Recall also asked somewhat uncertainly, "Ade, do you have any basis for what you're saying?"

Fang Hong nodded, "The basis actually comes from a simple logic."

"Simple logic?"

"If the phantom realm of Dolifen was created by the Dragon's Golden Eyes, then why would it set up such layers of fog to trap itself here? Is it to test the loyalty of the believers of the Dragon Worship Sect? That doesn't make sense."

"Conversely, it's the same. If this phantom realm was created to seal the Dragon's Golden Eyes, why would it set up a path that the Dragon's Golden Eyes could use to escape? Moreover, these layers of fog also seem somewhat redundant," Fang Hong simply retorted.

He then continued, "The so-called chessboard is precisely the battlefield of a game between two chess players, so there must be two powers competing on this chessboard. We can boldly guess that over the past thirty years, the Dragon's Golden Eyes have constantly sought to escape from this predicament, while the other chess player has been trying to prevent this. Both parties undermine each other in the phantom realm, hence the chaotic and bizarre situation we perceive."

This sounded utterly improbable, though somewhat reasonable, but more like Fang Hong's own wild conjecture. Miss Red Leaf couldn't help but ask, "But where is the evidence?"

"There are two points," Fang Hong raised two fingers, confidently responding as if he already pieced together the complete picture of the phantom realm. "First, think carefully about the names of the three objects of Dolifen."

"The Steadfast's Martyr's Mark, the Scepter of Pride of the Ignorant, the Illusory Blade of Victory?" Miss Red Leaf asked, "Is there any issue with these?"

"Of course, there is a problem." Hilveld then spoke, "Actually, I've been curious from the beginning. In Dolifen's three objects, the meanings of the latter two are clearly negative, aren't they?"

Her bright gaze looked towards the others, "The Illusory Blade of Victory, how can it grant anyone true victory? The Scepter of Pride of the Ignorant, how can it reveal the true truth, there is a clear metaphorical meaning behind the names."

Fang Hong also nodded, taking out an item, "If you still have doubts, take a look at this item."

Tianlan looked surprisingly at the pinned on his hand, "The Zealot's Mark of Sacrifice? This pin... Brother Ade, how did you come by it?"

Fang Hong, however, answered off-topic, "In fact, it is this pin that has given me the answer. If we follow a rule that one scene is marked by an item, then there might exist a fourth scene within this phantom realm — a scene hidden in the fog, at the very bottom line of the chessboard."

He saw Miss Red Leaf wanted to say something and interrupted her, "This is just one point, Miss Red Leaf, do you remember the question I asked you earlier?"

Miss Red Leaf was stunned for a moment, Fang Hong had asked so many questions earlier, she really didn't know which one he was referring to.

Fang Hong seemed to know this and continued, "Earlier I asked you, you said that the Undead in the phantom realm appeared today, right?"

"Yeah," Miss Red Leaf repeated her previous answer, "Is there a problem with that?"

"There's a big problem," Fang Hong answered, "Did you know that on the night before we entered Dolifen, a Tide of the Undead broke out on the outskirts of Dolifen? And even if you didn't know this, you must surely be aware, even outside the phantom realm, that Dolifen is a ruin occupied by the Undead, right?"

"Of course," Miss Red Leaf nodded.

"To my knowledge, the number of the Undead is increasing, and the outbreak of the Tide of the Undead clearly indicates this. Do you know what this means?"

Miss Red Leaf slightly furrowed her brows, feeling as if she was about to grasp the key issue, but it was vaguely unclear. At last, she had to look towards Fang Hong for help.

Fang Hong nodded before continuing, "This indicates a problem, that is, the power of the Dragon's Golden Eyes has already seeped out of the phantom realm, and its influence is gradually increasing. That is to say, it has actually gained the upper hand in the chess game."

He shook his head again, "The situation within the phantom realm also precisely demonstrates this point." He picked up the Zealot's Mark in his hand, and answered, "I guess, the scenarios represented by the symbols of positive and negative represent the domains controlled by Nikopolas and the other chess player. Besides the scene that is hidden away, Nikopolas clearly has the initiative—"

"Moreover, although Dolifen City's Phantom Realm is said to have a history of thirty years, it hasn't been known to the public for that long—and logically, if the function of the Phantom Realm was simply to seal the Dragon's Golden Eyes, it should intend to conceal itself and attract as little attention as possible to the existence of this seal."

"But it made a conspicuous appearance before the world, undoubtedly after the Dragon's Golden Eyes gained the upper hand in the game, beginning to seek external help—that is, as you all know, the strength of the Dragon Worship Sect. Thus, the situation today actually formed gradually over the past dozen years."

Fang Hong finished his exposition here.

The room fell somewhat quiet for a moment.

But as if to prove his words, suddenly something seemed to happen within Dolifen City. Everyone felt the floor of the second floor of the City Hall tremble slightly, causing the fragile Miss Natural Historian standing by to nearly lose her balance and fall—had Atira not reached out to support her.

The sudden change startled everyone, and Fang Hong turned to pull back the curtain, only then seeing the golden net that enveloped the city's sky beginning to disappear.

It wasn't completely gone yet, but the net was gradually fading.

The Dark Giant Dragon, Nikopolas, was flying and then falling in midair, repeatedly striking it, and the tremors on the ground originated from this.

It was at this moment that a knight, in a flurry, ran inside shouting to everyone, "The barrier... The barrier of the City Hall seems to be disappearing, the undead have already entered the first floor below!"

All eyes unconsciously turned to Fang Hong.

Including the masked man, who then spoke, "A splendid deduction, so the crux of the problem is, where exactly is the fourth scene you mentioned located?"

But Fang Hong, watching the golden net in the sky, answered without turning his head, "Before coming here I indeed had no clues, but now it is rather different."

After saying this, he turned to ask the French girl, "Tianlan, do you still remember the scene you saw in your dream?"

Tianlan let out a sound, her face somewhat pale as she nodded.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you recall those unpleasant memories," Fang Hong said softly, "But try to remember what you saw and heard at that time."

"I can't remember clearly, but I can remember what the altar looked like," Tianlan shook her head, "Ah, right. There was also a dome, very high, a large arched dome, columns in a religious style, the space was high..."

She seemed to gradually recall more. "There were also niches, some statues..."

"Wait," Recall interrupted her, "I think I know that place."

As he spoke,

Fang Hong simultaneously responded, "Hustings Cathedral."

"How did you know?" Recall looked at him, surprised.

Fang Hong answered, "Because thirty years ago, it was briefly used as the school building for Holite Academy."

...

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