Supernatural Characteristics

After leaving the prayer room, Ning Xiuyuan did not return to his dormitory. Instead, he inspected the church's candles, refilling oil where needed and lighting those that had gone out.

After finishing his duties, he went to the church kitchen and asked for dinner.

—Two freshly baked pieces of bread and several slices of venison spread with sweet fruit jam.

By the time he returned to his dormitory, every last bite of dinner had gone into his stomach.

He was starving.

He had not eaten for nearly a full day and night, from entering the darkness at midnight last night to returning before dawn, then sleeping through the day.

Luckily, he was a sturdy young man. Otherwise, he would have collapsed from hunger long ago.

Now that his stomach was full and he had suddenly learned that he was very likely to become a Transcendent, Ning Xiuyuan's suppressed mood improved considerably.

His conversation with Bishop Byron today had given him quite a bit of useful information.

Bishop Byron called the darkness Ning Xiuyuan had entered three times the "Unclean Place Beyond Time and Space."

Yet the Rootless Soul called that modern human world, so similar to Earth, the "Unknown Place of the Creation Department."

Judging from those two descriptions, they did not seem to be the same place. In other words, Bishop Byron did not know that I had gone to another world.

He merely thought I had entered the darkness?

That was very important information.

It meant that Bishop Byron did not know what had happened to him, or perhaps knew only part of it.

In other words, he might not be the mastermind.

Then who was?

The God of Dawn?

Thinking of how he had inexplicably crossed worlds, a trace of absurdity appeared in Ning Xiuyuan's eyes.

From the information he had encountered today, the gods of this world were no mascots. They were absolutely beings possessed of unimaginable great power.

Would such an existence scheme against an ordinary mortal like him?

Or was everything merely a coincidence? Had the God of Dawn simply gone with the flow?

Ning Xiuyuan pondered for a long time and imagined more than a dozen possibilities. In the end, he shook his head and gave up, choosing to take things as they came.

What else could he do if he did not?

Even the hideous Child of Flame had been imprisoned in the basement to produce lamp oil. How could he possibly resist the Church of Dawn, which possessed Transcendent power?

At least, not for the time being.

Thinking of the Child of Flame, Ning Xiuyuan's gaze unconsciously fell on the kerosene lamp.

Honestly, he was extremely curious. Why did an utterly ordinary kerosene lamp in this world possess such terrifying power in that other world?

Wait.

Why was there another foreign object in the lamp oil?

Ning Xiuyuan's eyes widened in astonishment.

Within the boiling lamp oil, the Rootless Soul was curled up silently in a corner.

On its other side floated a dark brown stream of viscous liquid, thick as snot, bobbing in the oil.

"My master, I did not touch your Transcendent characteristic! Even if the Yellow Sea dries up—eh? How do I know this is called a Transcendent characteristic? Who am I? I... I... sob..."

Noticing Ning Xiuyuan's face drawing close, the Rootless Soul in the lamp oil immediately became agitated. It frantically tried to prove its innocence in crazed speech, terrified that Ning Xiuyuan might misunderstand something.

But as it spoke, it once again sank into indescribable madness.

Ning Xiuyuan was stunned... This was a Transcendent characteristic?

Why was there a Transcendent characteristic in the lamp oil?

Bishop Byron had revealed that some Transcendent characteristics were extracted from Supernatural Creatures. Could this suddenly appearing Transcendent characteristic be...

Ning Xiuyuan's eyes abruptly widened.

—The Bird-beaked Monster!

After discovering the Rootless Soul, he had not come into contact with anyone else in that world except the Bird-beaked Monster. He truly could not guess where else this Transcendent characteristic might have come from.

I knew it. The kerosene lamp suddenly went out because the lamp oil had been depleted. So containing the Bird-beaked Monster had caused it!

For a moment, Ning Xiuyuan was both shocked and delighted.

From what Bishop Byron had said, Transcendent characteristics were clearly extremely precious. Even if the Church of Dawn was willing to give him one, his choices would be very limited.

Now that he had another Transcendent characteristic in his hands, it was equivalent to having another trump card!

Then the question was, how was he supposed to wield a Transcendent characteristic?

An idea came to Ning Xiuyuan.

He decided to first wield the Transcendent characteristic gifted by the Church of Dawn. Once he became familiar with the situation, he would absorb the one in his possession.

He clearly remembered Bishop Byron saying that Transcendent characteristics could be consumed multiple times.

"Since I already have the Bird-beaked Monster's Transcendent characteristic, choosing from the Church's offerings will be easier."

"From the Bird-beaked Monster's various performances, its combat strength was quite impressive. That makes the Child of Flame somewhat redundant for me. Besides, that thing's drawback is obvious: it will forever fear some kind of liquid? What if I randomly become water? Wouldn't I be finished?"

"As for the Disease Remover, aside from healing myself, it can cure all illnesses in others. A completely altruistic Transcendent power. This is practically a trap. No, no!"

"Could I choose Dreamwalker? Walking through the dreams of all beings and reaching the other shore of the real world—the Dreamlands. That sounds pretty good!"

"Should I choose Dreamwalker?"

Ning Xiuyuan pondered, weighing the pros and cons.

Time flowed like water, babbling onward.

In the blink of an eye, the three days allotted for consideration had arrived.

"Have you made your decision?"

In the underground chamber, Bishop Byron smiled at Ning Xiuyuan, seemingly already knowing the answer.

"I want to choose the Disease Remover!" Ning Xiuyuan said solemnly.

"Not a bad choi—" Bishop Byron nodded, then suddenly widened his eyes and nearly bit his tongue. "What? The Disease Remover?"

"Yes!"

Even with Bishop Byron's composure, he could not quite suppress the surprise in his heart. He looked Ning Xiuyuan up and down before saying:

"I must remind you that the Disease Remover can never treat itself. It can only treat others."

"I understand."

"Why choose the Disease Remover?"

"I wish to guard the Dawn for my lord."

Ning Xiuyuan's tone was resolute, though inwardly he sneered.

Do you take me for an idiot? I dare say not many people choose a purely altruistic Transcendent ability like the Disease Remover. If I choose it, I'll definitely become a prized asset!

If I really choose the Child of Flame or Dreamwalker, I'll probably have to charge into battle for you. You personally said that you had sent a Dreamwalker into my dream. What if one day you send me into some big shot's dream? I wouldn't even know how I died.

Though choosing the Disease Remover still means working for someone else, at least I'll be in the rear, right?

Most importantly, I have another Transcendent characteristic. Didn't expect that, did you?

At this moment, hearing Ning Xiuyuan's words, Bishop Byron fell silent.

After a long while, he said, "I have no authority to interfere with any choice made by my lord's followers. One final confirmation, Mr. Arthur. Are you certain you choose the Disease Remover?"

Ning Xiuyuan nodded. "I am certain."

Bishop Byron nodded and handed over a glass bottle marked with an air sigil. "May the lord watch over you!"

Ning Xiuyuan accepted the glass bottle and asked curiously, "How do I use it?"

"This quantity of Transcendent characteristic is very small. Simply consume it directly."

"Here?"

"Of course. Transcendent characteristics must never be allowed to enter civilian hands. Every user of a Transcendent characteristic must be recorded."

Ning Xiuyuan nodded. He raised the glass bottle and examined it carefully.

The bottle was three inches tall and made of cloudy glass. Inside were roughly three milliliters of pale red, turbid liquid, rolling and swaying.

This was considered a very small amount?

Then wouldn't the Bird-beaked Monster's Transcendent characteristic in my possession be even less?

Uh, why was I suddenly feeling a little regretful?

Forget it. A smaller amount at least guarantees safety.

With that thought, Ning Xiuyuan raised the glass bottle to his lips, tipped back his head, and drank it in one gulp.