The following days fell back into tranquility.
Time always flies in quiet moments, and before long, ten days had passed.
September 30.
"Master."
Wu Shangpin bowed his head respectfully and spoke:
"At the castle gathering in five days, the number of confirmed extraordinary participants has already exceeded one hundred. I've sent out messages indicating the need for high-level ritual materials."
He paused for a moment before adding quietly:
"However, while we might be able to procure some high-level ritual materials, the chances of gathering them all are still quite slim. High-level ritual materials are classified as Class I regulated items."
"No worries."
Chen Xiang casually flipped through a history of the world, speaking gently:
"It's best if we can gather them all, but it's not a problem if we can't."
Wu Shangpin nodded respectfully and silently left the tower.
After he left, Chen Xiang continued to read the book on extraordinary history, occasionally munching on a couple of knowledge demons as snacks.
He was exploring history.
The truth often lies hidden within it.
"The history of the Divine Calendar a thousand years ago is quite vague; even the true history of the extraordinary is merely glossed over."
Chen Xiang read carefully, his brow slightly furrowed:
"Throughout the Divine Calendar, there were two major wars of the gods. One began in 1401 and ended in 1500, with the main battleground in the Spirit Realm and other surreal dimensions."
"This should be the War of the Dusk Fall."
Chen Xiang concluded, noting that the end of the divine war coincided with the death of Dusk, as the sun collapsed into the red moon—also the year he was born into this world.
"The truly puzzling part is the first war of the gods, which occurred before the Divine Calendar. All available extraordinary histories gloss over it, making it vague and obscure."
Chen Xiang looked at the records in the extraordinary history book.
"The first war of the gods began in the Divine Calendar year 9 and ended in year 14."
It lasted only five years, but this brief period seemed to have been erased and concealed by some force.
"I should ask Lu Saleng about this later. He is the founder of the Great City and has lived from the old calendar until now. He might know something."
Chen Xiang narrowed his eyes, finishing the book on extraordinary world history and opening another titled The Development History of the Extraordinary World, which contained brief historical accounts of various outer god churches and large organizations, including the Old Council.
"In the year 1500 of the Divine Calendar, the Old Council officially proclaimed that the true name of the greatest being they worshipped is Emperor Titan."
Chen Xiang's gaze lingered on this piece of information, his expression one of surprise.
"1500? I've never known this before. Coincidentally, it's also the year I was born, the same year as the Dusk Fall."
Chen Xiang had always assumed that the name Emperor Titan had been revealed long ago; he never expected it to be only twenty-four years of history.
"The year 1500 of the Divine Calendar is indeed an interesting time node,"
Chen Xiang thought deeply, his mind racing.
"According to what the predecessors said, the name Emperor Titan and the Old Altar originate from the 'Old Ones' wandering in the depths of the Misty Sea. I need to find them; perhaps I can uncover some truths."
He fell into contemplation:
"Among the nine great kingdoms, only the Great City and the Storm Kingdom lie in the depths of the Misty Sea. There's no need to mention the Great City; the Storm Kingdom is a nation built on a cluster of islands, worshipping the Lord of the Lost."
"If the Old Ones really live in the depths of the Misty Sea, they would inevitably be linked to the Storm Kingdom. It seems I'll need to visit that place in the future."
"Besides that, perhaps after I leave the castle, I can also meet that being who ranks third among the taboos—the Mist and the Ghost Captain."
Chen Xiang closed the book, striding down the stairs, crossing the wheat field, and standing beside the scarecrow.
He gently patted the scarecrow's head, and in a moment, a massive will descended as the winds and clouds changed dramatically.
"Speak!"
The scarecrow's tone was unkind.
"This time, it's serious."
Chen Xiang smiled:
"How is your relationship with the Ghost Captain?"
The Original Fear fell silent, the woven mouth of the scarecrow twitching:
"What do you think?"
"Hmm, it shouldn't be too good."
Chen Xiang chuckled:
"I wanted to ask if that Ghost Captain is easy to deal with. I'd like to meet Him soon."
The Original Fear fell silent again for a while, then said:
"That guy—actually has a pretty good temper. He's one of the closest to 'human' among the taboos. Well, now I suppose you count too."
Chen Xiang curiously pressed on:
"Since He has a good temper, how did you provoke Him and get chased for so many days? What did you do?"
The Original Fear clearly didn't want to answer that question, grumbling:
"Do you have anything else? If not, I'm heading back; the Ghost Captain keeps pestering me. He's like a piece of stubborn adhesive!"
"I don't have anything else, but when you go back, please send Him my regards—just say I'm looking forward to visiting His ghost ship."
At the end, while the massive will of the Original Fear had not fully withdrawn, Chen Xiang finally asked:
"By the way, does that Ghost Captain have a name? Like your 'Adao'?"
The Original Fear stared at Chen Xiang with its deep, hollow black eyes, then coldly replied:
"He does."
"He calls himself—"
"Embers."
The massive will withdrew, and the scarecrow returned to being an ordinary scarecrow.
Chen Xiang pondered thoughtfully:
"Embers… the ashes and remnants after the flame extinguishes. It seems this Ghost Captain also has a grand past."
"Teacher!" Wei Tuantuan said weakly: "I've already memorized most of these Pure White Knight codes. When—when can I start learning Mysticism?"
"No rush."
Li Rong'en smiled:
"Entering the extraordinary is difficult for outsiders, but for our Pure White Knight order, it's quite simple. It only requires a baptism, using the Lord's grace once."
"When can I receive the baptism?" Wei Tuantuan's spirit lifted.
This time, Li Rong'en fell into silence, unsure if the baptism could still proceed since the Lord hadn't been heard from for six whole years.
It should be fine.
He could sense that recently, the connection with the Lord had become less vague, as if the Lord were not far away—though it was merely an illusion.
But it was enough to prove that the Lord was close to liberation!
Even the Eternal Void was merely a temporary refuge for the Lord!
After a while,
Li Rong'en sighed:
"In five days—at most, no more than ten days, I will conduct your baptism. By then, you will become extraordinary."
Wei Tuantuan's eyes lit up with excitement:
"Teacher! Master!"
She said playfully:
"How about today, right now?"
"No!"
Li Rong'en decisively rejected her, slightly annoyed:
"Don't think so much. It's just five days, at most ten! Are you really that impatient? You're still in the trial period; only after five days can I determine whether to admit you into the Pure White Knight Order, to become a glorious and great Pure White Knight!"
Wei Tuantuan pouted and closed her mouth, continuing to recite the knight's codes with a lack of energy.
Li Rong'en quietly watched her, letting out a barely noticeable sigh.
Regardless of whether he could obtain the Lord's grace, he could guarantee that the baptism would proceed smoothly.
At worst, he would sacrifice himself; he was determined to break through the barrier of the Eternal Void!
According to the information given by Morilin before his departure, the Hunters would arrive in five days. He was unsure how long he could stall them, but it would not exceed five days.
So, at most ten days, at least five, a new Pure White Knight would be born, while the last of the old generation of Pure White Knights would lay in the grave.
Li Rong'en slightly lowered his eyelids, the sigh vanishing, replaced by a faint smile.
He would fight the Hunters to the last moment.
When his life neared its end, he would conduct his disciple's baptism—the first baptism in her life!
This was a legacy.
A legacy belonging to the Pure White Knight Order!
As Wei Tuantuan continued reciting the knight's codes, she suddenly leaned in closer:
"Teacher, teacher, after I become a Pure White Knight, can I hunt heretics?"
"Teacher, teacher, how many members do we have in the Pure White Knights?"
"Teacher, teacher, where is our headquarters?"
"Teacher, teacher, we..."
Li Rong'en felt a headache from her constant chattering and snapped:
"Stop! Don't buzz around! In a few days, you'll know everything you need to know!"
Wei Tuantuan's face showed a proud smile:
"So, teacher, I've actually passed your trial, right?"
She grinned, showing her little sharp teeth:
"Five days! I can wait!"
Li Rong'en felt both amused and exasperated.
This little girl.
He slowly leaned back in his chair, squinting at the sun, listening to his disciple recite the Pure White codes, enjoying the tranquility and peace of the moment as he looked at the shop filled with various items, some real, some fake.
Li Rong'en suddenly wished time could slow down, just a little more.
But the more you wish for time to slow down, the faster it seems to fly by.
In the blink of an eye, four days had passed.
On October 4th, the eve of the castle gathering.
"Teacher, I'm home!" Wei Tuantuan waved her hand excitedly: "You promised tomorrow, you'll give me my baptism!"
"I said five to ten days!" Li Rong'en replied, irritated: "Why are you so impatient? You're not calm at all; where's your grace as a girl?"
Wei Tuantuan made a face and dashed out of the antique shop.
Li Rong'en shook his head helplessly, hung the "Closed" sign, and locked the shop door before opening the storage box.
He put on his pure white armor, picked up the heavy shield and spear—he could smell the scent of heresy.
The Hunters had arrived.
"So soon..."
He had hoped to take his disciple to the extraordinary gathering at the castle outskirts tomorrow, to give her some last experiences.
What a pity.
Li Rong'en finally donned the ram-horned helmet that concealed his entire face, leaving only a slit for his eyes.
This helmet symbolized the leader of the Pure White Knights, meaning he was the leading sheep of the Lord's flock, charging at the front.
"I vow to defend the Lord's glory until the last moment."
"The Pure White Knights established by the Lord will not perish with me. I have found a new knight for the Lord—my duty has been fulfilled."
"For the Lord!"
The knight charged out of the antique shop.