How shameful!
If there was a hole in the ground, I'd have jumped immediately and never come out. Then again, the system was a part of me, so I'd only be burying myself for no reason.
Ah, why is life so depressing?
[It's okay, Host. Everybody makes mistakes, the only difference is that you're a mis- you make more mistakes than others.] The system consoled.
"Hey, say that again." I quipped.
[Everybody makes mistakes.]
"No, after that."
[...]
"You..."
[Ding! Congratulations, you have finally discovered the true purpose of Regeneration. You shall now be given a detailed description of the system function, Regeneration.]
[Regeneration: As the name suggests, the main function of Regeneration is to regenerate things to 100% capacity. As long as there remains 10% of an item, it is possible for it to be regenerated to its complete form no matter how broken or out of shape it is. The secondary function is for it is similar to a generator in which the function will provide the host with the energy generated by special items.]
"And you didn't tell me this because?"
[It's up for you to discover.]
"Go to hell."
[You cannot escape from the system.]
"I'd like to restart with another system."
[Restarting will cost you Infinite System Points.]
"..." I looked on blankly. I give up, I completely give up.
[But you need not despair, Host.]
"You need not console me, System. I know I'm a failure."
[Not that. Because you have finally fully understood the functions of Regeneration, the system has decided to unlock a new system function, Fusion.]
All of a sudden, the world seemed to become more wonderful.
...
Time passed as the moon replaced the sun. It was midnight.
Out in the Zhou Mountains, there was a strange and massive stone in the middle of a clearing. This stone looked as if it possessed many impurities like natural quartz, not transparent at all.
This was a true essence stone. Or rather, a true essence mountain.
A few hours ago, when I gained a new system function, I rushed out and headed to my usual training ground.
After learning first-hand to never wildly assume things, I decided to test out the various abilities of the new system function, Fusion.
As its name suggests, it had a simple function, to fuse things.
However, what can it fuse exactly and what are its limits? These were the questions that kept me going. On one side of me, there was a ten-foot-tall mountain of true essence stones, while on another side stood a ninety-foot-tall true essence stone mountain. Put simply, the other was a pile of stones, while the other was a single entity.
This was one of my experiments during the past few hours. As long as the items are of the same kind, it is possible to fuse the two to increase their natural size. However, the same thing could not be said for their quality.
For instance, fusing a hundred-year-old Blood Ginseng with a thousand-year-old Blood Ginseng was possible, but it would only increase the latter's size while the quality remains unaffected. It was like throwing freshwater into a saltwater lake. It will only get assimilated.
I also tried combining different types of materials and had a certain degree of success. An example of which, I fused fire-related materials with each other and improved upon their effects and quality. Fusing fire-related materials with materials of other elements, however, had more varying levels of success. Sometimes it became more volatile while some lost their effects. There were endless possibilities.
As for combining the various techniques in my disposal, it wasn't possible. At least not yet. That was because in order to fuse something, I needed a physical form. Memories or knowledge had no physical form, so I had no choice in this matter.
After some time, I finally fused the remaining pile of true essence stones towards the true essence mountain. Satisfied with the result, I walked up and held a hand to it as I prompty sold it. A moment later, the mountain disappeared, as if it was never there in the first place.
[Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained a 100-Foot Tall True Essence Stone Mountain.]
Smiling to myself in satisfaction, I proceeded to squat down as I gathered strength in my legs and then... jump!
Boom!
From out of nowhere, a hundred-foot tall true essence stone mountain suddenly landed in front of me, shaking the earth. After which, I landed shakily as well.
"That was some hard work!" I exhaled as I swept the sweat off my forehead, satisfied with my work.
Immediately, I put it into Regeneration and made a mad dash, "Now, it's time to make a break for it!"
Although I was quite far from the city, I didn't want to take chances on whether someone might send people to investigate the sudden shaking.
Soon enough, the only thing left in the clearing were the sight of a few broken trees and a large crater.
...
The next day.
I continued making inscription symbols once I came back home. This time, because of the mountain-like true essence stone at my disposal, true essence had become the least of my problems. However, soul force was another matter.
Nevertheless, because of the Inscription Master's memories, the amount of soul force I wasted gradually became lesser as time went by. Along with my unlimited materials, my learning speed of inscriptions could be said to be traveling ten thousand miles in one day.
By the time noon arrived, I was already a level 10 Inscription Expert and was about to level up.
[Ding! You have gained 1 EXP. Next Level Up: 99/100 EXP.]
However, I still haven't succeeded in creating an inscription symbol so far. Feeling somewhat tired, I decided to take a rest and relax. Following which, I took out a book from the fair.
'Inscription Techniques: How to Get Started on the Path to Inscription'
Although it was often referred to as an alarming knock-off like manual, it was a helpful book to introduce one to the path of inscriptions. Reading it, although I wouldn't learn anything new, it helped me form a more solid understanding towards the Sky Spill Continent's methods of inscription.
An incense stick of time passed before I closed the book. Taking a deep breath, I once again gathered true essence on my fingertips and began the process of extracting the materials and drawing brilliant lines on the air until I eventually formed a diagram of mystical runes.
Time passed. By this point, I was already overdrawing my soul force. However, success was already within my reach. And with a final stroke, the floating runes flashed brightly as they formed into an inscription symbol, the size of a square inch, remaing suspended in the air.
[Ding! Congratulations, you have leveled up! You are now an Inscription Master! Next Level Up: 0/100 EXP.]
[Ding! You have now become an Inscription Master! As a reward, you shall be given the Divine Brush!]
[Divine Brush: With this brush, the heaven and earth shall become your canvas and creating inscriptions won't be any harder than breathing air or drinking water!]
I was already near collapse at this point, but as I heard the wonderful notifications, it was as if heavenly music was playing by my ears as I immediately jumped in absolute joy!
Especially as I looked at this completed inscription floating in the air. Looking at it made me feel as though this small inscription was like my precious child. It was the first thing I personally made and spent painstaking effort to raise it up!
The name of this inscription was the 'Ignition Symbol'.
Following which, I pulled out a symbol paper. With a slight bit of soul force, the 'Ignition Symbol' fell onto the symbol paper as brilliant lines converged to form ancient runes. At the last minute of forming the symbol paper, I changed the outwards design with my soul force. At the corner of the symbol paper, a flame pattern gradually emerged.
Naturally, this was my personal sign. Every Inscription Master had their own personalized design. This was so people could recognize their works. And now, I decided on flames; as flames represented rebirth into nirvana, or a moth flying into a flame!
Carefully receiving the precious symbol paper, I sighed in relief as I put it inside the inventory.
After which, I collected all the mess inside the room and immediately slumped down on the bed, exhausted and satisfied.
How shameful!
If there was a hole in the ground, I'd have jumped immediately and never come out. Then again, the system was a part of me, so I'd only be burying myself for no reason.
Ah, why is life so depressing?
[It's okay, Host. Everybody makes mistakes, the only difference is that you're a mis- you make more mistakes than others.] The system consoled.
"Hey, say that again." I quipped.
[Everybody makes mistakes.]
"No, after that."
[...]
"You..."
[Ding! Congratulations, you have finally discovered the true purpose of Regeneration. You shall now be given a detailed description of the system function, Regeneration.]
[Regeneration: As the name suggests, the main function of Regeneration is to regenerate things to 100% capacity. As long as there remains 10% of an item, it is possible for it to be regenerated to its complete form no matter how broken or out of shape it is. The secondary function is for it is similar to a generator in which the function will provide the host with the energy generated by special items.]
"And you didn't tell me this because?"
[It's up for you to discover.]
"Go to hell."
[You cannot escape from the system.]
"I'd like to restart with another system."
[Restarting will cost you Infinite System Points.]
"..." I looked on blankly. I give up, I completely give up.
[But you need not despair, Host.]
"You need not console me, System. I know I'm a failure."
[Not that. Because you have finally fully understood the functions of Regeneration, the system has decided to unlock a new system function, Fusion.]
All of a sudden, the world seemed to become more wonderful.
...
Time passed as the moon replaced the sun. It was midnight.
Out in the Zhou Mountains, there was a strange and massive stone in the middle of a clearing. This stone looked as if it possessed many impurities like natural quartz, not transparent at all.
This was a true essence stone. Or rather, a true essence mountain.
A few hours ago, when I gained a new system function, I rushed out and headed to my usual training ground.
After learning first-hand to never wildly assume things, I decided to test out the various abilities of the new system function, Fusion.
As its name suggests, it had a simple function, to fuse things.
However, what can it fuse exactly and what are its limits? These were the questions that kept me going. On one side of me, there was a ten-foot-tall mountain of true essence stones, while on another side stood a ninety-foot-tall true essence stone mountain. Put simply, the other was a pile of stones, while the other was a single entity.
This was one of my experiments during the past few hours. As long as the items are of the same kind, it is possible to fuse the two to increase their natural size. However, the same thing could not be said for their quality.
For instance, fusing a hundred-year-old Blood Ginseng with a thousand-year-old Blood Ginseng was possible, but it would only increase the latter's size while the quality remains unaffected. It was like throwing freshwater into a saltwater lake. It will only get assimilated.
I also tried combining different types of materials and had a certain degree of success. An example of which, I fused fire-related materials with each other and improved upon their effects and quality. Fusing fire-related materials with materials of other elements, however, had more varying levels of success. Sometimes it became more volatile while some lost their effects. There were endless possibilities.
As for combining the various techniques in my disposal, it wasn't possible. At least not yet. That was because in order to fuse something, I needed a physical form. Memories or knowledge had no physical form, so I had no choice in this matter.
After some time, I finally fused the remaining pile of true essence stones towards the true essence mountain. Satisfied with the result, I walked up and held a hand to it as I prompty sold it. A moment later, the mountain disappeared, as if it was never there in the first place.
[Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained a 100-Foot Tall True Essence Stone Mountain.]
Smiling to myself in satisfaction, I proceeded to squat down as I gathered strength in my legs and then... jump!
Boom!
From out of nowhere, a hundred-foot tall true essence stone mountain suddenly landed in front of me, shaking the earth. After which, I landed shakily as well.
"That was some hard work!" I exhaled as I swept the sweat off my forehead, satisfied with my work.
Immediately, I put it into Regeneration and made a mad dash, "Now, it's time to make a break for it!"
Although I was quite far from the city, I didn't want to take chances on whether someone might send people to investigate the sudden shaking.
Soon enough, the only thing left in the clearing were the sight of a few broken trees and a large crater.
...
The next day.
I continued making inscription symbols once I came back home. This time, because of the mountain-like true essence stone at my disposal, true essence had become the least of my problems. However, soul force was another matter.
Nevertheless, because of the Inscription Master's memories, the amount of soul force I wasted gradually became lesser as time went by. Along with my unlimited materials, my learning speed of inscriptions could be said to be traveling ten thousand miles in one day.
By the time noon arrived, I was already a level 10 Inscription Expert and was about to level up.
[Ding! You have gained 1 EXP. Next Level Up: 99/100 EXP.]
However, I still haven't succeeded in creating an inscription symbol so far. Feeling somewhat tired, I decided to take a rest and relax. Following which, I took out a book from the fair.
'Inscription Techniques: How to Get Started on the Path to Inscription'
Although it was often referred to as an alarming knock-off like manual, it was a helpful book to introduce one to the path of inscriptions. Reading it, although I wouldn't learn anything new, it helped me form a more solid understanding towards the Sky Spill Continent's methods of inscription.
An incense stick of time passed before I closed the book. Taking a deep breath, I once again gathered true essence on my fingertips and began the process of extracting the materials and drawing brilliant lines on the air until I eventually formed a diagram of mystical runes.
Time passed. By this point, I was already overdrawing my soul force. However, success was already within my reach. And with a final stroke, the floating runes flashed brightly as they formed into an inscription symbol, the size of a square inch, remaing suspended in the air.
[Ding! Congratulations, you have leveled up! You are now an Inscription Master! Next Level Up: 0/100 EXP.]
[Ding! You have now become an Inscription Master! As a reward, you shall be given the Divine Brush!]
[Divine Brush: With this brush, the heaven and earth shall become your canvas and creating inscriptions won't be any harder than breathing air or drinking water!]
I was already near collapse at this point, but as I heard the wonderful notifications, it was as if heavenly music was playing by my ears as I immediately jumped in absolute joy!
Especially as I looked at this completed inscription floating in the air. Looking at it made me feel as though this small inscription was like my precious child. It was the first thing I personally made and spent painstaking effort to raise it up!
The name of this inscription was the 'Ignition Symbol'.
Following which, I pulled out a symbol paper. With a slight bit of soul force, the 'Ignition Symbol' fell onto the symbol paper as brilliant lines converged to form ancient runes. At the last minute of forming the symbol paper, I changed the outwards design with my soul force. At the corner of the symbol paper, a flame pattern gradually emerged.
Naturally, this was my personal sign. Every Inscription Master had their own personalized design. This was so people could recognize their works. And now, I decided on flames; as flames represented rebirth into nirvana, or a moth flying into a flame!
Carefully receiving the precious symbol paper, I sighed in relief as I put it inside the inventory.
After which, I collected all the mess inside the room and immediately slumped down on the bed, exhausted and satisfied.
