When Luo Wei's consciousness returned once more, he found himself in a rather peculiar perspective.
He was now situated on a massive table, surrounded by equally enormous books, magical artifacts, and instruments. As he looked up at these objects, it felt as though he had entered the realm of giants.
No, it wasn't that these things had grown larger—it was that he had become smaller.
Not only had Luo Wei shrunk, but he no longer had a physical body.
At the moment, his pale blue ethereal form was sealed within a glass jar, displayed prominently on Tilis's desk, much like a figurine.
It seemed that Tilis's soul extraction spell had finally succeeded, and he had been transformed into a spiritual entity.
His emotions were mixed—should he consider himself lucky or unlucky...?
While he was pondering these thoughts, a pair of enormous purple eyes appeared outside the glass jar, staring intently at him.
Luo Wei was nearly scared out of his wits.
Though Tilis's face remained as beautiful as ever, when it filled the entire sky, Luo Wei finally understood what it meant to have a fear of gigantic objects...
Tilis observed Luo Wei inside the jar, struggling to suppress a smile.
"What's with the fright?"
"Why don't you try stepping inside and see for yourself?" Luo Wei grumbled.
Tilis chuckled and lifted the glass jar, causing the entire world to shake violently.
"Dear, how does it feel? This is your first day as a being of another life form."
Luo Wei floated around inside the jar, testing out his "limbs."
"To be honest, it's not great..."
Luo Wei looked up at her and sighed. "I feel... off. It's hard to describe."
Without a physical body or nerves to provide feedback, sensations like touch and smell had completely vanished.
Luo Wei felt utterly empty, devoid of even the simplest worldly desires...
Tilis chuckled and opened the jar, allowing Luo Wei's form to float out.
"Just bear with it for a few more days," she said. "Once we reach the new world, I'll recreate a physical body for you."
"Can't you do it now?" Luo Wei floated around for a moment before landing—or rather, coming to rest on the table.
The state of being a spiritual entity was quite mystical. Luo Wei had to concentrate his thoughts fiercely to avoid passing through the table.
"No can do!" Tilis shook her head with a smile. "I'm keeping you by my side."
The memory of Luo Wei's desperate resistance was still fresh. Until they reached the new world, Tilis would not give him any chance to escape.
"Why am I so tiny, then?"
Luo Wei looked up at her, feeling quite strange about this perspective.
"That's because your spiritual form is in a condensed state. If you want to grow bigger, you can, but you might end up floating into the sky or sinking into the depths of the earth."
Tilis leaned over the table, finding the miniature Luo Wei quite adorable.
"Really?" Luo Wei, hearing this, immediately wanted to give it a try.
He concentrated on his form, attempting to restore his normal size.
Sure enough, Luo Wei's pale blue ethereal form grew slightly larger, though its color became increasingly faint.
"Uh-oh, I feel so light, like I'm about to float uncontrollably..."
"Don't mess around!" Tilis gently clasped Luo Wei's form and placed him back on the table.
She gave him a reproachful look.
"If your spiritual form can't maintain its shape, it might truly dissipate into the air. I nearly ended up like that myself."
"After a long time of practice, I finally mastered controlling my body. You shouldn't be experimenting with this."
Luo Wei sat despondently on the table.
"Ha, I bet you just don't want me to escape," he said.
"Are you angry?" Tilis stared at Luo Wei, then curiously poked him with a finger.
Luo Wei was knocked over by the massive digit...
"What are you doing?"
"Hey! Are you seriously just playing around with me?"
Tilis joyfully manipulated his form, her eyes alight with excitement.
This Luo Wei was so cute, even when angry!
Like a little elf, even his scowls were adorable!
Luo Wei finally understood the bizarre, surreal feeling. It was as though he were a lab rat or some kind of pet...
When you were sufficiently tiny, even the act of getting angry seemed endearing...
Luo Wei gazed blankly at the menacing large hand, indifferent to any further pokes.
Tilis finally stopped her antics.
"Had enough?" Luo Wei asked flatly.
"Yes... well, sort of," she said, though she hadn't quite had her fill. "It seems like you really are upset."
"If you've had enough, just hurry up," Luo Wei said, looking at her with exasperation. "Open the door already! Do you really have no better things to do than mess with me?"
He was still waiting to roll back his progress.
"Oh, right..." Tilis nodded, feeling a bit guilty.
It was just that the spiritual Luo Wei was far too adorable; she almost forgot about the main task at hand...
At that moment, she couldn't help glancing at the entrance.
The vibrations outside were growing stronger. The head of the organization was about to break in. She really needed to hurry.
And so, Tilis carefully placed Luo Wei back inside the glass jar and sealed it tightly.
Then she gently lifted the jar, cradling it close to her chest, treating it as a priceless treasure.
Tilis slowly made her way to the center of the laboratory, where she had once witnessed her mentor open the door.
Luo Wei watched her withdraw a key from her pocket.
This key had been found in Luo Wei's clothes earlier, a gift she had given him.
Luo Wei still remembered its appearance—ancient, worn, indistinguishable from a warehouse key.
Yet it was this very object that could open the door.
At her feet, Tilis had already prepared a ritual circle. In its center was a box containing the preserved flesh of the Sea God, long held in cold storage.
"To reach Him, one must offer something in return," she explained. "Such a sacrifice as this will surely please the great being..."
"Then, we must whisper His name and imagine using this key to open a door that shouldn't exist..."
Luo Wei intently watched Tilis's movements as she inserted the key into the air before her, much like an absurdist play without props.
This scene deepened his growing curiosity.
There was a question, an important one, that nagged at him.
Who had taught her this seemingly simple yet highly specific ritual for opening the door?
It must have been Usoma, but who had told Usoma?