After carefully reviewing the Curio's details, sure enough, at the very end of the description he discovered a line of annotation: [This ability is composed of the purest and most complete conceptual power.]
"Impressive!"
Sylvester pumped his fist and shouted.
After selling no small number of conceptual Curios, he understood better than anyone that the greatest difference between Aeons and mortals had never been the sheer disparity in the total amount of Path power, but rather the utterly untouchable force of concepts!
That was the greatest authority held in the hands of Aeons! A vast, insurmountable chasm no mortal could ever cross!
And yet this barrier—something mortals could scarcely even brush against—had, in the blink of an eye, ended up behind him?
What perfect timing—just like a pillow arriving when you're about to fall asleep. He had literally just been thinking that aside from Aeons, no one could beat him.
And now, in the next instant, he was already striding straight toward the ranks of Aeons?
Happiness really did come too suddenly!
In a sense, the gap between himself and Aeons was now reduced to nothing more than the total amount of Path power—and the creation of a new Path!
Sylvester gently stroked the orb of light as though petting a kitten. Only after a long while did he finally absorb it.
Staring at the last remaining orb, his heart burned with excitement.
Unable to wait any longer, he tapped it eagerly, and a string of text instantly flashed through his mind.
[Equality: Through observation, the host may permanently elevate their strength to match that of the observed target. No restrictions on the target.]
"No restrictions… on the target!"
Sylvester's tightly shut eyes snapped open, and a deafening buzz exploded within his mind, lingering for a long time without dispersing.
Didn't this mean that as long as he had the chance to observe an Aeon, he could instantly obtain Aeon-level power?!
Sylvester muttered in disbelief, "This is… way too broken, isn't it?!"
Immediately after, the corners of his mouth pulled upward into a grin that was impossible—and unnecessary—to suppress.
Pinching his chin, he said, "But I like it."
As expected of an exclusive bucket. Watching people like Bailu and Aventurine open golden buckets one after another before—there was no way he hadn't felt anything at all.
But compared to the Curios in front of him now, those things were practically no different from green-tier Curios!
After absorbing the orb, he felt an indescribable sense of comfort spreading through his entire body.
However, after being happy for a while, he found himself somewhat troubled.
"So… where am I supposed to find an—no, an Aeon?"
Those beings had no idea where they wandered around all day. Even the Nihility Aeon, rumored to never move at all, had an unknown location.
Hmm… I'll need to think of a way.
…
Somewhere in the universe, space shook violently.
Like the tip of a pen puncturing plastic film, a starship appeared out of nowhere.
On its external armor was emblazoned the emblem of the Interastral Peace Corporation—it had jumped in from the distant Xianzhou Luofu.
Inside the main control room, Jade pointed at the most prominent planet on the screen and smiled. "Well? Does it look familiar to you?"
Topaz and Aventurine turned to look upon hearing her words.
After a moment's thought, Aventurine said, "Isn't this the place where we tested the [Jiki Jiki no Mi] last time?"
With a slightly flippant tone, half joking, he added, "One place getting ravaged by Curios twice in a row—how pitiful. And this time it's a Spirit Bomb test. If this star system had thoughts, it'd probably be cursing us out loud."
"There's nothing we can do," Jade sighed softly. "Finding an uninhabited star system quickly, and one close enough to the Luofu for convenient travel… there really wasn't a better choice."
Beep! Beep! Beep!
An interstellar communication abruptly interrupted their conversation.
Hearing the sudden sound, all of them stiffened, quickly straightened their appearance, and adopted serious expressions.
There was only one person with the authority to bypass reporting procedures and directly connect to their main control room.
Their immediate superior—the direct source of Cornerstone power, the Emanator of Preservation—Diamond!
Once the communication connected, the familiar office of Pier Point headquarters appeared on the large screen. A figure sat upright and composed; though he had yet to speak, an imposing aura naturally emanated from him.
Jade, Topaz, and Aventurine spoke in unison, "Greetings, Director!"
Diamond nodded to them in acknowledgment and went straight to the point.
His voice was loud and firm. "I've reviewed the briefing you sent. If the effects of those purple Curios truly possess such tremendous power, then the Strategic Investment Department will undoubtedly gain a massive bargaining chip!"
"And Aventurine, as the holder of these Curios, will receive the highest reward our department can provide. I will also nominate him to the board and apply for additional bonuses."
"I've already mobilized everyone under the Strategic Investment Department and placed them on standby. They're waiting for the broadcast signal, ready to contribute their spirit energy at any time. Now, let us see whether this so-called Curio combination that can rival an Imaginary Pulse truly lives up to its name!"
"Yes!" the three responded in unison.
Putting everything else aside, if Aventurine truly could contend with an Imaginary Pulse—even if only barely—it would raise the overall standing of the Strategic Investment Department by a huge margin, perhaps even allowing it to firmly suppress their old rival, the Market Development Department.
After all, the Imaginary Pulse was something the Corporation had obtained only by fully mobilizing its funds and taking on immense ethical risks.
If the Strategic Investment Department now possessed a powerhouse capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with such a weapon, its status would naturally soar.
After delivering Aventurine onto that planet whose overall mass had become extremely uneven due to the [Jiki Jiki no Mi]—and which now rotated in a bizarre posture—they deployed an observation satellite.
Then they activated the jump engine, ready to evacuate at a moment's notice.
Under the watchful eyes of countless observers, Aventurine fully unleashed the power of the Cornerstone. His attire and aura transformed in an instant.
After taking a deep breath, Trickster Aventurine raised both hands high and shouted loudly, "All things in the universe—please, lend me a bit of the spirit energy you carry!"
His voice was broadcast through the satellite into the ears of countless Corporation employees and those under its administration.
Following the advance notice they had received, people on innumerable planets simultaneously set aside their work, raised both arms, and gazed devoutly toward an unknown direction.
At that very moment, aside from essential personnel, those planets nearly ground to a halt!
Beyond that, even stones and blades of grass released faint wisps of spirit energy, answering Aventurine's call.
A white storm surged toward Aventurine from all directions. Only when it drew near did one realize it was a torrent of spirit energy so condensed it was nearly solid!
Above Aventurine's raised arms, it converged into an extremely dense sphere of light.
As he felt its growing mass approach the absolute limit of what he could sustain, Aventurine threw the [Spacium REDOUBLIZER] in front of himself.
The machine activated automatically, its central cylindrical chamber aimed directly at Aventurine.
But just as Aventurine was about to unleash it, Diamond hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
"What is this?"
Aventurine discovered that his own power was skyrocketing! Even the limit of how much spirit energy he could bear surged upward in tandem!
He turned his head toward the direction of the starship.
There was no doubt about it—Diamond had modified the Cornerstone's permissions, tilting even more power in his favor.
Jade and Topaz, along with the Nine Stonehearts far away in distant lands, endured the discomfort caused by their power being siphoned away, staring intently at the terrifying sphere of light poised above Aventurine's head.
Even through the screen, a restless unease stirred in their hearts. The instincts of the strong screamed warnings at them, urging them to leave immediately—run as far away as possible!
===BREAK===
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