What did it feel like to be handed a pillow just as you were getting sleepy?
“I heard you want to break through to Grand Archmage. Here, let me give you something.”
Leo opened up his own ribcage and pulled out a book.
Ning Busan's expression turned bizarre. “The way you hide things is... quite unique. What is this?”
“The Book of Sages.”
Ning Busan's pupils constricted.
The Book of Sages, also known as the Forbidden Book of God, was rumored to be something that even the gods themselves could not destroy.
No one knew who had written the book. All they knew was that it recorded countless forbidden magics that had long been lost to time.
Even more miraculously, it possessed the power of prophecy. Everything from the origin of the universe to its ultimate end could be found within its pages.
But that alone was not enough to make it a forbidden book.
The most terrifying aspect was that the book recorded knowledge that transcended the gods. This knowledge could potentially allow mortals to attain power equal to or even greater than that of the gods, shaking the very foundations of divine authority.
Perhaps the rumors were somewhat exaggerated, but Ning Busan knew for a fact that the God of Light was indeed searching for this book.
In Ning Busan's memory—or more accurately, back when he was playing through the game's storyline as Phoenix—the God of Light had never given up on finding the whereabouts of the Book of Sages.
Thus, Ning Busan could not comprehend it. “Leo, how did the Book of Sages end up with you?”
Leo said with immense pride, “When I went to the Undead Realm to look for you, it fell from the sky and smacked me right on the head.”
Usually, Ning Busan would never believe anything so absurd. But when it was this absurd...
He actually believed it.
Ning Busan asked, “Are you sure you want to give it to me?”
“The Book of Sages is just a paperweight in my hands,” Leo said. “When different people open it, they see different things. But when I open it, all I see are prophecies. I'm already a Seer, so what use is it to me?”
Ning Busan patted his shoulder blade. “My good brother!”
“I can give it to you, but it's not for free.” Leo chuckled. “Now that I've given you the Book of Sages, it wouldn't be too much to ask for a small favor in return, right?”
Ning Busan knew Leo was up to something. “Out with it. What do you want me to do?”
“I want to eat meat.”
Ning Busan doubted his own ears. “What did you say?”
“I! Said! I! Want! To! Eat! Meat!” Leo said, feeling incredibly aggrieved. “Ever since I became an undead, my only source of energy has been the sun. What's the point of sunbathing every single day? I haven't tasted meat in ten thousand years!”
Leo grew increasingly agitated as he spoke. “I want to eat meat! I want to eat meat! I want to eat meat...”
Ning Busan got a headache from his nagging. “Fine, fine, fine. I'll find a way for you.”
“The Book of Sages has its own consciousness, but its temper is a bit fiery,” Leo said. “When you open it, help me ask if there's any way for an undead to regain their human sense of taste.”
Ning Busan managed expectations beforehand. “Even you couldn't find a way. I'm telling you now, I might not succeed.”
Leo said in a sinister tone, “If I can't eat meat, I'm going to destroy the world. Don't try to stop me when the time comes.”
Ning Busan silently replied with a string of ellipses: ...
Destroying the world just for a bite of food?
It was insane, yet strangely logical.
After returning to Roman Lane, Ning Busan stared at the Book of Sages on the table, a surge of uncontrollable excitement rising within him.
The cover of the book was made of deep bronze-colored metal, with a gilded, engraved spine that looked ancient and mysterious.
When Ning Busan's fingers gently brushed the cover, he could feel the cold hardness of the metal and a slightly uneven texture.
They said that everyone saw something different when they looked at the Book of Sages. He wondered what he would see.
Taking a deep breath, his fingertips trembling slightly, Ning Busan opened the first page with a tense heart.
There were only four gilded words written on it: [I'm here, dear!]
Didn't Leo say the Book of Sages had a fiery temper?
Why did it sound like this?
Moreover, Ning Busan felt a strange sense of familiarity with those words.
The words on the page slowly shifted: [How may I help you, dear?]
Ning Busan's lips twitched.
No wonder it felt familiar. Wasn't this just an automated customer service bot?
[I am not an automated customer service bot, dear!]
Ning Busan was startled. This thing could read minds?
[We apologize for any unpleasant experience. The mind-reading function has been disabled. How may I help you, dear?]
Ning Busan pondered for a moment before asking, “I want to break through to Grand Archmage. Do you have a way?”
[Of course, dear!]
A blinding golden light burst from the Book of Sages, illuminating the entire room.
Countless words and patterns emerged around Ning Busan in the form of three-dimensional illusions.
As Ning Busan gently swiped his finger through the empty air, the shimmering words flowed around his fingertips like swimming fish.
It felt a bit like a holographic projection.
Suddenly, the once-illusory words solidified, transforming into streams of golden light that flowed through his fingertips and into his body.
Ancient incantations, complex magic circles, and profound runic analyses... As if endowed with life, they automatically rearranged themselves to form complete systems of knowledge.
This knowledge was far too vast, exceeding the limits of what Ning Busan could normally withstand, yet it poured into his consciousness in an extremely gentle manner—like seeds finding fertile soil, slowly taking root and growing.
Ning Busan absorbed the knowledge hungrily, feeling his understanding of magic elevate at an astonishing speed.
After an unknown amount of time, the golden light gradually dissipated.
Ning Busan unconsciously waved his finger through the air. The magical elements instantly responded to his summon, condensing into a small orb of light at his fingertip.
Ning Busan was shocked to discover that he could easily control magic without even drawing magic patterns.
That knowledge was deeply engraved into his soul. He could even combine different magics at will to create entirely new spells.
Ning Busan muttered, “Why does this feel like I'm using a cheat code?”
A few more words appeared on the page: [Are you satisfied with our service today, dear?]
Ning Busan praised, “I couldn't be more satisfied! If I could, I'd definitely give you a five-star review!”
[Your satisfaction is our greatest motivation. Have a wonderful life, dear!]
Ning Busan couldn't help but complain in his mind. How is this temper fiery?
This is literally the best customer service ever!
But then again, had he actually broken through to Grand Archmage?
A Grand Archmage was the pinnacle of the magic system. They could peer into the future, interfere with fate, manipulate time and space, create life and matter, and even influence the rules and balance of the world.
It sounded incredibly powerful, but if that was the case, why could Saige—a Grand Archmage—only barely sustain the magic defense array during the Black Sun instead of wiping out all the xenos in one fell swoop?
It was because the existing magic system had a major flaw—it relied too heavily on magic patterns.
Without the magic patterns serving as the foundation for casting, even a Grand Archmage with a vast reserve of mana would be completely helpless. Thus, magic could only serve as a supplementary tool.
In the ancient era before humanity gained intellect, the God of Light dispatched archangels to teach humans magic, helping them counter natural threats and establish civilization.
Thus, the magic system was formed.
But... what if the existing magic system itself was a mistake?
Within the Book of Sages, Ning Busan saw another possibility.
A possibility where humans did not need to rely on magic wands, magic patterns, or incantations, but could directly command magic elemental particles.
However, Ning Busan hesitated on whether to make this magic system public.
Magic patterns were a shackle, but they were also a form of protection.
If they truly switched to another magic system, they might break free from their chains, but it would also trigger an unavoidable issue.
That was—the birth of a god of faith.
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