Chapter 3168: Chapter 3169: Heart Fire and Holy Corpse Crystal

"This is the Yingji Clan, who naturally prefer to live in cold environments. Therefore, an environment like Crystal City is perfect for them."

Angel and Luigi continued toward Crystal City, and along the way, Luigi resumed his role as an encyclopedic informant, explaining the various mirror races that Angel observed.

At that moment, Luigi began elaborating on the Yingji Clan.

This is a group that, at first glance, looks almost identical to humans. They each wear formal attire with leather boots and a cloak, presenting an impressive silhouette.

However, merely having a similar silhouette to humans isn’t enough to catch Angel’s eye. Nowadays, humanoid races are as common as grains in Crystal City.

Angel noticed this group of Yingji Clan because their facial features resembled Houston’s.

Houston is a server at Barbie Restaurant, nicknamed "Big Eye," but in fact, he doesn’t have eyes and is also known as... the Eyeless Man.

The Yingji Clan members are like this; each one doesn’t have eyes.

At least, from their facial features, they seem to lack them.

"The Yingji Clan indeed doesn’t have eyes; they are naturally eyeless. However, they have a unique inheritance in their clan, or you might call it their talent; this talent is known as Heart Fire," Luigi helpfully explained at that moment.

"The Heart Fire you mentioned, is it the flame in front of them?" When Angel observed the Yingji Clan, he not only noticed their lack of eyes but also found something unusual: every Yingji Clan member carried a blazing flame. Some held white candles with flickering candlelight; some used lanterns for illumination with a faint glow; others were surrounded by green fire, shadowy and eerie; or were enveloped by torchlight, like a protective fire shield... Of course, more commonly, the flames simply floated around them.

Could these flames be the Heart Fire Luigi mentioned?

Faced with Angel’s query, Luigi nodded, "Exactly, these are the Heart Fire. Their characteristics are peculiar; they can integrate with the Power of Heart and directly transmute heart power into visible sight. In other words, when the Yingji Clan combines their heart power with the flame, the flame becomes the eyes of the Yingji Clan."

"It’s said that within the range illuminated by Heart Fire, the Yingji Clan can achieve comprehensive exploration without any blind spots. Hence, the brighter the Heart Fire, the broader its illumination range, representing a stronger heart power and thus greater strength."

Heart Fire as eyes, observing the heavens and the earth—this is the greatest trait of the Yingji Clan.

Initially, Angel was merely curious about the Yingji Clan’s "Eyeless Man" appearance, but after hearing Luigi’s description, he became interested in this "Heart Fire."

"Can only the Yingji Clan use Heart Fire?" Angel asked curiously.

Luigi glanced at Angel, seemingly deciphering his intent: "You want to research Heart Fire?"

Angel: "Not necessarily research, but Heart Fire’s ability to integrate with power and observe finer realms might be useful in Alchemy."

Angel couldn’t be absolutely sure of its utility yet, but flame is essential in Alchemy experiments, and perhaps he could find a practical application.

Luigi: "The Yingji Clan seems to have a place specifically for inheriting Heart Fire, but I’ve never heard of any outsiders being able to inherit Heart Fire. Even if they could bring out the flame, they couldn’t use it because they lack Heart Power."

At this point, Luigi looked at Angel, "Can you control Heart Power?"

The Power of Heart is quite a metaphysical energy. According to Luigi, hardly anyone in the Wizards’ Realm seems capable of mastering this power.

Angel thought for a moment and shook his head.

He indeed couldn’t master Heart Power; among the transcendent beings he had encountered who could use Mind Power, the first was Gemito, the Heart-devouring Ghost, who could use Mind Power; then there was the Treasure Mermaid Maggie from Silver Coral Island, who could also use Mind Power.

Additionally, the young boy they retrieved from the Sea of Void Mirror, currently in an Empty-hearted People state as a Star Servant, also seemed capable of using Mind Power.

Because the Star Servant’s Wish Book contained the power of the mind.

However, none of these beings are truly human. As far as Angel has seen, in the Southern Domain Wizard World he has only seen half a wizard capable of using Mind Power. That would be the "Divine Robe Maiden" Kavoline.

The reason she’s called "half" is that Kavoline herself can’t use Mind Power, but when her Shepherd’s Garment was transmuted into the form of a Divine Robe using Mind Power, it could release Mind Power, which was a borrowed strength.

Although Kavoline relied on her divine attire to release Mind Power, it also served as a reminder to Angel.

Kavoline could borrow external power, so why can’t he?

He is an Alchemist after all; trying to refine a tool to release Mind Power might be possible. Although it would be challenging, it could be a method.

Angel voiced his thoughts.

After listening, Luigi pondered for a moment, "I don’t know if your method will work, but if you’re really interested in Heart Fire, we can contact the Yingji Clan at the gathering."

Although Luigi didn’t know anyone from the Yingji Clan, Glaipnir had interacted with them, and the Yingji Clan actually has a good reputation; despite appearing cold on the outside, they’re said to be very warm-hearted.

Perhaps they could make contact.

...

While discussing the Yingji Clan’s Heart Fire, they walked deeper into the tundra.

At this moment, they could already see the main outline of Crystal City. It was much like what they saw from outside the dome, but even larger and more majestic.

Crystal City is nestled deep in the tundra, with its backdrop being towering snow-capped mountains.

Each of these mountains stands no less than eight thousand meters.

Yet the crystal amidst these undulating snow mountains doesn’t seem small; it’s still as massive as a giant, even taller than the highest peaks of these snowy mountains.

From this, one can see how grand this Crystal City is.

Even just a single castle in its expanse covers more area than many cities Angel has seen.

True to its name, Crystal City appears to be crafted from crystal, glistening and translucent, reflecting dazzling light under eternal light sources.

However, according to Luigi, while the materials used to construct Crystal City include crystal, it isn’t abundant. Most of its materials are "unmeltable ice," with the walls of Crystal City predominantly made of this unmeltable ice.

The pure white spots on the walls of Crystal City are "unburnable frost," allowing it to retain its original form indefinitely.

Besides unmeltable ice and unburnable frost, there was another material that Angel hadn’t expected.

Which was—the corpses of the Crystal Eye Clan.

The Crystal Eye Clan’s overall form is quite similar to humans, but their skin is like transparent glass, flesh like colorless liquid metal, and bones akin to ice pillars on tundra. When they die, they don’t decompose, but slowly harden, eventually becoming true crystals.

This substance, called Holy Corpse Crystal by the Crystal Eye Clan, ultimately blends into Crystal City, not only expanding its size but also making it increasingly sturdy and powerful.

It can be said the life of the Crystal Eye Clan starts with Crystal City, and when they die, they become part of Crystal City.

"Of course, the Crystal Eye Clan integrates the Holy Corpse Crystal into the Crystal City, and there are some unknown secrets associated with it." Luigi said this, leaning closer to Angel, and lowered his voice on purpose: "It is said that there is a forbidden area in the Crystal City that outsiders cannot enter, and only adolescent youths from the Crystal Eye Clan are allowed in. Before entering, these youths are ignorant and clueless, but after coming out, each of them masters astonishing abilities... Moreover, many of these abilities come from the deceased members of the Crystal Eye Clan."

Angel: "You mean the Holy Corpse Crystal can also inherit abilities?"

Luigi shrugged lightly: "That’s what the rumors say, but no one knows for sure. Anyway, it’s irrelevant to us, just treat it as gossip."

Angel also nodded indifferently, even if it were true that abilities could be inherited, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise. Wizards have similar capabilities, and it’s even said that Bloodline Wizards can create bloodline vials that inherit abilities, although they are quite demanding on the user.

As they chatted and moved forward, since there was no prohibition against using abilities here, it didn’t take long for them to arrive in front of the Crystal City.

From a distance, it already looked magnificent. Up close, it was even more awe-inspiring.

What does it mean to look up to something infinitely high? The Crystal City before them was exactly that.

The grandeur of the Crystal City filled the entire field of view, its terrifying size forming a shocking contrast with their own insignificance.

The various races moving in and out looked like ants, and compared to the colossal Crystal City, each individual seemed like an insignificant leaf drifting in a vast torrent.

Even the nearby gigantic Mirror Dragon couldn’t help but feel a sense of insignificance in front of the Crystal City.

Perhaps, this was one of the reasons the Crystal Eye Clan built the Crystal City to be so enormous?

However, Angel adapted very quickly. As the actual controller of the "Crystal Origin of Dreams" and the "Wilderness of Dreams," he often observed the sand table from a God’s View. Compared to overlooking a miniature garden, the sight here was still quite small.

But then again, Angel could ignore the grand atmosphere of the Crystal City; however, the dense and overwhelming gathering of different races was something that deeply moved him.

Let alone in the Wilderness of Dreams, even in the Wizards’ Realm, it was rare to see such a wide variety of different races peacefully coming together.

While Angel was sighing in awe, Luigi tugged on his sleeve: "Look over there."

Angel turned his head and looked in the direction Luigi was pointing.

The overall shape of the Crystal City was like a spire and obelisk with round domed windows, resembling the castle of a legendary Frost Princess, but enlarged countless times.

At this moment, several of the Crystal City’s gates were open. Here, the term gate doesn’t only refer to the towering gates on the ground, which are several kilometers high, but also includes the gates of the underground aqueduct, gateways in mid-air, and even platforms at the top of the castle, all designed to accommodate different forms of species.

The place Luigi was pointing to barely counted as a passage, but whether it was a gate was unknown. Because it wasn’t large, and it was near a dome-topped spire of the Crystal City.

It looked like a pavilion embedded in the wall of the Crystal City, with a winding corridor behind it leading who knows where.

In front of the pavilion was a platform about a dozen meters in length and width.

At this moment, a silver-haired girl in a long dress was standing on this platform. Her hair was very long, almost trailing to the ground, the strands tough and capable of shaping themselves. Currently, the hair was shaped into a chair that hovered in mid-air, upon which the girl sat, her aloof gaze scanning below.

Although her location wasn’t very high and her size wasn’t large, the aura around her was exceedingly fierce, making her seem like a deity surveying all beings.

Because of the presence of her undeniable aura, all newcomers dared not approach the platform.

And she was indifferent, her gaze lightly sweeping across the venue.

When Angel looked over, he happened to meet her gaze.

Upon seeing Angel, she nodded slightly, silently saying, "Come up."

Undoubtedly, this person was Laplace.

"Let’s go, I don’t want to be stuck at this main gate. Previously waiting in line at the VIP passage was already the limit; if we queue here, we might not even get inside the Crystal City by the end of today." Luigi tugged at Angel and flew towards the platform in mid-air.

The closer they got to the platform in front of the pavilion, the fewer races were around.

The reason, naturally, was Laplace.

Inevitably, at this moment, Laplace’s aura was indeed astonishing, clearly without releasing any energy, yet impossible to ignore, deterring anyone from approaching.

To call it the aura of a superior being is quite mundane; but Angel couldn’t think of any other words to describe it just yet.

In the past, he had only felt such an aura from Lord Monty and Nami Midori.

It was a sort of deterrence emitted by a creature truly nearing the pinnacle of legend.

Yet amidst his sighs, Angel couldn’t help but recall the image of Laplace on a little boat, scratching her ears, and being an incompetent fisher.

Who would have thought that someone with a deity-like aura would actually be a Fishing Guy who couldn’t catch a fish?

When they reached the platform, the first thing Laplace saw was Angel’s strange expression.

"You seem to be thinking about something dangerous." Laplace squinted at Angel.

Although Laplace hadn’t delved into Angel’s thoughts, as a powerful being, she had a vague sense that Angel was pondering something peculiar.

Angel coughed lightly: "Actually, I was thinking... Glaipnir doesn’t seem to be here, where has she gone?"

Laplace looked at Angel deeply, then said lightly: "Didn’t you tell Luigi you were interested in the goods of all the participating races this time? She went to borrow an exhibition catalog."

Angel wasn’t surprised Laplace knew about their conversation; Luigi, being a Temporal Body, could transmit information anytime, anywhere.

Angel was more curious about whether Glaipnir could actually borrow an exhibition catalog?

With Luigi’s explanation, Angel had already gained some understanding of the exhibition catalog. It usually meant one catalog per race. Its function wasn’t just to display the items showcased by various races but also allowed for purchasing and communication through the catalog.

It served as a platform integrating display, trade, and dialogue.

From concept to implementation, it was quite advanced.

It is said to have been specially modified by the Pika Sage for this gathering.

Though it’s only usable within the confines of the Crystal City, it is still quite practical. Aside from the inability to view items firsthand, the other functions are highly substantial.

Angel even considered that if the features of the exhibition catalog were well-integrated, they could be copied... no, adapted for the Mother Tree Interlinker, laying the foundation for future online platforms.

In the past, the exhibition catalog might have been lent out; but with this edition having so many functions, would anyone really lend it?

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