Clearance Rewards: Becoming a "Fire Tender"?

*Buzz!* The black stone floor slowly parted. *Rumble—* A brass statue rose from beneath. The statue half-knelt upon a shattered pedestal. Its back was ramrod-straight, and its armor covered a well-built physique yet was riddled with scars. The massive lance in its hands was broken, and the once-vibrant crimson cape behind it was so tattered it resembled a dark red scarf. The kneeling statue looked like... A knight? "A wolf knight!" That was Bai Zhou's first impression of the statue. Its helmet was shaped unmistakably like a wolf, fierce and hideous, covering the upper half of its face. Rather than a statue, it seemed more like a living person... It was far too lifelike and vivid; even the sorrow in the expression of its lower face was clearly visible. Just a cursory glance at the statue made Bai Zhou feel as if he were beholding mountains of corpses and seas of blood. The stench of gore and a majestic, baleful aura surged toward him with bared fangs and brandished claws. "What the hell?!" In the next instant, his body acted before his brain could. Bai Zhou's survival instincts took over, and he spun around and bolted, diving toward the corridor behind him. Who cared about bowing to some High Priest—he had to get out of here first! The giant overhead was still waiting to feast on the buffet in its "basin"! Any later, and "Bai Zhou" would truly be cooked into "white porridge"... But immediately after, the corridor shut with a heavy rumble, squeezing Bai Zhou right back out. A familiar mechanical voice echoed from behind, resonating deep in Bai Zhou's mind and conveying its meaning clearly: "Pilgrim, you have not yet claimed your rewards for passing the elite assessment." *I can't even choose not to take them?* Grimacing, Bai Zhou turned around, just in time to see the emeralds serving as the Wolf Knight statue's eyes flashing in rhythm with the voice. *It was the one speaking all along?* *What an "intelligent" statue!* Yet from beginning to end, it never once looked at Bai Zhou. Ever since it appeared, the statue kept its neck craned high, as though eternally gazing up at something. "What is it looking at...?" Bai Zhou looked up, and his eyes met that colossal eye overhead. The monster's looming, grotesque silhouette sent a violent shudder through Bai Zhou's body. It reminded him of what the Wolf Knight had said earlier... "Having seen the High Priest, why do you not bow?" *Is that thing above called the "High Priest"?* As someone from Wancheng, Bai Zhou had heard of sacrificial rituals, sacrificial offerings, and archpriests—he was familiar with all of those. But he had never heard of an obscure term like "High Priest"... "Congratulations, pilgrim, on passing the elite assessment." The emotionless, mechanical voice droned: "The clearance rewards for the elite assessment shall now be bestowed upon the pilgrim." *Rewards...* His previous excitement had vanished without a trace. All Bai Zhou hoped for now was that this wasn't some kind of trap. Like having the "reward" for passing the assessment be getting eaten by the monster. —Still, Skeleton General Ale had no reason to deceive him. *Buzz!* The floor opened once more. Several ancient, pitch-black stone pillars slowly rose, bearing several items upon them. They were two books, a token, and three vials of golden reagent that looked somewhat similar to the green nutrient solution. "There really are rewards!" Bai Zhou pulled himself together. After hesitating for a moment, he cautiously approached. "...What is this?" As soon as he drew near, Bai Zhou's expression stiffened. Because both books were made entirely of stone, sculpted in an open position and fused into the pillars, seamless with the rock. How was he supposed to study this? He couldn't very well haul two stone pillars back with him. This wasn't some divine needle from the ocean depths, nor was he some all-powerful monkey hypnotized and controlled by a Red-Robed Elder! With that thought, Bai Zhou tentatively touched the stone book with his fingertips— In the next instant. *Buzz!* The open stone book trembled slightly. *Rustle, rustle...* The sound of turning pages rustled beside his ears. Countless pieces of knowledge flowed through his fingertips into Bai Zhou's brain, freezing him in place. It took his mind quite a while to process and organize them all. When he looked down at the open stone book again, Bai Zhou could barely recognize the carved words. For the contents of this book were actually... *Common Tongue: From Beginner to Master*! Now, every single word from the book was clearly imprinted in Bai Zhou's mind, making him feel as though he had returned to the "gray fog" from when he first awakened his Fate Principle. Listening to the Wolf Knight statue speak again and cross-referencing it with the knowledge in his mind, Bai Zhou could truly understand most of it after just a moment's thought. He no longer needed a forced psychic resonance. *What kind of technology is this?* Bai Zhou was deeply astounded, feeling that this form of knowledge transmission—akin to the indoctrination of a forbidden tome—was far too convenient. It made the printing press seem superfluous. From this, one could glimpse a mere tip of the iceberg regarding this civilization's past glories and the heights to which its Extraordinaries had developed... At the very least, the illiteracy rate of that ancient civilization must have been remarkably low! *Buzz!* Musing on this, Bai Zhou followed suit and pressed his right hand onto the other stone book beside him. This time, the knowledge imparted by the stone book was... The middle three stances of the *Nine Basic Slashes*! The *Nine Basic Slashes* again! As the contents became clear, Bai Zhou's heart thudded wildly. Having fully realized just how un-"basic" the *Nine Basic Slashes* were, Bai Zhou had long coveted the subsequent chapters. And now, they were right before his eyes, branded into the depths of his mind. Another 243 figures appeared in his mind, as though the wall of a secret chamber stood there, yet their contents were far more complex than the first three stances. *Whoosh...* As the 243 miniature figures danced together in his head, even the transformed Bai Zhou found his vision swimming and his head throbbing intensely. Unfortunately, just like in the gray fog back then, there was still a massive gulf between "memorizing" and "mastering." The content was far too obscure for Bai Zhou to comprehend in short order. Yet without question, as long as he mastered these middle three stances, Bai Zhou would at least be a Fated Adventurer standing at the absolute peak of Level 4. —Perhaps he might even break through to Level 5! What did that mean in Tinghai City? What did it mean for Bai Zhou's current predicament? It went without saying. From this single secret technique and reward alone, Bai Zhou's trip was well worth it! Crow, waiting outside for his return, could never imagine what Bai Zhou—who had merely gone to "scout Yuanmeng Middle School in advance"—was currently experiencing... Yet this also sparked a further ambition in Bai Zhou's mind: Passing the elite assessment yielded the middle three stances. What would he have to do if he wanted to obtain the final three stances? *I want them...* Muttering to himself, Bai Zhou moved toward the next pillar. Resting upon the pillar were three vials of reagent—similar to the green nutrient solution that had stimulated his brain before, but with a hue somewhere between brass and gold. "What's this?" Bai Zhou picked up a vial to examine it. Yet this product had no brand, no label, and no written instructions. Even the glass holding it was murky and not entirely transparent. Only the golden liquid faintly glowed, with bubbles rising from time to time. Then a bubble would burst with a soft *pop*. "This is the 'burst reagent' designed to accompany the *Nine Basic Slashes*." The cold mechanical voice chimed in right on cue: "Containing knowledge fragments of the *Nine Basic Slashes*, it allows the consumer to briefly gain an additional multiplier when executing the *Nine Basic Slashes*." "Duration: three minutes." "Furthermore, this boost is constant and will not diminish as the base multiplier increases." An additional... multiplier boost? Meaning, after drinking this potion, his 4.5-fold full-power burst could climb even higher?! Bai Zhou blinked twice. Then, with lightning speed, he swiftly and carefully stowed the three vials away. —A divine medicine, an undeniable miracle drug! Even without drinking it, Bai Zhou dared to trade blows with Anguissola. If he drank it... would he dare draw his blade even against a Level 5 Extraordinary? *Thump! Thump!* Bai Zhou's heart beat faster and faster. Every time it finally settled down, he stumbled upon an even bigger prize. Right now, he was like a mouse that had wandered into an oil depot—his eyes gleamed green at everything he saw. "Now then." "What is this token for?" Bai Zhou arrived before the final pillar and examined the black token upon it, comparing it to his Adventurer Token, which had already upgraded to gold. *Buzz!* In the next instant, the golden Adventurer Token flew from his hand like a magnet, drawing the pitch-black token on the pillar into midair. *Whoosh...* In midair, both turned into a sort of scalding liquid metal and gradually fused together. Finally, the liquid set, and the token reshaped itself. A "black-gold token"—predominantly gold with occasional black patterns—appeared before Bai Zhou. "This is...?" As the heavy token settled in his palm, Bai Zhou wondered. "This token is a symbol of 'qualification,'" the Wolf Knight statue spoke again. "Originally, passing the elite assessment would award a baptism in the Sun Pool to slightly enhance the pilgrim's aptitude." "However, after countless ages without replenishment of temple resources, the Sun Pool has long dried up." "...Nevertheless, with this token, you may still traverse all areas of Sky City without being obstructed by access barriers." Bai Zhou realized. So it was an "access card," similar to a Special Management Bureau employee badge. Although that "Sun Pool" made Bai Zhou envious, being able to freely explore Sky City with this token wasn't bad either. Even in the wasteland battlefield below, there had been so much "trash" to scavenge. Without a doubt, in this inverted megalopolis that served as the core of the ancient civilization, there were bound to be plenty of "good things"! Yet judging by the consistent style of this civilization... Danger would obviously be far greater here, making the appearance of this token quite timely. Bai Zhou certainly didn't want to get snared by some random trap while exploring the city ruins and spend the next three lifetimes swinging in the breeze. "These are all the rewards for passing the elite assessment," the mechanical voice concluded, pausing briefly. However, not long after, as if hesitating, the mechanical voice sounded once more: "However, as the breaker of the assessment record—" "You have a new choice!" "A new choice?" Bai Zhou was perplexed. The Wolf Knight statue still looked up at the sky, its expression melancholic, like a "Thinking Wolf" sculpted by some pretentious artist: "Now, you may choose to take your rewards and depart the temple." "Just like countless pilgrims before you, embarking upon the [Adventure] of your life." "However, as the record breaker and the sole pilgrim since the temple was sealed..." The mechanical voice of the Wolf Knight statue paused slightly: "As an exception, you have another choice—" "Namely, to undertake the temple's initiation trial." "Starting from the lowest rank of 'Fire Tender,' to officially join this Sun Temple!" Officially join... the Sun Temple? Bai Zhou blinked. —There was an extra surprise?! According to Skeleton Ale, every Extraordinary in the ancient civilization used to make a pilgrimage here to receive an Extraordinary legacy that would benefit them for a lifetime. From this, it wasn't hard to imagine what kind of status this "Sun Temple" held in that once-glorious civilization! Even though eras had passed and everything had fallen into ruin... As the best-preserved sealed structure in Sky City, this temple undoubtedly held the most treasures! At the very least, subsequent legacies for the Adventurer pathway would definitely not be lacking! Having a major faction as a backer was actually quite great; they offered structured promotion channels and comprehensive training systems. The only downside was perhaps a lack of freedom. Bai Zhou wasn't against joining an organization—he wasn't that pedantic. Being hunted across the city and forced to flee everywhere was purely out of necessity. However... Wasn't the Sun Temple the best possible choice? In its heyday, the Sun Temple was definitely a colossal entity beyond Bai Zhou's imagination. —The key point was, there was no one around to boss him around! Even if Bai Zhou started from the lowest rank of "Fire Tender"... His permissions might be a bit low, and there were probably many ranks above him. The thing was, you couldn't find a second living soul in the entire temple! Without even a single competitor, couldn't he just leisurely climb the ranks at his own pace? "—Then, what is the assessment?" Taking a deep breath, Bai Zhou's expression gradually settled into calm, his clear eyes thoughtful. The statue had phrased it very clearly. "An exception"—what did making an exception imply? Only because Bai Zhou was the sole visitor in countless years, and because the temple was fading into history with no other alternatives, was it offering Bai Zhou the chance at this "initiation trial." This meant that in the distant past, while the civilization still existed— With Bai Zhou's strength and demonstrated talent, he wouldn't even have met the qualifications to participate in the initiation trial and become the temple's lowest-ranked "Fire Tender"! An exceptional opportunity. It often entailed exceptional danger! Yet to Bai Zhou, the statue's question had never been a multiple-choice dilemma from the start. It was the beginning of an adventure! With these thoughts in mind, Bai Zhou asked his question while carefully surveying his surroundings. "What's that...?" Before the statue could answer Bai Zhou's question, Bai Zhou suddenly frowned. Behind the statue, Bai Zhou caught sight of faint red traces. The subtly glowing color seemed faintly familiar to him. He looked closer. "Have you truly made up your mind? The risks of the trial are immense. To you, it may well be an utterly impossible fantasy." Hearing Bai Zhou's inquiry, the Wolf Knight's mechanical voice slowly sounded: "During the trial, you will receive no protection whatsoever. You will witness the most unbelievable sights of your life." "You are very likely never to return." "Therefore, you may still choose to take your rewards and depart." Amidst the sacred, ethereal, and grand hymn of the "siren" overhead, the Wolf Knight statue—cape tattered and armor ruined—gazed mournfully up toward the sky and asked Bai Zhou: "—Even so, do you still choose to accept this near-certain death of an initiation trial?" "..." Bai Zhou was in no rush to answer. Listening to the Wolf Knight statue's question, he quietly and inconspicuously shifted his position. Shuffling sideways with small steps, his perspective shifted accordingly. Soon, Bai Zhou saw what the "red" obscured behind the statue truly was. *Just as I thought.* Bai Zhou pursed his lips; he had felt that red looked familiar. Several lines of crimson script, bearing intense defiance, sky-high resentment, and a murderous aura surging like waves of blood, hung distinctly behind the statue. These were "last words." The "last words" of the "statue"! Only now did Bai Zhou realize in astonishment. This lifelike statue might not be the vivid masterpiece of some master sculptor at all, nor was it some advanced ancient intelligence of the temple. It was a "deceased one." A resentful deceased soul who had been buried alongside the temple... [Vengeance! Vengeance!] [Kill! Kill! Kill!] [I shall water my broken body with the boiling heart-blood of Roman royalty!] "..." The boiling heart-blood of Roman royalty... What in the world was that? Hadn't this civilization been wiped out by a zombie horde? Wasn't the temple sealed and shut because of the zombie invasion? What did royalty have to do with it...? While Bai Zhou was pondering these "last words"— *Buzz!* As if sensing Bai Zhou's thoughts, something against his chest suddenly grew scalding hot and vibrated several times. "What is this...?" Bai Zhou uttered a soft gasp and clutched his chest. The firm, distinct texture beneath his hand allowed him to identify the source of the vibration. It was... —the "golden beans" formed when the drops of dark red blood shed by the Crown of Thorns had solidified back then?!