Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 540 - 36: The Demonic Poisonous Snake
This is an anti-steampunk cult text. It’s also the "final legacy of the crazed culprit, a mine owner of immense wealth who suffered ruin and disgrace, ultimately committing suicide," Chamos’s last inheritance.
It’s bound together by darkened sheepskin patches, with its text sewn in with gold threads, twisted and complex; no one recognizes it anymore.
St. Yves has never had an interest in mysticism or history. He purchased Chamos’s house and estate simply because it was a bargain, and this ancient book that no one could recognize became just another trinket at the bottom of the chest, until recently, when the opportunistic businessman presented it to Dorothy as a gift catered to her interests.
Later on, the book fell into Li Yan’s hands.
Originally, not even the best historians and linguists in San Francisco could recognize more than a few of its characters, but, coincidentally, Li Yan had recently seen this type of writing.
The common language of the R’lyeh City-State.
With the language of the great scholars at hand, the previously incomprehensible ancient scroll immediately began to reveal its information.
[Book of Creation]
Category: ???
Quality: ???
An artifact of a super ancient civilization, documenting the most advanced knowledge of "natural studies" and its truths, some content transcribed from the Abyssal Mouth.
Reading this book will grant understanding of all secrets, past and future. Individuals with strong willpower will not be able to grasp the true essence of the book, while those with weak wills will be tormented by powerful resentment until they suffer a mental breakdown.
Travelers of Yan Fu, take heed!
Deciphering this book with "the language of the great scholars" will lead to an invasion by "Super Ancient Ghosts"!
Li Yan also heard a prompt beside his ear.
"You merely need to hand over the ’language of the great scholars’ and the ’Book of Creation’ at the time of settlement to immediately complete the special Yan Fu event: The Mystery of the Madman."
At this juncture, Li Yan also realized the common thread among the several Yan Fu events: they could be completed without digging too deep.
The Terrifying Mermaid event could be completed simply by obtaining the "Sea Cow’s Scales", regardless of Li Yan’s encounter with the "Wingless Emperor" or his venture deep into the Abyssal Mouth to acquire the "Soul-forgiving Water". This was a coincidental event where timing, location, and human harmony were all essential.
The Mystery of the Madman follows the same principle. You don’t need to understand the content of the book, you just need to obtain both the book and the "language of the great scholars" to complete the Yan Fu event.
This also fits with the initial description by Earth Endurance regarding this series of fruits: 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
Taste them superficially, and think nothing of it; investigate too deeply, and live to regret it.
With both items right in front of him, not trying to decipher this strange book that could let one "understand all secrets of the past and future" was really not Li Yan’s style.
"What the hell is this."
Li Yan frowned, fiddling with the [Book of Creation] in his hands.
He had been trying to understand what it said since yesterday but ultimately couldn’t make heads or tails of it. He understood the meaning of every character, but when put together, they made no sense at all.
As for the so-called "invasion of the spirit by the Super Ancient Ghosts", Li Yan felt no irregularities. However, his status bar indeed listed a new entry: "Grudge of the Super Ancient Ghosts". Duration: 72 hours.
"Shall I give it a try?"
Cha Xiaodao on the other side of the table asked.
Li Yan pushed both the [language of the great scholars] and the [Book of Creation] towards Cha Xiaodao.
"Just place your hand on this stone slab, and be careful."
As Cha Xiaodao did as instructed, his gaze had just landed on the sheepskin paper when it suddenly became vacant.
Li Yan raised an eyebrow, immediately sitting up straight.
Cha Xiaodao’s expression rapidly changed, at times grinding his teeth in anger, at other times filled with sorrow and frustration.
"Damn," Li Yan regretted his arrogance, stretching out his fingers and waving them in front of Cha Xiaodao: "Xiaodao? Xiaodao?"
Cha Xiaodao suddenly reached out to grab Li Yan’s wrist. Startled, Li Yan’s wrist twisted outward, attempting to break Cha Xiaodao’s thumb.
"Hey, hey~"
Cha Xiaodao withdrew her hand and said with a grimace, "You really can’t take a joke."
Li Yan frowned, "Are you really okay?"
Cha Xiaodao shook her head, "I don’t understand it, but it’s nothing serious. Just got some unclear debuff. It’s going to last three days."
"..."
After hearing this, Li Yan let out a sigh, "Then forget it, not understanding it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing."
While they were speaking, Zhen Lian knocked on the door from outside.
"Sir, you wanted to see me?"
"That’s right, come in."
Zhen Lian walked in cautiously.
Li Yan gave Cha Xiaodao a look, and Cha Xiaodao shrugged her shoulders, turned around, and left, also closing the door behind her.
"It won’t be long before I have to leave."
Zhen Lian’s face changed dramatically, and she knelt down hastily, but before she could express her loyalty, Li Yan interrupted her.
"You have been of great help to me, and I should repay you. I’ve emphasized many times that I dislike your meaningless flattery and professed loyalty. Don’t waste my time."
Zhen Lian’s heart pounded wildly. Li Yan’s tone was very ordinary, but she felt as if she was listening to the whispers of a demon sealed by King Solomon in a tin jar.
"I’m giving you three choices: first, like Liang Hui, I can keep you young and healthy forever. Second, the medicine Liang Hui took from me, I still have quite a bit. I can give it all to you—how you use it is your problem. Third, I can teach you some means of self-protection. Of course, you will still have to work for me for the next few days."
Zhen Lian swallowed her saliva, sensing that this was a choice that could change her destiny.
After a while, Zhen Lian opened her mouth, "I choose... I choose..."
Half an hour later, Liang Hui arrived in a hurry. Zhen Lian stood at the doorway, toying with a glass bottle as thick as a thumb.
"Did Sir want to see me about something?"
While saying this, Liang Hui stuffed a stack of bills into Zhen Lian’s hand.
Zhen Lian smiled seductively, flipping through the thick green US dollars and sniffing their inky aroma before turning to Liang Hui, "You’re in luck, Liang Hui. Anyway, it’s good news. Go in and find out for yourself."
Liang Hui looked at Zhen Lian with a mix of doubt and belief, then coughed at the door, "Sir, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes, please come in."
Liang Hui walked in, his mind racing, but to his surprise, Li Yan spoke first.
"Mr. Liang, you have been a tremendous help, especially in taking care of my friend Chang Yu. I should repay this kindness. Unfortunately, you are late and have no choice."
Before Liang Hui could react, Li Yan asked directly, "Have your men described the capabilities of the Deep Sea Church to you? You have dealt with the Odonk Family for decades, you must have heard the legends of the Odonk ancestors."
Upon hearing this, an idea surged in Liang Hui’s heart, and he was overwhelmed with joy.
But he quickly composed himself and respectfully said to Li Yan, "Hesheng is willing to serve you from generation to generation."
"That won’t be necessary for so long," Li Yan replied.
Liang Hui heard a series of creepy chirping sounds, followed by a gust of wind hitting his face. Without thinking, he looked up and saw a transparent purple sea snake, with its internal organs clearly visible, biting into his neck.
[Water Lord Species: Cursed Spine Snake]
The venom can destroy the genes of trench creatures that have evolved under the influence of "Soul-forgiving Water," causing them to revert to a primitive state. However, for creatures not affected by "Soul-forgiving Water," the venom can grant them the powerful lineage of deep trench creatures. The venom of the Cursed Spine Snake is infectious; the descendants of the infected will also be affected, but as the number of infected increases, the effectiveness of the venom will be diluted.
