Looking directly at the ancient gods for a whole year

Chapter 2504 The Shadow of Death
Being greedy within safe limits can be considered an excellent quality of explorers.

Unless one's demigod-like perception reveals something additional within this realm of the dead, it's not difficult to predict what choices one would make if placed in Serana's shoes.

After examining himself, he first focused his attention on the search for the master of death.

Then, in the storm, one actually touches upon a special realm and steps into another Mole.

Not knowing where to start, I subconsciously searched for a building that looked suspicious.

Unfortunately, apart from a large number of silently walking minotaurs, there were no elite monsters guarding the place, or treasure chests that could increase intelligence after being opened.

Even communication with the minotaurs is a problem, and torture is ineffective.

In this situation, if you're unwilling to just retreat, what else can you do?

As mentioned earlier, taking a taste of blood by leveraging racial talents might lead to some discoveries, but the approach is still too reckless.

What we are facing now is a high probability of the "death" of the powerful figure who holds the reins of a well-known concept.

Here, let alone eating random things, you could easily get gangrene from touching too much.

But if we don't do that, what else can we do?

Of course there are.

For example, how about conceptual integration? Try cutting in line within the unconventional order of the Minotaur people? Follow along and see if you make any special discoveries?
While it's not entirely risk-free, the expected returns are also low, so the risk seems acceptable.

In summary, this is why Fu Qian believes that the unusual place might be a trace left by Serana.

"She did something dangerous that could break the balance between life and death."

Unfortunately, in the extraordinary world, common sense is still not enough for many things.

The old man beside him had a serious expression and had already made his judgment in the next moment.

"It's impossible; it looks like it's already broken."

Fu Qian sighed, indicating that there was no need to be so tactful.

You've already entered the online store, do you think you can just walk away unscathed?

The fire on the bats is proof that Lady Serana seems to be tainted by the smell of the dead.

……

There are no coincidences without a reason; this has been mentioned for a long time.

Fu Qian had never forgotten how he got to this place. Not to mention that Serana seemed to have no reason to leave him any guidance, even if she wanted to stay, how did she manage to do so?
As soon as someone enters and sits in her room, it will automatically trigger and open the passage to the realm of the dead.

To be honest, it's a bit too powerful, almost implying a certain degree of control over the place in front of you. How you manage to do that is intriguing.

Now it seems there is an answer.

Although she doesn't have control over it, Serana is integrating into this place because of a certain dangerous operation.

It wasn't a good thing for her, but it still allowed the traces of her power to have a subtle connection effect.

Of course, the explanation is still not complete.

Don't forget the most unique point: theoretically, I don't currently possess any extraordinary perception.

It's one thing for Serana to be able to leave a trace, but you also need to be able to perceive it.

Is the sight of bats, even jumping in through the window, due to an overly close connection between the two worlds? Or is there another reason?

"You are more honest than I thought."

At this point, the old man expressed surprise again at the previous comments.

"There's a small problem: what does it mean when the balance between life and death is broken? To be honest, I find it hard to see this place as the afterlife; everything seems more like a reflection from the outside."

Before paying, however, he had no intention of flattering the other party and went straight to the point.

"For example, do you exist in that mole outside?" ...

"Very good, this is the first time someone has grasped the key so quickly."

It must be said that the old man did have a certain peace of mind, even when the problem was directly brought up to him, he still did not feel any displeasure.

"The answer is simple: it doesn't exist, but it's a special case."

The next moment, the old man not only answered the question directly, but even agreed with Fu Qian's feelings.

“You’re right, this is indeed another reflection of Moore, not only of things but also of people. Every soul caught in the storm is reflected here.”

"However, most souls are different from me; they maintain balance in this reflection. Of course, they are also different from you; the living part of themselves finds it difficult to enter this place so easily."

Reflection, balance... I see.

Asking questions with the answers already in mind is so smooth.

Although the old man's statement was somewhat general, Fu Qian, who had already built a model in his mind, only needed to determine a few parameters to fully understand it.

First of all, it is indeed a mirror image similar to reality. Anyone who is in the storm will be reflected here.

However, the physical entity does not disappear in reality; it simply establishes a special connection.

It's true that "death is not the opposite of life," it exists directly as a shadow.

I knew it! If this is a purely afterlife world where people can only enter after they die, then it would be too much to expect the building layout to be updated synchronously.

If everyone here, like himself, accidentally wandered in during the storm and remained there, then the number of Moore's disappearances would be quite staggering.

It just doesn't seem right no matter how I look at it.

Now, with the old man's concept of "balance," the model is perfect.

Everyone in the storm will be reflected in this place, but it does not affect their real selves. It can be simply understood as a reflection appearing in an unknown place.

Of course, my real self can't just barge in, so I'm an outcast right now.

"Like these people?"

Fu Qian gestured to those around him.

As they spoke, the two had already arrived next to the rather unnatural minotaur.

“That’s right, their sense of self remains in the world of the living; these are merely manifestations of the dead.”

The old man seemed to be praising him for his thorough understanding and mastery of the material.

"But one day you come here just like I am now, embrace this death, and thus break the balance and become the dead?"

"Yes."

……

Lady Serana is in a bit of danger.

As the elderly man confirmed the information repeatedly, Fu Qian sighed deeply at that moment.

The situation is clear: normal people will maintain a state of reflection, which is what the elderly call the balance between life and death, and will hardly be affected.

This also explains why it has been able to exist for so long without being dealt with by the Night Watchers.

But the part that is "born" in the real world can still accidentally wander into this place.

That doesn't mean the equilibrium has been broken and is completely irreversible.

But once you start to immerse yourself in it, the death aspect quickly takes over and eventually becomes the real dead, as well as the missing in real life.

That's how old people are, and then Lady Serana is becoming like that—because of her queue-jumping just now, which was also a form of proactive integration.