Chapter 494: The Sculptor Guild
Chapter 494: The Sculptor Guild
"Hi there, gentlemen!"
"The art parade will be passing through here tomorrow, so we're working through the night to repair the stone statues."
"This place might be a bit dangerous, so it's best if you stay away!"
Suddenly, several individuals wearing orange robes darted out from the side.
They appeared to be in their twenties or thirty years old, all Awakened individuals imbued with Primordial Essence.
When they blocked Lindsey and Alarson, their tone remained friendly, merely intending to lead the two away from the square.
—Are they from the Art Association?
Several hours passed, and the management of Thousand Sails City began to restore order.
So they started maintaining the site, preventing others from coming into contact with the Illusory Dream and causing further dangerous consequences.
Lindsey tentatively asked:
"Are you from the Art Association, here to maintain the site?"
Upon hearing this, the orange-robed artists realized that Lindsey was an informant of this incident.
However, their response differed from Lindsey's speculation.
"Sir, we are from the Sculptor Guild."
"The Art Association is working hard to stabilize Thousand Sails City and the normal functioning of the entire world. For places like the Illusory Dream, we, as a civilian organization, can only temporarily help with its upkeep."
Another person spoke to Lindsey:
"Sir, since you are aware, I'll be straightforward."
"This place is extremely dangerous, and for your own safety and the city's security, please leave as soon as possible."
Lindsey directly stated his intention:
"A very important person to me has been pulled into this Illusory Dream, and I plan to enter and rescue her."
The orange-robed individuals immediately tried to dissuade him:
"Sir, the passage to the Illusory Dream has been sealed."
"And we don't know what dangers might arise, so it's best if you..."
Lindsey interrupted their advice:
"If you're maintaining order in the city, then you should know that another Illusory Dream in the Blue Zone has been opened, and those trapped within have safely exited."
"I was the one who did that."
"..."
The two orange-robed individuals looked at each other with newfound respect.
Their tone and expressions became complex, and they began to whisper:
"Entering the Illusory Dream?"
"I heard that this Illusory Dream is extremely dangerous. Go inform Master Rubens; this is a great opportunity to rescue people and enhance our guild's reputation. We must not miss this chance!"
The orange-robed individuals finished their discussion.
Several of them immediately left to inform their companions in other locations.
Those who remained spoke to Lindsey:
"Sir, since you intend to rescue your companion, we have no reason to stop you."
"But this Illusory Dream has been sealed. How do you plan to open its passage?"
Lindsey glanced at Alarson:
"We will use the skill of the Impression Gateway and the corresponding artifact."
As Lindsey explained, he led Alarson to the base of the statue.
This time, no one stopped them. At the base of the statue, they saw a blue light flickering on the ancient, yellowed street, a light that was the source of the Illusory Radiance that enveloped the city.
"Phew—"
"Then I shall begin."
Alarson took a deep breath and then opened his robe, pulling out a paintbrush from an inner pocket.
"Lindsey, let me confirm once more."
"Since that world is a complete reflection of reality, I just need to paint the scenery of the streets, right?"
Lindsey handed over the Black Cloud Mask:
"This is the coordinate."
Alarson took the mask and, with his Primordial Essence, began to paint the streets with vibrant colors, using the statue's base as his canvas.
With each stroke, Essence vibrations manifested on the brush and the ground.
Following the painter's nimble guidance, the lines were drawn.
The square, the statue, the surrounding buildings, and even the cracks between the cobblestones on the road were all captured.
Alarson's dancing brush took flight, transforming into a key that traversed between reality and illusion.
As he painted, a touch of blackness was drawn out from the surface of the Black Cloud Mask.
This hue was treated as paint.
It was laid as the foundation of the entire painting, becoming the color scheme of Alarson's work.
"..."
"No problem, it's done."
After a quarter of an hour, Alarson returned the Black Cloud Mask to Lindsey.
The moment he released the mask, he heaved a sigh of relief, leaning back and sitting down on the ground.
The one-armed painter smiled bitterly, saying,
"Lindsey, this mask of yours is truly extraordinary."
"When I summoned its essence, it felt like I was being watched by some colossal being, and my hand holding the brush was trembling."
Lindsey patted Alarson's shoulder,
"There's no choice. This thing was left behind by a fallen artist from Black Tide Island."
"You rest here, and I'll handle the rest on my own..."
Lindsey didn't want to involve Alarson in the dangerous Illusory Dream.
But the one-armed painter shook his head,
"I don't have a habit of leaving things unfinished. Since I've boarded your pirate ship, I'll see this through to the end."
"This Illusory Dream is extremely dangerous!"
"For those outside of Thousand Sails City, there are rarely opportunities to enter the Illusory Dream; and for an artist, rare scenes are also worthwhile goals worth risking for."
},
{
"I've been traveling alone in various worlds for a long time, and I've never had a reason to back down at a time like this!"
},
{
"Alarson, the favor from Mermaid Island ends here."
},
{
"But Lindsey, aren't we friends who have ventured into danger together?"
},
{
"He chose to embark on this adventure with me."
},
{
"The kind where you gamble your life."
},
{
"For a moment, Lindsey remained silent, feeling that he couldn't express his thoughts with words."
},
{
"So, he promptly took out some food from his bag, 'Let's eat these.'"
},
{
"Once you're feeling better, we'll head down immediately."
},
{
"The food, with its enticing aroma, was a feast for the senses."
},
{
"Alarson's expression was complex. He swallowed, hesitated, and then accepted Lindsey's suggestion, 'Is eating really okay at a time like this?'"
},
{
"Lindsey, I heard a Life Scholar from Volcano City say that eating before intense physical activity can easily lead to indigestion and even cause severe pain in the small intestine... Huh? Yeah! This..."
},
{
"Alarson's attitude changed completely after taking a bite of the food.
He was completely won over by the deliciousness of Lindsey's food.
And when he felt the permanent enhancement to his physique, his expression became even more solemn:
"Lindsey, where did you get this food?"
Alarson noticed the Orange-Robed Awakener nearby.
"Forget it. In any case, this kind of food shouldn't be given to outsiders. It might put you in danger."
Lindsey smiled and extended his hand to Alarson,
"But I think this is something good to share with friends."
"..."
The one-armed painter looked at Lindsey seriously.
At this moment, words were unnecessary between the two men.
He smiled slightly, extended his lone arm, and grasped Lindsey's hand, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet.
Without further delay, the two of them, under the watchful eye of the Orange-Robed Awakener, stepped into the entrance of the Illusory Dream.
(End of Chapter)
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