Chapter 534 - 216: So This Is How You Do It, Huh?

[You have been targeted by the guidance of Forbidden Item 0-38, the Bell of Truth. Your location is exposed. Evaluation: Whether a true name or an alias, a name will be tinged with the aura of its Origin. A Forbidden Item standing outside the River of Destiny can clearly identify the owner of said aura. Special Reward: Survival Points +100, Origin +2, Spirit Level +2, Resilience Level +2.]

[Note: Forbidden Item 0-38, the Bell of Truth, is a Forbidden Item that formed at the dawn of the Second Era. The very concept of time in this world owes its existence to the Bell’s appearance...]

[Forbidden Item 0-38, the Bell of Truth, Ability One, Second Hand Rotation - Dormant State: By engraving information such as a name, Origin, and characteristics upon it, it will guide one to the location of the person to whom the name belongs. Negative Effect: Each search deducts one hour of life from the user, and the cost doubles with each subsequent use. Removal Method: ??]

[Forbidden Item 0-38, the Bell of Truth, Ability Two, Minute Hand Rotation - Awakened State: Can manipulate time within a one-kilometer radius. Negative Effect: The user suffers twice the cost of the temporal alteration. Removal Method: ??]

[Forbidden Item 0-38, the Bell of Truth, Ability Three, Hour Hand Rotation - Uncontrolled State: Will pull everyone within a hundred-kilometer radius into a True World, forcing them to randomly possess the bodies of its native inhabitants. Once all the outsiders die, the world closes, and everyone who was pulled inside will also die! Method to Stop Uncontrolled State: ???]

[...]

[You have been targeted by the guidance of Forbidden Item 0-38, the Bell of Truth... Evaluation: Altering your Origin can delay the time it takes to lock onto your position or shield your information within the River of Destiny. Special Reward: Survival Points +80, Origin +1, Spirit Level +1, Resilience Level +1.]

’Forbidden Item 0-38, the Bell of Truth...’

’A Forbidden Item from the dawn of the Second Era...’

’Three abilities, three states, and each one is more insane than the last?’

Wei’en stared at the string of notifications on his panel, his brow deeply furrowed.

It was obvious someone was using the Forbidden Item to lock onto his position, someone willing to pay with their own life to do so...

’Who would go to such great lengths?’

’No, the real question is, who wants to find me?’

A few names surfaced in Wei’en’s mind: the Dawn Church, the Dusk Sect, the Wizard Schools?

’Considering what I’ve done since arriving in this world, only these three organizations would pay me this much attention...’

But after considering each one, Wei’en still couldn’t pinpoint the culprit.

’First, it’s been two days since I killed the Dawn Church’s Judgment Knight. The Judgement Saintess is probably already on her way here, and it’s highly likely she’d use a Forbidden Item to track me.’

’Second, the Dusk Sect might be escalating their hunt, especially since a few more of their Secret Cultivators died around here yesterday.’

’Finally, the Wizard Schools... I suspect them because of the timing. They started tracking me right after I exposed the flaws in the Magic Runes in the Nightmare Realm World. I can’t help but see a connection...’

’If it is one of the Wizard Schools, I can rule out the Specters first. They wouldn’t need to go to this much trouble to find me.’

’Next are the Mechanical School and the Blood Spirit School. Neither of them focuses on runology, so they’re unlikely to come after me specifically for exposing the flaws in the Magic Runes.’

’That only leaves the Spiritual Mystery and Shadow Schools...’

"Spiritual Mystery..."

Wei’en frowned. If it was the Spiritual Mystery School, that would be a problem.

’I still need knowledge of the Spiritual Mystery School’s destiny divination system, or the Destiny Barrier Spell.’

’Or maybe... some even more secretive organization has taken an interest in me?’

Wei’en recalled the black castle from his dream, the bright great hall, and the blurry figures on the dais. He couldn’t help but give a bitter smile. "Tsk! To think they’d use a Forbidden Item like that against me..."

Then, following the prompt on his panel, he attempted to alter his Origin Power to delay the Forbidden Item from locking onto his position.

Talent—Spiritual Conversion. Convert Resilience Level to Origin Power. Seven hundred.

[You have been targeted by the guidance of Forbidden Item 0-38, the Bell of Truth... Special Reward: Survival Points +50, Spirit Level +1.]

[You have been... Reward: Survival Points +50.]

The notifications, which had been appearing every ten seconds, abruptly stopped.

Wei’en waited a few seconds. When no new notifications appeared on the panel, he sighed in relief. "It’s working. I just don’t know for how long."

’Looks like I need to raise the priority of obtaining that Destiny Barrier Spell!’

’I just hope Little Worm can bring back some good news from the Spiritual Mystery School. Preferably along with their legacy of knowledge on destiny divination...’

’Yeah, right. Unless the Spiritual Mystery School has gone completely insane...’

’It’s impossible. In fact, after talking to Nana Mage, I already gave up on getting my hands on their divination knowledge.’

With that, Wei’en quickly washed up, got dressed, and stepped out of his room.

"Good morning, Wei’en."

Miss Zombie stood outside the lounge, her body slightly stooped. She tilted her head to look at him. "Breakfast is ready."

"Mm."

Wei’en nodded to her, then turned toward the dining table with a faint smile.

Everyone except Shawa was already seated quietly at the dining table, waiting for him so they could start eating.

Tina hugged two dolls, her eyes fixed on the cheese on the table, a flicker of appetite in her gaze.

Pavla sat at the far end of the table, her fists resting on her knees as she looked toward the lounge.

"You’re up late today," Clelia said, leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed. She gave him a teasing smile and asked, "Were you up to no good last night? The kind that leaves you utterly exhausted?"

"I certainly got a lot done, but whether it was ’no good’ is debatable," Wei’en said with a small laugh, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "Let’s eat."