When the plot-skips players into the game world

At this moment, it became evident who was truly resisting the Moon's Children, and who had already quietly surrendered.

Even the protective barriers of several universities in the Iris Kingdom were effortlessly bypassed by the Blood Celestial Marshal, without even triggering an alert.

The barriers and rituals within these universities were powerless against an angry Celestial Marshal, who had nearly reached the sixth power level. With just a distant gesture, he performed a public display of shattering, polluting the ceiling while transforming into a wisp of pure blood qi, absorbed by the Blood Celestial Marshal — they were the Moon's Children hiding in the university, yet until this point, no one had noticed.

It should be noted that in the Iris Kingdom, identity checks are usually required when enrolling in university.

This is to prevent the Moon's Children from infiltrating. Now that they have, they attempt to have their classmates act as decoys to evade the Blood Celestial Marshal's pursuit.

After all, in a relatively closed environment like a school, any disease capable of self-replication becomes tricky — untraceable, uncapturable.

The idea, in fact, is quite good, but execution is another matter.

Because a significant portion of the local Irisflower population expressed indifference to such people, wanting to flee overseas; others felt they were lacking in talent, their incomes too low, and at most just passed the days idly... Even if they graduated, they wouldn't become rare upper-level Transcendents.

So why not just live freely!

At least the time saved during rest is real.

Moreover, some Moon's Children within these universities were likely deliberately let in — they hope to become Moon's Children themselves. Each one believes that if they succeed in transforming, they are bound to become formidable exactly like the legendary two other heroes.

Thus, a very peculiar situation arose in the Iris Kingdom: the lower-class populace scarcely noticed anything happening, yet the "upper society" virtually saw two-thirds of its members eradicated. Every family lost a few members, over a third of company executives perished without a trace, and nearly half of the officials and lower civil servants in various departments "disappeared."

This number is astonishing — it implies that half the ruling class within the Iris Kingdom has silently transformed into the Moon's Children.

And this was even with the Prime Minister being the leader of the Hawkeye Organization.

"This is probably a kind of karmic cycle."

Sherlock sneered, "Back when the Irisflower People launched the first rebellion, they couldn't completely wipe out the nobility here, leaving behind hidden dangers. Since you started it, you might as well see it through... Leaving even one survivor just repeats the cycle of hatred, doesn't it? Now it's practically clean.

"Looking at it this way, I quite admire the Blood Celestial Marshal. If you're going to kill, do it thoroughly and cleanly, otherwise, don't bother. Using various clumsy methods to evade punishment shows no sense of responsibility..."

Sherlock clearly disapproved of those who applied their cleverness to evading crimes.

A wise mind is, of course, a good thing.

But if this excellent mind is solely used for adapting to society, for profiteering, and avoiding harm seamlessly, then this wisdom is far too void.

Not only is it utilitarian, but it's also impure.

Recalling Aiwass's teachings on the "Void" theory, Sherlock pieced together another new void in his mind —

Wisdom and adaptation.

"But, where did the Blood Celestial Marshal go?"

Isabel felt worried, "He wouldn't... want to sacrifice the entire land, right? Is there any way to stop him?

"Those Moon's Children deserve to die, but the Blood Celestial Marshal, after all, is also a Moon's Child. He needs lifedrain as well... Then, those civilians..."

Although she is the Queen of Avalon and now also a part of the Helasal Empire, the land and people of the Iris Kingdom have little to do with her... But ever since learning the material of the ring she held came from the final Mad King of the Iris Kingdom, Isabel developed a somewhat serious concern for the Iris Kingdom.

This puzzled Aiwass somewhat... but he could understand.

Probably that feeling of "I took your most important thing, so your obsession too might as well be entrusted to me."

"To be honest," Aiwass shook his head, "being drained by the Blood Celestial Marshal is much better than being toyed with by those beasts."

He never described to Isabel the horrific scenes within the mansions of the Moon's Children — which weren't the kind of things one could easily speak about.

"However, if you ask where the Blood Celestial Marshal is hiding... I think he might be underground."

Aiwass happened to know an entrance to the relics.

If the Blood Celestial Marshal wanted to distance himself from the Material Realm, he had to go there.

Although planning to flee and still pursuing him all the way might not look good...

While they were discussing the Blood Celestial Marshal, someone knocked on the room door from the outside. After a pause of two or three seconds, it opened on its own.

Standing at the door was Argon de Vandom, Aiwass's nominal grandfather.

Arsene immediately straightened his back, "Father, I am talking to Aiwass about the matter of Hawkeye..."

"— That matter can wait,"

Old Argon waved his hand, interrupting Arsene.

He looked at Aiwass, his tone heavy yet carrying a hint of excitement, handing a letter to Aiwass, "The family's informant from Parthia reported...

"The Benevolent Lord in Holy Spring City, Ayimar Nur, successfully ascended to the sixth power level a few days ago. Do you want to meet him? He has sent an invitation to the family, wanting to invite you to observe the Nest Hymn.

"Unlike the Eternal Pope's forcibly attained sixth power level, this is a true sixth power level. Moreover, he expressed that he might reach the threshold of the seventh power level within a month..."

As the Old Duke said this, he suddenly paused, "Did you foresee this? You know?"

Aiwass didn't even need to answer.

Just by observing Aiwass's expression and eyes, the Old Duke had his answer, "Was it... the Ring of Ouroboros ritual?

"Did it start from the Fallen Celestial Marshal's descent, or from the start of the Fallen Celestial Marshal being hunted?"

"...Naturally, the hunt,"

Aiwass sighed in response.

The Old Duke was indeed perceptive.

He immediately deduced everything, "The Ring of Ouroboros can lift the suppression of the Wall of Balance?!

"Following this order... is the next step to unblock the Path of Love?"

The Old Duke's expression turned gravely serious, his gaze even growing cold and fierce, "Ah... very important information, I understand."

He said no more, turning to leave.

Arsene, somewhat bewildered, asked Aiwass, "What's wrong with my dad?"

"I guess he plans to find and kill the witches,"

Aiwass said casually, holding the letter in his hand, "To prevent the birth of sixth-level enemies."

He squinted slightly.

His own power of transcendence nearly filled the Path river of his heart — akin to an "experience points bar."

Once Aiwass dealt with the Blood Celestial Marshal, he would surely reach the full level.

Which means... once Aiwass defeated the Blood Celestial Marshal, he could prepare to ascend to the sixth power level.

At that point, everyone would be at the sixth power level, so what would there be to fear?

However...

The true purpose of the Ring of Ouroboros, once the Blood Celestial Marshal graduates... should be calculable by then. After all, the world has many capable individuals, and if they prepared strategies and traps before pulling a Celestial Marshal down, instead of complaining to parents like the Moon's Children, there's a fair chance to kill outright.

It implies, if they know the purpose of drawing down the Celestial Marshal is to kill them, then it wouldn't be just Aiwass who could slay the Celestial Marshal. Even some Celestial Marshal fragments might circulate two to three rounds in the Dream Realm and Material Realm over three months as a norm — capturing a Celestial Marshal shard and ascending, then being dragged down immediately to be killed by someone else, who then ascends just to be dragged and killed again...

— At that point, Celestial Marshal dumplings will start going into the pot.