Chapter 175
**"The dire consequences will follow like a shadow, irreversible and irretrievable."**
**"The first calamity has descended, and the remaining disasters will follow in quick succession."**
The first draft of the ancient Ansu language, polished by Aivina, lay before Xia'er.
The parts marked with red ink and question marks were areas where Aivina herself was uncertain about the translation, as she could not grasp their meanings.
But Xia'er understood.
Most likely, Aivina had not made any translation errors.
Fate calamity, fate vessel, fate destined...
Destined...
Xia'er was all too familiar with this term.
When the system was first activated, the very first lesson it taught her was about the "Destined Death."
Breaking the "Destined Death" would bring Xia'er substantial rewards, and the original meaning of "Destined Death" referred to a calamity that was fated to end in death.
"System, someone has stolen your lines."
Xia'er called out to the system in her mind, hoping to extract some information.
Soon, a silvery screen appeared before her.
**[I have opened the source]**
Oh wow, there's a source deity here too.
"Do you know who did it?"
Xia'er continued to probe, but the system's reply screen did not appear again.
Just as she was about to continue deciphering the phrases, a flash of inspiration struck her mind, and she seized that fleeting moment of clarity.
Open source?
The system seemed to say nothing, yet it had indeed revealed some information to Xia'er.
The term "open source" indicated that this word was indeed created by the system itself.
Moreover, the system did not deny Xia'er's statement about "someone stealing your lines," suggesting that the person or "thing" that left this message was likely intricately connected to the system.
This was not mere speculation; in times of uncertainty, one should not overlook any possible idea.
First, latch onto a potential breakthrough point and think deeply—perhaps unexpected insights would emerge.
Sometimes, the truth is hidden in the minutiae.
Even if there were no discoveries, it would at least eliminate one wrong answer.
Following this line of thought, Xia'er continued to deduce further, wondering if her reasoning could hold together in the end.
Fate calamity, fate vessel, destined.
The Chosen One...
Xia'er wrote these four words on a blank sheet of paper, her dip pen gently tapping the phrase "Chosen One."
She slowly drew an arc with her pen, connecting "Chosen One" to "fate vessel."
"The Chosen One" likely referred to Xia'er, Lucy, and Opode.
But what was the "fate vessel"?
Fate vessel, fate vessel, fate vessel...
Vessel...
Xia'er opened the letter Aivina had written for her and flipped to the last two pages, searching through them.
Before long, she found the term, which indeed had various translations, even different words formed from the same root with different prefixes. Aivina's work was impressively meticulous.
In modern Ansu, "vessel" can be translated as "tool" or "container," and relates to items of use.
However, in ancient Ansu, this word had different metaphors depending on the context, organization, or usage.
Xia'er copied all the words with the same root that Aivina had gathered into her notebook.
"Relic," "chalice," "amulet," "tool"...
These words shared the same root, and while it was possible Xia'er had made a mistake in copying, they could very well be the original terms.
After all, memorizing several unfamiliar phrases purely from imagination was quite challenging; Xia'er could only manage to remember the earlier segments by visualizing them.
After carefully comparing the analyses and translations of these terms, Xia'er focused on the word "relic."
"Relic" is an ancient Ansu term that signifies items of religious or historical significance. In the context of "fate vessel," it could refer to ancient and mysterious artifacts.
Ancient and mysterious artifacts...
Could I interpret this as powerful sealing objects?
Then could "fate vessel" mean "sealing objects related to fate"?
If that were the case...
Xia'er looked again at the hints Aivina had translated and polished.
"Fate calamity approaches, punishing three fate vessels."
What could be punishing three sealing objects related to fate...
No, no, no, I need to connect it to the "Chosen One."
In an instant, Xia'er felt as if she had returned to the time when she first started learning Ansu, much like the headaches of learning English in her past life.
Is it a sealing object related to fate held by the Chosen One?
Sealing objects related to fate...
Sealing objects...
Related to fate...
The first thing that came to Xia'er's mind was the "Lucky Coin" in Lucy's hand.
If any sealing object had a strong connection to fate, Xia'er would undoubtedly cast her vote for the "Lucky Coin."
Moreover, in the end, that sealing object, which had clearly been with her, returned to Lucy's hand—almost as if it were bound to her.
During the fire dragon whirlwind disaster, the "Lucky Coin" in Lucy's possession changed, breaking the limit of twice a day, and could adjust its landing point according to Lucy's will—this was an incredibly terrifying breakthrough and evolution.
"I can control it now."
Xia'er recalled Lucy's frenzied words during the expansion of the fire dragon.
This was a sealing object related to fate bound to Lucy, and she had not yet fully mastered it.
However, a single person's sealing object was not enough to convince Xia'er to accept this version of the hypothesis and translation.
Xia'er thought of Opode.
When Opode adhered to the "Doom Rules," he also gained significant benefits; his potion digestion became increasingly smooth.
Originally, he had little chance of reaching the fourth tier, yet he could now envision it again—this was why he endured such a torturous life, clinging to his position in the Bell Tower District.
Then what about Opode's sealing object related to fate...
Xia'er remembered when she disguised herself as a judge and visited Opode's home, the crystal eye on the dining table that seemed to stare at her, spreading like purple veins.
Opode had learned so much about the "Doom Rules" through that sealing object he called the "Evil Eye"—he could be said to have the most complete grasp of the rules among the three.
Clearly, the "Evil Eye" was the sealing object Opode controlled, related to fate.
At this thought, Xia'er's brow furrowed slightly.
Lucy and Opode made sense.
But how could she explain her own situation?
What sealing object related to fate did she possess?
What sealing object related to fate could she have?
Aside from the **[Deadly Blood Roland]**, there was only one exclusive sealing object left: **[Echo of the Silver-White Binder]**.
Wait!
Xia'er opened the system again and looked at the introduction for **[Echo of the Silver-White Binder]**.
**[Echo of the Silver-White Binder (Severely Damaged)]: Exclusive sealing object, bound, can gain more abilities as the sealing object is repaired.]**
The **[Echo of the Silver-White Binder]** was not in its complete state.
Who could guarantee that in its complete state, it didn't possess abilities related to fate?
Connecting this to the system's earlier mention of "open source," Xia'er felt her line of thought was beginning to connect.
First, it was certain that the term "destined" that appeared in her simulation came from the system.
Xia'er could largely rule out the threat of the "Doom Rules" coming from a particular organization or a powerful individual.
Even if they could know about the sealing objects in Lucy and Opode's possession, Xia'er could understand that, but they would have no way of knowing about the sealing object she possessed.
Even if they did know, they were in the dark while Xia'er was in the light; if they wanted to kill Xia'er and seize the sealing object, they could do so at any time without needing such a grand scheme—after all, that was a meteor! A whole city's worth of people!
"System, is that a fragment of the 'Echo of the Silver-White Binder'? Is it used to repair the 'Echo of the Silver-White Binder'?"
Xia'er asked the system in her mind.
This time, the system still offered no response, but Xia'er felt she had at least a thirty percent certainty.
Generally speaking, when the system does not respond, it indicates that she is on the right track.
Only when she strayed from the path would the system be eager to mock her.
Thirty percent certainty... enough for Xia'er to give it a try.
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