Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Seized Book!
As Chen Qi made his choice, the text surged forth, line after line flashing rapidly before his eyes!
[Seizing the chaos between the Decayed Elder and the Master of Hounds, you, shrouded in Nightwalker’s Veil, become nothing but a fleeting shadow, dashing at full speed toward the cabin.]
[On your way to the Book of Beginnings, a blackwood rat suddenly appears, lunging at you!]
[Death! The Bloodblade Core makes your combat ever more adept. With a fluid dagger strike, you kill the blackwood rat in two swift blows.]
[You gain 8 experience, Blade Resonance triggers +2, current experience 17/100, Bloodblade Core digestion +1%.]
Out of my way!
Chen Qi focused intently, eyes fixed on the next line of text.
[As the blackwood rat’s pus drips to the ground, more and more blackwood rats begin to gather!]
[You leap directly onto the wall, using the Black Rain Boots to dodge the swarm’s attack, sprinting onward at full force!]
[You draw ever closer to the place guided by the Morning Star!]
Almost there!
But would someone be guarding this book?
[You are now not far from where the Morning Star points.]
[Running…]
[Sprinting with all your might…]
[You arrive at the cabin.]
[You slow your steps, observing your surroundings. In the distance, the Master of Hounds' party battles the Decayed Elder, but here, all is silent—just a tree and a cabin.]
[Beside the cabin, a black tree bows its head like an old man deep in thought. Beneath the soil at its roots lies the ancient book both the Hound Master and Decayed Elder covet.]
[You draw a deep breath and walk toward the black tree.]
[Yet... as you finally reach this moment, confusion wells up in your heart.]
[This book records certain powers and knowledge, but as a Night Watcher, you cannot even decipher its most basic script.]
[Is this truly something you are meant to possess? Is this truly something you can master?]
[You glance at the distant figures fighting for the book. You sense that the moment you touch it, all wrath and hostility will turn upon you! You will be consumed by the inferno of this struggle!]
[Your steps slow, and finally you stop.]
At this pivotal moment, Chen Qi’s hand trembled slightly—excitement mingled with a trace of fear.
A dim line of text appeared.
[Please make your choice.]
[One: The blade's path is but a step away—take the book and leave. Two: Depart now; seizing the book is not a safe option.]
[Note: Your character is now in a state of confusion; this choice will affect your trait values.]
For some reason, Chen Qi bit his finger, finding himself tangled in the same indecision as his character.
Not long ago, he had been nothing but an ordinary man.
By luck and longing for a new world, he had come to this place.
Yet no matter what, he was still a novice, just starting to understand the game, with the future shrouded in mist.
The hidden dangers of this New Sun Game were countless.
The power and knowledge within this book clearly exceeded his current abilities; its text was described as bitter and inscrutable.
Can I really master this ancient tome?
Fragments of memory flashed through Chen Qi’s mind.
In his life, there had been so many things he thought he could obtain—starting out full of drive, only to end hastily, paying a heavy price.
From hope, to failure, to unwillingness, to self-mockery for overreaching, to acceptance…
Taking this book could mean death within the game, the loss of a precious life.
That would leave him in utter despair…
He might well die at the beaks of the crows.
Chen Qi bit his finger till it bled, crimson droplets falling.
No, no…
What am I hesitating for? This is no time for doubt!
He had finally become one of the players in this game, finally glimpsed a brand-new world, finally shaken off the crows’ pursuit—if only for a moment.
Now that he was a Wanderer of the Worlds, now that he had come this far, there could be no turning back!
There was so much he had yet to see, and he still had cards left to play!
Was taking this book risky…?
Chen Qi took a deep breath and considered his current items.
I still have the Floral Elixir, the Dream of Foresight, the Fruit of Shadowless Night, and one life left…
I can do this—
Chen Qi pressed his finger to the screen, using the Dream of Foresight on the first option.
[You slowly close your eyes. Foresight begins.]
[At the moment you are about to touch the book, the black tree beside you creaks. Its trunk bends suddenly, ancient bark twisting into the face of an enraged spirit that lunges at you! In the nick of time, you pull out the Floral Elixir, barely clinging to life. But repairing your heart is too great a task, and with the black tree’s continued attack, you stagger a few steps; even the Floral Elixir cannot save you. You collapse from blood loss.]
[Foresight ends. You are devoured and killed by the tree.]
Was the black tree the book’s guardian? Chen Qi understood.
[The darkness of the future’s fog begins to dissipate; a lamp appears within your heart; the Shadow Dagger in your hand stirs restlessly.]
[Wanderer, make your choice.]
[One: Seize the book using the Soul of Shadows. Two: Leave this place.]
Because of the Dream of Foresight, the options had updated.
I choose one—use the Soul of Shadows to seize the book!
[You have made your choice. The fog of the future has cleared. You hesitate no longer.]
[You instantly summon a black afterimage to snatch the book guarded by the black tree.]
[Swish!]
[As the Soul of Shadows touches the book, the black tree attacks, piercing the Soul of Shadows!]
[The Soul of Shadows is gravely wounded!]
[In that critical instant, you accelerate, snatching the book again.]
The next line, blazing and searing, made Chen Qi exult, a wild grin spreading across his lips!
[You have obtained the ancient Blade Book—The Tome of the Black Prison.]
[The Book of Blade Resonance has now stained you.]
Send it to the real world!
Without hesitation, Chen Qi immediately sent the Tome of the Black Prison into reality, transferring it to his own hands.
Even if his game character died, he would not lose the item.
Chen Qi raised his right hand, a blaze flickering in his gaze.
Black, burning fragments gathered at his right palm, slowly coalescing into a book scorched with ash, as if it had endured the flames of countless fires!
The moment he touched the tome, a surge of heat flowed from his fingertips up his arm, black flames flickering along his right forearm.
Chen Qi could sense the ancient knowledge contained within! The path of the blade was hidden inside!
Exhale—
At last, it was his! He had obtained it…
Chen Qi smiled, storing the book away, turning once more to the New Sun Game.
Next, it would be a desperate flight for his life!
In the very next instant, as his lips curved in a smile, Chen Qi felt a sharp pain in his knee—as if struck by an arrow.
In the New Sun Game, the text abruptly turned crimson.
On the background screen, countless black trees extended inward from the edges, as if to engulf him completely!
The Decayed Elder would not let him go!
He had become the focus of this struggle!
[You have made a choice beyond your own strength. Blade Resonance +1!]
[This is your moment of triumph! At the instant of seizing the book, you unleash all your strength, breaking into a mad sprint!]
[The Book Guardian Tree manipulates the roots beneath, launching earth spikes at you.]
[You dash away, but your leg is still pierced by a spike, blood gushing forth! HP -12, current HP 20/32.]
[Your leg is gravely injured! Mobility drastically reduced! You are suffering from severe bleeding!]
Floral Elixir!
Chen Qi wasted no time, immediately choosing to use the Floral Elixir.
The Floral Elixir was a tribute prepared by the Witch of Flowers for the Gluttonous Bloom; not only did it heal over time, it could also remove grievous wounds!
Let the Witch of Flowers’ offering be potent enough!
[The potion is infused with powerful regenerative energy. You feel flowers sprouting from your wounded leg, the surging power of healing flesh knitting together the torn flesh.]
[Bleeding is stopped, HP fully restored, continuous recovery active.]
[You force your leg free of the earth spike and dash toward the Abyss of Shadowless Night.]
["Book! Book! Book!"]
[You hear the wailing that fills the plain!]
[You have reached the entrance to the Abyss of Shadowless Night. The Decayed Elder’s gaze fixes on you, shock in his eyes.]
[He looks at the trees chasing behind you and understands all. His face twists into that of a furious wraith.]
["Book thief! That is not for the likes of you to touch!"]
The Decayed Elder roared in rage, taking the Hound Master’s blow head-on, while trees burst from the earth, stretching madly after you!
[The Decayed Elder’s sudden eruption of power sends more and more people fleeing in terror!]
A blood-red line of text appeared!
[And you sense—all these frenzied trees are coming for you!]
[The Decayed Elder breaks free of the hounds and unleashes furious warnings at you!]
["Filthy peasant on the ground! You will pay for stealing knowledge that is not yours!"]
["By the authority of royal blood, I command you—stop!"]
["Every step you take pushes you closer to the River of the Dead! Each one is an act of arrogance!"]
["Peasant! Dead swine! Stinking rat! I will tear you limb from limb!"]
[The Decayed Elder's face grows ever more deranged. He sacrifices his own grievous wounds, charging toward you in a frenzy!]
[Yet you feel no fear. Having set foot on this path, you will not regret it.]
[Bathed in the instant corruption of the Blade Resonance Book, you are now brimming with wildness!]
[You look back, baring a savage grin:
"If you have the guts, follow me—follow me into the abyss! You blockhead old fool, you’ll end up like your eyeless pet—dead by my hand!"]
[The Morning Star returns to your hand. With a leap, you plunge into the Abyss of Shadowless Night.]