Sorcerer’s Handbook

“But what’s the point of trapping Silver Lantern like this?”

They landed on the rooftop of a tall building closest to the Light Prison. Igor, always direct, asked, “Day after day, night after night, do you really think you can trap Silver Lantern to death?”

Undoubtedly, this prison was sealed from both inside and outside, making it impossible to attack from the outside. Even if a large force was gathered to prepare a Miracle to take down Silver Lantern, the gray fox heritage “Sanctuary” would extend sensory time to the extreme. In such infinite time, no matter how dense the attacks, there would always be gaps.

Not to mention, Silver Lantern was a sanctuary sorcerer. Even if there were no gaps, she could tear one open herself.

Let’s not forget, Silver Lantern could perform Divine Hosting, instantly boosting her combat power beyond legendary levels, with various transformation forms to handle different situations. This was why, despite being pursued by the Four Pillars Cult for half a month, they couldn’t even catch a glimpse of Silver Lantern-she was like a walking natural disaster.

Silver Lantern herself was the top combatant in Senlo, skilled in counter-reconnaissance and disguise. If not for Mercury Trojan Horse’s prophecy Miracle, they wouldn’t even be able to trace her.

Compared to their futile efforts, Silver Lantern had made several gains during these days, stealing the Demi-Gods preserved by the Four Pillars Cult.

In the Four Pillars Cult, those Demi-Gods, which could destroy cults, were used as mediums for the descent of the Four Pillars. If Mercury Trojan Horse used disciples as trojan horses for possession, then the Four Pillars used Demi-Gods as trojan horses for descent.

But these Demi-Gods lacked the energy replenishment from disciples, so they would disappear once used, akin to disposable suits for the Four Pillars. When Silver Lantern appeared before them, they would rather laugh in the arms of a beautiful girl than cry in the temple of the Four Pillars.

“It’s indeed impossible to directly harm Silver Lantern,” Mercury Trojan Horse admitted, “but Silver Lantern will definitely surrender.”

“Why?”

“Because in the City of No Disasters, besides the ‘Sanctuary,’ there’s another mechanism.”

“Wait a minute,” Raven suddenly said. “I remember now, is this place… the Dead City?”

“That’s right.” Mercury Trojan Horse looked at Ashe and the others. “Aren’t you curious why, despite having such a wonderful gray fox heritage, this city is still in ruins?”

That’s right.

Even places like Blind Town and Black Robe Town, with significant flaws in their ‘heritage cities,’ became major trade centers in the Qinyi Alliance simply because they were safe. The City of No Disasters, without a doubt, should have been occupied by major cults, influencing surrounding areas, and becoming the premier city in Senlo!

“During the day, the City of No Disasters indeed serves as a ‘Sanctuary,’ keeping everyone away from danger. But at night, it turns into a Dead City.”

Mercury Trojan Horse looked at the gray sky. “Anyone who stays here until nightfall, without exception-“

“Will die in the city.”

“More than one cult has tried to settle here, establish a camp, and then everyone was dead the next day.”

“So, compared to the Sanctuary’s protection, its more profound impression is as an ‘unenterable Dead City.’”

Ashe asked, “How do people die in the city? Doesn’t the ‘Sanctuary’ extend sensory time to avoid danger? Does it stop protecting them at night?”

“I don’t know,” Mercury Trojan Horse said. “I’ve conducted multiple repeated experiments, considering race, age, strength, faith, and found the experimenters’ corpses in the city. They had no injuries, were in perfect health, and showed no signs of Greening, but they were just dead.”

Repeated experiments…

Ashe and the others pondered this term, once again acutely aware that the thing speaking beside them was merely a monster wearing someone else’s skin.

“If there’s anything to note, it’s that they all seemed to have carved words before they died.”

Carved words?

Ashe and the others were taken aback, looking around at the city filled with traces of words and symbols, a sense of unbelievable fear rising in their hearts-were these words left by those swallowed by the Dead City?

“However, I don’t need to investigate how the Dead City consumes people,” Mercury Trojan Horse said lightly. “I just need to use this mechanism to achieve my goal.”

“So,” Harvey asked calmly, “are you planning to trap Silver Lantern until nightfall? To perish together with her?”

“I said, I need her surrender,” Mercury Trojan Horse replied. “Even if my people withdraw, the Four Pillars Prison can last for another 30 minutes. My plan is to confront Silver Lantern until 30 minutes before nightfall, then leave the City of No Disasters and camp outside.”

Following Mercury Trojan Horse’s direction, Ashe and the others vaguely saw a camp at the edge of the deep pit on the west side.

“If Silver Lantern surrenders before then, it would be a joyous outcome,” Mercury Trojan Horse said calmly. “If she surrenders in the last 10 minutes, I can still save her.”

“But if she holds out until the last 10 minutes…” Her voice carried a hint of mockery, “then she’ll have to pray for the Four Pillars’ favor.”

“Do you have any objections to this plan?”

Everyone looked at Ashe, who gazed at the Four Pillars Prison before him, slightly lost in thought.

To be fair, Mercury Trojan Horse’s plan was flawless. Even Ashe hadn’t thought they could capture Silver Lantern alive without risking her life-that would be playing with their own lives-now the risk was all on Silver Lantern, which was ideal.

The only risk was if Silver Lantern was swallowed by the Dead City, Ashe would automatically ascend to Tactile Sense. If there were objections, it could only be for this reason, and Igor and the others would likely agree, but…

Ashe closed his eyes, thought for a moment, then opened them and said, “I have no objections.”

Mercury Trojan Horse said, “Then, will you be camping at our site tonight?”

“Thanks for the offer,” Igor immediately replied. “We haven’t camped outdoors in days, and we’re itching for it, so we’ll pass on your beds.”

In the past ten days, Ashe and his group had made significant progress, attempting to cross the night.

The results were gratifying; everyone could resist the Choking Green, and even without a town, they weren’t afraid of the night. It made sense for Tamashi and Harvey to resist the Choking Green, but Ashe and Igor were surprised by their own iron will, as they always considered themselves relatively weak.

Harvey hit the nail on the head with their confusion: “Look at what you’ve been through these days.”

Not to mention the adventures before Senlo, after arriving in Senlo, they had been chasing Silver Lantern, which was already extremely arduous. Adding the Nightfall experience, Ashe was forced to separate from them, enduring the vast rush of the Golden Flow; Igor spent days without sleep, sifting through information to find the key to opening the Abyssal Passage.

Unknowingly, they had learned to ‘allow’ themselves to endure hardship, to ‘allow’ the world to be mostly unsatisfactory.

So, the night also ‘allowed’ them to live in darkness.

They no longer needed the Four Pillars Cult’s nighttime protection and could survive a night in the dark.

Mercury Trojan Horse acknowledged with an “oh” and said no more.

Instead, Ashe suddenly asked, “Was that a Star Sect Miracle you used earlier?”

“Yes, why?”

“I’m just curious, since it’s rare to see this sect.”

“Oh, that’s normal, as there aren’t many sorcerers in this sect. Recently, the Star spirits suddenly self-destructed a part, significantly reducing the power of Star sorcerers,” Mercury Trojan Horse said calmly. “That’s also why I’m meeting you with this body.”

As time passed, dusk fell, and the sky darkened. In the distance, the Four Pillars Cult’s camp lit up, and the vast Dead City was gradually swallowed by shadows, with the Four Pillars Prison becoming the largest light source.

“Silver Lantern, if you come out and sever your limbs, drain your silver blood, we will unlock the prison and save you…”

The persuasion echoed in the prison, the conditions extremely harsh, but considering the opponent was Silver Lantern, it seemed these conditions were still not thorough enough.

Ashe squinted at the light on the horizon. “How long until nightfall?”

“About 45 minutes,” Raven replied.

“You should leave now; I need to let the perimeter patrols go,” Mercury Trojan Horse said. “Since you’re not coming to the camp, as for the outcome… Ashe, you’ll know it faster than I do.”

Everyone understood Mercury Trojan Horse’s implication: if Silver Lantern didn’t die, Ashe wouldn’t become Tactile Sense; if Silver Lantern died, Ashe would immediately become Tactile Sense.

The group exchanged glances, Ashe carried Raven on his back, then spread his virtual wings and flew away.

Once they were far from the Four Pillars Prison, Ashe asked, “Will it really succeed?”

“In theory, Silver Lantern should surrender,” mental sorcerer Igor analyzed. “She’s not the type to die unyieldingly; she would exhaust every last drop of blood in a desperate situation to find a Miracle.”

Raven noticed Ashe’s body trembled slightly at the mention of ‘exhaust every last drop of blood.’

“It’s just too easy,” Harvey said. “It’s hard to imagine Silver Lantern surrendering so easily… perhaps she has a Spatial Miracle, a way to teleport out of the Dead City.”

“The Four Pillars Prison must have an anchoring effect on space; such a loophole is impossible,” Ashe frowned. “But it is indeed a bit strange…”

Boom!

Suddenly, an extremely piercing roar came from behind!

The group was almost shaken off balance. They turned to see the Four Pillars Prison had collapsed!

As they turned back to check the situation, they found Mercury Trojan Horse catching up. “Hurry, Silver Lantern found the ‘Sanctuary’ heritage’s core and is trying to take it! Two of my four sanctuary sorcerers have been severely injured; you must go and help!”

The group exchanged glances, looked at the still-bright horizon, and without hesitation, turned back to rush in!

The ‘Sanctuary’ effect was terrifying. If Silver Lantern obtained the ‘Sanctuary,’ unless an Angel descended, no one in Senlo could stop her!

However, when Ashe and the others returned to the scene, they found that although one corner of the Four Pillars Prison had collapsed, three pillars were still functioning.

As everyone knew, three points could form a plane.

The area of the three-pillar prison was much smaller, but it could still trap a portion of the city. Ashe and his group looked at this scene, immediately realizing something was seriously wrong!

“Too late.”

They looked up and saw the sky, which should have been bright, suddenly turned pitch black. Or rather, it had long been swallowed by the night.

It was the Four Pillars Cult camp on the west side, using light spell Miracles to create the illusion that it wasn’t dark yet!

Ashe and the others turned to see Mercury Trojan Horse leisurely flying back.

“I don’t need to know how the Dead City consumes people,” she said. “I just need to use this mechanism to achieve my goal.”