Chapter 1238: Section 1239: Memories of Ice Valley
According to Greerwu’s account, its adolescent appearance is referred to as an immature form.
It is the primary state of a Pattern Demon.
Once a young fire demon matures and transforms into a Pattern Demon, the amount of energy required to sustain its true form becomes unsustainable for a newly matured Pattern Demon. Consequently, the vast majority of Pattern Demons initiate their immature state to consume less energy.
Only when their power increases in the future and their energy reserves are sufficient will this juvenile state slowly vanish among the Pattern Demons.
It does sound similar to the concept of energy conservation in Mechanical Alchemy.
Once the low-energy mode is activated, the loss of one’s energy will be minimized.
Angel felt somewhat sentimental; although demons have not developed a special knowledge structure, many concepts in their philosophy of survival actually fill the missing link. Take, for example, this typical “laying low and biding time” mode.
In the following days, Greerwu stayed in Ice Valley to recover from injuries.
However, Greerwu did not stay long; about two days later, after roughly recuperating from the injuries, Greerwu prepared to return to the Demon Monastery.
When Greerwu left, it gave Angel something.
——Two blossoms of Primeval Flame, one purple and one white.
Looking at the two Primeval Flames floating above Greerwu’s palm, Angel asked with confusion, “Isn’t the Primeval Flame the reason Aoluxiya came to Lassudral? Why, aren’t you planning to take it anymore?”
Greerwu shook its head. “Lord Aoluxiya only needed the Primeval Flame to unlock the Fire Relics. Now that the Fire Relics have been activated and the Lord has obtained what was desired, I was instructed to bring these two Primeval Flames to the store owner.”
“To me?”
Greerwu nodded, “Yes, Lord Aoluxiya also told me to deliver a message to the store owner.”
“While the roles in the script may be similar, the stages are different. You crossed your own stage and became my redeemer; this is what you deserve.”
Greerwu imitated Aoluxiya’s emphasis solemnly, then reluctantly handed over the primrose and white Primeval Flame to Angel.
Angel paused for a moment, realizing that Aoluxiya was responding to the “stage and role” metaphor he had mentioned before. It now seemed that Aoluxiya truly did not care about that body and had relinquished past obsessions.
Without the chains of the past, Angel suddenly felt that Aoluxiya’s future might unfold even farther than he had imagined.
Angel chuckled softly and took the Primeval Flames from Greerwu’s hands. Although a small portion of these Flames had been expended and they were not as vigorous as his own, who would complain about having less Primeval Flame?
After accepting the Primeval Flames, Greerwu waited by his side. After a while, noticing that Angel said nothing, Greerwu asked with confusion, “Store owner, don’t you need me to pass any message to Lord Aoluxiya?”
“No,” replied Angel after a pause. “However, there are some words I’d like to say to you.”
Greerwu looked puzzled at Angel.
“I should be leaving in a few days, and unless there’s a major event, I won’t set foot in the Abyss again for a short time. I hope that when we meet again, you will have become a Pattern Demon—and that we will not be enemies.”
“Not enemies,” Greerwu declared firmly.
Angel did not offer such definitive statements and instead added, “If you need to contact me for something, you can leave a message with Wodell. If nothing unexpected happens, my next visit to the Abyss will likely be to keep the promise made to Wodell. Of course, this assumes you can enter the Continent of Yuantan.”
Greerwu nodded. “Even though it’s a bit difficult to enter the Continent of Yuantan from the land of Moria, it’s possible to go through the Void. I may not find the way, but Lord Aoluxiya knows it.”
After hearing this, Angel smiled and did not say much more, escorting Greerwu out of the Ice Valley.
There was no farewell and not many lingering words; Greerwu briefly exited Angel’s life.
After sending Greerwu away, Angel fell into deep thought.
It had nothing to do with Greerwu but reminded him of Madeline, who had followed Greerwu before.
Madeline had mentioned something before leaving.
Yisu was Dong La; Yisu had been hiding her identity for some reason. But her decision to reveal herself must hold some value.
The opportunity for Yisu to reveal her identity was Angel.
Madeline suspected that Dong La must have noticed him. No, it was not a suspicion but a certainty that Dong La had noticed Angel.
This attention was not of a romantic nature. Madeline earnestly cautioned Angel, “Dong La is an exceedingly dangerous Carabit; she takes an unusual interest in dissecting bodies that catch her eye. If she has set her sights on you, it is because she fancies a part of you—perhaps your skull, your body, or maybe your limbs. You must stay vigilant and take good care of yourself.”
Oftentimes, the person who understands you best might be your enemy.
Madeline had been able to deduce the connection between Yisu and Dong La from just a few clues on the edge of the Silent Dead Sea. Now, she inferred from certain details that Yisu was Dong La herself. Clearly, Madeline’s understanding of Dong La far exceeded that of ordinary people.
Back in the Ancient Cold Ruins, Angel could not fathom why Yisu suddenly attacked him. Now, the explanation provided by Madeline forced him to take it seriously.
Perhaps Dong La really had taken an interest in him.
Enhancing his strength was a matter of urgency. Angel sighed inwardly and turned his head back toward Ice Valley.
…
On the eleventh day after Angel handed the Fire Transmission Stone over to Odeclass, Aoluxiya, who had been in seclusion in the Underground Fire Crystal Mine, finally appeared in the Ice Crystal Palace.
The first thing Odeclass did after coming out of seclusion was to summon Angel.
When Angel arrived at the Ice Crystal Palace, he noticed that while Odeclass maintained his humanoid shape, his overall appearance had not changed. However, Angel could sense that the faint frosty aura emanating from him had greatly diminished.
However, the decrease in frosty aura did not mean Odeclass’s expression would become any warmer.
Even when facing Angel, his acknowledged friend, Odeclass remained cool and indifferent, “My strength has recovered somewhat, so I can lift the curse from your bird now.”
Angel twitched the corner of his mouth, disregarding the somewhat awkward phrase ‘your bird,’ and hastily brought out Toby.
Odeclass glanced at the green pattern swirling around Toby, curiosity flickered in his mind, but he did not delve into it.
He slowly extended a hand, lifting Toby into the air.
“You may remove this outer green pattern now,” he said.
Following Odeclass’s words, Angel withdrew the green pattern back into his eyes, puzzling Odeclass once more with this sight; still, he did not ask.
Next, Angel didn’t know what Odeclass did, but Toby was soon enveloped in a faint firelight that held him aloft, preventing his fall, while gradually burning away the Calamity Curse within him.
“Do not touch it; in two days, the curse will be gone,” Odeclass stated.
After saying this, Odeclass turned to leave the palace, but Angel quickly called out to him, “Lord Odeclass, may I ask you some questions?”
Odeclass stopped and turned to look at Angel. Though he did not speak, this action represented his consent.
“I’d like to know about Feng,” said Angel.
Odeclass watched Angel quietly for a few seconds, a dark light flickering in his heterochromatic eyes, and then he nodded slightly, “You may.”
Lifting his gaze, Odeclass walked slowly to the mural at the front of the palace and, starting with the painting, began talking about the human friend from centuries past.
Although Odeclass’s voice was cold, it was filled with emotions that could be sensed.
Outside the palace, the wind and snow howled, while inside, the palace lamps remained lit for a long time. Accompanied by that long and ancient voice, a segment of the past history, unknown to many, was gradually unveiled.
Angel remained immersed in the story even after Odeclass had finished speaking and left the Ice Crystal Palace.
It wasn’t that the story was particularly twisty; rather, it contained much information that Angel found worth pondering over carefully.
According to Odeclass, Feng had sought him out on his own initiative.
At the time, Binaqionse had undergone a drastic change, and Odeclass, desperate and hopeless, watched over a dark future in Ice Valley.
It was then that Feng arrived.
An elderly man with a beaming smile approached Odeclass before he could act, saying, “I am a painter, and if you are willing, I can paint a picture for you.”
Odeclass inexplicably stopped his actions back then. He refused Feng’s offer but instead admired his paintings, hoping that Feng would teach him to paint.
After that, Feng stayed in Ice Valley for a while.
Subsequent events were mostly mundane and trivial. Feng earnestly taught Odeclass to paint, but Odeclass constantly failed to produce the painting he envisioned.
Then Feng suggested a method, which would enable Odeclass to create the painting he envisioned, with the condition that Odeclass would not harm humans in the future.
In the end, the painting was completed. Feng left with a contented smile.
This was the gist of Odeclass’s interaction with Feng, but as Feng had stayed there for several years, there were many details—for instance, the Ice Crystal Palace was rebuilt under Feng’s guidance, and Feng discussed many things with Odeclass.
It was these details that caught Angel’s interest.
Angel noticed that among the things Feng discussed with Odeclass, much of it involved human wizards—for instance, Feng spoke about the three major structures of human wizards, the composition of their systems, default rules, and so on.
——The reason Odeclass had assigned the task of the Fire Transmission Stone to Angel was because Angel had claimed to be an Alchemist. And Feng had discussed Alchemists with him.
Besides talking about human wizards, what Feng spoke about was mostly insignificant matters.
He mentioned himself the least of all.