# 896
Chapter 897: Merlin's Forbidden Spell Codex
After drawing thirty-six times in a row, Lin Qiye still hadn't obtained that ability.
As one time-reversal magic array after another was deployed, the hair on Merlin's head fell like snow, his expression bitter beyond words.
After another time reversal, Lin Qiye looked at the stiff-bodied Merlin and couldn't help but ask: "Lord Merlin... are you alright? If it's too much, I can switch to drawing a different ability?"
Merlin's mouth twitched slightly. He gritted his teeth and pretended to be calm as he said:
"No need to switch. It's just a minor hardship... Keep drawing."
"...Alright."
Lin Qiye adjusted his breathing, closed his eyes, and once again spun the roulette wheel.
As the pointer swept across each ability region, Merlin's heart clenched tight, the longing in his eyes almost overflowing.
Finally, under his fixed stare, the pointer slowly stopped on a certain region.
Merlin's eyes lit up, relieved.
Lin Qiye opened his eyes and saw the region where the pointer had stopped; a gleam of joy also appeared in his eyes.
He got it.
The main body of the roulette gradually dissipated, leaving only that ability region transforming into a black light that surged into Lin Qiye's body. A moment later, a line of small text appeared before him:
"Merlin's Forbidden Spell Codex:
The forbidden book of Merlin, the God of Magic and Prophecy, containing a vast collection of forbidden magics unknown to the world, including the 'Chapter of Killing' with its super-magic level mass destructive power, the 'Chapter of Obscure Arts' with its strange and niche applications, and the 'Chapter of Sealing' documenting seal magics across all elemental systems."
Seeing these words, a flood of information automatically seared itself into Lin Qiye's mind. His brow furrowed slightly as he stood dazed in place for quite some time before fully digesting it all.
Feeling the forbidden spell knowledge now residing in his brain, Lin Qiye let out a long breath.
"Success?" Merlin asked.
"Yeah."
Satisfaction spread across Merlin's face. He opened his mouth to remind him: "The forbidden spells in this codex are different from other magics. They can't be cast at will, especially given that your spiritual realm isn't high. If you forcefully activate most of these forbidden spells now, you might be drained dry in an instant.
From the small portion you can still use, most require advance preparation of magic circles, even offerings to substitute for magical materials, plus extensive incantations, before you can barely activate them... Of course, the power and effects of these forbidden spells far exceed those of conventional magic."
Lin Qiye pondered thoughtfully. "In other words, most of these forbidden spells are only suitable for prepared positional warfare?"
"That's right." Approval flickered in Merlin's eyes. "Of course, once your own strength is sufficient, you can also cast them instantaneously without preparing magic circles or incanting."
Lin Qiye nodded.
He withdrew his consciousness from the Asylum of the Gods and slowly opened his eyes. Glancing at the pitch-black giant beast esophagus overhead, he couldn't help but ask: "Lord Merlin, what exactly is this giant beast?"
"It?" Merlin paused. "It's called Kagekujira, a legendary sea beast of the Japanese pantheon. Though massive in size, it actually has no attack power."
"Japanese pantheon?" Lin Qiye said in surprise. "I thought it was a Cthulhu Faction creature."
Merlin shook his head, pointing upward. Through the beast's stomach and the seawater, a bright moon hung in the night sky.
"The Cthulhu Faction... is all there."
Seeing that Merlin truly seemed to know everything, Lin Qiye could hardly contain himself. He opened his mouth to ask, but Merlin on the opposite side calmly closed his eyes and began resting them.
"Lord Merlin?"
"Some things, when the time comes, you'll naturally know," Merlin said slowly. "Knowing too much now isn't a good thing for you."
Seeing Merlin reluctant to say more, Lin Qiye shrugged and could only sit down where he was.
His spiritual sense spread outward, passing through the beast's stomach, perceiving the ocean currents outside. The deep sea was a chaotic darkness, with no idea what direction they were heading...
Just then, Lin Qiye suddenly thought of a problem.
In the timeline he had witnessed, Wang Mian had traveled upstream against the river of time, breaking the closed loop, and also fell into the deep sea currents, disappearing without a trace.
So where was Wang Mian now?
...
Japan.
Human Enclosure.
Turbulent seawater crashed against the pitch-black cliffs, spraying large patches of snow-white waves.
Beneath the azure blue sky, a young woman in a black kimono with sakura patterns sat quietly at the very edge of the coastal cliff, propping her head and gazing at the endless sea, lost in thought.
The sea breeze brushed across her cheek, lifting a strand of hair at her temple. The light pink sakura hairpin caught the sunlight, emitting a faint halo.
At her waist hung a paper-folded long blade.
While she was daydreaming, several men in black kimonos walked behind her, bowing respectfully and speaking softly:
"Family Head, it's about time. We should head back."
"...Wait a moment longer." The young woman said calmly.
The men exchanged glances, all seeing the helplessness and difficulty in each other's eyes.
Just then, a man slowly walked out from behind them, wearing the same black kimono with sakura patterns, but with only half as many sakura flowers as the young woman. He patted their shoulders and signaled them to withdraw.
The men bowed slightly and turned to leave.
Takamatsuki Takuya stood behind the young woman, his kimono fluttering gently in the breeze. He sighed:
"Family Head, that person won't be coming back... He never belonged here in the first place."
"I know." Yuzuri Nana gazed at the distant horizon, murmuring to herself. "But what if?"
Takamatsuki Takuya smiled helplessly. "I understand your feelings, but we come to wait here every other day—isn't that too frequent? People outside are saying that this stretch of coastline has been monopolized by the Takamatsuki family..."
"Let them talk."
Yuzuri Nana sat cross-legged at the very edge of the cliff, slowly closing her eyes in the sea wind and crashing waves.
This was the place where she had first encountered Lin Qiye and pulled him from the sea. It was also where the miracle that changed her fate began.
Although Lin Qiye had left, she still regularly came here, waiting foolishly for her miracle to return... She was the brilliant Family Head of the Takamatsuki clan, yet on this matter, she was stubborn like a fool.
After quite some time, Yuzuri Nana's eyes had grown tired. She sighed, slowly standing up from the cliff, preparing to leave.
Just then, her peripheral vision caught something, and she froze. She turned her head to look.
Between the churning waves, a figure with silver-white hair and wearing a mask was being carried in the seawater like a stone statue, washing ashore onto the nearby beach.