Chapter 464: Guesses and Currents

"I'm not, but I've seen several."

Luo De replied.

He was asked this question often.

There was no help for it; he wasn't boasting—his combat power spoke for itself, and everyone who knew him knew it.

The half-deer folk naturally sought the hero of prophecy among the powerful and promising.

Someone like Luo De—so young, so formidable, yet still failing the first condition of the Hero Judgment—was strange.

It could only be three possibilities.

One: his potential was exhausted, or it would take too long to unlock.

That was clearly impossible—he was on a cheat code.

Two: the half-deer elder's prophecy couldn't find him.

Maybe it was due to his transmigration? Unknown.

Three: the prophecy was valid for him, but in it, he might die soon, making him meaningless as a Hero.

Four: his heart was corrupt, and the Hero Prophecy rejected him—he might even become the boss that future Hero Candidates must defeat.

Don't say it.

Really, don't say it.

It does seem more likely to be the third or fourth possibility.

Luo De found it amusing, but didn't care much.

After all, he was a descendant of Yan Huang; compared to some unchangeable prophecy, he leaned more toward man conquering heaven.

When Lily heard his negative answer, she, like others, was momentarily stunned.

She knew exactly what Luo De's strength was—his sky-shattering sword strike in the open-air labyrinth still burned in her memory.

So, with her natural arrogance, she scoffed.

"So the Hero Prophecy's just that weak? Not long ago, a half-deer picked me as a candidate—but he was an idiot, died when he got hit by dragon's breath during a dragon hunt."

"Ah, really? I've seen those candidates use a red current—it seemed pretty powerful."

"Meh, I think it's not as good as the 【Wrathful Hate Fire】 from the open-air labyrinth's pass."

During their previous trip through the open-air labyrinth,

the Dragon Soul girl Naulin, at Luo De's instruction, granted Lily the advanced pass, so she could also use the Wrathful Hate Fire.

Saying this,

Lily raised her slender hand, crimson current swirling upward from her palm like flowing flame.

"Can you still use it after the Hero Giver dies?"

"No, this is an 【Hero Blessing】 gained from resonance between Giver and Candidate—once one dies, the blessing vanishes."

"Then how is this—"

"I figured it out myself."

She tilted her head proudly, flashing a cool smile.

Luo De was stunned.

During the mission to exterminate the mind flayers coveting the magic ring, he'd met a silver-spear, silver-armored Hero Candidate in the volcanic kingdom of Kawa.

Back then, he'd tried to figure out its meaning—but failed.

Remember, Luo De had ingested a Spirit Seed.

Hss—

The half-elf Lily was a pure talent monster!

No wonder her rank progression was like cheating.

Lily was delighted by Luo De's expression—her cute face nearly floated into the sky, her grin impossible to hide.

"Hey, it's not that hard—I can teach you. But using this after losing resonance with the half-deer folk puts noticeable strain on your lifespan and soul."

"Typical half-deer style—always paying with lifespan and soul."

Luo De said.

He recalled how Xiao Ke, the half-deer girl, had spent twenty years of her life to prophesy for him.

He felt indebted, and had asked the elf Kalist to find ways to extend life.

The elf lady recommended the 【Elixir of Life Spring】, which could extend life by fifty years—most importantly, she knew how to make it.

But it required at least ten milliliters of 【Life Essence】 and a 【Heart of a Thousand-Year Tree】 as main ingredients.

Both were extremely rare; Luo De inquired everywhere he went, but found nothing.

He shook his head and dropped the thought.

New skill—learn it.

He didn't care about side effects.

The crimson current clearly enhanced the power of spiritual arts and spells.

I might not use this, but I can't afford not to know it.

Soon,

after Lily explained the key points and usage, less than half an hour passed before Luo De could coil the same crimson current around his palm.

The half-elf girl nodded, satisfied with Luo De's learning speed.

"It's a bit like 【Spirit Overload】, but the crimson current's boost is far more extreme—and it carries 【Wish Will】."

【Wish Will】.

That is, when the user holds a strong desire for something, the crimson current's boost multiplies.

And there's no upper limit.

It had the flavor of a manga protagonist's willpower-based power.

"Yes, but for me, the boost is only average—and using it solo drains lifespan and soul energy. Kind of useless."

Lily waved her hand listlessly.

She flicked the crimson current away like extinguishing a matchstick:

If I could, like the half-deer folk, link my spirit with others, the side effects might lessen… unfortunately, I learn and mimic spells quickly, but I can't calm my mind enough to develop them.

"Spirit linkage?"

Luo De pondered.

He remembered Tally's 【Spirit Link】 buff during the 【Pleasure Party】.

【Spirit Link: When all present fight the same enemy, all skill effects increase by 14%. For each person missing, the effect weakens by 2%.

Current linked: 7】

Perhaps

this skill could share the crimson current's side effects?

A good idea.

Once back in the forest, ask the elf Kalist to study it.

As they spoke,

night faded, the sky brightened.

Soon, the docks district grew bustling.

Lily still didn't need rest.

She had to notify the Hero Alliance that the main culprit, the old green dragon, was still at large; after leaving a magical stone for contact, she bid Luo De a reluctant farewell.

Coincidentally, Luo De had business too.

The succubus in his shadow, starved all night, began squirming out again.

To avoid feeding right on the crowded street,

Luo De landed quickly and found a decent inn.

As soon as he shut the door, Tally, naked, pounced on him, hips writhing desperately.

Next came muffled groans, soft cries, and the rhythmic thumping of the bed.

After a brief investigation, the Hero Alliance announced that the old green dragon had escaped and a young green dragon had taken his place.

This stirred a brief uproar in Deepwater City.

Other dragon hunters in the same party rejected it, scolding the Hero Alliance for stirring trouble.

Indeed, this was a great chance for fame—but now it had become awkward.

But that was all.

Life in Deepwater City wasn't as thrilling as Axe Beach.

As for Luo De,

he spent mornings and afternoons tangled up with Tally,

then, starting at noon, he and Lily toured Deepwater City and nearby sights and delicacies.

At night, they went out to right wrongs.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

The elf Kalist had resolved her own matters and sent a 【Far-Speech Chain】 notification: it was time to return.

(End of Chapter)