Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 2678: Chapter 2673: Why Return

Indeed, to do a good job, one must first sharpen their tools.

As the night gradually deepened, Fu Qian sat behind the counter once again experiencing the gift given by the Red Moon.

Never mind whether it fits the surrounding style, just ask—isn’t it cool and domineering?

Save where you should, spend where you must. Who says a bookstore owner can’t sit comfortably?

Facing the not-so-dense bookshelves, Fu Qian’s fingers brushed past the sharp spikes of the armrest one by one.

Even with no one between the bookshelves, it still didn’t hinder that imperial presence.

Of course, Fu Qian wouldn’t forget the latest gift from the Red Moon.

Even though as the fingers shifted, the alternately appearing four doors were truly four transmission points, he chose not to activate them.

Doing business requires patience, just calm down and wait—only to discover even greater losses.

Recently, the thirst for knowledge here in Shangjing doesn’t seem intense enough. Time ticks by, from the first lights of evening to the brilliance of the lanterns, yet no one attempts to dive into the ocean of knowledge, not even entering out of curiosity for a look around.

[The joys of the mundane cannot endure the gaze of immortals]

Luckily, as the owner, he could still choose to journey himself.

His posture grew more comfortable as time passed, as Fu Qian silently savored a certain phrase from the task summary.

This time, the warehouse could be directly confirmed, that Superiors must not enter, a fundamental property of the Sea of Souls.

But why must they not enter? The warehouse’s explanation seemed quite nuanced.

The joys of the mundane cannot endure the gaze... the first feeling from this phrase seemed to be of fragility.

And between ordinary people and even ordinary Transcendent and Superiors, there seemed to be some essential difference, with Immortals clearly referring to the latter.

For example, the Lord of Father’s Amnion is a vivid example. After finally accomplishing something, He directly caused a rejection reaction within the Sea of Souls.

So, where exactly does this essential difference lie—Return.

Thinking of this question simultaneously, a classic term could be said to simultaneously appear in Fu Qian’s mind.

As everyone knows, Superiors seem quite hard to kill.

Even for a long time, many tasks Fu Qian undertook involved slapping back into hiding some of their resurfacing bad tendencies.

Like the Goddess of Sin and Punishment, like the Blasphemous King... even the Dragon King, one of the King Slayer of the past, all suffered setbacks but remained undying, each reclaiming strength through means like the Oath Taker.

This state of death yet not decayed, might it reflect some essential difference?

...

At the end of the Divine Road, having some privileges doesn’t seem out of place?

He didn’t think the difficulty to kill was unfair; even Fu Qian found it reasonable.

What intrigued him was the reason, why they were hard to kill, why they could die yet remain intact.

If this question could be clarified, it seemed there was a chance to simultaneously explain why they couldn’t enter the Sea of Souls.

Related to authority?

Fu Qian quickly thought of an explanation.

[What so-called New Gods are, is merely complete mastery of a certain authority]

These were words from Dean Cass.

[Not messengers of authority, but false Divine Beings]

This was the warehouse’s comment when he completed the Pseudo-God Ritual.

With a slight comparison, he seemed to grasp the essential difference between the Second Phase and the First Phase.

One can mobilize authority, the other thoroughly masters authority.

And those who master authority then receive feedback; as long as the authority doesn’t perish, they don’t perish, which indeed is a relatively common idea.

There’s also another not particularly fitting example—Cultivation’s endpoint.

Once it sounded more ethereal than the traditional route, but not long ago, Fu Qian claimed he personally experienced through the heart demon’s immersion what the ”sweetness” of the Heavenly Dao was in the Academy.

For the Jade Soul Master’s Zen route, that endpoint clearly allowed one to feel what was solid.

Immortality, coexistence with the universe.

And those who reach the endpoint of the cultivation route became a ”title” of this immortality, or a form of manifestation.

Not even the only title, because besides the Jade Soul, back then he heard another—Impermanence.

So would the traditional transcendental Divine Road be a similar situation?

After reaching the endpoint, one’s name converges with authority, leaving a mark above completely?

It sounds somewhat reasonable... but with this in mind, there’s another special case that can’t be ignored—does it apply to himself now?

The Witch once appointed him, so now one might say he is more tyrannical than the Tyrant.

His mastery of authority has long been proven, such as directly nullifying Lady Nepheli’s Miracle.

If in such a situation, experiencing another Night of King Slayer and emerging successful, would he still survive?

Frankly, it’s a bit risky... though he hasn’t tried it, this was Fu Qian’s first impression.

Don’t be misled by how the Ancient Tyrant was so hard to kill, employing stealth curses and dismemberment, yet it still left traces of itself on some things.

Until he took on its skin, step by step usurping the nest.

However, even in his current state, during those rare moments of regained perception each day, Fu Qian’s instincts still told him dead is dead, and he wouldn’t have a ”Return” opportunity like those peers.

Why—because he doesn’t have a local account.

It was undoubtedly a good question, and more fortunately, it seemed there was also a good answer.

The outsider status, even regarding the SAN Points... the relationship with authority felt quite subtle, even related to the true essence of the ”Transcendent.”

So is there anybody who could help test this?

Quickly narrowing down to a few keywords, Fu Qian simultaneously rapidly filtered any available helpers—squeak!

Just at this ambitious moment, the night’s tranquility was unexpectedly disrupted.

In an instant, Fu Qian’s finger on the armrest lifted, allowing the bookstore’s door to return to its original state in his eyes, as he regarded the night’s first visitor—indeed a visitor who came at night.

Gray hair, red eyes, Selana Gulad, who did not adorn her appearance in any way.

Even her demeanor appeared relaxed and natural as she circled among the bookshelves before coming over, seemingly searching for some appealing works.

”Welcome.”

And at that moment, Fu Qian displayed his professionalism, his gaze following the customer along the entire route until she stood before the counter and glanced over, then politely greeted her.

...

As they say, diligence is rewarded, isn’t the customer here?

Although he mocked it once for lack of imagination, honestly, Her Excellency Annalise’s aesthetic sense wasn’t bad.

The crimson eyes on the pale face almost devoured one’s gaze like a genuine ruby.

And standing there silent for a moment, Selana used such eyes to meet Fu Qian’s gaze, as if wanting to scrutinize him inside and out.