Chapter 83: Chapter 76: Keeping You Alive Would Only Make Food More Expensive (Third Update)
“Void Turbulence? Void Realm channels?”
Since this was considered esoteric knowledge, Ash didn’t find it strange that Igula was also unfamiliar, “This is a relatively rare Mage disaster. When a Mage establishes a connection with the Void Realm through the Gate of Truth, some areas of the Void Realm are unstable and will backflow knowledge into the Gate of Truth, causing the real world’s space to be mutated by the knowledge of the Void Realm.”
Igula gestured, “Imagine the Void Realm as a big jelly, and the Mage enters the jelly through a straw, normally without issue. But if a section of the jelly rots and dissolves, the liquid inside travels up the straw to the real area, corroding and boring a hole through reality… That is Void Turbulence.”
“And Void Realm channels are due to these knowledge flows having a tendency to return to the Void Realm. Most turbulence dissipates quickly, but some denser knowledge flows solidify into channels, trying to make their way back to the Void Realm.”
“But ownerless knowledge can’t open the Gate of Truth, so it just wanders around outside the Void Realm, forming half-formed Void Realm channels.”
“Half-formed?” Ash was puzzled, “So how can it become a complete Void Realm channel?”
“Do you remember I just mentioned that some areas of the jelly were rotting?” Igula continued, “That’s why Mage disasters like Void Turbulence tend to occur not just once or twice but in batches around the world. Any Mage that has been to a rotting area might trigger Void Turbulence locally, creating various half-formed channels.”
“These half-formed channels point toward the coordinates of the Void Realm within the Gate of Truth. The closer these half-formed channels are to their target coordinates, the more likely they are to combine with each other, forming a complete Void Realm channel that can traverse two places in reality.”
It sounded complicated, but Ash, using his scant knowledge of mathematical geometry, understood: half-formed channel A aims to return to point C in the Void Realm and forms an AC channel; simultaneously, half-formed channel B also aims for point C, forming a BC channel.
But since the Gate of Truth isn’t open, even if A and B linger outside the gate, C won’t come out. Then, both outcasts, A and B, meet outside the gate and decide to ditch C, forming a complete AB channel, finding their happy end.
“So, the closer the Gates of Truth opened by two Mages are, the easier it is to form a Void Realm channel?”
Igula nodded, “That’s the theory, but it’s almost impossible to create channels through this rule.”
Ash’s expression grew serious, “Then aren’t Mages very vulnerable? Once they open the Gate of Truth in a rotting area, their bodies will inevitably be sucked into the Void Turbulence?”
“Not at all, Void Realm knowledge will never harm a Mage.”
“They fear Mages,” Igula shrugged. “Even Technique Spirits run away when they see us; why do you think the knowledge that comprises the Technique Spirits would dare to harm Mages?”
“An interesting theory is that we Mages are like raiders to the Void Realm. The knowledge that accidentally flows back into reality is like refugees who have strayed into the territory of an enemy country. They are desperately fleeing; how could they dare challenge the brutally vicious raiders?”
“Void Realm knowledge often flees to areas sparse with Mages, like underground or in the skies, then precipitates to mutate space, trying to return to the Void Realm, thereby forming turbulence or channels.”
Igula described this disaster as weak, helpless, and somehow endearing… Ash glanced at the lively registration point, “So is exploring Void Realm channels very dangerous?”
“I don’t know!” Igula admitted candidly. “But not all Void Realm channels are complete. What do you think happens to the pioneers who step into a half-formed channel?”
“However, if they find a channel leading to another kingdom and successfully return, that achievement is surely enough to absolve them of their death sentences.”
Ash raised an eyebrow, “That sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Just go and have a look, if you don’t die, run back. It’s just a matter of luck, why would you still need survival and escape skills?”
Igula shook his head, “If the other side was uninhabited, they could immediately return. But if it’s another kingdom, the volunteers definitely can’t return immediately.”
“Why? Do the volunteers need to go through customs as they cross over?”
“Think about it from another perspective. If an enemy from an unknown kingdom could also find a Void Realm channel to the Kingdom of Blood Moon, wouldn’t you take precautions in advance?”
Ash was about to ask how to guard against unknown enemies but suddenly fell silent—this here was a world of Mages filled with Miracles, where the only absolute was that nothing was absolute.
In Ash’s view, what seemed nearly impossible for him was likely as easy as burping after a meal for a high-level Mage.
The gap in knowledge levels created an insurmountable chasm between Mages, just as Ash still couldn’t understand how the chip in the back of his neck managed to stop him from farting outside of the restroom areas.
“In the Kingdom of Blood Moon, there is an overarching Miracle of surveillance. Once an outsider appears, the Church will quickly notify the nearby Crime Hunting Hall, and at the same time, Blood Moon will cast a curse that prevents the outsider from performing any space transfers or sending messages within forty-eight hours.” Igula crossed his arms, “When I was seven, an outsider appeared in Feimeng City, seemingly having escaped to the vicinity of the foster home I was in, and the Blood Frenzy Hunters turned the place upside down…”
“You’re not from Kaimon City?”
Igula shrugged, “Feimeng City’s fools were almost totally swindled, so it was natural to break into a new market.”
Undoubtedly, the Void Realm passage was a significant event that could influence the situation, but it meant nothing to the jailbreak squad; instead, it increased the difficulty of their recruitment.
Maybe they would come looking for volunteers tomorrow?
Maybe he had a chance to return to society honorably?
This sudden decree greatly dampened the spirits of this group of determined jailbreakers. How would they continue their ideological work now?
Just as Ash was at a loss and was about to go eat something fatty to seek inspiration, the registration point suddenly became chaotic.
“Choose me, please choose me! I am ‘Golden Mouth’ of the Woodpecker gang, proficient in all kinds of murder techniques, I really want to be a volunteer, please pick me, boo hoo hoo—”
“Water Magic, gun technique, Light Magic, Earth Magic, explosives, and trap-related Miracles… The Magic Faction fits the requirements, but you only have One-winged Magic Power, which doesn’t meet the minimum threshold for admission, sorry.”
Hearing this, the crowd couldn’t help but look at the tall man kneeling on the ground with amazement.
Igula added, “Golden Mouth is the best assassin in the Woodpecker gang. His assassination targets include many well-known figures, senators, politicians, and businessmen. The difficulty of his tasks is no less than assassinating a Two-winged Mage. To be Golden Mouth as a One-winged Mage shows he must have some unique skills.”
Ash recognized the man, “Isn’t he Ronald Wade, Lanna’s ‘good friend’?”
“Yes, and he is also a newcomer who joined this month,” Igula revealed a subtle smile. “Otherwise, he wouldn’t have approached Lanna… It seems he’s realized something and is desperately trying to save himself.”
“Save himself? Is he in danger?”
“Do you know Lanna’s nickname?”
“Yes, ‘Gourmet’ Lanna, the nickname comes from his special preference, right?”
Although Lanna’s preference was quite bizarre, this prison was ultimately an ultimate cesspool of psychopaths, so much so that a ogre was currently loitering in front of Ash, allowing him to mention Lanna’s little hobby without any emotional fluctuation.
“Most people only see the surface, but it’s far more than that,” Igula shook his finger. “Lanna doesn’t spare even the insides.”
“What’s different about that?”
“It’s very different, you may not see any wounds on Ronald now, but Lanna has already eaten what’s inside him.”
“…Is this some kind of obscene joke?”
“Ash, your behavior makes me feel that the Four Pillars God Sect isn’t some middle-aged greasy men’s club for relaxing after work. Keeping you alive would only make food more expensive,” Igula replied lightly, revealing Lanna’s horrific and bizarre little secret.
Yet, Ash’s eyes grew brighter the more he heard.
He looked at Ronald, who was still pleading ceaselessly, and said, “Perhaps, we’ve found our teammate.”