Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

One hour later.

Same location, same tables and chairs.

At this moment, only Morpheus and Lin Gui remained at the table.

Lin Gui held an irregularly shaped block of ice in his hand, formed using the [Freezing] spell.

I applied it to my still-swollen and red cheek.

Eve can heal this minor injury with a single healing spell.

But the two "culprits" had already disappeared before he woke up.

Clearly, they didn't dare to confront him, the "victim."

Looking at Lin Gui's depressed and helpless appearance, Morpheus was unsure whether to find it funny or to envy the young man's "troubles".

He coughed lightly, deciding to get straight to the point.

Before getting down to business, he had one question he needed to clarify.

"You…" Morpheus stared directly at Lin Gui with his blood-red eyes, "Are you really just a high-level mage?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Gui raised his eyelids and glanced at him.

Without saying much, he simply placed the ice packs for his face on the table.

Then extend your right hand, palm facing up.

A thought subtly stirred within me.

A clear, stable, and pure magical energy surged slowly from his palm.

Pure, gentle, and its strength falls just within the range of a high-level mage.

This most basic manifestation of magic is extremely difficult to fake.

Morpheus carefully sensed it for a moment, then frowned slightly.

It is indeed of a high standard, and the quality is excellent.

This is even stranger.

He continued to ask.

"Then what about that [Light Barrier] that only someone at least at the transcendent level could cast just now?"

Lin Gui was stunned for a moment.

"A barrier of light?"

Then he remembered the scene he had seen before he fell unconscious last night: Eve spreading her wings of light.

Lin Gui was well aware that Eve knew this trick.

While fighting the rebels at the Carter Capital Mine.

Eve once gave a general outline of the magic she possessed, including the [Light Barrier].

After arriving in Avalon.

Lin Gui had specifically instructed her to avoid using light magic with obvious characteristics.

After all, the Church of Light is the most steadfast enemy of demons and half-demons, and its identity is too sensitive.

It seems that Eve had no choice but to expose him while he was unconscious in order to keep him trapped.

Lin Gui understood, but his face showed just the right amount of doubt, which then turned into a sense of "sudden realization" and "helplessness".

"Ah...that."

He sighed and rubbed his still-aching temples.

"Perhaps my silly companion used up my treasured magic scrolls."

His tone was filled with heartache and speechlessness, and his acting was natural and realistic.

"That was a life-saving item that I bought at a high price from a fallen nobleman."

"What's solidified above is a one-time [Light Barrier]."

Morpheus still had doubts in his eyes.

But Lin Gui's explanation makes logical sense.

Magic scrolls can indeed enable casting spells beyond one's level, but they are extremely expensive and rare.

Moreover, recalling the characteristics of Lin Gui and his two companions—

Shea is a half-magic ranger, Eve is a dark priest, and Lin Gui is a mage with pure magic but a low rank.

By all accounts, he doesn't seem like someone capable of independently casting extraordinary level light magic.

Most importantly, Lin Gui's level of magic power cannot be faked.

This finally relieved a tension that had been taut in Morpheus's heart.

Since there are no hidden epic powerhouses, then traversing the Howling Corridor can only be attributed to the "Shadow Robe" artifact.

Morpheus pondered for a moment, deliberately adopting a heavy, worried expression.

He sighed heavily, his voice low and hoarse:

"well……"

"Little monk, to be honest..."

"Avalon... is now likely facing annihilation."

Lin Guifu paused slightly in his movements.

He raised his eyes and looked at Morpheus.

His gray eyes revealed surprise and unease at just the right moment.

"A catastrophe?"

"How could this be...aren't Lord Guxin and the Demon King Pillar protecting this place?"

His reaction was spot-on, like that of an ordinary traveler who had just learned that the shelter was about to collapse.

Seeing that he had taken the bait, Morpheus felt reassured, and the sorrow on his face deepened.

He pointed to the towering, dark pillar outside the window.

"Look at that pillar... its light has been flickering and fluctuating erratically lately."

"This sign... means that something serious has probably happened to Lord Guxin, perhaps even... that he is in mortal danger."

His voice grew increasingly heavy, painting a terrifying picture:

"If Lord Guxin falls, the Demon King Pillar will lose its source of power."

"At that time, the veil of concealment that shrouds Avalon will completely dissipate."

"Those epic-level spirit demons outside will swarm in like sharks smelling blood."

"This city, everyone here..."

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing, leaving behind endless, bleak images.

"They will all be completely swallowed up by the endless tide of demons."

All of this is actually fake.

Even if Guxin really dies, the Demon King Pillar will become completely ineffective.

Avalon will never be destroyed because of this.

A city can exist in the heart of the Jedi for so many years.

How could we possibly gamble our entire future on a single pillar or a single person?

Naturally, there are various backup plans.

And these were the findings of Lin Gui's nightly surveillance over the past week.

He not only heard secrets about the guardian demons such as "Bloodthorn," but also the movements of Avalon's potential enemies.

They also learned of the Demon King Pillar's recent unusual behavior, and...

Those were the trump cards that could temporarily maintain the safety of the city-state after Guxin's incident.

Since it is known that Avalon is not in immediate danger of collapse and has sufficient backup plans.

Lin Gui could, and should, have taken those twenty-odd letters and embarked on his journey home.

But he didn't.

Aside from wanting to spend more time with Shia—even though she almost forced herself on him.

There was also a selfish motive involved.

If we can take this opportunity to make contributions to Avalon.

This might solidify Shea's position here and make her more accepted.

At the same time, this is also a test.

To test whether one is "qualified" and capable of getting involved in a deeper vortex.

At this moment, looking at the perfectly timed "panic" on Lin Gui's face.

Morpheus, thinking he was already in a trap, continued in a deep voice:

"Therefore, in order to prevent Avalon from being destroyed."

"We must go and rescue Lord Guxin."

"But we... can't get out."

"And currently, the only possible way to cross the Howling Corridor is..."

He paused deliberately, his gaze falling on Lin Gui.

"Only you, and your companions."

He carefully avoided using the sensitive word "magical artifact".

"We don't know what method you used."

But we beg you, help us.

"Our escorts, pass through the corridor."

"We have...something extremely important that must be delivered to Lord Guxin."

He didn't specify what it was.

But Lin Gui knew.

That refers to the one that shares the same origin as the Demon King Pillar, and which only Gushin can fully activate.

The Demon King's exclusive artifact.

The Eleventh Demon King Pillar - The Curtain of Infallibility

Lin Gui fell silent.

There was no response for a long time.

Morpheus thought he was struggling, weighing the risks of exposing the "artifact" against the responsibility of saving Avalon.

In reality, Lin Gui was waiting.

Silently waiting for that familiar notification sound to ring in my mind.

Waiting for the system to determine if this is a triggerable "escort mission".

An opportunity that would allow him to legitimately get involved in the matter.

however.

After a long silence, the system's almost speechless, flat voice rang out:

[Host, stop thinking about it.]

[Triggering a task depends on your strength and abilities.]

You are currently only a high-level mage.

Lin Gui sighed softly to himself.

In the end... I was just too "incompetent".

But this is for the best.

No matter how dangerous the game is between Guxin, Jesse, and the Witcher.

After confirming that Avalon had a means of self-defense and that Shia could live safely.

All of this is no longer his concern.

So...

It's time to set off.

He raised his eyes and looked at Morpheus, who was waiting for a reply.

The panic in his dark eyes gradually faded, and he regained his usual calm.

"Perfect timing. I was also planning to send a message out of Avalon. You can send someone with me."

After a moment's hesitation, Lin Gui added.

"After I say goodbye to my companions..."