his spiritual state set, he prepared to re-enter the Spiritual Horizon.
Not wanting to be dragged into the Eternal Prison this time, he planned to clearly observe his state after entering the Transcendent Realm, and proceed cautiously.
"You might follow the predecessors," said the Great Witch Priest.
Follow them? Let’s see.
Previously, Li Ang was mainly creeped out due to the statues moving, which immediately prompted him to sever the Spiritual Horizon.
Upon reflection, he had encountered various Demons and Undead and shouldn’t be afraid of such phenomena. The sudden chills seemed not to arise from witnessing their actions but from sensing some profound threat at the time.
Given the special nature of the Land of Ten Thousand Spirits, in the Transcendent State, he seemed beyond this Material Dimension.
Was it coming from them? Or from something from the Eternal Prison?
Li Ang took a deep breath, sitting back down under the calm and concerned gaze of the Great Witch Priest and Diona.
He cast Spiritual Activation upon himself, and spirituality instantly became active, significantly enhancing abilities including perception and thinking, even while sitting, a feeling of floating arose.
In the Land of Ten Thousand Spirits, the effect of Spiritual Activation was exceptionally good; he felt transcended even without switching to the Spiritual Horizon, as if crossing into new Domain.
In Material and Magic Power Dimension, the Spiritual Horizon merely observed spirituality, but here it was called Transcendent Realm.
Li Ang again switched his view to observe the world, actively crossing the boundary.
Colors of oil paint unfolded again before him, confirming re-entering the threshold state, Li Ang immediately soared upward.
Without Casting, it was just spirituality’s need, as if sprouting wings. That he could do so immediately was due to the temporary ability bestowed by Spiritual Activation.
The colors rapidly fell away beside him, casting a glance downward, beneath the faintly glowing layer there was indeed a certain darkness stirring.
This time they haven’t approached, thankfully. Li Ang breathed a sigh of relief.
He continued soaring upwards, gradually distancing from the deer and eagle, and the visible shape of the witch priest platform. As familiar objects vanished from sight, the oil-painted world was dizzying.
However, the stone gate claimed to isolate the real from the world’s illusion now extended upwards with his ascent, seemingly reaching the sky’s end, thoroughly achieving world isolation.
Before this heavenly curtain like that used by a Giant God, Li Ang wouldn’t lose his way.
Whether back then or now, the witch priests hoped he would pass through this gate.
Li Ang flew towards this oil-painted curtain, its surface engraved with deep recesses, flowing within the Transcendent Realm as if pouring paint into water, then stirring to disperse both naturally and bizarrely.
The murmurs gradually cleared up, Li Ang could hear their words more distinctly.
"You have arrived, disturber."
"Come, come here."
"Witness yourself."
"Who are you, you need to know."
The voices washed over Li Ang’s spirit like a breeze, feeling as though he transcended many things—Nebis’s Sky Islands, magnificent cities, serene human villages; he also bypassed much troubling to behold something more exalted, like salvation and grasping the world’s fate...
Yet at this moment, within the fluorescence below the oil-painted world, a black, tentacle-like item tore through the luminous canopy, suddenly piercing into the colorful world, rushing toward him.
Wherever these tentacles passed, colors collapsed into thick darkness, with the emergence of blood red, and screams echoed aurally.
Quickly, Li Ang ascended further, attempting to reach higher within the oil-painted world.
But his speed couldn’t surpass the tentacles veined with blood red, their elongated form clearly showed each thorn distinctly.
"Li Ang, Great Witch!"
A beam of light like a meteor drew an arc, as Diao transformed into a female deer, flying from below, holding up Li Ang, racing upwards.
"Why are you here?"
Her hooves tread swiftly through the void, astonishingly fast, prompting Li Ang to embrace her neck to stabilize.
"The Great Witch Priest sent me to assist you, your path of cultivation differs from ours, lacking Transformation Ability, hence unable to fully wield power in this space."
"Thank you then."
No matter, Li Ang’s goal was completing the witch, the system also urged him to enter that gate, spending time battling with things in the Eternal Prison brought no merit.
After Diao ran a stretch, twisting her body, transforming in a burst of light dust into a giant eagle, generally deep brown while the wing edges adorned smooth ivory white feathers.
She flapped her wings, altitude spiking, tentacles momentarily unable to reach Li Ang.
"Otherworld Objects are more active than usual," spoke the giant eagle in a young girl’s voice.
"Usually are they visible?"