Chapter 1758: [Fate Base]

Before this shadow figure stood a table still made of rotting planks. Among the Three Items on the table, originally only a black severed hand remained unobscured by the black fog. After the boy expressed his willingness to purchase an item, the other Two Items also revealed their forms.

One was a rolled-up bloodstained parchment, bound by what looked like a piece of rotten flesh resembling an umbilical cord; the other was a red gel resembling an embryo, placed inside a glass jar.

Xia De was unclear about what the former was, but he recognized the latter at a glance:

"Relic - a forged Philosopher's Stone."

This object was the direct trigger that caused the Tobesk Summer God-Descent Night after he arrived in this world; he remembered it vividly. The Witch obviously knew of this object as well. Although she somewhat wanted to buy it for study, considering she had already lost quite a few coins, she did not speak up.

The boy also heard Xia De speak the name of the Relic. Knowing this was not what he wanted, he chose the latter between the severed hand and that roll of parchment.

The small black scale fell onto the table. The shadow figure placed the parchment on one end of the scale, and the boy then nervously added coins.

He only had 4 coins in his hand at this moment. With every coin missing, his face grew paler. Fortunately, two coins were enough to purchase this item of unknown function. It was not a Relic; no one could identify exactly what it was.

After the boy reached out and grasped the roll, the umbilical cord binding it wriggled like a worm, plunged one end into his flesh, and then, along with the parchment, burrowed into the boy's body while he covered his mouth and screamed.

Xia De and Miss Higgins watched the boy alertly. He was soaked through with sweat due to the pain. After barely recovering, he lowered his head and said softly:

"I know you do not trust me right now. I will return to the camp and wait for you."

Saying this, he turned and left alone along the path he had come. The light of the torch soon disappeared into the fog.

"Guess what exactly happened to him?"

Miss Higgins asked Xia De. Xia De glanced at Lady Miles' expression, confirming she could still continue walking:

"Never mind him. Let us discuss it after we return to the camp. I only hope he does not make a wrong decision."

According to Miss Higgins' calculations, the three of them were now not far from the merchant Lady Miles was seeking. They had thought this adventure had reached its end, but less than fifty steps after leaving the new merchant, a special stall actually appeared by the roadside.

This time it was not a shadow figure setting up a stall. Between the stalls, a dilapidated blue tent with a pointed top had suddenly appeared. Neither Xia De nor Miss Higgins wanted to approach such a place that obviously stood out from the rest. However, even when Miss Higgins tried to take a detour, several subsequent attempts showed that to continue forward, this was the only path; all others were dead ends.

This tent clearly would not let them simply walk past. At the tent entrance, a sign written in contemporary Fifth Era characters reading "Fortune-Telling Hut" creaked in the windless black fog. The three, already familiar with the camp, could only steel themselves and walk inside holding torches in the increasingly cold environment.

The tent was very spacious. At the very interior, a shadow figure sat behind a table, and the only thing placed on the tabletop was a crystal ball. The base of the crystal ball was made of brass metal, somewhat resembling a crown, perfectly sized to hold that cloudy crystal ball in place.

But the crystal ball itself was merely a common item. What truly possessed an abnormally strong Whisper element was that brass base. A line of small text was inscribed on the base's nameplate. Xia De only saw it clearly after approaching:

【Push Aside the Fog to See the Truth】

Xia De felt the breathing of the young Miss beside him suddenly quicken. He turned and gave her a questioning look. The latter grabbed her collar, appearing unable to breathe:

"It is it. It is it. I never expected that what was written in the book would actually appear here."

"What thing?"

Miss Higgins did not answer immediately. Instead, she first gave Lady Miles a pair of earplugs. After confirming she could not hear, she introduced:

"Mr., I do not know if you are aware of how Witches classify the danger levels of Relics. But in fact, above the five categories of levels, there is an 'Unknowable Level'."

This point was consistent with the Sixth Era.

"Look at that base. Oh, my God, it is actually this. Unknowable Level Relic 【Fate Base】, a Relic of Fate and Divination. Placing any crystal ball upon it activates the Relic's properties. 【Fate Base】 Unique Property: Divination. It can divine anything. To date, there has never been a case where 【Fate Base】 could not divine!" I was once fortunate enough to attend a paid course by a Witch Emperor. While chatting casually, that Your Majesty mentioned that, rumor has it, this object was once the divination tool of the Ancient God of Fate - Mr. Ring!"

She gasped sharply. Over-excitement made her sound as if she were oxygen-deprived after speaking:

"With this object, we wouldn't even need to enter this camp to find the soul of Lady Miles' lover!"

"Do not get so excited first. Even if we sold the three of us, we certainly could not afford to buy this object. We can probably only pay to experience a divination."

Although this was the case, Xia De could not help but look at that Relic. Even having experienced so many things, the number of Unknowable Level Relics he had directly contacted was not many. As for those he had personally touched and used, aside from the special existence 【Desire】, there was only the 【Time of Retrogression】 hourglass borrowed to probe the truth of time, which had been contained by Luvia and Priest Augustus.

Luvia had said that every Unknowable Level Relic was directly related to a deity. Furthermore, the properties of Unknowable Level Relics could even slightly affect deities in the Saint state. All this was enough to demonstrate just how powerful this Relic before them truly was.

Even Xia De, who was always cautious and never greedy, could not avoid imagining at this moment what would happen if Luvia obtained this Relic.

He quickly shook his head, forcing himself not to imagine this matter:

"What are the Relic's negative properties and usage restrictions?"

Xia De asked softly. Miss Higgins was still trembling while speaking. Xia De only realized belatedly that she had been affected by that highest-level dangerous Relic:

"Only individuals from before the Third Era or entities with abnormally powerful souls can activate its divination properties. Therefore, even if we contemporary people obtained it, we most likely could not use it without some potions to temporarily strengthen the soul. Moreover, the conclusions divined by this Relic are absolutely correct. Therefore, absolutely do not use it to divine the future, absolutely do not! Everyone's future is uncertain, but once observed, one truly falls into the trap of fate."

"Can it only divine past events? Like where a lost key went, or whether my neighbor is cheating?"

"That is roughly the meaning. But there is no need to divine such trivial matters. Oh, do not let Grandma Miles try. Since the merchant's location is already known, do not let her come into contact with an Unknowable Level Relic."

Although she had always maintained vigilance against the shadow figures in the camp, she now actively walked toward that table. The black metal scale was placed down again. Miss Higgins took a deep breath:

"I wish to divine one matter!"

The scale immediately lost its balance. It only restored after Miss Higgins placed two coins. This was obviously the fee for divination:

"Where in the material world can I find a temporarily undiscovered mithril vein that I can purchase?"

After speaking, she widened her eyes and made a listening gesture, then her face suddenly flushed red:

"Understood, understood!"

She bit her lip, struggling to suppress her laughter, and retreated back to Xia De's side. Under the firelight, this lady seemed to have suddenly shaken off the dual influence of the "Black Fog Camp" and the Unknowable Level Relic. Her excited mood was fully displayed through her glowing eyes.

"You..."

"Two coins, exchanged for a lifetime without lack of money. Witches' consumption levels are very high, and I still need to raise funds for the materials of my own advancement ceremony. In my whole life, I have never made such a worthwhile transaction! As long as I can live to get out, what is there to worry about for the rest of my life?"

Grandma Miles still covered her ears. Although she did not know what Miss Higgins was saying, seeing her so excited and agitated, she smiled and nodded at her.

Xia De was quite impressed by this line of thinking regarding the use of Relics, but he still had a question:

"Can it really divine anything?"

Actually, the swinging sign of the "Fortune-Telling Hut" at the tent entrance had stopped creaking, indicating that as long as one person divined once, they could leave. But Xia De had also become interested in this Relic.

"At least, anything I know can be divined. However, it is best not to divine matters with little connection to oneself. Knowing more things brings us no benefit. Of course, do not divine knowledge related to gods. Although this Relic can give you answers, that does not mean you can accept that knowledge."

The excited Witch reminded him. Xia De nodded:

"Rest assured, I know the rules of divination."

Xia De then also came to the table where the crystal ball was placed. He similarly took out two coins but did not immediately place them on the scale:

"If this Relic cannot provide a divination result, then you must compensate me double."

He said this to the shadow figure. The shadow figure behind the table nodded. Xia De was startled in his heart and immediately received more information:

"These silent shadow figures are not mechanically repeating certain actions; they can make independent judgments."

He placed the coin on one side of the scale:

"I want to know, um... why did I come to this world?"

The outsider asked softly; he did not wish to earn more coins, but was truly puzzled by this. Although he had long abandoned any thought of giving up everything here and returning home, he still very much wanted to understand the cause of all this.

A voice appeared beside Xia De's ear.

PS: Begging for votes at the start of the month! No double votes this month.

(End of this chapter)