Trafford Buyers Club

Chapter 4001 The Song of the Purple Moon (52) — There is no simple one
Madame Xinone's gaze shifted several times, but ultimately settled into a helpless sigh.

"What, did I say something wrong?" Long Xiruo frowned.

"Interpret it however you like." Lady Shinone shook her head. "What I lament is that this Golden Nightmare Labyrinth can never be perfect... It seems it can never truly replicate the projected entity's divine magical abilities, even after it has completed the evolution of the Super Artifact."

As she spoke, Lady Xinone spread her five finger blades, and a spiral of atomic light instantly swirled in her palm before being crushed by her again. "A fake... is still a fake."

Ah Xiruo couldn't help but tilt her head slightly... sensing that this eight-foot-tall woman was a bit strange, "So... are you still going to fight or not?"

Lady Xinonne chuckled softly, then surprisingly raised her hands slightly. "Why fight? In fact, I haven't made a move yet... It seems like this person is the one who's provoking us, isn't it?"

She looked at Zhang Bolu.

[King of Pirates] Suddenly, I feel that my old face is a little thin-skinned.

Zhang Bolu pondered for a moment and said, "[Shinone], are you sure... you are really Mr. Raizo's projection of fear, and not [himself]?"

Madame Xinonne's behavior is really too strange—or rather, as a projection, is her degree of freedom too high?
In fact, the [Radiant King] has a high degree of freedom, but he can't achieve the same level of freedom as Lady [Shinone].

Lady Shinone chuckled upon hearing this, glancing approvingly at Zhang Bolu. "I am undoubtedly the embodiment of Raizo. You need not doubt that the real me clearly did not survive the Great Cataclysm... As for your doubts, I think it's probably because I was once involved in the design of the labyrinth."

She said calmly, "The moment I was born, I knew very well what kind of existence I was. Based on this understanding, I am not as confused as other creations. Besides, I am just a magic creator, and I am not the type that is good at fighting."

These words resonated deeply with the witch who had been silently observing the scene—"I'm just a mere mage, and I'm not particularly skilled in melee combat!"
"Can you resist the control of the maze itself?" Zhang Bolu asked in surprise.

"It's not so much resistance as resistance." Lady [Shinone] shook her head. "It's just that the labyrinth itself is too busy to take care of itself right now... Otherwise, I don't think that [Radiant King] would have run around like that. But it doesn't really matter. Actually, for me, being able to see Raizo one more time is not a loss."

“Aren’t you the one Mr. Raizo fears the most?” Zhang Bolu frowned.

Lady Xinone said with a half-smile, "Those ghosts you defeated and conquered, did they hate you? Or did they want to kill you?"

Zhang Bolu was speechless.

Lady Shinone waved her hand. "As far as I'm concerned, Raizo is my most cherished student. However, it seems that there was something wrong with my teaching methods, which caused me to become his persistent nightmare."

Ah Xiruo couldn't help but click her tongue. She probably knew that Raizo was talking about... that strange young man kneeling on the ground, shirtless, covered in knife-like wounds—it was probably the work of Lady [Shinone].

If this is considered "love," then this love is far too heavy.

Zhang Bolu had lost all fighting spirit at this moment. If his opponent lost interest in fighting, he would also lose interest... Fighting is all about the feeling.

"Since you cherish Raizo so much, why don't you let him regain his senses?"

Lady Xinonne said with a sigh, "That's another matter. Although I cherish him, I, as a creator, have indeed come back to life... I don't want to disappear again so soon after returning."

"Even if you're trapped in the maze for the rest of your life, becoming its slave?" Zhang Bolu frowned.

Lady Xinone said indifferently, "Anyway, as a magic creator, I don't usually go out easily. Doing magic creation research here is no different from being outside... I think this [Labyrinth Will] is also a restless one. I'm sure it will devour more people in the future, so life won't necessarily be lonely."

Zhang Bolu said coldly, "But even so, Mr. Raizo will eventually be drained dry by the labyrinth and die, won't he?"

Lady Shinone paused for a moment before shaking her head and saying, "If Raizo can't escape my shadow, he'll never become a top-tier magic crafter. In that case, he might as well not graduate and just stay by my side until he dies. Anyway, if he dies, it means I'll disappear too... As his teacher, I've done right by him."

Ah Xiruo and Zhang Bolu looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Since you say you were involved in creating this labyrinth..." [Xiang Feihu]'s voice suddenly rang out, "then, do you know how to stop this labyrinth?"

These words were like a piercing through the dark clouds, and a glint of light flashed in Zhang Bolu's eyes—ultimately, he came to resolve the matter on [Purple Moon], and fighting was just a side matter.

Lady Xinone narrowed her eyes and said, "Stopping the maze is tantamount to making me disappear as well... In fact, I quite enjoy this feeling of returning. What makes you think I would help you? Don't say anything like you think I'm a good person, little sister."

"Xi Ruo!" [Xiang Fei Hu] suddenly glanced at Xi Ruo.

The true dragon of Shenzhou instantly understood and raised his hand to unleash a "dragon aura" on Leizang!
The speed was so fast that Lady Xinone couldn't react at all... and it seemed that she didn't intend to stop it?
The moment the "dragon energy" entered his body, Raizo's shoulders trembled slightly, and his previously dazed gaze seemed to regain a little color, but it quickly dimmed again.

The existence of Lady Xinone seems to have remained unaffected—a stark contrast to Zhang Bolu's situation.

"Useless?" Ah Xi Ruo frowned.

Lady Shinone suddenly chuckled softly, “So you don’t understand the feelings between me and Raizo… I am indeed a creation of fear, but… am I really what Raizo feared?”

"What do you mean?"

Lady Xinone's figure flashed by!
They all immediately went on alert, thinking that she was about to launch a surprise attack. However, Lady Shinone arrived at Raizo's side in an instant, lifted him up, and then sank into the dark golden ground with him.

"Just a reminder, although I participated in the design of the labyrinth..." Lady Shinone's voice rang out at the end, "but don't forget, Raizo was the true creator of the labyrinth."

"Don't think about it!"

Ah Xiruo instantly transformed into light and reached out to grab it, but ultimately she missed!

Frustrated, she slammed her fist into the ground. With her [Stigmata] at +1, even the maze floor was dented by the impact.

"Xi Ruo?"

"Damn it, that woman got away, not even a trace!" Shenzhou's True Dragon frowned. "What did she mean by her last words?"

Li Huamei looked blankly at Zhang Bolu and subconsciously asked, "Boss, tell me what you know about this maze?"

Zhang Bolu then repeated what Lei Zang had said, and pondered, "Lei Zang is indeed the creator of the labyrinth... but Lady [Shinone] is not really what he fears. But if it is not what he fears, why can it be projected? This contradicts what he said."

“This…” Li Huamei also showed a thoughtful expression.

Just then, the witch suddenly interrupted, "Your Majesty! Lord [Xiang Feihu]! I don't know if you noticed, but Lady [Xinonie] just said [Return]!"

After saying this, the witch slipped back to Xiaomeng's side.

Zhang Bolu immediately showed a thoughtful expression.

Ah Xiruo said impatiently, "And then what? What good will it do to tell me?"

Miss Witch ran over again like a primary school student, "This means that Lady [Shinone] knew that her true form had perished, which is why she used the term [Return]. But after careful study, according to what Wang just said about the characteristics of the labyrinth that Raizo mentioned, assuming that Raizo was not hiding anything, the projection of the fear creation is born based on the deepest and most fearful memories in an individual's heart... In other words, the creation is only an existence of a certain period of time."

"...So what?" Ah Xiruo was taken aback.

The witch suddenly put on her glasses. "In other words, this Lady Shinone exists in Raizo's memories at a certain point in time. In terms of timelines, Lady Shinone couldn't possibly know about events in later timelines; she could only guess at most. Yet, she still used such a definitive statement as 'return'! Isn't that obvious enough?"

Ah Xiruo was stunned for a moment, "You mean... [Shinone] already knew that he was dead?"

The witch adjusted her glasses. "To be precise, when [she] was born, she knew through Raizo's memories that she was already dead... In other words, the [Shinone] figure projected by the labyrinth should be from a time after the real [she] had already died! That's how Raizo knew, and [she] would know too!"

[Xiang Feihu] frowned and said, "Why must it be the period after Lady [Xinone]'s death, and not some other period?"

"It's simple. If it were before she died, she wouldn't know how she died through Raizo's memories!" The witch shrugged. "Even if she could know, it would only be through what Raizo says at this stage! Sir, if I told you that you're already dead, and that you died a horrible death, and that I created you, would you believe me?"

“This…” Li Huamei said subconsciously, “Why do something so complicated?”

The witch, no longer so frivolous, pondered, "Yes, why make it so complicated... I've made some assumptions, and it must be due to this stage... Obviously, Lady [Shinone] was still alive when she was the initial designer of the labyrinth... So, her time of death must have been between her withdrawal from the design process and the completion of the labyrinth. Therefore, the reason Raizo chose this stage of memories is very likely related to the labyrinth itself? If it were me, if Lady [Shinone] were a projection of myself, then I would... I would want [her] to be able to fully understand my intentions the moment she appeared?"

Ah Xiruo and the others looked at the "Black Cat" lady in astonishment... How did this cowardly girl, who was just a moment ago, have such a brain?

Based solely on a few words from [Sinogné]?
……

"Miss Yuya, what's that strange Miss Nan saying?" Bai Zhi leaned closer and whispered from afar, "I'm completely confused, it sounds so complicated..."

“That’s not Miss Nan,” the maid said calmly. “She just looks like her… and besides, she’s much more normal.”

"??"

—Is Miss Nan mentally unstable?

—It seems pretty normal, doesn't it?

……

"So... what is the intention behind this?" Zhang Bolu asked abruptly.

"I can't figure it out." The witch scratched her head. "The only thing I can think of is that Raizo might have some purpose in projecting Lady Shinone from a certain period... Maybe, to resurrect her? But if he fears her, why would he resurrect her... The more he fears her, the more excited he gets? What kind of M-type is this? Is this even considered fear?"

Zhang Bolu thought for a moment and said, "No, I saw it with my own eyes. Raizo was indeed extremely scared at the time... that instinctive fear was real."

“So…” the witch suddenly shuddered. “Could it be that only during the period between Lady Shinone’s withdrawal from the labyrinth design and Raizo’s construction of the labyrinth could Lady Shinone instill fear in Raizo? In other words… only in this way could Lady Shinone be brought back, and at the same time, the conditions for Lady Shinone to instantly understand Raizo’s intentions upon her successful return be met… But what exactly are these intentions?”

Seeing that Ms. Black Cat seemed to be stuck in a rut, Li Huamei quietly approached Zhang Bolu and asked, "By the way, boss, why did you suddenly come up here to Purple Moon?"

We met, but I didn't have time to ask the question.

Zhang Bolu suddenly asked, "Hua Mei, what would you think if I said that the news about the treasure on the Purple Moon was spread with my tacit approval?"

"What?!" [Xiang Feihu] opened his mouth in disbelief. "Boss, why...why did you do this? Do you know that because of this treasure, [Ziyue]..."

“This is a long story,” Zhang Bolu shook his head. “The current state of [Purple Moon] is not what I originally intended. It is not what I envisioned.”

[Xiang Feihu] asked coldly, "What's the difference?"

Zhang Bolu frowned, but still pondered and said, "I have a feeling that everyone, including everything that is happening right now, is being quietly... well, like being controlled by something."

Upon hearing this, Ah Xiruo was slightly startled.

If all of this was planned by Zhang Bolu long ago, but now things have taken a completely different turn...

So?

Could it be... during the sightseeing boat trip?
—Luo Qiu asked her if she wanted to play a treasure hunt game, starting from that time?

[Xiang Feihu] then said in a deep voice, "Boss, please tell me what your purpose is! Why are you using treasure to deceive people!"

“No! There is indeed a treasure on the Purple Moon, but it's not the Sea God's treasure... It's hidden deep within the Purple Moon's core, protected by an extremely powerful force,” Zhang Bolu said in a deep voice. “Moreover…”

He paused, seemingly hesitant.

[Xiang Feihu] assumed it was because there were outsiders present, and said directly, "Boss, what time is it? Stop hiding it! Xi Ruo is my friend, she can be trusted! I guarantee it!"

Ah Xiruo: I can't even trust myself...

“It’s not that I’m worried about anything,” Zhang Bolu shook his head. “It’s just that I also found a… grave in the treasure trove.”

"grave?"

"grave……"

“Yes.” Zhang Bolu nodded and recalled, “After penetrating the magnetic storm at the core of the Purple Moon, you will see a strange sea of ​​flowers… and that grave is in the sea of ​​flowers.”

"A sea of ​​flowers?" Li Huamei frowned, seemingly pondering the information within.

A sea of ​​flowers...

Ah Xiruo couldn't help but drift off into thought.

It's...a sea of ​​flowers again.

"I see, a sea of ​​flowers... At least I've heard some useful information."

That was... Testarossa's voice!
The drum of the "Dragon Sparrow Breaking Formation Melody" instantly materializes!

A woman dressed in a pure white dress, Testarossa, slowly descended, her slender hand carrying the Radiant King, Osman Dis!

One, the [Radiant King], has completely lost consciousness!
Landing.

Testarossa casually tossed the [Radiant King] aside.

The next moment, the body of the [Radiant King] turned into a wisp of black smoke and merged back into the floor of the maze.

"The Pirate King, is that it?" Testarossa completely ignored the drum of the [Dragon Sparrow Breaking Formation Song] and appeared in front of Zhang Bolu in a flash. "Then, could you please tell me in detail about that sea of ​​flowers?"

“You…” Zhang Bolu’s heart skipped a beat, “Could it be that you appeared because of that sea of ​​flowers?”

“Not entirely, but not entirely wrong either.” Testarossa shook her head slightly. “Because the guy who sent me was quite ambiguous himself…which annoyed me a bit. So, I hope you can cheer me up a bit~”

……

……

……

……

The core of the maze.

Boss Luo let out a soft sigh and glanced expressionlessly at the thin wisp of mist that was slowly dissipating.

"You've worked hard. There's no need to continue. Let's stop here."

The small, fleshy ball of eyes that the [Will of the Labyrinth] had manifested slumped down, weakly spitting out wisps of blood mist that formed characters in the air.

"satisfy……?"

Although it was only for a fleeting moment, and only when both sides were giving their best, the [Labyrinth Will] itself couldn't say for sure whether fear had truly manifested, because its memory clearly had a very brief gap.

Therefore, the [Will of the Labyrinth] is unsure whether it has fulfilled the other party's request.

Anyway, it has already evolved successfully, so it's impossible for it to spit out its contents or regress—at worst, it would just sell itself into slavery!

—Come on, Godfather, Mimi is ready!

Boss Luo just smiled casually. After clearly understanding the characteristics of this [Golden Nightmare Maze], he had already figured out which buyers would be interested in it.

—It's been a long time since I've seen that [Dream Eater]... Mr. Alex.

"Let's go. The people outside have been waiting for a long time."

(End of this chapter)