A picture materialized in Bai Yi's hand. It depicted a box. A man hovered before these boxes, hesitating over which one to choose.
"In the past, these treasures were extracted, but now they reside within these boxes. I aim to find the one most beneficial to me," Bai Yi explained. "I'm looking for something useful right now."
After all, if it's merely of great value, it's no different from being worthless. For instance, the Star Sea Battleship is invaluable, yet not immediately useful.
It certainly holds significant worth, but he still needs to dismantle most of the others aside from the Star Core B07 laser cannon.
Luo Ning pondered aloud, "Are the contents of these boxes unchanged? It's just that my brother can't perceive them, right?"
"I don't know," Bai Yi replied, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "The individuals inside seem to retain some consciousness. It appears to be merely fragments left by predecessors, which is difficult to confirm."
"That complicates things. Anything with random attributes can't be perfectly predicted, as the future holds infinite possibilities. What seems best now might not be the same in the next moment," Luo Ning remarked, a thoughtful expression in her eyes.
"But I can attempt to solidify certain futures to make them manifest."
"No need." Bai Yi smiled. "Just provide a standard prediction. Focus on helping me identify which box holds something I can utilize."
"Alright. If I can't use it but it's valuable, I'll assign it a value of 1,000 gold coins. If it can be used in the future, I'll mark it at 10,000 gold coins, and if it's immediately useful, it'll be 100,000 gold coins."
At the white epidemic's words, the maid's eyes sparkled with excitement. Indeed, her mistress's husband held great significance in her heart.
Sure enough, the generous princess would eventually marry the generous prince.
"Fine."
Luo Ning extended her hands, and golden light began to radiate from the crystal ball. An inscription with incomprehensible symbols emerged, sitting quietly atop the crystal ball like a serene Buddha.
The glow of fate began to flicker. In the pavilion by the lake, stars loomed and flowed in the currents of destiny.
Luo Ning reached out, and many stars became more pronounced. She appeared like a deity manipulating the stars, positioning them as she desired.
As she moved her hands, a human woman materialized in the center of the crystal ball, with three paths unfolding before her, each representing a different fate.
Nearby, a figure stood beside the endless boxes, hesitating over what to choose.
The golden light in Luo Ning's eyes intensified. She raised her hand, and falling stars coalesced, forming a unique star map that mirrored the interplay of moon and stars.
Once finished, she sighed in relief. "Brother, you can begin. The first path represents what you least desire, while the third is the one you indicated is useful."
Bai Yi nodded and directed the figure to open the first box. As it did, the first path lit up before the maid in the crystal ball.
This indicated an inheritance he couldn't utilize.
Continuing to open boxes, the first path lit up repeatedly. Each individual has their own journey, which is difficult to replicate. Moreover, the rules of rebirth differ across eras.
It's understandable that some principles don't apply in this time.
The boxes were opened one by one. The maid in the crystal ball illuminated with the first path, or occasionally the second, but the third path was slow to shine.
The tenth box, the fiftieth box, the eightieth box.
In each inheritance, 90% of the time, the first path would illuminate, with 5% for the second path.
Yet, 5% of the three paths remained unlit. Bai Yi was somewhat surprised, sensing something in his eyes. According to his predictions, the inheritances of these saints seemed to be inaccessible to him, and their value appeared low.
As he contemplated this,
Buzz~
The third path suddenly lit up, and the maid in the image stood up, walking toward it.
Upon reaching the end, golden light flooded the crystal ball, representing the gold coins she could acquire and a new destiny for her.
Luo Ning's eyes sparkled. "Brother, that's it! I've tested it, and the treasures will remain unchanged, meaning when you choose, they're all identical."
Bai Yi's eyes flickered with approval. "Excellent work. Luo Ning is the best."
"Can you change how you say that? You always make me feel like a child." Luo Ning replied, somewhat exasperated. Though she was already eighteen, in a world where one could marry and have children at fifteen, she still felt young among the extraordinary.
Yet, she found no offense in Bai Yi's words. On the contrary, it made her feel cherished, a form of affection she appreciated.
"Alright, let me think." Bai Yi retrieved a Dawn badge from the demon dimension and handed it to the maid. In her excited and inquisitive gaze, he added, "But truly, you should say: 'Thank you for the respect, strong and beautiful Miss Luo Ning, who helped me in this confusion.'"
"Stop, stop, stop!" Luo Ning quickly interrupted, her face turning crimson. "Just stick to the original wording."
A smile danced in Bai Yi's eyes. "Is that so? But you've grown up."
"No, no! My brother will always be my brother. I'm not grown!" Luo Ning hugged the crystal ball, hiding her slightly flushed face behind the inscription of God, speaking softly.
"Haha, I'll just say that Luo Ning is the best."
After teasing her, Bai Yi strolled to his room, eager to accept the inheritance and outline a development plan.
The SSS level was on the verge of entering the legendary realm en masse.
SS-level individuals were also advancing into the gold tier at an impressive rate.
A multitude of beings with remarkable potential had been discovered across the three small worlds, yet none had reached SSS level.
This was curious, yet not entirely unexpected.
After all, the top potential of the white epidemic hinged on the panel, while Diane relied on divine power, and Erin depended on curses.
Only Luo Ning and her peers were genuinely talented.
Including Luo Ning, there were only six top-tier individuals in the entire federation. Over the past thousand years of Dawn, only three top potentials had emerged in total.
Aside from one who had fallen and another who went missing, this underscored the rarity of such talent.
This also explained why the federation regarded the top six, including Diane, with such respect.
Back in his room, Bai Yi reclined on his bed, contemplating and planning to initiate his magical transformation.
His demand for magic had never been so pressing. An alchemist's magic primarily served as an auxiliary function for alchemical engravings and material harmony.
The key aspect was alchemical engraving, but even that, apart from long-term manufacturing or the top-tier creation of colossal entities, required less magic than expected.
Saints might differ slightly. If they possessed expertise akin to the soul of the saint, the white epidemic would become even more formidable.
[Your intelligence is about to transform into Saint Intelligence. Please perform the transformation in a safe environment. Countdown: 543]
Bai Yi glanced at the countdown on the panel, eyelids gradually growing heavy, and he slowly closed his eyes.
Darkness enveloped him.
It felt as if nothingness filled all his senses.
Confusion crossed his features as he looked around, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
This seemed eerily similar to spiritual inheritance.
"Are you confused?"
An aged voice resonated, causing Bai Yi's spirit to stir. He quickly turned toward the source of the sound.
There stood an old man, smiling at him.
The moment Bai Yi laid eyes on this man, the entire world shifted, and mountains, rivers, grasslands, and flowers materialized.
Bai Yi felt a profound sense of reality in his body. He looked down, noticing that his black attire mirrored his physical form outside.
This transformation felt… different from before.
"Marty Radna?" Bai Yi asked, uncertain, yet sensing this old man was the voice of the awakening Holy Soul.
"Yes, sit down."
Marty gestured gracefully.
Bai Yi fell silent, taking a seat opposite the old man and inquiring, "Aren't you dead?"
"No, I'm dead."
"Then—"
"Death is merely a concept. Who says that memory cannot embody another form of life?"
Bai Yi reflected, "May I ask you a few questions?"
"Are you not already asking?"
Marty raised his hand, producing a cup of tea that appeared before Bai Yi. The aromatic fragrance filled his nostrils, evoking a sense of immense comfort.
The panel lit up momentarily.
[Intelligence +1.]
[Intelligence +1.]
"The saint is exceptionally powerful. Why did he vanish? This era has persisted for a long time. Why am I the first saint?"
Bai Yi picked up the teacup but hesitated to drink. He had a premonition that consuming it would trigger an automatic awakening of expertise, concluding their meeting prematurely.
But he had too many questions to ask, so he wanted to extend the conversation.
"You're quite perceptive."
The gentle murmurs didn't reach the white epidemic's ears. Marty's expression remained kind: "Smiling and asking, when awakening the inheritance of a saint, you should understand what a saint truly is, right?"
"I know; the duty of a saint is significant, and it's a respectable profession."
"No."
Marty shook his head, unexpectedly dismissing Bai Yi's response.
Bai Yi was taken aback. The duty of a saint was to maintain balance, ensuring that living beings could thrive in their era. To Bai Yi, this profession represented the guardianship of the world.
Marty smiled, "Whether or not saints exist, the world continues to evolve."
"For the world, be it destruction or new life, it is all part of growth."
"Countless eras have passed; only the saint himself is needed, so we are not great. We are but individuals striving to break free from our original fates in the grand scheme of the world."
Bai Yi had never encountered such a viewpoint before. "But you all worked tirelessly. For those in your era, you were indeed great."
Marty smiled and queried, "Is that useful? Saints have been passed down through many eras, yet this is your age."
Bai Yi was momentarily stunned, then asked, "I can't comment on that. Saints are perceived differently by everyone. I simply want to understand why they are so powerful and why they still disappear. Normally, saints should be capable of standing atop the world in this era."
Marty seemed to feel something and waved his hand, conjuring a chessboard. "Do you play chess?"
Bai Yi glanced at the Go board and nodded. "I'm somewhat familiar."
Ta.
A black stone landed on the Tianyuan position. "It's your turn."
Bai Yi's mouth twitched. Could this old man actually play chess?
Nevertheless, he didn't refuse and placed his piece on the board.
Without hesitation, Marty dropped another piece.
Bai Yi watched the old man with surprise.
Drop, drop, drop.
The sound of stones hitting the board echoed continuously, and Bai Yi couldn't help but chuckle. Looking at the large white pieces on the board, he remarked, "Mr. Marty, you don't seem very good at chess. You've lost."
Ta.
Marty remained unfazed, continuing, "Isn't there still room to play? Go on."
Bai Yi fell silent, laying down a piece, claiming three of Marty's stones. Yet, Marty ignored him entirely, dropping stones wherever there was an empty space.
Gradually, Bai Yi frowned, a realization dawning on him. His piece, poised to be placed, halted mid-air.
He seemed to grasp what Marty intended to convey, but—
"Mr. Marty, this isn't the answer I seek."
Marty took a sip of tea, smiling as he spoke leisurely. "The desires within people's hearts are endless. Just like this game of chess: as long as there's an empty space, you can place pieces until you can no longer do so. Any extra pieces will remain outside the board."
Ta~
Another black piece fell, but this time, it was placed outside the chessboard. The entire game shifted, no longer resembling a mere game of Go.
"And the white piece you hold symbolizes the saint. Even if you attempt to capture the black pieces, they will always return until they fully occupy the chessboard."
"At this moment—"
Click~
The chessboard collapsed, with the black piece outside serving as the center, and cracks began to spread.
These fissures gradually reached the chess piece itself. With a buzz, only the white piece from Bai Yi's initial placement remained on the board.
With a surge of energy, the chessboard restored itself, expanding slightly larger than before.
Bai Yi remained silent, seemingly understanding something.
"Shall we continue?"
"No need." Bai Yi shook his head. "I comprehend your meaning, but one question lingers: What is the Tower of Soul? It seems unfriendly toward the saint, and since the saint cannot persist, is the world truly devoid of hope?"
"That question seems somewhat inaccurate. Are we truly incapable of achieving eternity?"
Marty sighed, "I don't know much about the Tower of Soul you mentioned. In my era, such a tower did not exist, nor was the world saved."
"Aren't you still alive?"
He stood, emotions swelling. "Your time is approaching."
Bai Yi was taken aback, looking down. The tea, which had almost filled the cup, now rested at the bottom.
The panel prompts also began to slow down.
Bai Yi, slightly shocked, quickly asked, "Mr. Marty, can you sense the anomalies within me? Can you explain what they are?"
Marty smiled. "The true world cares not for matters beyond its purpose. When you can shake the foundations of the world, it will reveal itself."
"Wait, don't!"
Buzz~
The white epidemic vanished, leaving Marty, the top-tier being, momentarily stunned before he chuckled, "Why does everyone behave like this? What legacy has the saints inherited?"
[You receive: Ask the Branch.]
[Name: Ask the Branch.
Attribute: Material.
Quality: ???
Introduction: ???
Price: ???
Submit to the panel: Grants specialized wake-up permission × 1 or Origin Stone 2/5.]
[Your intelligence has been converted to 93 points of holy intelligence.]
[Your magical power has significantly changed. You have leveled up to level 77.]
[You awaken the expertise of the saint, the Demon of the Saint.]
[Holy Demon: Your magic limit increases by 20%, and your magic will possess mimic attributes.]
Bai Yi suddenly sat up in bed, raising his hand to observe a tree branch that had appeared in his grip, a joyful smile spreading across his face.
The scene of the boss's sermon earlier resembled many animations or films from Blue Star.
At that moment, he had pondered whether the items these bosses used for decoration, like the solitary tree atop the mountain that had evaded lightning strikes, were indeed extraordinary.
Now, it seemed that they were truly remarkable, capable of granting a specialty directly!
As for whether Marty would be angry, he was the only saint.
Most importantly, the white epidemic had uncovered a fascinating insight.
For instance, the willow-like tree bore dense branches, yet those closest to the white epidemic were significantly shorter.
With his understanding of the saint's attributes, it was likely that the tree near the inheritor had been stripped bare by its predecessor.
Thus, the white epidemic had been preparing while posing his questions.
If others could do it, why couldn't he?
He cheerfully stored the willow-like branch in the demon dimension and examined the newly awakened Holy Demon.
It seemed that, compared to the Holy Soul, this was slightly inferior?
No, not exactly.
The white epidemic extended his hand.
Buzz~
A surge of magic coursed through his fingers, and in an instant, an apple materialized in his grasp.
He took a bite, savoring the abundant juice, reminiscent of a real apple.
This ability to mimic was extraordinary, allowing him to create from nothing.
This was a powerful skill with some limitations.
The greater the magic, the deeper the rules, the more challenging it became to mimic.
It bore similarities to arcane arts, yet it imposed more restrictions. Understanding was insufficient; magic level also played a crucial role.
The immense magic of the white epidemic surged wildly, filling the entire room.
A nucleus with a purple halo shimmered.
Click~
With a soft sound, the nucleus shattered.
If the white epidemic had something to contemplate, could the soul system be condensed?
No, it wasn't entirely impossible.
Today's possibilities were boundless, and another opportunity awaited.
End of Chapter