Workshop (Thanks to Chen Zui, the Alliance Leader)

The birth of every Chosen One is predicated on a blessing bestowed by a Supreme Goodness.

The essence, scattered from the vast Time Tapestry woven from infinite phenomena, falls into the soul, responding to the Chosen One's cravings and prayers, and brings forth power granted by the world.

Although there is no rule stating that one cannot receive the blessing of another Supreme Goodness after obtaining one, the vast majority of Chosen Ones choose to delve deeply into a single path of Supreme Goodness, avoiding excessive contact with other blessings unless absolutely necessary.

Everyone has a limit to their capacity.

For most people, even those specializing in a single path, it is difficult to bear multiple blessings. Once the number of blessings exceeds one's own capacity, the gradually spiraling out-of-control blessings will shatter the overburdened soul, severely damage the consciousness, and even cause physical mutation.

What follows is the "Sin Corruption," a phenomenon that makes Chosen Ones turn pale at the mere mention of it.

If one is lucky, they might be saved; after stripping away the blessings, they might end up a cripple or a vegetable. If one is unlucky and is sensed or noticed by Evil Folly outside the Supreme Goodnesses, the result is often a life worse than death.

To avoid this situation, a Secret Rite known as the [Matrix] was born.

After generations of exploration and experimentation, the Chosen Ones created soul imprints for the Twelve Supreme Goodnesses—they can enhance the soul's capacity and guide the Chosen One to grow in a predetermined direction during advancement, preventing them from losing control.

It is like a guide and a map for the path of Supreme Goodness.

At the same time, it serves as armor and protection for the soul, capable of resisting the erosion and pollution of other Evil Folly. Furthermore, higher-level matrices even contain precepts and oaths, granting abilities that ordinary Chosen Ones do not possess.

Just like the [Minerva] on Wen Wen, which Ji Jue had once seen.

Named after the goddess of war from before the Calamity Era, it is a top-tier matrix of the Wasteland Ruins lineage. It not only brings Wen Wen's crystallization ability to its absolute limit but also adds erosion, defense, and lethality that other matrices cannot compare to. In the end, it can even overlay reality to create a "Realm of Encirclement" akin to an alien world!

"Hmm, sounds like a job template specifically made for twelve enhancement directions. By leveling up step-by-step and gradually lighting up prescribed skills, you avoid accidentally ruining your character build, right?"

Ji Jue felt he understood. Not just a little, but a lot—he had fully grasped it.

"...Although that's roughly it, why does it sound so cheap when you put it that way?"

Ye Chun's eye twitched. She didn't dwell on it too much and continued along the topic: "From the moment of awakening, those who become Chosen Ones will grow step by step.

They pass through four realms—Summoning, Metamorphosis, Rebirth, and Transcendence—and after crossing twelve ranks, they reach the Celestial Realm, which is unreachable for most Chosen Ones in their entire lives.

To ordinary people, a Chosen One who has stepped into that realm is probably no different from a god.

However, that has nothing to do with you. As a level 1 blank-slate newbie, you'd better worry about your own matrix. Otherwise, even if a Supreme Goodness bestows another blessing, you won't be able to hold onto it."

She gloated: "The matrix inherited from your Aunt is called [Mo Xie], one of the top-tier matrices in the Embers domain. Its greatest strength is the enhancement of Alchemy, but, unfortunately... it is restricted to females.

Why don't you consider taking a trip to the Southeast Islands? The gender reassignment services there seem to be quite well-developed."

"It's even gender-restricted?" Ji Jue was shocked. He couldn't help but feel a chill, his tears almost falling. Why would a good matrix have to specify gender?

Such a self-righteous matrix, how disappointing!

No, I have to write a post on Little Red Book...

"It's not just gender. The stronger the matrix, the more restrictions there are. Some restrict the age of implantation or personality; some require simultaneous surgery to remove eyeballs or limbs; and others will even forcibly change one's personality or simply erase the user's emotions."

Ye Chun shook her head: "Simply restricting gender is basically the least restrictive category."

In the silence, Ji Jue did not speak.

For a moment, he wanted to crack a joke, but he couldn't help but think of Wen Wen... and those indifferent eyes, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, after she expanded her Realm of Encirclement.

He wanted to say something lighthearted, but his voice turned dry, and even he himself was stunned: "Senior, I heard from a bastard before that the Wasteland Ruins Path is the path that least requires a human heart.

Is what he said true?"

"Hmm, there's some truth to it. After all, the Wasteland Ruins represent matter, and matter is likely the thing that cares the least about so-called emotions.

However, it's not that absolute."

To an observer, Chosen Ones will, to varying degrees, exhibit certain characteristics based on the path of Supreme Goodness they have chosen. No, perhaps it is precisely because they possess these characteristics that they are able to receive the blessings of the Supreme Goodness.

For example, Chosen Ones of the Wasteland Ruins Path are stubborn, cold on the outside and cold on the inside, while those of the Supreme Goodness that governs the soul, the Chosen Ones of Ascension, are so full of emotion that they seem neurotic.

Chosen Ones of the White Deer are often laid-back and unruly, while to the Chosen Ones of the Celestial Origin, the White Deer Path followers seem to have no persistence, never listen to advice, never keep their promises, and lack all manners and upbringing.

Celestial Origin Chosen Ones tend to follow rules and act in a disciplined manner, while White Deer Chosen Ones think they are control freaks who hide traps in every punctuation mark of their sentences and only offer predatory contracts.

The Horde's Chosen Ones are all homicidal maniacs who frequently cause malicious incidents; Heart Pivot's Chosen Ones are all old schemers with deep, hidden motives; Mirror's Chosen Ones are compulsive liars who love to scam; Ether's Chosen Ones love to pry into privacy and would risk their lives for gossip; Entropy's Chosen Ones have explosive tempers and go off at the slightest provocation; Embers' Chosen Ones are all tech-obsessed maniacs, each one more insane than the last, capable of creating deranged things like 'Onii-chan Asobo' if you aren't careful...

There is no shortage of opposition and conflict between Chosen Ones of different paths, and they are filled with the aforementioned stereotypes and prejudices. In fact, most of these...

Are actually true!

Unfortunately, it is not prejudice, but fact.

Although the forest is large and there will always be some anomalies, most of the time, Chosen Ones complement the Supreme Goodness they belong to.

"Just like you—"

Ye Chun's finger pointed at the bewildered Ji Jue: "Aren't you the same?"

"Ah? I'm not tech-obsessed to that degree!"

"Are you sure? Having followed your Aunt at Tianmen University for so many years, I've seen people study until they collapse to get certifications, and I've seen people bleed their hearts out trying to produce results, but you are the only one who is a Roll Dog and enjoys it so much. Sometimes I find it annoying and wish you'd just roll yourself to death and get out, but if I don't take you to eat, you'd starve to death in the lab."

"I'm forced by life, okay?" Ji Jue replied decisively: "If I were like those young masters who don't have to worry about food or drink every day, why would I roll so hard? I have no choice!"

"You already have a choice, Ji Jue."

Ye Chun looked at him, her expression unreadable, and sighed softly, "You are already a Chosen One, and you awakened autonomously. Aren't there plenty of things that are simpler, more convenient, and more profitable than being an alchemist?

Why haven't you thought about finding another job?"

Ji Jue was left speechless.

Although he could claim he was shy and had grown accustomed to being with Professor Ye—someone he trusted—there was no denying that no matter how difficult things got in the project group or how troublesome it was to keep up with the progress, he enjoyed every moment of it.

The blessing bestowed by the Embers had never been in vain.

Compared to dominating others, doing whatever he pleased, or engaging in violence, this was the life he loved most.

If he were truly forced to rely on his own abilities to earn a fortune and spend the rest of his days idling away in leisure, he would feel he had betrayed his own time and life.

He wanted to live more meaningfully. Even if he couldn't become a scholar who led industrial revolutions or an unparalleled grandmaster of alchemy, wasn't it a good thing to be able to change more people's lives with his own creations?

After a brief moment of shock, he calmly accepted the reality.

It was quite good.

A mad scientist, then? No, that wasn't quite right; what he was doing was already beyond science. What would that make him? A mad mage? Regardless, as long as he was still human, it was fine.

Snap.

Crisp footsteps echoed from the staircase.

"Are you finished talking?"

Professor Ye walked down from upstairs, carrying a briefcase that looked as if it were covered with dust.

"Ah, just about. The rest of the common knowledge can be learned from books."

Ye Chun sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I finally understand why you told me, Aunt, that even if I became a Chosen One, I would regret it sooner or later."

"Those who overthink will always be hesitant, and those with too many choices will fall into the trap of indecision. This isn't your problem; you're just not suited for it. Forcing yourself is never a good thing."

Professor Ye beckoned to Ji Jue alone. "Follow me."

Ji Jue stood up to follow, but Ye Chun remained on the sofa, continuing to eat her potato chips. She merely waved her hand dismissively and went back to watching her variety show.

It was as if she were restraining herself from looking back.

"Don't worry about her. She is different from you. The research and exploration that you find sweet as honey are, to her, far too dull and tedious. You are not the same."

Professor Ye, walking in front, spoke without turning his head, as if he could guess exactly what Ji Jue was thinking. "You should worry about yourself instead, Ji Jue."

"Huh?"

Ji Jue's attention was pulled back, and he grew increasingly nervous.

The basement was unexpectedly spacious, completely different from the dark, candlelit room Ji Jue had imagined, filled with goat skulls, strange specimens, and complex magic circles on the floor.

If he had to describe it... it was a full-blown machining workshop!

Ninety percent of the equipment inside was identical to the laboratories the school provided for the research project, and the specifications were far superior. Just the Dragon Gate Machining Center in the corner, produced by Cosmos Heavy Industries, made Ji Jue's eyes widen.

It was a model he had never seen before, yet it bore the logo of Cosmos Heavy Industries, as if it were a custom-made piece.

The equipment, over nine meters long, was taller than Ji Jue. Even placed in a factory building, it would have been enough to draw everyone's attention, yet here, it was relegated to the background.

The most striking feature was at the far end of the basement: a furnace door over two meters tall. Even from a distance, he could feel waves of heat, as if it were still running, day and night without pause.

And right in the center, on the workbench, stood a steel construct resembling the skeleton of a giant—it was a Powered Armor, its silhouette just beginning to take shape!

It hadn't been painted yet, bore no markings, and seemed unfinished, with intricate cables exposed between the devices on its chest and abdomen.

This was a dangerous weapon that should have been under tight security in the military, impossible to deploy to the battlefield without an order from the Military Department, yet it sat there, brazenly displayed before Ji Jue.

He couldn't help but swallow hard.

Oh no, I know too much. They aren't going to silence me, are they?

The absurd thought flashed through his mind and vanished. Professor Ye, walking ahead, seemed to sense it but couldn't even be bothered to glance back at him.

"A classified development contract for the Haizhou military. Are you interested?"

"Uh, no, no!"

Ji Jue shook his head frantically. But when he saw the exposed Harmonic Reducers on the armor's joints and the Phlogiston Power Furnace faintly visible between the chest and abdomen, he finally understood what kind of deadly project his paper on the application of a new planetary gear system had become entangled with.

No, the work of everyone in the entire Heavenly Gate research group was likely just playing a supporting role for the thing on the workbench.

"Come here," Professor Ye said. "Put your hand on it."

The old briefcase was opened on another table, revealing a delicate item resting on a fine velvet cushion. It looked exactly like the crystal ball that people loved to see in fantasy stories.

Wait...

Ji Jue rubbed his eyes and checked again.

It really was a crystal ball?!

Good news, it's getting classic!