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nChapter 688: Preparations

nTranslator: CKtalon

nAs Lumian heard his heartbeat, a palm reached out from the open door of the black ancient tomb.

nThe palm showed no signs of decay or yellow bandages. Its surface was covered in gold, shimmering with a mystical hue under the dim crimson moonlight.

nUpon seeing the golden palm, Lumian felt an invisible force compress his soul, instantly severing its connection to his body.

nImmediately after, he realized his body had transformed into a cold, solid wall, preventing his spirit from spreading or being controlled by his consciousness.

nAt that moment, Lumian’s soul felt trapped in a cage, unable to escape. He could only see limited scenes through his eyes and hear relatively loud voices with his ears.

nEveryone present turned into statues, frozen in place.

nFaced with this situation, Lumian suddenly recalled a saying: The body is a cage for the heart, and the world is a cage for the body.

nIn the stillness, the only person still moving was “Hisoka” Twanaku.

nThe golden mask on his face emitted a hazy glow as he swiftly approached the black ancient tomb and the golden palm extending from it.

nAlthough Lumian couldn’t move or use his abilities, his soul was merely “imprisoned”—it didn’t affect his thoughts.

nSeeing that “Hisoka” Twanaku was almost unaffected by the golden palm, Lumian quickly deduced several things.

nThere’s a high likelihood the gold Hisoka seized from Devise—the gold mine city—was used on the cold corpse in the black ancient tomb.

nThe item he obtained from the Nois family’s Demon is likely the golden mask he now wears.

nThe former was an attempt to revive the cold corpse. Its equivalent to Franca’s mention of creating a complete body. The latter ensures Hisoka can approach the target unaffected after the cold corpse’s “resurrection” and achieve a certain goal.

nDid Hisoka once plan to use this to control the cold corpse and attain demigod-level strength?

nWhen 1 killed him in the real world, did the him in the dream attempt to “resurrect’ through this?

nYes, Hisoka’s Wraith power comes from the same source as the cold corpse. Perhaps there’s a way to make the corpse believe he’s its original spirit and accept his lead…

nBased on the information I’ve gathered and what just transpired, humans who have received the boon of the black ancient tomb and the cold corpse can open the tomb without waking the corpse. To awaken it, an intruder must be bestowed with immortality by an invisible figure, ascend to godhood, and enter the ancient tomb.

nAnd intruders will only be attacked by invisible figures without the Dream Festival’s bestowed guides…

nIt’s best for an intruder to remain lucid?

nHow did Hisoka know outsiders would participate in the Dream Festival this year and arrive at the black ancient tomb?

nHe didn’t have such a plan to begin with? That’s because he didn’t know he was going to die. If he can’t complete his plan during this year’s Dream Festival, the dream projection will completely dissipate in the next few months, causing him to lose his last hope of revival…

nThe involvement of outsiders was a pleasant surprise for him?

nNo, its too much of a coincidence. Reaza’s rushing over can be explained by his discovery of me investigating the Dream Festival and his worry that he wouldn’t have a chance to obtain what he wants after this year. But why did Iveljsta coincidentally come to this primitive forest to investigate something? Why did two Beyonders who can remain lucid in the special dream arrive just before the Dream Festival began?

nMoreover, why did the Rose School of Thought send someone to Matani in the last few mon ths of the year to gather detailed day- to – day information ?

n“Hisoka” Twanaku originally planned to complete his plan during this year’s Dream Festival. He deliberately leaked some information and clues to attract different factions of interest.

nThe information these factions received wasn’t detailed enough. They had no choice but to dispatch personnel in advance to conduct the corresponding investigations or bribe members ofMatani’s patrol teams…

nThis may very well be the truth, a truth that doesn’t rely on coincidence. The only thing Hisoka didn’t anticipate was his demise before the Dream Festival began.

nNow, the Dream Festival is his last and only hope for resurrection.

nIf he fails to achieve his plan, he will die completely after today!

nNo wonder he’s so secretive about Tizamo despite being honest about everything else in the dream…

nHisoka is truly a cunning Devil skilled at manipulating people’s hearts. If he hadn’t been bent on killing me and his identity had given him a good opportunity to choose to stay in Port Pylos, he wouldn’t have been easy to lull. Yes, if 1 had played by the book and lacked the goodwill of a high -ranking entity, 1 might have died at his hands.

nThe Demon of the Nois family also has designs on the cold corpse in the black tomb and wants to use the Dream Festival. Therefore, when Hisoka mentioned the Dream Festival in his dream, he was immediately attacked by the shadow… Among those present, who is the Demon’s minion?

nOr could it be that the Demon from the Nois family hasn’t arrived yet and wants to wait until the end, when the situation is clear, before taking action and completing the harvest?

nIf it’s just a dream projection, without the main body’s cooperation, there should be a huge loophole in Hisoka’s plan. Where is the loophole?

nTrapped in his body, Lumian couldn’t stop Hisoka. He watched helplessly as Hisoka ran to the open door of the black ancient tomb.

nWait…

nSince the black ancient tomb reminds me of the Samaritan Women’s Spring, 1 can try that method…

nLumian acted without hesitation, focusing his attention on his Spirit Body’s right hand.

nAlista Tudor’s remnant aura didn’t just permeate his body!

nAnd the Blood Emperor was closely linked to the Samaritan Women’s Spring!

nWearing a golden mask, Hisoka’s body began to etherealize uncontrollably.

nJust as he was about to grasp the hand of the corpse protruding from the black ancient tomb, he suddenly sensed an extremely terrifying, frenzied, and violent aura appearing behind him. It soared into the sky explosively, sweeping through the surroundings.

nThe crimson moon’s glow dimmed, and “Hisoka” Twanaku’s body instinctively stiffened, trembling violently.

nSplash!

nAn illusory sound of water echoed from the black ancient tomb, and the golden palm seemed to be dragged back into the tomb by some unknown force.

nThe feeling of their souls being imprisoned within their bodies dissipated. Lumian hurriedly halted the dissipation of the Blood Emperor’s aura.

nAlthough Amandina, Camus, Devajo, and the others instinctively felt fear, the confinement of their spirits and fixed line of sight prevented them from discovering the source of the aura that conquered everything.

nIgnoring the search for the origin of the terrifying aura, the fierce-eyed Iveljsta followed his instinctive desire and retrieved an item from his hidden pocket.

nIt was a palm-sized rag doll, dressed in a black Gothic dress entwined with eerie vines. It had long golden hair and blood-red eyes.

nThe doll was sinister. Just the sight of it made Lumian’s flesh crawl beneath his skin.

nThud! Thud! Thud!

nThe heartbeat in the black ancient tomb intensified, becoming resounding.

nBeside the tomb door, “Hisoka” Twanaku felt a chill run down his spine, as if targeted by an evil being.

nInstinctively, he recalled something.

nYears ago, gravekeepers had found a half-withered evil heart near the black ancient tomb.

nThe gravekeepers believed that the ancient corpse in the tomb had been lost due to some mutation. After all, the characteristics of its power were the same, and the levels seemed similar. Therefore, they placed the heart back into the tomb.

nJust a moment ago, the long-dead heart had begun to beat, but now it beat stronger and faster!

nNot far from Iveljsta, Reaza also made a move.

nHe produced a mask.

nThe mask, also made of gold, bore a striking resemblance to the one worn by Hisoka. Varying shades of white and black paint adorned the eyes and face!

nThe difference between the two golden masks was that the one in Reaza’s hand was darker, as if touched by death.

nThen, Reaza produced a human skull carved from crystal.

nHe placed the dark golden mask on the crystal skull’s face.

nA frigid wind gusted, engulfing the crystal skull in a massive vortex. The crystal skull, adorned with the golden mask, levitated, as if it had grown an invisible body made of wind.

nAn intense coldness spread in all directions, condensing a layer of frost on the ground.

nThe man named Devajo reached behind his head and grasped something in his hair.

nWith a sudden tug, he ripped off his skin, along with his dark gray suit.

nDevajo took on a different appearance. He had black hair, brown eyes, a cold expression, and high cheekbones. He was in his thirties or forties, dressed in a white shirt and black pants.

nHe flipped the human skin in his hand, revealing dense, dizzying blood embroidery beneath.

nDevajo opened his mouth and spat out mouthfuls of blood, emitting a strong sulfuric smell.

nThe blood protruded from the human skin, forming a green-eyed man in a dark gray suit.

nWith a playful smile, the “man” approached the black ancient tomb.

nLumian quickly scanned the area, his eyelids twitching three times.

nHe couldn’t help but criticize, Do you all possess godhood-level powers that you can utilize?Although they all seem to be one-time use… Are you bullying me for not having any?

nDespite Lumian’s criticism, he quickly recited an honorific name in ancient Hermes.

nIt was Madam Magician’s honorific name.

nHowever, it failed to penetrate this special and hidden dream.

nLumian wasn’t dejected. His goal wasn’t the black ancient tomb, nor was it the cold corpse or its beating heart.

nNow that he knew the whereabouts of Hisoka’s gold, there was only one thing he wanted to do.

nEliminate Hisoka’s dream projection, take away the golden mask, and let him perish completely!

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