Lord of Prayer

Chapter 424: Chapter 274: Arriving at the World’s Most Chaotic City

Human Body Refinement is, without a doubt, an absolute taboo. It violates the laws of nature, creating human beings without the act of reproduction.

While the result is just a soulless, empty vessel, transferring a soul into it isn’t difficult for many Ascenders and elites. The soul of a Tier Three Ascender can already exist independently of its body. If they also master Skills like Assimilation, Possession, or Parasitism, they can easily seize control of another person’s body. As for the powerful and wealthy who are ordinary people, they can use special devices or certain Forbidden Objects and Extraordinary Artifacts with unique abilities to transfer their souls.

The soul, of course, has a lifespan of its own, but it is certainly longer than that of the physical body. The human body is actually quite fragile; even a healthy young person can die from a severe case of the flu.

Back around year 50 of the New Era, right after soul-transfer devices were first invented, there was a rash of incidents where wealthy elites on the brink of death from old age, illness, or disability seized healthy bodies. These bodies were either purchased for exorbitant sums or secretly kidnapped.

To eradicate this practice, the Star Association destroyed all soul-transfer devices in the world and permanently sealed away all related information. Later, when Alchemists developed Human Body Refinement, the Star Association listed it as a forbidden technique to prevent a recurrence of such events.

To this day, it’s estimated that only the Great Sages and Forging Giants still know this technique.

Zhou Chen was able to master it because he had contained the Hammer of Forging. Possessing this Authority over the Forging and Flame Realm allowed him to repeatedly accomplish feats that Blacksmiths and Alchemists of his level could not, such as reshaping Extraordinary Artifacts.

Speaking of reshaping artifacts... Zhou Chen felt it was time to move forward with his plan to modify the Bloodthirsty Chainsaw.

First, as a chainsaw, the Bloodthirsty Chainsaw is rather inconvenient to use in combat. If he modified it into a Chainsaw Sword, it would be much more practical.

Second, those psychotic killing maniacs from the American Chainsaw Murder Association have been trying to get the Bloodthirsty Chainsaw back. The last time in Hong City, they hunted Old Yang for ages. Who knows if they’ll pop up and cause trouble again? It would be better to just alter the Bloodthirsty Chainsaw’s appearance so they won’t recognize it.

’The method to control the clone is actually quite simple. I can use the Round Table Hall to possess it directly via Divine Descent; multitasking isn’t difficult for me. But North Carolina is a complete madhouse. Without any Extraordinary Abilities, I could get wiped out the moment I arrive...’

If he wanted to keep his identity a secret from Jiang Che and the Star Association, he couldn’t use any of the abilities he had displayed publicly.

Cyan Flame, the Cursed Blade, the Book of the Dead, Dream Light and Shadow, the Bloodthirsty Chainsaw, the Blindfolded Sunglasses, the Soul-Shocking Copper Whistle, Emotional Outburst, the Bonds Ring, the Christmas Sled...

’Hmm... The Wish Bottle and the Hammer of Forging should be usable.’

Zhou Chen considered this. ’Wishing is essentially the same principle as Words Become Law. As long as I don’t go around proclaiming that I can grant wishes like that Black-robed Man with Forbidden Object B-025: Wishing Box, it shouldn’t be a huge problem. I can pass myself off as an Ascender with the ability Words Become Law.’

’As for the Hammer of Forging, posing as a Blacksmith would make its use plausible. Similarly, as long as I don’t go wandering the streets with it, my identity should remain secure.’

Just as he was finalizing his plan, Zhou Chen heard a commotion upstairs.

Erin and Li Xiye were back.

His consciousness returned to the present. He went upstairs and saw Li Xiye pulling out one shopping bag after another from thin air. She also possessed a Storage Artifact, and an Essence Armament at that, making it even more convenient to use.

"You were only on your business trip for a day?" Li Xiye gave him a puzzled look. "Didn’t they say a Resurrectionist had appeared in Stone City? Was it dealt with that quickly?"

Zhou Chen shrugged helplessly. "It’s handled. I was mostly just there for show... What did you two buy?"

"Fruit, meat, vegetables, snacks, clothes, games, and some laundry detergent and shower gel," Li Xiye said, continuing to pull out overflowing shopping bags.

Just then, Erin walked over holding a shopping bag with the Royal Knight Order’s logo. "Zhou Chen... I bought you a gift. I hope you like it."

"For me?" Zhou Chen asked in surprise. He took the shopping bag with a smile. "Thanks. I’m sure I’ll love whatever it is."

Erin broke into a happy smile, but for some reason, her cheeks and the tips of her ears began to burn. She knew without looking that her face must be bright red. She quickly made an excuse, desperate to escape the awkward moment.

"My father asked me to call him when I got home, so I’m going to go video chat with him now."

With that, she practically fled up the stairs.

"Tsk, tsk. Such an innocent young maiden..."

Li Xiye chuckled. "Just like I was, back in the day."

Zhou Chen didn’t know how to respond, so he just looked down and pretended to examine the gift.

He pulled an exquisitely crafted gift box from the bag. It was stamped with a gold foil logo depicting two crossed knight’s lances over a shield—the emblem of the Laine Kingdom’s Royal Knight Order.

The Laine Kingdom maintained its traditions, but it had integrated into the modern world in many respects. Its international corporations were spread across the globe, and Jinzhu itself was home to many companies from the Laine Kingdom.

Zhou Chen opened the gift box. Inside lay a silver bracelet that refracted the light with a brilliant shimmer.

A small label was affixed next to it, describing the bracelet.

[Name: Secret Silver Bracelet]

Artifact Abilities:

1. Increases all Attribute Values by 10%.

2. Increases healing effects by 50%.