Jiucai Rong is an action-oriented person, quickly planting a flag at the manor's entrance.

A neatly square wooden sign was planted in front of the manor entrance, and a new main quest was updated once again.

[Main Quest: Divine Statue Dynasty]

[Quest Difficulty: SSS-level]

[Introduction: Celestial Destiny, Masked Birth! In the ancient era millions of years ago, such a time once appeared, replicating Spiritual Roots, giving rise to a bunch of replicas...]

[Quest Requirement: Battle the Divine Statue Era, seize the Divine Artifact, Divine Window.]

...

The blacksmiths now all make a point of first visiting Sword Casting Manor each day, checking today's missions at the headquarters, and gathering information.

Then, they split off to enter their respective faction maps, [Human Race] Ximen, [Demon Race] East Sea, [Ghost Race] Imperial Mausoleum Adventure Town.

Now, logged into Sword Casting Manor, they naturally first spotted this message.

"Looks like a new quest is about to start soon!!"

Shao Chaikun, eager to get started, grinned brightly. "I've spent these past few days relaxing and nurturing myself, just waiting for this to begin! Feels great!!"

I have to say, going home this time for the new year, he successfully became the center of attention because he had money now and even bought a car.

The main thing is, he made big money playing games like manual labor.

Even though there were only 1000 players, back then slots for the beta test were sold, leading to a bunch of big spenders joining.

These spenders, like Su Yuniang, had an enormous demand for currency.

Although Shao Chaikun himself needed to grow, he sold some resources and now makes thirty to forty thousand a month.

Meanwhile, those less skilled blacksmiths, just by ensuring daily login, can earn at least six to seven thousand.

The current 1000 blacksmiths are divided into pay-to-win and grind-to-earn factions.

Those few hundred big spenders can support the other half of the grinders.

With that money, who still needs to go work?

Directly becoming full-time gamers led to this high login rate among the 1000 blacksmiths, all wanting to turn professional and secure a bright future.

Especially this past new year.

It was a rare chance to go out, relax for a few days, attend reunions with classmates, gatherings with relatives—perfect occasions for flaunting one's achievements.

This satisfying experience has made them even more motivated upon returning.

Food God squeezed into the crowd, grumbling, "Let me see what new quest... Wait a second, the Imperial Mausoleum of this Divine Statue era clearly isn't convenient to open to the public!"

Shao Chaikun pondered, then wailed, "Ah! Can't open it? Doesn't that mean we'd be breaking our word? We promised to open the Imperial Mausoleum once a month."

Food God loudly retorted:

"Idiot, we still have half a month, don't we? Within this half month, take care of the Divine Statue Imperial Mausoleum and then move on to the next one, just in time for the opening."

"Are you sure you can take this mausoleum down in half a month?"

...

Everyone was discussing, some feeling anxious.

To be honest, their boastful claims have never lost grounds before.

If they broke their promise now, the mysterious and prestigious Golden Body would be shattered.

The one thing they hate most is being exposed as posers.

"Enough with the chattering; you should get back to your tasks!"

Jiucai Rong called out to Mudworker, "Let's go! The Manor Master has brought back a sample of the replicated Spiritual Root. Let's study it and find a way to take down the mausoleum—it's just a dungeon meant to be conquered; are we really afraid of its difficulty?"

"Sure thing, I'll conduct a data check." Mudworker and Jiucai Rong headed to the Spirit Farmer Zone.

Nowadays, Mudworker has also broken through the Upper Grade Spirit Farmer level and barely counts as a Shennong, though only a half-baked one.

Yet analyzing a Spiritual Root poses no challenge.

Their equipment is among the most advanced within the Nine-State.

A group of blacksmiths had been working all morning, essentially grasping the replication characteristics of the Masked Spirit Root.

At this moment.

In the conference room.

Jiucai Rong looked over the report, revealing a hint of surprise, "So that's how the replicated Spiritual Root works."

Masked Spirit Root, like a person's mask, can change endlessly.

However.

50% is the face structure, 50% is the changeable face skin.

When it mimics another person's Spiritual Root, it's merely that 50% changing its mask in various ways.

This is why after replication, it only possesses 50% of the other person's Divine Techniques.

Because the other 50% remains as the core of Masked Spirit Root.

Just like a plant.

Its 50% of roots remain unchanged, while 50% of the leaves can mimic various Divine Techniques, transforming into any form.

"It's like a chameleon."

Night Mad Cultivator showed an understanding expression, "It doesn't completely turn into the other, just halfway; inherently, it's still itself, no wonder it can only replicate 50% of the other's combat power."

Jiucai Rong smiled slightly, "Not bad, huh! Our cutting-edge technology at Sword Casting Manor discovered this."

Once they understood this worldview, they realized many logics could be explained.

They could even deduce the other player's Spiritual Roots, Divine Techniques, backgrounds... it had a sense of accomplishment like solving a mystery!

The deeper they delved into this worldview, the more they felt its charm.

The Infant Emperor Era, Replication Emperor Era...

Very intriguing indeed.

Jiucai Rong paused for a moment, setting down the materials, "This ancient dungeon's setting is so well-thought-out! What are your thoughts?"

"I feel like the Manor Master's Shadow Crocodile isn't cutting it anymore," the Medical Fairy spoke up:

"As someone with one foot in the Divine Doctor realm, my experience tells me, the Manor Master will use the Shadow Crocodile to destroy a bunch of ancestral graves, then transform into the Shadow Crocodile Giant."

"What about the opponent? They could also transform into a small Shadow Crocodile Giant, using the same Divine Techniques as the Manor Master to compete for the Embers."

This clearly belongs to using your Divine Techniques to defeat you.

You can control the Shadow Crocodile, and so can I.

It might happen that the Manor Master Shadow Crocodile Giant gets besieged by a bunch of small Shadow Crocodiles, turning into a sea battle, getting torn apart, losing a lot of flesh, and instantly facing disastrous defeat.

"This thing kind of counters our ever-victorious Manor Master." Crayon Shin-Chan commented, "Brother, this time the Manor Master has suffered a nerf."

"Everyone's being nerfed, alright, the replicas counter 99% of Spiritual Roots." No Bedwetting at Nine Years Old complained.

"Is there any other way besides the Shadow Crocodile?" Jiucai Rong asked.

"Aren't we forgetting a crucial question?" At this point, Immortal Aunt raised her hand, "Can they, at present, replicate Immortal Spirit Roots?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"A single replicated Spiritual Root should not be able to replicate two Spiritual Roots, right?"

"Good question!"

Jiucai Rong smiled slightly, "I asked Mudworker, and his answer is no, it can't! A Single Spirit Root can only replicate a Single Spirit Root."

"Then they're outdated! Our Dual Spirit Roots aren't scared of being replicated... is that what you're thinking?"

"But unfortunately."

Jiucai Rong showed a slightly heavy expression:

"The Longevity Dynasty, secretly dispatched troops to steal information from the outside world, the Infant Emperors have all been updated to versions with Immortal Spirit Roots."

"Do you all think the Divine Statue Era wouldn't secretly upgrade the replicated Spiritual Roots to a level where they can manage Dual Spirit Roots?"

The crowd's expressions suddenly changed.

Replicated Spiritual Root + ???= Super Immortal Spirit Root replica.

An Immortal Level replicated Spiritual Root can indeed replicate an Immortal Spirit Root.

If things are like this, then it's very troublesome indeed.

But their reason also tells them that it's most likely so troublesome.

Unless the opposition are fools.

However, Su Yuniang still held a sliver of hope, raising her hand to say, "Gale Emperor hasn't mentioned that they've evolved into Immortal-level replicated Spiritual Roots?"

Night Mad Cultivator said:

"Do you think it's a possibility that the core emperors guarding the [Divine Window] inside the mausoleum secretly updated it without letting the other Embers emperors know, after all, the Thirteen Countries were never united."

"Another possibility is, everyone knows the Gale Emperor is naturally a restless one, so they might purposefully keep him in the dark."

Ning Zheng listened silently: "..."

Why does it make more sense the more I listen?

That Gale Emperor, able to surrender so quickly.

It's clear to see he's the type to jump sides easily, contemporaries from that era must've known he had a bad reputation and would invariably guard against him becoming a traitor and not telling him the truth.

It must be the blacksmith's analytical think tank, huh.

Little details, hinting strands, they untangle and analyze, revealing the opponent's strengths.

If you blindly go to them...

Facing beings capable of replicating Immortal Spirit Roots, they're just waiting for you to come and hand over your body structure for replication.

Ning Zheng let out a long breath of Muddy Qi: "A bunch of ancient, sinister folks everywhere, truly wanting to hang me in their square as a streetlamp."