After bidding farewell to The Keeper and The Patroller, Angel once again launched the Gondola.
High above the sky, Angel picked up the orange-yellow stone that The Patroller had given him. As soon as the stone was placed in his palm, it seemed to come alive, starting to tremble slightly, and finally, under a strange attraction, it began to roll southeast.
Thus, Angel also followed the stoneās rolling direction, steering the Gondola in flight.
After flying for about half an hour, the stoneās rolling direction in his palm gradually shifted toward due east, and the Gondola adjusted its course accordingly.
Guided by the stone, Angel took the correct path, taking less than three hours to reach the central district of the wild stone wasteland.
Below, there were earth-element creatures running everywhere, and they also saw the Gondola. However, the Gondola was shimmering with a dense yellow light, a patrol pass given by The Patroller, ensuring smooth passage without hindrance.
They were only stopped for the first time when they reached the Ruby Caves by two gigantic twenty-meter-tall stone men.
These stone men were also The Keepers, ensuring the caveās safety. After Angel handed over the orange-yellow stone, they contacted the sage within the cave and then allowed them to pass.
The cave sounded narrow and cramped, but in reality, it was a naturally formed cave within a massive rock mountain. Its doors were over thirty meters tall, even taller inside, and Angel could navigate through with the Gondola without any issue.
However, to show respect, after entering the Ruby Caves, Angel put away the Gondola and traversed the ground on foot, walking deeper inside.
Inside the cave, paths crisscrossed, with intersecting main and side roads. Various earth-element creatures could be seen coming and going through numerous doors of all sizes.
For a moment, Angel felt like he was inside the body of Magu, the structure was incredibly similar. However, since the interior of the cave was larger, it was more complex, standing at the entrance, looking forward, was like seeing countless overlapping "ē±³" shaped paths.
If not for the guidance of the orange-yellow stone, Angel would surely get lost among the countless roads.
Under the stoneās guidance, Angel chose a path forward, encountering some earth-element creatures along the way. These creatures seemed to have been informed of a guestās arrival, and they did not obstruct Angel, only curiously observed him from a distance, not coming closer.
Only the slightly bewildered earth-element sprites would actively approach Angel.
For example, right in front of Angel was a half-meter-wide mud elemental spirit, it slowly approached Angel, eventually stopping right in front of his feet. If Angel wasnāt careful and stepped on it, he would sink into the mud, splashing himself with muddy water.
Such pranks were exactly the mud elemental spiritās intention.
Or rather, almost sixty percent of elemental sprites, without Spirit Intelligence, would play similar pranks. After all, if not mischievous, can they still be called mischievous children?
If it were a covert exploration, Angel might have lightly chastised the mischievous children intent on playing a prank on him, but with so many earth-element creatures watching from a distance and possibly the eyes of the sage nearby, Angel decided not to reprimand the mud elemental spirit and swiftly stepped over it, pretending not to see.
After walking for about twenty minutes, the orange-yellow stone led them to a place resembling a stone temple.
The stone doors were of a split opening type and currently open, allowing a clear view of the spacious interior.
Entering through the stone doors, many pillars supported the bluish-gray stone ceiling. On the stone walls on both sides, some patterns made of pieced-together broken diamonds and black-and-white gemstones. These patterns seemed to serve no special purpose, appearing to be purely decorative, creating a solemn and sacred atmosphere, making the entire interior more religious in feel, as if it really were a stone temple.
When Angel reached the forefront of the great hall, the orange-yellow stone stopped rolling.
At the same time, a gemstone person made entirely of yellow crystal emerged from the ground.
The overall structure of the gemstone person was similar to the stone men outside, the only difference was its eyes were deeper.
This yellow crystal gemstone person was the sage of the wild stone wasteland, Posia.
However, at this moment, Angel did not pay too much attention to the sage, instead casting an astonished glance beyond the sage, to the deepest part of the stone templeās great hall.
There, a circular wall was painted with an extremely exquisite portrait. The portrait depicted a massive gemstone tortoise seemingly capable of holding up the heavens and earth, its shell embedded with various gemstone crystals, thus naming it.
The reason Angel paid attention to this painting was that its creator was Feng, and he had also seen a miniature of this gemstone tortoise on the Tidal World map.
This should be the full-body portrait Feng had made for the former Monarch of the wild stone wasteland.
"Are you the human named Pat, as mentioned by The Patroller? Are you interested in the portrait of Gemstone Lavel?" Sage Posia looked at Angel with undisguised curiosity.
Angel nodded: "Yes, I am very interested because the creator of this painting is Mr. Feng. One of my intentions in arriving at the Tidal World is to search for traces left by Mr. Feng."
Angelās brief statement revealed a lot of information, causing a flicker of dark light in the sage Posiaās eyes.
Just as Posia was contemplating how to inquire further, Angel spoke, "May I step forward to examine the painting?"
Posia: "You may."
Angel expressed gratitude and gave Posia a half-bow before slowly stepping toward the mural of the gemstone tortoise.
Looking closely, from the strokes and style, Angel was even more certain that the gemstone tortoise mural must indeed be Fengās handiwork.
The question was, did this painting hide any secrets? His purpose in examining it closely was exactly this. The patterns on the Spark Hymn contained a passage to the outside world; did this painting contain a similar hidden space?
Angel scanned it with his eyes and spiritual power and finally personally touched the mural. He carefully explored every detail to avoid missing anything.
Yet, he gained nothing.
It was simply a mural, with no concealment within.
Angel sighed, gave up on a third exploration, and turned to Posia with a slightly embarrassed expression: "Mr. Feng is known as the Magic Painter Wizard in the outside world, and his artworks are pursued by many wizards willing to spend a fortune. I am also an art enthusiast, so I might have been slightly overexcited just nowā¦"
Posiaās eyes flickered briefly: "No harm."
Angel returned to Posiaās presence, adjusted his demeanor, and returned to the main topic: "Mr. Posia, my visit to the wild stone wasteland is to request an audience with Lord The Charny of Fallen Soil, as I have something to present to His Highness."
Posia looked deeply at Angel and did not immediately respond to Angelās request, but instead brought up another topic: "You have the Earth Mark of the little Yinba on you, you must have met them? How are the little Yinba and big Yinba doing now?"
Angel was taken aback for a moment and then subconsciously nodded: "Mr. Posia knows the Yinba brothers?"
"I was the mentor of those two brothers." Posia smiled: "Can you tell me about their recent situation? Iāve heard that the big Yinba has recently taken a liking to a Ghostfire Butterfly?"
"When I saw them, they were doing well. The little Yinba was studying hard, and the big Yinba still loved carving and was very protective of the Ghostfire Butterflyā¦" Angel said awkwardly, really not knowing what more to say, as he glanced at the severed hand hanging at the Blood Night Shelter: "Maybe Dangross should talk about it, it knows more about the Yinba brothersā lives than I do."
After Angel spoke, he used the Hand of Magic to hold Dangross in his palm.
Posia smiled and turned to look at Dangross. It had met Dangross a year ago, so it was not unfamiliar with it.
Dangross was not shy either, sitting on the Hand of Magic, it vividly recounted the study and life of the Yinba brothers over the past year.
Posia occasionally nodded, and its eyes glistened with love, showing that it really cared about the Yinba brothers.
After the conversation about the Yinba brothers ended, Posia then turned its attention to Angel: "The little Yinba is willing to give you the Earth Mark, which means it acknowledges Mr. Pat as a friend of our Wild Stone Wasteland. As for your previous request to meet His Highness of the Fallen Soil, I have already told His Highnessā¦"
When was that mentioned? A look of confusion crossed Angelās face.
"While I was inquiring about the Yinba brothersā recent situation." Posia seemed to read Angelās thoughts and responded: "His Highness is currently preoccupied and cannot come over because he gained significant insights from the recent Worldās Harmony and is still training underground."
"However, he sent this."
With a wave of Posiaās hand, a pure green crystal floated out from underground. Posia gently tapped the green crystal, from which a grand and heavy aura slowly emanated, gradually forming a projection beside Posia.
The projection showed a giant of yellow earth, crowned with a wreath of various colored gems.
This giant was none other than the current Monarch of the Wild Stone Wasteland, The Charny of Fallen Soil.
Although the projection made The Charny of Fallen Soil appear not very tall, this was due to miniaturization adjustments in the projection. According to Magu, its true body could reach hundreds of meters, a genuine elemental giant with formidable strength.
Speaking of strength, Magu highly praised The Charny of Fallen Soil, but when it came to the true form of The Charny of Fallen Soil, Maguās expression turned somewhat peculiar. According to Magu, the true form of The Charny of Fallen Soil is relatively benevolent, but it has a very strange quirk.
"Mr. Pat, I have already interacted deeply with Posia, welcome to the Wild Stone Wasteland." A rumbling buzzing sound came from The Charny of Fallen Soilās mouth.
As soon as the words fell, Posia glared at The Charny of Fallen Soil, then explained with a smile: "His Highness means that it has already talked to me about your matters, understands your intentions, and simultaneously welcomes you to the Wild Stone Wasteland."
Angel smiled on the surface and nodded: "I understand."
But inside, he was at a loss for words. He recalled Maguās description of The Charny of Fallen Soil: "Perhaps too simple-minded when it was an elf and was provoked, so once its spirit intelligence developed, it dreamed of becoming a sage, with its speech becoming overly rhetorical, although its word choice would be slightly inappropriate."
This is the quirk of The Charny of Fallen Soil.
Earlier, Angel couldnāt understand exactly what inappropriate word choice meant, but upon their first meeting, he immediately understood.
Deep interaction? Visit? Is that how itās used? This is even more scatterbrained than Dangross!
While Angel silently mocked in his heart, The Charny of Fallen Soil continued: "I heard you have delicacies to hand over to me, why not submit them nowā¦"
Posia "ahem"-ed twice, interrupting The Charny of Fallen Soil: "Your Highness, your cultivation is tiring, conveying voice must consume more energy. Let me continue talking then."
The Charny of Fallen Soil originally wanted to express that it wasnāt tired, but Posia gave it a sharp glare, which made it shiver, compelling it to shut up obediently.
"Mr. Pat, now that His Highness is here, if you have anything to say, donāt hesitate to speak up."
At this moment, Angel didnāt want to continue the conversation with The Charny of Fallen Soil, so he nodded to Posia: "I came here this time becauseā¦"
Angel briefly recounted his background, as well as his intention to pursue Feng.
After explaining the general situation, Angel took out the Dramatic Projection Box Trilogy and handed it to Posia.
Posia directly opened the first part of the Dramatic Projection Box, "Humans and Civilization," and watched this new illusionary experience along with The Charny of Fallen Soil.
After watching the first part, Posia didnāt express any opinion, but frowned, and then opened the second part, "The World of Wizards."
After the second part ended, Posia still kept silent. The Charny of Fallen Soil wanted to speak, but a glare from Posia left it speechless as well.
By the third part, "The Future Possibilities of the Tidal World," Posia saw Angelās conversations with Magu and the Flame Midir, and immediately a solemn look flashed in its eyes. As the oldest sage in the Tidal World, what Magu says is considered a truth to other sages.
After watching the trilogy, three hours had already passed.
It was only after being silent for a long time that Posia spoke: "The content within the Shadow Box is too shocking; I canāt possibly give the perfect feedback immediately. I need time to contemplate."
Angel: "I wonāt be leaving the Tidal World in the short term. If you gain anything, you can send a message to Mr. Magu."
Posia nodded, as the content of the Shadow Box concerning the future changes in the Tidal World needed deep consideration, even though Magu said it personally.
"Setting aside the content of the Shadow Box, may I ask, Mr. Posia, if there is any information about Mr. Feng?"
Given the content of the Shadow Box, along with Maguās attitude towards Angel, Posia could see that Angel did not harbor overly greedy intentions towards elemental creatures.
So it was willing to address Angelās queries.
Posia pondered for a moment: "Regarding the Savior, I donāt know muchā¦"
Posia patiently recounted the information it knew about Fengās deeds.