440: Chapter 426 The Fisherman

Zhang Mu looked at the man who had sat down opposite him without permission.

He was sturdily built with a face full of stubble and unkempt, shoulder-length hair tangled in clumps. His eyes seemed to have suffered an injury or perhaps a disease; the pupils were somewhat white, giving off a cloudy visual sensation.

The thing about the man that attracted Zhang Mu the most was the scar spanning the bridge of his nose. The scar wasn't large, but...

Zhang Mu narrowed his eyes. It had been at least several years, yet wisps of magic power were still leaking out from it... and the purity was not low.

"Help yourself." Zhang Mu didn't care about a glass of wine worth eighty copper coins and pushed the wine glass on the table toward the man.

The man's face showed joy as he grabbed the glass and tilted his head back to drain it in one go. A small amount of wine leaked from the corner of his mouth, flowing down through his messy beard.

"Phew—" He put down the glass, his unsettling eyes staring at Zhang Mu. "Little fellow, you came to Boni City, do you plan to go to the Forest of Spirits?"

"I haven't decided yet."

“Hehe, do you want to go with me?”

"Hmm?" Zhang Mu's interest was piqued. He leaned back against the chair, his right arm resting on the top of the backrest. "Inviting a strange Professional to form a team for an adventure, are you really not joking, sir?"

"Tch." He probably curled his lip, but the stubble blocked the view; Zhang Mu couldn't see clearly, it was just an intuition.

"Little fellow, betrayal is something that happens after obtaining the treasure. Even the stupidest Professional won't strike at a teammate before the obstacles are cleared."

"Why me?"

"You seem... very unusual."

"Seem?"

"I'm certain you are observing the entire scene, but I can't sense any Mental Energy fluctuations from you."

"Maybe it's because my level is higher than yours."

The man shook his head decisively.

Zhang Mu gestured for a waiter and ordered two glasses of wine. He picked one up and swirled it gently, watching the liquid vortex. "So certain?"

"You don't understand elves, so your Professional level cannot possibly be higher than mine."

What kind of logic was this? Was there a connection between the two?

Zhang Mu was confused for a moment, couldn't figure it out, and didn't bother to think deeply. He asked straightforwardly, "What are you going to the Forest of Spirits for?"

As far as I know, the most precious treasure of the elves is the tears of the tree of life, but it's useless to humans."

"Hehehe—" The man didn't say, just laughed, his hand gripping the goblet.

Zhang Mu raised his hand and pressed it over the mouth of the wine glass. "At least I need to know your purpose; that is the basis of cooperation."

"I don't know what you want to do, but I can tell you that our interests definitely do not conflict."

The atmosphere stagnated for a while. Zhang Mu suddenly stood up, finished his own wine first, then snatched the man's glass and gulped it down. He set down the two empty glasses and walked toward the door.

The man turned his head and shouted in shock, "Hey, little fellow, you can't get into the Forest of Spirits by yourself."

Zhang Mu didn't say a word and didn't stop. With his back to the man, he raised his right hand high and stuck up his middle finger.

What does this gesture mean?

The man looked bewildered, watching his back disappear behind the door.

Stepping out of the tavern, the cool evening breeze brushed against his face, and much of the heat on his body faded away.

"Dumbass, playing your motherfucking riddles. Don't you know I hate riddlers the most?" Zhang Mu cursed and walked toward the city outskirts.

He didn't plan to continue gathering information. What he had gotten from the tavern patrons was enough. Moreover, it was obvious that the Elf Clan's communication with the outside world was basically zero. Even the residents of Boni City, which was closest to the elves, couldn't learn any truly useful inside information.

As for the man who suddenly spoke to him...

Zhang Mu knew that guy wasn't simple because he couldn't sense his magic power, which meant he was a Saint-rank; Gods Blessing was unlikely.

Joining forces with him was actually a preferred option. The man seemed very familiar with the elves and even claimed he could enter the heart of the Forest of Spirits.

But so what?

Zhang Mu found him repulsive, both in personality and style.

He strode to the outskirts of the city and looked up at the cloud-covered night sky.

"The night is dark and the wind is high—a good time for killing." Although the goal wasn't murder, the dim light didn't affect a Professional's vision.

Zhang Mu activated the Shadow Technique and sped straight ahead. After ten minutes or so, he reached the edge of the forest and stood on a low slope looking out.

It was indeed as the stall owner had said. Judging by appearance alone, the Forest of Spirits didn't have any very obvious differences compared to all the forests Zhang Mu had seen.

Of course, there were unique features—even the trees at the outermost edge had terrifyingly thick trunks, estimated to be at least ten people holding hands to encircle them.

"Let's hurry up." Zhang Mu didn't delay any longer and charged into the forest.

A short while later, a figure approached from a distance and stood on the crest of the slope where Zhang Mu had just been.

He looked left and right. "The little fellow went in by himself. Heh, at least his courage is commendable."

After saying that, he descended the low slope and followed into the forest.

...

Three days passed in a flash. It was early morning.

After trekking for three days, Zhang Mu flew into the sky and looked down at the forest.

"What the hell, why can't I find it?"

He had learned from the tavern patrons that the 'heart' of the Forest of Spirits didn't refer to the deep parts of the forest, but rather a massive invisible Magic Array within which all the elves lived.

Finding it shouldn't be difficult; this Magic Array would repel any living creature that collided with it. That's why Zhang Mu hadn't used flight and instead relied on his legs to run around the forest. Once he hit an air wall, he would have found the Magic Array.

However, he had run like a madman for three whole days, almost crossing the entire forest, and ended up finding absolutely nothing.

"Didn't they say the Magic Array was huge? Where did it go?"

Zhang Mu thought for a while. Refusing to believe his luck, he lowered his altitude and flew close to the forest canopy.

Another two days passed. Zhang Mu landed in the forest and sat on a tree root exposed above the ground.

"What place did I miss?" He leaned back against the trunk, somewhat doubting his life. "It's impossible. I've done a carpet search."

The more he pondered, the more frustrated he became. He suddenly sat upright, pulled a roasted lamb leg out of his Storage Pouch, and began to gnaw on it to calm his mood.

As he ate, he talked to himself.

"Think about it carefully. If you could find the elven residence just by bumping into an air wall, then what's the point of an invisible Magic Array?"

Zhang Mu suspected the information from the tavern patrons was wrong, but they had no reason to lie; after all, the entire Boni City knew about it. It couldn't be that someone predicted his arrival in advance and bribed the entire city's residents to put on an act, right?

Even if someone did predict my arrival, would they be bored enough to play me like this?

Where is the problem?

Is some kind of method needed to make the Magic Array manifest? For example, moving in a specific direction?

"Can't figure it out?"

"Yeah, can't figure it out."

After responding, Zhang Mu suddenly looked up and saw the man he had met by chance in the tavern a few days ago standing under a tree not far away.

Zhang Mu circulated his magic power. Transformation Technique was running normally, Shadow Technique was running normally.

He threw the roasted lamb leg aside, slowly stood up, and stared at the man from across the space.

The second person who could see through the Shadow Technique.

Zhang Mu deactivated the Shadow Technique and took his staff out of the Storage Pouch, gripping it in his hand.

"The last person who could see through the Shadow Technique was the Pope."

The man nodded. "He is a Believer of the gods. It's normal for magic bestowed by the gods to be ineffective against him."

Magic power surged from his palm and gathered toward the staff. The gem embedded at the top shone with an earthy yellow light. As more magic power gathered, the space around the gem began to blur.

The man raised his hand and clenched his fingers. The light emitted by the gem suddenly went out, like a flame meeting water.

Zhang Mu glanced at the now-quiet staff and said, "You think you've got me?"

"Hmm... to be frank, I don't know what you have to resist with."

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Mu called up his inventory, his gaze locking onto a nuclear bomb in one of the slots.

The man suddenly began to laugh. "Doing that just now was only to make you understand that I have no need to deceive you."

Zhang Mu thought about the sentence the man said when he appeared and temporarily gave up on taking out the nuclear bomb. "Why can't I find the Magic Array?"

The man turned his body and gazed toward a certain spot, even though his vision was completely blocked by the dense trees:

"This Magic Array is god-given. Unless the Elf Clan actively reveals it, no one can touch or see it. Furthermore, your two divine magics will lose their effect inside."

Zhang Mu's eyes narrowed, his mind flooded with thoughts—both the worry of his two sharpest tools being useless and curiosity about the man.

"Are you a Legendary?"

"Legendary? If I were a Legendary, I would have wiped out the Elf Clan long ago."

Does he have a grudge against the Elf Clan?

Zhang Mu pondered. "Then why can you see through my Shadow Technique and Transformation Technique? The Pope told me that only Believers can..."

"Yes, only a true Believer can make divine magic ineffective."

"Are you a Believer?"

The man asked strangely, "Since you've seen the Pope, didn't he tell you that only one Believer can exist on the Saul Continent?"

"He did. Uh, so you're not a Believer?"

"Half of one, or rather, a reservist."

"A reservist?"

"It means a candidate."

"I know that, of course. I'm asking why you are a reservist?"

"Every Gods Blessing is a Believer reservist."

"Not Epic?" The man was being completely open and hiding nothing, but Zhang Mu was even more confused.

According to the rank divisions, Epic is below Legendary. Since he's a candidate, he should surely have to reach the highest level within his capability first, which would be Epic.

Why did he gain the qualification to compete for the role of Believer just by advancing to Gods Blessing?

"Epic..." The man fell silent, seemingly recalling something. After a long while, he opened his mouth. "Epic is a path humans found for themselves."

"I don't under—"

"If you're interested in this, I'll explain it to you after this matter is over. Now, let's enter the Magic Array first."

Talk about it later?

That's a pity.

Although my relationship with Frederica isn't very deep, it's definitely much better than with a stranger like you who's threatening me. There's no need for even a second of hesitation on which side to choose.

Zhang Mu pulled back his thoughts and looked around. "You said it yourself, only when the elves actively allow it can the Magic Array be seen."

"Heh." The man gave a cold laugh. "Their ancestors' spines were snapped, and they abandoned cold-blooded cruelty, thinking that benevolence and kindness could ensure the continuation of their race. Fools."

After thinking about it, Zhang Mu realized: "Angling?"

"Just need to take a little injury."

"Please elaborate on that 'little'."

"A broken leg or a broken arm. Internal organ damage works too."

Zhang Mu took a few steps back and stopped when he bumped into a tree trunk. "I'm afraid of pain."

The man looked over, his gaze full of disdain. "Did I pick the wrong person?"

"Is there something wrong with being afraid of pain?"

"If you were an ordinary person, of course not. But you, how did you advance to a High-tier Professional?"

Hmm? He inferred it based on experience? So he can't sense my specific level?

While Zhang Mu was silent for a few seconds, the man had already made a decision and slammed his right hand down, breaking his left arm. He hit hard; the left arm bent backward in the middle.

The man jerked his chin at Zhang Mu. "The elves aren't idiots; you need to take a little injury too."

A little...

Zhang Mu looked at the arm bent at a ninety-degree angle, and his mouth twitched.

"Hurry up," the man urged impatiently.

"Fine."

To enter the Elf Clan's territory, Zhang Mu hardened his heart, pulled a dagger out of his Storage Pouch, and gave his thigh a fierce horizontal cut.

"?" The man looked confused.

Zhang Mu gave a bashful smile.

"Does that even count as an injury?"

"Why wouldn't it?"

The man stared at him expressionlessly. Zhang Mu turned his face to look at the sky, whistling.

After a long stalemate, he finally broke the silence with a sigh.

"The elves can't sense your magic power fluctuations, so we'll just treat you as an ordinary person."

For a Professional, a superficial wound was equivalent to no injury, but it was reasonable for an ordinary person.

"My name is Gezhe, don't get it wrong." He said, turning to walk ahead. "Follow me."

The two of them walked through the forest one after the other. Gezhe led the way, explaining the details they needed to pay attention to.

Since Zhang Mu was playing an ordinary person, he must not reveal his strength before entering the Magic Array. Otherwise, the elves would throw them out of the forest and firmly remember their appearance and Mental Energy fluctuations, expelling them immediately upon any future encounter.

Being brought into the Magic Array by the elves didn't mean everything was fine, either.

Gezhe stated that his goal was revenge—to sever the Elf Clan's heritage. To achieve this, simple slaughter obviously wouldn't work. He was strong, but the Elf Clan was not weak either; in a direct confrontation, the latter would certainly win.

He had to use wit.

Zhang Mu asked curiously how he planned to use wit.

Destroy the tree of life. Topple its trunk, rip out its roots, set it ablaze, and burn the whole thing to ashes—Gezhe said.

"You said before that the Elf Clan is kind and peace-loving. How did you end up in a life-and-death feud with such a race?"

"There is no right or wrong in hatred," Gezhe said, his back to him, turning his face slightly.

"True." Zhang Mu thought about it carefully and nodded in agreement.

The two continued walking for half an hour. The sky was turning dark, and the forest grew increasingly gloomy.

"How much longer until we arrive?"

"Soon."

The dialogue, repeated several times, made Zhang Mu lose interest in further questioning. He walked with a limp, looking left and right from time to time, anticipating the appearance of the elves.

After a while longer, Zhang Mu suddenly remembered the information he had gathered in Boni City a few days ago and asked curiously:

"By the way, I remember the people in Boni City saying that elves are very overbearing. Any human who dares to approach the Magic Array will be shouted at and driven away, and those who ignore the warning will even be attacked by the elves.

Do these actions have anything to do with being kind?"

"That's why I said the Elf Clan is stupid but not idiotic." Since there was still some distance to the destination, Gezhe wasn't in a hurry to enter a state of disguise and explained, "The elves know very well,

If they are labeled as kind, they will inevitably attract the covetousness of villains, so—"

"Help!"

A panicked cry for help suddenly came from the distance. Gezhe's eyes lit up. "The elves are here.

Remember, the elves will never harm you. No matter how they threaten you, do not release any magic. Do you understand?"

"Got it."

"Hurry up and follow me." Gezhe ran toward the source of the sound. Zhang Mu shrugged and chased after him.