Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 278 - 260 Wishes and Costs 1

Chapter 278: 260 Wishes and Costs 1

I didn’t expect Number Four Xuanming to abruptly ask about soul loss, and the Master of Divine Seal’s reply was even more thought-provoking.

The Master of Divine Seal was unable to answer the origins of soul loss because he couldn’t answer questions related to Doomsday. In other words, there’s a clear causative link between the rise of soul loss and "Doomsday." I had always suspected that the souls of soul-loss patients might have been transported to the Doomsday Era, and now this clue seems to support that suspicion to some extent.

After receiving the reply, Number Four Xuanming did not continue to inquire further, and from his demeanor, it was not clear whether he was surprised or had expected this all along. However, since Doomsday-obsessed Number Four Xuanming suddenly brought up the topic of soul loss, it implies that he might have been aware of the intricate connection between soul loss and Doomsday from the beginning.

On the other hand, if the source of soul loss is Doomsday, then the "cure for soul loss" that Mazao is so fixated on is most likely unattainable through the channel of the Master of Divine Seal. Because the method to completely eradicate soul loss would probably involve the cause of its emergence.

With the absurdity of soul loss’s origin, merely relying on the demon hunters’ techniques to research Mazao’s singular case of awakening from soul loss hardly seems imaginable. After all, soul loss isn’t a true infectious disease, as it doesn’t involve bacteria or viruses affecting the patients, so a specific cure targeting the cause of the disease cannot be hoped for.

It is more akin to an intangible natural disaster; the calamity itself must be quelled, or else there’s no real salvation for all soul-loss patients. This feeling seems to have taken root in my heart long ago, and with the knowledge of the current information, my intuition has become even more distinct.

Number Four Xuanming was likely sorting through the information he had collected, and he remained silent for a long time. Seeing this, Number Six stepped forward and asked the Master of Divine Seal his own question: "Can you tell me how to open ’the third door’ and ’the fourth door’?"

"I can," the Master of Divine Seal said, "You know the answer now."

"Hmph... So the fourth door truly exists and there’s a way to open it..." Number Six spoke in an inexplicably cryptic tone.

Although I don’t know what "the third door" and "the fourth door" refer to, he is clearly mimicking Number Four Xuanming’s method of extracting information from the Master of Divine Seal without spending Divine Seal Fragments.

It is obvious that the Master of Divine Seal also noticed the intentions of Number Four Xuanming and Number Six, yet chose not to act petty and secretive, but rather generously allowed those two to take advantage of himself.

So, can I also extract information from the Master of Divine Seal in the same way? After a moment of thought, it’s probably not possible. Unlike those two, I require answers with clear content.

Number One likely shares the same view. He wants knowledge on resurrecting others, which he had already confirmed with the Master of Divine Seal previously, and thus he didn’t repeat it like the others this time. However, I am certain he does not have additional Divine Seal Fragments. He seemed somewhat impatient, his gaze wandering, then fixing on Number Five. More precisely, on the Divine Seal Fragment in Number Five’s hand.

Number Five had initially been hesitating as if uncertain whether to pose a question to the Master of Divine Seal, but Number One’s covetous gaze seemed to be the final straw that made him decide, asking the Master of Divine Seal: "I want to know the method that can make me strong enough to kill Old Fist God. Even with a question like this, can you tell me the answer?"

Old Fist God is one of the Impermanence, standing at the pinnacle of Luo Mountain, and is one of the neutrals in the struggle between Extraordinaryism and Governance Ideology.

Although I’m not very clear on the theories of political strife, nor do I know whether that is applicable to the world of the Impermanence, I have heard it said: those who choose not to take sides in conflicts of position often become the first sacrifices attacked collectively by all parties. Because no one wants to be taken advantage of and benefit the fisherman while fighting to mutual destruction against the enemy.

Conversely, if someone can live comfortably while being "the fence-sitter," it means that person has a very substantial foundation.

The information provided to me by Mr. Zhu shows that Old Fist God is the strongest among all Impermanence.

As soon as Number Five finished speaking, even Number Six seemed unable to help but glance sideways, while Number Four Xuanming laughed: "Oh... you want to kill that old brute whose brain is all muscles?"

This question seemed to pose some difficulty for the Master of Divine Seal, who paused for two or three seconds before saying, "—I can."

"Then, I wish to exchange a Divine Seal Fragment for the answer."

Number Five approached the Master of Divine Seal as he made this declaration.

Who would have thought that the first one among us to use a Divine Seal Fragment in exchange for an answer would be him, the least conspicuous of us all.

The Master of Divine Seal first confirmed: "Do you intend for everyone to hear this answer, or just you alone?"

"Of course, only for me."

Number Five clearly did not wish for the precious answer he had bravely traded a Divine Seal Fragment for to be obtained by everyone present at no cost.

The Master of Divine Seal nodded slightly, and the Divine Seal Fragment in Number Five’s hand disappeared, then the Master of Divine Seal said, "I have transferred all the knowledge into your mind."

Number Five seemed as if struck by lightning, nearly falling to the ground, then staggered like a drunkard to the stone seat that corresponded to his number and sat down.

He fell into a long silence, as if earnestly digesting the knowledge he had acquired, while murmuring to himself, "So it turns out... that’s how it’s supposed to be done..."

At the same time, Number Two Little Bowl used telepathy to communicate with me, "Number Three, the connection between Number Five and the Void Realm has greatly deepened."

Indeed, transactions do deepen connections.

Unable to bear it anymore, Number One addressed Number Four Xuanming, "Number Four... no, Xuanming, do you have any spare Divine Seal Fragments? I hope you can lend me one, and I will surely repay you generously in the future."

"That, I cannot do. The Divine Seal Fragment is of great use to me," said Number Four Xuanming.

"Are you hoping to use the Power of Divine Seal Fragments to increase your own power?" asked Number One.

"You probably haven’t obtained a second Divine Seal Fragment, so you do not know. We, the so-called Chosen Ones, can only use the first Divine Seal Fragment bound to us to strengthen our own power. Even if we obtain more Divine Seal Fragments after that, we cannot further enhance our strength," said Number Four Xuanming, "Moreover, even if I could, I would not collect Divine Seal Fragments for such a reason. Furthermore, I have no intention to use even the power of the first Divine Seal Fragment bound to me.

"And even... if I really had the intention to lend you surplus Divine Seal Fragments, you are destined to be unable to take it."

"What?" Number One was taken aback.

Number Four Xuanming did not explain further and simply raised his hand, summoning a Divine Seal Fragment from his palm and tossing it towards Number One.

Seeing this, Number One immediately tried to catch it but failed; the Divine Seal Fragment passed through his hand as if through a holographic projection.

Then, before it could land at his feet, the Divine Seal Fragment disappeared into thin air. With a flip of Number Four Xuanming’s hand, the Divine Seal Fragment automatically returned to him.

This scene was truly unexpected. All of us, summoned to the Void Realm in the form of shadows, should still be able to normally interact with other matter, as well as with each other. Number Two Little Bowl is holding my hand right now, and what comes through is the normal soft touch of a young girl’s palm, even the body warmth can be felt if felt carefully. Yet Number Five could not touch the Divine Seal Fragment, and it didn’t look like Number Four Xuanming had tampered with it.

"This phenomenon is..." Number One seemed to have realized something.

"Have you ever seen others in the real world attempting to touch a Divine Seal Fragment? If you have, you should understand what kind of phenomenon it is. Those not bound by fate to the Divine Seal Fragment are unable to take it," said Number Four Xuanming, "Although you are also a destined individual bound to your own Divine Seal Fragment, you still cannot touch another Chosen One’s Divine Seal Fragment.

"Because fundamentally, the bond between us and our Divine Seal Fragment is the strengthening of our ’fate’ with it to the utmost. Conversely, the fate between such a Divine Seal Fragment and other people, even other Chosen Ones, is weakened to the utmost.

"When fate is so weak, it is exceedingly difficult to even meet, let alone to interact. The phenomenon just now is the proof."

He showed profound understanding of the Divine Seal Fragments, and Number One, though unwilling, ultimately had to accept the truth.

It was the first time I had seen the specific implementation of the notion that "those without related destiny cannot take a Divine Seal Fragment." I had previously thought "unable to take" meant the Divine Seal Fragment was like the Sword in the Stone in the legend of King Arthur, which no one could move. No wonder Fu Feng said they couldn’t move the Divine Seal Fragment and could only build a base to guard it where it was found. If one can’t even touch it, there sure isn’t any question of moving it.

Wait, hold on...

I suddenly noticed something unreasonable. If it’s true that those without the relevant destiny can’t even touch the Divine Seal Fragment, then the situation is quite strange.

Number Two Little Bowl seemed to have realized the problem before me; as I turned to look at her, I met her gaze.

I think, like me, she must have also thought of someone who once broke that logic.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.