novelraw Chapter 147-2: Rona’s Training, the Illusionary Book (2)
Chapter 147-2: Rona’s Training, the Illusionary Book (2)
He took the elevator back to the second floor to continue his exploration.
His previous exploration of the Ancient Book Archive on the second floor had been interrupted halfway by Grand Scholar Rona. Now he planned to thoroughly loot it.
[You step toward the deepest part of the corridor and push open the door…]
[Before you is a series of tall, neatly arranged bookshelves, the strong scent of ink flooding your nostrils.]
[At the entrance to the archive, an elderly Scholar wearing an Association uniform is hunched over the counter, fully engrossed in his reading.]
[Your arrival does not attract his attention in the slightest…]
[Do you wish to greet the Scholar, or take advantage of his distraction to search the archive?]
This gatekeeper guy is basically useless, huh?
At this point, Lin Xun was still possessing the Dancer shell.
Although the Dancer’s stealth skill was ineffective against most of the many-eyed creatures in this world, it still offered some psychological comfort.At the very least, it might help him avoid little monsters without eyes.
He activated the stealth skill and continued looting.
[Searching…]
[At the bottom layer of the bookshelf, you found a rather ancient scroll. Judging by its appearance, it seemed quite valuable…]
[You have obtained Scroll Containing Ancient Knowledge x1]
[Scroll Containing Ancient Knowledge: The yellowed scroll is densely packed with text. These characters seem to possess a mysterious power, unconsciously drawing one in. Using this item will increase Knowledge by 50 points.]
[Searching…]
[You found a faintly glowing white book on the bookshelf.]
[You have obtained Book Containing Trace Knowledge x1]
[Searching…]
[You found nothing further. There were no more useful items of interest on the shelves.]
[Just as you were about to leave, you noticed a faint white glow emanating from a row of bookshelves in the corner of the archive.]
[You silently approached to investigate…]
[In a compartment at the bottom of the shelf, you discovered an old, damaged canvas.]
[You have obtained Incomplete Star Map (Special Item)]
[Incomplete Star Map (Special Item): An aged, damaged canvas, painted with rich oils depicting countless stars scattered across the galaxy. The painting seems to possess a strange magic that captivates the observer and draws them in. If you can find the missing parts of the canvas and piece it together, something unexpected may occur. This special item is currently incomplete and unusable.]
Incomplete Star Map… what the heck is this thing?
According to the item description, this Special Item was incomplete. He would need to find its missing pieces before it could be used.
Lin Xun carefully stored the item away and continued searching. The game text kept displaying ‘nothing found,’ which suggested that all the valuable items in the Ancient Book Archive had already been looted by him.
Just as he was about to leave the Ancient Book Archive, he suddenly stopped.
[At the entrance of the archive, an elderly Scholar wearing an Association uniform was hunched over the counter, completely absorbed in reading.]
[Your presence did not attract his attention in the slightest…]
[Do you want to approach the Scholar to greet him, or leave this place?]
Well, since he had already cleaned the place out, it wouldn’t hurt to greet the staff, right?
[You disabled stealth and stepped forward to speak with the elderly Scholar…]
[The Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Scholar looked up and indicated that in order to enter the Ancient Book Archive for research, you needed to pay a fee of 1,000 Spirit Essence.]
[Do you wish to proceed with the transaction and enter the Ancient Book Archive?]
“…I thought there might be some kind of story event.”
Lin Xun decisively selected ‘No’ and exited the archive.
[You exited the Ancient Book Archive and returned to the hallway on the second floor.]
[Moving straight ahead would take you to the central hall of the second floor, which connects to the Knowledge Illusion Hall on one side and the Eyeball Laboratory on the other.]
[Where would you like to go?]
[You entered the central hall, proceeded down the left corridor, and soon reached the end of the hallway.]
[Pushing open the large door at the end, you found a spacious room with only a counter set up at the entrance, where an elderly Scholar quietly awaited.]
[Upon seeing you, the Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Scholar’s eyes lit up, and he hurriedly beckoned you over, pulling out a thick stack of books from the counter and laying them out one by one.]
[You stepped forward and carefully examined the books laid out on the counter…]
[Seeing you dressed in the Association Scholar Robe and noticing your unfamiliar face, the Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Scholar knew you must be a newly promoted Scholar of the Association.]
[He began to explain… In this world, there are always some irrational phenomena that Scholars spend their whole lives trying to understand, the Residual Illusions of Knowledge are among them.]
[Though their nature remains mysterious, the predecessors of the Association developed techniques to preserve these Residual Illusions of Knowledge using great knowledge.]
[The books laid out on the counter were containers that preserved these Residual Illusions of Knowledge.]
[By opening one of the books, you could enter the illusion. If you were lucky and blessed by the Omniscient True Knowledge, you might obtain knowledge and wealth from within the illusion.]
[The Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Scholar spoke with great anticipation, inviting you to experience entering an illusion for yourself as a newly promoted Scholar…]
[You examined the books on the counter…]
[Book Containing Illusion – The Inauguration of the Multivision School Association President: Records the heroic figure of the President’s inauguration ceremony. Spirit Essence Cost: 0]
[Book Containing Illusion – The Process of Observing Hidden Stars: Records the complete process of observing hidden stars through a stargazing telescope. Spirit Essence Cost: 1,000]
[Book Containing Illusion – Experimental Surgery on Composite Eyeballs: Records the surgical procedure of synthesizing a certain peculiar type of eyeball. Spirit Essence Cost: 3,000]
[Book Containing Illusion – Grand Scholar Rona’s Bathing Recording: Records the entire bathing process of the beautiful Grand Scholar named Rona. Spirit Essence Cost: 0]
At this point, the Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Scholar suddenly panicked and hurriedly stuffed that particular book into his robe, repeatedly apologizing to you, claiming he had grabbed the wrong book, and hoping you would pretend you saw nothing.
[Of course, if you happen to be a man of similar interests, he wouldn’t mind lending you a peek, as long as you don’t spread word of this…]
Lin Xun’s mouth twitched slightly. What kind of ultra-dream experience was this?
He had previously entered a Residual Illusion of Knowledge once, during an exam at the Dis Academy, where he used Lir’s shell to enter an illusion and take a test.
After the exam, the Dean of Dis Academy led him to the basement to collect his rewards.
This proved that there were indeed benefits to be gained within the Residual Illusions of Knowledge.
[You continued looking at the other books…]
[Book Containing Illusion – Battle Against the Veiled Aberration: Records a powerful Scholar fighting an Aberration hidden within the fog. Spirit Essence Cost: 5,000]
[Book Containing Illusion – An Expedition Into the Abyss: Records a mighty Scholar’s journey into the depths of the underground abyss. Spirit Essence Cost: 10,000]
Lin Xun’s eyes lit up.
In the description of the Eyeball of the Subterranean Oculomass Demon he previously obtained, it mentioned.
‘The Oculomass Demon evolved its vision to the extreme in a world devoid of light. Using its numerous eyeballs, it can still perceive its surroundings clearly in total darkness. The eighteen eyes of the Oculomass Demon form an interconnected neural network, missing even one would nullify the eyeballs’ special effect’
Clearly, the underground abyss contained far more than just the Oculomass Demon.
There were likely many powerful creatures and various eyeballs with strange and unique abilities.
With that thought, Lin Xun decided to enter the Residual Illusion of Knowledge recorded in this book.
[You selected the book An Expedition Into the Abyss…]
[The Knowledge-Seeking Multivision Association Scholar indicated you would need to pay 10,000 Spirit Essence. After payment, you may open the book and enter the illusion…]
Lin Xun narrowed his eyes.
All the books were right there on the counter. If he killed the Scholar in front of him, wouldn’t this become a zero-cost shopping spree…