Blood Warlock: Succubus Partner In The Apocalypse Chapter 1353 The bamboo forest beyond the door: LN & LLY ... (Part 1)

The ancient tome known as "The Age of Gods and the Four Divine Clans" mentioned a grand total of thirteen power levels.

These encompassed Qi Gathering, Blood Condensation, Tendon Hardening, Bone Forging, Meridian Widening, Consecrated Immortal, Sea Expansion, Foundation Forging, Golden Core, Soul Transformation, Life Star, Netherpassage, and ultimately, Heaven Merging.

Even though the volume described just thirteen stages, its author explicitly noted that something lay beyond Heaven Merging—likely a divine state elevating one above mere mortals or similar transcendence.

Gazing upon those thirteen stages, a swirl of mixed feelings stirred within Bai Zemin's chest.

He experienced joy on one hand, grateful for devouring countless cultivation light novels throughout his youth and teen years. This unusual passion now equipped him with vague notions of potential future encounters.

Yet, on the flip side, bewilderment gripped him.

"The way these realms are arranged feels somewhat chaotic...? Nah. I'm likely overthinking it due to my skimpy knowledge on each stage's true nature, and I ought not to judge solely by titles." Bai Zemin whispered to himself, gaze locked onto the weathered tome.

It struck him as truly odd.

From Qi Gathering up to Meridian Widening, Bai Zemin grasped the essence of those initial five stages without much issue. But trouble brewed with the subsequent one: Consecrated Immortal.

The strangely mismatched title of the realm after Meridian Widening baffled Bai Zemin entirely, plunging him into puzzlement and disarray.

Still, one certainty stood out to him.

The real excitement kicked off from the Consecrated Immortal stage onward.

How could he be so certain? Simple enough.

His conviction stemmed from the fact that true Immortality dawned only at Consecrated Immortal. From this insight, Bai Zemin deduced that the preceding five were standard "mortal stages".

Among his chief uncertainties loomed the Foundation Forging stage... why did a realm that held such lofty, pivotal status in nearly 99.9% of existing tales rank here?

Regrettably, numerous pages had vanished from the ancient tome, leaving no specifics or explanations for any stage. Thus, Bai Zemin had to navigate blindly for the moment.

As Bai Zemin reached to flip to the following page, a sour look flickered in his eyes, halting his hand abruptly.

No more pages remained to peruse.

Bai Zemin lifted his gaze toward Kali, who continued observing him intently.

Sensing his stare, her pallid, chapped lips parted: "This book proves quite fascinating, right? Though I grasp little of its implications, I sense our familiar world is merely a speck amid vast expanses beyond."

Bai Zemin gave a quiet nod, shifting his sight back to the tiny yet awe-inspiring relic of a book. After a silent minute, a grin spread across his face.

"Whatever the scale out there," he declared while stowing the tome into his storage ring. Bai Zemin regarded Kali, peering as if through her sealed eyelids, and stated resolutely, "Recall what I promised you that day? I'll carry you to witness the vista from the peak. Seems I'm still miles away, but an inner voice assures me it's just time's doing."

Kali's delicate lips parted in evident astonishment at his declaration. Moments later, though, the loveliest smile Bai Zemin had witnessed from her bloomed on her ashen features.

"I await that day."

To restore her health, returning her sight and freedom of movement...

To aid in reclaiming her shattered recollections...

Bai Zemin remained distant from fulfilling those goals.

Yet he held them ever-present in his mind, never once letting slip the vow from that fateful moment.

Nangong Lingxin instinctively glanced at Cai Jingyi, only to find Cai Jingyi already eyeing her. The two women noted each other's subtly quivering lips and, wordlessly, realized their thoughts aligned perfectly.

Whether those shared musings concerned the impending greater turmoil stirred by Bai Zemin's presence or the implications of Kali's unwitting smile... solely Nangong Lingxin and Cai Jingyi held that secret.

"Anyway," Bai Zemin's face grew solemn as he inquired, "Kali, what exactly did you uncover regarding this magic circle?"

The grin faded from Kali's expression like receding waves, her tone reverting to cool detachment as she answered, "Retrieve that book and approach."

Without hesitation, Bai Zemin complied with her request.

Kali accepted the volume from his grasp and flipped through several sheets. Pausing at length, her right hand began tracing the faded ink on a chosen page.

Despite the book's extreme age—its creation date beyond anyone's guess—the handwritten script left faint impressions on the parchment. An ordinary individual might struggle to detect such traces by feel alone, but Kali stood as a peak First Order soul evolver.

"Observe these symbols here." Kali's finger halted over certain script and indicated, "They appear in the magic circle too."

Bai Zemin leaned in and examined the symbols Kali's finger highlighted on the open book. Then, his eyes shifted to the magic circle.

Sure enough, the identical symbols from the tome etched the formation didn't escape his notice for long.

"This..."

"This forms some array or formation." Kali gave a gentle nod and explained evenly, "Harnessing rune energies alongside various scarce materials, a knowledgeable expert must have constructed this magic circle for a distinct aim."

For an extended period, Bai Zemin fixated on the matching symbols, remaining utterly silent.

Quite a while passed before Kali tilted her head upward to study his countenance and remarked, "The flanking runes shape a blood motif, and combining that with the inscription... Now grasp why I claimed breaching this magic circle's barrier is impossible? Gods may or may not persist, but where do we seek them? Crucially, it demands a specific divine type—others simply won't suffice."

Bai Zemin acknowledged with a nod, though different notions raced through his mind. His stare lingered on the magic circle, face etched with contemplation.

After what felt like endless ages, he finally cleared his head with a shake and addressed the three women steadily, "Regardless, a crucial gathering awaits us this evening. Ensure arrival at the palace prior to sunset."

"Regarding our future plans?" Nangong Lingxin prompted swiftly.

Bai Zemin confirmed with a nod but offered no further details.

Exchanging a few additional remarks, Bai Zemin departed.

Kali pivoted away from the elder pair and stated composedly, "You both can leave me be. I'll engage my wheelchair's barrier, so no need for you to linger guarding while I examine these runes."

"But we could..."

Nangong Lingxin couldn't finish before a slender veil of golden radiance enveloped Kali completely.

"... She's sealed herself inside. Whatever your choice, I'm heading out. As she noted, with the barrier active, sticking around serves no purpose." Cai Jingyi gave a nonchalant shrug and strode away without more.

Nangong Lingxin eyed Kali's silhouette briefly before sighing and trailing Cai Jingyi.

The barrier Kali invoked represented her wheelchair's supreme safeguard, and absent a level 400 soul evolver's direct assault, none could breach it until the embedded Fourth Order Soul Stone's power depleted.

Time crept onward steadily.

For nearly two full hours, Kali positioned herself before the magic circle, body rigid without a twitch, until at last she stirred.

With precision, she withdrew a lavish golden dagger concealed along her inner thigh beneath her dark gown, and after brief reluctance, she clenched her jaw and slashed deeply into her left palm.

Crimson blood, thick as ink, streamed from her wound onto the floor. Disregarding it, Kali flicked her hand sharply, sending droplets arcing toward the sealed entrance.

Heart pounding and perspiration beading on her brow, Kali endured a tense, hopeful minute of waiting. Yet, after that full span, no shift occurred.

"... Seems my guess missed the mark." She sighed, murmuring to herself in letdown yet oddly eased.

With no desire to remain, she elevated her wheelchair and passed through the room's opposing portal.

Unseen by Kali, a diminutive, antique pocket watch—rusted and worn—lay nearby on the side.

Shortly after her exit, a brief luminescence flashed from the mirror, followed instantly by a figure's emergence.

Bai Zemin!