Book Slave
Seeing Li Bieli in this state, Ma Feifei's eyes also showed a look of pity.
I remember the first time I met Li Bieli, he was a shy and innocent young man. At that time, he was overjoyed because he had figured out a technique for the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms from "Yang Chengzhi's Revenge Chronicle". He was always a little embarrassed when faced with the gazes of other book lovers in the Bookstore. His tender face would turn red, and his hands would unconsciously clutch the hem of his clothes, not daring to make eye contact with others.
But now, Jiang Bieli that Ma Feifei knew back then; he has lost his youthful vigor, his shy smile, and his bewildered behavior.
Some had the deathly aura of old age, faces devoid of any will to live, and withered, pale bodies.
"Sigh, I'm afraid he's already resigned to death." Ma Feifei sighed softly.
Ma Feifei knew very well that the only reason Li Bieli had been able to hold on until now was because of his obsession with avenging his mother. If it weren't for this obsession, he might have given up the struggle long ago and chosen to stay with his mother.
Although Ma Feifei didn't understand why Li Bieli had such a deep obsession, firmly believing that her mother had been framed and killed, he felt that he could understand Li Bieli's feelings.
Looking at Li Bieli in the arena, Ma Feifei hesitated for a moment, but still chose to enter his mind.
"Is there any way to save him?" Ma Feifei asked the system.
"Two options: the Yellow Quality book 'Diamond Sutra' already available in the Bookstore, and the most suitable book not yet available is the Legendary-grade- quality book 'The Big Dipper Sutra'," the system replied.
"The Diamond Sutra is enough?" Ma Feifei was a little doubtful. The book had been in the Bookstore so long, and Li Bieli had been there for more than two months. Logically, he should have read the Diamond Sutra; but so far, Ma Feifei had not seen Li Bieli trigger the effects of the Diamond Sutra.
'Ding~ Congratulations, host, for triggering the original quest - Book Slave (Diamond Sutra)'
'Task Details: Please personally inscribe the contents of the Diamond Sutra onto Li Bieli's body using Ballpoint Pen. After completion, the Yellow Quality Diamond Sutra will merge with Li Bieli, transforming him into Carrying Book Slave.'
'Quest Reward: One Book Slave Pagoda.'
"Book Slave?" After hearing the system's explanation, Ma Feifei couldn't help but ask, "What does 'Book Slave' mean?"
' Book Slave: Also known as Carrying Book Slave, a book of Yellow Quality or higher can find a carrier, have its name tattooed on its body, and carry the book on its back, never to be separated for eternity. Once the carrier and the book become one, the book will not burn, Book Slave will never perish.'
Ma Feifei listened to the system's explanation with a shocked expression. He had just casually asked how to save people, and the system had given him such explosive information, leaving Ma Feifei somewhat at a loss.
"Carrying Book Slave don't burn the books, Book Slave don't perish, wouldn't they be immortal?" Ma Feifei exclaimed in surprise.
How long can books survive? In Ma Feifei's previous world, ordinary books could last for thousands of years if the Zhang Shao of decent quality and the storage was good. In this other world, they easily last for tens of thousands of years. Not to mention the books in the Mysterious Bookstore, as long as they don't encounter the spontaneous combustion situation like before, they can definitely survive forever.
In other words, once you become Carrying Book Slave, you are granted immortality.
"Judging from the name, I thought it would be terrible, but the treatment is so good?" Ma Feifei was a little incredulous. If it were really like this, he himself would want to become Carrying Book Slave. Memorize a book and then you'll live forever. Why bother with cultivation? As long as you protect the book, what does it matter if you don't have cultivation? Anyway, you can't be killed.
Next, the system's answer made Ma Feifei realize that not only was his name terrible, it was truly terrible!
"To become Book Slave requires shouldering the responsibility of promoting the Mysterious Bookstore: carrying thousands of kilograms of books, traveling thousands of miles, day and night without rest; holding the Book Slave Pagoda, spreading the Bookstore's fame."
After hearing the system's answer, Ma Feifei fell completely silent.
According to the system's explanation, once you become Book Slave, you will lose your freedom. You will have to carry tens of thousands of kilograms of books on your back and walk tens of thousands of miles without a single day of rest. You will become a slave to the Mysterious Bookstore and promote its rise.
The explanation alone sent chills down his spine. Imagine someone carrying a book on their back for eternity, walking and walking, without a single day of rest, without freedom, unable to do what they want; it would be like a walking corpse, devoid of even their own thoughts. Of course, perhaps it would be better to be without thoughts altogether?
Thinking of this, Ma Feifei couldn't help but shudder.
"This is too much! Does becoming Book Slave mean you'll be stuck like this forever?" Ma Feifei couldn't help but ask the system.
Ma Feifei felt that if it were him, he would rather die than accept becoming Book Slave; compared to death, becoming a walking corpse Book Slave was far more terrifying.
"After obtaining the Eternal grade- quality book 'The Tianshu,' the host can choose whether to release the Book Slave," the system replied.
Hearing this, Ma Feifei breathed a sigh of relief. As long as there was a solution, that was fine. Otherwise, if Li Bieli were to be Book Slave for eternity, it would be better to just let him die; after all, living would only bring suffering.
After asking for a solution, Ma Feifei withdrew from his mind and looked at the arena. He found that Li Bieli had changed into another black robe, was still masked, and was standing there alone, waiting for the next match.
The audience in the surrounding stands fell silent, staring at Li Bieli in quiet contemplation, making the vast arena seem somewhat desolate.
"The game continues!" came the referee's whistle.
Liu Ying walked from the preparation area to the competition venue.
"Are you Brother Bieli?" Liu Ying looked at Li Bieli across from her, biting her lower lip, and whispered.
Li Bieli paused for a moment, looked at Liu Ying, and nodded gently.
They are all members of the 'Twelve Kings' family and have also participated in the 'Twelve Kings' resource competition, so it is perfectly normal for them to have each other's missions.
However, Li Bieli was still somewhat surprised that Liu Ying could recognize him from Li Bieli's aged face.
Seeing Li Bieli nod, Liu Ying's expression became even more distressed, and her eyes even welled up with tears.
"Aunt Yao would be very sad if she saw you like this."
"Buzz~"
Upon hearing Liu Ying mention her mother, Li Bieli's mind went blank for a moment, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
"Give up on revenge, okay? Just live a good life and stop torturing yourself." Liu Ying's voice choked with emotion, and her eyes reddened.
Liu Ying didn't know that Li Bieli's condition was due to the Moon Stone. She only knew that Li Bieli had knelt in the Mysterious Bookstore for three whole days, begging the shopkeeper to teach him a quick way to cultivate. Liu Ying believed that Li Bieli's current state was due to a deal he made with the Mysterious Bookstore in order to seek revenge, and that this deal had caused Li Bieli to become like this.
Li Bieli lowered her head in silence, her withered hands trembling slightly.
Gradually, his hands regained their composure. Li Bieli raised his head, looked at Liu Ying, and said calmly, "Let's have the match."
Although Li Bieli's tone was calm, Liu Ying sensed his determination. Knowing that her attempts to persuade him were futile, Liu Ying gripped the Poké Ball in her hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally put it into her storage bag. She then said to the referee, "I concede."