[Congratulations! You have accepted five Heaven's Chosen as your Beneficiaries. ×1380 Benefactor's Return Triggered! You have received the Heavenly Catalogue, 10,000 Beast Scripture, and the Stellar Runic Catalogue. You have also received 750 Spell Points and Skill Points.]
[Heavenly Catalogue]
Type: Knowledge Consumable
Description:
: An item that contains immense knowledge about the movement of the Heaven, Earth, and the Celestial Bodies. The information contained in this book is profound and could lead to numerous outcomes.
[10,000 Beast Scripture]
Type: Knowledge Consumable
Description:
: A book containing knowledge of 10,000 types of beasts. Every page of this book contains all information about certain types of beasts.
[Stellar Runic Catalogue]
Type: Knowledge Consumable
Description:
: Contains information about all manner of runes, seals, and inscription that applies to this universe.
Ashton was disappointed at first when he read the descriptions of the items he received from the System.
He was expecting something more concrete. He was hoping to receive a cultivation scripture or something, one that he can use to help out his new beneficiaries. Because currently, there is none that the kids could use.
Sure there are options for them but they aren't exactly the most suitable for them. If he gives them those, then they will never reach their full potential so he gambled with the system...and he lost.
But...did he really lose?
Since the kids will take some time in their communion anyway, he thought that he might as well use this time to figure out what these items are truly all about.
So without any further ado, he retrieved them from his Inventory and started consuming them. One by one of course. He's smart enough to notice the subtle hints of the System to him. He wouldn't be reckless in adopting an immense amount of new information since that might break his mind.
He started with the Heavenly Catalogue first.
The moment he consumed it, he could feel his mindscape being rocked by the sheer amount of information he needed to process. He didn't even know when his Scholar Perk reacted and placed him in Concentration Mode.
Thanks to that, processing the tsunami of new information became more bearable for him.
The Heavenly Catalogue contains endless profundities. Even as he processes the information from it, he isn't confident enough that says that he had an accurate grasp of them yet.
One thing's for sure though, the profundity of the Heavenly Catalog resonates with the Cultivation System humanity has adapted.
And, in a certain perspective, that makes sense.
The circulation of Mana, which differs with each cultivation technique, was originally derived from observing the movement of the world and its behavior. This also applies to skills, spells, runes, etc.
And now that Ashton received the knowledge about this fundamental movent, in theory, Ashton could start creating cultivation techniques based on what he needs!
The Heavenly Catalogue itself mostly solves his current dilemma. Now, he just needed inspiration and he could probably chuck out cultivation techniques like a machine.
While he's still in Concentration State, Ashton consumed the 10,000 Beast Scripture, followed by the Stellar Runic Catalogue.
The 10,000 Beast Scripture turns out to be more helpful than he originally gave it credit for.
Sure, most of the beasts recorded there don't exist in this world. Hell, it doesn't even contain any information about the invaders. But even though that's the case, the detailed information about every single beast contained in this book was useful enough, especially if he wants some inspiration.
There are a lot of people whose Martial Spirits/Magical Artifacts fall under the Beast Category, be it bearing its form or just having a slight connection to a certain beast, all of it counts.
The 10,000 Beast Scripture helps him understand those dynamics, in turn, it allows him to create a better cultivation system that could help that certain demographic.
And then, there's the Stellar Runic Catalogue...
Same as the Heavenly Catalogue, the Stellar Runic Catalogue contains all information about runes, seals, and inscriptions that applies to this universe.
From the very basic up to the most complicated seal there was, Ashton knows of it now. And as a Mage who developed a particular fondness for Runic Magic, Ashton couldn't be any happier.
All in all, the items he received practically solved his problems for his new kids. In fact, he wouldn't need to worry about giving them a cultivation technique that's suited to them since, if he doesn't have it, he could just create it.
Additionally, this benefits him too since with so much information added to his brain, he could spot the glaring flaws in his current cultivation technique and rectify that.
'I guess I should start brainstorming now, huh?' Ashton mused to himself.
As people would say; strike while the iron is hot. Since he's having a ton of inspiration right now, he might as well create the basis for the kids' cultivation techniques.
'For Dylan, the motif would be the Sea. Sky Roc for Fred. Darkness and Shadows for Carlos. Nature and Guardianship for Celine. Domination and Destruction for Troy.'
Ashton's mind went into overdrive as he built five cultivation techniques at the same time. He followed their respective motifs closely to ensure that the result will be something that was most suited for them, allowing them to reach their full potential.
'I probably won't be able to finish this all today, but I can at least give them the First Chapter per se. That should buy me enough to time complete them.' Ashton nodded to himself to that idea.
He continued working until he had a rough outline for each cultivation technique he plans to give to them. He doubled checked each one though, making sure that there will be no harmful side effects or anything before condensing each on a seal that he could give to them later.
[Notice! Your Beneficiaries have completed their communion with the Dragon Vein. ×2000 Benefactor's Return, triggered! You have received: El-Realm Shard (×5), Ancient Blueprints (Instant Build ×5), 500 Spell Points, and Skill Points]
[Conditions to evolve the Dragon Vein has been met. Proceed with the Evolution? Y/N?]
'Yes, proceed!'
Ashton transported the kids off to somewhere else first before proceeding with the evolution.
Once it started, a divine light exploded from the pocket dimension where the Dragon Vein was. The commotion was so strong that it alarmed Fairy Queen Natasha as well.
Majestic arrays of light flashed numerous times, the sight of the Dragon Vein's evolution was awe-inspiring, to say the least.
Out of all the colors that appeared, only violet-gold remained. Eventually, the commotion stopped and everything returned to its peaceful state.
The Dragon Vein looked different after its evolution. Before it looked like a messy network of giant roots that started and ended nowhere. Now, it adopted a coiling pattern and grew a blossoming flower at its very core.
Ashton inspected it, and this is what he saw...
[Empyrean Dragon Vein]
Type: World Class Numinous Treasure
Description:
: the sole Dragon Vein this world has. Thanks to its benefactor, it was saved from a certain horrible fate. Said Benefactor also helped it evolve into its current form.
: Empyrean Providence — its production and distribution of Providence are now better and more powerful. And so long as the Empyrean Dragon Vein remains, Humanity's Providence will no longer be drained by parasites.
: Plunder — Creatures that aren't from this world will have their providence absorbed and refined by the Dragon Vein, making it stronger in the process.
Ashton calmly looked at these changes. He felt satisfied with himself actually. With the new effect of the Empyrean Dragon Vein, Humanity's chances against the invader army received a direct boost as well.
[You have helped the Dragon Vein to not only survive but also evolved. ×5000 Benefactor's Return triggered. You have received: Sacred Magical Index.]
Ashton noticed that there were no further enhancements or upgrades available for the Dragon Vein. Meaning that this was its final form. He was fine with that of course. It's a bit of a bummer that it's the last of its kind but still, better than nothing.
"I didn't think that a day like this will ever happen."
Acacia's voice echoed in his ears. Looking at her, Ashton could see that she also changed along with Dragon Vein's evolution, which makes sense since her existence was linked to it.
She doesn't look like a ghost anymore, nor does she look unhealthy. She's like a real human being now, like Aria. She was beautiful of course but hers is more of an untouchable and noble beauty.
Acacia performed a solemn bow towards him and said:
"Thank you. Words aren't enough to explain just how much you did for me and the Dragon Vein. Rest assured, so long as we exist, our loyalty will always remain with Humanity."
"You're welcome."
Ashton didn't need to say much, neither does Acacia. Her promise was enough for him and it also made his efforts worth it.
Now that he had settled with this, it was time for him to take care of the kids.
There's still much work to be done after all.
