Mystery: The Undead Don't Die from Linking the Fire

Chapter 266 Absolutely Amazing

Above the gray fog.

Klein shed the now-quiet 'wriggling hunger' and tossed it into the junk pile.

He has successfully advanced to Sequence 5, "Master of Mystic Puppet," with the ritual assistance of the "Mermaid" song.

Since Klein couldn't find any food to feed the 'Crawling Hunger' on the Star Admiral's ship, leaving it on the gray fog was the best option.

call……

Klein paused for two seconds, glancing at the figure seated beside the weathered bronze table. He then left the giant-like palace and headed deeper into this mysterious space above the gray mist.

He had previously discovered a bright "stairway" leading to heaven, and suspected that the level of that stairway was related to his own sequence, so he came to confirm it as soon as he advanced.

After walking for a while, Klein finally saw the sacred staircase made of pure light. Compared to before, it had one more layer out of thin air, making a total of five steps.

As expected… Klein sighed in surprise.

Then he climbed the stairs that seemed to have been prepared for giants and reached the top.

At this moment, he was not far from the gray mist floating in mid-air; it seemed that just one more step would allow him to climb it. Klein subconsciously looked up and gazed at it, vaguely seeing something.

It was something almost completely transparent, like the shell of something, sometimes shrinking back a little and disappearing from Klein's sight, and sometimes being blown outward by an invisible wind, revealing a few outlines.

Klein remained silent for a long time, then slowly took out a mottled human figure, dotted with sparks, as if sculpted from ashes—

That was embers.

Months ago, Ember had given him this ember as payment.

However, Klein still didn't know where to use this ember.

He had initially thought this would be used as a 'beacon,' allowing the embers lost in the annals of history to return to the present. But he quickly dismissed this idea, because Karula and the others, possessing the King's Soul, were clearly beacons far more radiant than the embers.

If the light of the King's Soul is the bright moon, then the embers are fireflies.

How can the light of a firefly rival the brilliance of the moon?

So Klein had been speculating for a long time that perhaps the embers were just a gift to him.

And now, that guess has become a reality.

Because Ember has returned to the present and no longer needs his help.

After hesitating for two seconds, Klein finally exerted a little force and crushed the remaining flame.

puff!

The embers were crushed, the ashes scattered and drifted in the wind, and the flames of internal energy exploded in an instant.

With Klein as the anchor point, it transformed into a brilliant cloud of fire, wildly burning the surrounding gray mist, gradually making the hazy scene that was originally shrouded in the gray mist clear.

The sixth step did not appear, and Klein still could not reach the top of the steps.

But even standing on the fifth step, he could still clearly see the scene above the steps—

It was a brilliant gate of light tinged with a bluish-black hue, composed of countless layers upon layers of light spheres. The body of each light sphere was a cluster of twisted worms, some transparent and some translucent.

Furthermore, thin black threads hung from the portal, suspending nearly transparent cocoons. These cocoons swayed gently, each encasing a different soul entity.

Some were dark-skinned, some were Asian, some were white, some were wearing jeans, some were holding cell phones, some were dressed in brightly colored clothes, some had beautiful features, all of them had a sense of life, yet their eyes were tightly closed.

Klein's gaze froze, as if he had returned to Earth and was walking down a street with people of all races.

Then he noticed that three 'cocoons' had broken open, were empty, and were swaying in the wind.

Klein, who had raised his head and was looking up, silently watched all of this, quietly observing.

Snapped!

The flames were extinguished completely at that moment, and the gray mist in the distance rapidly filled in like seawater, filling the 'blanks' burned out by the flames. The portal was once again shrouded in gray mist, and the 'cocoon' on it also became hazy and indistinct.

In Klein's view, only a deep green, almost black color stood quietly, like the color of trees in the Black Forest.

After a long silence, Klein quietly walked down the staircase of light and returned to the mottled bronze table.

The figure remained seated beside the weathered bronze table, silently watching him.

Klein looked at the head of the long bronze table, at the enormous stone chair carved from stone, inlaid with dull gems and gold, which seemed not to be prepared for humankind.

This huge chair is empty and mottled, as if it has been weathered by the long years.

When he first arrived here, he felt only confusion.

Gradually, he learned to use the special features above the gray fog to create convenience for himself.

Now, all that remains in his heart is confusion.

After a long silence, he did not, as usual, immediately sit down in the huge chair at the head of the table.

Instead, he walked step by step toward the chair and slowly sat down.

Klein looked at the figure on his right, remained silent for a long time, and then suddenly asked:

"When did you find it?"

Ember was not surprised by his question and slowly began to speak:

"During the exploration of Amun's tomb, Amun told me that this place was called 'Source Castle'."

"Amon?"

A realization dawned on Klein's eyes. He knew that Ember had explored the tomb because it was he who had told Ember about it.

He also knew that Ember had encountered Amon in the mausoleum, but he had no idea what exactly happened in the mausoleum.

"Source Castle?"

Klein murmured to himself, this was the first time he had learned the true name of "Above the Gray Mist".

Amon's clone had been lurking in the Silver City prison for decades, but suddenly launched an attack when the 'Sun' was praying to the 'Fool', all in order to use the 'Sun' to invade the 'Source Castle'.

Klein had already suspected at the time that this was not a simple coincidence, but rather a premeditated act.

The reason is now obvious: the law of aggregation of extraordinary characteristics.

Amon was also attracted to the Source Castle and wanted to obtain it.

So, what is Source Castle?

Is the path of the diviner unique? Or does it exist on some higher level?

It's probably the latter.

After all, Amon is not a diviner, but a thief.

Moreover, if it were merely a matter of uniqueness, the 'Source Castle' wouldn't be able to stop the invasion of the 'Eternal Sun' and the 'Goddess of Night'.

Klein received the answer from the embers, but this only made him more confused:

"You guessed everything just from those two words?"

Ember slowly said:

"Amon also told me that if I wanted 'Source Castle,' he could give it to me."

"He doesn't necessarily want to become 'Mysterious,' nor does he want to bear that fate. Because that would cause the original master of 'Source Castle' to be resurrected in Him, just as 'The Original' was resurrected in His Father."

"And I am with you..."

Ember pointed to the "Fool" Klein at the head of the table, then to the end of the bronze table, where there was nothing.

But Klein instantly understood and conjured up the 'world' in perfect harmony.

Having become the 'Master of Puppets', he no longer needs the All-Black Eye to directly manipulate the 'world'.

Once the 'world' was solidified, Ember slowly spoke:

"And in the 'world' itself, I see two completely different 'titles'."

"You are the Fool, and the World is the Favored One."

"A favorite of the Heavenly Venerable?"

Klein's heart sank.

There was a lot of information, but he was able to understand the general idea.

He is the Fool, and the world is him.

But the 'world' is not the 'favored one of fools,' but the 'favored one of the gods.'

This means that Klein Moretti was a favorite of the Celestial from the very beginning!

And the Celestial Venerable undoubtedly refers to the Celestial Venerable Fusheng Xuanhuang, the "mysterious" one mentioned by Amon, the former owner of the "Source Castle," and the direct reason for his transmigration!

That portal of light was probably created by this 'Celestial Venerable'. The reason he, Emperor Roselle, and another unknown transmigrator predecessor appeared in this world was all thanks to that 'Celestial Venerable'!

He was able to enter the "Source Castle" by reciting the name of this "Celestial Venerable" in a ritual.

Amon said that he was originally resurrected in the "Ancient Sun God", which means that the Celestial Venerable will be resurrected in him sooner or later.

"But I'm only Sequence 5!"

Klein inwardly groaned, the thought of someone else replacing him sending chills down his spine. The first image that flashed through his mind was of an alien bursting from its host's body!

Klein took a deep breath and asked in a low voice:

Why are you telling me this now?

After a long silence, just as Klein's anxiety was growing, Ember slowly spoke:

"Is it possible that you initiated this topic?"

"..."

Klein opened his mouth, then gave a wry smile.

It seems he really did start the topic himself. Seeing that door of light made him a little disoriented, and he even had a self-destructive thought. His mind was a mess and he didn't know what to do, so he couldn't help but think and directly lay his cards on the table.

A showdown might feel good in the moment, but it'll be a nightmare from start to finish, and a real 'crematorium' at that!

Klein asked, half nervously and half jokingly:

"So, I'm going to be burned?"

Ember nodded slightly:

"Pretty much, but what we're going to burn is 'Source Castle'."

"Source Castle?"

Klein raised an eyebrow, letting out a sigh of relief but also looking puzzled, and asked in confusion:

"Can I ask why?"

Ember made no attempt to hide anything and frankly stated:

"My current state is similar to yours. You can simply understand it as either the 'Primordial Flame' reviving within me, or the 'Primordial Flame' being completely refined by me. The final outcome depends on who owns the Nine King Souls."

"And this world also contains nine portions of source matter, which can be used to strengthen the essence of the King's Soul."

"The more source matter I incorporate, the greater my chances of winning."

Klein suddenly realized, but at the same time, a new guess came to mind:

"Nine portions of King's Soul? Nine portions of Source Essence? One portion of King's Soul corresponds exactly to one portion of Source Essence? This must have been planned long ago!"

Klein thought for two seconds and asked:

"So, you now possess a King's Soul?"

"Yes." Yu Jin nodded slightly.

Klein gave a wry smile and said helplessly:

"To be honest, your candor makes me a little uncomfortable."

Ember's tone remained calm as he frankly stated:

"You are now essentially half the master of the 'Source Castle.' If I want to refine the 'Source Castle,' I need your approval. Of course, I can also choose to forcibly refine it, but that would be much more difficult."

Klein seemed to understand something, pondered for two seconds, and then asked:

"What should I do?"

Ember looked at the Fool and calmly said:

"Become stronger until you can completely control the 'Source Castle'."

"To control the 'Source Castle'?"

Klein frowned:

"But didn't you want to 'refine' the Source Castle?"

"What I want is ownership, but that doesn't mean taking away your right to use it."

"Then why not let other people use it? Like Carula?"

"They can't get in."

"Can't get in?"

Klein got the answer, and for some reason, it reminded him of that portal.

Therefore, only those "favored by the Heavenly Venerable" who emerge from the "cocoon" hanging above the gate of light are qualified to enter the "Source Castle" and become half the master of the "Source Castle"?

This is actually quite easy to understand, because it's similar to the state of embers—

Karula is the holder of the King's Soul, and can be considered half the master of the King's Soul.

However, even if others come into contact with the King's Soul, they cannot become its master, because the King's Soul was given to Karula by Ember.

The same applies to "Source Castle".

The Tarot Club has many members; even angels like Carla can be pulled above the gray fog to participate in the Tarot Club.

But there can only be one Fool, and that Fool can only be Klein!

It sounds reasonable, but Klein's instinctive reaction is that it's a lie!

If that's really the case, then why did Amon still invade the 'Source Castle'? Didn't he want to become the master of the 'Source Castle'? If Amon could take over, why can't others?

However, although Klein still had doubts, he did not point them out.

Whether Ember was trying to comfort him or had other reasons, the matter itself was at least in his favor.

Moreover, Klein prefers to be forced into the 'First Flame' rather than be forced into it.

At least Ember was willing to explain to him calmly, and he never had any intention of stealing it from beginning to end.

Klein had already made up his mind and was about to speak when he suddenly heard Ember speak:

"The essence of the King Soul and the Source Matter is mutually exclusive, just like the Primordial Flame and the Primordial One. The Source Matter instinctively fears contact with the King Soul, so the King Soul holder cannot enter the Source Matter, let alone become its master."

"In order to make the fusion of the King's Soul and the Source Essence smoother, both need to be effectively controlled."

"I control the King's Soul, while you are the 'Source Essence'."

"I can completely control the King's Soul, but you are only half the master of the 'Source Castle'."

"Therefore, the integration process will be very slow until you can completely control the 'Source Castle'."

Klein understood what Ember was trying to say, but he was also somewhat surprised:

"Then how did you get in?"

Ember gave him a strange look and slowly spoke:

Is it possible...?

"Got it, you don't need to say anything more!"

Klein suppressed the urge to rub his forehead with one hand, then remembered—it was he who had forcibly dragged Ember in!

Absolutely!

(End of this chapter)