[Upgraded to maximum level. Cannot be upgraded further.]
[Infinite Upgrade requires:]
[Destiny-attribute Nirvana Origin x1]
Using the Ten Thousand Flowers Jade was simple and convenient, just like a common kaleidoscope.
Shi Ming picked it up, aimed it at the Three-Eyed Golden Crow, who was snoring away in the cockpit, and gave it a gentle turn. A visual effect similar to a kaleidoscope appeared before his eyes, with colorful blocks of all sorts rotating around a central point.
Through these blocks of color, Shi Ming could see the Destiny and karma of the Three-Eyed Golden Crow.
There was a destiny of slumbering beneath the earth,
a destiny of being sheltered by the Abyss Lord,
a destiny of pledging allegiance to a new, wise master, and so on.
Not only that, but three points of light also appeared within the jade. These points contained something akin to "attributes," and Shi Ming could choose one of them to insert into the Three-Eyed Golden Crow’s destiny, creating an unknown effect. The operation looked incredibly simple, but the actual impact of inserting an attribute was uncontrollable.
He could only predict the potential destiny by interpreting the attribute’s description.
For example, right now,
the three attributes that appeared in the Three-Eyed Golden Crow’s kaleidoscope of destiny were [Silver Destiny], [Path of Evolution], and [Star Sea Mysteries]. The first two radiated a silver light, while the last one shone with a multicolored glow.
They all looked like good options.
It seemed he couldn’t go wrong with any of them.
But Shi Ming didn’t act. Supreme treasures of the destiny attribute had always been ethereal and unpredictable. This particular treasure had just changed owners, and its own destiny had undergone a dramatic turn. The risk of accepting the "gift" it offered at this moment was simply too high.
The Three-Eyed Golden Crow wouldn’t be able to handle it.
’Why not try it on myself?’
At the thought, Shi Ming manifested a mirror forged from ice. His own reflection materialized in it, and he once again used the Ten Thousand Flowers Jade, peering at himself in the mirror.
CRACK.
Through the Ten Thousand Flowers Jade, the image in the mirror was separated, melting, stretching, and splitting into countless trivial specks of color, just like a real kaleidoscope. Every time Shi Ming turned the Ten Thousand Flowers Jade, different deconstructed geometric patterns appeared.
They were iridescent and dazzling.
But there was no information, no trace of Destiny or karma. The three balls of light from before had also vanished, no longer offering any "attributes" to be inserted into his destiny.
Slightly disappointed, Shi Ming shifted his gaze and refocused the Ten Thousand Flowers Jade on the reflection of the Three-Eyed Golden Crow in the mirror. This time, the crow’s Destiny and karma reappeared in the kaleidoscope, and the same three attributes as before emerged once more.
"Strange."
’It clearly works on reflections, but not on me?’
’Is it that it can’t be used on its wielder, or simply that it can’t be used on *me*?’
He summoned a Myriad Aspects clone and had the clone hold the Ten Thousand Flowers Jade and aim it at him. The result was the same—he still couldn’t see any useful information, nor was there any choice of three attributes.
’Could it be that my destiny is too heavy, too impenetrable to be altered?’
’It’s a decent supreme treasure for supporting allies, I suppose.’
’And it has room for infinite upgrades.’
The other piece of loot, the [Silver Scissors], had an impressive effect as well.
[Silver Scissors]
[Level: 20]
[A peculiar pair of scissors that can snip the tributaries of future destiny. Just like ordinary scissors, the thinner the target, the easier it is to cut; the thicker the target, the more effort it requires. It might even break the scissors and injure the wielder.]
[Upgraded to maximum level. Cannot be upgraded further.]
[Infinite Upgrade requires:]
[Vajra Source Stone x1, Cosmic Crystal x1,000]
Unlike the Ten Thousand Flowers Jade, the Silver Scissors were very picky about their master.
Only beings who could see the River of Destiny could use them effectively. They could sever the tributaries of one’s own destiny or another’s, completely eliminating the possibility of that future coming to pass. Using them to snip narrow tributaries, which represented events with an already low probability, came at no cost. However, if one tried to sever thick tributaries representing highly probable events, the backlash would be extremely powerful.
However, this backlash usually wasn’t immediate.
There was a certain delay.
"This Ron character really has good taste. Both of these supreme treasures are top-tier."
His spoils of war were piling up. Shi Ming now had quite a few supreme treasures, and he had truly transformed from a dirt-poor native into someone who could rival a Cosmic Sovereign, decked out in treasures from head to toe!
He lay back comfortably in his lounge chair, gazing at the endless, dreamlike starry sky. The twinkling stars seemed to be glittering Cosmic Crystals and treasures.
Hmm...
It was time to check in on his employee.
’I wonder how her plan is coming along? Is it going smoothly?’
...
...
...
"Boss, you’re really ruthless..."
"With things escalating to this degree, do you really think the payment will proceed normally?"
"Honestly, I’m even considering whether I should flee the Thirty-Seventh Cosmic Country. If that Sovereign follows the clues and tracks me down, I don’t have your level of skill to escape unscathed."
Bai Yimo frowned.
This boss of hers... he really didn’t know how to pull his punches. How could he be so crude with the big backer behind their client?
For now, she had technically completed the public bounty and commission. With her vast experience and cautious advance planning, she could easily keep herself out of it. But if the client wasn’t happy, how could they possibly release the funds smoothly?
Delaying it for a year or so
was completely normal.
However, Bai Yimo wasn’t too worried. Her "simp," that devoted son from [Assassination Star], had already promised to divert 600,000 Cosmic Crystals from other projects he was in charge of at [Assassination Star] to cover the payment for this commission. This was the full extent of his authority and the absolute limit he could advance.
As for the remaining 400,000, she would just have to wait for the client to release the funds.
But more than these cold, hard Cosmic Crystals, Bai Yimo was curious about something else: was Shi Ming’s strength really that immense?
’Did he hold back during our last fight?’
As a rare genius of the Star Sea, even at her peak, she couldn’t have pushed a Pillar Stone into such a corner. Could he be from some rare, gifted race? Or did he possess other, greater secrets, like a numbered Nirvana skill?
Interesting.
Geniuses are always lonely.
Although Bai Yimo reveled in the vortex of desire she wove, moving between different males and females, she fundamentally understood the true meaning of "it’s lonely at the top." She also had a much deeper and more thorough understanding of true "desire" than the average person.
Only an opponent who was her equal, or even her superior, could truly excite her.
"I’m looking forward to it even more now..."
The invisible star-ring in her hand vibrated, transmitting a reply from her "boss."
"600,000? Not bad."
"Split it according to the previously agreed-upon ratio."
Shi Ming had many treasures now but lacked the means to liquidate them; he couldn’t directly exchange them for usable, liquid capital. And with his "Infinite Brain," he desperately needed things like Cosmic Crystals as common materials for upgrading many of his treasures. He had allowed Bai Yimo to form her own organization precisely to open up another channel for making money.
"Okay~ Boss."
Bai Yimo had originally thought Shi Ming would skim from the payment or prioritize taking his own share, leaving her bonus to be paid with the final balance. She hadn’t expected him to be so honest.
Then again, this boss of hers really was valuable.
If she were to sell him off,
she could get a high price.
...
...
...
Shi Ming happily switched off the star-ring.
There were still risks,
but not many.
If Ron’s attainments in the path of destiny were truly profound, he might be able to find some clues and trace them back to the informant Shi Ming had placed on Treasure Star. But now, with two of his twelve destiny treasures missing and him being heavily injured, his ability to scheme in the short term was considerably limited.
His underlings alone were no match for Bai Yimo.
This was a classic case of hiding in plain sight.
Once he smoothly collected the Cosmic Crystals, he could head to the Tomb Star Realm. With the [Divine Rune] in his possession, he was, without a doubt, the rightful heir to the First Civilization Cosmic Country...