Chapter Sixteen: Deadlock

  The starry sky, the positions of those stars, are full of mysteries. Their positions will undergo some strange changes as time passes, and these changes have always been regarded as a kind of hint given by the gods to humans. People often think that astrologers are specialized in studying the puzzles left by the gods for humanity.

  But all of this was wrong!

  Among the stars, there is also infinite power. Even these powers are stronger than the great storms we see, the surging floods, the raging flames, and all of this put together! So strong that... it makes me doubt.

  Is such great power also created by the gods?

  And these stars, it seems as if they have been hanging in the sky since ancient times! It was like this a very, very long time ago, even earlier than what we know. Perhaps even before our world was created!

  So, were these stars also created by the gods? According to all the books and religious classics that can be found now, whenever they mention stars, the most consistent statement is: "The stars are decorations left in the sky by the gods when creating this world to embellish the beauty of the night. The gods will change the position of the stars according to their own emotions and changes in some things in the world, and these changes often also serve as inspiration for humans."

  Yes, according to these sayings, the stars seem to have been created at the same time as this world was created, and were created together as accessories of the night sky... but is that really true?

  But just six years ago, when I was thirty-four years old, the celestial phenomenon in the sky changed. At night, stars fell from the sky, and all the astrologers were desperately studying what this phenomenon implied for us, but I chose another path...

  I observed the direction of the falling star that night, and after consulting all available materials, I decided to find that fallen star! I spent a full three years, traversing the northern end of the continent on foot, until I finally found it!

  As she spoke, Semir's phantom gently raised her hand, and one of her palms emerged from the red robe, with the palm facing upwards, and a small piece of black stone about the size of a fist was lightly held in her hand.

  "This is what I found, the 'Falling Star'. Look, its exterior looks like just a rock! Of course, I only have a small piece in my hand. When I found it, it was as big as a house. And the local terrain, when it fell to the ground, it smashed out a huge crater, and I could even see where there had been a terrible fire, trees burned to ashes, plains smashed into valleys! Such destructive power, probably only the top-level forbidden spells in magic can achieve."

  Du Wei couldn't help but sigh.

  This female astrologer named Saymer is really something else in Duwei's eyes!

  At least in this place where people believe that gods created everything, she dared to raise questions... and from some aspects, she has really gotten close to the truth!

  "It's hard to imagine, but the so-called stars are just a huge stone. More importantly, this stone is completely different from any known substance in this world! It's hard and has a kind of magical absorptive power... I spent a lot of time searching for experienced magic alchemists, even some old blacksmiths, but no one could recognize this new 'substance'! That means... the stars are not from our world at all!" Samel's phantom began to flicker, clearly a sign that the magic was about to run out. Duwei quickly gathered his spirits and prayed in his heart for the magic to last a little longer.

  From then on, I began to question all the statements in the literature about the gods creating this world. If it is said that the gods created this world, gave life to all things, and made day and night, the four seasons...then who exactly formulated these laws? Was it the gods?

  I spent almost a lifetime studying astrology, only to discover that the so-called 'changes in the positions of the stars in the sky are revelations given by the gods to humans' is simply absurd! I spent ten years recording and researching the positions of some of the stars visible in the sky, and every night for those ten years, I was studying and recording the positions of these stars.

  But gradually, on certain nights, when the sky is dark and clouds block the night sky, I can no longer observe the stars with my naked eye. At this time, I can only find another way... I thought of magic... Since magic can be used to perceive all subtle changes in nature, then, when I can't see the stars, can I use magic to perceive the position of the stars?

  Finally, I discovered the power of the stars! And if I can mobilize this power, then I can borrow the power of the stars like a magician borrowing the power of nature...

  But after finding a way to sense the power of the stars, I discovered another astonishing thing!

  That's... the power of the stars, it's not just at night that you can feel it!

  Even in the scorching daytime, I can still sense the existence of stars through meditation and expanding my spiritual perception. They exist in the sky! Whether it's day or night! It's just that during the day, their light is covered up by the intense sun!

  And then ten years passed, I spent ten years recording the positions of those stars I observed, and found that although they would change a bit, they actually all followed certain rules to cycle through changes! Everything seemed like a cycle! For example, a star, it was in the east in summer, and ran to the west in winter, then came back to the east next year... everything seemed to follow a specific trajectory, repeating cycles, repeating cycles!

  "So, this is absolutely not some divine revelation to humanity! Nor is it a riddle left by the gods for humans! All of this is just following certain rules and repeating itself - the rules of the stars! The laws of the stars!"

  Semer's phantom was weakening, this is the last moment when spiritual power is about to be exhausted.

  Her voice also became extremely serious: "The temple tells us that the stars are the riddles and revelations left by the gods to humans, but I found that the position of the stars seems to change according to a fixed set of rules, having nothing to do with any divine mystery; The temple tells us that the stars are the decorations left by the gods in the night sky, but I found that the existence of the stars is not limited to the night, even in the bright daylight, although they cannot be seen with the naked eye, they still exist; The temple also tells us that this world was created by the gods, but I found that the material of the stars is a kind of unprecedented stone, which does not belong to any known substance in this world.

  The great female astrologer finally lifted her head and spoke out her last summary: "I began to suspect that the stars were created by gods...and in the end, I began to suspect what is called...god!"

  Looking at the apparition of this female astrologer in front of him, Du Wei suddenly felt a deep respect for this woman in his heart! Because she was the first person Du Wei had met since coming to this world who dared to question and challenge common sense and authority!

  Compared to those who single-mindedly believe that "the divine created everything", this woman, who dared to ask questions and challenge authority, and spent her whole life studying, made Du Wei feel an infinite respect.

  "My life's research is all hidden in this room, the rows of cabinets here are what I left for you. And the other door outside, that's the puzzle I left behind. If one can't decipher the hint about the stars I left, then they'll only find the fake door outside, and behind it, just some worldly treasures. But here, is my true legacy in this world, Semmel Chiral Rollin!"

  Suddenly, the light pillar flashed, and then the light began to fade away. The female astrologer's shadow gradually became blurred, and her voice also started to weaken:

  "One last hint, the oil painting in the study contains a magical creature I created and sealed within it. It will be your guide as you learn all of this. And everything in this room, you must have its help and guidance when learning. All the spells of my star magic, for safety, I did not leave on paper or text, I left them to that magical creature. You must release it from the seal."

  My child, though I do not know how many years will pass before you find this, I believe that the great Rorin family will certainly produce a genius in magic. You should understand that my lifelong research and discoveries have questioned the authority of the gods, and such things are inevitably unacceptable to this world! Especially those who represent authority, they would even more so try every means to destroy them. I am unable to leave all of this behind openly, and can only do so in secret.

  That magical creature, I cast a spell on it, and it can only revive at night. During the day, it falls into a deep sleep... Hehe, just like the stars, they are invisible to the naked eye during the day. Moreover, only people with strong spiritual power can see its existence at night. I believe that since you've made it this far, your spiritual power should be sufficient to become an excellent magician. I can pass on all my star magic creations to you... Remember a spell, and you can use it to unseal the oil painting outside. Once released by this spell, it will unconditionally obey your commands... And from then on, everything depends on your efforts.

  The female astrologer slowly spoke out the last sentence of the spell, enunciating each syllable clearly, and at the same time her fingers also slowly pinched out several finger prints... Du Wei carefully recorded all this, then... whoosh! The light suddenly flashed brightly for a moment, and then disappeared suddenly!

  The room suddenly fell into darkness, Du Wei hastily lit the candle and checked it in this room, thinking that there was nothing to do for the time being. Du Wei carefully returned along the original road, crawling all the way back through the secret passage.

  When he returned to the study, Du Wei was already covered in dust, but fortunately, there was a large pile of dusty account books in the study, so the dust on his body wasn't difficult to explain.

  He closed the secret door on the bookshelf and walked to the front of the oil painting: "I've been in, I've seen everything. Including her last words."

  The eyes in the oil painting seemed to let out a sigh of relief and then revealed a hint of entreaty.

  Du Wei understood the meaning, smiled and said: "You want to ask me how to unseal your seal? Oh, I've already found it. She left a spell, but apparently there's a slight mistake in it..."

  Du Wei smiled bitterly.

  The first clue left by Saimel is the oil painting on the wall! And those who can see the oil painting must be people with strong spiritual power! And people with strong spiritual power are almost certainly magicians! Even if they're not magicians, they can learn magic!

  Saimer's stellar magic requires a magician to learn and inherit. That's why she would leave such a situation.

  If you can't see people moving in oil paintings, it means your spiritual power is insufficient and you don't have magical talent.

  What is seen can be learned as magic... Then, the spell left by Saimel can unlock the seal on the oil painting!

  But even the clever Semele could hardly have foreseen that after a few years, the Rolen family would produce such an oddball as Duv!

  He clearly has an outstanding spiritual talent! However, in terms of magical sensitivity, he doesn't have a single bit of talent at all!

  That is to say, Du Wei can't use the spell left by Semier to unlock the seal, and can't unlock the seal on the oil painting.

  Without Semer's leftover magical creature... he probably can't learn Semer's leftover star magic either! Because all the magic spells are recorded by the creatures in this oil painting!

  It's as if I've gotten myself into a strange deadlock, isn't it?

  Du Wei couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

  Guarding a huge treasure, even the gate has opened to oneself, but can't enter. This feeling is really quite helpless...

  Suddenly, Du Wei's eyes lit up... Didn't I just catch a magician?

  That guy can use the lowest level of magic ability and yet use the highest level of "Instant Release", maybe...

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  (If you don't collect books, Xiao Wu will go crazy! If you don't vote for books, Xiao Wu will cry miserably!)

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