Bai Yi withdrew the soul lantern, its soul energy nearly depleted after crafting silkworm life, leaving only 203% remaining.
A torrent of formidable magic surged into the soul lantern.
The thumb-sized lantern glimmered with blue and gold light.
Within it, pure soul energy condensed and compressed, gradually crystallizing within the mimetic energy.
Ding~
A crisp sound echoed as Bai Yi activated the soul lantern, and a soul crystal, the size of a fingernail, emerged.
A flicker of something glinted in his eyes.
As one of the three masters of alchemy, Bai Yi possessed a profound understanding of materials, particularly soul materials, and had mastered the formulas for numerous soul potions.
The inability to create soul series materials wasn't due to a lack of understanding.
It was the rules!
Unless he possessed the rules of the soul system, such as divine attributes, imitating such items was impossible.
Bai Yi had made numerous attempts. With the newly acquired mimetic energy, he could replicate many materials.
However, the results were not as flawless as he had hoped.
For instance, with secret silver.
This material allowed magic to pass through without loss and served as the core component for most machines.
The simulated secret silver did retain some of its effects, but it only applied to his magic.
In other words, using the secret silver he created from nothing to craft equipment would yield 100% effectiveness for his bright side magic, but only 30% effectiveness or lower for dark side magic.
Yet, this did not diminish the strength of his specialty. The simplest point is that lower-tier materials could be mimicked at 100%, enabling mass production to meet the extraordinary material demands of Dongwu City.
For certain potions or machines, he could even create original versions using those core materials that couldn't be mimicked, then enhance them with magic.
This constituted a resource specialty, adding 20% to his magic reserves. Thus, if someone else had 800 attributes, and his magic value was 10, it would rise to 12.
Saints.
They are incredibly powerful.
Were it not for the characteristics of the world, a saint might have become the master of the realm.
Unfortunately, the world operates like a chessboard, and each destruction results in a stronger rebirth than the last.
Moreover, in every era, the upper limits of beings grow significantly compared to the previous ones.
For example, if the great divine power of one era clashes with that of another, the latter will subdue the former.
In essence, the extraordinary upper limit strengthens with each world rebirth.
The world does not grow stronger with age; rather, the future holds greater power.
Thus, while the saint stands atop every era, a new age will always emerge, surpassing the saint.
When the saint becomes more powerful than the leaders of their era, they cannot impede progress. As civilization reaches its apex, a greater explosion inevitably follows.
This explosion eradicates all saints unable to withstand the collapse of their era.
When the world's collapse reaches a certain limit, all that remains are inheritances that are not easily destroyed.
This means that while all saints may have fallen, in this world, he is the first saint!
It's a complex matter, but to simplify, the destruction of the last era was so profound that the saints were obliterated, and those of this era could not endure.
With these thoughts, the white epidemic fell silent; it was not entirely hopeless.
The Tower of Souls stands hostile to the saint. Its inhabitants understand what a saint is and wish to prevent their rebirth.
Perhaps a saint from the last era survived, clashing with the Tower of Souls, ultimately meeting their demise at its hands, thus becoming its mortal enemy?
Bai Yi felt a headache coming on, but one thing was certain: the saint must always stand at the pinnacle of every era.
Raising his hand, the seal of the saint appeared. It radiated a milky white glow, suggesting the unlocking of some authority.
He slightly focused his mental strength.
[You have initiated the inheritance of the saint.]
[You are about to enter the tomb of the saint. Countdown: 543]
As the countdown approached zero, darkness enveloped his vision.
When his senses returned, he found himself in the tomb inherited by the saint.
The familiar simple decor, the recognizable two doors, and the familiar yet maddening guidance awaited him.
It was exactly as it had been three years ago.
[The second time? If you're familiar with the process, don't waste the power of guidance. It's quite magical—unless you offer me an origin stone!]
Bai Yi: ...
Disregarding the saint's guidance, the white epidemic strode directly toward the inheritance door.
Upon opening it, the tomb of the saint revealed itself.
The same tombstones and small mounds stretched endlessly before him, a sight without end.
Under the destruction of each era, countless beings had the potential to become saints. At least tens of thousands of saints lay buried here.
These saints may have once stood at the peak of the world, but now they were mere remnants, leaving behind guidance for future generations to affirm their existence.
Bai Yi advanced toward his destination—the first row, the tomb of the 536 saints.
He focused on the seal of the saint etched upon the tombstone.
About five seconds later, the saint's mark on the tombstone illuminated.
Bai Yi experienced an inexplicable thought. It reminded him of his time on Blue Star, where he had considered carving a QR code on his tombstone, embedding messages for future generations or a favorite piece of music.
Was this the same concept?
As he pondered, Bai Yi extended his hand, aligning the marks of the two saints. Hum~
A soft light glowed, and the voice of a young man resonated.
"I can't sleep well. Tsk, what a nuisance. I'll leave everything to you."
The young man didn't manifest physically, but a vast memory overwhelmed Bai Yi in an instant.
This memory impact was slightly more intense than that of the Star Sea Battleship, though not by much.
Bai Yi felt his consciousness blur and immediately began to seal the memory.
Simultaneously, his formidable spirit began to filter through the memories, aiming to retain only the comprehensible details, or the catalog, similar to that of the Star Sea Battleship.
He needed to grasp how to utilize this inheritance effectively.
As a golden sphere appeared, the transmission of tombstone memories reached its conclusion.
The saint did not assign a task to Bai Yi like the female saint had, but instead conveyed silently, "I have given everything to you. You may leave, but do not disturb my slumber again."
With that statement, Bai Yi felt a powerful suction draw him into the inheritance wooden house.
His eyes widened in surprise as he beheld what he had received:
[Name: Medicine Treasure Book.
Attribute: Knowledge.
Introduction: This tome contains all the formulas of a top pharmacist, including the secrets to resurrection.]
This was remarkable.
No wonder he had found it difficult to complete the catalog when sorting through the information.
Over 300,000 medicinal formulas were included.
This was the most comprehensive medicinal treasure he had encountered, surpassing even those in the Hall of Knowledge.
The white epidemic would need to digest the knowledge within this tome slowly, at least sorting out the names of the drugs and their general effects to maximize its potential.
Knowledge is priceless, and now he had acquired this invaluable resource for free.
Returning to reality, Bai Yi exhaled deeply.
He retrieved the golden sphere and began to organize the memories contained within.
Mastering memory was always a delicate process. With his current magical prowess, Bai Yi intended to transform [Star Sea Battleship] and [Potion Treasure] into two separate memory tomes.
However, he would need to visit the federal treasury to procure some unavailable materials.
Given his current status, this task should not prove difficult.
Sorting through such a vast wealth of knowledge would require considerable time.
It took Bai Yi an entire month to organize the two memory golden spheres to his satisfaction.
This meant first compiling a catalog and then delving into the knowledge itself.
The memory books Bai Yi intended to create would be filled with content. When he, or a specific spirit, focused on a certain line of the catalog, the corresponding knowledge would materialize, greatly enhancing convenience.
After all, even if the white epidemic absorbed this knowledge, the panel wouldn't directly display such enormous amounts of information.
He needed to comprehend it to fully claim it as his own.
The knowledge inheritance of the saint, such as this potion, simply provided the recipe and manufacturing method, akin to purchasing it from the Hall of Knowledge.
Understanding, crafting, and practicing were essential to transform it into a true skill.
Rubbing his forehead in mild fatigue, Bai Yi decided to head out.
Luo Ning had informed him that Diane would conclude her retreat today.
Buzz~
At that moment, in the westernmost part of the city lord's mansion, a buzzing sound filled the air. Luo Ning, swinging beneath the Tree of Life, brightened. She leaped off the swing and headed west.
"Luo Ning."
Diane's increasingly mature voice resonated, her purple eyes losing their vibrancy. A chill swept through the city lord's mansion, casting a slight gloom.
"Sister Diane, you look so strong." Awe shone in Luo Ning's eyes.
"You're doing well, too. So little gold is better than us."
Luo Ning felt a twinge of anxiety and swiftly changed the subject. "I asked Grandma Elena to prepare lunch. Let's go before it gets cold."
She pulled Diane toward the castle, turning to wave at Bai Yi. "Brother, come with me. Grandma Elena has prepared a feast."
Bai Yi followed, silently listening to the exchange between Luo Ning and Diane, while his thoughts spiraled.
The crystal ball Luo Ning used still appeared to be gold-grade; he should help her find equipment and inheritances that matched her level.
The preoccupation system.
After pondering for a while, he realized he had exhausted the suitable inheritances in his memory.
The secret worlds and inheritances were nearly depleted, leaving little behind.
Perhaps during the next saint's inheritance or random reward, he could discover something beneficial for Luo Ning.
Lunch concluded.
Luo Ning's practice hinged on dream exercises and fate.
Consequently, her nap was incorporated into her training regimen, yet she seemed exceptionally gifted. She was already level 57 and had never experienced a prolonged setback.
It was as if she leveled up effortlessly.
This reminded Bai Yi of Erin, who was on the verge of becoming a legend after utilizing part of his talent.
At only thirty years old, he thought this talent was unprecedented.
However,
Despite the many prodigies surrounding him, the white epidemic still felt a sense of urgency.
"What's bothering you?"
After Luo Ning went to take her nap, Diane looked at Bai Yi, her voice soft.
"It's nothing. I'm heading to the capital. Would you like to join me?" Bai Yi asked with a smile.
"Sure, I haven't been back in quite some time." Diane stretched and took Bai Yi's arm. "Let's go. I'll take you there."
"Can't you just use your spatial skills?" The white epidemic asked, a bit surprised.
"Of course, but I want to test my new abilities." Diane replied proudly. "You'll see soon enough."
As the two reached the entrance of the city lord's mansion, Diane raised her hand, summoning a purple six-pointed star array, causing the temperature around them to plummet.
The patrolling M-type transformation warriors and extraordinary adventurers turned to gaze in awe. The golden undead mage instilled fear in all.
With the six-pointed star magic array, a massive bone dragon ascended into the sky, surrounded by gasps and exclamations.
The bone dragon, with wings spanning 700 meters, was indeed a golden-level creature.
"Go."
Diane commanded, and with a cold breath, the space distorted slightly. In an instant, the two appeared atop the bone dragon.
"Full speed ahead to the capital."
Buzz~
The soul fire in the bone dragon's eyes shifted to a fiery red, and its powerful wings propelled it forward.
The incredible speed made Bai Yi feel akin to riding an intercontinental missile.
A blue conical shield formed before them. Diane smiled, saying, "My new ability selectively enhances the undead. The distance from Dongwu City to the capital should test my limits."
With that, she produced a colossal skull staff, unleashing a surge of potent magic into the sky. Bai Yi felt a sense of awe at the power radiating from her staff.
It appeared to be a reserve of magic that rivaled that of typical mages, even surpassing the average undead mage's abilities.
Boom!
As her staff's magic reached its peak,
A unique fluctuation enveloped the bone dragon.
Buzz~
All sounds faded into silence in that moment.
The bone dragon's speed surged exponentially, making Bai Yi feel as though they were traveling through space. Though the scenery at the edge of his vision seemed to linger, it flashed by in the blink of an eye.
As Diane's magic peaked, the bone dragon stabilized its velocity.
"Is it only three times enhanced? It's not a comprehensive boost yet," Diane remarked with slight disappointment. In her estimation, this increase should reach 500%.
Bai Yi remained thoughtful. "This bone dragon is a golden top, right?"
"Yes, what's the matter?" Diane replied, glancing back.
"You haven't reached the top of the gold level yet. This enhancement is already impressive." Bai Yi explained, "The average undead mage can only double their summons at the family level, while you're achieving a threefold increase."
"Really?" Diane seemed puzzled. "But in some inherited memories, my talent's limit should be five times."
"That pertains to taboo power, not gold-level power. Your taboo abilities will strengthen later." Bai Yi replied, slightly helpless. "Talent often grows alongside you."
"I've asked Zero to send you the information regarding the undead mage. Please review it." Bai Yi added, "So, when you were instructed to study theory, did you skip over it?"
Diane: ...
Her gaze flickered. "I've read the books you sent me."
Bai Yi: ...
"There are still three months until the spectacle arrives. During this time, you needn't retreat. Practice with me and memorize all the theoretical knowledge first. Sometimes, estimating combat power is a mandatory course for the undead mage."
Diane nodded, her eyes wandering. "Alright."
After about six minutes, the outline of the capital became visible.
The bone dragon continued to slow, and under the watchful eyes of soldiers, Diane swiftly guided it to Difeng's house with the white epidemic.
The massive bone dragon drew considerable attention. As they neared Difeng's house, a middle-aged woman stepped forward to greet them.
"An'an, you're finally back! I've missed you so much!" Sally Renchu exclaimed, rushing over to embrace Diane, unable to hide her longing.
Though Diane rarely returned home, at least her mother knew she was safe.
Now, with Diane in Dongwu City, 40,000 kilometers away, the distance only heightened Sally's yearning.
"Mother, I'm not—"
"Yes, yes, yes! An'an has grown up, but to me, you'll always be my little girl."
Sally released Diane and gently caressed her face. "An'an, you've lost weight, haven't you?"
Diane appeared taken aback, then continued helplessly, "Remember to eat while practicing. Ms. Elena may be getting on in years. Bring back two more cooks later."
Before Diane could respond, Sally turned to Bai Yi, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "Bai Yi, you're finally here! Let me see you quickly!"
The white epidemic, who had been trying to minimize his presence, couldn't escape Ms. Sally's warmth. He reluctantly called out, "Mother."
As soon as he uttered those words, Sally's excitement surged again, bombarding him with a flurry of questions and concerns that left Bai Yi feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Entering Difeng's house, he was drawn into a whirlwind of conversations about daily life, reminiscing about Diane's childhood with Yuan Tang, and stories of the white epidemic himself.
The next morning, Bai Yi left Difeng's house before Sally arrived, heading to the parliament to apply for two exchange rights.
There were no surprises. The white epidemic's panel was among the top potential levels. After all, how could talent compete with plugins?
Thus, his two exchanges secured the essential materials for crafting the memory book.
Returning to Difeng's house, he conspired with Diane to cleverly acquire the new medicinal field from Metheus. Under Diane's affectionate guidance, they also secured the manufacturing method for black soil.
Satisfied, he returned to Tobu City.
Over the next three months, Bai Yi accompanied Diane in the laboratory, enriching his knowledge treasury while continuing to refine his skills.
Meanwhile, the player forum buzzed with activity.
The number of players preparing to join had reached an astounding 30 million.
End of Chapter