Chapter 279

Chapter 279

The Secret of Advancement: The Analyst's Ritual and the Choice of the Abyss

Five years went by in the blink of an eye. The Qinghui Courtyard of the Governor's Mansion remained lush with flowers and trees; magnolias bloomed and faded, koi swam leisurely in the pond, and the tenderness of time quietly settled into every day spent together. Ali and Xiao Ya had long shed their former timidity, growing into upright and cheerful teenagers. They studied and practiced martial arts under the tutelage of hired teachers, their expressions calm and full of energy, and they had long seen Evan and Sara as family.

And Evan was no longer the youth who needed Sara's constant protection. During these five years, he had been diligently cultivating, delving deep into the abilities of a Sequence 6 Artificer. He honed his puppet dolls—like the Raven and Cheetah—making them increasingly powerful, able to manipulate puppets to complete complex tasks with nothing but his spirituality, and even capable of crafting simple puppets imbued with faint supernatural power. At the same time, he learned supernatural knowledge and the ways of the world from Sara, shedding his naivety and gaining composure and competence. The supernatural fluctuations around him became more refined—and on this very day, he successfully stabilized the realm of Sequence 6 Artificer, only one step away from the higher Sequence 5.

As dusk fell, on the terrace of Qinghui Courtyard, the evening breeze gently carried the fragrance of magnolias. Evan, dressed in neat, form-fitting attire, still had a faint spiritual radiance lingering from stabilizing his realm. He leaned against Sara, gently holding Sara's hand in his, his eyes full of joy and excitement. "Sara, I've finally stabilized Sequence 6! Now, can I start working toward Sequence 5?"

Sara turned his head to look at him, the tenderness in his eyes just as it had been five years ago, but now with added solemnity and gratification. Over these five years, he had watched Evan grow from an innocent boy into a Sequence 6 Artificer who could stand on his own, watched the light in his eyes grow ever more resolute. His heart felt both pride and an unspeakable concern. He reached up and ruffled Evan's hair, his fingertips gently stroking his fingertips, his voice warm yet serious. "I know you're eager to advance, but the promotion to Sequence 5 is different from every one you've had before. It carries strict requirements and hidden fatal risks."

Evan sensed his unease, his heart sinking slightly. The smile on his face faded as he looked up at Sara, his eyes full of confusion. "Different? What are the requirements? And what risks?" Even though he knew that high-level advancement was not easy, he had never imagined there would be "fatal risks."

Sara took a deep breath, tightened his grip on Evan's hand, and spoke more solemnly, emphasizing every word. "You are now a Sequence 6 Artificer. The Sequence 5 you wish to advance to is the Analyst. This promotion requires not only the corresponding Sequence 5 potion but also a dedicated promotion ritual. You must first find a race and deeply analyze its life essence, spiritual fluctuations, and supernatural traits to fully understand its life code. Then, using your Artificer abilities, you must create a life belonging to that race."

Evan frowned, listening intently, and subconsciously pressed further. "Create life? Can it be just ordinary life?"

"No, it must be a supernatural creature." Sara shook his head, his tone stern. "An ordinary life cannot bear the supernatural power of Sequence 5. Only when you personally create a creature with complete supernatural traits, at the moment of its birth, can you consume the Sequence 5 potion and, by leveraging the spiritual fluctuations of the newborn supernatural creature, achieve the breakthrough in realm and successfully advance to Analyst."

Evan's heart shuddered, and his eyes were full of disbelief. "Create a supernatural creature? Th-this... is that possible?" Although he was skilled at making puppets, he had never attempted to create true life, let alone a supernatural creature. This already exceeded his understanding of an Artificer's abilities.

"With your current ability, aided by the Sequence 5 potion, it is possible." Sara's tone softened a bit but remained grave. "The real risk does not lie in the ritual itself, but in the location where you create the supernatural creature. If you complete this ritual on the main plane and create a supernatural creature, it will inevitably trigger celestial phenomena and alert the gods of the main plane."

"Gods?" Evan's heart clenched sharply, and his fingertips trembled slightly. Although he had never seen a god, he knew that the power of gods was unfathomable, surpassing all Supernaturals. Once targeted by a god, there was almost no chance of survival.

"That's right, gods." A hint of imperceptible coldness crept into Sara's voice. "The rules of the main plane forbid mortal Supernaturals from creating supernatural life without authorization; it is seen as a provocation to the authority of the gods. Once you create a supernatural creature on the main plane, those gods will sense it instantly. With their power, a single casual strike would crush you, without even a chance to resist."

These words were like ice water pouring into his heart. The anticipation on his face instantly faded, replaced by anxiety and fear. He looked at Sara, his tone carrying a hint of panic. "Then what can I do? So I can't advance to Sequence 5? I want to become stronger, I want to stand by your side..."

Seeing the panic in his eyes, Sara felt a pang of tenderness in his heart. He reached out and pulled Evan tightly into his arms, gently patting his back to soothe his emotions. "Don't panic. Since I'm telling you this, I have a plan." He paused, and his tone became resolute again. "The Abyss—the pocket realm attached to the main plane—is the only place where you can complete the promotion ritual."

Leaning in his embrace, Evan looked up at him, his eyes full of confusion. "Why the Abyss? Isn't it full of monsters and chaotic energy, even more dangerous than the main plane?"

"The Abyss is indeed perilous, but it also has advantages that the main plane lacks." Sara gently stroked his hair, patiently explaining. "The rules of the Abyss are chaotic. Heavenly phenomena are masked by the chaotic Abyssal energy, making it difficult for the gods' perceptions to penetrate there. If you create a supernatural creature in the Abyss, they won't spot you. Moreover, there are many races in the Abyss, including various supernatural races. You can easily find a suitable race to analyze and complete the promotion ritual."

Evan fell silent. He looked into Sara's resolute eyes, and the unease in his heart gradually dissipated. He knew that Sara would never deceive him and would never ask him to do something uncertain. Although the Abyss was dangerous, this was the only way for him to advance to Sequence 5, become stronger, and stand side by side with Sara—a path he had to take.

"I'll go." Evan lifted his head; the fear in his eyes was gone, replaced only by determination and resolve. He tightly gripped Sara's hand and said word by word, "I'll go to the Abyss, analyze a supernatural race, create a supernatural life, and complete the promotion ritual. When I come back, I will definitely become a Sequence 5 Analyst, strong enough to protect you well, protect Ali and Xiao Ya, protect our home."

Looking at his determined gaze, Sara felt both gratification and a pang of tenderness. He bowed his head and pressed a soft, solemn kiss on Evan's forehead, his voice low and steady. "Alright, I'll wait for you to return. I will prepare the Sequence 5 potion, the finest equipment, and life-saving artifacts for you. I will arrange for Cruz to accompany you—he is a Sequence 7 Warrior who can protect you in the Abyss. No matter how long it takes, I will be in the Governor's Mansion, in Qinghui Courtyard, waiting for you to come back safely."

The night grew deeper, moonlight spilling over their embracing figures, gentle and tranquil. Five years of companionship, full of tender affection; a single choice, the road ahead unknown. The perils of the Abyss cannot stop the youth's determination, nor can they sever the profound love between the two. A journey of analysis, creation, and growth—the promotion journey—is about to quietly begin in the Abyss.