"Without a doubt, there definitely is one." Angel gave a definitive answer in the Mind Ribbon: "However, this also indicates one thing, there’s indeed a way out hidden above the chimney."
The sewage systems and the labyrinth are actually one and the sa, now being discussed separately rely for later classification purposes.
Before Naraku City fell into ruin, the underground and the surface were quite alike, both containing large living areas. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it an underground city. Otherwise, Naraku City wouldn’t have established various official institutions in the Underground Labyrinth.
Wherever people live, there naturally needs to be sewage channels, hence the later "sewage system."
The appearance of mutated Carrion Squirrels on this path suggests that there must be a sewage system, and where there’s a sewage system, a living area is not far. A living area implies a way out.
Of course, the distinction between a way out and a dead end is a classification made by later generations. Even the concept of a labyrinth might have been a casual jibe by the people who once lived here, rather than an accurate depiction.
This place is the Underground Aqueduct, an underground jungle of steel. The people who lived here once considered all paths their way out. They rely lived underground, and the so-called search for an exit to the maze—paths leading to the surface—was just a part of their daily life.
Ti has passed, and now most of the exits in the Underground Aqueduct have collapsed. It has beco very rare for a path to lead to the surface, which has transford the Underground Aqueduct into the so-called "labyrinth."
"It’s not like ten thousand years ago; a way out could also beco a dead end now." The Black Earl said faintly.
Angel: "But this doesn’t affect us, as the place we are looking for has always been considered a dead end, whether ten thousand years ago or now."
"Since it’s originally a dead end, why are we looking for a way out?" Kaier asked curiously.
"Positioning. I need to find a landmark to position it for ." Angel: "Typically, such landmark buildings are on the way out."
After saying this, Angel didn’t continue speaking, and the others did not inquire further. They all understood that further questioning would likely result in an awkward silence.
It was better to end the conversation early.
Ending the conversation just ant not delving into Angel’s words; they continued talking in the Mind Ribbon, discussing only what they discovered in the hall.
Angel listened for a mont; none of the discoveries were significant.
The only certainty was that this place was once a laboratory capable of accommodating hundreds of people working together. The experintal logs and samples were gone. Most of the experintal tools left behind were broken or carried away by predecessors, resulting in almost all clues here being lost.
However, the fact that it was a laboratory capable of accommodating hundreds of people working simultaneously is itself a clue.
"Since the Noah Clan was once part of the Garden Labyrinth, Lord Black Earl, did your Noah Family ever record any major experintal outcos from the Garden Labyrinth?" Dox asked, clearly sharing the sa thoughts as Angel.
Unlike Earth civilization, where experints, big or small, are almost always a team effort, in the Wizards’ Realm, a wizard alone can match a large team. The Hand of Magic allows them to manipulate multiple tools at once, their developed spiritual power enables them to multitask without confusion, and wizards themselves have a broad knowledge base. Especially the Academy Faction and technical wizards exhibit astonishing breadth and depth of knowledge. Their mory never fades, and as for inspiration, wizards won’t start an experint without it, aning they have it from the outset and don’t need brainstorming.
Due to this chanism, wizards usually work alone on experints, perhaps with one or two assistants and a few apprentices rely as spectators.
Such large, collaborative experints involving hundreds of people are extrely rare.
But when such experints occur, they yield astonishing outcos.
"No records." The Black Earl: "Regarding the Garden Labyrinth... let’s just call it Naraku City. Almost all records of Naraku City were destroyed after its decline."
"Was there external intervention?" Angel imdiately considered a conspiracy theory.
The Black Earl: "Probably, but I don’t know what kind of external force. Maybe it was people from the Origin World; after all, ten thousand years ago, the Origin World and the Southern Domain interacted frequently."
Dox squinted his eyes: "Perhaps Naraku City was secretly conducting so large-scale research that provoked certain people’s nerves, leading to Naraku City’s decline? And this laboratory was one of the research sites?"
"Who knows? Whether it’s true or not no longer matters; these things are buried in the river of history... and they have nothing to do with our goal." The Black Earl didn’t want to discuss conspiracy theories, even acknowledging the likelihood of such theories was high. Investigating further wouldn’t be a good idea. After all, ten thousand years is neither too short nor too long for a wizard or a powerful Wizard Family or Organization. If delving too deeply into Naraku City would involve the Noah Clan, it wouldn’t be worthwhile.
Seeing Dox’s intention to continue questioning, the Black Earl cut him off, saying, "If you’re really curious, you can follow Angel to the Barbarian Cave and find Book Elder; Book Elder surely knows the truth of this history."
These words were practically aningless, as Book Elder rarely appears in front of people, even the Barbarian Cave mbers can’t see him, let alone outsiders.
Dox sighed and patted Kaier on the shoulder: "Seems like my attempt to help you explore so historical truth is dood."
Kaier silently took a step away from Dox.
He’s not foolish; he may pursue history, but he also knows that delving into certain hidden truths will only bring trouble. Clearly, the downfall of Naraku City is probably such a case.
Kaier is curious about history, but sincerely exploring the history here could lead to an untily end.
After another five minutes, Dox said in the Mind Ribbon, "We’ve searched all over here, finding nothing, how about you?"
Dox was naturally asking Angel, who had walked off to the side, yet received no response from Angel for a long ti.
Everyone beca curious and looked up toward where Angel was.
There they saw Angel holding sothing unknown, looking at it intently.
Could there be a discovery? Without a second thought, Dox strode directly to Angel’s side, disregarding personal space, and craned his neck toward Angel’s chest to see what was in Angel’s hand.
"Is this... a fragnt of an experintal instrunt? Is there sothing special about it?" Dox asked, puzzled after observing for a while.
Angel: "Now, move three ters away from imdiately."
Dox lifted his head, realizing he was almost leaning on Angel’s chest, and locked eyes with Angel, who was looking down at him.
"Ahem." Dox also felt embarrassed, quickly backing away, then added, "I must say, good-looking people still look good from below."
Angel: "Thanks for the complint, but next ti I’ll be more mindful, using a Shapeshifting Technique to take on an uglier form to avoid any more n falling into my arms."
Dox scratched his head, not knowing what to say, feeling quite embarrassed.
However, there was no need for Dox to say anything further to break the ice, as the Black Earl took over the topic: "Are you focusing on the Coiled Serpent Emblem on it?"
The Black Earl hit the mark.
Angel was holding a fragnt of an experintal instrunt. In terms of value, it was no different from other fragnts. But what made this fragnt stand out was a very conspicuous emblem.
A silver snake coiled around a bone staff.
"Hmm, I’ve seen a similar emblem before."
Before Angel finished speaking, the Black Earl directly said, "You an the Fairy Tale World, the Eternal Serpent Emblem of the Giant Serpent Nation?"
"Yes." Angel nodded, not surprised that the Black Earl knew about the Giant Serpent Nation. After all, the Black Earl was a true big shot.
"The Giant Serpent Nation perished a thousand years ago, and even if it hadn’t, it wouldn’t have lasted many years. It’s far from ten thousand years ago." Angel: "I’m just curious, why does the Eternal Serpent Emblem of the Giant Serpent Nation resemble the emblem on the instrunt here from ten thousand years ago?"
"Do you think there’s a connection?" the Black Earl asked.
Angel shook his head, "I don’t know. Maybe not, given the long ti interval."
The Black Earl said, "Indeed, the ti interval is very long. But do you know why such an ordinary Mortal Kingdom as the Giant Serpent Nation, which is in an affiliated world, attracts the attention of many wizards?"
Angel, of course, knew, but he remained silent.
"Because of the Baiyuanians. It’s said that the Baiyuanians were completely annihilated ten thousand years ago. But later, there was a rumor that the Giant Serpent Nation had the last group of Baiyuanians."
"Of course, whether this is true or not, I can’t determine. However, the Baiyuanians were annihilated ten thousand years ago, Naraku City was also destroyed ten thousand years ago, and the Giant Serpent Nation supposedly had the Eternal Serpent Emblem. The Naraku City laboratory discovered the Coiled Serpent Staff mark. Do you think there could be a connection between these?"
The Black Earl rely laid out so possible connections, without providing direct answers.
Angel was silent for a mont. His palm exerted a slight force, and the fragnt of the instrunt shattered into pieces, with crystalline powder slowly falling from his palm. It was then completely swept away by the breeze of Speedy’s tail, disappearing without a trace.
"I don’t know if there’s any connection, nor do I want to speculate lightly. We should end the exploration of this laboratory here. It’s ti to leave. If we don’t, my Illusionary Realm might soon be filled with those carrion squirrels with wing mbranes."
Angel turned and walked away.
Watching Angel’s movents, the Black Earl didn’t feel slighted; instead, he smiled lightly.
Regardless of whether these two matters are truly connected, it’s clear that there’s a secret behind the fall of Naraku City, and the Baiyuanians are significantly involved. It’s not easy to extricate oneself, not for Angel and not even for the Black Earl himself. So the best result is to not get involved at all.
Angel’s approach was evidently the best choice.
However, what the Black Earl saw was only the surface. Once so things are seen, even if the evidence is destroyed, they remain etched in mory.
Angel could remain unconcerned about the situation in Naraku City, but he was quite concerned about the Coiled Serpent Emblem.
Because Dororo is currently the last surviving Baiyuanian.
And the only thing Dororo carried, the only item that accompanied him upon his resurrection, was a silver bowl. The inner wall of this silver bowl bore an emblem—a Black Snake Entwined Cone.
Previously, Angel thought the Giant Serpent Nation was the origin of the "Coiled Snake Column." But now it seems that the "Coiled Snake Column" might be more related to the Baiyuanians.
Could the Baiyuanians and Naraku City really have had interactions ten thousand years ago?
Angel sighed deeply in his heart, discarding the complicated thoughts in his mind. He would rember these clues, but now was not the right ti to explore them.
He needed to hibernate and wait.
Wait for Dororo’s growth, wait for the Prival Fla to return. When the ti cos, even if Angel does not seek it out, perhaps the "Coiled Snake Column" will present itself to him.
...
Besides the hidden smoke channel, there was only a door leading to a corridor in the external world.
At this ti, the corridor on both sides flickered with shadows, and nurous carrion squirrels bounced in the light and shadow. However, no matter how they bounced, they remained in place, seeming sowhat enchanted.
"Just using light and shadow to control the movents of these carrion squirrels—the path of Illusions does have its rits," Dox remarked.
Angel: "Don’t comnt with such an overwhelming sense of superiority."
Dox: "It’s not superiority; I’m genuinely praising your Illusion Technique. But no matter how strong the Illusion Technique is, it’s still not as good as the Bloodline Wizards at the sa level."
Angel: "In the end, you just wanted to say that last sentence."
Dox chuckled, not arguing back.
He previously made great efforts to slay the Magical Creatures, cutting a dashing and formidable figure. Wherever the Red Sword reached, there was no living creature left, impressive indeed. Yet, Angel, with just a Shadow Illusion Technique, managed to control all the carrion squirrels. This elegant Illusion Technique instead highlighted how brute Dox’s earlier actions were.
So, to save so face, Dox went around and around and finally managed to say that Bloodline Wizards of the sa level were stronger than Illusionist Wizards.
Dox didn’t seek Angel’s and the Black Earl’s agreent. As long as he didn’t lose face in front of Vay and Kaier, that was enough.
However, Dox’s "effort" might have been pointless. Because Kaier was from the Academy Faction; he didn’t dislike fighting, but he didn’t like it either—Dox’s words didn’t move him at all. Instead, Angel’s Illusion Technique intrigued him, sparking a desire for research.
As for Dox’s old friend Vay, let’s not even ntion him—a hobody and a little fanboy rolled into one. Who cares about strength when Lord Chaowei is far more admirable?
Angel didn’t argue with Dox about who was stronger, because many Bloodline Wizards rely on this bit of superiority to find a sense of existence. Similar situations occur frequently in the Wizards’ Realm; arguing would be endless, and if it ended in a red-faced brawl, truly rolling up sleeves to compete...Bloodline Wizards would be more skillful, making them even more cocky.
So, when encountering such situations, either respond with a perfunctory complint or ignore it as the best reply.
Angel opted for the forr, for Dox’s contributions in this exploration were significant and worthy of his perfunctory praise.
After dealing with Dox, they continued forward.
The shadowy illusion was laid on both sides of the corridor, so even with a large number of carrion squirrels on both sides, the path remained unimpeded.
However, after walking about fifty ters, the corridor reached a dividing line, leading to a fork.
At this fork, there was a thin layer of shadowy illusion mbrane, marking the boundary of the Shadow Illusion Technique laid by Angel.
Even standing before the illusion mbrane, they could hear the chattering sounds outside.
Outside, there were evidently more mutated carrion squirrels, no fewer in number than those trapped in the laboratory.
This also ant that once they stepped out of the corridor protected by this illusion mbrane, they would face an unprecedentedly terrifying tide of rats.
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