Chapter 322: Second Divine Transformation Task
“Was that person just now the leader of that mysterious organization targeting the Three Cosmic-level Civilizations recently?”
After the Leader disappeared, the Oathmaster walked up to Bai Fu and asked doubtfully.
Bai Fu said: “Most likely, yes. That organization is called the First Protocol, I don’t know if you’ve heard of it.”
The Oathmaster said: “Never heard of it. But that person just now… although what appeared was only a phantom, I could still feel the surging vitality within him. His strength is likely far beyond our imagination. Even if you are an Apostle, it would be best to be careful. If you can avoid crossing him, keep as far away as possible.”
Bai Fu nodded.
She naturally could not underestimate the strength of the Leader of the First Protocol.
According to the game’s original pace, the First Protocol would most likely only appear in Version 4.0 or 5.0 as an antagonist organization. But because the Empire launched the Ethereal Realm Exploration Plan ahead of schedule, they appeared in this version much earlier to stir up trouble.
Although the prematurely introduced First Protocol might not necessarily be stronger than the Holy City of Apostles, it was not something she could underestimate at this stage.
However, that was not the priority. The urgent matter was to pack up and take away the Esper Garden first. Defeating the Lightless One and others did not mean this place was now safe. If the First Protocol had some long-range teleportation ability similar to an Icon-class Mothership, that would be troublesome.
With her 100% Linkage Rate, Bai Fu quickly located the true core of the Esper Garden.
It was a lush little tree hidden in the forest, about three meters tall, outwardly ordinary.
If not for the bond she had already established with it through a series of quests, even standing right next to it she felt she would not notice anything unusual.
“Unbelievable. Its body is clearly just a tree, but it deliberately took the name Esper Garden to mislead people.”
The corner of Bai Fu’s mouth twitched, and she threw an Apostle Psionic Vision at the Esper Garden.
The detailed introduction of the Esper Garden popped up before her eyes.
The true name of the Esper Garden was actually 【Esper Evolution Tree】, which functioned as a super-evolved version of the Esper Evolution Tree Atlas.
It had four effects.
First, after forming a contract with it, the contractor would gain a special buff. Under the buff’s blessing, the contractor would gain large boosts to Intelligence, Spirit, Intelligence Checks, Spirit Checks, Spirit Recovery Speed, Qi Recovery Speed, etc. Meanwhile, Intelligence and Spirit would also slowly grow over time.
Second, it could store Esper Powers, including those of Transcendent-rank Psionicists. As long as enough XP was injected, it could even automatically derive stronger Esper Powers from those stored.
Third, it could copy Esper-type Skills just like the Esper Evolution Tree Atlas. The difference was that the Atlas could only copy one skill with power not exceeding Calamity-level, while this tree could copy three skills without any strength restriction.
Fourth, it possessed the ability 【Esper Nullification】. As the name implied, it could temporarily nullify an Esper’s powers.
The duration of nullification depended on the level gap, Intelligence gap, and other stats between contractor and target. But even if the gap was massive, because of the special enhancements carried by the 【Esper Evolution Tree】, nullification would still take effect, lasting about 0.1 seconds.
Don’t underestimate 0.1 seconds. Used to interrupt a channeling skill, it was extremely powerful. After all, this move even worked against Transcendents. With the right timing, it could completely reverse the battle.
The fixed cooldown of 【Esper Nullification】 was half an hour. Espers could gain additional cooldown reduction.
But for someone like Bai Fu, a Psionic Priest, there was no cooldown reduction at all. After using 【Esper Nullification】 once, she could only honestly wait thirty minutes.
Still, having it was better than not.
Bai Fu cheerfully pulled out the Esper Evolution Tree Atlas from the Eternal Night Pure Land.
If the Needle of Sin and Punishment was the key to unlocking the Spiritual Sanctum and obtaining the Paradise Ark, then the Esper Evolution Tree Atlas was the key to forming a contract with the Esper Evolution Tree.
Wasn’t the Lightless One proof? Even knowing where the Esper Evolution Tree was, he could only watch helplessly.
【Contract Formation Successful. You have obtained usage rights for the [Esper Evolution Tree].】
With the notification, Bai Fu let out a long breath of relief.
She immediately opened her Attribute Panel.
The bonuses from the Esper Evolution Tree were simply outrageous.
Purely in stats, it instantly gave her +800 Intelligence and +500 Spirit. Over time, her base Intelligence and Spirit would each increase by another 1000.
But more important to Bai Fu than the stat boost was the Esper Evolution Tree’s 【Skill Copy】 ability.
She hurriedly opened the interface.
After a search, she indeed found the 【Suppression】 skill that the Lightless One had just used.
As one of the seven Esper Kings of the Esper Garden, who had guarded it for years, all his abilities had long since been stored in the Esper Evolution Tree.
Good. The first skill would be 【Suppression】!
Next, Bai Fu spent several more minutes browsing, finally selecting 【Time-Space Freeze】 and 【Second Sight】.
The first froze space-time. The second was a passive skill that dispelled illusions.
The Tree’s skill library held many more powerful skills, but Bai Fu was not an Esper. Choosing those would not unleash their true power—at least not against Transcendents. So instead, she opted for skills that were not flashy but extremely practical.
【Time-Space Freeze】 and 【Second Sight】 fit perfectly.
Her exceptionally high Ethereal Adaptation allowed her to easily bring out the full might of 【Time-Space Freeze】.
Though she could not fully use 【Second Sight】, she already had a similar passive, 【Heart of Supreme Purity】. With the two combined, she was now practically immune to illusions.
“With this, if I meet the Painter again, I could make her kneel and beg with one hand!”
Bai Fu, satisfied, transplanted the Esper Evolution Tree into the Eternal Night Pure Land.
“Let’s go.” She turned to the Oathmaster beside her.
The Oathmaster nodded and was about to take off from the Esper Garden.
“Wait!”
Bai Fu quickly stopped her.
The Oathmaster paused: “What is it?”
Bai Fu pointed at her feet: “We’re leaving on this.”
The treasures in the Esper Garden were not limited to the Esper Evolution Tree. The Esper Garden itself was a super space fortress, worth more than the Empire’s planet-class motherships.
Since the First Protocol already knew it was in her hands, there was no need to hide it. Why not just fly the Esper Garden back and use it as the new base for the Quiet Garden?
After contracting with the Esper Evolution Tree, she had naturally obtained control over the Esper Garden as well. Taking it home was no problem at all.
Boom rumble rumble!
With deafening noise, the Esper Garden burst out of folded space, crushing the planet that had served as its cover, before plunging into hyperspace, heading swiftly toward the Edge Worlds.
Amazing!
Even the experienced Oathmaster could not help but click her tongue in awe.
This was ten-thousand-year-old technology.
No wonder the Esper Garden once suppressed the Rebirth Empire, until the Three Cosmic-level Civilizations united to finally defeat it.
During warp travel, Bai Fu did not idle. She checked everywhere to ensure nothing strange lurked inside the Esper Garden, then opened her Attribute Panel to tally the gains from this trip.
After defeating the Lightless One and others, her [Lord Butcher] title evolved into [Pinnacle Hunter], its bonus rising from “Base Damage +7%, Inspiration +4%” to “Base Damage +10%, Inspiration +6%.”
At the same time, because she had obtained a Cosmic Treasure, her [Treasure Collector] title effects upgraded as well, adding another +200 to her base Intelligence and Spirit.
On top of that, Bai Fu had gained 30.8 billion XP.
Without hesitation, she invested 12.6 billion XP to level the Lord of Darkness to Lv30.
The next instant—
【Your Divine Transformation Progress has reached 39.9%. You have triggered a new Transformation Quest.】
The requirements for the Second Transformation Quest were—
【Psionic Value - 4,288,345 / 5,000,000
Strength - 4488 / 5000
Dexterity - 4517 / 5000
Racial Potential Rating - 90.9 / 95】
Although it looked like four requirements, in reality there was only one: raising her Racial Potential Rating to 95.
As long as that was achieved, her Psionic Value, Strength, and Dexterity would naturally rise with it.
But while easy to say, achieving it was not simple.
“My Racial Potential Rating is already top-tier among Psionic Priests in the Explored Universe. To improve further—especially by a whole 4.1 points—I’ll either need to complete a huge number of quests and hope for items that boost potential, or seek opportunities in the Holy City of Apostles.”
Bai Fu shook her head secretly.
Not easy at all—fitting, for a transformation from Transcendent I to Transcendent II.
“I’ll have Shadow Fu ask Sui Xi about it later.”
Closing her panel, Bai Fu was about to find somewhere to lie down, when suddenly, a cry of alarm sounded by her ear.
“？”
She turned around, looking at the Oathmaster in puzzlement.
The Oathmaster said excitedly: “Did you just get stronger again?”
Oh, you mean that.
Bai Fu nodded: “Yes.”
You did it, Bai Fu, you really did it. It was already crazy enough that you triggered one surge earlier, but you went and triggered another leaving the Esper Garden. At this rate, in just a few months your tier will be higher than mine!
The Oathmaster grumbled endlessly in her heart, but it was just grumbling.
“Bai Fu.”
“Hm?”
“I want to ask for your help against someone.”
Oh, smells like a quest!
Bai Fu’s eyes lit up: “Speak.”
“He is my enemy.”
The Oathmaster explained.
When she left her homeland to wander the Star Sea, her homeland got caught up in a battle between Transcendents. A Transcendent II Mentalist casually blasted her homeland into dust.
Afterward, when she went to confront this Mentalist, not only did she receive no apology, but was even struck aside.
Since then, she and this Mentalist had become mortal enemies.
“Who is this person?”
“Death God Isaacs. Though his name is not widely known in the Star Sea, he is actually the leader of the largest interstellar smuggling organization. Yuan Yi knows him, and through Yuan Yi, we should be able to find his hideout.”
【You have triggered the Hidden Quest [The Oathmaster’s Revenge]】
【Quest Description: ……】
【Quest Objective: Help the Oathmaster get justice. Make Death God Isaacs admit fault or kill Death God Isaacs.】
【Reward: 10 billion XP, One-time Skill Card [Death God’s Mark], Seed of Death*1】
Bai Fu quickly scanned the quest rewards.
The Seed of Death sounded impressive, but it was actually just a red-grade item.
Looking at it this way, the quest’s rewards were not particularly high.
But considering how much the Oathmaster had already helped her, Bai Fu accepted without hesitation.
“No problem. Once we deliver the Esper Garden near Origin Star, I’ll go with you to find Mage Yuan Yi.”
Receiving a firm answer, the Oathmaster finally let out a sigh of relief. With Bai Fu’s help, her vengeance would surely be fulfilled.
……
Half a day later.
The Esper Garden ended its warp and returned from hyperspace to realspace.
The massive space fortress, resembling a planet, surged with power, its speed rivaling even the fastest ships famed for velocity.
And so…
“Sigh, don’t even mention it. I’ve been run ragged today. Because of the Holy City of Apostles’ invasion, a huge number of ships are fleeing from Titan Industries. We’ve been ordered to manually inspect every one of them to prevent accidents. Let’s talk next week… huh, holy shit, I just saw a planet rush into the Stargate! Really, an actual planet! A planet larger than the Empire’s homeworld! I’m not making this up—hey, hey, don’t hang up! Dammit, I swear I’m not lying!”
As the Esper Garden swaggered its way through the Star Sea, it immediately caused a sensation.
【Damn, who’s this arrogant?】
【Awesome, others might speed with a ship, this guy speeds with a planet.】
Beep beep, beep beep…
Just then, Bai Fu’s communicator rang. She raised her wrist and saw it was Dmitri contacting her.
“Hello…”
“Finally, I reached you.” Dmitri’s tone was filled with urgency.
Bai Fu frowned slightly: “What happened?”
Dmitri explained: “Titan Industries and the Empire are both under attack.”
Bai Fu’s pupils contracted: “The First Protocol?”
Dmitri said: “Titan Industries was attacked by the Holy City of Apostles. Their Apostles, Saints, and Corona somehow circled around to Titan Industries’ rear. They were caught off guard and suffered heavy losses. As for the Empire, we don’t yet know who the attackers are, but they’re extremely arrogant. I suspect it’s the First Protocol.”
Bai Fu was shocked.
What the hell, she was offline for just a few hours, and so much had already happened?
“Where are the First Protocol members? Do you need me to help?”
Dmitri said: “It would be great if you could. I’ll send you the attackers’ appearance and location.”
Moments later, Bai Fu received Dmitri’s message.
Then, her expression turned strange.
Dmitri asked: “Something wrong?”
“Well…” Bai Fu lifted the photo Dmitri had sent. The image clearly showed the Esper Garden. “This ‘attacker’ you mentioned might be me.”
“？”
After an explanation, Dmitri finally understood.
“You…”
You always manage to stir up new trouble!
Fine then. Since it wasn’t the First Protocol, let’s focus on Titan Industries and the Holy City of Apostles.
In the current situation, they needed to immediately reinforce Titan Industries and repel the Holy City’s forces. More importantly, they had to figure out where the Apostles had appeared from. Otherwise, as more followers of the Holy City of Apostles poured into the Explored Universe, the Three Cosmic-level Civilizations would fall into extreme danger.
“You’re saying Cade was also among the attackers?” Bai Fu suddenly asked.
“That’s right.”
Bai Fu laughed: “Then I think I know how they came.”
The locator card she had planted on Chancellor Cade was still active.
This was a huge crisis for the Three Cosmic-level Civilizations, but if she seized the opportunity, she might cause turmoil within the Holy City of Apostles.
Bai Fu pulled out a Skill Card.
【Gun of Lightbearer from Cathedral Number Four】
This was her reward from completing Branch 4 of the Battle of Tub 【Black Hole Annihilation】.
That Skill Card, the locator card on Cade, and the Psionic Transfer Stations she had arranged in the Holy City of Apostles with Scarlet Leaf and Anya—that was her confidence!
“Wait for me, I’ll be there!”
As if Bai Fu’s words carried magic, Dmitri’s anxious heart immediately relaxed halfway.
After all, this was Bai Fu speaking—the one who had created countless miracles!
Ending the call, Bai Fu looked apologetically at the Oathmaster.
“Helping you take revenge might need to wait a few days.”
The Oathmaster was very understanding: “A few days later is no problem. I’ll go with you to Titan Industries first.”
The two quickly agreed and steered toward Titan Industries.