Chapter 491 - Deathless Phoenix Sect (III)

Chapter 491

Deathless Phoenix Sect (III)

"Is everything alright?" I must have spaced out for so long that I made the man worry, as the look on his face was of someone who wondered whether the man in front of him was a lunatic.

I promise... uh, he didn't even introduce himself yet, huh? Well, anyway, I promise, Mr. Perfect Stranger, I am not a lunatic. If I were, I would have had every right to be, of course, but I'm still hanging on, however thinly.

"Sorry, my mind wandered a bit too far; kids always yell at me to snap me back." I said, wondering silently about the quest.

I did realize I probably missed a heck of a lot of notifications while being in my happy-happy dreamland, but to be besieged immediately by a goddamn, actual Phoenix...

What even are the chances?

"Of course; I've taken up too much of your time. Please, rest. Should you need anything, you can always find me just down that corridor, the last door to the left. If I don't answer, it's probably because I'm cultivating."

"Ah, yes, thank you. Sorry that I'm not being the greatest conversationalist."

"For a man who nearly died, you're doing great."

As I escorted his 'ho-ho-ing' ass, I quickly fell back to the chair and looked through the quest again.

Dao of Fire is... in me.

I mean, there are a few theories I have about this, the first being that Long Tao shoved it in there for some reason. It's unlikely, though; what's more likely is that either it snapped to me when I was passed out as the only 'available host' or that Eternity or the system had some hand in cramming it in there.

Checking my status, yup, it's right there, just below the ever-increasing number of traits.

[Dao of Fire (Dao) -- you contain therein not just a trace but rather the bespoke truth of the Dao of Fire; though it is weak and in its nascent form, it is a true reflection of it. However, Host is merely a containment--the host's body has none of the qualifications necessary to actually embody the Dao or use it. While containing it will do no harm, Dao of Fire is rather weak and weakening further; if a new host is not found within six weeks, it is likely to perish]

It does not tell me how it got in there, though.

My eyes did catch a glimpse of a few other things that were not there before, which prompted me to look to the far left and see the big ol' '!' with a lot of numbers over it.

Taking a deep breath, I clicked and started reading through a goddamn novel.

[--congratulations, Host. You have achieved several unprecedented feats]

[...]

[Anomaly detected: as the host was using external means of empowerment, rewards have been severely culled]

Stolen story; please report.

[...]

[Your body suffers a severe backlash as your borrowed power comes to an end. You will not be able to use the empowerment for 6 months and will require two materials to facilitate it the next time: Bone or Feather of a Divine Beast; a Drop of Eternal Water]

[The system has prevented all permanent damage to the host's body]

[...]

[Anomaly Detected: a nearby corpse contains Dao of Fire. If not contained, it will expire immediately]

[...]

[As the host is incapacitated, 3,000CP have been deducted automatically to allow Eternity to interfere. Eternity has contained the Dao of Fire within the host's dantian, wrapping itself around it to prevent it from being seen by the outsiders]

[...]

[The host has temporarily obtained Dao of Fire (Dao); however, as the host's body is not qualified to host it, it is only in the form of containment. You must find an appropriate host of Dao of Fire within seven weeks, or it will perish]

[...]

[Congratulations, Host, on slaying a quasi-Immortal. An impossible feat that no one has ever achieved at the host's current level. However, as it was done through a system-exclusive aid, rewards are severely restricted]

[...]

[CHOOSE ONE]

[Reward 1: an assortment of rewards, including 5% of the contents of quasi-Immortal's destroyed spatial ring. Gain a medium amount of Creation Points, upgrade your meridians with a random meridian-enhancing physique, and gain a free Art Creation of random nature]

[...]

[Reward 2: Immediately remember random 1% of what you learned during being empowered]

[...]

[Reward 3: Receive a semi-random Dao Trait]

[...]

[Reward 4: Receive a one-time-use Domain Talisman]

[... as Host is incapacitated, reward choice is pending]

I had to pause here, as the rest of the notifications couldn't be seen before I made a choice. This might be the first time, actually, where there isn't an obvious choice--I mean, there is; it's clearly the trait since I've never, ever, ever seen a Dao-grade trait on anyone, even Long Tao.

But in terms of choices, the system always marked a 'selfish' one and a 'for disciples' one. It was a barely disguised 'choice'... until now. Though, I do have a suspicion that the trait itself isn't going to be anything along the lines of, 'You become 1000 times stronger when fighting weird guys with immortality fetishes.'

Though the first reward is tempting as well, the other two... not so much. The second reward, especially, just felt... hollow. The way I remember the fight with that man is weird, I can tell that much. It was like someone took my memories and smeared them aggressively to the point it was barely a 'memory'. Sort of like having a -20 vision and trying to watch a movie without glasses. Like, sure, some shapes are there, but... are they, like, really?

I'm not even tempted to learn that 1% as my mind can't even frame it. It's so unsettling I'd rather just not think about it at all... so I choose not to.

After a minute or two of mulling around as though I hadn't made a choice immediately, I selected Reward 3 and waited for a moment before the system RNG'd into a trait.

[--Reward 3 selected. Randomizing a slightly curated Dao Trait...]

[...]

[Congratulations, Host. You have received the Cradle of Creation (Dao) Trait]

[...]

[Cradle of Creation (Dao) --though all things come from the Dao, the thresholds between realms are not immutable. Martial artists have by now all forgotten the Origins of Knowledge; there once was a time when everyone was trying to diffuse the means of breakthrough, to alter the ways in which a body interacted with reality. '???' has achieved precisely that, though, in reverence of Dao, they chose never to share it. You have partially inherited their knowledge, allowing you to alter the very nature of how your Disciples interact with the Path of Immortality. You may expend Creation Points to rewrite the structure of a breakthrough, altering its conditions, sequence, or nature. The standard is applied flatly to all your Disciples. Alterations are susceptible to three governing rules]

[The greater the deviation from established Dao, the greater the resistance to change]

[Breakthroughs under altered standards may invite additional anomalies]

[Once established, the new standard cannot be easily revoked without consequence]

[Note: the Trait will be considered the greatest form of heresy against Dao; should the wider world ever learn of it, the Heavenly Court will issue immediate extermination under Writ of Dao Suppression]

... huh.

What. The. Actual. Fuck?