I Ascend to the Divine Throne through Arcane Means
Chapter 936 - 565 Seven Days of Endless Cycle_2

"Hmm..."

Taya obediently nodded, wrapping herself tightly in the blanket, lying on her side on the bed.

However, the girl didn't continue to sleep; instead, she kept her bright eyes on Lis, unwilling to look away.

Opening the window, Lis felt the cool evening breeze, clearing his mind even further.

Why is the illusion changing like this tonight?

Lis had already confirmed the time; it was just past midnight.

This means that the time when this illusion modifies memories might very well be at midnight.

But clearly, last night, when Lis and Taya stayed at the Jingye Inn in the city, nothing unusual happened. Why did things go wrong tonight?

Lis gently tapped the table in front of him with his right hand, quickly thinking.

Earlier, he already felt something else was amiss with this illusion, and it seemed the problem lay here.

This illusion modifies the memories of outsiders who enter the small town of Ihelos, making them have fabricated memories like Lis, wishing to live here forever.

No wonder this small town has never been noticed as different by outsiders, nor clearly marked on the desert map.

Most people passing by this small town would turn away because of the high entry tax, choosing to leave.

And people like Lis, who paid the entry tax to enter the small town, would face the risk of having their memories altered by the illusion.

This is a deadly trap for ordinary people. Once they choose to enter the small town, there's hardly any way to resist.

Even extraordinary professionals, as powerful as Lis to resist the illusion, wouldn't stay long in this ordinary small town.

Lis didn't know how long the interval was for the illusion to massively alter the memories of outsiders, but it certainly wasn't short.

In that case, the secret of this small town would basically remain undiscovered by outsiders.

Lis sighed slightly, now very curious about the purpose of the Legendary Mage Ihelos.

If it's just for his lover, the girl Jue, is it really necessary to maintain such a large-scale illusion?

And also to meticulously arrange everything to protect the small town's secret from being disturbed by others?

Lis shook his head, unable to understand.

Perhaps understanding what happened in this small town could clarify the purpose of Ihelos?

Are there any other changes besides the modification of memories?

Lis examined his own memories, then suddenly paused.

Wait!

Waiting to attend the Gur Festival a week from now?

In his fabricated memories from the illusion, Lis clearly remembers being told by the town's residents that the Gur Festival is a week later?

What's going on?

Isn't today supposed to be the Gur Festival celebration?

Previously, Lis went to the town square and noticed the residents preparing enthusiastically for the Gur Festival.

He was certain that his memories weren't wrong.

So this time discrepancy, is it also a variation within the illusion?

So, the interval time for the illusion to modify outsiders' memories is a week?

From a week before the Gur Festival to the day before it?

The illusion endlessly revising everyone's memories during these seven days, making the small town's time permanently frozen in this week?

Lis recalled the introduction from the quest "Ihelos' Determination".

"Because of Ihelos' Determination, eternally stagnated in time."

Previously, Lis thought this referred to how all the residents in the town had turned into undead creatures, so the small town would see no further changes,

but now it seemed "eternally stagnated in time" might also refer to the perpetual cyclic changes in the town's time under the illusion's influence.

The Gur Festival will never come?

Tsk!

Lis speculated in his mind, feeling unsure.

Is there really something wrong with the Gur Festival?

What exactly happened during the Gur Festival?

What made the Legendary Mage Ihelos permanently freeze the small town's time, unable to move forward?

Does he not want the Gur Festival to arrive?

Or perhaps he doesn't want Jue to experience the Gur Festival?

Lis thought, then turned and instructed Taya:

"Ya'er, I'm going out for a bit, you stay in the room."

"No, I want to go with you."

Taya jumped out of the blanket and ran to Lis's side, holding onto his shoulder, shaking her head resolutely, unusually not listening to Lis.

"Alright."

Lis sensed Taya's determination, knowing the girl was worried about his safety, so he didn't say more.

It was better this way, especially as he didn't know if there would be any other anomalies tonight, it was best to have Taya by his side.

Then, Lis lifted Taya in a princess carry, leaping out of the window and casting a spell to fly through the air.

This was truly a "princess carry"!

Their clothing was quite light, but with their robust physique, the night breeze had little effect on them.

Flying in the night sky, Lis and Taya overlooked the small town below.

The entire small town seemed to be submerged in darkness, enveloped in silence, with not a single light in sight.

Lis didn't linger, heading towards the town square.

Before long, Lis and Taya arrived at the square.

Yesterday, Lis passed by here, and Taya and Jue also came here during the day while exploring.

Back then, preparations for the entire Gur Festival celebration were almost complete, including high platforms for the celebration, bonfires, and surrounding stalls all ready.

But now, in front of the two, all these celebration installations were being dismantled.

The ones dismantling were none other than the same residents who were busily preparing all this during the day, a dense crowd of heads as far as the eye could see.

Perhaps all the residents of the small town were here?

Lis even spotted Old Milo from the Golden Coconut Tavern in the crowd, seeming energetic as he carried a log thicker than himself towards the Golden Coconut Inn.

The residents now had pale faces, expressionless, and moved stiffly as they dismantled the items.

Compared to the lively and vibrant demeanor during the day, now they more closely resembled undead creatures.

Thud~

Thud~

Aside from the sound of lumber being dismantled and the occasional footsteps, the eerie quiet of the night made it even more unsettling.

This scene unfolding before Lis and Taya was like a horror movie, evoking deep unease and terror.

These residents should all be in an unconscious state, being manipulated by the illusion to come here and dismantle the Gur Festival preparations.

After all, the illusion can modify people's memories but can't directly impact real-world objects, so it manipulates the undead residents to alter everything.

To restore the town to a week before the Gur Festival.

As for the changes in materials, food, and other supplies, the illusion can completely modify memories to cover it up.

What grandiosity!

So this small town is endlessly repeating the seven days before the Gur Festival!

Lis sighed; while such a scene might be spine-chillingly bizarre to ordinary people, for Lis and Taya, it wasn't much.

Lis considered probing these undead residents, but upon reflection, he decided against it.

Given the current complications, causing any further abnormal changes would be unwise.

Lis thought to himself, looking around the square.

Jue is not here?

Did she just happen to leave with supplies, or did she never come here at all?

Lis suspected it might be the latter, as Jue is considered the most special existence in this illusion.

After leaving the square, Lis took Taya to the City Lord Mansion.

However, deploying a concealed array didn't trigger any change, so Lis had to leave and return to the inn.

As he looked at the sky turning slightly pale outside the window, Lis felt a headache.

If this illusion keeps repeating the seven days, then the Gur Festival will never arrive?

In this way, Lis won't be able to experience the Gur Festival, and naturally, he won't be able to learn the truth about it.

How can this time loop be broken?