Chapter 352

Kaylan had no qualms about confessing all this to Phoebe, not just because he despised lying, but because of his overwhelming strength. If Phoebe harbored any ill intentions, or if she meant him harm, he would be able to sense it immediately. Given the power gap between them, he had no reason to be wary. His escape from this prison-like city was another reason he chose to trust her. Of course, the fact that she was the key to his escape was another significant factor.

Phoebe asked, “Can you tell me why you’re bound to this city? If I know the reason, I can come up with a way to help you!”

Raylan sighed and replied, “Since you’ve already uncovered so much, there’s no reason to hide it. Over 800 years ago, an invading force threatened to annihilate this city. I was born here, and I had just returned from a journey when I learned of the attack.

“Using my mystical abilities, I wiped out the invaders, but in the process, my identity as a horoscope muster was exposed. They hired a shaman to deal with me. At that time, I was only 26 and had set out to enter the Ascendance Realm.

“The shaman, however, was already in the Ascendance Realm, so when we fought, I used forbidden techniques from my lineage to temporarily elevate my power to his level.

“I sacrificed myself to protect this city, intending to perish with him—but I survived, albeit with a fragment of life left. I fell into a deep slumber, and when I awoke, it was 300 years later.

“My age, appearance, and bodily functions remained frozen at 26. I had become immortal, forever locked in that age. My power reached the Ascendance Realm, but I soon realized that I could never leave this city.

“These past centuries, I’ve pushed my strength to the edge of Ascendance Realm Perfection, just so I can move within a thousand-mile radius of this city.”

Phoebe nodded slowly. “I see. The reason your body didn’t die and you became immortal is certainly tied to Oriar.”

“Once I figure out a solution, I’ll let you know. Or perhaps, if I unlock the secrets of the emerald clasp and uncover the so-called opportunity, I’ll keep an eye out to see if it holds anything that could help you.”

She had already devised a way to help Raylan. All she needed to do was teach him a technique she knew, allowing him to harness the power of Oriar. This wouldn’t harm the people inside or outside the city, but she couldn’t tell him. After all, someone who hadn’t even reached the Ascendance Realm shouldn’t have knowledge of such a technique. She needed to keep her guard up—if she revealed her hand too early, he might start thinking differently. She had to wait for the right moment, perhaps after unlocking the map within the emerald clasp. Then, she could explain that the technique had been discovered through that journey.

Raylan couldn’t shake the feeling that Phoebe was hiding something. Still, he didn’t believe that someone of her age and apparent power could know how to break his chains. He met her gaze, saying, “Alright, I’ll wait patiently for your good news. If you can help me escape this city, I owe you a great favor.”

Living within Oriar for so many years had taken its toll on him. After learning to use electronic devices, he’d seen how much the world outside had changed over the past century. He longed to step out to see the world for himself. And more than that, he felt a deep sense of urgency—if he was to reach Ascendance Realm Perfection, he would need to break free of his confines and find the right opportunity.

Phoebe smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.” Helping Raylan escape Oriar meant she would collect on that favor, and she was determined to do so. After a moment of thought, she added, “I have a question for you.”

Raylan gave a small nod. “Go ahead.”

Phoebe asked, “If you’ve been alive for over 800 years, is it true that my grandmaster was really your teacher?”

Her grandmaster wasn’t an immortal, and someone who lived that long could only do so by siphoning others’ life force.

Raylan chuckled. “No, my master passed away long ago. Your grandmaster was from our sect, but he was actually my former disciple. I called him my master as an excuse to get closer to you.”

Phoebe raised an eyebrow. “Then how old was he?”

Raylan shook his head. “I can’t tell you that.”

Phoebe pressed. “Then what about his connection to Sienna?”

Raylan frowned and shook his head again. “I can’t talk about your grandmasters. They were from my sect, and revealing their secrets would bring me great consequences. You have your own fate to unravel. If you want to break free from it, you’ll need to find the answers yourself. That’s one thing I can’t help with.”

Though he was willing to help her with many things, this particular matter was beyond him. Phoebe was a strange soul, someone who clearly didn’t belong in this world. If he told her too much, it would be like revealing the greatest of secrets, and he would pay the price.

Phoebe considered his words, then asked, “What about my grandmaster’s age? That doesn’t seem like a secret, right? After all, I’m his only direct disciple. That must make me part of your sect, in a way.”

Kaylan sighed. “You never formally joined our sect or underwent the initiation ceremony, so you aren’t exactly part of us. But as for your grandmaster, I can tell you that when he passed, he was nearly 300 years old.

“He’d already entered the Ascendance Realm before he was injured. His fall in power led to his shortened lifespan, and he used a forbidden technique to alter your fate. That’s what consumed the last years of his life!”

Phoebe was struck by the revelation. She had always known there was something extraordinary about her grandmaster.