Chapter 391: In Her Name, There Should Be a Butterfly

Lin Chao smiled, and the young man left after finishing his report.

He remained seated in his chair, not moving at all.

"An old acquaintance..."

Lin Chao thought carefully, but could not guess who it was.

His old acquaintances would not be so close to seeing him yet refuse to enter, instead asking him to meet at Iron Stone Lake.

Lin Chao ignored it and continued to handle official business.

"The Ancient Relic has disappeared?" Suddenly, Lin Chao saw this news; he raised his head, looked out the window, and sensed carefully.

Sure enough, the activity of the Ancient Relic had vanished.

"I don't know if this is good or bad."

Lin Chao sighed.

He did not know much about that Ancient Relic.

Now that it had disappeared, the biggest impact on Iron Stone City was that the number of adventurers would plummet.

After all, without the Ancient Relic, there would be no attraction for adventurers to flood in.

For Iron Stone City, this was not good news.

However, there were more and more refugees in Iron Stone City now, and once these refugees were settled, they could all become labor.

The population of Iron Stone City was also increasing day by day.

Now, a problem lay before Lin Chao.

"Forming... city defense troops..."

Count Kaixiu proposed that the defensive forces of Iron Stone City should also absorb some local residents and loosen the restrictions on adventurers.

Currently in Iron Stone City, the military force consisted of players.

Moreover, there was no organized army.

If there were one, it would be the earliest Guard Team.

The Guard Team had an ordinary name, but they were high-level players.

The number of members in the Guard Team was limited; even now, there were fewer than five hundred.

Furthermore, the conditions to enter the Guard Team had become higher; it was no longer enough to just be a High-level Professional to join.

"It can be considered." Lin Chao approved the official document.

He decided that he still needed to form a city defense army.

After all, the Four Great Temples and the Six Great Kingdoms were about to completely destroy the Arcane Empire, and with the overbearing nature of the Four Great Temples, it was hard to know what might happen.

Moreover, because of the matter with Lei Wu, he had also formed a feud with the Light Temple; one could not afford to be unprepared against the Light Temple.

Lin Chao continued to review documents.

Nowadays, the things he had to do every day were handling official documents and cultivating to improve his strength.

Players killed monsters to level up, and Lin Chao could also gain improvements in strength, and at an extremely fast speed; however, even so, Lin Chao still maintained his cultivation, not letting any opportunity slip by.

"As for me now, I have accumulated four-fifths of my divine profession, and my Divine Power is already sufficient; perhaps I can officially ascend to godhood within two months."

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Chao's eyes.

Ascending to godhood was a major event.

Now, because many players had gone out to slay Divine Creatures, Lin Chao had already obtained quite a few divine professions and Divine Power.

He was not far from becoming a god.

"Now... my strength."

Thinking of this, Lin Chao was very curious.

He naturally knew that the gap between Legendary beings and gods in this world was vast.

However, this gap was not insurmountable; in the past, there were many legends of Legendary beings defying the odds to slay gods.

But as time went on, the strength of gods grew rapidly, and combined with the fact that gods had learned to band together, it was now almost as difficult as ascending to heaven to slay a god.

Now, tens of thousands of players killing monsters to level up, with the experience converted into strength, had significantly boosted Lin Chao's power.

He was no longer an Ordinary Legendary being.

His strength was very great, but he could not judge to what extent, or rather, he could not judge it by the gods of this world.

"Now... can I defeat a god with Weak Divine Power?" Lin Chao wondered.

He had not become a god yet, not because his strength was insufficient, but simply because his divine profession did not meet the criteria.

Over these past few months, Lin Chao's strength could be considered to have increased greatly.

When the improved version of the Arcane Eye was first created, even he could not take its power head-on.

But now, for him, taking it head-on was not very difficult.

Lin Chao closed his eyes and cultivated; as time passed, it soon grew dark.

The servants had already prepared the meal, and Lin Chao ate very simply: two dishes and one soup.

Lin Chao had reincarnated many times, held many identities, and experienced countless years; he did not have high requirements for food.

As long as it was palatable, it was fine.

While eating, Lin Chao pondered the matters of becoming a god.

Wanting to become a god was not as simple as one might imagine.

Even if the divine profession was sufficient and the Divine Power was sufficient, one still needed to hold an ascension ceremony.

Only after experiencing the ceremony could one be considered a true god.

However, problems could easily arise during this ceremony.

Lin Chao had read many ancient books and knew some secrets.

Since five hundred years ago, almost no one in this world has ascended to godhood through normal channels.

For those who ascend, even if they succeed in slaying a god, many accidents will occur during the ascension ceremony.

According to information revealed in ancient texts, it is highly likely that gods interfere in this process.

Firstly, the gods slaughtered by a Legendary always have gods with whom they are closely related.

Secondly, the divine office of a slain god is a coveted prize, and many gods covet it.

There is not just one god in this world.

For example, the Wealth Church in Iron Stone City; the Goddess of Wealth they worship has not only the divine office of wealth but also other part-time offices, such as arithmetic.

The Goddess of the Ocean has the ocean as her main divine office, with storm as a part-time one, and there is an even more secretive claim that the Goddess of the Ocean has another divine office: Nightingale.

The Lightning Church, which is hostile to the Goddess of the Ocean's church, often attacks the goddess they worship, saying she was once a... whore!

The power of a god lies in the growth of their divine office and Divine Power.

Therefore, a god in the process of ascending will become prey for many gods, especially for those who share the same divine office; they will hunt down the ascending god and then annex their divine office.

"At the moment of ascension, the Pantheon will sense it, and all gods will know that a god has been born... This is unavoidable."

Lin Chao is not far from ascension now.

He is thinking about how to overcome this difficult pass.

In any case, on the day of ascension, a great battle will be inevitable.

"Who is it?"

Suddenly, Lin Chao, who was deep in thought, raised an eyebrow and looked toward the window, his eyes reflecting a sharp edge.

Just a moment ago, Lin Chao sensed a trace of prying.

"Little man, you're quite sensitive."

A silver-bell-like laugh came, the door was pushed open, and a figure with a graceful physique entered the room.

However, she was entirely shrouded in black clothes, with a hood on her head covering her face, making it impossible for one to see her appearance.

Lin Chao looked at this person, a look of wariness appearing in his eyes.

Because he could not discern the other party's strength!

This was terrifying.

Lin Chao had also secretly observed Guangming Xiu, and Guangming Xiu had not discovered him at all.

Among the Legendary, Guangming Xiu definitely counts as a powerhouse, having walked very far on the path of the Legendary.

This woman either has a secret treasure to hide her aura, or her strength is far greater than Guangming Xiu's.

This... is frightening.

"Who are you?" Lin Chao looked at this woman entirely shrouded in black, wariness in his eyes.

"You heartless man, you took my body and now you turn your face and deny it, not remembering me?" The woman in black spoke, her voice like a silver bell, full of allure.

Lin Chao looked at the woman, his expression calm, and he repeated again: "Who exactly are you?"

"Oh my, you heartless fellow, your tone is so cold.

Today, I even said I would meet you at Iron Stone Lake; I even took off my clothes and left them by the lake, just waiting for you to come over and take them away to threaten me.

You unromantic fellow, you actually didn't come.

A little woman like me, stripped clean waiting for you, and you didn't even come, so I had to come find you myself."

The woman said with a giggle, her language exceptionally frivolous.

Lin Chao kept searching his mind, wanting to find out who this person was from his memories, but he had no clue.

He looked at the woman; naturally, he did not take her words seriously.

The woman before him exuded a dangerous aura.

"How boring." Seeing Lin Chao's lack of reaction, the woman spread her hands.

Whoosh, the clothes on her body unfastened and slid to the ground.

The black clothes disappeared, and appearing before Lin Chao was a woman with a good figure and a beautiful, clear face.

This woman's appearance was very familiar.

A scene from the past suddenly flashed through Lin Chao's mind.

"It's you!"

Lin Chao remembered the woman before him.

Back then, in Saya Wangcheng, a farmer's daughter accidentally startled the Third Prince's horse; the Third Prince was furious and wanted to send people to take that woman to the Renshi.

At that time, Lin Chao was right there, and since he was already at odds with the Third Prince, he stopped the Third Prince and saved the girl's life.

Because of this, he offended the Third Prince quite severely.

However, after that time, he had never seen that woman again, only knowing that she had left Saya Wangcheng.

He didn't even know that woman's name.

Now, seeing that woman again, it was in such a scenario.

Lin Chao was astonished because that farm girl from back then was truly Ordinary.

"Man, you finally remembered me." The woman in black had a smile on her face; her appearance could not be called stunning, but her smile was very infectious.

Especially since, beneath the black clothes, she was wearing a black dress, and her long legs were wrapped in black silk stockings, giving off a rather dark-style feeling.

"You... who exactly are you? Coming to see me... for what?" Lin Chao remained wary.

This woman was definitely not as simple as she looked.

The woman in the black dress crossed her fair arms and looked at Lin Chao with a smile in her eyes: "Can't I come to see my savior?

I have to say, you are... much better looking than I imagined.

It's a pity you were born with such a good skin."

The woman in the black dress spoke, then sat down on the chair next to Lin Chao with great familiarity.

She looked at Lin Chao, a smile appearing in her eyes: "Guess, who am I?"

The words of the woman in the black dress revealed a great deal of information.

Lin Chao looked at the woman in the black dress: "A god?"

That's right, he could only guess this way.

In Lin Chao's mind, there was a ninety percent probability that the woman before him was a god.

Only a god could give him such a strong sense of oppression.

Moreover, he also caught the scent of Divine Power on the woman in the black dress.

"You guessed right." A smile remained on the face of the woman in the black dress.

"May I ask which god you are?" Lin Chao's attitude became respectful.

After all, the other party was a god with unknown strength; it was better to show a little goodwill.

"Me?" The woman in the black dress smiled, but in that instant, the smile on her face vanished, the temperament of her entire person shifted abruptly, and an aura of majesty, profundity, and mystery radiated from her.

"You may address me as... the God of Omniscience."

"A future god?" Lin Chao was slightly stunned, "If I remember correctly, the Pantheon does not have this god.

Furthermore, the divine office of omniscience... is mysterious and profound; it seems no god controls it."

Lin Chao's plan was to become a god, so he naturally had to understand all the gods in advance.

Within the Pantheon, there were a total of three hundred and sixty-one gods.

Of course, many gods were subordinate gods or servant gods of those powerful gods, so they did not have their own Church.

"I am naturally the God of Omniscience, holding the divine offices of omniscience, prophecy, and calculation.

Unlike that group of false gods in the Pantheon, I am the true deity.

I was born in the ancient era, when heaven and earth had not yet opened.

Innate beings honored me: born at eighteen years old, one chaos is one year.

In this world, there is nothing I do not know."

The woman in the black dress looked at Lin Chao, her aura ethereal.

It must be said, she really had the temperament of a god, though of course, she could also be a charlatan.

"Omniscience... this divine office is too vast; if you had said you were another god, perhaps I would have believed you."

Omniscience—this was no longer a god, but comparable to a Creator.

Even if Lin Chao had already become a Nine-Tier Main God, he could not achieve omniscience.

"You don't believe me?" The majestic aura on the woman in the black dress dissipated, and she returned to her previous state, "People nowadays are just too lacking in imagination.

I just woke up today and am in a good mood, so I will show you a trick or two.

I shall calculate who the person you care about most in your heart is.

However, as I have just awakened and my Divine Power is insufficient, I will only say one character from her name, how about that?"

The woman in the black dress stared into Lin Chao's eyes, a look of confidence on her face.

Lin Chao was slightly stunned and became interested: "Why not?"

"Good, let me guess, who exactly is the person you care about most in your heart?" The woman in the black dress stood up and walked lightly around the room.

A divine light swirled upon her.

Lin Chao watched the woman in the black dress, his vigilance not letting up.

This god did not seem to be joking.

"I have guessed it; her name contains the character 'Yu', is that right?"

The woman in the black dress was beaming with a smile; when she mentioned the character 'Yu', her pronunciation was very unique, as if letting Lin Chao hear the Daxia Language.

"This character is very strange; it does not seem to be a common language. Could it be a woman of some alien race?" The woman in the black dress looked at Lin Chao, "Did I guess correctly?"

"Incorrect." Lin Chao shook his head.

He had lived through many lifetimes and indeed knew many people with 'Yu' in their names, but none of them had caused ripples in his heart.

"Impossible, my art of calculation cannot possibly have any issues." The woman in the black dress raised her voice, "You wouldn't be lying to me on purpose just to win, would you?"

"I would not; the person I care about in my heart does not have the character 'Yu' in her name," Lin Chao replied.

"How can that be?" The woman in the black dress was puzzled, then a smile appeared on her face, "I understand, you don't even know her name, or perhaps... she has long since changed her name. I shall calculate again."

"I await the result." Lin Chao looked at the woman in the black dress, his eyes full of curiosity.

He always felt that this woman was not lying to him.

However, the true method of calculation, omniscience and omnipotence—this realm was too profound, and the current Lin Chao could not touch it at all.

"I know now."

Just then, the woman in the black dress was beaming with a smile.

"I will not be wrong this time."

"The person you care about most is likely a woman."

"Her name should contain the character 'Die'."

The words of the woman in the black dress entered Lin Chao's ears and filled his mind.

Surprise flashed through his eyes, and his gaze toward the woman in the black dress changed slightly, becoming more serious.

"Who exactly are you?" Lin Chao suppressed his agitation.

When emotions are intense, people are most prone to making wrong judgments.

Lin Chao was facing a mysterious and unfathomable person; he needed to ensure absolute calmness.

"I am... the God of Omniscience." The woman in the black dress chuckled, lifted the hem of her skirt, and sat down again, "You believe me now, don't you?"

Lin Chao remained silent, finally nodding. He looked at the woman in the black dress, wanting to see through her identity, but it was of no use.

He spoke: "Then do you know... where she is now, and whether she is safe and happy?

If you tell me, I... will surely reward you handsomely!"

Even if this was a coincidence, even if this woman in the black dress was a charlatan, Lin Chao was unwilling to give up this only opportunity.

He had waited too long.

Within the cycle of reincarnation, he had long since spent endless years.

He must find Die Niao!

The current him was like a drowning person; even if it were a straw, he would desperately grasp it.

"My Divine Power is currently insufficient; I cannot divine it," the woman in the black dress smiled, a look of confidence on her face. "Now, do you believe I am the All-Knowing God?"

Lin Chao did not answer the woman in the black dress's question directly, but instead asked: "How can one replenish Divine Power?"

"Naturally, by obtaining a divine office. Kill a dozen or so false gods and obtain their divine offices; perhaps my Divine Power will be enough to help you predict her specific location."

"Hunt gods?" Lin Chao muttered.

"Don't tell me you actually want to kill a god?" The woman in the black dress chuckled. "Nine Prince, you are different from what I understood.

Your strength... is passable among humans, but killing gods... is still far off."

As the woman in the black dress spoke, she yawned, a look of fatigue appearing on her face.

Perhaps, divination consumed a great deal for her as well.

Otherwise, at such a realm, she would not be sleepy at all.

"Alright, no more wasting words with you. I didn't come to find you in the middle of the night just to chat; we should get straight to the point."

The woman in the black dress lifted her leg, her foot facing Lin Chao.

"Back then, in Shaya Wangcheng, you saved the life of my avatar.

I am a person who knows how to repay kindness, so I shall bestow upon you a massive stroke of good fortune.

You are lucky; I have just awakened, and I lack someone to serve tea and pour water by my side.

How about you become my... male pet?"

The woman in the black dress smiled, watching Lin Chao's reaction.

"Sorry... I refuse." Lin Chao refused directly without even thinking.

Although he had a request of her, he would not lose his reason.

"You actually refused?" The woman in the black dress was stunned. She had not expected Lin Chao to refuse. The astonishment was fleeting, and a smile hung on the woman in the black dress's face again.

"By becoming my male pet, a weak human like you would have the qualification to kiss the instep of the great All-Knowing God; are you still not satisfied?"

As the woman in the black dress spoke, her small shoe slipped off, revealing an exquisite jade foot. Her leg was wrapped in black silk, but through the threads, one could still see the pink, fair skin of her foot; her toes were crystal clear, distinct like polished jade.

Lin Chao looked at the woman in the black dress and did not continue this topic: "May I ask your name, how should I address you?"

The woman in the black dress looked at Lin Chao. She had not expected Lin Chao to resist becoming her male pet; this was somewhat different from what she had anticipated.

Where had it gone wrong?

However, she cast this emotion aside.

She looked at Lin Chao: "My name in the human world is... An Qian."

"An Qian." Lin Chao silently committed this name to memory.

"Are you truly unwilling to pledge loyalty to me and become my male pet?

You must know, this is a supreme honor that countless gods fight and scramble for but cannot obtain!"

"Sorry, Your Excellency, everyone has their own aspirations." Lin Chao refused directly.

"A bad start." An Qian smiled, then said a very greasy line: "Man, you have piqued my interest."

Lin Chao: "..."

"What a pity, what a pity, men are not good things.

No matter how well a fox hides, it will eventually show its tail.

Little man, let's see if you can hide until the end?"

As An Qian spoke, her figure also vanished at this moment.

In the entire room, An Qian's figure was no longer to be seen.

The furnishings were as they were before, as if no one had ever come, as if it were a dream.

Lin Chao's gaze flickered, carrying a hint of longing within it.

What exactly was the identity of this All-Knowing God?

And where was Die Niao?

(End of this chapter)