Chapter 114: Adjacent Paths

After Lei Kè Dùn posted a request to purchase various extraordinary traits, the gathering got back on track.

Mr. Fool began to explain the two previous laws:

"The so‑called adjacent sequence refers to several paths that can be interchanged within a higher sequence."

"For example, an extraordinary being on the Death God Path at sequence five can not only advance normally to sequence four of the same path, but can also choose the Giant Path's sequence‑four Demon Hunter."

"This does not bring the danger of losing control, nor does it accumulate madness in the body."

"Of course, it must be a neighboring path."

"It can be swapped!" Miss Justice's voice was both surprised and delighted.

That means she will have more options when she needs to ascend in the future.

Everyone wore an expression, except Lei Kè Dùn, who had known this all along.

Amid the flurry of thoughts, Miss Justice spoke again:

"Mr. Fool, may I ask which paths the Audience Path can interchange with?"

Having just said that, Miss Justice's tone softened, and she added:

"I can pay a reward for this answer; you, what amount of gold pounds do you think, or what other items or information would you need for a trade?"

"Mr. Fool, may I answer this question? I want to buy a large quantity of extraordinary traits; I'm short on money lately."

Lei Kè Dùn continued after Miss Justice's words:

"Sure."

Although reluctant to part with gold pounds, Ke Lai En was also unsure which paths the Audience Path could swap with.

"Thank you for your kindness!"

Lei Kè Dùn offered a compliment, then turned his gaze to Miss Justice and said:

"Shall I say it directly?"

Miss Justice hesitated briefly, then slowly spoke:

"Just say it directly!"

She felt that since Mr. Fool had shared knowledge with everyone today, she should do the same.

"There are four paths adjacent to the Audience Path; I like to call them the 'Omniscient Omnipotent Five Paths.' These five paths are Audience, Sailor, Reader, Mystic Prayerer and Chanter."

Since Miss Justice did not opt for a private discussion, Lei Kè Dùn openly listed the five paths.

"Omniscient Omnipotent Five Paths?" Miss Justice whispered, repeating it.

The adjacent paths of the Audience Path are far more than she expected, meaning that when she reaches her own sequence five, she will have five different options.

"Although Mr. White Tower's path is uncertain, he said he belongs to the Knowledge Church, so he is most likely an extraordinary being of the Reader Path."

Ke Lai En thought of this, cast a strange glance at the people seated below; it seemed that aside from himself, the rest were all members of those paths.

"Is this a coincidence?" Ke Lai En furrowed his brow, pondering silently.

"Why call them the Omniscient Omnipotent Five Paths?"

Xiao Taiyang keenly noticed the prefix "Omniscient Omnipotent."

"I think it's more vivid, and also because it relates to the Omniscient Omnipotent God."

Lei Kè Dùn had already guessed that after mentioning the prefix, Xiao Taiyang would react; however, as a newcomer to the Tarot Society, he shouldn't know that the other was in the God‑Abandoned Land, so he gave no detailed explanation.

"The Omniscient Omnipotent God?"

Xiao Taiyang stared at Lei Kè Dùn with burning eyes, wanting more information.

"The Omniscient Omnipotent God!"

The rest of the Tarot Society—Justice, the Hanged Man, and even Mr. Fool—were privately astonished.

"Mr. White Tower, do you know more? I can trade something," Xiao Taiyang hurriedly asked.

"This concerns the authority of the deity."

"For instance, the Reader Path I belong to represents omniscience!"

Lei Kè Dùn didn't really want to answer now, but he was craving monster material and extraordinary traits from Silver City.

"So Mr. White Tower is of the Reader Path!"

Miss Justice, seated at the front right, nodded thoughtfully and then asked curiously:

"Then which path represents omnipotence?"

"The Mystic Prayerer!"

Miss Justice originally thought her sudden question was abrupt, intending to follow with that she could purchase with gold pounds, but

"Thank you for your answer, Mr. White Tower, how much reward should I pay you?"

Miss Justice gave a slight nod toward Lei Kè Dùn's seat, satisfied with the knowledge gained today.

"I feel the same! But I have no gold pounds; I can only pay with material from monsters—what kind does Mr. White Tower need?"

Xiao Taiyang also spoke up.

"Let's fold it into the previous reward as a first‑time friendship price!"

Lei Kè Dùn didn't mind much; using that information to gain some good points was fine.

Moreover, the Tarot Society meeting had been dragged on too long; he needed to get back on track, and he worried about Mr. Fool's current spiritual state—whether it would again pull him up into the Gray Mist.

Next, Miss Justice and the Hanged Man began their trade: the mind‑reader's demonic elixir main material, and an adult seven‑color lizard dragon's complete pituitary gland.

Mr. Fool also took the opportunity to propose an experiment concerning a sacrifice‑and‑grant ceremony.

"First time attending a Tarot Society and this already happens!"

Lei Kè Dùn silently sighed to himself.

He quietly recorded the pattern Mr. Fool displayed, composed of the secretive eyeless eye and the twisted line symbolizing change.

At the end of the gathering, Miss Justice offered a suggestion for developing new members:

"Mr. Fool, I have discovered two ladies suitable for our Tarot Society, each with their own circles and resources in Beikeland, and decent personalities; I wonder if you would be willing to let them join?"

"That requires some assessment."

After Mr. Fool gave his answer, the gathering came to an end.

When everyone had left the Gray Mist, Ke Lai En curiously examined the pattern behind Lei Ke Dun's chair back; last time his own spirituality could not sustain it, so he hadn't had time to observe.

"A broken ring, and an image of an opened book outlined by lines."

"Is this the ring behind him that he displayed last time? Isn't it a pattern linked to his extraordinary path? Hmm, this also counts as his own path, different from the demonic elixir system's path."

Ke Lai En curiously sized up the group, making corresponding guesses.

Not long after, Ke Lai En heard the prayer of the Hanged Man; he witnessed a hazy great door appear behind the high‑backed chair and felt spiritual power rippling wave after wave.

In the unreal sound, that hazy great door slowly opened!

Ke Lai En obtained the seven‑colored lizard‑dragon pituitary offered by the Hanged Man through the sacrifice ritual; a strong sense of achievement made him smile sincerely.

"The Tarot Society will become even more wondrous from now on."

After the Tarot Society ended, Lei Ke Dun sat quietly in his study for a while, took a stack of white paper and a round‑belly fountain pen from his desk, preparing to list some extraordinary materials he needed and issue them as tasks in the next Tarot Society.

"Collecting extraordinary materials and traits en masse, my money will surely run short; looks like I need a chance to go out to sea, find a kind‑hearted pirate to borrow money and traits."

Lei Ke Dun pondered ways to raise funds quickly.

Thinking of the balance in his bank account, Lei Ke Dun couldn't help but sigh:

"No wonder the Knowledge Church is so generous with material applications; when research is needed, the consumption is beyond what ordinary people can bear."

Lei Ke Dun's spirituality was stirred; he reached out and grasped, in mid‑air before him, a golden book that fell from the spirit realm.

When he opened it, the contents displayed line by line:

"I consulted a professional on your problem; the fact that your raven melts at the demonic elixir entry point likely means it has had a similar role before."

"Don't ask me how a raven collects corpses for people; I don't know either."

"However, I guess that the role of a corpse‑collector doesn't necessarily have to involve collecting human corpses; animal corpses, or corpses of the same kind might count. Perhaps your raven often contacts corpses, or it has an extraordinary talent."

"I have already found the Sequence Eight demonic elixir formula for you; remember to brew the demonic elixir for it, then tell me the changes after it consumes the elixir. The professional I consulted is very interested in it; if he weren't temporarily stuck on the Southern Continent, he'd come personally to see the raven."

"Also, why has your messenger changed appearance again? If it weren't a bit familiar, I'd think you had swapped messengers."

After reading this unsigned, undated letter, Lei Ke Dun felt that Xi Ya and he were becoming more casual in correspondence. Even diary entries have a date; Xi Ya writes as if speaking face‑to‑face.

He recorded the Grave Digger demonic elixir formula inside, then raised his hand and sent the messenger back to the spirit realm.

Lei Ke Dun prepared to get up and look for materials, to see if there were enough to brew a Grave Digger demonic elixir.

Suddenly, dense gray mist surged before his eyes; deep within the mist appeared a scene: a beautiful blonde‑eyed girl, praying, speaking something:

"Esteemed Mr. Fool, please convey to Mr. White Tower that his reward will be ready tomorrow, and will be delivered to your Divine Kingdom as a sacrifice."

Overlapping voices echoed in his ears, yet the specific content could still be clearly discerned.

"The ritual procedure is the same as described before; only the prayer wording needs to be changed."

"Your faithful servant prays for your gaze, prays that you open the kingdom's gate, prays that you grant power."

"Use the binary ritual method!"

Mr. Fool added a supplementary explanation behind, then the gray mist in Lei Ke Dun's eyes dissipated, and the scene returned to normal.

(End of chapter)