Chapter 550
Not quite; there’s another condition for ascension: one must detach from their original physical form and undergo a transformation of life—
Thud—
The sudden sensation of falling jolted Xia'er out of her deep contemplation, quickly restoring her awareness of her surroundings.
She realized she was lying on something warm and soft.
Xia'er turned over to see what she had been resting on, and there lay Tara, pouting and sprawled on the floor.
Xia'er got up, intending to say “sorry,” but before she could speak, Tara scrambled to her feet, head bowed, and said, “I’m so sorry, Lady Xia'er... I just didn’t have the strength... I’m really sorry...”
Tara kept her head down, her expression a mix of grievance and regret. She lamented not having exercised more to build her muscles, which would have allowed her to endure a bit longer in that situation.
The “Ascetic” and “Missionary” classes didn’t inherently boost physical strength, and with Tara’s petite frame, there was little hope in that regard.
“Sorry, I was lost in thought,” Xia'er said, a hint of apology on her face. She asked with concern, “Does it hurt?”
“No, no, it doesn’t hurt at all! It’s an honor for Tara to be beneath Lady Xia'er,” Tara shook her head repeatedly, seemingly overwhelmed by Xia'er’s apology.
But she was speaking the truth; she didn’t mind being under Xia'er at all, even considering it a stroke of luck.
Although Xia'er had received information about a new path, she wasn’t in a rush to figure out how to replicate the ritual for it.
After all, she was still uncertain whether the system’s so-called 16 save slots included the “Knight” path of the Pure White Knight.
The safest approach was to first save the “Listener” and “Ascetic” paths, and then experiment with the No. 16 save slot. As long as she succeeded with one, she would meet the system’s requirements.
Additionally, it seemed that the president of the Deyton Group would be visiting soon, and Xia'er wanted to hear what classified information he might bring.
However, Lucy’s efficiency exceeded Xia'er’s expectations. Just as Xia'er was still contemplating how to quickly acquire the “Listener” and “Ascetic” paths, Lucy arrived at her doorstep once again, bringing news.
The president had accepted Xia'er’s invitation and was preparing to visit tonight.
With less than two hours left until the scheduled meeting, Tara excused herself, claiming she had matters to attend to. In reality, she returned to the Church of the Savior Goddess, summoning Eleanor and Percy to keep watch around Xia'er’s home.
Having two cardinal bishops, both 4th-tier powerhouses, as her bodyguards was likely a unique privilege for Xia'er.
Meanwhile, Xia'er remained at home, continuing to ponder the connections between the paths. She sifted through numerous books, listing all the paths she knew, contemplating their meanings and relationships one by one.
She felt she was grasping something, but the deeper she delved, the more she sensed she was only scratching the surface.
Like everyone else, she had previously believed that the “Replication Ritual” was merely a reenactment of the divine ascension, retracing the steps once taken by the gods... at least, the Church of the Savior Goddess firmly believed this.
Almost all internal paths of organizations had been refined over generations, forming a standard answer that suited the majority, as if they had found the right road.
Yet, from the Pure White Knight’s performance, it seemed that further ascension didn’t necessarily rely on the “Replication Ritual.” It was even possible to create a unique ritual... the only commonality was the need for magical potions.
Magical potions were also limited. Although extraordinary beings would exude magical materials upon death, those materials carried the spiritual pollution of the deceased. Actively removing that pollution was nearly impossible.
For instance, the chaotic “Avenger” potion that Xia'er initially consumed was likely not a first-hand product, as it significantly affected her mental state, making her irritable and filling her mind with a cacophony of whispers.
Perhaps... the concept of adjacent paths was a misnomer, merely different rituals derived from the same source path.
This speculation suddenly emerged in Xia'er’s mind.
However, to validate this hypothesis, she currently lacked sufficient samples for reference...
As Xia'er pondered the paths and planned for the future, time ticked away. Soon, a soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
Knock, knock, knock—
Opening the door, the maid bowed slightly to Xia'er and said, “Lady Xia'er, Ms. Koles Bloodchip has arrived. When shall we begin the dinner?”
Koles Bloodchip...
What a peculiar name.
It had a distinctly medieval flavor, reminiscent of surnames derived from professions like “blacksmith” or “hammer,” or even names of rivers and trees.
“Bloodchip” is an ancient Ansu term, literally translating to “blood-colored chip,” but in ancient Ansu, it signifies “bloody transaction.”
Whichever meaning it held, neither was particularly pleasant.
Since the guest had arrived, Xia'er had no reason to linger in her study. She stood up and walked toward the door.
She wanted to see what classified information this president would bring her.
And whether this information would surprise her as much as the Pure White Knight’s had.
Following the maid out of the study and down the stairs, Xia'er finally saw the president of the Deyton Group at the entrance.
.
.
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PS:
Tomorrow, I’m going for 8K!
Good night!
Chapter 285: The Descent of “Sadana” (5186 words)
“You have a really sweet smile, and... I don’t eat seafood, thank you...”
As Xia'er descended the stairs, she heard light laughter and chatter coming from below.
When she reached the bottom, she saw a woman wearing a dark hunting cap, her long wine-red hair cascading down, smiling and chatting animatedly with the maid in front of her. Her skin was slightly darker than a wheat tone, giving her a mixed-race appearance.
However, what caught Xia'er’s attention was the necklace around the woman’s neck. The bottom of the necklace was tucked into her clothing, hiding the pendant, but for a brief moment, Xia'er sensed a hint of otherworldly energy...
Xia'er was unusually sensitive to otherworldly energies and didn’t believe she was mistaken.
Noticing Xia'er’s gaze, the woman slowly lifted her eyes to meet Xia'er’s.
Her ethereal gray-blue pupils seemed unfocused, yet Xia'er could clearly feel that she was looking at her.
What Xia'er could sense even more was... the woman had never been overlapped by any nemesis.
Had all the previous simulations of slaughter in the West District, and even the subsequent viral infection of the entire city, failed to harm her in the slightest?
She was 4th-tier; if she truly wished to avoid conflict, she could certainly do so.
“Koles Bloodchip.” The woman removed her hat, placing it over her heart, and smiled at Xia'er. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Xia'er.”
“Just Xia'er,” she replied, a faint smile gracing her face. “Lucy has mentioned you often, saying you’re the coolest boss she’s ever met.”
“Hilufa? Hahaha,” Koles laughed heartily, “The Deyton Group hasn’t had someone as capable as her in a long time. She’s quite ambitious.”
“Please, come in.” Xia'er gestured for her to follow into the dining room.
The maid who had been conversing with Koles headed to the kitchen to instruct the chef not to serve anything Koles didn’t eat.
“How nostalgic,” Koles said as they entered the dining room, taking a seat directly across from the main chair and glancing around with a hint of wistfulness.
“You’ve been here before?” Xia'er asked, settling into the main seat and looking at Koles.
This was an asset of the Deyton Group, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Koles had visited.
“No, I won it from someone else,” Koles shook her head with a smile. “It just reminds me of old friends.”
Won it...
That certainly sounded like the Deyton Group’s style.
“I’m curious why the Deyton Group is named ‘Deyton’...”
As the maids began serving the meal, Xia'er sought to strike up a conversation with Koles.
At first, Koles seemed a bit nervous, but soon, as Xia'er opened the topic, she gradually regained her talkative nature, quickly engaging with any subject and sharing her insights, displaying a wealth of knowledge and a humorous demeanor.
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