Advancement in Progress

Without much hesitation, Kronos took Roel back to his Manor.

There are indeed some Beyonder in the Argel Family who are either old or seriously injured. These individuals have made significant contributions to the Argel Family, and the family will naturally continue to take care of them.

Kronos didn't consult Marquis Argel about such a trivial matter. After obtaining approval for 2-081, he took Roel to find someone to conduct the experiment himself.

After Kronos explained the purpose of the experiment, several people wanted to try it.

For them, their Beyonder Ability are indeed no longer of much use, especially since there are quite a few other Pathway to acquire them, so losing one or two wouldn't be a big deal.

Under the guidance of Kronos and Roel, the first "volunteer" got the hang of it smoothly.

Use 2-081 to imitate the abilities of others. After successfully imitating them, activate Parasitic Bone and experiment to see if it can counteract the negative effects.

Kronos and Roel did a pretty good job with this plan.

But plans really can't keep up with changes.

2-081 is not so easy to use either.

While it is designed to help users understand the Beyonder Ability of their opponents, the basics are still very important.

This item could unleash tremendous power whether it was in Isengard's or Kronos's hands, because their Sequence were well-matched, they already knew a great deal, and it would be easier for them to imitate it.

However, for those Beyonder through other Pathway, it will be much more difficult to imitate their success.

Furthermore, this 2-018 cannot be used for extended periods, otherwise the negative effects would render the user an idiot. So, after working on it for over two hours, they failed even once.

Roel went from being enthusiastic at first to feeling nothing at the end; he just waited.

As Twilight approached, after a period of rest, the "volunteer" put on 2-018 again and attempted Simulation.

After experiencing so many failures, he has learned a lot from his experiences.

So, with that foundation laid, they succeeded this time.

In the instant of success, he unleashed the Wind Blade skill he had imitated, and incidentally activated the Parasitic Bone in his hand.

He easily stole the concept of distance, taking a single step and covering a distance of a hundred meters.

Seeing that he had finally succeeded, Kronos and Roel surrounded him, looking at him with eyes that yearned for knowledge.

This person knew what they wanted to know, and without keeping them in suspense, said directly, "It's a success. The Parasitic Bone didn't steal my original Beyonder Ability. I chose to let it steal the Wind Blade, and it seems that was successful."

Roel was overjoyed, but Kronos remained calm, thanking the volunteer a few times before letting him leave.

"I really have to thank you and your teacher this time. If it weren't for you, this Beyonder Item of mine would have been nothing but decoration," Kronos said to Roel.

Roel quickly waved his hand and said, "What are you saying? It's clearly my lack of skill that caused such a serious negative effect when I crafted this Beyonder Item."

"Boss, you didn't blame me. Luckily, my teacher was able to help make up for the negative effect this time, otherwise I would have felt guilty to death."

Kronos looked at Roel and tentatively asked, "Is your teacher Church of Steam and Machinery Member?"

After saying that, he immediately added, "I'm not trying to find out anything, it's just that our family's relationship with the Church of Steam and Machinery is quite delicate, so we want to plan ahead."

Roel smiled and said, "I don't know either. The teacher I had when I was little was very mysterious. We never met. I just had a way to contact him."

"But don't worry, Boss. I only told the teacher about your Pathway; I didn't reveal any more Information, and he didn't ask any questions. It shouldn't have revealed any more Information."

Kronos nodded without saying a word.

It was just a Sequence 5 Beyonder Item. Although it had Demigod- level characteristics, its importance was only so-so. It wasn't really something that the Church of Steam and Machinery would care too much about, so Kronos wasn't too worried about it.

After the experiment was completed, Kronos personally arranged accommodation for Roel.

At dinner, the Marquis Argel said to Kronos, "Come with me to see your Grandfather tomorrow."

Kronos, of course, knew the main purpose of those words, so he nodded.

The atmosphere at dinner that day was rather somber; the family of four ate in silence.

Everyone knew that if Kronos went this time, he would advance to Sequence 5, and even Kronos mother and Younger Sister had known about his plans for the past month.

After Kronos advances to Sequence 5, he will once again set sail alone to hone his skills.

After enjoying such a warm month, everyone was reluctant to leave this kind of life behind.

But everyone also knows that Kronos has much more to go through and cannot stop here.

Early the next morning, Kronos left the Manor with Marquis Argel and headed to the ancestral home of the Argel Family.

To maintain the environment for the Advancement Ritual, the ancestral home is located in the countryside far from the Conston City, and the Argel Family has repeatedly used its influence to affect Conston City's expansion plans.

As industrialization was rapidly advanced, the status of Conston City rose higher and higher, and countless expansion plans were altered under the influence of the Argel Family.

Although this ancestral home is far from Conston City, who can guarantee that after several expansions, it won't actually enter the affected area?

The carriage ride took more than five hours, and by the time the two arrived at their ancestral home, it was already afternoon.

Because the Marquis Argel had notified the people here in advance by Telegraph, when they arrived, there was no one else in the ancestral house except for the Old Man in the Church.

Marquis Argel led Kronos to the Church first, as paying respects to his grandfather was of course the most important thing.

"Grandpa, it's been a long time." Kronos hugged the Old Man first.

The two had indeed not seen each other for two years. After all, there was still some distance between Backlund and the Sonia Sea. In previous years, Kronos was still under Speech-Ban Period and it was not convenient for him to go out alone. Therefore, Marquis Argel could not return alone when he did not have the time.

"Good, Kronos has grown so much! He's almost Sequence 5 now, which means he'll be in the same Sequence as me and your father. You've really made something of yourself!" The Old Man looked at Kronos and couldn't stop smiling.

Kronos's excellence is one aspect, but another is the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren; grandfathers are generally more affectionate towards their grandchildren.

Since the Advancement Ritual wouldn't begin until the evening anyway, the three of them chatted idly in the Church.

Although it was just casual conversation, all three of them spoke with great tact and discretion.

The three of them never discussed anything about family plans, Kronos's insights into skills, or their plans to set sail.

Although the God of Steam and Machinery, being True God, has a very low chance of eavesdropping on their conversation, True God gaze is always present here. Who knows if he might know?

If they then pass this Information on to their subordinates, wouldn't that just be asking for trouble for the Argel Family?

They chatted about everyday things until it got dark.

The Old Man said to Marquis Argel, "Go and fetch the Potion; time is almost up."

Marquis Argel nodded and left the Church.

It wasn't because his grandson was there that he made his son do the work; the main reason was that Kronos really didn't know much about this ancestral home, and if he went there, he wouldn't find anything.

Not long after, Marquis Argel brought back a bottle of Potion and handed it to Kronos.

After taking the Potion, Kronos began to examine it.

This Potion has a bit of Star Sand feel to it; although it's a pale blue liquid, it has a granular texture.

As Kronos was examining the Potion, the Old Man spoke up, "Kronos, you've already learned about the things you need to pay attention to regarding this promotion, haven't you?"

Kronos naturally knew that the Old Man was referring to the starry sky, something Marquis Argel had discussed with him many times.

"Yes, Grandpa, Father has told me this many times, I know it."

The Old Man said worriedly, "You must take this matter to heart. Don't blame your father and me for nagging, but the terror of the starry sky is beyond our imagination."

"This isn't just our opinion; I've spoken with several bishops in various churches, and in their Record, the terrors of the starry sky are so profound that they cannot even be described to anyone."

"Many pioneers in our family died because of this. You have a bright future ahead of you, so don't ruin it for a moment of curiosity."

Kronos listened attentively, nodding occasionally to give the Old Man feedback. He was genuinely paying attention, but whether or not to follow his instructions depended on the situation.

The dangers in the starry sky are definitely beyond his current ability to handle, but if the Time Stone can protect him, then he can still take it easy during the Advancement Ritual.

Everyone else was afraid of being polluted by the starry sky, so they remained completely still during the Advancement Ritual.

However, if the Concealment of Time works, Kronos could definitely explore it further.

This will greatly help in developing the abilities of Astronomer.

Seeing so much positive feedback from his grandson, the Old Man was finally relieved.

After it had completely darkened, the Old Man said to Kronos, "Go on, the two of us will stay outside and watch over you."

Although Kronos didn't know exactly where the Storeroom in the ancestral home was, he did know where the Advancement Ritual was held.

Lying in bed, gazing at the starry sky, Kronos still felt a surge of excitement.

After calming himself down, Kronos opened the Potion and drank it all in one gulp.

Unlike previous Potion, this Potion didn't have any particularly unpleasant taste; it tasted just like a bottle of ordinary water.

After drinking the Potion, Kronos lay quietly beneath the starry sky, gazing directly at the heavens before him.

This Potion didn't have any strange smells, nor did it give Kronos any unusual experiences. Instead, it gradually drew Kronos's entire attention to the starry sky.

Kronos became completely absorbed in the starry sky before him, and gradually became lost in thought.

When he regained consciousness, his Consciousness was already in the starry sky.

Kronos was surrounded by starlight, and stars could be seen in the distance.

Kronos knew that this was the state the Advancement Ritual would lead him to.

When it comes to the Advancement Ritual for Sequence 5, the Hermit Pathway is really the simplest. Even without prior preparation, you can find a suitable location to complete it by going deep into the mountains and forests.

If it were at sea, it would be really simple; there wouldn't be a single ray of light on the surface of the sea at night.

Moreover, the Advancement Ritual also provides an opportunity to observe Astrology.

If it weren't for the Outer Deity occupying the stars, the Astronomer's Advancement Ritual would practically be a perk.

After sensing it for a moment, Kronos slowly realized that the ring of starlight surrounding him was what was protecting him.

With this ring of starlight, external pollution cannot invade, so people are safe.

However, if you want to be protected by starlight, you can't move at all; you can't even turn around, let alone wander through the starry sky.

The reason why so many Astronomer fail to advance in their careers is because they observe the same starry sky from the same perspective, making it difficult to discover anything significant.

Kronos wanted to move, but first he needed to make sure the Time Stone could protect him.

His current state is not that his true body has entered the starry sky; rather, a portion of his Consciousness has been pulled into the starry sky by the Potion and the Ritual. Therefore, he is not sure whether the Concealment of Time can follow.

After sensing the state of the Time Stone in his Consciousness, Kronos was pleasantly surprised to obtain the result.

The Time Stone was unable to follow his Consciousness to the stars because the physical Time Stone was contained within Kronos's body and could not detach from it.

However, the meditative form of the Time Stone that Kronos created earlier existed within Consciousness.

This meditative body became increasingly real with each day of Kronos's meditation, residing within Kronos's Consciousness like a real Time Stone.

This meditative body itself doesn't possess any special abilities, but it can communicate with the real Time Stone within the physical body.

Therefore, through this meditative body, the power of the Time Stone can still radiate to Kronos's Consciousness.

Therefore, the Concealment of Time has not disappeared; it continues to protect Kronos's Consciousness as always.

Having reached this conclusion, Kronos gritted his teeth and made a decision.

Kronos struggled violently, trying to break free from the protection of the starlight.

The starlight is merely a layer of protection provided by the Potion to its user. When the user struggles violently, a warning will be issued, reminding the user that the protective effect will be lost if they break free from the starlight's range.

After the user ignores the warning three times, the starlight will automatically dissipate, and the protection effect will naturally disappear.

So after Kronos ignored him three times, the starlight faded, and Kronos was "free".

After breaking free from the starlight, Kronos looked around, observing the surrounding starry sky.

Kronos is not directly situated among the various celestial bodies; his location is more like a space higher than the continents and closer to the starry sky.

Here, he can observe the various celestial bodies more directly.

The Brown Star (Saturn), the Orange Star (Jupiter), the Red Star (Mars), Venus, the Blue Star (Mercury), and the Moon all shine brightly in the sky.

This is the most direct Astrology, but Kronos knew that these stars each represented their respective chief gods, and it wasn't so easy to draw upon their power.

What Kronos wants to do now is to try to find familiar Astrology among these stars and use them as a means to achieve his goals.

In his previous life, Kronos studied chemistry and also did some research in physics, but he only studied basic chemistry and basic physics.

Even if I had some background in astrochemistry and astrophysics, this major doesn't really fit in.

The Paragon Pathway might still be able to use this knowledge, but the gap between mysticism and physics is indeed quite large.

At this moment, Kronos truly wished he had studied these things before.

Astrology is something that our Huaxia ancestors studied extensively.

They didn't even mention the three most prestigious enclosures: Purple Forbidden Enclosure, Supreme Palace Enclosure, and Heavenly Market Enclosure.

Furthermore, the four symbols of the Azure Dragon of the East), White Tiger of the West), Vermilion Bird of the South), and Black Tortoise of the North) were excluded.

Even the Twenty-Eight Mansions might be invincible in this world. If Kronos were to research one or two of them, they might even have a chance to go toe-to-toe with Demigod in Sequence 5.