Chapter 25: Answers
Liu Xiao sprang to his feet.
*Screw sleep—time to rise and shine!*
Alright, let's sort this out. What the hell just happened?
It's a mess, but no worries—start untangling it step by step.
Elementary school taught that questions have answers; middle school drilled "cause and effect." Ikkyū the monk preached inquiry leading to truth; Buddha taught karma. But given Origin Point's bullshit logic, solving mysteries requires asking the *right* questions.
First, lay out the facts:
1. **He'd killed a Demon-class lifeform**, and the system showered him with praise and rewards. 2, Completing related Origin tasks mid-process unlocked even more bonuses. 3, His spirit attributes skyrocketed, and his Pearl Spirit Body talent leveled up. 4, Inheriting the dead Bloodfiend's legacy, his Pearl now housed a Blood Origin Pearl and five blood-related abilities.
One conclusion glared back: **How the hell did he kill Serken?**
Liu Xiao's expression twitched between laughter and lingering dread.
The absurdity: this supposedly invincible Bloodfiend, after losing its Blood Cherry tree vessel, tried to hijack his body—only to get devoured by his Pearl Spirit Body. Not even devoured, really. At least it left a shiny Blood Origin Pearl behind.
The terror: If not for his Pearl's ruthless efficiency, he'd be a corpse. That blood shadow lunging at him? Definitely Serken's spirit. The bastard must've pulled this trick a thousand times. But today, he'd flown straight into a flytrap. No escape.
The vivid "memory" he'd experienced? Likely Serken's. Turns out the bloodsucking tree-dweller had a glorious past… before being casually obliterated by a human swordsman. That man—his speed, the casual void gate, the final *"Spirit Seal"*—Liu Xiao shook his head in awe. *Truly god-tier.*
He owed that human everything. If they ever crossed paths (unlikely, given centuries had passed), he'd owe him a drink.
Now, the real headache: **How did his Pearl Spirit Body work?**
His spirit stats had exploded. Even eating lizardmen for years couldn't match this 15-minute power-up. The Blood Origin Pearl? Five blood skills? Serken, a Demon-class big shot, only had five mid-tier abilities? Unlikely. But hey, beggars can't be choosers. Where was the *"Planetary Devastation"* or *"Blood God Rebirth"*?
(Not that he was complaining. These were still juicy.)
Origin Point finally let him **name himself**—a sign he'd graduated from "insect" status.
**[Name: Ren Pingsheng. Confirmed. This name is permanently recorded in the Annals of Origin.]**
Next: **Reward selection—his favorite part.**
**[Total Spirit Attributes Reached 21. Choose:**
**+2 Free Spirit Points**
**Random Origin Item**
**Primary Ability: Night Owl**]
Spirit points? Pass. He grabbed **Night Owl**—a darkvision skill. Seven-day nights were coming. Preparedness paid.
**[Total Spirit Attributes Reached 101. Choose:**
**+5 Free Spirit Points**
**Intermediate Ability: Mind Focus**
**Intermediate Ability: Eagle Eye**]
Mind Focus boosted elemental affinity? Useless for him. **Eagle Eye** it was—summon a spirit hawk for aerial recon.
**[Acquired Primary Ability: Blood Guide. Choose:**
**+1 Free Spirit Point**
**Random Accessory**
**Faith Clue**]
Random accessory, obviously.
**[Obtained: Amber Ring (Quality: Common. Slightly boosts Agility.)]**
Meh, but accessories were rare. He slid it on. *Twenty years single, and my first ring comes from a murder loot box. Guess I'll die alone here too.*
Distributing **50 free physical points** into Agility (50) and Burst (30), he savored the rush.
**[Total Physical Attributes Reached 51. Choose:**
**Primary Physique: Harden**
**+2 Free Physique Points**
**Item: Poisoned Spear**]
Harden—temporary defense boost. Better than a poison spear for an archer.
**[Harden (Primary Physique): Temporarily increases skin and muscle density.]**
**Final Stats:**
**[Category]** Organic Sentient
**[Origin]** Milky Way Order
**[Species]** Human
**[Name]** Ren Pingsheng
**[Gender]** Male
**[Title]** Bloodfiend
**[Height]** 1.76m
**[Physique]**
- Fortitude: 8
- Strength: 12
- Agility: 50
- Burst: 30
**[Spirit]**
- Pearl I (Hidden)
- Blood Origin Pearl (Hidden)
- Blood Origin Core: Demon (Hidden)
- Soul: 91
- Spirit Sea: 5121
**[Senses]**
- Vision: 3
**[Proficiencies]**
- Archery (Primary)
- Appraisal (Primary)
**[Physiques]**
- Primary Precision (Passive: +Ranged Accuracy)
- Dynamic Archery (Passive: No accuracy loss while moving)
- Harden (Active: Defensive Boost)
**[Abilities]**
- Blood Guide (Control inactive blood)
- Bloodforged Arms (Blood weapons)
- Blood Armor (Mid-tier blood armor)
- Source Blood (Passive: Infinite blood regen)
- Blood Scent (Track via blood)
- Eagle Eye (Summon recon hawk)
- Night Owl (Darkvision)
*Now this is an upgrade.* The air even smelled sweeter—though that might be the fading stench of burning Blood Cherry trees and scattered spirit crystals.
The corpses of the Mothoan's people piled within the [Defective Goods] were cleared out. In the face of spiritual energy crystals and blood cherry blossoms, even loot lost its allure.
The colossal blood cherry tree lay in ruins, its former grandeur reduced to splintered husks.
Liu Xiao doubted the tree naturally produced spiritual energy crystals. His Appraisal skill insisted blood cherry trees yielded blossoms and fruit—not crystals. Probably another of Serken's twisted experiments. The tree's size alone was unnatural.
The [Defective Goods] 125-cubic-meter storage space, once ample, now strained under the mountain of crystals.
[Ren Pingsheng. I am Wind Envoy Song Qingfang.]
A familiar voice resonated within his spirit. Liu Xiao froze, listening.
[Congratulations. You are the first human under the Milky Way Order to reach the Walker Tier in the Lesser Realm.]
He recognized her—the voice that had echoed in his mind during his arrival at Origin Point.
[As your race's guide, I am obligated by Origin's laws to establish a Spirit Echo with you.]
"Hello," Liu Xiao replied flatly.
[...You're boring. I pour my heart out, and you reply with two words?] Her tone prickled with irritation.
"Apologies. Distracted. Hello, Song Qingfang. I remember your voice."
[Hmph! You will address me as Wind Envoy Song Qingfang! And yes, my voice is unforgettable. Wait—how do you already have a name? You haven't even left the Insect Crucible!]
"Insect Crucible? Explain." His mind raced. Answers. Finally.
[Hah! Our nickname for the Lesser Realm. All beings below Walker Tier are trapped there. Have you found a Beacon yet?]
"Beacon?"
[Ahem… towns. Towns in the Lesser Realm. Origin Beacons are there.]
Ah. So that's why the system urged me to find a settlement.
"Not yet. No clues."
[No Beacon, yet you're a Walker? Impressive. My juniors aren't all hopeless!]
"Wind Envoy, are you from Earth too?"
[Correct. Though I'm centuries older.]
Liu Xiao: "...Ancient?"
[Age means nothing here. Focus.]
"Explain the Insect Crucible and Walker Tier."
[Fine. Since you've earned it.]
[The 'Crucible' is Earth's metaphor. Throw venomous insects into a jar—no food, no escape. They fight, devour each other. The survivor evolves. Sound familiar?]
[Walkers are the first true tier beyond 'Strong.' Lesser Realm beings are ranked Weak, Feeble, Mortal, Strong. Earthlings? Mostly Frail. You've broken into Walker.]
So this hellscape is a training ground. Breed strength through carnage.
"Are all humans here?"
[Of course not! The Lesser Realms are countless. Origin allocates by race strength—stronger races get fewer numbers. Weaklings like Earthlings? Herded en masse.]
"You said billions of humans were displaced. Am I really the first Walker?"
[In the Milky Way Order, yes. Earthlings are humanity's weakest branch. Frail to Walker? A miracle.] Her voice softened, as if recalling her own struggles.
[Low gravity stunted your physiques. A brutal start.]
"Why were we brought here? What's the point?"
[...Child, ask instead: What's the point of existing on Earth?]
Liu Xiao faltered. Purpose? Survival? Propaganda?
[Origin is the primal source—where life and cosmos began. Earth's peace? Bought by Walkers like me. Without us?]
[Those races you've met? They'd devour Earth. Now, hurry—ask your last questions.]
"What after finding a Beacon?"
[Classified. Origin's laws bind me.]
"Uses for spirit crystals?"
[Currency. Fuel for spirits.]
"How are they made?"
[From corpses. Decaying flesh releases residual spiritual energy. 'Mined'? Poetic, but no.]
"Realm size? If I never find a Beacon—"
[Keep searching. I can't—won't—help. Farewell, child!]
Silence.
Liu Xiao stewed in the revelations. Find the Beacon. Survive. Protect Earth.