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--- Chapter 112 ---
After accepting the quest, Baek Ain complies with Number 1's order to enter the Great Sky God's Temple. And his companions followed him silently, watching over for any possible ambush.
Baek Ain looked at the back of Number 1, noticing her body was perfect in any department. There is no flaw, but the body isn't just part of oneself.
There is also Soul and Spirit.
'Alicia, how was it?' Baek Ain called his system.
[Done] Alicia responded calmly.
[Name: Number 1]
[Race: Enhanced Human(Origin)]
[Age: 35]
[Cultivation: 4-Star Dou Venerate]
[Description: The peak creation of the Great Sky Temple involves gene manipulation and improvement. Number 1 is the strongest without any flaws]
"If you keep staring at my butt like that, I assume you have an idea about something." Number 1 suddenly commented indifferently.
"Ain..." The six ladies frowned at him.
Baek Ain smiled weakly and responded, "Ladies, it's not like what you were thinking."
They snorted at Baek Ain, rendering him speechless.
Even the most supportive women in the group, Yafei and Cai Lin, gave Baek Ain a doubtful look. He could only sigh inwardly as this was a misunderstanding.
Number 1 slowed her tempo and walked beside Baek Ain so he couldn't stare at her ass. They arrived at the stairs leading to the highest floor of the Clock Tower, stepping onto the first step.
SWOOSH!
"Teleportation Array..." Baek Ain commented while looking at the new scenery before him. His companions were also startled by such a convenient feature.
Number 1 rolled her eyes and returned, "Of course. We are not savages and demons who torture others with stairs."
Leading them inside, Baek Ain and others saw a grand-looking room with the silhouette of clock hands on each wall. The sounds of moved gears echoed each second, but it was almost faint, like white noise.
The metal walls are painted with this golden-copper tint, giving a weird shine.
And at the center of the room, a miniature clock tower firmly stood but hologram-like.
"Outsiders, come here..." An ancient voice comes from the miniature clock tower.
"T-That thing is talking!" Yi Xian and Yafei were shocked.
The corner of Number 1's mouth twitched as she shouted at them, "How dare you be disrespectful at the Great Sky God's Will!"
Lan Rou, Cai Lin, and the Beast Tribes' Elders exchanged glances because they finally understood the mystery of this place. They stared at the miniature clock tower and guessed something.
"Tool's Spirit." Baek Ain vocalized his thoughts immediately.
"..." Miniature Clock Tower.
"Y-You!" Number 1's face becomes pale as paper. That's supposed to be the greatest secret of the Sage Kingdom Secret Realm that only she and other one digits know, but an outsider saw through it.
They lived too long in this Secret Realm. So they didn't know how much the outside world had developed in 300 years.
Fortunately for them, Baek Ain and his people aren't normal.
"Why so quiet?" Baek Ain smiled at the Miniature Clock Tower.
"It's not so shocking of a fact that a high-grade artifact could produce Tool's Spirit."
"Still, by the look of it, you're not a mere high-grade artifact..."
Cai Lin's red eyes widened as she interjected, "Heaven Grade, Spiritual Artifact..."
As the person who received Ancient Refiner's Inheritance, Cai Lin is well-versed in Artifacts. Of course, having theoretical knowledge and history over artifacts doesn't mean she was good at Refining.
Her best creation so far is Earth Cleaver which she gave to Baek Ain. And that's not enough to become a Spiritual Artifact.
It's just a high-grade weapon that a Dou Venerate can use to fend against Half-Saint Realm Expert.
Miniature Clock Tower inwardly shivered when sensing Cai Lin's gaze as if she wanted to break its body into pieces and assemble it back together.
"Number 1, go prepare tea for our guests." Amidst the panic, the Miniature Clock Tower ordered.
"Y-Yes." Number 1 disappeared with a teleportation array.
Several seats appeared near the Miniature Clock Tower as the artifact offered, "Noble Guests, please sit down."
"I'll tell you the story of Sage Kingdom Secret Realm."
Baek Ain strolled to the center and sat down casually, observing the hologram of the Miniature Clock Tower with great interest. His companions followed and waited for the story.
Miniature Clock Tower created a screen-like display and began retelling Sage Kingdom's History.
The creator of Sage Kingdom is not from this world. He was an eccentric man with a passion for the human cultivator's body, which is deemed a "Treasure Trove." according to him.
As a result, he was chased away from the Great Thousand World and arrived at this lower plane. With the knowledge and power of the Great Thousand World, he tried to revise this world.
But he failed because his injuries led him to inevitable death. He couldn't even leave a portion of his soul to the future as it got corrupted by his enemies.
The only thing the Great Master could leave behind is the Method of Genetic Manipulation, Array Method, and Several Spiritual Techniques exceeding this world's standard. Alas, no ordinary people could wield this treasure, so he wanted to create a perfect specimen.
A human without flaws. A human who broke its genetic codes and reached perfection.
He succeeded in the Genetic Manipulation Method before perishing because of time.
The Serial are people who received his will. They have experienced genetic manipulation through inbreeding and birthed a new flawless generation.
Three hundred years have passed.
And the Serial has created 7000 Flawless Humans.
Yet they are still lacking compared to people from the outside world.
After all, Sage Kingdom Secret Realm has been opened thrice within 300 years. The Serial received a massive impact and failed to become true Flawless Humans.
Baek Ain shook his head and commented, "He still failed. No, Half Success in a way."
"What do you mean?" Miniature Clock Tower returned.
Baek Ain patted his chest and stated, "No human is perfect. Even if they are genetically perfect, they lack SOUL!"
"They lack SPIRIT!"
"They, who never face the real world, are just frogs at the bottom of the well."
"Have any of these Flawless Humans reached the realm of Dou God?"
"Wait, let me lower the standard to Half-Saint Realm.
"No, none of them reached it, right? The strongest you guys have in the past 300 years is a sick man who reached 5-Star Dou Venerate."
"The Heart of Cultivators cannot be artificially engineered! One has to temper itself through hardships!" Baek Ain's hazel-gold eyes shone majestically, imposing an aura of mightiness.
Baek Ain's lovers shivered when hearing his statements.
'That's my Ain~!' They thought simultaneously.
Even the Beast Tribes' Elders gazed at him in a different light. They are impressed by his words. They expected no less from a monster who reached 1-Star Dou Venerate before age twenty.
Number 1 returned to the highest floor a while ago, but she stood at the entrance with enlarged eyes.
She was stunned.
Truly stunned!
'I thought he was just a brat...' Number 1's heart throbbed in faint sensation. 'I was wrong. He is a bonafide Man!'
The real purpose of Serial is to create a Flawless Descendant.
And as the current chief of Serial and an adult woman, Number 1 became 100% more attracted to Baek Ain.
"Here is the tea." She approached Baek Ain and served a warm cup of tea to him. A beautiful smile plastered on her face, making Baek Ain's lovers frown.
Baek Ain was also confused by Number 1's sudden demeanor change but ignored it. "Well, let's proceed with the next matter then." He said while sipping the tea.
"What do you want from me?"
"Of course, it would be an equal change if you want my help."
Miniature Clock Tower pondered and replied, "I'll give you anything. Even myself."
"As long as you recover the Great Sky Kingdom's Power Source, All Serial and I will follow your order."
"Very well." Baek Ain smirked in satisfaction. He expected the Tool's Spirit to play some tricks, but it's more straightforward.
"Where is this power source located?"
"It would be dangerous because powerful Magical Beasts are guarding the area. I'll command the top Serials to assist you." Miniature Clock Tower said. "Number 1 will give you the detailed map later."
"Hmm??"
"The intruders have reached Chasing Sky Forest? How weird."
"Oh no..." The Tool Spirit panicked.
Baek Ain lifted his brow and asked, "What's the matter?"
Miniature Clock Tower's voice trembled as it answered, "They possessed the Master's Key."
"This is bad."
"This is bad. The Master's Key carried a sliver of Great Thousand World's Aura. This Sky Kingdom will get revealed to the outside world soon."
"If we are exposed, the Great Master's enemy will find out about his research and plan. We Are Doomed!"
"Change the plan. Number 1, call every Serial under 1000."
"We shall eliminate the Master's Key." Miniature Clock Tower declared firmly. "Noble Guests, I hope you can help too."
"Okay." Baek Ain answered casually.
[Ding! You have triggered another quest]
[Name: Search for Master's Key]
[Objective: Find the Master's Key and Kill the current owner of it(0/2)]
[Time Limit: Indefinite, as long as the Master's Key didn't reach Sage Kingdom]
[Penalty: Main's Quest Failure, Great Sky God's Change quest's failure, Secret Realm destroyed, and Great Thousand Worlds Cultivator comes to this Lower Plane]
[Reward: Complete Version Record of Burning World]
Baek Ain was stunned.
"You gotta be kidding me?" He looked at the system panel solemnly.
"Is it that bad?"
[It Is That Bad, Host] Alicia replied monotonously.
[It doesn't matter if you found the irregularity. The cultivators from Great Thousand World will still destroy this world and anything living in it when finding out about Sage Kingdom]
[It seems the Great Master behind this place is a criminal in Great Thousand World]
'Fuck, What a load of bullshit...' Baek Ain cursed in annoyance.