Miss Witch's Forbidden Book Secret

"First it was Amir, and now it's Murad. We've already lost two Sequence 4s at Iris. The Great Prophet is doing alright, but the Assassin's Court doesn't have many Sequence 4s to begin with, and they've already questioned us through His Majesty!"

"And you, Guzhar! Murad died in the iris field, what kind of prophet were you, the team leader?! Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on Murad?"

Guzar turned around abruptly and said coldly, "Shut up!"

"Didn't I try to dissuade Murad? What was that crazy assassin doing? I told him long ago that Ibn Musa had nothing to do with our work, but he still interfered with our work for his own selfish desires!"

"I'd like to ask, what is the Assassin's Court doing! Did they send Murad here for some special purpose!?"

The sounds from the several bodies in the mud suddenly stopped.

When the voice rang out again, the tone had softened considerably.

"Calm down, calm down, Guzal, we roughly understand what you mean. But Murad's death..."

"Murad's death makes our work even more difficult!" Guzal said angrily. "Now I'm the only Sequence 4 prophet left. Are you planning to send me alone to Golden Moon Bay to fight against the Hand of Justice, Lovisa Baal, and her army of Silver Knights?"

"So you mean...?"

"I need help, not a fool like Murad, but someone who can actually help me!"

The sounds of several muddy figures came intermittently.

After more than ten minutes, they said with difficulty, "We are still discussing it, but don't rush, Guzar. There are indeed not many Sequence 4 Prophets that the Wisdom Palace can send out. We have lost several in just the last two years, not counting those who died of old age, and we also have to deal with the rebels."

Guza sneered, "Then go find the Assassin's Court."

"Well... you know that if Murad hadn't volunteered, they wouldn't have wanted to send anyone abroad. The Assassin's Court only has four Sequence Four mentors, and each of them has the important responsibility of passing on rituals and knowledge."

“We’ll try to coordinate this on our end. By the way, Baregass, who is an expert in nightmare studies and participated in the construction of the Great Prophet’s Sanctuary, is still here. We can have her take ten Sequence 5 Awakeners with her.”

Guzar felt like he was being mocked when he heard the name.

There's no other reason than that. While Barragas is indeed an expert in nightmare studies and has participated in the construction of the Sanctuary, she is only a Sequence 5. Even disregarding that, Barragas has been involved in the design of the Destiny Star Chart for the past ten years or so. How could she possibly come to the Iris?

Several figures covered in mud hurriedly said:

"The project of the Destiny Star Chart is basically completed, and since Bylegas was going to the Empire anyway, it's perfect that she's going there."

Guzar was stunned for a moment, then a mixture of shock and excitement welled up inside him, and he couldn't help but ask, "The project is already completed?"

"It's basically complete—it's still a ways from being projected, but it won't be long. Otherwise, we wouldn't have sent Bylegace. She's one of the few who's been deeply involved in the construction of the Sanctuary, and her knowledge of nightmares is on par with the Great Prophet! If she goes to the Sanctuary in Golden Moon Bay, she'll probably be a great help to you."

"I know, stop talking nonsense! But she's only a Sequence Five!"

"The great prophet gave Lady Baregate the spindle of destiny."

Hearing this, Guzar finally felt relieved.

—The spindle of fate.

That was a creation of the Sequence Two Great Prophet—or more accurately, a ritual. The spindle wasn't a transcendent artifact like the Sword of Victory, elevated through historical alteration, but rather a temporary creation made through ritual.

Its main function is the very vague "disruption of fate," which, in reality, means the ability to change and shape the future.

However, this is not without its costs.

The greater the future changes and the more people affected, the greater the cost to the owner. If the cost exceeds the owner's capacity to bear it, not only will the future remain unchanged, but the owner will also have to bear the full cost.

For example, causing the sudden death of a country's monarch would almost certainly lead to internal strife in that country, and unless it was done by the Great Prophet himself, it would be extremely difficult to succeed.

However, nightmares are an exception—nightmares themselves are projections of historical slices, things that are both illusory and real.

Using the spindle in a nightmare will at most result in the death of the character you play in the nightmare, and then you will be kicked out of the nightmare. It will have almost no impact on reality.

The Great Prophet's Sanctuary was created by five Sequence Three prophets and six Sequence Four prophets using a spindle to transform nightmares.

Barragas certainly didn't turn nightmares into sanctuaries or transform other people's sanctuaries into his own abilities, but he did distort sanctuaries to some extent, which greatly benefited their capture of the "Moon Tower" sanctuary in Golden Moon Bay.

Not to mention that Barregas herself is an expert in nightmare studies!

...................

...................

On the other side, in the chapel of the St. Pantheon University on Tower Street.

Jeremiah stepped out of the banquet hall and looked up at the high dome. Around the circular dome were twenty-four painted murals depicting the scene eight hundred years ago when the apostles from various churches went to the Holy Mountain in Herod to attend the council.

"Looks like we've arrived in Fogmoon City..."

Jeremiah was still wearing his unchanging linen robe, but at this moment, in the light of the holy candles, one could vaguely see the shadow behind him moving about.

If someone were to bring in a silver mirror at this moment, they would see Jeremiah's ever-changing face reflected in the mirror. Sometimes he would appear as a refined and easy-going young man, and other times as a lively and lovely young girl. Sometimes he would be clad in silver-white armor, resembling a holy knight on his way to a pilgrimage, and other times he would be wearing golden ornaments and a light veil, looking like a court dancer.

The shadow behind him froze, motionless, until Milke entered from outside the door.

Jeremiah, still with his gentle and non-aggressive gaze, looked at Milke and nodded slightly, saying, "Milk, after I've finished dealing with things in the south, please inform Sulph for me. As for Mistmoon City..."

Milke said warily, "Mistmoon City is a trap. If you go south, they can take the opportunity to plunge Mistmoon City into chaos. But if you don't go south..."

“The Bloodthorn will grow from the fertile fields of the south—that is the Bloodthorn’s homeland. I know that.”

Jeremiah smiled calmly and said, "This is truly a dilemma."

"But Fogmoon City is a trap for us, and for Sazdilweh and the Hand of Transformation as well. Prepare to depart, Milk!"

Chapter 375 Red Dragon and White Dragon

"The forging of the Philosopher's Stone is very complicated, but in general, it is nothing more than taking the impurities from the original material, removing the impurities and imbuing it with spirituality to obtain pure white material, then sublimating its essence, and finally obtaining a crimson crystal."

"Ancient alchemists referred to the entire process as the red dragon devouring the white dragon at dusk."

Ibn opened the wooden box on the workbench, took out the star antimony inside, and cut off a small piece with a file and put it into the mortar.

Tia found the voice quite familiar, and after chatting with Annie for a few moments, she suddenly realized—this was Ansu's history book!

However, in Anzu's history, the white dragon defeated the red dragon!

Tia had some knowledge of this. For example, the history of a certain island nation in the West in her previous life also mentioned red and white dragons, but they had more symbolic meanings. The red dragon referred to the local Celts, while the white dragon referred to the Saxons who came from abroad, and their origin was the legend of King Arthur.

Ansu's history is very different from this. The White Dragon actually refers to the Twin Serpents—the one that was beaten by Tia and was running around in the deep sea.

The defeated red dragon refers to the great plague that swept through the Solomon Empire years ago.

The false god that unleashed the plague, the Black Rat of Calamity, has a thick red line on its back. When it spreads the plague, the red line flies out and transforms into red clouds that sweep across the sky, hence the name "Red Dragon".

However, this has nothing to do with alchemy.

Tia wasn't particularly interested in the mystical metaphors about the red and white dragons, and asked directly, "If the Philosopher's Stone is forged now, it should be ready in about half a month, right?"

“That’s the ideal situation.” Iben was about to look up to answer when he suddenly turned to look downstairs, where he could hear light footsteps approaching.

"—Daughter of Frostland".

Ibn addressed the newcomer by his title, and after about two or three seconds, an icy blue mist rose in front of Tia, and her and Anne's hair and temples were covered with a layer of white frost.

Before the figure, sculpted from ice and snow, even arrived, her long, snow-white hair stirred up a cloud of mist, concealing the little witch who found everything fascinating as she flew up to the second floor.

Anna went upstairs and looked at Tia, quickly pulling out an envelope frozen solid from her pocket. "Sulph! And little Annie! Milke asked me to bring you a letter!"

"It's something very important! By the way, do you have money?"

Tia and Anne looked at each other in bewilderment.

In reality, this little witch bought a bunch of things in Fogmoon City, but because she couldn't control her low-temperature curse, she not only scared a lot of people, but also discovered that she had no money at all!

Tia scratched her head, looking a little troubled.

I can pay Anna, but she doesn't have any cash on her!

Tia looked at Anne and blinked.

"Annini, help me~"

Annie tilted her head and whispered, "Is this considered a loan? You lent it to me?"

Tia thought for a moment, then raised her finger and said, "I guess so?"

What does "should" mean?

Annie tilted her head, squinted her eyes, and revealed a foxy smile.

The girl rubbed against Annie, offering her body as she said, "Then consider it a loan."

The witch over there was already impatient because of the outstanding debt, pacing back and forth anxiously, and didn't have time for the two of them to be all lovey-dovey, "Are you ready yet?"

"Then consider it a debt Tia owes me~"

Anne took a check out of her bag, quickly signed her name, and said, "Miss Witch, please give us the letter first!"

The little witch happily handed over the envelope after receiving the check.

“No problem, no problem! By the way, Milke also told me that the prophets may have already set off for Golden Moon Bay! Jeremiah is going south. It’s all written in the letter.”

Annie was stunned by this, and asked in confusion, "Didn't you say it wouldn't be until the end of the month at the earliest? How come it's so..."

She took the envelope, pulled out the manuscript inside, and quickly glanced at it. The contents were very straightforward and simple.

Then he showed the envelope to Anne.

Anne glanced at it a few times and quickly tensed up.

The content is roughly about Jeremiah's upcoming journey south, instructing Tia to prepare to go to the Bay of the Golden Moon and inherit the sanctuary "Tower of the Moon" before the prophets.

In terms of inheriting the Sanctuary, Tia actually has an advantage.

The prophets did not know the exact location of the Tower of the Moon. They either dived deep and conducted a thorough search, but the search would take forever and they would have to rely on luck to find it by chance; or they would first spend a lot of effort to prophesy the coordinates of the sanctuary.

However, the latter is not an easy task either.

Tia, on the other hand, knew everything about the Sanctuary.

Once she reaches Golden Moon Bay, and at a specific time, she can immediately dive deep to reach the sanctuary's coordinates.

But that doesn’t mean there’s no danger—it’s still uncertain when the Philosopher’s Stone will be produced.

If those prophets from the Palace of Wisdom seize Tia's physical body while she's in the Sanctuary, and then do a repeat of Eleanor's events, then we're doomed!

Anne was heartbroken. After glancing at Tia a few times, she wondered if she should just kidnap the girl and take her home.

This is far too dangerous!

Sanctuaries, ascension, the unity and fate of the Iris—none of these mattered to her, the eldest daughter of the Mercury family.

Compared to all this stuff, Tia's life is far more important!

If it weren't for the fact that Tia had already obtained the Prototype Antimony, and according to the principles of alchemy, the transaction had to be completed, Annie would have tied Tia up right now to show her what it means to be a founding noble.

Tia sensed an unnamed killing intent and raised her hands in surrender, saying, "But the problem isn't that serious..."

"If it gets any worse, you're finished!"

Anne retorted, "I have to take better care of you!"

"Should we prepare for the promotion ceremony?"

"There will definitely be a promotion ceremony, but not entirely."

Annie's Sequence Rank is still too low. At Sequence Rank 7, participating in such a major event planned by the Wisdom Palace is somewhat below the minimum Sequence Rank for the instance...

However, as the eldest daughter of the Mercury family, extraordinary power was actually her least significant attribute.

Anne gripped Tia's wrist firmly and said, "I will have Dad mobilize a fleet."

"Oh, isn't that against the rules?"

"There's a way to make it comply with the rules—the next exchange group is arriving soon."

This is really...

Theoretically, the escort fleet for the next exchange mission can be changed—unless the changes are too drastic, such as inserting a few dreadnought battleships among the original frigates and destroyers...

Using such a dreadnought to deal with a Sequence Four superhuman is indeed a bit overkill.

Tia, being a royal envoy, professionally considered the situation, saying, "Wouldn't this cause a diplomatic dispute, like with the Celestial Empire?"

Annie blinked and said, "They're just Arabians. If we kill them all, there won't be any trouble. It's only when we don't kill them all that there will be trouble."

Tia crossed her arms and nodded in agreement, "That seems to be true!"

The old man from Tianfang, who was grinding antimony in a mortar next to him, did not look well.

Ibn coughed and said, "Let's put the Golden Moon Bay matter aside for now, ladies. Let's talk about the Philosopher's Stone now."