Chapter 347: Pollution
Chapter 347: Pollution
"As we all know, human life is fragile and fleeting. A simple accident or an unexpected spring rain with a chill can mercilessly take away our lives."
"The more one wishes to live, the more likely they are to succumb to various accidents. Therefore, I have prepared numerous methods of resurrection, and after my death, my descendants will bring me back to life."
In a cramped room that could barely accommodate a table and two chairs, an elderly man with graying hair, clad in a classical black robe, was reading a diary by the light of a gas lantern.
"Oh, Goddess, this... this is such blasphemous knowledge..."
Old Neill's gaze was fixed, his cloudy eyes shimmering with fear and desire. Unconsciously, he began to recite the contents of the diary.
"Among the Five Seas, there is a special fruit called the Devil Fruit. Upon consuming it, one can acquire extraordinary and unconventional abilities. Among them is the Yellow Spring Fruit, which, when eaten, allows the soul of the deceased to remain intact and return from the underworld. However, the body must be intact, or else the resurrection will result in a mere skeleton."
"Here is a method of resurrection for incomplete remains, known as 'Impure Soil Reincarnation.' It is a ritual magic lost in the distant past, where a part of the deceased's remains is used as a medium, and a living person is sacrificed as a vessel to summon the soul of the deceased, resulting in a different form of resurrection..."
"If the remains have been cremated or completely decayed due to prolonged preservation, there is another specialized method that can be used in conjunction... Human Transmutation!"
"The formula for human transmutation is as follows: 30 liters of water, 20 kilograms of carbon, 4 liters of ammonia, 1.5 kilograms of lime, 800 grams of phosphorus, 250 grams of salt, 100 grams of saltpeter, 80 grams of sulfur, 7.5 grams of fluorine, 5 grams of iron, 3 grams of silicon, and small amounts of 15 other elements. Using an alchemical array for equivalent exchange, but there is a risk of being consumed by the Gate of Truth..."
These bits of information, some true and some false, some present and some absent, caused Old Neill, who yearned to resurrect his wife, to tremble slightly. His excitement was beyond measure.
There were so many methods of resurrection... but each prerequisite seemed so challenging. Could this information be trusted?
Caught up in his excitement, he didn't notice that as he read, a subtle pollution from the diary gradually infiltrated his body.
This pollution covered another layer of shallow pollution, but it did not damage his sanity or body. Instead, it made him automatically overlook the many unreasonable parts of the diary and compelled him to continue reading.
At the same time, from a perspective invisible to ordinary people, a pair of eyelash-less, cold, and transparent eyes slowly emerged from the void.
As these eyes fixed their gaze on Old Neill, they suddenly flickered, like a mouse that had caught the scent of cheese. The gaze shifted to the diary.
Secret knowledge, unknown to anyone, was what the Hidden Sage craved. Or, to be more precise, it was the desire of the 'Knowledge Wilderness' and the two paths below it, the 'Secret Seer' and the 'Omniscient.'
The cold eyes gradually took on a shade of longing, and they became engrossed in reading along with Old Neill.
"If the user's moral standards are too high, the Summoning Curse can be considered. It can summon the soul of the deceased to one's own body, achieving a temporary and repeatable resurrection. Given that curses are innate, the following method is provided to alter the brain structure after the fact."
"The Body Refining Furnace, designed by the village chief of Biyou Village in the Western Continent before the damage of the First Epoch, has been improved by the 66th generation Celestial Master of Dragon and Tiger Mountain. It allows for the reshaping of the physical body and the modification of any organ..."
Knowledge poured into Old Neill's mind, and he became obsessed with reading, carefully absorbing every word until he reached the last page.
"If all the aforementioned methods seem too difficult, I offer a simple and convenient solution with the fewest prerequisites."
Old Neill's hoarse voice began to echo in the room.
"The Entropic Expander."
"The Alien God beyond the starry sky."
"The Splitting and Aggregation of all Extraordinary Traits!"
As Old Neill recited the first sacred name, the cold, eyelash-less eyes immediately sensed something amiss. However, at that moment, the newly acquired knowledge in his mind went into overdrive! The knowledge that was beyond immediate comprehension rapidly spun, forming a massive vortex that began to attract other knowledge, causing the consciousness of the cold eyes to become sluggish.
In the instant the sacred names were recited, the air suddenly solidified. A spiritual wind blew, and an invisible force rushed towards Old Neill and the eyes that couldn't escape in time! Old Neill felt a cool breeze brush past his body, and his tense mind immediately relaxed, as both his physical and spiritual bodies were cleansed.
In the depths of his consciousness, he seemed to hear a brief, urgent howl.
The next second, the room returned to its peaceful state, as if nothing had happened.
Old Neill, regaining his sanity, paused for a moment. Recalling the recent events, he shuddered, realizing that he had been deluded by the evil god "Hidden Sage" and was preparing a ceremony to resurrect his wife who had passed away years ago.
Terrified, he shook his head vigorously, and with his fingers, he tapped his chest four times, outlining the symbol of the moon representing the Darkness Goddess.
"Goddess above, thank goodness I didn't harm anyone, and thank goodness it's not too late to make amends."
Old Neill prayed devoutly, lit three candles, and used his spiritual dagger to create a sealed spiritual wall. He took out a series of spiritual materials from under the table and began setting up a purification ritual.
Moments later, a profound darkness enveloped the entire room.
Bringing eternal tranquility and peace.
omitted
Steam train, entrance to the first-class carriage.
Handing over the ticket in his hand to the conductor, Luke smoothly took his seat on the soft, comfortable cushion. He glanced at the direction of the Black Thorn Security Company, a slight smile curling his lips.
The entity that appeared behind Old Neill was not the main body of the "Hidden Sage," but rather a small fragment of consciousness that couldn't even be considered a clone. It was similar to the "Worm of Spirit" separated by a high-sequence Soothsayer, a tool used by the "Hidden Sage" to provide feedback on rituals and conduct knowledge infusion.
Nevertheless, this was still a part associated with the "Hidden Sage."
The polluted eyes would become a marker with a specific location that the "Hidden Sage" could perceive once it returned to its main body, until he personally removed it.
The Source Quality of "Knowledge Wilderness" also fit Luke well; in the shared space, the increasing number of Lukes represented endless knowledge.
Moreover, the main body was currently "Change beyond Change," an "Unnamable Unknown." This should be quite attractive to "Knowledge Wilderness," and their union should be a win-win situation. It could be assumed that the consciousness of this Source Quality would not resist Luke.
Luke had one more path to explore, and the smile on his lips deepened slightly. He leaned back into the soft armchair, propped his feet up, and relaxed, a rare occurrence.
Whoo~ Whoo~ Whoo~
The sound of the steam train's whistle filled his ears as it was about to start, and the scenery outside the window flew by. The train sped along the tracks towards Barkeland.
omitted
Barkeland, the Capital of All Cities.
The capital of the Rune Kingdom, bisected diagonally by the Tasuk River flowing southeast into the sea, was connected by the Barkeland Bridge and ferries. With a population of over five million, it was the most prosperous city on the Northern and Southern Continents.
After a few hours on the train, Luke arrived in Barkeland at noon.
Most of the buildings here were densely packed houses, characteristic of the current architecture in the Rune Kingdom—polygonal four-pitched roofs, bulging windows, and a notch above the houses in Tinggen. They exuded a British vibe.
Hmm, even the misty atmosphere at noon was reminiscent of it.
Luke silently mocked in his heart, following the crowd and leaving the station. He was heading to the Queens District, where the wealthy and nobility gathered, to rent a house.
Instead of taking a carriage directly, he chose to stroll leisurely.
Barkeland had its depths, and it would be a shame to come here just to digest an Extraordinary Trait and leave. After all, he was only a Sequence 7 "Magician," with the ability to digest Extraordinary Traits through his main body's Divine Blessing. Even if he didn't actively play, he could still completely digest it within a month.
Before coming here, he had already strengthened the Aggregation Effect on his body through a ritual again. Now, walking around would make it easier to encounter local Extraordinary Individuals in Barkeland, enter their circles, and obtain or seize Extraordinary Traits that suited his fancy.
The Extraordinary Traits that suited his fancy were those that could be digested instantly or had clear playing methods and could be digested quickly.
For example, the "Polyglot," which could be digested instantly with sufficient esoteric knowledge, the "Arcane Mentor," who could complete the playing method by creating a large number of self-created secrets, the "Hunter," who could digest by hunting sufficiently powerful targets, the "Ancient Scholar," who could directly prepare for the next Sequence with sufficient historical knowledge, and so on.
"Sir, may I have a moment of your time?"
As Luke was pondering where he could find a suitable Sequence 5 Extraordinary Trait, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
He lifted his head slightly and realized that he was walking down a slightly secluded alley, and ahead of him stood five or six men.
Compared to the small-time gangs in Tinggen, this group blocking his path was clearly better equipped, more well-dressed, and more polite.
The leader, with a gentle smile, said, "Sir, please leave behind all your belongings."
"What if I don't?"
Luke raised an eyebrow. He wasn't particularly interested in the gang; the small amount of money they had would be spent in a few moments, and the wealthy and nobles in Queens District were much more lucrative.
"That's your choice, but we'll cut off every protruding part of your body."
Luke sighed, just about to take action, when a dignified female voice rang out.
"Will, what are you doing!"
The gang leader's face paled slightly at the sound, "It's the 'Arbitrator'. Run!"
Without any hesitation, several physically strong men quickly retreated and fled.
"Arbitrator"? Hugh? Luke turned to look behind him, but at first glance, he couldn't see the girl. He slightly lowered his head and noticed her petite stature, barely over five feet tall, with delicate and gentle features, and a slightly shy demeanor.
Her hair was shoulder-length, messy, and coarse, and she wore a traditional knight's practice uniform, yet she exuded an indescribable sense of dignity and a charming presence that inspired trust.
It was indeed Hugh Diercha, the future "Judgment" of the Tarot Society.
"Why are there always people like you, dressed in formal wear, looking rich, but not understanding the situation..."
Hugh's initial tone was filled with dissatisfaction, but as he spoke, his gaze rested on Luke's face, and his voice lowered, slowed, and then softened, with a hint of concern in his eyes.
"Are you okay, sir? The security in Minsk Street isn't great, even during the day, it's quite dangerous."
"I'm fine."
Luke blinked, sizing up the girl who was two heads shorter than him, and smiled lightly. He removed his top hat, placed it on his chest, and bowed.
"Thank you very much for saving me. I'm forever in your debt."
"Don't be so polite."
Luke shook his head solemnly, "I'm serious!"
...
In a bedroom of an apartment, the sunlight filtered through the light-colored curtains, creating a dim atmosphere. A simple knight's uniform and a white shirt lay casually on the floor, discarded by their owner.
"Wait...wait! Is something wrong?"
Hugh, slightly dazed, crossed her arms over her chest, her face flushed. Her mind, muddled by hormones, finally processed what was happening, but she couldn't understand how things had suddenly progressed to this point.
"No."
Luke pressed his muscular body against hers, his six-foot-three height engulfing her petite frame. The difference in their physiques was evident, and he wore an expression of nonchalance.
"A life-saving favor must be repaid. Or do you dislike this kind of behavior?"
After being drugged by the aphrodisiac at Ms. Shelun's mansion, his mind could ignore it, but his body was still a bit restless. Moreover, the extraordinary trait of the Joyful Witch needed to be digested in advance.
He felt that the memories shared by the other Lukes were unreliable, and the extraordinary trait might not be acknowledged.
Examining the girl's delicate and beautiful body, Luke nodded again in confirmation.
Yes, it definitely wouldn't be acknowledged!
"No, it's not that I dislike it, it's just that it feels too..."
Hugh's body suddenly stiffened, her beautiful eyes widening, filled with a watery hue. Her pink lips parted, and after a few seconds, she uttered the last two words.
A warm body pressed against hers, and Hugh's eyes widened in surprise. Her delicate lips parted slightly, and a soft moan escaped her mouth.
"It's almost there..."
Luke's eyes narrowed, half in satisfaction and half in regret, as he exhaled slowly. He gently caressed Hugh's head, waiting for her to adjust, his voice gentle.
"It's not fast, romantic love always starts with love at first sight. Sometimes, when you see someone, you just know they're the one."
Hugh's face flushed, feeling the powerful heartbeat behind her, her gaze distant. "It sounds like a play or a story. Are you a writer? I have a friend who's a writer, a somewhat famous one."
"At a time like this, you should get along well with your 'new friend'."
Hugh's voice was filled with moisture, and she bit her lip, her body tensing. Beads of sweat formed on her skin.
...
It was nine o'clock at night.
Fors, who often used the excuse of 'field research' to procrastinate on her writing, returned from the tavern. She approached the door, surveyed the area, and upon confirming no one was around, she took a step forward, her body strangely passing through the door.
The room was pitch-black, and her friend, who usually had a regular schedule, was unexpectedly absent. Fors was slightly puzzled, as at this time, Hugh would typically be reading in the living room.
"Hugh, I'm back."
There was no response, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly. She walked towards Hugh's room, and suddenly, she heard a faint, strange sound. Just as she was about to open the door, she realized it was locked from the inside.
"Hugh, are you in there? What's going on?"
"No...nothing, don't come in!"
Hugh's voice came from inside the room, but her tone was strange, as if she was enduring something, and although her voice was loud, it carried a sense of forced weakness.
Fors's expression changed, and she immediately passed through the door.
The next moment, two exclamations echoed in the room.
"When did you get a boyfriend?!"
"Didn't I tell you not to come in?!"
(End of Chapter)
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