Chapter: 4. Eye Ritual (Knowledge-Type Skill)
Hint: This is a unique technique from Doom Star, pioneered by the scholar faction led by 'Yarghu'. It is mostly used for the gestation of Ancient God offspring, the growth of eyes, etc. Scholars believe that more eyes bring greater power, or allow one to see certain aberrant entities. They use 'eyes' as a medium to listen to those maddening yet ancient knowledges, or, in a more direct way, cultivate 'newborn eyes' on the body to get closer to that knowledge. In most cases, the scholars of the 'Yarghu Faction' find joy in madness.
Hint: The Eye Ritual has two major factions. This is knowledge passed down by the relatively rational faction, treating 'eyes' as tools and staying away from madness.
Price: 6500 Soul Coins.
...
There are a total of four items available for exchange. Su Xiao purchased [Divine Bone (Immortal Rank)] and [Spiritual Imprint]. The former is a unique reward after killing an Ancient God, and its price within the kill reward list is very low.
[Spiritual Imprint] is a universal enhancement-type ability that cannot be improved by any means. Due to its effect, this type of item is highly sought after in Reincarnation Paradise.
[Source Blood: Extreme Dark Bloodline] is a truncated version of the Feather God's power. Without the characteristics of an Ancient God, its strength is greatly reduced. There's no helping it; if these characteristics weren't removed, contractors would almost certainly die after using it. Very few people, like Shenfu, can seize and master the power of an Ancient God.
Su Xiao doesn't plan to exchange for this. The development cycle is too long. Baha obtained Source Blood: Void Bloodline a long time ago. After that, Baha spent a long time just coasting in battles, not because he didn't want to help, but because going forward meant death.
[Source Blood: Extreme Dark Bloodline] is undeniably powerful, but the awkward part is that the strong among the Eighth Rank already have their own systems. Contractors who desire this thing simply can't afford it.
Bubu Wang, Amu, and Beini can't use it, and Su Xiao certainly can't use it himself. To avoid it becoming a dead weight, Su Xiao decided not to exchange for it; he'd most likely take a loss.
As for the last item, [Eye Ritual], Su Xiao is very interested in it. He certainly won't transplant various 'eyes' onto himself or his followers, but he is an Alchemist, and one who has mastered biology.
First, create a temporary Alchemical Creature, transplant 'eyes' onto it, and then sacrifice this temporary Alchemical Creature to gain aberrant knowledge. That's a very good choice.
Furthermore, Su Xiao feels that the 'Eye Ritual' is essentially about cultivating various eyes and using them as a medium for rather dark enhancements or enchantments. No matter how bizarre the process, this essence doesn't change.
This is knowledge, not an ability, so it won't affect him directly. Su Xiao has an idea: to cultivate 'eyes' and use them to enhance the Devourer. After all, that thing has the characteristics of hunger and darkness; perhaps it will resonate with the 'Eye Ritual' to some extent.
The only downside of the 'Eye Ritual' is its price, a whopping 6500 Soul Coins, and this is the price within the kill reward list. Otherwise, it would be exorbitantly expensive.
Su Xiao has a feeling that the greatest gain from killing the Feather God this time might not be the Divine Bone or World Source, but the 'Eye Ritual'.
Doom Star is a very ancient place. Knowledge passed down there is absolutely reliable, especially knowledge recognized by the Ancient Gods. If it weren't reliable, those scholars would have been used as sacrificial materials by the Ancient Gods long ago.
Su Xiao completed the exchange. A scroll, pitch black on the outside and exuding a faint smell of blood, appeared in his hand. He opened the scroll, and one by one, eyes opened from within it.
With a crackling sound, the scroll shattered. Su Xiao felt a sharp pain in his head, caused by receiving a massive amount of knowledge.
The scroll fragments and all the eyeballs dissolved into the air. Su Xiao let out a long breath. The 'Eye Ritual' was more wondrous than he imagined. This knowledge is divided into two factions.
One faction focuses on implantation, covering the body with eyes. The other faction emphasizes maintaining a safe distance from 'eyes', transplanting them onto objects or mindless creatures, and never coming into direct contact with 'eyes' oneself.
The two factions consider each other idiots. Su Xiao leans towards the latter, treating 'eyes' as tools or items, cultivating functional 'eyes' rather than using them as aberrant energy sensors.
Su Xiao feels that it might not be long before the Devourer has a completely different 'style', entirely unlike himself, Bubu Wang, Amu, Baha, or Beini. As a weapon, what the Devourer looks like isn't the point; being strong enough is what matters.
Su Xiao walked towards the south side of the Cloud Summit. There was no need to stay any longer. As for the [Stellar Eye] required by the main mission, he had just stripped it from the Feather God's body after defeating it. Before Su Xiao could even see what it looked like, it was taken away by Reincarnation Paradise.
In the ethereal clouds, a stone pillar stood ahead. Su Xiao placed one hand on it, and a feeling of falling came over him.
When the clouds before Su Xiao's eyes disappeared, he was already inside the Grand Cathedral of the Dream World. With a bang, Bubu Wang landed behind him.
"Woof~"
Bubu Wang was dazed and confused. Just then, Baha and Amu landed, piling on top of Bubu Wang.
Su Xiao walked out of the Grand Cathedral. As soon as he exited, a roar came from afar. The chaotic battle between the Soul Clock Tower and the Kodo School was still ongoing.
Among the Ancient God faction, everyone wearing a white bone ring sensed that the Feather God had just fallen.
Footsteps came from ahead. Su Xiao turned his head to see the Divine Maiden Shataiye holding the Penitence Scythe. Half of her body was somewhat transparent, and she held a head in her hand. The head was scorched completely black, its original features unrecognizable.
"The Great Sage has escaped."
Shataiye released the head in her hand. This was indeed the Great Sage's head. The Great Sage's body had died, but his consciousness and soul had not; he had escaped using some secret method. This old fellow, who was very good at surviving, naturally left himself a way out.
"Escaped? Escaped where?"
Baha decided to hunt down the Great Sage. Either don't be hostile, or wipe them out completely.
"His consciousness escaped into the spiritual world connected to the Dream World. I should have thought of it earlier, but... hatred blinded my heart."
The Divine Maiden Shataiye's expression was calm. She was prepared to hunt the Great Sage to the death, either her death or his.
"Uh... escaped to the spiritual world? Damn."
Baha was speechless. There was no need to pursue the Great Sage anymore. Within the spiritual world, there was a nearly unsolvable existence: the Blood Qi Projection. The Great Sage's spiritual body crashing into it... the result was predictable.
...
Southwest of the continent, on a desolate plain covered in withered grass and broken stones, a giant tree stood abruptly.
This giant tree's origin was not simple. It had been eroded post-natally into an 'Ancient God' for some reason. In reality, it wasn't an Ancient God at all; it was merely an evil god heavily corrupted by Ancient God energy. For a long time, the Feather God had planned to casually kill it to prevent it from calling itself an Ancient God and bringing shame to the Ancient Gods.
That's right, this giant tree was the Tree God. Taking advantage of the Feather God's escape, it had successfully sneaked out through a crack in the seal.
When it first escaped, the Tree God's plan was to accumulate power and make those who looked down on it pay.
Just as the Tree God was thinking of finding its former allies, betraying them, and seizing their power, it discovered that its enemy was no longer there. The divine palace where the enemy lived was in ruins, and violent soul energy permeated the air.
The Tree God immediately realized that the Soul Clock Tower had killed or captured the Mother God. This made the Tree God think of retreating. The Mother God was already a very powerful existence, yet even she couldn't withstand those mad scholars who drilled holes in their own heads.
The Tree God didn't give up. Its benchmark was still there, so it came here to take root and accumulate power.
Just now, the Tree God suddenly sensed that the Feather God, Hegra, had fallen. This filled it with horror. Could even such a powerful Ancient God fall? At the same time, the Tree God's desire to become an Ancient God wavered.
A gust of wind swept by. A single eye appeared on the giant tree. The gaze of this eye was filled with vicissitudes. At this moment, all kinds of past experiences flooded its mind.
For example, being defeated by the Mother God and imprisoned, then reconciling, then being caught by the Great Sage, then being sealed by the Light King, the Wolf Clan Queen, and others. Not only that, but those terrifying humans also created something called a 'Container'. After that, the Tree God frequently 'moved', being locked in different semi-finished Containers.
For a long time, the Tree God wanted to surrender, but as an evil god possessing Ancient God energy, it gritted its teeth and persevered.
After that came a long career of being sealed and 'escaping prison'. First, it was beaten up by the Moon Spirit, then it was almost obliterated by a casual hammer blow from the Demon Blacksmith. It barely healed its injuries and successfully escaped, only to encounter a very professional Ancient God Hunter. The Tree God was sure they were Ancient God Hunters.
Mother God, Light King, Great Sage, Wolf Spider Queen, Ancient God Hunter... one face after another was recalled by the Tree God. Its trunk trembled, and a few leaves fell. It suddenly felt that it was safer to just be a tree. It would be a good god from now on. Being an evil god was too dangerous, and it was always getting bullied.