Chapter 65

After hearing this, Zhuochuan was not surprised. His mind quickly began to process the information. These three tasks did not seem impossible, and indeed, only a person with great courage would dare to undertake them.

However, he sensed a different meaning in these three tasks.

The first task prioritized personal interests. Throughout history, no other position has been as selfish as that of an emperor.

The second task was for the benefit of all. For an individual, there is nothing more just than saving all of humanity.

The third task was that of a complete observer. Regardless of the changes in civilization, one only needed to be a witness and a recorder.

Of these three tasks, the third seemed to require the least action and appeared the easiest to accomplish.

In reality, it was the most dangerous. The poem spoke of turning into a stone for five hundred years to wait for a lover from a past life, but this was only a metaphor. In fact, confining a person in a dark room with only water and food, and no other interaction, would drive most people mad within ten days.

Turning into a stone would likely be even worse. Stones have no sensory organs, and once one becomes a stone, there would be a long period of complete isolation from the outside world. To endure the unknown, long, and lonely days while waiting for the senses to return requires a courage that few possess.

"Among these, the third task is the most difficult, requiring the most courage. Similarly, if successful, the courage attribute of the soul should break through the most," Zhuochuan asked Dahei calmly.

"Indeed, Master, you have quickly grasped the key point. The third task does require the most courage. It seems simple, but ordinary people cannot complete it. Many reserve citizens have failed at this stage. According to my repeated calculations, this scenario is the most suitable for you to break through your courage attribute," Dahei flattered, deciding to always flatter his master to regain his trust after realizing it had significantly decreased.

"From what you say, others have experienced this scenario. Where did they experience it?" Zhuochuan picked up on more details.

"Oh, this is exactly what I wanted to tell you. This scenario can only be experienced in Hell City. There is a creature called a Succubus there, skilled in manipulating human hearts and creating scenarios indistinguishable from reality. However, the fees are very high. Reserve citizens can only enter the three major test scenarios she sets up for free during the soul appraisal stage of the citizenship exam, where the three attributes are tested."

In this new world, Zhuochuan often heard about gods and demons, which were not just superstitions and legends as in the modern world. These beings were real, and their existence was related to the emergence of soul power. However, they called themselves gods and demons, which were high titles they gave themselves. In human network knowledge and various definitions, they were collectively referred to as imaginary beings.

Those who called themselves gods were imaginary beings skilled in fulfilling human positive needs, while those who called themselves demons were skilled in fulfilling human negative needs. They maintained their existence and development by trading soul crystals with humans in exchange for fulfilling various human needs, or they would go into hibernation. Heaven City and Hell City were the concentrations of these two types of beings.

"Oh, how much are the fees?" Zhuochuan was only concerned about this practical point. He wondered if he would have to borrow again. The first time was easy, but if he hadn't repaid it and had no credit, borrowing a second time would be a stretch.

"The fees can be free or charged, depending on your choice," Dahei said with a chuckle.

"What does free mean? If there is a free option, why did you say the fees are high?"

"Free means that the participant must sign an agreement with the Succubus. If they die in the scenario, their soul will belong to the Succubus, who can dispose of it as she pleases. She can either crush it to absorb the soul power or use it as a character in future scenarios, erasing and reprogramming its memory each time. You might become a king or a pig. This is the price of the free option. By the way, Master, you have a connection with her," Dahei recalled something.

"What connection? This guy doesn't sound like a good character," Zhuochuan said, becoming curious. Hearing about his predecessor's background would be beneficial.

"You admitted that you can now absorb the soul power released by the dying, right? The true name of that soul skill is 'Soul Devouring.' You discovered it during the wisdom scenario set by the Succubus in the citizenship exam. When you killed a character who had passed the scenario, you noticed that the character's soul was crushed, releasing soul power, which was then absorbed. From this, you understood an incomplete version of Soul Devouring, which allows you to absorb the soul power of a soul as it dissipates, but you did not learn the complete method of actively crushing and devouring souls. This is because you are human and have subconscious moral and legal constraints, unlike her," Dahei explained, resolving one of Zhuochuan's previous doubts.

So, the origin of the Soul Devouring skill is like this. Zhuochuan sighed inwardly. His predecessor was indeed impressive. If he hadn't failed, he would have been the protagonist of an inspirational novel. The fact that he named the soul skill "Soul Devouring" matched the truth, not by coincidence, but because the process of its effect was like devouring other souls, albeit more gently, absorbing the soul power as it dissipated during the host's death.

Zhuochuan stopped his thoughts and asked, "What if there are fees?"

"If there are fees, it will ensure the safety of the participant's soul. They can return safely even if they fail in the scenario. However, the fees are very high, depending on the difficulty of the scenario. The more difficult the scenario, the higher the fees. The longer the time, the higher the fees. However, if many people participate together, the fees can be shared. After all, one person using a scenario is the same as two people using it."

"Then, what are the fees for the third breakthrough method you mentioned earlier?" Zhuochuan asked.

"Hmm, the total fee for setting up this planetary civilization evolution scenario is 120 medium-grade soul crystals, or 120,000 low-grade soul crystals. The purity of the medium-grade soul crystals must be at least 50%, and the higher the purity, the richer the scenario, possibly with additional surprises."

"Another medium-grade soul crystal?" Zhuochuan frowned, but Dahei's next words reassured him.

"Master, you don't need to borrow this time. In this calculation process, I, Dahei, although spent more time, saved four medium-grade soul crystals. If we can find other reserve citizens to participate, we won't have to bear the full cost. With thirty people, we only need four, and with 120 people, we only need one." Dahei said, feeling bitter. He had to give up the soul crystals he had saved to mend his relationship with his master.

"Oh, thank you then," Zhuochuan said. Having lived in the modern world, he could see through Dahei's small tricks. However, in a situation of information asymmetry, he wouldn't expose them. After all, the guidance provided by the other party was invaluable, even more so than soul crystals.