Chapter 30: Chance Encounter
“Young man, sealing techniques require sufficient time accumulation, constant trial and error, to achieve mastery. You are too impatient.”
A voice seemingly from nowhere reached Su Xiao’s ears. He opened his eyes and stood up. Before him was a vast expanse of white. Ahead stood an old man in a long white robe, his loose garments flowing like white flames. The elder had white hair and beard, with pitch-black eyes—clearly sealing some artifact from the Abyss, possibly even an Original Sin object.
Su Xiao recalled the previous scene. He had been studying sealing techniques at 13,200 times efficiency, unconsciously immersing himself for about thirty-plus hours. Suddenly, he felt his mental energy nearly depleted, but a stream of energy continuously nourished his spirit.
At that moment, he felt like a traveler dying of thirst in a desert, and the energy nourishing his spirit was like a rare drop of sweet nectar. Instinctively, he reached toward the source of that nectar, intending to pull it over for a hearty drink. Vaguely, he heard a cry and a plea for help, then everything went black.
When he woke again, he was in this white expanse. With his sealing knowledge, he could tell this was a separately sealed space. The old man before him was most likely the author of the book "Original Sin and Sealing" he had been reading before passing out.
The white-robed elder raised his right hand slightly, intricate sealing runes forming in his palm: “Our meeting today is both chance and fate. I have some skill in sealing techniques. How about we exchange insights on secret arts?”
“…”
Su Xiao sat down on the ethereal clouds. Seeing this, the white-robed elder nodded.
“In your view, what is sealing studies?”
“Essential for survival.”
“This…”
The white-robed elder was momentarily at a loss for words. He had asked many about the core of sealing studies, but no one had ever said it was essential for survival.
After a few seconds of contemplation, the elder let out a wry laugh. Upon reflection, calling sealing studies essential for survival wasn’t wrong.
“A novel and insightful view…”
The elder began recounting interesting anecdotes from when he wrote the ancient text "Original Sin and Sealing," mostly about his wife. His eyes held only longing, no regret, showing his life with his wife had been fulfilling.
As he spoke, he moved to the content of "Original Sin and Sealing" itself, his face glowing with vitality. For a sufficiently skilled listener, narrating one’s achievements was deeply satisfying. When he reached the exciting parts, the elder would even sketch sealing runes in the air, explaining the basic principles of his original techniques.
This direct teaching was far more profound than merely reading "Original Sin and Sealing." After an unknown time, the elder let out a long breath, ending this exhilarating session.
“Young friend, let’s stop here.”
“Alright.”
“Nothing you want to ask this old man?”
“…”
Su Xiao was silent for a moment. Seeing this, the elder smiled freely and said, “Ask if you want. No need to hold back. We’re not master and disciple, but friends across generations by fate.”
“When did you die?”
At Su Xiao’s words, the elder’s carefree smile froze. He looked at Su Xiao with an expression that said, “You really don’t know how to chat,” then corrected:
“I haven’t died yet. I’m just in seclusion for some reasons. It seems I’ve been hidden too long; my reputation has faded.”
The elder shook his head with a smile and countered:
“Since I answered your question, how about you help me with one?”
“Alright.”
“How do you have such strong knowledge acquisition efficiency?”
“My side profession is alchemist.”
“Oh, alchemist. That explains…”
The elder nodded as if understanding, but then shook his head: “Impossible. I know many alchemists. Even top-tier ones like Coin Morber don’t have such exaggerated learning ability.”
“Abyss Contract.”
“Oh, that makes sense. But young man, your sealing skills are too narrow and rushed. Sealing studies aren’t just about sealing. Sealing is the foundation and core, but there are many derivative techniques.”
The elder was almost earnest, as at Su Xiao’s age, he was still an apprentice in sealing studies. Seeing Su Xiao now, he couldn’t help but feel a desire to befriend and guide him. As for taking a disciple, the elder valued his pride. Simply put, the elder’s sealing skill was Lv.98, while Su Xiao’s was Lv.93—both in the late stages of sealing mastery. Offering to take a disciple would be insulting.
“And your impatience. You have plenty of time. Don’t be so hasty.”
“No.”
“Stubborn. You’re so young; you have plenty of time to refine sealing studies.”
Saying this, the elder sighed.
“I don’t have much time.”
“Oh? Why?”
“I’ve sealed six Original Sin objects, one world-destroying race, and one Abyss descendant.”
“?”
At this, the elder’s weathered eyes took on a hint of clarity. This old immortal was completely baffled. He stroked his beard and chuckled, “Young friend, there are limits to boasting.”
“…”
Su Xiao said nothing. From his calm gaze, the elder across from him could detect no hint of falsehood.
“You really sealed six Original Sin objects?”
“…”
“What tier of Original Sin objects?”
Hearing this, Su Xiao’s gaze sharpened slightly. After a moment of silence, he said, “The highest.”
“Is that so.”
The smile on the elder’s face grew gentler. He said, “Young friend, fate has brought us together. How about we meet in person?”
“Alright.”
A smile also appeared on Su Xiao’s face.
They had confirmed it—both were people sealing daddy-level Original Sin objects, and both wanted to generously gift their Original Sin objects to the other. As for friends across generations, cough, such a unique gift surely showed the depth of their friendship?
Why had the white-robed elder been in seclusion for years? Because he was sealing a daddy-level Original Sin object and could barely hold on. He didn’t have something like the "Book of Original Sin" to let daddy-level Original Sin objects restrain each other, nor the vast fortune of the Law Destruction faction. The elder was both sealing the Original Sin object and being drained of resources by it.
Su Xiao and the white-robed elder stared at each other for a moment, but ultimately didn’t set a time or place for the meeting. Both feared that instead of sending away their Original Sin object, they might end up with another one. That was no joke.
“Young friend, may fate bring us together again.”
As the elder spoke, the surrounding clouds thickened. Su Xiao felt a pulling sensation from behind. When he opened his eyes, he was in the recliner on the third-floor bedroom of the safe zone.
Su Xiao closed the ancient book in his hands. On its cover was engraved: Turin·Black Tower.
He decided to stay away from this sealing master in the future. The first half of their chance encounter had a great atmosphere, but in the second half, during the Original Sin object “gifting” session, both had their right hands clenched under the table, ready to punch the other and shove a daddy-level Original Sin object into their arms while they were stunned.
Checking the prompt, he could still avoid "Original Sin Descent·Limit" for 30 hours. He picked up the "Abyss Contract" to check if it could last another 30 hours. It was uncertain. The interrupted use this time had prevented the contract from breaking.
A gaze so resentful it was almost tangible made Su Xiao look aside. It was Fenny, her face pale and her aura weak. Fenny’s mental recovery was indeed strong; even in such a dangerous situation, she could sustain the boost. But being grabbed by Su Xiao at the end and experiencing instant depletion was the main reason for her current resentful look.
“I, I almost died!”
“No, you wouldn’t.”
Hearing Su Xiao’s tone so certain, Fenny’s anger mostly subsided. She secretly guessed that the captain must have been prepared; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so sure.
“You have a life-saving item. You won’t die.”
“I…!”
Fenny nearly had a stroke from anger, but the line “You have a life-saving item. You won’t die” was too logical to refute.
“I’m tired. I need to rest.”
Fenny lay on the bed, squinting comfortably, looking drowsy.
“Three hours.”
Su Xiao also wanted to sleep, but the pressure from Shenfu left him little time to rest.
[Prompt: Sanctuary Team has obtained a Broken Origin in the Death Blood Sea. Remaining Broken Origins in this world: 1/5 block.]
This old bastard Shenfu either didn’t act or, when he did, he applied maximum pressure. If Shenfu found another "Broken Origin," this round would end.
“I can’t take it anymore. I need to sleep for a day and a night.”
Fenny was utterly defeated. She never thought that as an Absolute Strong-level healer, her problem wouldn’t be enemy assassins but the risk of dying from healing her teammates too intensely.
Looking at Fenny, Su Xiao said, “9,000 ounces of space-time power.”
“Damn it. Three hours it is.”
Fenny took out a potion that emitted a dazzling golden light. She downed it in one gulp, took off her coat, pulled the blanket over herself, and entered the deepest sleep. Mumbling vaguely, she said to wake her in three hours.
Su Xiao leaned back in the recliner, took a half-hour nap, then opened his eyes to check a series of prompts.
First, the Demon Spirit avatar had slaughtered through "Corruption Forest.Lv.30," "Ash Land.Lv.45," and "Crying Black Nest.Lv.60." The Demon Spirit was now on the "Decaying Blood Sea," alone on a small wooden boat, facing the surging blood sea aberrant demons.
The settlement from the three ‘dungeon’ areas resulted in dozens of prompts. Summarized, the useful gains for Su Xiao were: