The streets were crowded with people, there were many shops on both sides of the road, selling a variety of things, and tall towers stood in the distance, as dense as a forest. This was what Coal Ball saw shortly after walking into the barrier.
The shouts of hawkers came one after another, and before the vendors carrying bamboo baskets shuttled among the crowd, they could smell the rich aroma wafting from the bamboo baskets before they could reach the candidates.
The keen merchant stopped immediately, opened the bamboo basket with a smile, took out the wine jar that was not completely sealed, and gently fanned it with his hand to let the charming aroma of wine permeate again.
"Dear guests, come and have some. Today is a festive day, how can you not drink to your heart's content?"
The surprised and incomprehensible candidates were surrounded by vendors selling various goods before they could recover. Some were pulled to sell exquisite silk fabrics, while others showed longing for the delicacies presented by the merchants.
Facing the turbulent flow of people, Coal Ball retreated a little. The sudden collision made him subconsciously say "Sorry".
While supporting the child riding on his neck, the middle-aged man who was bumped into said angrily: "Watch the road carefully."
Herola rejected the children who held her hand and begged her to buy flowers to earn income, and pushed through the crowd to come to Lu Yu.
"Teacher, what is going on here? Isn't there only the Supreme Being in the City of Dolls? What is going on with these people?"
Although the answer was obvious, Lu Yu failed to answer the question immediately. Sierra took away control of her body. She reached out and touched the flower girls in the name of buying flowers, and fell into deep thought.
In the middle of the crowded street, there are actually magicians performing. In the eyes of the magicians, the tricks of turning fruits into fruits with bare hands and making living creatures out of gloves are very popular here. When a magician ignites the bodies of his companions with the flames from his fingertips, and makes them...
When the companions were "reborn" intact in the fire, the screams and cheers at the scene reached their climax. Every audience member applauded heartily and shouted words such as miracle and incredible.
The candidates who gradually came back to their senses and tried to find someone to lead them stared blankly at this scene, and a sense of absurdity spread in everyone's heart.
Even the most ignorant people should not be so enthusiastic about such tricks. Since the emergence of magic, the mystery of magic has been diluted. In the eyes of magicians, it is just a combination of hand speed and blindness, and in the eyes of the people, it is just "magic."
"Daily life of teachers", after all, there is nothing unusual about it.
Papa discovered something strange: "There seems to be no reformer here."
"Not only that, look at the store." Chongwu reminded, "There is no doll shop here either."
Gale quickly said: "There is also a potion shop."
One after another, the promoted people who noticed strange things stopped passers-by and asked, and the answers they received were very consistent: "Magic? What is that?"
People here have no idea about the concept of magic.
"Lu Yu."
"Did you find anything?"
"The puppet circuit here is basically similar to the techniques mentioned in Vanessa's notes."
As soon as he finished speaking, the bustling crowd and the grand celebration seemed to have been pressed on the pause button, and all the pedestrians suddenly stopped.
[A novel app that has been running stably for many years, comparable to the old book-chasing tool, a source-changing app used by old bookworms, huanyuanapp.org]
The city-state fell into deathly silence at this moment, and the sound of gears ringing in the distance swept in like waves. Amidst the rolling sound, the puppets that were originally alive and kicking, and looked like living people, turned around and looked at the candidates.
The airtight human wall receded to both sides, revealing a path that could be passed. The dolls uniformly bowed and saluted the candidates.
"The stream of light, those who advance, the white dove in the sky will guide you."
The intermittent sound sounded from nowhere, it seemed to be everywhere.
In the quiet city-state, a group of white doves that had been stationary suddenly resumed operation. They flapped their wings and hovered above the heads of the candidates.
Many people looked back after walking out of the crowd, looking at the dolls that turned a little bit as they moved, with their eyes always following them, and a strong sense of unreality arose spontaneously.
For a moment, even though they knew that these were all dolls, they felt a little unconfident.
As the promoted people walked away, the statues in the central square of the city-state rotated slightly, and the sound of gear meshing was heard all around. The dolls seemed to be able to draw the power of movement from it, and quickly returned to their original state. They seemed not to realize that they had paused, facing
He looked at the empty area that suddenly appeared in the middle of the road, with a look of confusion on his face.
As the songs and drums of the celebration sounded again, the confusion was quickly replaced by joy, and the crowds who came to heal their "scars" continued to celebrate their festival.
After traveling through several city-states and being worshiped by different types of dolls, the white doves in the sky landed one after another and lowered their heads towards the buildings in sight.
The outer wall of the huge temple-style building is guarded by white castles in the center. Complex patterns of low relief and high relief are scattered all over. As the line of sight moves, people and objects move vaguely on the wall under the sunlight.
stand up.
"It's hard to imagine that a city-state with only dolls would have its buildings designed with such care." Lu Lu shook his body and marveled at the reliefs that showed different movements depending on the angle of view, "Even if there is no audience, no one
Appreciation also requires the rigor and meticulousness to be followed to the end?”
Serra was curious about the white castles built around the temple. The doors of these castles were closed, and there were thick gauze curtains behind the stained glass windows. They were dull and quiet.
Compared to the majestic and detailed exterior walls of the temple, these castles are simple and even inferior to the idle and rented manors of the Mera nobles.
Not only that, their location is so abrupt and tight, airtightly blocking the sight of people standing under the temple looking in all directions, creating a suffocating feeling like a collapsing mountain, which is incompatible with the overall sanctity of the temple.
The grand tone is incongruous to the point where it is obvious at a glance.
And Lu Yu also discovered that the arrangement of the rockeries and fountains here was also very subtle. There were pieces here and there, with no rules at all. It was like a game that opened up the custom home function, but the rewards given were useless. Therefore,
Players randomly piled various ornaments together in order to get enough mission values.
Perhaps only the person who designed the temple and the rest of the buildings were not the same person can explain the strange situation in front of us.
The rest of the promotions obviously don't care about this. The streamer trial is held every five years, and may be changed to every seven to eight years in the future. They stand out from hundreds of thousands of people and have the opportunity to meet the strongest person in Selkalo.
Opportunity, what they are about to get is a future full of hope and brightness, rights, power, and wealth. Behind this heavy metal door, their eyes have been attracted, and everyone is breathing quickly.
The mechanism turned, and the roar of the door opening made people look at each other eagerly. The eyes eager to know the secret were briefly restrained by their inner rationality. The promoted candidates all retracted their sights that might blaspheme the Supreme Puppet Master, and instead pressed their chests humbly.
, bowed and saluted into the temple, which was lit up one after another.
Lu Yu is no exception, he still abides by the rules.
The mottled light and shadow cast by the stained glass windows fell deep in the temple without statues. There, sixteen human figures whose bodies were outlined by the faint light remained motionless. A feeling as heavy as a mountain pressed on everyone's heart, an indescribable majesty.
It seems that it can penetrate into everyone's mind through the air, and they can't help but worship it.
"The seventh time, the Flowing Light Trial, there are twenty-three people who have advanced."
"As evidenced by the supreme iron law, your results are verified to be valid."
Like the entire Streamer Trial, the introduction is clear and the process is clear and clear. The entire Selkalo seems to be too lazy to talk about the scene.
A round marble table suddenly rose from the floor in front of Lu Yu and others. A total of twenty-three golden badges were neatly stacked on the red velvet cloth. They were evidence of the trial of light composed of two crossed doll arms.
It is also the highest honor coveted by countless people throughout Selkalo.
With it, the Selkalo Association has opened its doors to them, and the Secret Society will focus on cultivating them.
However, this is not the most exciting reward of this trial.
Although everything inside the Doll City is forbidden to be discussed with the outside world, and violators will be punished by the highest iron law, but the "wish list" is not a secret that is forbidden to be discussed.
The Supreme Puppet Master will provide everyone with a wish list to choose from. The content of the wishes varies. No one knows what criteria the Supreme Puppet Master sets for the wishes of those who advance. This has always been a mystery.
"Cato area, Shelvey, come forward."
The person who was named was trembling all over and walking with difficulty. With a pilgrim mentality, he tried hard to adjust his breathing and let his weak feet obey his orders.
Following the beam of light that shone in front of him, Shelvey arrived at the stage, which was less than five meters away from the sixteen supreme figures.
The Supreme Being was still between light and shadow, and his somewhat mechanical but extremely loud and majestic voice echoed throughout the temple.
"Wish 1: Through the secret meeting, you can complete your transformation that failed originally."
"Wish 2: To become the law enforcer of the association."
"Make your choice."
Shelvey trembled and clenched his fists: "I...I choose one!"
The Supreme was silent for a few seconds: "Your wish has been recorded, and the Supreme Iron Law will give you guidance."
"Next...Gleni, Calaminto..."
Sera wanted to see through the Supreme Puppet Master, but the surging magic power was eventually suppressed by reason. She agreed with Lu Yu's point of view - rules should have a beginning and an end.
"It's like a wish machine. No wonder not only Selkalo, but also people from surrounding countries are so crazy about getting this opportunity." Lulu sighed.
Someone got the coveted rights from the Supreme Puppet Master. From being an oppressed poor man at the bottom, he became one of the region's law enforcers, cheering for his parents and brothers to defeat those who once oppressed him.
Someone has received enough money to live in a dream. Although gold coins are not worth a penny in the supreme reward, relying on this wealth protected by the supreme iron law, he is already qualified to try to build his own business territory and become an emerging force in Selkalo.
A member of "capital".
Others received a demon fox doll made by the Supreme himself, and the follow-up maintenance of the doll will be provided by the secret society for free. Seeing this young man take over the rosy face when he was young, he was filled with emotion.
La couldn't help but said: "Should I say it or not, the Supreme Being really understands people's hearts."
Lucky boy Papa got the chance to transform his parents' bodies.
The little mouse Chongwu secured the tax exemption for Selkalo for the tribe.
Gale hesitated for a long time and chose to deeply transform his body to become a more perfect transformer.
When it was Herola's turn, she was in a trance. Something she had never dared to imagine had become a reality. She should have been extremely happy... But for some reason, she felt very calm, even though the option given by the Supreme did have the wealth she most desired.
"I choose... ten precious high-level materials." Herola made her decision.
Only Lu Yu was left.
He walked forward step by step, and for some reason, the beam of light in front of him was closer and higher than the others.
"Before I make a wish, I want to ask for the answer you haven't given me yet."
Under the overwhelming and suffocating pressure, Lu Yu was the only one here who tried to talk.
"You probably haven't forgotten that someone once poisoned the Gegland Field."
Papa and others were sweating for Lu Yu. In fact, they could reach this point no longer caring about who was behind it. Their rising status meant that everyone would look down on them.
But since Lu Yu was so insistent... they communicated with each other with their eyes and decided to stand on his side even if they were implicated.
"Is it important?"
"Not having them is very important to me." Lu Yu said, "This is a game. If someone doesn't follow the rules, they have to pay the price, otherwise the monster will definitely eat people."
"Your words... are not easy to understand, but I agree with your statement on the rules." The Supreme said, "All participants in the secret meeting have been arrested, and they will face the trial of the Supreme Iron Law."
"If you are interested, you can watch the trial process."
"Now, bass player, make your choice."
"Wish 1: The Supreme Being will personally transform you."
"Wish 2: The city of dolls, knowledge, is open to you."
These two wishes made all those who advanced feel numb.
In history, there were only two people transformed by the Supreme himself, and both of them immediately became members of the Secret Society's Red Cloths after leaving the Doll Capital. They only need to endure for a while to reach the top of the Black Cloths.
The second wish never appeared.
Jealousy and envy were focused on Lu Yu alone.
Lu Yu, who originally planned to choose nothing to see the supreme reaction, suddenly became interested and made his choice easily: "I choose knowledge, how do I pay for it?"
The Supreme Master said loudly: "All the testers, follow the guidance of the white dove and go to the city-state, the capital of dolls, to rest temporarily."
The secret of face-to-face teaching is definitely the secret of face-to-face teaching!
Every person who was promoted was shouting in their hearts at this moment. They didn't understand that for the same person who was promoted, the wish list that Lu Yu got would be so outrageous.
The heavy door closed heavily, and calm returned to the temple again.
"We are the only ones left." Lu Yu said, "The trial has ended, so there should be no rules that should be followed, right?"
As he spoke, he floated up to the high platform where the highest place was.
"You should deal with it, supremely, with awe."
All the Supreme Puppet Masters said in unison, their voices like waves, rolling in the temple, shocking the hearts of the people.
"I'm different from them. I'm not from Selkaro, nor from this land. Although you are strong, you still can't make me fear you." Lu Yu said, "I'm curious about how you want to realize my wish. What should I do?"
In what way can you give me all the knowledge of this city of dolls?"
"Should I open the library and let me roam around, or should you personally teach me until I understand everything you have to say?"
"neither."
The motionless Supremes took a step forward in unison.
"It can be easier to realize your wishes."
"for example?"
The tilted mirror of the dome refracted the light from the colored glass. When the gorgeous light spots shone, the metallic glow made Lu Yu unable to open his eyes.
"You are qualified to become us."
"You will be the seventeenth, supreme."
Sixteen humanoids with metallic skin stared at Lu Yu coldly with indifferent eyes. The magic circle rotated under their feet, and the entire temple was filled with light.
"You guys have really completely transformed yourselves."
This strange path that was despised by the puppet masters in the Ring Mera continent was actually taken to an extreme by another group of puppet masters in Selkalo.
Sera stared blankly at these supreme beings who no longer had the aura of the living. She couldn't tell whether the supreme beings were now humans or dolls, or perhaps they had successfully reached a new path that no one had ever reached before, and a new term was needed.
Its naming?
"We observed it."
"you are excellent."
"Strong enough."
"learned."
"keen."
“Amazing.”
"Welcome to your arrival."
Lu Yu said: "I have no interest in existing in your form."
"We, are not, extending an invitation."
"We are informing."
"These are very domineering words, but I still refuse." Lu Yu sneered, "I told you that story, do you really not understand?"
"What story?" asked the Supreme Beings.
"The ability to ask questions knowingly is quite human." Lu Yu was too lazy to repeat the story of the monster and the town, but said indifferently, "You don't think I'm really telling a story, do you?"
"You are saying strange things again, but they are not important." The Supreme said in a loud voice, "Zelkalo, no one can, no one can, disobey my will!"
The voices of sixteen supreme beings overlapped, and the sound of birds echoed in the temple.
"Welcome to your transformation."
The four walls of the temple revealed dark holes, and pairs of puppet arms stretched out towards where Lu Yu was.
Sera, who had quick hands and quick eyes, spun at high speed and cut off all the arms with his tentacles, but under their feet, a pair of giant pincers made of the forbidden magic stone suddenly rose up, crushing the clothes of the coal ball, completely exposing his dark body.
"Strange, shape."
"It's not important. Appearance can be rebuilt."
The huge claws of the Forbidden Demon Stone, which were enough to strangle the flying dragon, were full of cracks under the struggle of the coal tentacles. Lu Yu fiercely pulled out the core of the Forbidden Demon Stone and lowered his voice angrily: "It seems that you can't understand human speech."
"It's stupid to give up resistance. The entire temple is full of puppets. You have nowhere to escape."
As if in response to the Supreme Puppet Master, the temple trembled, and the stained glass on the dome fell like raindrops.
"Not just the temple, all the castles are just part of the doll."
"You are already in our wombs."
"Meet your fate."
The forbidden magic array engraved in the temple took effect at the same time, and the tyrannical magic restrictions came from different directions, making Lu Yu instantly feel what it was like to be a mortal again.
"Do you think I don't have the confidence to come here?"
Lu Yu sang loudly, and the Trinity's extraordinary spiritual power merged instantly.
They are one in spirit!
The summoning ceremony trembled rapidly, and the power from the source of the summons gathered above the temple, and dark clouds covered the sky.
In the Summoning Temple, the Book of Summoning projected by Lu Yu was flipping wildly, just before it was about to freeze...
"Shu~~~~~~"
"Click."
"Click."
There was a loud noise as the gears got stuck.
The temple wrapped in the power of forbidden magic suddenly fell into deathly silence. The shining patterns of the magic circle were extinguished one after another, like a short-circuited circuit, and the breath of magic quickly faded.
A wisp of breeze blew into the dull air, pressing the pause button on the imminent collision.
The supreme being approaching forward with a magic circle under their feet was completely frozen in a weird and twisted posture.
The White Castle, which had moved near the temple and was transforming, returned to the ground.
Lu Yu, who had already chosen his summon target, looked around in astonishment. He didn't know what was going on. The supreme reaction in front of him seemed to be... a panic?
Are their current postures still driven by some kind of energy source? How could they just happen to run out of power before filming with themselves?
"What's the sound?" Lulu asked warily.
Light footsteps like soft leather boots on the carpet suddenly sounded. Behind the wall where the Supreme was originally standing, a small wooden door was gently pushed open, and with a creak, a young human appeared there.
Strictly speaking, Lu Yu could not determine its gender based on its appearance alone. It had a very neutral appearance.
It has short black hair and a pair of eyes that are lifeless and so hollow that it makes people cringe. They reflect the colorful temple.
The young man wearing a smart white shirt and slightly stiff gray trousers stepped on the broken glass on the ground, bypassed the motionless Supreme Puppet Masters, and came to Lu Yu.
He did not release a trace of hostility, but at the same time, Coal Ball could not feel the breath of life on his body.
What's even weirder is that, standing next to him, the three of them had a vague feeling of being "attracted".
None of the three people could accurately describe this wonderful feeling. It was as if there was a voice in the dark urging, persuading the coal ball to get closer to him, get closer... Possess him, own him!
"What are you..." Lu Yu hesitated and finally said, "Human?"
The young man said calmly: "Nihil."
"Nihil?"
"I don't have a name that humans have. This is the first word I saw in books."
Nihil's empty eyes only saw the figure of a briquette.
"I like the story you told very much, it makes me feel satisfied." Nihil twitched the corners of his mouth, and there was a smile on his face.
Lu Yu was stunned: "The puppets that night were not them, but you?"
"Yes, you have the same aura as mine." Nihil approached Lu Yu and sniffed, "We are the same kind."