Necromancer: I Am A Disaster

Nothing useful could be read from the old man’s expression.

A trace of disappointment rose in Lin Moyu’s heart. Gritting his teeth, he finally asked the question.

He wasn’t sure whether it was the right one, or whether he should have asked it at all.

In the brief moment before speaking, Lin Moyu had already pieced together most things on his own.

Only one thing remained unresolved.

He knew Gui Fu wanted him dead, and from the old man he had learned that the reason lay in his second Primordial Skill.

But why? That was something he simply couldn’t understand.

The old man appeared to be drinking tea, yet Lin Moyu had the distinct feeling that he was being carefully observed.

When Lin Moyu finished speaking, silence fell between them.

Even the wind seemed to freeze. The vegetation stood motionless. The entire secret realm became unnervingly still.

Clink.

The old man set down his teacup. The faint sound rang out like thunder in the silence.

A smile still rested on his face, but Lin Moyu did not relax his guard in the slightest.

The emotions of an existence at this level were impossible to discern.

He waited patiently.

After a moment, the old man finally spoke, “You’re very pragmatic. You haven’t lost sight from what really matters.”

Lin Moyu recognized it as praise.

The old man continued, “Gui Fu should have told you that the blood of the Primordial Bird was refined into the Nine True Words. The Nine True Words were then divided into the nine Primordial Runes, which further transformed into Primordial Skills.”

Lin Moyu nodded. Gui Fu had indeed said as much.

Though he had believed it at the time, he hadn’t fully trusted it.

The old man’s gaze dropped to the teacup. Lin Moyu immediately understood and poured him another cup.

He didn’t pour one for himself. This tea was far too precious. Without permission, he wouldn’t dare.

The old man took a small sip, “Gui Fu wasn’t lying. You don’t need to doubt that.”

“But he did conceal something. Primordial Skills, Primordial Runes, and the Nine True Words all belong to the same lineage. Ultimately, they originate from the Primordial Bird’s bloodline.”

“When someone masters only one Primordial Skill, the impact is limited.”

“But when multiple Primordial Skills are mastered, and when they begin to resonate, verify one another, and merge, it becomes possible to revert to the source.”

Lin Moyu’s eyes widened. “Revert to the source… You mean restoring the Primordial Bird’s bloodline and re-refining the Nine True Words?”

The old man chuckled, “You’re thinking too simply. Naturally, that’s impossible.”

Lin Moyu thought it through and agreed.

The bloodline had been split into nine parts. Each true word represented only one-ninth of it, and each Primordial Skill was merely a fragment of a True Word, a fragment of a fragment.

Trying to recreate the Primordial Bird’s bloodline from that was no different from conjuring something from nothing.

Lin Moyu nearly laughed at his own foolish thought.

The old man continued, “While restoring the bloodline is impossible, mastering the Nine True Words is not.”

“With only one Primordial Skill, the difficulty is extreme—virtually impossible.”

“But with multiple Primordial Skills, through mutual verification, fusion, and comprehension, there is hope.”

The old man didn’t answer directly, but Lin Moyu already understood.

Gui Fu wanted to kill him because he didn’t want him to obtain a second Primordial Skill.

Had Lin Moyu withdrawn from the trial back then, Gui Fu would never have become hostile.

Instead, Lin Moyu had unknowingly made a formidable enemy.

Now, he could only hope that Gui Fu would never be able to leave the secret realm, and that he himself would never return here again.

As for what impact his second Primordial Skill had on Gui Fu, Lin Moyu didn’t ask. He knew the answer wouldn’t be given.

The old man had already mentioned a bet between them. This was almost certainly connected.

Lin Moyu spoke sincerely, “Thank you, Senior, for clearing my doubts. I will be cautious if I encounter Gui Fu in the future.”

The old man laughed, “Aren’t you thinking it would be best if he never leaves the secret realm, and you never meet him at all?”

Caught red-handed, Lin Moyu smiled awkwardly, “Senior… can you read minds?”

“I’m just an old man who’s lived too long.” The old man replied lightly, tapping the table twice.

Lin Moyu understood immediately. This was already the second question.

The old man had granted him only one opportunity to ask. He had used it, and should not push further.

Strength determined status. For someone of the old man’s strength to converse with him at all, and even grant him tea that enhanced his soul rank, was already an immense favor.

Lin Moyu felt nothing but gratitude.

Had the old man been unwilling, Lin Moyu wouldn’t even have been qualified to stand before him.

The old man spoke again, “In the last age, this world produced several capable figures. They led their age forward, but unfortunately, they strayed from the path.”

“Their downfall echoed through time, affecting your age. Your path has become far more difficult.”

“1,000 years ago, a decent fellow emerged, but unfortunately he failed to become a guide of the age.”

“600 years ago, another appeared with passable talent, yet he lacked endurance.”

“100 years ago, one more arose. He had momentum, but was too conservative—hardly the right choice.”

The old man’s gaze finally settled on Lin Moyu, “I wonder whether you possess the qualifications to become this world’s guide in the current age.”

Lin Moyu answered calmly, “I will do my utmost.”

“See that you do. Do not disappoint me.”

With a casual wave of the old man’s hand, heaven and earth inverted.

Lin Moyu vanished from the secret realm.

The old man turned his eyes toward the pavilion and murmured, “Gui Fu… any loophole you found was one I permitted you to find.”

“This is merely a light punishment. Should there be a next time, you will be reduced to ashes.”

Thunder roared through the secret realm as a violent wind surged forward, crashing into the pavilion.

A scream rang out—Gui Fu’s.

The old man paid it no heed, instead speaking softly, “Young Friend… don’t disappoint me.”

…

Outside the secret realm, Lin Moyu appeared abruptly.

At that very moment, a meteor tore through the sky and slammed into the ground less than 10 meters away.

A deafening explosion erupted, the shockwave surging toward him.

Lin Moyu did not evade it. A faint white glow surfaced over his body as the impact struck.

All his skills had been unsealed. Damage Transfer activated instantly, diverting the force of the explosion to his undead army.

Empowered by his talent, the skill reduced incoming damage eightyfold. The undead army suffered only negligible damage.

Even if dozens more meteors of the same magnitude exploded, Lin Moyu wouldn’t so much as frown.

He looked back at the secret realm entrance, shimmering amid the lingering explosion, then down at the backs of his hands. The Primordial Runes were gone.

Everything had been real. Not a dream.

He had passed the trial.

The Primordial Runes had transformed into Primordial Skills, becoming skill star cores that fused into his soul. From this moment on, they were truly his.

More than that. Because of his near-perfect performance, the two Primordial Skills had not weakened. They were stronger than before.

Lin Moyu took out the scale Antares had given him and activated it.

...

Antares lay with his eyes closed, his massive head resting against the ground as though asleep.

Yet the occasional twitch of his eyelids betrayed him. Rough bursts of air snorted from his nostrils, revealing his foul mood.

He still hadn’t moved past the matter of the Dragon God.

He had swallowed the Dragon Bead the Dragon God had given him. Though he loathed that being, the Dragon Bead was an undeniable treasure, one he could not refuse.

Now, he was in the midst of fusing with the Dragon Beast, a process that would take time.

Suddenly, Antares’s eyes snapped open.

Lin Moyu stood not far away.

“Why is that brat back already?” Antares thought to himself.

Just as he was about to speak, he noticed Lin Moyu’s eyes were closed.

Realizing something, Antares restrained himself.

The surrounding area fell completely silent.

“What’s that brat thinking about?” Antares wondered, “He looks like he’s wracking his brain.”

Antares knew all too well how sharp Lin Moyu was. Given the slightest hint, he could unravel a web of hidden truths.

Antares himself had paid the price for that.

He had lost count of how many times he had let something slip, only to be caught by Lin Moyu’s probing questions.

He had learned to speak less.

In his eyes, Lin Moyu was a little fox, one who delighted in coaxing Dragons into talking.

Yet this time, Lin Moyu had encountered an old fox… and failed to extract much of anything.

Meanwhile, Lin Moyu replayed every moment from the secret realm in his mind.

Each word spoken by Gui Fu and the old man.

He examined them relentlessly, organizing every scene he had witnessed.

The memories flowed through his thoughts like a film on endless repeat.

Vaguely, he sensed himself approaching an immense secret.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

A phrase surfaced in his mind: The more a weak person knows, the faster he dies.

“No.” Lin Moyu thought, “I can’t keep digging. If I go any further, something terrible will happen.”

“There’s a reason we aren’t allowed to know what lies beyond. Don’t think about it anymore.”