In the majestic palace supported by rows of stone pillars, Klein sat on a high-back chair, lightly tapping the edge of the mottled long table. He first ruled out the method of finding the "Sun" pathway Sequence 4, "Lightless".
Firstly, because he had almost no contact with the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun, making it difficult to find someone to help. Secondly, he suspected that a Lightless might not even be able to purify the spiritual pollution within the All-Black Eye, after all, the "Hermit" Cattleya's advice targeted the residue left by ordinary individuals who lost control, whereas this came from the "True Creator"!
"Seeking the help of an Angel or a True God is also not very realistic. Theoretically, I could divine the 'Eternal Blazing Sun' in this mysterious space above the Gray Fog. By triggering Its automatic counterattack, I could shatter the 'All-Black Eye' and evaporate the spiritual pollution. But the problem is, 'It', having 'experience', might take the opportunity to invade this place and seize the Gray Fog, and then I would lose more than I gain...
"Moreover, that power, surpassing my current level by who knows how many tiers, activates instantly without delay, targeting the self. I wouldn't have the time or ability to redirect it towards the 'All-Black Eye', lacking any room for operation.
"Also, it's not like I can simply divine and succeed. I need a medium. Last time, I used a mutated Sun Holy Relic containing the 'Eternal Blazing Sun's' divine blood, an 'ear' that had been polluted by the 'True Creator'.
"Currently, the ones with mediums are 'Mr. Door' and the 'Concealed Sage'. I could try through Miss 'Magician's' full moon whispers and the 'Star Admiral's' pursuit by knowledge. But the same problem exists: the 'counterattack' wouldn't be directed at the 'All-Black Eye', and I have no way to redirect it.
"Mr. Azik hasn't recovered yet, and the 'Snake of Fate', Will Auceptin, hasn't been born. After thinking it over, I can't find an angel to help me. Ah, I still know too few high-level big shots... Right, there's also something related to the Angel level, that evil spirit in the Backlund ruins suspected to be the King of Angels Medici! But that guy is deep and cunning, hiding no one knows how many schemes and malicious intents. Unless I truly have no other choice, I can't consider it at all.
"Right, taking such a risk isn't worth it at all. In that case, I might as well give up on the 'All-Black Eye' and gather the main ingredients for 'Puppet Master' again, which is the dust of an ancient vengeful spirit and the core crystal of a six-winged gargoyle. The former might even be found in the Underworld!
"From this perspective, gathering them again is one idea. Finding a mystical item similar to the 'Blood Vessel Thief' is another. With the Gray Fog acting as a shield, I can fully utilize that theft ability. I can definitely separate the 'True Creator's' spiritual pollution inside the 'All-Black Eye' without fear of it returning.
"The simplest operation is: once the theft is complete, throw the polluted mystical item far away, and then bring the purified 'All-Black Eye' back to the real world, ensuring a 'physical' isolation between the two.
"Hmm... Where should I go to find a similar mystical item? Mister 'Hanged Man' didn't say anything after reading the method, indicating he doesn't know either. But I can still ask at next Tarot Club meeting. Miss 'Hermit', Miss 'Justice', Miss 'Magician', Little 'Sun', and that Emlyn White fellow all have the corresponding channels and resources...
"This week, I'll first try to find one myself, starting with Vice Admiral Iceberg. Her third mate, 'Bow Tie' Jodson, has the Beyonder power of 'Theft'. Maybe he knows where a similar mystical item exists."
Klein gradually straightened out his thoughts and came up with a preliminary plan.
First, he performed a divination. Then, he quickly returned to the real world, shaking off his slouched state of drinking beverages and reading newspapers in his armchair, and rapidly set up a ritual.
It was still three candles, but this time, the drawn symbol was exchanged for the holy emblem of the "God of Knowledge and Wisdom"—an All-Seeing Eye upon an open book. The ritual silver dagger was also swapped for a brass knife—in the realm of mysticism, the star corresponding to the "God of Knowledge and Wisdom" is the Blue Star, and the metals of its domain are mercury and brass.
Klein had long anticipated the need to contact Vice Admiral Iceberg, Edwina Edwards, so he had prepared a set of materials for a "Spirit Summoning Ritual". After some operations, he burned the corresponding herbal powder and dripped the essence and hydrosol extracted from lavender and mint.
In the fresh, elegant, and mysterious fragrance, Klein stepped back and began reciting the incantation in ancient Hermes:
"I beseech the power of knowledge; "I beseech the power of reason; "I beseech the blessing of the God of Wisdom; "I beseech you to allow me to communicate with the spirit of 'the Tutor of Pursuing Knowledge, the Researcher of Spirit World Creatures, the Vice Admiral Iceberg of the Seas, Edwina Edwards of Lenburg.'" ...
Klein's voice echoed layer upon layer. The area around the altar suddenly turned cold and gloomy. The brass holy dagger and the metal vial all floated up.
It worked. The *Golden Dream* was still within 500 nautical miles... Klein was first filled with delight, and then he saw the flames of the three candles stretch a little taller, turning a deathly pale color with a hint of ghostly green.
—He knew that the essence of the "Spirit Summoning Ritual" was to release one's body, allowing the target's Astral Spirit body to attach to it to complete an effective communication. The caster inherently lacked the necessary protection and could be easily harmed by the entity the ritual was pointing to. This was why he had performed a divination beforehand to assess the danger. Furthermore, from their meetings and conversations, he believed Vice Admiral Iceberg Edwina Edwards was not a malicious person and could be trusted for now.
At that moment, the wind within the Spirit Wall began to howl mournfully. Klein felt an icy, bone-chilling force descend from the void, attempting to enter his body.
Then, to his astonishment, he found that unlike what he had expected, he wasn't completely helpless against the possession. He had enough strength to resist and room to maneuver.
What was going on? The thought had barely crossed his mind when he vaguely saw a layer of thin, formless gray fog around him.
This was a peculiarity he gained after advancing to "Faceless". The power of the Gray Fog had permeated into reality just a tiny bit!
In a flash of thought, Klein did not hesitate. He swung his arm abruptly, pointing at the coat rack where his coat was hanging, and "threw" the icy, cold force in that direction.
On the coat rack, his black woolen coat floated up eerily, its arms lifting in a slightly clumsy manner.
It was as if an invisible person had put on his coat!
The black woolen coat drifted forward two meters and then came to a stop.
Its two sleeves raised and crossed each other into an "X" shape.
What does that mean? Klein was stunned for a moment, and then he somewhat understood Vice Admiral Iceberg's meaning: I have no mouth, I can't speak! I have no hands, I can't write!
This was a bit awkward... Klein thought for a moment and said bluntly:
"I need a mystical item that can steal others' Beyonder powers. Do you happen to have one, Lady Vice Admiral?" "If not, could you please ask your third mate, Mister 'Bow Tie' Jodson?"