When the plot-skips players into the game world

Aiwass knew that what Amber Master said was likely correct.

This was the reason why the Winged Celestial Marshal and Serpent Celestial Marshal pursued the Eleventh Source River—any power obtained within the world could never transcend the world itself. Without breaking through limits, it's naturally impossible to defy the laws.

Because Aiwass remembered very clearly how the "Aiwass" in the game died. Even when he was still relatively weak, he would occasionally have such nightmares.

Ultimately, it was Edward, brought by his foster father, who killed Aiwass. Under the guidance of Foster Father James, he fused with the dragon heart of the "Calamity Demon Dragon," wielded the contaminated broken holy sword "Sword in the Stone," and absorbed three Celestial Marshal shards. At that time, he had already exceeded the strength limit that the world could accommodate, to the extent that even the Pillar God couldn't directly deal with him in the Material Realm!

So the Pillar Gods, to oppose Moriarty, gave their divine artifacts to players.

Yet under such circumstances, opposing Edward was still an exceedingly difficult task.

Was Edward stronger than the Pillar Gods? Certainly not, but the Material Realm itself had a world limit anchored by the Hourglass. Even the strength of the Lower Realm Celestial Marshal was inferior to the strength Edward amassed, which was probably why nearing the world limit meant starting to be restricted by the Hourglass. The power of the Celestial Marshals was suppressed, while Edward, who wasn't at the maximum level, instead could exert miracle power beyond the limits!

Now, looking back, the Night Fiend, who reached the Sixth Power Level because of Aiwass's Nurturing Skill, was therefore limited; but Amber Master, who could use Seventh Level power, wasn't restricted instead...

...So that's it, precisely because one can't upgrade to the top level?

The last level can't be upgraded but requires various bonuses to be stacked upon. This is the only way to achieve miracle power without being forcibly balanced by the Hourglass.

No wonder the Eternal Pope's last level had to be stacked with The Holy Crown...

But Aiwass caught another detail from Amber Master's words—he seemed to know that the level cap could be lifted.

Even Professor James, who came from other world lines, did not know this point!

The Demon Scholars preparing the Ring of Ouroboros ritual should also not know that the principle of raising their energy level was in fact the opening of the world cap altogether...

Ordinary people should not even think of such a possibility—the energy level cap of the Material Realm being the Sixth Level is something that, the deeper one's understanding of mysticism, the more they should believe it beyond doubt. Because from the oldest past to now, this cap has never changed. It's like people don't seriously think about "if gravity reversed, how could one survive," at most it's a "possibility" to spark active thinking.

Aiwass gave a deep look at Amber Master, but Amber Master did not reply.

Instead, he moved his gaze away, looking towards the ruins of the Tower of Heaven ahead.

"Be careful."

Amber Master warned, "Since this history has been completely preserved, it indicates that it might still be… operational."

"Are there any living people?"

Little Cat asked nervously.

Amber Master shook his head, "Probably not… maybe."

"…Maybe?"

The Drifter questioned, "'Maybe' what does it mean?"

"Preservation Arts also have limits. Since the mages of the time could completely preserve this space-time, it is very unlikely there are any living people inside. Because trying to preserve a short-lived mortal together greatly increases the complexity."

This wasn't Amber Master's response, but the Dream Traversing Monks' Encyclopedia answered. Apparently, his collected knowledge included some secrets related to "Preservation Arts": "It's like if you want to preserve meat for a few months, you need to freeze it with a refrigerator. Such a sealed, cold environment can keep food preserved for a long time. If the 'wind' element and 'water' element, symbolizing flow and change, can be extracted, you can even turn meat and vegetables into jerky and dried vegetables, keeping them easily for several years.

"—But if you want to use such a container to preserve a living human, that's utterly impossible. The 'preservation power' inside would instead kill the living person. Making a container capable of preserving a living human would increase the cost many times over.

"Under the circumstance where they've already triggered miracles of such a scale... I think they probably didn't have the energy to preserve the mages inside too. Conversely, if they could do such a thing, they seemed to have no need to preserve this space-time. They could just find a way to survive, couldn't they?"

The Encyclopedia's reasoning was quite rational, making everyone nod in agreement.

His understanding of Preservation Arts wasn't profound enough to understand how the ancient mages preserved this fractured space-time... But considering human motivation, if they could also preserve living people, the "necessity" of preserving complete space-time would be lost.

"But there's also another possibility."

Sine adjusted his glasses, the white-haired, white-bearded old mage habitually argued, "Preservation Arts could freeze people into ice sculptures or petrify them into statues, allowing more prolonged passage of time in such a state.

"In my younger days, I saw ancient guards who had been petrified for hundreds of years in a ruin. Their time was frozen, and they lived to this day. Although the prolonged petrification polluted their souls, making them extremely inclined towards the Path of Dusk, he indeed lives in my Mage Tower."

"Your Mage Tower?" The Drifter caught the keyword.

"…My teacher's Mage Tower."

Sine emphasized, "But I'm the chief Great Mage, the primary inheritor of the Mage Tower."

"An inheritor with a white beard?"

The Drifter mocked, "I've heard that many Mage Lords have rejuvenated, your teacher isn't among them, right? Didn't he live longer than you?"

"…Humph!"

The Drifter's words seemed to hit Sine's sore spot.

He snorted coldly, his face serious, "That's because I don't want to accept the filthy blood of the Son of the Moon! How could such good things exist in this world? To have the longevity and youth of the Son of the Moon without the Adaptation to the Path of Love. If there really were such good things, why would it be the Narcissus Duchy's turn?

"There must be a price, only the price hasn't shown yet!"

"I think you just weren't chosen by your teacher."

The Drifter laughed, "After all, if he could live forever, there's no need to choose an heir, right?"

Zhu Tang nodded in agreement, "Indeed, if an emperor could be eternal, what would be the need for a Crown Prince? If the country had to pass on like that, wouldn't eventually there be a bunch of old, immortal emperors calling the shots?

"As a subordinate, surely one would hope for only one monarch. Satisfying one monarch is simpler than satisfying many conflicting monarchs. Every change of power means change and chaos... Only those who hope to ascend by any means would anticipate chaos."

"—But this situation is possible."

Seeing that the crowd might argue, Aiwass spoke to caution and casually cast a Pacifying Blessing, calming everyone instantly: "When you go inside, be cautious of all sculptures, statues, and paintings. Don't touch or mess with them. When encountering suspicious things, don't investigate on your own. Perhaps there are no living people, but there could be automatic defense mechanisms…"

"—As for traps," Little Cat spoke softly, "I can handle them."

She was visibly confident.

"Then please, open the door for us."

Aiwass looked at the "survival expert" Drifter and whispered, "Don't be afraid. If you get hurt, I'll heal you."

As an Adapter who emphasized survival skills, he had some prophetic or Astrologer foresight abilities, making him the safest choice to scout ahead.

The Drifter had clearly grown accustomed to such a team role.

He nodded and walked straight ahead without hesitation, with Little Cat following.

He studied the lock for a moment and, confirming there were no alerts, mechanisms, or other spells bound to it, stepped aside slightly and let Little Cat unlock the door.

Little Cat's hands moved like magic, easily unlocking the large door. The electric light flowing on it extinguished as a result.

She then tugged on her hood, her entire figure faded like smoke, silently retreating to the center of the group.

And the Drifter unhesitatingly pushed the door open and entered.

"Is anyone here!"

He shouted at the doorway.

After waiting a few seconds and realizing his crisis sense wasn't triggered, he turned back and said, "No one heard my shout. There should be no one indeed…"

He said, taking a few steps forward.

In not even five steps, he suddenly shuddered.

He abruptly extended his left hand in front of him and jumped back instantly!

Yet even so, a sharp arc of red light appeared out of nowhere, instantly severing his left arm!

It was so fast that he hadn't even felt any pain.

But the terrifying heat still persisted in his severed arm.

"This is—"

But just as he shouted in shock, the high temperature sealing his wound suddenly began to emit a brilliant glow; the intense heat within transformed into a warm flow of water, dissipating entirely.

A mysterious suction pulled the severed arm suspended mid-air back, covering the light.

When the light fully dissipated, his left arm had already been restored flawlessly!

From attack to amputation to restoration, the whole process didn't even take a second!

If it weren't for the charred smell still lingering on his gauntlet, he might have thought it was an illusion!

"I told you."

Slowly lowering his left hand, Aiwass said calmly, "There's no need to panic.

"I will heal you."