Chapter 1364, The System’s Hidden Nature

Translator:  Ashish

Translation Checker: Silvain

 

“System, I wish to consume Evolution Points to cultivate Soul Nurturing…” Yu Zi Yu murmured softly, yet his expression revealed a thoughtful look.

 

The System has been his ever-present companion, that had accompanied him since the beginning, silently guiding his rise to power. Even now, as he stood at the Realm of Hegemony, he still used it on occasion.

 

However, out of instinctive caution, he had intentionally minimized his use of the System.

 

The further one walked down the path of cultivation, the clearer a truth became: nothing in this world comes without a price.

 

This so-called cheat, this System of his, might not be as simple as it appeared to be.

 

Perhaps it was some kind of Quintessence Energy, or perhaps, it was an Artifact beyond mortal imagination.

 

Everything was possible.

 

And so, Yu Zi Yu had begun to probe, to test, to observe.

 

He could not say why, but deep within, he sensed that this System was intricately tied to his future path, perhaps even to his enlightenment to Eternity, or the ascension beyond the known realms of existence.

 

However, even with that realization, Yu Zi Yu began to be wary of the System itself.

 

He had been scheming against the Myriad Races; he did not want himself to become someone else’s harvest.

 

Of course, up until this point, Yu Zi Yu hadn’t noticed anything.

 

The System behaved more like a sentient Artifact, quietly aiding him, faithfully executing his Will.

 

[So then… what exactly are you?] He muttered in his heart, as his mind sank deeper into thought.

 

Then…

 

A crisp chime echoed in his ears, followed by that familiar, emotionless tone.

 

<Ding, please confirm if you like to use one billion Evolution Points to cultivate the secret art, Soul Nurturing?>

 

“Yes.” Nodding, Yu Zi Yu promptly gave his consent.

 

In the very next instant, his awareness spread through every fiber of his being, down to even the deepest cells.

 

And then…

 

*Boooom…* Suddenly, an inexplicable energy surged into him, shaking him to the core.

 

Before he could even comprehend it, knowledge poured into his mind, as if knowledge was transferred into him.

 

The Soul Nurturing Art unfolded within his consciousness, simulated, refined, perfected again and again.

 

It was as if countless lifetimes of cultivation was compressed into a single moment.

 

His mastery of the Soul Nurturing skyrocketed instantly.

 

“It’s like a transfer of knowledge…” He whispered to himself, a thoughtful look blanketing his face.

 

Unfortunately, he could not find any more clues into the hint of the System’s true nature.

 

“No hurry, there’s still time.” He let out a faint sigh as he suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

 

He was indeed in no hurry.

 

The time was on his side. He could slowly, patiently, study this cheat of his.

 

He believed that one day, he would surely unveil its mysteries.

 

And when that happened, his long-held suspicions would be put to rest.

 

After all, the System’s current power seemed centered around one thing, Evolution Points.

 

These points were like energy, fuel that powered the System itself.

 

And what power did the System possessed.

 

One was enhancement, that much had been clear since the beginning.

 

But ever since his body had undergone its seventh evolution, its enhancing effects had grown weaker, almost negligible.

 

Yu Zi Yu suspected that it was because his physical body had grown too powerful, making the System’s strengthening negligible.

 

And that fact alone further confirmed Yu Zi Yu’s other speculation: While the System was mighty, it was not omnipotent.

 

If it truly stood beyond the laws of this universe, then its enhancement should have no limits. It should be able to push his body beyond all shackles, past the eighth evolution, even the ninth.

 

However, its enhancing functions had begun to fade.

 

And that, to Yu Zi Yu, said it all.

 

Thinking along those lines, Yu Zi Yu couldn’t help but feel relieved.

 

If the System wasn’t some unfathomable entity that transcended Heaven and Earth, then that was, in truth, the best possible outcome for him.

 

Terror was acceptable, so long as it remained within the bounds of comprehension.

 

Because if it truly surpassed the limits of his understanding, what awaited him would be a cold, creeping dread that not even he could suppress.

 

The second power of the System was its power of deduction.

 

It could deduce formations, techniques, and even assist him in cultivating divine abilities and secret arts.

 

This ability was frighteningly potent, one that had vastly accelerated Yu Zi Yu’s rise to power.

 

And because of this very ability, Yu Zi Yu began to recall certain legendary treasures from the ancient records, like the River Chart and Luo Writing, the Jade Disc of Creation, Artifacts famed for their power to deduce the mysteries of Heaven and Earth.

 

…

 

However, when he thought of that, Yu Zi Yu could only let out a bitter laugh.

 

He had once asked Anzuiel about these mythical Artifacts.

 

But to his surprise, Anzuiel had never even heard of them.

 

According to Anzuiel, he was born far too late, only a few eras ago. While the treasures Yu Zi Yu mentioned likely existed in an even more ancient era, their traces had already vanished into the river of time.

 

If those relics truly existed in such distant ages, then the only one who might know of them… would be the Primordial Imperial Artifact, the Bell of Chaos.

 

After all, in the entire universe, when it comes to antiquity, none could claim greater antiquity than the Bell of Chaos.

 

*Haaaaa…* A faint sigh escaped Yu Zi Yu’s lips, and he couldn’t help but grumble to himself, “If I could speak directly to the Bell of Chaos, would I still be asking you?”

 

The Bell of Chaos was too mysterious, too elusive. Even for one as powerful as Yu Zi Yu, it was not something he could simply approach.

 

According to the Bell of Chaos itself, only after he had set foot into Half-Step Eternal Realm could he seek it out within the Chaos Sea.

 

…

 

After a long silence, Yu Zi Yu chose to set aside his speculation about the System’s origin.

 

For now, there were other matters at hand that demanded his complete focus.

 

That was, of course, cultivation, and deploying the Void Creatures to harass the Myriad Races, to divert their attention, lest anyone deduce his true goal: the search for the stele recording the Grand Divine Ability, One Qi into Three Pure Ones.

 

…

 

Time flowed quietly. With the aid of countless Evolution Points, Yu Zi Yu successfully mastered the secret art of Soul Nurturing.

 

And indeed, its power exceeded his expectations.

 

With a single thought, two perspectives unfolded in his mind. One belonging to his True Body, and the other to the Soaring Purple Dragon.

 

Through both perspectives, Yu Zi Yu could simultaneously control his bodies, and even fight simultaneously.

 

“When I’ve mastered this secret art to perfection, I would be able to divide my mind into three. At that point, unleashing my full combat power shouldn’t be a problem.” A faint smile curved his lips, his heart swelling with anticipation.

 

At that time, the Soaring Purple Dragon, the Dragon of Heavenly Dao, and his True Body could appear together.

 

Three bodies, one Will.

 

Their combined might would likely be far greater than the sum of the three.