Chapter 76 – Keeping You Alive Only Makes Food More Expensive

“Virtual world turbulence? Virtual world passages?”

Since this was obscure knowledge, Ashe didn’t feel surprised that Igora was aware of it: “These are rare magical disasters that occur when sorcerers establish a connection to the virtual world through the Gate of Truth. Some areas of the virtual world are unstable, and can spill knowledge back through the Gate of Truth, causing spaces in reality to become distorted by virtual world knowledge.”

Igora gestured as he explained: “You can imagine the virtual world as a big jelly. Sorcerers enter the jelly through a straw, and everything is fine. But part of the jelly has rotted and dissolved away, and the liquid from there flows back up the straw into reality, corroding a hole through it… This is virtual world turbulence.”

“As for virtual world passages, they form because the knowledge that spills into reality wants to return to the virtual world. Most turbulence quickly dissipates, but some denser flows of chaotic knowledge solidify into passages, trying to get back to the virtual world.”

“But knowledge without an owner can’t open the Gate of Truth, so these partial passages end up hovering outside the virtual world, forming half-passages to and from it.”

“Half-passages?” Ashe was puzzled. “So how do they become complete virtual world passages?”

“Remember when I said part of the jelly had rotted?” Igora said. “So these magical disasters caused by turbulence don’t just happen once or twice, but in batches all over the world. Any sorcerer who has visited the rotted area could trigger turbulence and form different half-passages locally.”

“The closer the coordinates these half-passages point to in the virtual world are, the more likely they are to combine and form a complete passage that connects two real world locations.”

Ashe grasped the idea using his meager mathematical knowledge: Half-passage A wants to return to point C in the virtual world, forming passage AC. Meanwhile, half-passage B also wants to return to point C, forming passage BC.

But since the Gate of Truth is closed, even if A and B make it to the gate and desperately claw at it, C won’t come out. At this point, A and B, who are both down on their luck, meet outside the gate. They give up on C and connect to form the complete AB passage, living happily ever after together.

“So the closer the Gates different sorcerers open are to each other, the more easily a virtual world passage forms between them?”

Igora nodded. “That’s how it works in theory, but it’s virtually impossible to manufacture a passage this way.”

Ashe’s expression became grave. “Isn’t that really dangerous for sorcerers then? Once they open a Gate in a rotten area, won’t their bodies be sucked into the virtual world turbulence?”

“No, virtual world knowledge would never harm a sorcerer,” Igora replied.

“Why not?”

“They’re afraid of us.” Igora shrugged. “Even spirits flee when they see us. Why would you think the knowledge that makes up spirits would dare harm sorcerers?”

“There’s an amusing theory that for the virtual world, we sorcerers are like predators. Any knowledge that accidentally spills into reality is like refugees who have stumbled into enemy territory. They can barely flee fast enough, let alone dare to challenge the vicious predators we are.”

“Virtual knowledge often escapes to areas with few sorcerers, like underground or the skies. Then it settles and distorts the space, trying to return to the virtual world, forming turbulence or passages.”

Igora described the disaster as helpless and endearing… Ashe glanced at the bustling registration point. “So exploring virtual world passages is pretty dangerous?”

“I don’t know!” Igora admitted candidly. “But not all passages are complete ones. What do you think happens to the pioneers who venture into half-passages?”

“Still, if they find a passage to another realm and make it back successfully, that accomplishment would surely offset their death sentence.”

Ashe raised his eyebrows. “That doesn’t sound too hard. Just take a look, flee back if you survive, purely luck-based. Why do you need survival and escape capabilities?”

Igora shook his head. “If the other side leads to an uninhabited area, you could return immediately. But if it’s another realm with people, volunteers definitely wouldn’t be able to come back right away.”

“Why not? Do they need to go through customs when crossing over or something?”

“Think about it from another angle. If strangers from an unknown realm found a passage to the Blood Moon Kingdom, wouldn’t you take precautions in advance?”

Ashe was about to ask how to safeguard against unknown enemies, but he stopped short – this was a world full of miracles where sorcerers dwelled, and the one absolute truth was that nothing was absolute.

Things that seemed near impossible to Ashe could be child’s play for high-tier sorcerers.

The knowledge gap between sorcerers created insurmountable divides. Ashe still didn’t understand how the chip in his neck prevented him from farting outside of restrooms.

“The Blood Moon Kingdom has kingdom-wide surveillance miracles. The Church is notified immediately of any outsiders. At the same time, the Blood Moon casts down curses restricting outsiders from teleporting or communicating for 48 hours,” Igora explained, hugging himself. “When I was 7, an outsider appeared in Feimeng City, seemingly fleeing to somewhere near my orphanage. The Blood Mad Hunters turned the place upside down searching for them…”

“You’re not from Caimon City?”

Igora shrugged. “When you’ve fooled most people in Feimeng City, it’s time to tap new markets.”

The virtual world passages were undoubtedly major events that could shift power balances, but meant nothing to their prison break squad. If anything, it made recruitment more difficult.

Maybe more volunteers would come tomorrow?

Maybe he had a chance to return to society fair and square?

This sudden amnesty greatly dampened the morale of these staunch escapees. How could they continue their ideological work now?

Just as Ashe was at a loss and about to go eat some Lala Fat to find inspiration, a commotion broke out at the registration point.

“Pick me, please pick me! I’m the ‘Golden Beak’ of the Woodpeckers, I’m well-versed in all kinds of murder methods. I really want to be a volunteer, please pick me, wuuu—”

“Water magic, gunpowder magic, light magic, earth magic, explosives… your spellcasting aptitudes meet the requirements, but you only have single-wing arcane power, below the minimum threshold. I’m afraid not.”

Hearing this, everyone looked at the tall kneeling man in astonishment.

Igora provided an introduction: “Golden Beak is the Woodpecker Gang’s best hitman. His assassination targets have included many famous figures, politicians, businessmen… With his missions being no less difficult than killing a two-wing sorcerer, the fact that he became the Golden Beak as a one-wing sorcerer means he has exceptional professional capabilities.”

Ashe recognized the man. “Isn’t he Langna’s ‘friend’ Ronat Wade?”

“That’s right, and he’s also a new arrival this month.” Igora had a subtle smile. “No wonder he got close to Langna… Looks like he’s realized something and is desperately trying to save himself.”

“Save himself? Is he in danger?”

“Do you know Langna’s nickname?”

“I do. ‘Gourmet’ Langna – it’s because of his peculiar tastes, right?”

Although Langna’s preferences were rather bizarre, this prison was the ultimate cesspool gathering degenerates. Right now, Ashe was chatting with a cannibal nonchalantly. He could discuss Langna’s minor perversions without any emotional response.

“Most people only see the surface, but the reality goes much deeper.” Igora wagged his finger. “Langna doesn’t even spare the insides.”

“What’s so different about that?”

“Extremely different. Don’t be fooled by Ronat’s lack of external injuries. His insides have already been eaten away by Langna.”

“…Is this some vulgar joke?”

“Ashe, your words and actions make me feel like the Four Pillars Church is a sleazy old men’s club for relaxing after work. Keeping you alive only makes food more expensive.” Igora responded lightly, revealing Langna’s horrifying and bizarre secret.

But Ashe’s eyes only grew brighter as he listened.

Looking at Ronat still clinging stubbornly over there, he said, “Perhaps we’ve found a teammate.”