The Eldritch Files

Rong Qiyue’s guess was actually correct...

Han Su was pleasantly surprised to feel that wondrous sensation.

Rong Qiyue had told him before that during the advancement to Tier Two, one could feel the effects of the Emperor’s Text. That was the very reason he’d decided to attempt the advancement.

But now, it seemed this wondrous feeling was far greater than he had imagined, and the Fishing Song also had an unexpected effect.

Reciting the Fishing Song was supposed to be a safety valve he had designed for himself, but now, it seemed completely unnecessary.

A mysterious will could contaminate a person’s spirit because the Supernatural Species that once existed, even if they had long perished, still left their Spiritual Activity behind in the world.

When a Transcendent’s spirit developed Activity, their spirit could continue to exist in the world even after they died.

However, the amount was too small, and this Activity was diluted by the world until almost nothing remained.

But the Supernatural Species that had already fused with Divine Material were different. Their Divine Material and Spiritual Activity had surpassed all limits.

Even though they had perished long ago, they still coexisted with the physical world, forming what felt like vast troves of treasure.

’Could this be what that long-haired girl from the Midtown Library meant by "Gods never die"?’

’But to put it bluntly, it’s not that they don’t die. It’s just that their Spiritual Activity contains their spirit, giving them the ability to be revived under certain conditions.’

By the same token, anyone who tried Stealing the Mysterious Power they left behind would also be influenced by this residual Spiritual Activity.

This was the greatest challenge in advancing to Tier Two.

While Stealing the power, one was constantly bombarded by the residual will. Sooner or later, they would lose themselves and be completely consumed.

And now, the effect of this Emperor’s Text...

Han Su’s original plan was to stimulate his Divine Material by repeatedly exposing it to contamination and then severing the connection—just as he had previously used contamination to enhance his own Spiritual Activity. If he encountered any danger, he would use the Fishing Song to forcibly repel the Mysterious Power.

But the current situation was far beyond his expectations. His plan was completely redundant. The power of the Emperor’s Text alone was enough to drive away all other wills.

He silently observed the changes in the Emperor’s Text.

They seemed to be inscribed upon his Spirit World, intertwining with his Divine Material to form a wondrous and miraculous structure.

This Emperor’s Text drove out all the residual wills from within the Mysterious Power, and even made his own Divine Material stronger.

Pure, stable, and resolute.

Even his own Spiritual Activity seemed to be affected, becoming somewhat more active.

And the Pale power he had summoned was completely absorbed and assimilated by the Emperor’s Text, as if it had never existed at all.

’What kind of unbelievably good luck is this...’

It was like planning to use a minor cheat and being satisfied with that, only to find all his stats had been maxed out instead.

’If that’s the case...’

Mulling over these changes, Han Su grit his teeth slightly and tried summoning another substance:

[Ghost Flame!]

A strange flame appeared in his Spirit World. Then, cautiously, he had it make contact with his own Divine Material.

Just as with the Pale power, the instant of contact triggered a terrifying transformation. Han Su’s body was instantly covered in what looked like burn scars.

It was as if his entire being was about to be incinerated, transforming into a creature with no physical body, one that existed purely as Ghost Particles. But this change lasted only for a moment before it was suppressed by the Emperor’s Text and vanished without a trace.

As it completely eliminated the Ghost Flame, the Emperor’s Text became even more vivid.

It devoured this Mysterious Power like a sponge soaking up water.

His own Divine Material had grown immensely, more than doubling compared to its initial state.

This seemed to be an unimaginably good thing.

Han Su’s original plan had been to use Mysterious Power to stimulate his Divine Material and thereby strengthen it.

It was like constantly injecting oneself with a toxin to force the body to develop resistance.

But he hadn’t expected the Emperor’s Text to upend everything. It seemed he didn’t need to resist at all. He only had to find a Mysterious Power and make contact, and he could directly Steal it.

In theory, this was the same path the Disaster Management Bureau was currently exploring. The difference was that when he engaged in the Stealing of Mysterious Power, he didn’t have to worry about being influenced by any mysterious will, and his Divine Material remained pure.

It was even unimaginably fast—like a sponge soaking up water, and without a goddamn bit of spillage...

Anyone in this situation would have been clapping their hands in celebration.

For a moment, Han Su felt a surge of pride, as if he were high above it all, looking down on everything, the master of all he could see.

’These historical remnants, these Mysterious Powers... they’re all just fuel for me, nutrients...’

But...

Han Su suddenly clenched his jaw. The shadow in his heart swelled as he realized the most terrifying problem:

’The Emperor’s Text devours everything and influences my Divine Material...’

’Isn’t this, in itself, just another form of contamination?’

"..."

Strictly speaking, the Emperor’s Text was also a type of Mysterious Power—one that far surpassed any other.

’Withdraw!’

Having realized this, he steeled himself and frantically withdrew his Spiritual Tentacles.

Fortunately, he hadn’t yet made true contact with the Emperor’s Book. The faint link had only been formed through the resonance of his Spiritual Activity. With a single thought, he forcibly severed it.

Then, the remnants of the Emperor’s Text inside his body seemed to tremble violently in that instant.