Chapter 2675: Chapter 2676: Second Layer

Angel didn’t have a strong impression of the second floor because its internal layout was similar to the first floor, just with a few more small rooms. Moreover, he didn’t find anything like a thin book on the second floor either.

However, Angel could confirm that there were absolutely no invisible paths hidden in the void on the second floor.

The change in layout here was probably due to the blessings of the Spatial Tempest.

Since there were no other paths, Angel didn’t hesitate and directly stepped onto this invisible path.

They walked about tens of meters before seeing the first room floating in the void... or rather, the remains of a room.

Without walls or a ceiling, only scattered fragments of the floor remained.

These floor fragments were mostly separated, wandering in a small area, occasionally closing together, much like the moving floorboards when they first entered the hanging stairs.

"Should we go up there?" Kaier looked at the constantly moving floor remnants with some hesitation.

"What, are you scared?"

A slightly teasing voice came from the side, and Kaier didn’t need to turn his head to know it was Dox speaking.

"No." Kaier shook his head. He wasn’t scared, but seeing Vay fall into the void earlier left a shadow in his mind, making him instinctively want to resist when he saw the more scattered floor fragments.

"It’s okay to admit you’re scared. After all, it’s well-known that the Academy Faction is afraid of death. I won’t laugh at you."

Before Kaier could say anything, Vay whispered from the side, "There’s more than one from the Academy Faction here, you know."

Dox paused for a moment, looked back, but Angel ignored him, and The Sage observed Dox and Kaier with curious eyes.

Dox "clicked" his tongue in his heart, wondering if this old monster was from the Academy Faction.

The Sage, the Sage... Usually, they’re from the Academy Faction, right?

Dox smirked but didn’t say anything in the end.

Kaier then spoke, "I was just thinking, will these broken floorboards always float nearby? If it happens that we stand on them and they float far away, then won’t we..."

Vay swallowed nervously and continued, "...just disappear."

Watching the two apprentices echo each other, Dox said irritably, "Can’t you judge the safe distance yourself? Even if these floorboards float far, do you think Jin would watch you die with open eyes?"

Vay’s exaggerated expression immediately ceased, "That’s true."

Dox: "True for what? You’re not even using your true body to enter. Believe it or not, if you jump down here crying, Jin won’t save you... You should be grateful that I’m coming in with you, not Jin!"

Vay pouted, "If even the adults can’t find it, you coming in is just a waste of time."

Dox’s eyes widened, ready to retort, but before he could, The Sage chuckled and said, "I think he’s right. Now it’s like all of you are looking together, and if so many people can’t find it, what makes you think you can find it alone?"

"Even if I can’t find it, I have to try," Dox retorted, but his confidence was clearly lacking.

The Sage nonchalantly said, "If you can’t find the Wood Spirit, you should at least take something else out, right? Like the Porodense Stone?"

Dox was silent. If anyone else had said it, he could have stubbornly argued back, but since it was The Sage saying it, he didn’t want to risk slipping up.

While they bantered with Dox, Angel and the Black Earl had already flown onto the floor remnants.

Angel roughly surveyed around — there wasn’t much information left on these floor remnants, not even the furniture, which was mostly shattered.

The only thing remaining on the floor was fluorite-made light tubes, but even those were broken into bits and pieces.

Despite moving between several floors, Angel still had no clues. He glanced at the Black Earl, who also shook the slate side to side.

The Black Earl had been here before to search, but he hadn’t found any clues either.

Angel sighed and looked at the others. At this moment, Dox had also flown onto the wooden boards, occasionally looking around or touching things, but from what he touched, it was evident he wasn’t looking for the Wood Spirit; he was simply interested in some aspects of the remnants’ material.

The Sage and Vay stayed on the Void Path; Vay was worried his presence would increase Angel’s computing power, while The Sage was simply there to watch the spectacle.

However, when Angel met eyes with The Sage, the latter didn’t remain uninvolved. He smiled and said, "If you have questions, feel free to ask me. For example, whether the Wood Spirit is here or not. While I don’t know its exact location, I can give you a general judgment."

"But asking questions is still reciprocal. If I answer your question, you must answer one of mine."

Previously, outside, the questioning session with The Sage had ended, but now he mentioned it again, evidently filled with curiosity about Angel’s series of actions after entering the Hanging Jail Stairway.

Seeing The Sage’s brightening eyes, Angel softly stated, "If I need to, I’ll definitely consult The Wise Sovereign."

Conversely, the same.

The Sage shrugged indifferently, even if Angel decided not to ask, he could still seek answers to his questions through observation or other means.

Bypassed The Sage, Angel’s gaze then turned to the only real person present besides him: Kaier.

At this moment, Kaier was carefully observing each broken fragment on the edge of the floor.

As Angel approached, he discovered Kaier was holding a Photostone in one hand and some observation instrument similar to a microscope in the other, conducting an in-depth study of a nearby broken floor piece.

"Still worried about them floating away?" Angel: "Don’t worry, although the floor is in fragments, they’re kept within bounds by the Magical Energy Array, they’ll only move nearby, not float away."

Seeing Angel come over, Kaier quickly stood up, "No, no, it’s not that. I just have a hypothesis."

Angel: "A hypothesis? If it’s related to the Wood Spirit, feel free to share it."

Kaier: "I once read a book about a Heavy Armored Knight on an exile story."

Angel raised an eyebrow, "A Heavy Armored Knight... A novel like ’Dragoknight and The Devil Castle’?"

Kaier was momentarily stunned, his eyes widened, "You’ve read it too, my lord?"

Angel: "I’ve only read one book starring a Heavy Armored Knight, but it seemed more about dropping into some demonic realm rather than going into exile..."

"Blood... Blood Demon Realm." Kaier said apologetically while scratching his head, "That was the author’s own creation, so I felt a bit embarrassed."

"I understand, ordinary people’s imaginations of the Extraordinary World are always based on their knowledge. Inevitably, it’s all about fighting and conflict, with opposing factions. If there’s a world where humans survive, there must also be a world where demons survive."

Angel spoke as if dismissive of such books, yet in truth, after becoming a Talented One, there was a time when he quite enjoyed reading them. Firstly, Moro hadn’t taught him the Guiding Method, so he could only imagine the Extraordinary World through these novels; secondly, during the period on the Bauhinia Vessel, there really wasn’t much else to do, and reading novels became his only pastime.

Angel: "So, did this book give you any insight?"

"Not exactly insight, but there’s a scene I always remember." After confirming that Angel had read the book, Kaier didn’t bother with a summary and directly recounted the scene, "When the Dragoknight first entered the Devil Castle, hiding in the castle corridor to avoid pursuing Cannibal Ghosts..."

After listening to Kaier’s account, Angel understood his point.

Dragoknight is a Heavy Armored Knight, clad in heavy armor from head to toe. In the corridor of the Devil Castle, how could he evade the pursuing ogres? His method was simple: he put on his helmet and stood next to an oil painting, pretending to be a statue of armor, successfully avoiding a calamity.

To put it plainly, it’s the darkness under the lamp. Or perhaps, the most dangerous place is the safest place.

Kaier pondered that perhaps the Wood Spirit thought similarly, so could it have disguised itself as a piece of wood, hiding right under their noses.

Therefore, Kaier observed each piece of wood carefully.

"Your idea is good, but the Wood Spirit shouldn’t do such a thing. Its hiding is literally just hiding, not playing tricks." After Angel finished speaking, he looked at the not-so-distant place: "Wise Sovereign, what do you think?"

Wise Sovereign: "Are you asking me?"

Angel: "If the Wise Sovereign has an urgent question to ask me, feel free to ask directly. I need to determine if these questions should be considered inquiries."

Looking at Angel’s direct gaze, the Wise Sovereign said indifferently: "Wait until you really need to ask me a serious question, then it’s not too late. As for these insignificant questions, haven’t you already guessed them yourself?"

The Wise Sovereign’s words indirectly confirmed Angel’s guess was correct.

The timid nature of the Wood Spirit wouldn’t resort to playing tricks in the dark. It inherently has the Talent to hide and doesn’t need to test the edges of danger. Moreover, a Wood Spirit generally recognized as a blank slate couldn’t outsmart the Black Earl, could it? If it were the darkness under the lamp, the Black Earl would have found it earlier.

Though the Wood Spirit wouldn’t play in the darkness, Angel still searched all the hidden spots in this area.

The results were the same as the Black Earl’s, discovering nothing.

Finding nothing doesn’t mean the Wood Spirit isn’t here. Perhaps the Wood Spirit’s hiding ability is so strong that they can’t find it even if they all search together.

Despite this possibility, Angel prepared to leave here. If they truly missed it, it’s fate.

Besides, if the Black Earl didn’t find it, it’s not shameful for him not to find it either.

With this thought, Angel greeted everyone and returned to the Void Path, continuing forward.

Once Angel left, the others felt no reason to stay here and naturally followed him.

This time, they traveled nearly a hundred meters in the Void before seeing the ruins of the second room. Like the ruins of the first room, it floated in mid-air with numerous fragments wandering around.

However, compared to the first room, this one is better preserved. While the ceiling is gone, three walls remain, much better than the barren first room.

Moreover, more items remain in this room than in the first, providing the Wood Spirit more hiding spaces.

Arriving at the ruins of the second room, the first thing Angel noticed was a painting hanging on the wall.

Or rather, everyone’s attention first focused on the painting. Because it clearly differs from the other rooms, which were empty ’prison cells’, this room unexpectedly contains an artwork, naturally drawing attention.

From afar, the center of the painting depicts a human figure, but it isn’t very clear.

Dox, relying on his courage and skill, moved right up to see.

However, just as Dox approached the painting, wanting to look closely, he turned into a black fog, disappearing into the wind.

In front of everyone’s eyes, Dox died, and his death was eerily bizarre.

Kaier couldn’t help but take several steps back. He almost rushed to the painting earlier; if it had been him, wouldn’t he have followed in Dox’s footsteps? However, Dox had the chance for resurrection; he would be dead for good.

"What’s going on?" Kaier asked with some trepidation.

"A trap." Angel pointed to the painting’s frame: "He just touched the middle of the painting frame, where there’s a trap."

"Is this the frame trap you encountered before?" Angel turned to look at the Black Earl.

The Black Earl didn’t deny it and nodded: "Yes."

"What kind of trap makes someone die silently?" Kaier wondered.

Black Earl: "A decayed trap that emits a poisonous mist. However, the mist is so weak now that it barely has any impact, just smells a bit."

Dox: "The mist isn’t strong, why did he just die..."

Angel: "You didn’t enter with true bodies, only illusions. Assuming you’re ordinary human physiques, encountering this poisonous mist, regardless of its decay, the fate of an ordinary person would be death."

After Angel’s serious explanation, no one spoke, but they thought to themselves: Who would believe such an excuse! This was surely a way to save computing power...

Though everyone had their thoughts, no one spoke up, since saving computing power was also for a better broadcast.

Dox sacrificed himself, and at the time, it was for a better experience for everyone.

Moreover, Dox can come back, can’t he?

While everyone was thinking, Dox appeared in front of them again, his speed was rather quick, probably sprinting up.

As Dox arrived nearby, he immediately locked onto Angel, storming over aggressively.

Angel: "An ordinary person sprinting up such high stairs should be gasping for breath. Maybe even sudden death could occur?"

Hearing ’sudden death’, Dox’s expression changed drastically.

This is a threat!

Does he respond to threats?!

Yes. He does.

Dox instantly halted: "Indeed a bit breathless, but it’ll pass by walking, it’ll pass by walking."

Dox turned around immediately, considerably cowardly distancing himself from Angel.

Seeing Dox being sensible, Angel didn’t really let him ’sudden death’, but refocused on the painting.

He felt there was something off about this painting.

"The Wood Spirit isn’t here." The Black Earl noted Angel’s interest in the painting, saying in a low voice: "That’s the answer given by the Wise Sovereign."

Angel had also heard the prior conversation between the Black Earl and the Wise Sovereign after entering the Hanging Jail Stairway. When the Black Earl arrived in a room with a painting, the Wise Sovereign urged him to touch the frame of the painting.

The Black Earl touched the painting, naturally triggering the trap. In response, the Wise Sovereign’s explanation was: I’m just reminding you that the room has a trap, so the Wood Spirit definitely isn’t here.

Since the Wise Sovereign confirmed the Wood Spirit isn’t here, there’s no need to waste time here.

That was the Black Earl’s thought.

However, Angel had another idea because if he recalled correctly, this painting wasn’t from the second floor...

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