Chapter 633: Hunting the Hidden Sage (Part One)

Chapter 633: Hunting the Hidden Sage (Part One)

Audrey, whose thoughts were accurately guessed by Susie, did not show any displeasure at having her mind read this time. Instead, she displayed a gentle smile.

"Susie, what do you think I should do?"

"I don't know, after all, I'm just a dog," Susie said, pretending to be troubled. Seeing Audrey's mood improve, she continued, "Mr. Hastur will surely appreciate your kindness and sense of justice. You don't need to worry that such a matter will affect your relationship with Mr. Hastur."

"Susie, you seem to understand Mr. Hastur better than I do," Audrey said, feeling much better.

"Because I'm not directly involved, I can't completely empathize with you. I don't have the same kind of love that comes with gains and losses with Mr. Hastur, so I can try to offer my perspective and advice as an outsider."

"Susie, you've really grown a lot."

"Audrey, you already have the answer in your heart. You're just asking me to seek affirmation. When people are confused, they always hope to find strength to support their soul."

"Susie, you're absolutely right. Well done."

Pleased by the praise, Susie wagged her tail and moved a little closer, saying cheerfully, "Audrey, the more you praise me, the more it feels like you're being perfunctory."

"..." Audrey took a deep breath, resisting the urge to pat Susie's head.

"Audrey, I'm going to the library again tomorrow to read. Do you want to join me?"

"Susie, there are many things in this world worth trying besides reading."

Audrey declined directly and left the room, heading to Hastur's study.

"Is the Tarot meeting over for the week?" Hastur looked up at Audrey, who was walking towards him, and smiled, "It seems something significant happened at the Tarot meeting."

"The Earth Mother wants to join forces with Mr. Fool to stop the war between the northern and southern continents."

"Oh, and what was Mr. Fool's response?"

"He didn't answer... I spoke up first," Audrey said, her cheeks tinged with a slight blush.

Hastur listened with interest as Audrey recounted her bold actions at the Tarot meeting.

"You don't need to worry about offending Mr. Fool. On the contrary, you handled the situation well. Mr. Fool should thank you for helping him out," Hastur said, holding Audrey's slightly cold hand, reassuring her not to worry about any blame from Mr. Fool.

"Does Mr. Fool not want to end this war?"

"He's just considering my thoughts."

"Mr. Hastur, do you want to end this war?"

Hastur did not answer directly but asked, "Every war has its purpose, and ending a war is no different. Why do you think the Earth Mother wants to end this war?"

Audrey's expression turned serious as she pondered for a moment, looking into Hastur's eyes, "There could be two reasons. One is that the Earth Mother believes continuing the war will negatively affect her. The other is that the Earth Mother is compassionate and kind, not wanting to see the endless loss of life."

"If you could only choose one reason?"

"I choose the former."

Audrey didn't hesitate at all. She used to revere the gods, but as she reached higher levels of understanding, her idealized view of them had almost completely shattered.

The gods were not as perfect as she had imagined.

"Audrey, the war will end before I ascend to the stars."

"Will you blame me for influencing your decision?"

"No, your kindness and sense of justice are also qualities I admire."

Audrey's lips curved into a slight smile, "Mr. Hastur, I never realized you were so good at charming girls."

"This only proves that the Audrey in front of me is so exceptional that I can only speak words of praise."

...

In the Amanda Mountains, a natural barrier separating the Fusac Empire and the Kingdom of Ruen, several towns lay close to each other on the side near the Fusac Empire.

This border area had been populated by residents relocated by the Fusac Empire to defend against invasions from the Kingdom of Ruen, or to serve as forward bases for invading the Kingdom of Ruen.

Thus, the population here was not much less than in many large inland cities.

The most famous were three towns arranged in a triangular formation.

When the Kingdom of Ruen invaded, this area was breached, and many people died in the war, even more than when the capital was taken.

Resentment and lost souls intertwined like black and red colors on this land once stained by blood and hatred. Members of the Moss Ascetic Order were following divine instructions to use this land as a sacrificial site.

"Are you ready?"

"We can start now."

"Hurry up, people are starting to notice our actions."

"Don't worry, there won't be any problems this time either..."

Boom!

A trembling roar erupted, and suddenly the ground cracked, tearing apart the barrier set up for the sacrificial ritual. From the depths of the earth emerged a giant black tree, with a figure standing atop its crown.

Its arms were like two massive black mountains, and with just a gentle wave, it disrupted part of the ritual.

"It's Him!"

"It's the divine offspring of the Rose School, Sia!"

Recognizing the figure, the members of the Moss Ascetic Order scattered in all directions.

At that moment, a black abyss opened, summoning a descendant of the Fallen Mother from the stars above. It descended with an aura of corruption and pollution.

Its head, covered in black slime, was adorned with numerous tentacles and a trunk-like appendage resembling an elephant's. Its body was clad in a layer of gray-black armor, and its hands were like giant pincers. As it breathed, pairs of pale yellow eyes opened on its tentacles.

"Corrupt abominations should not exist in this world!"

The moment Sia sensed the creature's aura, an indescribable loathing surged within him, the scent of a natural enemy!

In the sky, a crimson moon broke free from the night's constraints, casting a veil of moonlight as thin as gauze.

On the ground, the remnants of the sacrificial ritual were nurtured and began to activate slowly.

When the crimson moon shone brightly, stars lit up, and the starlight dominated the night sky.

As the starlight fell, an endless purifying force washed over the corrupt aura on the land, granting peace to the lost souls.

In the Hall of Stars, Hastur watched with contemplation as Sia worked diligently below.

Why did the Mother Tree of Desire choose to send him to solve this problem? 

Tonight, Hastur had planned to deal with the Hidden Sage. Initially, he thought his chances of success were high, but Sia's presence here gave him a bad feeling.

Sensing the flow of star power in the sky, the creature with a voice like a toad turned into a cloud of black smoke and vanished into the black abyss.

Sia, in a victorious pose, looked down at the land gradually returning to tranquility.

He seemed to have no intention of pursuing but intended to stay here.

"Pursue."

A divine command echoed in his mind like thunder, and Sia looked up in surprise, gazing at the starry sky above.

It was an order from the stars.

He hesitated only for a moment before leaving.

With Sia, the disruptive factor, removed from the scene, Hastur immediately felt that his chances of success tonight had increased by at least fifty percent.

In the river of knowledge shrouded in darkness, tonight, starlight pierced the darkness, reaching here, bringing the light of the stars.

The figure standing in the river of knowledge whispered "Stars" as soon as it sensed the intrusion of starlight, and then the river of knowledge surged and disappeared from this space.

For a Sequence 0 who only thinks about hiding and escaping, unless one possesses overwhelming power or a way to imprison them, it's difficult to inflict any fatal impact.

In the Hall of Stars, Hastur was not in a hurry. He occasionally projected starlight to illuminate the hiding place of the Hidden Sage.

Without the need to consider followers or any divine dignity, the Hidden Sage, more elusive than the fallen Lord of Storms or the Eternal Blazing Sun, was challenging to deal with.

Because he would flee, and he was skilled in that aspect.

Without the authority of a high-dimensional observer to imprison time and space, it was challenging to block his escape route completely.

But now, Hastur had many cards to play.

The newly joined members of the Star Council, the Decaying King, the Black Devourer, and the Radiant Hunter, were eager to act in the starry sky.

Hastur ultimately chose to let the Radiant Hunter descend, an ancient outer god skilled in hunting and tracking.