Cipher's Authority, a Huge Surge in Strength!

Lin Hai's words fell softly into the air.

Kissing... His frank admission that a deeper bond could awaken more of the Lucky Star's abilities plunged the entire room into a subtle silence.

Cipher did not respond immediately. She lowered her eyes slightly, as though examining her own reaction.

To her own surprise, the irritation or aversion she had expected did not appear.

An indescribable sense of familiarity came from deep within her subconscious.

Lin Hai should have been a stranger she had only just met, yet he made Cipher feel safe and at ease.

The feeling was vague yet real, leaving her a little dazed.

"I..." She finally raised her head. "I'm willing to try taking the first step."

Lin Hai again chose to tell the truth. "Usually, a hug alone... isn't enough to stir that power."

"Then let's leave it at that for now." Cipher quickly raised a hand in a gesture to stop, a barely perceptible blush rising to her cheeks. "The rest... we can talk about another day."

The conversation came to an abrupt halt, and the two faced each other in silence for a moment.

A silence tinged with curiosity and subtlety spread through the air.

Just as Lin Hai was pondering how to break the stillness, Cipher suddenly spoke again.

Her tone grew distant and mysterious.

"Actually... this isn't the first time I've seen the power of a Lucky Star. As I understand it, some of the stars hold entirely different key phrases."

Lin Hai's eyes betrayed a hint of doubt.

What stars?

What was entirely different?

What key phrases?

Cipher did not rush to explain. Instead, her expression grew more solemn.

She gently raised her hand, her fingertips seemingly sensing invisible currents of energy in the air.

"As one of the Chrysos Heirs, I have an innate ability to sense things that contain divinity."

Her gaze fell on the Lucky Star. "I can faintly hear... an extremely weak echo of divine power reverberating at its core. Its creation may be closely connected to a god."

Lin Hai still found it hard to believe her completely. After all, this went beyond everything he had known before.

Then he thought about it again.

The origins of these Lucky Stars were truly strange, and their effects were truly miraculous.

Other than a divine miracle, there seemed to be no way to explain them!

"Then watch closely. I'll make it fly! I can make it fly!"

Cipher did not argue. She simply held the Lucky Star in her palm and softly chanted a few short, peculiar syllables.

What happened next made Lin Hai hold his breath.

As though drawn by invisible threads, the Lucky Star slowly rose from her palm and hovered in the air, a faint halo of light flowing around it.

"This..." Lin Hai's shock knew no bounds. What he was seeing undoubtedly confirmed the truth of Cipher's words, but it also brought more mysteries with it.

Cipher, however, knew perfectly well.

This was indeed her first time seeing this Lucky Star.

What she had used was True Lies, the unique authority she had been born with as one of the Chrysos Heirs.

As long as others believed her words, lies could become reality.

The more people believed, the stronger the power became.

She guided Lin Hai, misled him, and used information that was half true and half false to influence his subconscious judgment.

Once Lin Hai's subconscious wavered and he was successfully misled, Cipher activated her authority, and so she really did it.

Cipher gently drew back her hand, and the Lucky Star fell back into her palm, its glow gradually fading.

She looked at Lin Hai. "From now on, I'll keep and study this Lucky Star. I'll do everything I can to develop its hidden abilities, and in return for your trust..."

Cipher paused, a distinct pride flashing in her eyes. "I can use divine power to help you!"

Lin Hai looked at Cipher, a plea in his eyes. "I do need your help."

Cipher tilted her head. "Oh? Go on, what do you want me to help you with?"

"I have a very important friend. She's suffering from an extremely troublesome illness that's almost impossible to cure. I hope... you can help me cure her."

Cipher froze slightly at his words.

Her gaze returned to the Lucky Star in her palm.

She tried to sense the energy contained within it.

A moment later, Cipher raised her face, a smile blooming across it. "Interesting... With the power of this Lucky Star, it might actually be possible. I'll help you!"

She had not possessed that ability to begin with.

The authority of True Lies involved a degree of deception.

Cipher intended to coax Lin Hai into subconsciously believing she could do it, then expand that influence until she really did possess the ability.

"What other powers have you discovered in this Lucky Star so far?"

Lin Hai immediately followed up with another question.

To this day, he had never stopped exploring the Lucky Stars.

The abilities he had already discovered were obtaining one of a contract partner's abilities and multiplying his physical attributes.

Just as Cipher concentrated, pretending to sense the Lucky Star,

a familiar, mysterious panel suddenly appeared in Lin Hai's mind, displaying new information clearly.

[Contract Lucky Star: Cipher]

[Contract mission: Kiss (completed)]

[Mission reward issued: Skill learned — Master Thief]

[Effect: Greatly enhances insight into the value of items, allowing precise identification of the true value and potential significance of all kinds of valuables!]

A completely new perceptive ability surged into Lin Hai's consciousness.

It was as though he could perceive the flow of value in every object around him.

This ability was not a simple appraisal, but a deeper understanding of the nature of value.

A rush of delight swept over him. Although [Master Thief] was not a combat skill, its potential applications were vast.

The panel in his mind did not stop updating. More information appeared in succession:

[Accumulation of related interaction events detected]

[Went shopping together]

[Had dinner together]

[Sang and had fun together]

[Went swimming together]

[Interaction event chain requirement met. Hidden reward activated: Tier-three physique enhancement (current value × 200%)]

Boom!

A current of heat far more powerful than before swept through Lin Hai's entire body!

Every cell in his body seemed to leap for joy.

His bones grew tougher!

His muscles held explosive power!

The colors of the world around him became more vivid!

Sounds in the distance grew clearer, and even the movement of the air could be keenly detected by his skin.

Lin Hai's level of life underwent an all-encompassing elevation.

Ecstasy!

Indescribable ecstasy!

But... it still was not over.

The panel's glow steadied once more.

[Important contract mission: Become husband and wife with Cipher and consummate the marriage (completed)]

[Ultimate reward issued: Power of the Path — Nihility (beginner)]

[Effect: Establishes an initial connection to the Path of Nihility, allowing the user to draw upon and wield its power.]

An indescribable power, seemingly originating from the source of the universe, quietly flowed into Lin Hai's body.

This power did not strengthen his body or improve his agility. It was more like... an authorization.

It was cold and silent, yet it held infinite possibilities for dissolving all things.

This was the power of a Path!

Though it was only at the beginner level, it was enough to make Lin Hai's heart pound with shock.

Lin Hai took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the cheers and exclamations that nearly escaped his lips.

He struggled to maintain a calm exterior, but the earth-shattering change deep in his eyes was hard to conceal completely.

Cipher frowned slightly, noticing that Lin Hai's bearing had changed somehow.

A fundamental change!

"You..." she began hesitantly. "You seem a little different?"

Lin Hai merely smiled in response.

Today's gains had far exceeded his wildest imagination.

At the same time, he realized that Cipher had been deceiving him.

Lin Hai smiled and said, "Although you fooled me, I have to admit, you did it so well!"

Cipher instinctively took a step back.

She had no idea what had happened.

Just a moment ago, she had successfully misled Lin Hai and influenced his subconscious judgment.

What had made him come to his senses?

Cipher looked at the Lucky Star in her hand. Could it be because of this?!