Chapter 492 - Deathless Phoenix Sect (IV)

Chapter 492

Deathless Phoenix Sect (IV)

... I've been shellshocked by the system quite a few times by now, but this might be the first time when my brain just short-circuited for good five minutes. Some rewards were always kind of 'whoa, this is crazy!', but this went well beyond that. It also did bring up a lot of questions that I'd kind of put to rest--namely, what the hell even is the system?

I'd firmly believed it was Dao's creation in one way or another, but doesn't this kind of contradict it? It is explicitly asking me to go against Dao, more so than ever before, in such a way that would make me public enemy number one if it ever got out.

To be fair, I've gotten so many things that would likely make me a public enemy number one if they got out that I've gotten kind of numb to it.

Altering the nature of breakthroughs...

... doesn't that essentially mean that, if I have enough points, I can help all the kids achieve perfect breakthrough after perfect breakthrough? Probably not. Though I don't know how many points I will need even for a minor alteration, I know it won't be cheap. This is likely one of those things that I might be able to use on two or three kids and then bear the guilt of having to choose.

Taking a deep breath, I set it aside for the time being since I still had a shitload of notifications to get through.

[--accumulation of your Disciples' feats within the realm has been summed]

[...]

[All of your Disciples advance by 1 minor realm (where applicable)]

[All of your Disciples gain a further understanding of their primary martial art]

[One of your Art undergoes a complete evolution, and you receive 'Perfect' understanding of it]

[...]

[Infernal Torrent Sutra --> Song of Hellfire]

[...]

[Song of Hellfire]

[Type: Unique Art]

[Rank: quasi-Divine]

[Host Comprehension: Perfected]

[Comprehension Difficulty: ???]

[Command inverse Qi of Fire and summon flames that burn through life itself. All things you deem unwanted within a certain radius begin to burn. So long as you maintain an active field, only Emperors and Empresses can extinguish the flames. Hellfire slowly burns away the Qi of everyone within the domain, which is then restored to you. You gain a total immunity to all sub-Imperial Fire]

[...]

[You receive 25,000 Creation Points]

[You are allowed to upgrade your current Cultivation Method by using up to 5,000 Creation Points]

[You receive an item, 'Cracked Blade of Pan']

[Cracked Blade of Pan (???) -- a seemingly ordinary, damaged blade. One must be a master of the Dao of Crafting in order to process it]

[...]

[Three Dao paths have opened up to the Host: Dao of Teaching; Dao of Elements; Dao of Creation]

[Note: Host need not choose any of them to pursue, or choose all of them]

[...]

[All of your Disciples (current and future) receive a unique trait]

[Child of a Sage (Dao) -- cannot be led into falsehood. Sees through the lies]

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

[...]

[Any Alchemist that learns Surging Spirit Art can also learn to pour its efficacy into a pill. Note that the quality of the pill is dependent on the alchemist's tier and their understanding of Surging Spirit Art, as well as the process of imbuing the Art's effects into the pill]

[...]

[Your Disciple, Rayce, has reached 5-Circle Magi]

[...]

[Unique Form has been made]

[You may teach your Disciple, Rayce, how to write Phrases rather than just Words. Due to him only being a 5-Circle Magi, only supplementation Phrases can be written, such as 'Scorching Fire' or 'Freezing Water'. Note that the quality and nature of Words is still completely dependent on a Shaman's skill]

[...]

[New Quest Issued]

[Call of the Void]

[Difficulty: Easy]

[Context: one of your Disciples breaks through into the Void Transformation Realm]

[Reward: Identity of 1 of the 12 rising against Dao]

[...]

Wow.

It's finally the end.

That was... a lot. But before I go back to my glee, let me circle back to that last thing: why am I, once again, being dragged into a conspiracy I'm woefully unprepared for? Like that time I was told that the First Shaman was still alive and well? Or that time I was told that the strongest entity in the realm was some shadow of a deity and whatnot (which is probably who I met in that goddamn dream)?

And now this.

Part of me wants to think that the reason the identity is being revealed to me is because they're a potential ally since, well, I'm also kind of poised to 'go against Dao', but the wording of the reward is... aggressive. Subtly so, yes, but aggressive nonetheless.

Haah.

Anyway, at least the rest of it is mostly just good news. Well, good is underselling it. Though I know next to nothing about Shamanism, of all the times Rayce talked about it, he never once mentioned anything close to 'phrase writing'. Which is likely why he might short-circuit if I'm not careful when I teach it to him.

The 25,000 Creation Points has completely replaced the 3,000 that got deducted, and now my ass is sitting at over 30,000, which is... annoying. Namely because of the limit. There really isn't that much more I can do with just 400 points. I could create a thousand-and-one art, but diverting kids' attention so much would probably be stupid.

Which is why my favorite reward is, by far, the one that will allow me to upgrade Enduring Eternity with stuff costing up to 5,000 points.

It might genuinely be the thing I'm looking forward to doing the most in the past few years of living in this world.

Then there's the upgraded art. I'm kind of tempted to go out and use it right now just to see what it's like, but I have a feeling a formation or two might activate and make of me minced meat.

Child of a Sage trait is perfectly vague, just in line with the rest of the system's nonsense; Lao Shun being able to convert Surging Spirit Art into a pill might either be useless or the greatest money-making skill ever (we'll see), and apparently I can pursue three Dao Paths as of now.

Why?

How?

I haven't a clue. I guess I'll figure it out as we go.

[--Phoenix cries out, demanding that you hand over Dao of Fire right now]

[Eternity becomes angry]

[...]

[Eternity offers to kill the Beast on your behalf]

[Will you pay 1,000,000,000 points for Eternity to intercede on your behalf?]

... wow, holy shit. I was a bit annoyed, too, but seeing that I'd have to pay a cool bil' for Eternity to do something about it... maybe I should march over and give it?

Nah, no way. Not only would I be stopped immediately if I tried to approach what is essentially a Holy Relic, but I'm actually a bit... curious. It's clear that the Phoenix can't do anything to get out, and I still got six weeks before the due date for Dao of Fire.

I wonder...

... if it gets even more desperate, will the quest rewards become that much better?