Chapter 116: Treating the Water Servitor (Seeking Collection)

Chapter 116: Treating the Water Servitor (Seeking Collection)



The theft of Karl's possessions caused a stir within the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce, especially considering his esteemed position.

The Grand Elder of the Chamber, whose strength surpassed even Lara, the leader of the Chamber, was rumored to be the top fighter in Rapids City. A minor theft might be overlooked for others, but not for Karl; the patrol supervisor had to step in and take responsibility.

"Rest assured, Elder. I will arrange for increased patrols to ensure this doesn't happen again," the Chamber supervisor said solemnly.

"If anyone dares to steal again, catch them and kill them on the spot!"

"Mmm," Karl nodded, his expressionless face adding weight to his words.

"Be more careful from now on. Let this one go."

"Dismissed!" He waved his hand.

"Yes, sir!" The supervisor bowed and slowly retreated from the room.

The theft, of course, was a deliberate act by Karl.

'I wonder if Quincy can hold back. As a Grand Knight, he must yearn to become a legend,' Karl thought.

'Recently, I've been subtly revealing my enhanced strength, hinting at external assistance, and even hiding things in plain sight, creating opportunities for him to discover them by accident.'

'Since Quincy dared to steal, he might also attempt it, but to be safe, I need to select a few more targets.'

Karl pondered, taking a seat at the dining table.

Now that he had figured out how to communicate with the Divine Realm Fragment, he wanted to test it on someone.

Perhaps, he could even use this method to become a legend.

Quincy was one of his chosen targets, but Sea God Hawk and Conn would have been more suitable.

However, Hawk's steadiness and Conn's cautious nature made them less likely to trust a book about Demon Gods.

Especially Conn, with his knowledge of the occult and various deities, might see through the book's forgery.

As for Holy Knight Brown and Lara, they worshipped the Moon Goddess and had only recently attained Grand Knight status, respectively, making them unsuitable candidates.

Caviar was a delicacy among the upper class in Port of Freedom, often served with soft bread, delectable pastries, and a glass of Alluring Flounder Wine for a sophisticated breakfast.

"Elder," Belin said as she arranged the food, then bowed and retreated.

"It's our fault for not keeping a better eye on the house, allowing someone to steal from your study. Please punish us."

Belin was the cook and housekeeper of this estate, and one of the refugees who had escaped Black City to Port of Freedom.

She was employed by Aya.

"It's not your fault," Karl said, spreading caviar on a piece of bread and taking a bite.

"That Aya girl is very meticulous. This theft is just an accident. Don't worry about it."

"Just carry on as usual."

"Hmm..."

After a pause, Karl continued, "Speaking of Aya, it's been a while since I last saw her. What has she been busy with lately?"

"She's been occupied with city-building matters, and there's a lot on her plate these days," Belin replied, her tone calm and her expression natural, as if answering a routine question.

But Karl, a High Wizard Apprentice, could perceive more than just external appearances; he could sense the emotional turmoil beneath.

Panic!

Anxiety!

...

"Tap!"

Karl frowned and put down his bread.

"I don't appreciate being lied to. Out of respect for our past, I'll give you one more chance to answer truthfully."

"Where is Aya?"

His voice, though calm, carried an innate pressure from his Second Rank Abyssal Bloodline.

Terror Aura!

"Plop!"

Belin's face paled, and her knees buckled as she knelt on the floor, her eyes vacant and her mind blank with sheer terror.

"Elder..."

Her body trembled, and her voice rasped, "Aya... she... she has the Water Servitor!"

Karl's expression changed.

...

The door creaked open, revealing a pitch-black room with a massive wooden tub filled with water. Aya, her eyes lifeless, soaked in the tub, her long hair floating on the surface, unmoving even at the sound of the door.

She seemed devoid of life.

"Aya," Karl called out.

"Huh?" Aya's familiar voice caused her body to shudder, and she turned her stiff neck towards the approaching figure.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Uncle!"

"Mmm," Karl walked closer and gently stroked Aya's head.

Water Servitor!

And it was already in the middle to late stages.

This meant Aya had known about her condition for at least ten days but hadn't told him.

Could she be planning to leave quietly without a word?

"Uncle..." Aya lowered her head, her voice choked with emotion.

"I'm not afraid of death. It's just... the thought of never seeing you again, of not knowing everything, that's what scares me."

"It's okay, it's okay," Karl bent down and gently embraced her, whispering words of comfort.

"Don't cry..."

Aya sobbed uncontrollably.

She wasn't afraid of death, but she couldn't bear the thought of leaving everything behind.

Life was filled with so much beauty, but death meant losing it all.

Never seeing the people she knew, never hearing their voices again, and even her memories would fade away.

The anxiety she had suppressed since learning of her condition now poured out with her tears.

After a while, Karl took a book from his pocket, hesitated for a moment, and placed it beside Aya.

"Once you've calmed down, try the method in this book. Remember, don't tell anyone else."

Aya looked up, her hollow and lifeless eyes now gleaming with a hint of hope.

Prayer!

Ritual?

Having followed Karl around and learned various things, Aya naturally understood the implications.

Demon God!

For centuries, only the Demon God has responded to the prayers of its followers, making sacrifices and prayers forbidden practices.

'Uncle won't harm me. I already have Servitor of Water. Since I'm going to die anyway, I might as well give it a shot.'

'Even if the Demon God notices me, it's just death!'

With this mindset, Aya mustered her spirit and prepared herself.

Deprived of water, her body had become extremely shriveled, and her skin sagged soon after leaving the water bucket.

Step one: Prepare the offerings.

The more valuable the offerings, the easier it was to establish contact with the Deity, as if even the 'Gods' valued profit.

Aya prepared two things: her blood and ten Divine Realm Coins.

These were the simplest and most direct offerings mentioned in the books, and the blood of the supplicant was essential.

Step two: Purify the body and mind.

This step required a ritual to purify oneself, eliminating distractions and interferences, allowing the supplicant to be in the best state to welcome the Deity.

Bathing, changing clothes, burning incense, and reciting scriptures... all these methods served this purpose.

Step three: Perform the ritual.

Depending on one's faith, intricate patterns were drawn, the Deity's holy name was chanted, and prayers or dances were performed...

All these were done to attract the Deity's attention.

Step four: Wait for a response.

After the ritual, the believer had to wait for the Deity's response.

Some responded immediately, while others conveyed messages or granted blessings through dreams, hallucinations, or other means.

Or, they fulfilled the believer's wishes.

According to Aya's limited knowledge, the rituals for sacrifices and prayers were often complex, and some even required hundreds or thousands of people to prepare, all for a person of high status to sense the Deity.

The process was intricate, and each step had to be executed flawlessly.

However, the steps in the book Karl gave her were incredibly simple, almost casual.

The only requirement was sincerity.

"Sincerity?"

"Reverence?"

Aya's expression was conflicted:

"Can a person like me truly convey sincerity to the Deity?"

She didn't believe in the Gods and had often complained about them due to her difficult life. Now, seeking their help, would this temporary faith be answered?

Aya didn't hold much hope.

But her survival instinct made her genuinely crave the Gods' salvation, and in a way, this was sincere.

Putting aside her doubts, Aya carefully drew a complex pattern on the floor of the room, using a single continuous line, and placed the Divine Realm Coin and a drop of her blood at the two points of the Small Taiji.

With this, Aya clasped her hands together, knelt in the center of the pattern, and chanted:

"Source Essence Sovereign!"

"King of Many Forms!"

"Lord of Fear!"

"Emperor of Taiwei Jade!"

After chanting the Deity's holy name, Aya continued:

"Great Deity, your loyal believer seeks your blessing to heal the pain in my body."

Having said all this, Aya knelt in silence, surrounded by an eerie stillness, with not a sound to be heard.

Time passed.

Aya's legs grew so weak that she could barely stand.

Sigh! It seemed futile.

A sense of dejection washed over Aya, and she helplessly smiled, slowly opening her eyes and stopping her actions.

The next moment, a terrifying, vast, and boundless pressure emerged silently, and the extreme fear caused her body to stiffen.

Lord of Fear!

A response...?

Aya's eyes widened, her heart pounding furiously, as intense fear and delight surged within her.

...

Karl hadn't expected his first test subject to be Aya, who was always by his side, instead of Quincy, whom he had planned for a long time.

After leaving Aya's residence, he returned to the Divine Realm Fragment to wait.

Not long after, a familiar voice reached his 'heart' through the pattern engraved at the center of the Divine Realm Fragment.

"Source Essence Sovereign!"

"King of Many Forms!"

"Lord of Fear!"

"Emperor of Taiwei Jade!"

"Great Deity, your loyal believer seeks your blessing to heal the pain in my body."

The voice, hoarse from fatigue, was familiar yet tinged with strangeness.

Aya!

Karl's eyes flickered.

This was the first time he had heard someone else's voice in the Divine Realm Fragment.

Not just the voice!

As the voice sounded, a mist formed over the pattern, revealing Aya's kneeling figure.

The image flickered, and countless memory fragments flashed rapidly.

Her confused childhood, the desperate struggles of her youth to survive, the despair upon learning of her Servitor of Water...

And various figures, each with complex emotions.

Sadness, joy, longing...

Everything!

Aya's entire life, including her private moments, was laid bare before Karl's perception.

Could it be like this?

Karl's expression was conflicted.

He could sense Aya's special feelings for him.

And he had a sudden realization that he could now control the kneeling Aya at will.

Let her live! Let her die! Alter her memories, twist her emotions...

Of course, such actions would come at a cost, indicating that even the Gods couldn't act recklessly.

"Hmm?"

As he pondered, Aya's expression caught Karl's attention, and he sensed her inner terror.

If left unchecked, Aya's sanity would be completely shattered, leaving her a fool.

"Is Aya experiencing the Terror Aura here? How is my Terror Aura so powerful in this place?"

"Could it be that without the constraints of a physical body, the Fear Aura is manifesting its original power as a second-rank being?"

As this thought crossed his mind, the might of the Fear Aura contracted, and Aya's expression eased slightly.

After a moment, Karl spoke softly, "Interesting human."

"I'm willing to bestow a blessing upon you!"

...

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

"Interesting human."

The extreme panic caused Aya to lose focus, her consciousness blurred, until a distant voice echoed.

It seemed to come from the horizon, yet also by her ear, and even more so, within her heart.

Strangely,

This voice was oddly familiar, though she couldn't place it.

"I'm willing to bestow a blessing upon you!"

"Buzz!"

The panic subsided.

A warm and gentle force enveloped her body, seeping inside her.

Slap!

As if something was crushed and dispersed, Aya's mind trembled.

She looked down.

The blood and Divine Favor Coins on the ground had vanished, and the pattern had been erased by an unseen force.

Did the deity respond? Aya blinked, as if remembering something, then raised her hand to look at her arm.

Her skin, severely dehydrated, felt wrinkled and loose.

But,

"Not wet?" Aya stammered.

"No...no water?"

For someone with the Servitor of Water, the absence of water excretion meant something terrible, without a doubt.

"It's fine now!"

"I'm fine!"

"Thump!"

Aya's face lit up with joy, and she suddenly stood up, but her weakness caused her to fall directly to the ground. Instead of crying out in pain, she burst into laughter.

"Haha..."

"I don't have to die! I won't die!"

After a fit of laughter, she pushed herself up, opened the door, and ran outside.

With such good news, she naturally wanted to share it with the most important person in her life first.

"So..."

Karl had already returned from the Divine Realm Fragment and, upon seeing Aya, had arranged for some food to be sent over.

Watching Aya devour the food, he spoke softly, "Is your Servitor of Water cured?"

"Mhm." Aya's mouth was full of bread, her cheeks puffed, and she nodded vigorously, "Yes!"

"It's fine!"

"It seems it's effective." Karl sighed, "It's a pity we learned this method too late; otherwise, Little Nan wouldn't have died."

Aya paused, lowered her head, and slowed down, chewing slowly. The sweet, soft, and chewy bread lost its taste.

"Forget it."

Karl waved his hand, "Let bygones be bygones."

"But remember, don't ever try to contact that deity again. Not even once."

Aya looked up, a fleeting look of distraction in her eyes, then nodded, "Yes!"

Although the deity had cured her Servitor of Water, the stories of dark deities were deeply ingrained, and she still felt fear.

Moreover...

The deity's breath, which had almost taken her life, would surely not initiate contact again.

But what if the deity reached out to her?

In the various tales of dark deities, once contact was established, there was no escape.

"There's more."

Karl continued, "Don't tell others about this. If you need to, find an excuse to deflect the question."

"This..." Aya thought for a moment, "Yes!"

"That's right!"

"If people find out that my Servitor of Water can be cured, there will surely be countless troubles ahead."

Karl nodded.

He rubbed his forehead, his face showing fatigue.

'Through the Divine Realm Fragment, receiving messages from people in the other world is so mentally exhausting.'

'Just Aya alone is already pushes me to my limits. What if there were more people...'

'I might have to change the method of contact!'

When Aya's prayer was answered, her entire life's experiences were directly implanted into Karl's mind.

Regarding his understanding of Aya, Karl now knew her better than she knew herself.

Although the body's instincts blocked out many memory fragments, it still left him feeling dizzy and confused.

Divine Realm Rules: Deities can control everything about their believers, not just their lives, but also their memories and souls.

Secondly,

One can use the Divine Realm Fragment to respond to messages, but it consumes the power of the Divine Realm.

The greater the wish fulfilled, the greater the consumption.

Thirdly,

Currently, the Divine Realm Fragment can only passively receive messages. Moreover, as long as someone draws the pattern and chants the correct sacred name, Karl has to listen, even if he doesn't want to.

This is one of the reasons Karl asked Aya to keep it a secret.

If several people contact him simultaneously, it would be like having multiple people whispering in his ears non-stop.

How do other deities manage to ignore them? Those righteous gods receive countless prayers and blessings daily, yet they remain unmoved. How do they do it?

Time passed.

Karl unveiled a layer of the mysteries of the deities, and the lives in both worlds began to get back on track.

The other world awaited news from the Duke's Envoy, while the main world patiently awaited the opening of the Star Gate.

Meanwhile.

The body's attributes were approaching perfection.

4.96!

4.97!

After experimenting on Aya, Karl had gained some understanding of how to utilize the power of the Divine Realm Fragment.

However, as a precaution, he still needed to find a Grand Knight to test it.

He wasn't in a rush.

After all, his body's attributes hadn't reached true perfection yet.

One day.

A guest arrived on the island.

Bach!

A bloodline wizard apprentice and one of Karl's few acquaintances in the Swamp Alliance.

"You've come at the right time."

Karl stood up from the ground and enthusiastically greeted him, "The sweet potatoes are just ripe. The variety here has been improved by wizards, and they taste much better than ordinary ones."

"Wait, I'll make some sweet potato salad. You can taste my cooking skills."

"Great!" Bach was in high spirits today, his face flushed with excitement. "I have some news to share with you."

"What news?"

"My mentor has passed away!"

"..."

Karl opened his mouth, intending to offer some words of comfort, but seeing Bach's cheerful expression, he realized no consolation was needed.

"He died well!" Bach grinned.

"With his death, all his possessions are now mine, including the legendary creature's corpse he bought at a high price."

"Er..." Karl's mouth went dry as he forced a response. "Congratulations!"

"Although it may sound a bit unethical, I'm not lying when I say I'm truly happy," Bach shrugged.

"My mentor, Jin, died on a forced mission. He had chosen a relatively easy target, but who could have predicted he'd lose his life?"

Karl nodded.

Recently, several wizard apprentices had lost their lives while carrying out missions, so he wasn't surprised.

"Where are you now?"

"Is your mission completed?" Karl asked casually.

"Yes, it's done." Bach replied. "I know a friend who's skilled in disguise. Together, we assassinated a Kolon Grand Knight."

Disguise? This was also within the realm of bloodline wizardry, so it was normal for them to know each other.

"In a few days, I'll be holding my mentor's funeral at the Swamp Alliance's cemetery." Bach said, "You must come."

"Of course." Karl nodded. "I'll be there."

"By the way, how's the situation with Kolon now? The front-line coalition should have gained the upper hand by now."

"No!" Bach shrugged. "On the contrary, the coalition's defeat has accelerated."

"What?" Karl's eyes widened in surprise. "How is that possible?"

Although he wasn't optimistic about the coalition's chances, with the involvement of wizard apprentices in the assassination, they should have had the advantage in the short term.

"It seems Kolon has reformed its military." Bach explained. "I must say, the King of Kolon is quite capable. In the past few decades as the ruler, he has significantly improved Kolon's strength. It's impressive that a single nation can stand against several others and still maintain the upper hand."

"This reform weakens the nobility's power. Now, even commoners with military achievements can be promoted to generals."

"If a regional leader is assassinated, their subordinates can step up and continue as usual. This makes our assassinations less effective, and it may even bring truly capable individuals to the forefront."

"Alas!"

"But all this is none of our concern."

Military reform?

The King of Kolon was beginning to resemble a time-traveler, managing to turn the tide in such a situation.

...

Deep within the Black Swamp.

Several archwizards gathered.

Marian, the sole disciple of the Grey Robe Wizard, had entered the wizard world seventy years ago, and now, at nearly eighty years old, she retained her youthful and beautiful appearance.

"Master," she said curiously, "Is this the portal to the Star Realm?"

The portal wasn't a door but a palm-sized circular ring, intricately engraved with countless runes.

Upon closer inspection, one would find that these runes formed interlocking gears, creating a complex whole.

However, a deep crack marred the surface of this circular ring, indicating it was a broken artifact.

"Yes," the Grey Robe Wizard Addison confirmed, his expression complex. "This is the portal!"

"The Morning Sun Lord had a brilliant idea. To open and maintain the portal, a sacrifice of a second-rank life form is required. It can also suppress the divine power of the Black Swamp and help us deal with Kolon, all in one go."

Kill the Grey Robe Wizard!

Suppress the divine power of the Black Swamp!

Confront Kolon!

All this for the price of a broken wizard tool.

But the Swamp Alliance had no choice but to agree.

"Master," Marian's expression changed. "Is this truly necessary?"

"Yes," Grey Robe Wizard Addison nodded, holding the 'portal'. "It's the only way."

"Opening it requires an enormous amount of energy, and maintaining its operation demands immense mental strength."

"Aside from me, no one else can do it."

"Respected Grey Robe Wizard," one of the wizards below spoke up. "Perhaps... we don't need the portal. If we analyze its structure, we might be able to create our own."

"Or we could repair it!"

"It's not that simple," Grey Robe Wizard Addison shook his head.

"The portal is a third-rank artifact, but the knowledge within involves fourth and even fifth-rank concepts, beyond our current understanding."

"We have no other choice."

"Heh..."

He let out a faint laugh. "There's no need to be discouraged. Visiting the wizard world has been my lifelong wish. Even if I can't go, having you go in my stead is just as good."

"Moreover, I don't have much time left anyway."

As he spoke, he looked up at a towering tree over a hundred meters tall swaying gently in the wind nearby.

"Boom..."

Accompanied by a deafening roar, the giant tree rose from the ground, revealing its withered roots.

The wizards' faces were filled with astonishment.

They knew what this signified—the tree, though seemingly lush, was actually withering.

"To become a second-rank wizard, I overdrew my life force and didn't have much time left anyway."

Grey Robe Wizard Addison muttered, "By offering my soul to the portal, I might be able to extend my life for a while."

"So..."

"Let's begin!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end