Milking the Diviner

"Investment, investment, I like that way of saying it."

The "Diviner" looked at Lin Yu and smiled easily.

"You're right, the fact that you've 'survived' proves that you have 'value'—value that I should value."

"So... what kind of 'investment' do you want from me?"

Lin Yu shook his head.

"I don't need any extra benefits... just that you've noticed me is enough."

"The 'Marauders,' including your men, are short-staffed right now, aren't they?"

Lin Yu said calmly.

The Diviner laughed, "The less you care about 'immediate benefits,' the more I realize... you're quite 'ambitious.'"

Lin Yu gently tilted his head, water droplets dripping from the ends of his hair. "Then will you reject me because of my 'ambition'? Ambition and loyalty are, in a sense, opposites."

The Diviner shook the stem of his long pipe. "Of course not. I like ambitious people—I don't need your loyalty. I don't select subordinates based on loyalty."

"Do you think that Celestial King, Ling Xian, and A'yu... became my trusted subordinates because of 'loyalty'?"

"However, if you're too strong, I'll still be wary of you."

Lin Yu said softly, "That's still a long way off... Besides, I don't think I'll catch up with you. You're getting 'stronger' too, aren't you?"

"It seems far, but it's not actually that far. You are indeed at 'Tier 1' now, but for someone like you... the 'Tier 3' Trial should be easy to obtain, and crafting the [Exclusive item] should be a piece of cake—after that, your progress will only get faster and faster," the Diviner said casually. "I even think that after you advance to 'Tier 3,' you'll probably advance to 'Tier 4' very quickly."

Lin Yu looked at the Diviner and asked directly, "Why?"

You'll find out then... it won't be long anyway.

The Diviner waved his hand and said...

Lin Yu pondered for a moment and said, "Won't it really be too long?"

"Of course, you'll definitely pass all your upcoming 'Rank Advancement Trial' on the first try," the Diviner said, taking a puff of his pipe. "After all, you've always had that potential... and you've certainly secured my 'investment'."

"If you're someone I value and invest in, and you still get stuck on the 'Rank Advancement Trial,' then my 'investment' would be utterly ridiculous."

As the Diviner spoke, he pulled out a blank "Long Banner" to Lin Yu's astonishment.

There used to be writing on the banner, but it's been covered up.

This one is yours.

Lin Yu was stunned.

"This is..."

"Don't worry, it's not the same stick I used, but it's a pair with it," the Diviner said casually. "You can just write something on it yourself."

"By the way, you still have 'Benevolent King's' [Item], right?" "Celestial King" reported to me that you left the [Item] with her, but it suddenly disappeared... That's why she concluded you were dead.

Lin Yu nodded. "Yes, I took them for 'combat' and 'survival'."

"Keep it for yourself. Since 'Benevolent King' isn't dead, these are of no use to me anymore, and they're not in 'Order's' hands anyway," the Diviner said casually. "These [Item] can indeed prevent you... from dying before you grow up."

Lin Yu nodded. "Thank you... So, I can't accept something for nothing. What do you need me to do next?"

The Diviner shrugged. "All you need to do now is get stronger—you've already done enough: reporting the 'Feng Shui Master's' location, taking the 'Benevolent King's' [Item]. I'm not one to be indiscriminate in rewards and punishments; this Long Banner is enough to reward what you've already accomplished."

"I will 'value' you as you say, and perhaps you really can become my 'confidant'... but for me right now, 'Tier 1' is not enough."

"You can be 'ambitious,' you can be less than 'loyal,' but... you have to be 'useful' enough."

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you just say that you would be wary of subordinates who are too 'powerful'?"

"Although I still don't think I can catch up with you."

The Diviner smiled and said, "Yes, but there's a long way to go between 'easy to use' and 'powerful'."

"Besides, although I may be 'afraid' of you... we will definitely not be in a strong competitive relationship in the future," the Diviner said calmly. "I think you will catch up with me because, rationally speaking and objectively speaking, the current 'path' has an end."

"Joining the 'Death game' and witnessing the existence of the Ten Realms does indeed give us the opportunity to 'transcend the mundane,' elevate our 'life level' and 'personal status,' and even become 'Deity' —but this still has an end."

"Currently, it seems that becoming Deity and wielding Authority has already reached a certain 'limit'."

"But as long as there is an 'upper limit'... it's like a race with a 'finish line' but no time limit. No matter when you start or how fast you go, ultimately, as long as you don't die and can reach that 'finish line' before death catches up with you, everything is equal."

Lin Yu said in a low voice, "Do you think I will Becoming a God?"

"Inevitable."

The Diviner answered without hesitation.

As he spoke, he stood up.

"So... Yayu, I'll be waiting for you at the finish line."

"Death, or Becoming a God —whichever fate leads you, I will await that day."

He turned and walked to the door, opening the door to the room.

"Brother Zhan, what did you guys say?"

A'yu's voice came from the doorway.

"I only gave her one [Item] -- you did hire a decent person," said A'yu.

"That's what the Diviner said."

A'yu poked her head out of the doorway and looked inside at Lin Yu, who was holding Long Banner.

"Wow, Yaya, Brother Zhan gave you all of this?!"

What did he say?

Lin Yu looked at A'yu and spoke.

He said he was afraid of me, and that he would watch me die.

A'yu blinked, somewhat surprised.

"Oh, oh... oh?"

The Diviner's words came through.

"I didn't say that. She's taking my words out of context... That's not what I originally said."

Ling Xian's laughter rang out. "After all, her 'Profession' is 'reporter'!"

Although Lin Yu swam to board the ship, now that he was on board, there was no way Lin Yu would need to swim to leave.

There are lifeboats on board.

The boat wasn't far from the coastline, so Lin Yu quickly returned to shore by speedboat.

This extra trip with the "Marauders" also brought Lin Yu an "unexpected gain".

He originally only intended to use the identity of "Yayu" to make his presence known and to find a way to protect "Benevolent King's" [Item] set.

Unexpectedly, this "Diviner" was actually willing to spend money, even giving me an extra [Item].

[Blank Dao Banner: A Dao banner capable of absorbing and storing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. When used, it helps the user manipulate this energy, and Formation can be drawn on its surface to enhance its functionality.]

Although the description of this [Item] is quite simple, and the functions recorded don't seem to have any strong mechanisms, only the most basic functions, this is definitely not some piece of junk that a "Diviner" would casually use to get rid of a "Tier 1" player.

Because this thing... it really should be a pair with the Long Banner he usually carries—or at least a "spare" one.

Lin Yu could sense that the "value" of this banner was too high.

As long as this [Blank Dao Banner] is taken out, it can absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth roughly equivalent to a high-grade Thunder Art every minute.

And... this even happens in the Real World.

Because Lin Yu was in the form of "Yayu" just now, he did not investigate the principle in detail.

However, whether this [Blank Dao Banner] can extract "spiritual energy of heaven and earth" from the Real World or World-Crossing Real World to extract spiritual energy of heaven and earth from the Prison Mountain Realm, it's all a bit too far-fetched.

Moreover, as always, Lin Yu has special synergies with almost all "energy storage" type [Item]. This [Blank Dao Banner] also seems to be able to be incorporated into the system centered around [Empty Bottle] and [Sage's Emblem].

In addition... due to Lin Yu's increasing proficiency in Formation and Daoist Arts, coupled with the existing [Item] system of the Prison Mountain Realm, such as the other [Myriad Laws Dao Banner]...

The "Diviner" may seem to have only given himself a [Blank Dao Banner], but in reality, he gave himself a core synergy [Item].

"Now our methods have expanded considerably..."

The only drawback is...

This Blank Dao Banner flag was, after all, given to me by a "Diviner".

Therefore, before Lin Yu officially uses it, he still needs to find someone to clear out any potential problems.

"It's a pity that it was obtained under the identity of a 'Yayu,' and Jian Cunyi could recognize most of them, otherwise it would have been perfect to have it appraised by a 'Feng Shui Master.'"

However, even if he couldn't have it appraised by Jian Cunyi, Lin Yu had other options.

This is, after all, Item from the "Prison Mountain Realm" system, and he knows quite a few Daoist Sect masters in the Prison Mountain Realm.

He even befriended "Wei Jian," the master craftsman who forged magical Magical Artifacts.

"We'll take it to Qin Siyu first, and then when we get to the Prison Mountain Realm, we'll have Wei Jian a look..."

"However, if I study it myself, I might be able to find out if there's a problem. After all, I'm now... quite 'skilled' in the Supernatural System of the Prison Mountain Realm..."

"Especially that 'Demon Ancestor Gantuo' over there—although he doesn't seem to be entirely from the Prison Mountain Realm, he is, after all, sealed within it... His consciousness might contain knowledge that could elevate my Supernatural System in the Prison Mountain Realm a higher level."