The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 1299

Chapter 1297
The Extremely Thin Veil of Balance
—This is a story of gods and knights.
Don Quixote is a fictional hero knight who never truly existed. No past, no memories, no one remembers him.
Autolycus, on the other hand, is a god who controls lies, and no one knows his true gender, appearance, personality, or identity.
Thus, old friends and master and disciple reunite, and the inheritance severed by time continues anew.
Their compatibility was perfect.
Eivass didn’t even see the Heavenly Envoy Fragment of the Grey Heavenly Envoy before it directly merged with Don Quixote.
Because of their high compatibility, the power loss rate of the Grey Heavenly Envoy was remarkably low.
The strengthened Don Quixote, simply by existing on the field, could absorb all damage regardless of angle or quantity.
The “damage sharing” mechanism is quite noble. It requires no taunting, no blocking, and not even active casting.
Furthermore, once he dies, he becomes permanently immune to this type of damage—so when he absorbs this damage again, wouldn’t it be equivalent to taking no damage?
In essence, it wasn’t just him alone who was immune to this type of damage… but this immunity was directly extended to the entire team!
This power, compared to his previous ability to summon a one-time shield, was more than ten times stronger!
Even without considering the divine authority he received from the Grey Heavenly Envoy, this was a complete transformation and enhancement.
Additionally, Eivass noticed a detail.
Originally, Don Quixote’s Great Sin Card was named “Holy Sword Substitute,” and his upright ability was “Nothing Left”; now, he is called “Fictional Don Quixote,” and his upright ability has become Hercules’ Twelve Trials.
—The previous Don Quixote didn’t even consider himself a Beast of Sin. He believed he was merely a fictional existence, merely a “substitute” for the Golden Sword, not even the master or spirit of the Golden Sword, possessing nothing. The true power lay solely with this Holy Sword, not with him within the Holy Sword.
This was undoubtedly a sign of low self-esteem.
Compared to the righteous spirit that scoffs at all evil, this low self-perception was an abnormal manifestation. In Eivass’s opinion, this might be because Don Quixote knew that the foundation of his existence was Hercules’ soul. In other words, Don Quixote might have viewed Hercules’ death as the price for his own existence, thus considering his own existence as his original sin.
With his upright spirit that allowed no room for evil, he could not tolerate his own sin… this was entirely possible.
Now, Don Quixote has finally faced his true self and acknowledged his existence.
He is indeed a fictional existence, but undoubtedly also a real one.
Even the Grey Heavenly Envoy, the close friend and mentor of Hercules, recognized his existence—
Thus, the part of Hercules’ power that had always resided within him merged with him once again.
When the gray mist dissipated, Don Quixote reappeared.
His formerly ostentatious silver-white armor had disappeared, replaced by a gray-white stand-up collar robe.
The original Don Quixote’s armor was radiant and divine—a fully enclosed silver-white armor with a halo of thorns suspended behind his head. But his appearance was completely obscured… for he was merely a “Holy Sword Substitute,” just a replaceable symbol.
Now, Don Quixote finally revealed his true appearance.
His long, black, wavy hair neatly cascaded down his shoulders, and his dark green pupils sparkled like stars.
His lean cheekbones were slightly sunken, and his posture was upright. He possessed a sharp, chiseled appearance.
He now wore a gray-white robe, with a large tower shield extending to his feet in his left hand, and holding the Holy Sword in his right.
A radiant, saint-like gray-white halo still hovered behind his head, and it had grown larger, becoming a ring intricately connected with silver-white thorny patterns.
The current Don Quixote no longer resembled a knight, but more of an enforcer. His gaze remained bright and sharp but had lost some of its reckless and fanatical fervor, becoming calmer and more profound.
Or rather, like a “governor.” It was as if the illusory knight of the past had finally awakened from a dream.
At this moment, a blinding four-colored rainbow light, accompanied by a new star as gray and misty as fog, swept out in all directions—
As the Geometric Heavenly Envoy’s radiance swept across the land, the four elements became exceptionally active and chaotic—ponds became turbid, whirlwinds rose from flat ground, storms ignited flames and became fire tornadoes, and the flames, wherever they passed, made the surroundings moist… The depleted four-element Mana Pools within all Extraordinary individuals were instantly filled; but as the Grey Heavenly Envoy’s radiance swept over again, everything returned to normal, and the anomalies in the Material Realm were hidden once more.
Although mortals might not see it. Because the sunlight obscured the radiance of the stars.
But Eivass, in that instant, sensed an anomaly in the sky.
Just now, the Star Curtain had generated dense, hidden cracks.
【Path Adaptation, Path of Wisdom transcend limits, the Material Realm is about to ascend—】
【Ascension Path reaches the Six Pillars, Eclipse Ritual will no longer be performed】
【There are currently three vacant Heavenly Envoy positions, which will be selected from the already ascended Paths】
【Power of Adaptation is fully boiling, the Nine Rivers of the Path are becoming more rapid—】
【From today onwards, the Life force of all Extraordinary individuals in the Material Realm will triple, with increased resistance to diseases and toxins】
【The barrier between the Dream Realm and the Material Realm has become thin, with the possibility of Ordinary Persons gaining prophetic abilities】
【Power of Wisdom is fully boiling, the Nine Rivers of the Path are becoming more rapid—】
【From today onwards, the learning speed of Ordinary Persons will double, and the learning speed of Extraordinary individuals will double again】
【The barrier between the Dream Realm and the Material Realm has become extremely thin, with the possibility of Extraordinary individuals learning cross-Path extraordinary skills】
【—The Law of Balance has been updated, a new Equilibrium Point has been established】
As the Grey Heavenly Envoy and Geometric Heavenly Envoy returned the power they held in the Origin River to the Material Realm, the power of the Material Realm became more abundant. The Equilibrium Veil, full of cracks, slowly healed once more.
While it might not be a world where everyone is like a dragon, it is at least a genuine world ascension.
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Originally, the Extraordinary Power in the Material Realm was almost entirely separated into the Dream Realm, with only a small portion of Extraordinary individuals able to obtain some “Possibility” through mysterious knowledge. This was precisely the “firewall” created to prevent the Void from infecting the Material Realm.
The Material Realm therefore became a simple “screening mechanism.” Like the college entrance examination—it was merely to select souls with corresponding aptitudes, and only after entering the Dream Realm would they receive true Extraordinary Power.
The Material Realm of the past was like the dregs left on a coffee filter. The soul was hot water, which, after being rinsed in the Material Realm, dissolved a portion of its power and entered the Dream Realm.
Although over long periods, the steam rising from below had moistened the dregs somewhat… but with wave after wave of souls being rinsed, the total sum of Extraordinary Power in the Material Realm was steadily decreasing.
This was the Sandglass’s original Doomsday Plan and the initial purpose of the Equilibrium Veil.
—To allow souls to enter the Material Realm, then obtain the seeds of power from the Dream Realm, and develop them little by little. The strong among them would become Phantom Demons, permanently residing in the Dream Realm, while souls without extraordinary aptitudes would be shattered and remade into new lives… passed down generation after generation, the number of souls capable of wielding Extraordinary Power would dwindle, as would the amount of Extraordinary Power the Material Realm could obtain.
Ultimately, this World would become a magic-less world like the “Earth” from Eivass’s memory. Just like coffee grounds that, after countless rinses, become dry dregs from which no more flavor can be extracted.
At that time, the Sandglass would completely seal the Equilibrium Veil, permanently severing the connection between the Dream Realm and the Material Realm.
In this way, even if the Whisper of the Void devoured the entire Dream Realm, it would be impossible to infect the Material Realm. Because all Extraordinary Power would have been completely withdrawn into the Dream Realm…
Although this was a form of self-degradation, at least mortals could survive.
Regardless of the price to be paid, it was at least a viable plan for salvation.
—This was exactly like the dispute between the Sandglass and the Father of Snakes at the beginning of creation.
They both maintained their original viewpoints. This was why, once the Material Realm possessed power exceeding its limits, it would be attacked and sealed by the Sandglass’s apostles… The Sandglass’s constant endeavor was to purify the Material Realm, to “disenchant” the entire World.
What the Ring Heavenly Envoy and Eivass were doing was undoubtedly breaking the Sandglass’s plan.
But the Sandglass did not stop the Ouroboros Ring.
“Perhaps this can also be said… the Sandglass has given up on its original plan?”
Eivass mused.
Now, only the Path of Beauty, the Path of Balance, and the Path of War Heavenly Envoys have yet to return their power.
As the Full Moon Ritual stated—
When all nine are present, six will protect me, and three will be relinquished.
When the Heavenly Envoys who returned their power reached six Paths, the “Full Moon Ritual” mechanism was triggered!
Because of this, the Eclipse Ritual could no longer be performed. The Origin River split into three new Heavenly Envoy Fragments, and everything was moving in a more vibrant direction.
—Three vacant divine positions!
Although Eivass did not know when the Extraordinary individuals would realize this immense opportunity…
Undoubtedly, the entire Material Realm was currently entering a grand “Ascension Ritual”!
This was precisely the symbol of the Father of Snakes’ Power of Transcendence completely immersing the Material Realm!
(End of this chapter)