Although Hitzfeld felt that the fact that "the leader of the tree people loves to eat meat" sounded like something was wrong, Nian Lun really loved to eat meat...so as a cook she was still very happy.
Ashley complained about this because the dishes Hitzfeld prepared were not large enough and she was only half full.
But she didn't dare say it. She knew very well that the two people who "forced" her to come back were big shots in the royal capital. She was afraid that if she messed up something, it would cause trouble for Heath, so after dinner she dragged Lily upstairs.
And so, on this leisurely afternoon, seemingly without any long-term risks, bathed in the rare winter sunshine, three people began to discuss an extraordinary new path.
Chapter 21: Man-Made God
"These are some of the manuscripts I have written so far, as well as most of the experimental records."
Nianlun and Pusuangsi sat on the sofa and watched the girl bring a large pile of things in three batches and put them on the coffee table.
They were all very polite and didn't touch anything until she was completely moved.
"You can read it as you like." Hitzfeld signaled them that they were welcome. "It's a bit long... If you don't want to disturb my rest at night, you'd better hurry up and finish what you can today."
"Do you think you can't finish it today?" Nian Lun grinned and wanted to laugh, thinking that Hitzfeld was really getting too arrogant.
She didn't think that the extraordinary new road would be so easy to build, did she?
The existing system of supernatural beings originated from the Xieyang Cult, and it was Saint Fili, the first Pope of the cult, who first brought back the "supernatural power".
For Sanfeli himself, that may not be his focus. But some of the manuscripts and notes he left behind provide directions for future generations to delve into this path. It is based on his research that this path can be gradually broadened and developed step by step into the current "Soul Spirit - Present Spirit - Attached Spirit" system.
It is the crystallization of the wisdom of countless people, and a path that countless people have found through trial and error at the cost of their own lives.
“I’m not trying to hit you.” Nian Lun picked up a notebook, looked at the cover, and found the number [1] written on it.
"But Hitzfeld, you have to know that this is not the past. We are facing a new world and a new era where mythical particles have completely disappeared and the supernatural is on the decline. If those things hadn't invaded, we wouldn't need this system... Do you understand what I mean?"
"I know." Hitzfeld sat quietly on the sofa at one side, his hands folded on his legs, his legs closed, his sitting posture and manners were impeccable. "The mainstream of Sarah's current extraordinary path depends on the gray fog to exist."
This sounds incredible, even counterintuitive.
Because the purpose of the existence of Shadow Lion and Wheel of Fortune is to fight against the Gray Mist to a large extent. Whether it is against the Gray Mist itself, or against those things behind the Gray Mist, and the evil followers who were instigated by those things to betray the human camp, the nature is the same.
But they have to fight against the gray fog on the one hand, and rely on the gray fog to exert their power on the other.
This is ironic, but it is also a fact that everyone accepts.
"You call it the 'nightmare system'? Hmm... that's a novel concept."
Nian Lun obviously wanted to say something, but a hoarse mumbling came from the side.
When she turned around, she saw that Pusiangsi had already opened the notebook marked [2] before her. She seemed to have immersed all her attention in it and was reading it very...exceptionally seriously.
Half believing and half doubting, Nian Lun opened the notebook in his hand. He was attracted after reading only one sentence and did not say a word for the next ten minutes.
Because the secret first mentioned in the notes is too important and too shocking: Hitzfeld recorded here the "upgrade system" she knew, from level 1 to level 10, each stage, from entry to depth of field, and then to the upgrade ceremony. The mystical knowledge involved was not written out in full, but just a brief description could give Annual Ring a dazzling feeling.
She was sure that this was not made up because she could feel that something was approaching her in the dark as she read the characters.
Her perception became sharper, her spiritual power became stronger. Although these were small changes, she was not an ordinary person, and she could feel it.
But what shocked her the most was not this, but that she could clearly feel the source of this influence, which actually came from——
"you?"
Keeping the book open, the beautiful veiled woman raised her forehead and looked at Hitzfeld in amazement.
She was sure that this feeling was correct, that when she read these descriptions, these contents, and some mysterious substances that were "given" to her in the process, the source of those things was actually Aisuen Hitzfeld!
"how did you do that?"
He quickly put the notebook aside and asked her with a frown.
"You don't want to become a god, do you?"
It's no surprise that she asked this, because this method of imparting mystery to knowledge and allowing intelligent creatures to receive mysterious reinforcement through reading and learning knowledge has always been the forte of the enemy camp.
Becoming a god was not a beautiful expectation. She knew very well that only the most evil foreign gods would use this method to lead people to depravity.
Degeneration - yes, she couldn't allow this kind of change to happen to herself before she figured out everything, so unless Hitzfeld explained it clearly, she would not read the materials again.
But she didn't see if anyone was reading it. Pusiens had already finished reading Notebook No. 2. She noticed that Nianlun had put Notebook No. 1 aside, so she immediately grabbed it and started reading it again from the first page.
"..."Nian Lun felt that one of him and Pu Siang Si must have gone completely crazy.
"They are very clean." Pursi suddenly said.
"What?" Nian Lun was stunned.
"That's what will lead you to depravity, don't you feel it?"
The cloaked woman spoke as she turned the pages: "It's different from what those things sprinkled... It's a pure feeling. I've been in close contact with them, I can be sure of it."
"..."Nian Lun hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand and picked up a stack of manuscript paper.
That happened to be the topic that Hitzfeld had established around metal toxins, and there were already a lot of experimental records on it.
Of course, they all failed.
But despite being records of failure, the knowledge contained in them also gave Nian Lun great inspiration. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh, there is such a formula?", "Oh, can we use this kind of pharmacology to try to eliminate toxins?"
Browsing the information lasted almost three hours.
During this process, Hitzfeld said nothing, just sat there to accompany them and occasionally added tea to the three people's cups.
At five o'clock in the afternoon, dusk fell, and Nian Lun put down the last manuscript, trying his best to hide the shock in his heart.
A new system requires countless people's efforts and sacrifices from its birth to maturity.
But what did she see here?
Two new systems?
A set, according to Hitzfeld, belongs to the evil god... It has 10 levels, and the evil god guides mortals to fall with knowledge by arranging corresponding learning points in each stage.
This system is very dangerous, extremely, extremely dangerous. If Hitzfeld is not exaggerating, then starting from level 6, the extraordinary people in this system can almost be said to be no longer human.
Thereafter, their power will surge with each level they rise, but the price is that they will gradually lose their self-identity and become the carriers of those things on the earth, or the true spokespersons of the evil god.
Annual Rings immediately thought that the Eclipse Church was shrinking its defenses during this period.
The evildoers reduced their activities in Sara and rarely appeared in the surrounding areas. Intelligence showed that most of them gathered in continents like Elsa that were completely shrouded in gray fog, but no one could figure out what they were planning.
Looking back on this matter now, Nian Lun broke out in a cold sweat - she realized that the enemy might be busy cultivating new forces, and how to deal with or even resist it was urgent for Sarah and the tree people.
But how to cope with and resist?
She picked up a stack of parchment and stared at the following words written on it:
[I will write down here the knowledge that I have thoroughly mastered and purified, and divide them into three paths according to their focus.]
[Times are changing, and the offensive of the gray fog may intensify. The old system can no longer provide us with enough help. You must admit that when a black wizard sent by the enemy can use spirit-possession-level means - in the face of this fact, all the previous classification standards are outdated and outdated.]
[Only by reorganizing them, dividing them, and establishing our own standard upgrade system, will such a confrontation not be one-sided.]
The following is a detailed introduction to the knowledge system division of the three paths.
This is not difficult to understand. Not to mention old hands like Annual Rings and Pusiangsi, even a novice who has just come into contact with the extraordinary can understand it quickly.
But there is a problem here.
According to the new path, all mysterious factors come from Aisuen Hitzfell.
She is like a purifier, a transit station. The power of those dirty things is cleansed by her and then passed on to others. In other words, she will become the real master of the new road.
"I've already thought about this question."
Hitzfeld spoke for the first time.
"I have no intention of becoming a 'mysterious master'. What I want is that after all this is over, you will dig out my eyes and keep that magic cube... or something else to raise me."
“This is also a way out, isn’t it?”
"We have created new gods for ourselves."
Chapter 22 Debate
She was joking.
Nian Lun couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Is it all over?
Is it so easy to end?
Humans are now squeezed by the gray fog and have almost no place to live. Even though there are still a lot of vast territories around Sara, the areas covered by the gray fog are actually more numerous and larger!
And there's something behind the gray fog... They still need Hitzfell's Eye to find the other evil eyes, and the end of everything must at least be based on the success of this matter.
If it really succeeds, what she meant is that if all this can really end, then the entire civilized world may not need these messed up systems to bother people at all - by then, the gray fog may have dissipated, the evil followers will all die, history will be sealed, and the Eternal Night may be sealed and restored because of the evil eye. Then what is the point of transcendence? It's like it's a good thing!
Of course, she didn't say these words. She knew that Hitzfeld had just experienced a huge blow, and no matter whether she took the trouble to study these things for the good of everyone or just to relieve her own worries and boredom, she had no right to blame anything.
"The three paths you mentioned, are you referring to 'research', 'manifestation of spirits', and 'spiritual erosion'?" asked Pusiangsi.
"Yes." The girl nodded.
This is the new path she figured out based on the Earth's supernatural system, and it is likely to be applicable to all supernatural people.
There is nothing much to say about the "research" route. Its essence is the Poltergeist School. They need to receive more forbidden knowledge from her, not entirely through the infusion of mysterious factors but more through knowledge - such as various magic potions and the power of forging to strengthen themselves.
The "manifest spirit" route is a continuation and expansion of the current nightmare system. Compared with the old system, this route emphasizes taking some stimulating magic potions with guaranteed safety. This may help those with mediocre qualifications awaken their spirits and greatly enhance their combat effectiveness.
Both of these methods have ready-made cases for reference, and the chances of success are relatively high. As for the final "Spiritual Eclipse" route, this one is more dangerous.
"'Using the Mysterious Lord as the spiritual foundation, the Soul Eater can absorb the mysterious factor and fuse it with magic potions and even the flesh and blood of aliens...'"
Pusiangs whispered a description, raised her head slightly, and revealed a small section of her shriveled chin.
"You should know what will happen if this thing gets out of control, right, Hitzfeld?"
"I know." Hitzfeld swallowed.
She knew there would be pressure, and to be honest, her ideas and suggestions about these three routes were just something she came up with on her own in a short period of time. She was not sure whether they were applicable, and she showed them to others in order to gather brainstorming ideas and see if there was any possibility of improvement.
"I think there's a chance for the first two." Annual Ring said, "These two are not new paths in essence, but just supplements and expansions of the past. If your spiritual base can really offset their influence, then there is a certain experimental value. I will organize people to do it."
She saw clearly that the new extraordinary people on the evil side had their power mainly from two aspects. The first was the mysterious factors absorbed in the process of learning taboos, which would enhance their physical qualities, such as agility, strength, thinking reaction, and even prolong their lifespan.
But it is not the only source of power. Knowledge is not only a carrier of power, but also power itself. If Hitzfeld's plan can succeed, even if the influence of the mysterious factor is ignored, the increase in the system brought by knowledge alone will be considerable.
This is obvious, and to put it bluntly - the knowledge and technology written by Hitzfeld in this manuscript are very useful, but the uses of these materials, what else can they be used for besides those known by some people at this stage, are these secrets known only to her? Has no one ever discovered them in the past?
That's not the case. Tree Ring has lived a long life, so she knows it very clearly: in the past, many people have discovered secrets and new uses for various materials, but none of them had a good ending because that knowledge was monopolized.
She didn't know if it was appropriate to use this word here, but she just had this feeling - knowledge was monopolized, because the materials and mysteries involved were most likely not things that grew natively in this world. She herself speculated that some plants had actually mutated, which was also the influence of the gray fog, the influence of the things behind the gray fog.
Therefore, they essentially belong to the enemy world, their usage is locked, and the knowledge is branded as taboo. Knowing them is so costly that it can make a person abandon his faith and turn into a monster - aren't the large numbers of banned books and notes they destroy every year to prevent them from spreading in the world?
It’s not that they don’t want to learn, but they really don’t dare.
But now, it is still the same assumption: if Aisuen Hitzfeld can really serve as a spiritual base, that is, play the role of a transit station and purifier, the cost of learning this knowledge will be different.
She herself had just felt it. The purified mysterious factor was closer to pure energy. She didn't understand where this energy came from or how it worked on her, but it worked and strengthened her very slightly.
Annual Rings estimated that this kind of enhancement would be less effective than that on the evil side. If the mysterious factor flowing to the evil was a river, the girl's approach would be equivalent to taking water from the river, purifying it, and then giving it to others to drink.
It is indeed possible.
She couldn't help but start looking at the manuscript in her hand again.
Knowledge is innocent.
No, it is a fallacy to say that knowledge is guilty, and it is a concept that should not be proposed at all. If Sarah can fully understand these things, the number of "Spiritual Present" level can be multiplied, although this also requires the risk of several times more corrupted people, but...
In times of crisis, the risk is worth taking.
"But there is a prerequisite, that is, you can really hold on."
Prisma began to pour cold water on her. The old woman threw away her things and leaned on the cushion, saying bluntly that she didn't trust Hitzfeld to do it.
"Of your three systems, excluding the last insane one, the first two can succeed and continue to succeed on the basis that your spiritual base cannot be discovered or destroyed."
"That's right," Hitzfeld admitted.
Using the same analogy, she takes water from the river, but the water is poisonous... She can purify the water and give it to others to drink, but the purification effect cannot be permanent.
The poison will always be there, even if someone drinks it. If she dies, the purifying effect will be lost immediately, and all those who "drank the water" may be led to degenerate into crazy evildoers.
"The risk is too high." Pusiangsi shook her head, "and it will make your situation worse. I don't agree."
