To Joey, the account above could only be described as utter fantasy. The flood of information left him frozen on the spot.
"This is still Blue Star. I never traveled to another world at all!"
When he tried to read more of the records, a stabbing pain struck him. Maddened whispers flooded his mind, and then his consciousness was pulled back into the ancient palace.
In 1368, the supernatural invaded, and crimson descended from the sky. The holy war lasted an entire epoch, ultimately bringing about the extinction of Blue Star's civilization. The world now existed in the Third Epoch.
As for the deeper information, Joey suspected he would only be able to see it once he grew stronger.
This palace was the final legacy of Blue Star's civilization. After an entire epoch, no one on this planet remembered that a civilization called Huaxia had once existed, resisting the Outer Deities until the very moment the epoch collapsed.
"No wonder I could never gain a god's favor through sacrifices."
The inscriptions on the stone pillar explained everything.
Joey calmly accepted reality, and his desire to go back faded considerably.
Even at a time like this, he couldn't resist mocking those world-hopping protagonists in the novels back home. They had already become all-powerful in another world, yet still wanted to return to their old one to work twelve-hour days or slave away around the clock. Were they out of their damn minds?
He only complained about not having Wi-Fi now and then. He had never felt particularly strongly about going back.
Did you think I watched three installments of Harry Potter for nothing?
"My new life starts here!"
As his thoughts shifted, the collapsed ruins began to crumble away.
"Rest in peace, all of you. I'll rekindle the blaze that will revive Huaxia's civilization."
As his words fell, cracks spread across the brilliant golden plaque. The words "Southern Heavenly Gate" turned into a streak of golden light and entered Joey's body.
An instant later, he was stunned to find himself back in the cave, completely unharmed. Only the unconscious Katrin remained. With no time to think, he hoisted her onto his back and ran outside.
Along the way, the ores that had glowed when he arrived had become dull and lifeless. They crumbled like dust at the slightest touch. Only after leaving the cave did he discover that it wasn't just the cave: the mutated plants and animals within a hundred meters had all fallen silent and dead.
That sacrifice drained a terrifying amount of energy.
He set Katrin down and checked her breathing. She was fine, merely unconscious.
He turned his palm over, and a small coin appeared. With a flick of his finger, the coin spun into the air, then landed heads up.
"It's a lucky day."
Joey was now a Beyonder, a Sequence 9 Fortune Teller. Unlike everyone else, however, he offered sacrifices not to a god, but to himself.
By steadying his breathing and concentrating, he could instantly send his consciousness into the ruins of the Heavenly Court. Above the towering pillar lay a mist-shrouded world, connected to the heavens above and the endless black Chaos Sea below.
At the center of the Gray Fog stood an enormous round table surrounded by twelve chairs, each bearing the image of an animal. Beyond the round table stood a magnificent golden dragon throne. All of these had taken shape according to Joey's thoughts.
Though he didn't want to admit it, they had indeed been influenced by certain webnovels from his previous life.
How could one person's strength possibly be enough?
For now, though, he first had to find a way to explain what had happened to Keen.
Katrin's eyelids trembled, and she slowly woke. A flicker of confusion passed through her eyes before she sprang to her feet and pressed the dark muzzle of a gun against Joey's head.
"Ma'am, I saved you. This is very rude."
Joey spread his hands, showing his innocence.
"You?"
Katrin surveyed their surroundings. Only after finding no sign of danger did she let out a long sigh of relief.
Seeing her put away her weapon, Joey asked curiously, "Where were you hiding that gun?"
He wasn't a lecher, but while carrying Katrin on his back, he had inevitably touched a few places he shouldn't have. He hadn't noticed anywhere on her body where she could hide something.
His gaze involuntarily drifted toward Katrin's deep cleavage. Could it have been there?
Katrin shot him an irritated look, then turned her gaze toward the collapsing Carson Mine.
"What happened here? Where's Keen?"
Joey spread his hands, indicating that he didn't know either. Apparently, something had gone wrong with the ritual, the suppression had failed, and he had fled with Katrin on his back.
Their eyes met, and Katrin looked at him suspiciously. "You're not lying to me?"
"Ma'am, do you really think I could have dealt with Keen single-handedly and then escaped with you?"
Katrin had to admit he had a point. Even she, a Transcendent, had been helpless in that situation, let alone an ordinary person.
Had something gone wrong while Keen was sacrificing to the evil god? Was he alive or dead now? Or had he already escaped?
There was something very strange about this incident, and she had to report it to her superiors immediately. With no inclination to keep questioning Joey, she asked about a few details and hurried away.
By the time Joey returned home, a full day and night had passed.
Clive's paper figure circled Joey once, then spoke with a chuckle.
"Joey, my boy, it looks like you succeeded."
Although Old Tony was now bedridden and paralyzed, he had once been a Transcendent. He could sense the change in Joey, but the only explanation he could think of was that Joey had obtained a Potion formula.
"Dad, I'm hungry!"
Joey offered no explanation. It would only frighten him.
"Where's Alisa?"
"In the basement!"
There were only two pieces of dry bread in the kitchen. He chewed on them as he headed toward the basement. The little paper figure didn't follow him; the corners of its colored-pencil mouth lifted into a gratified smile.
"Alisa! Where are you?"
Joey was now desperate to learn the Potion formula for the next Sequence.
Alisa turned her head from her work, her little face covered in dirt. At the sight of Joey, she ran over happily.
"Joey, look!"
She pointed behind her at the lush, thriving crops.
He hadn't been away for long, yet seeds planted only recently had already sprouted. Joey drew in a sharp breath, trying hard to calm himself.
He reached out to stroke them as though caressing a priceless treasure. If these seeds could be successfully cultivated, it would be an extraordinary blessing for all of Senegal.
Then no one would go hungry anymore, nor would anyone have to risk their life killing Night Demons.
"Alisa, you're amazing."
Alisa lifted her chin, her face filled with pride.
"The first round of experiments was a success. Once they produce their first batch of seeds, we can begin the second round."
"Huh?" Joey looked puzzled.
Alisa shot Joey a pointed look with her lovely eyes. "You're so dumb. I mean transplanting them into the black soil!"
"Oh, so that's it." Joey smiled sheepishly and took two steps forward.
"Alisa, what's the next Sequence after Fortune Teller?"