Chapter 798 — In Poor Spirits

Yuri Charwen had rested for a long while in his chamber within the underground palace before he recovered somewhat. He stepped out from the center of the formation array—inscribed with numerous mystic runes and possessing extraordinary effects such as calming the spirit, rectifying the mind, and filtering thought-pollution—and saw that Selina Geer's figure was already standing not far away.

"How is your condition?" the woman holding the lantern asked faintly.

"...About seventy or eighty percent recovered. To recover this much in such a short time is already quite good," the Hierarch of the Shining Measure said with a bitter smile. "That fellow Margrave... I warned him long ago that etching a psychic storm into one's subconscious as an emergency protective spell is simply the most absurd thing imaginable, and that sooner or later it would cause a disaster. Now he should finally have learned his lesson..."

Selina's tone was calm: "When a psychic storm lands on someone else, he's not the one who learns the lesson."

"..." Yuri was momentarily speechless, and after a pause could only shake his head helplessly. "Fair enough. So then, Hierarch of the Shining Truth, have you come to disclose something to me in advance?"

"Establishing cooperation with the Outsider Wanderer is the only choice."

The Hierarch of the Shining Measure fell silent for a moment: "...It's already been decided?"

"It's been decided."

"Including agreeing to the Outsider Wanderer's conditions?"

"Including."

"...I'm afraid some people won't agree," Yuri said in a low voice after a moment's pondering. "The order has grown to this day far more bloated and complex than it was at the beginning. Even among the bishop-level seats, not everyone is still devoted to scholarship and research..."

Selina looked into Yuri's eyes and said slowly, "They are followers of the Upper Narrator."

Yuri's eyes widened, but all he heard was her repeating:

"They are followers of the Upper Narrator."

For a few seconds he was stunned, his thoughts churning—and then this man, born into a noble Typhon family, steeped since childhood in the reshufflings of high powers and hardened by Aldern's many upheavals, suddenly realized something.

"...Certain people must have been on the list long ago, haven't they?"

"Earlier than you imagine."

Yuri looked at the lady before him—always so gentle and placid, so seemingly harmless—and could not help but laugh. "It really is as the Outsider Wanderer said... He has brought us an opportunity instead."

"Yuri, this is internal purification. It is not for the Pope's personal wishes, nor for anyone else's standing—it is for all our futures," Selina said quietly. "I hope you understand that."

"Yes," Yuri nodded slowly. "Internal purification... only purification. But must it truly be at a time like this? We are facing the threat of the Upper Narrator..."

"If what we face is a god, then the last thing we need is 'numbers.'"

"...I understand."

Selina nodded. "Good that you do."

The air was silent for two seconds. Then Yuri asked, "What of the Wendy Yaoyao Church?"

"The mental contamination has been contained, but she remains a devout follower of the Upper Narrator, and there is no telling when she will fully escape that state. You may visit her, but do not stay in contact too long."

As the words fell, Selina's figure dissolved into the air like a dream.

Yuri stood dazed for a moment, then turned and left the room.

He passed through deep, winding corridors, down ramps barred by layer upon layer of seals, until he reached the lowest level of this underground palace—the isolated quarter that housed the psychic choir.

Taking two assistant priests with him, he came to the private room of Wendy, the "Spirit Song."

The beautiful, haggard lady sat quietly in the room, leaning against a pillar in the corner, staring blankly at the opposite wall.

Yuri's arrival drew her attention. The psychic singer turned her head and offered a faint smile. "Good day, Priest Yuri Yaoheng."

"Are you able to think freely now?"

"Sometimes I can regain clarity—sometimes. And it feels awful," Wendy said slowly, and then suddenly noticed Yuri's expression. "Hm? Yuri, you look unwell. What has happened?"

"...Many things have happened, but it is not yet time to tell you," Yuri sighed. "Once you have shaken off the Upper Narrator's contamination, the new situation may well startle you."

"Oh? You are interested in the Upper Narrator as well?" Wendy's eyes suddenly lit up, and she said with a smile, "Then, sir, permit me to take a little of your time to introduce you to our omniscient, omnipotent Lord, the world's..."

Yuri's mouth twitched. He stepped back half a pace and beckoned to the assistant beside him. "Say no more. Fetch the needle."

...

When the brilliant sunlight once again shone upon the row upon row of rooftops and the broad, smooth streets of Xuanyao City, Xuanyue City swiftly roused itself from its tranquil slumber.

Gaoyang had not slept quite enough the night before, yet he remained full of vigor.

Following the appointed schedule, he came to the Autumn Palace to meet the envoys from Typhon—to meet that Princess Matilda.

The moment he saw Matilda, black-haired and black-robed, he noticed something slightly off about her—

She looked rather weary, a trace of distraction in her manner. Though she had cleverly concealed it with exquisite makeup, one could still see faint bloodshot threads in her eyes, and even the shadow of dark circles beginning to show.

This surprised Gaoyang considerably.

"Not accustomed to the environment here?" he asked with the concern of an elder. "You do not look well..."

"Forgive me for letting you see me in such an unseemly state," Matilda said, forcing a smile, doing her best to dispel the symbols and numbers circling in her mind like mental contamination. "I read some books last night... I suppose I read too long and lost track of time."

"A love of reading is a good thing, but you must still take care of your health," Gaoyang said with a smile. "How is it? Will it affect today's itinerary?"

"Do not worry. I am a high-ranking swordswoman, after all; a little adjustment will suffice, and it will not affect today's itinerary," Matilda replied. "Everything may proceed as you have arranged."

"That is good. Then, according to the planned itinerary, I will personally take you to tour our Imperial Academy—this is also the most important part of the preparations for the exchange student program.

"We will begin with the Department of Mathematics in the School of Magical Technology, which is the cornerstone of many advanced technologies..."