A Top Scholar in Everything-Chapter 862 - 848: Return

The gigantic slime slouched on the throne, using its twisted little hands to bring a wine glass to its mouth.

"Fatstone, the champion is here this time."

Loloya pointed to Baiyu and said to the gigantic slime, "Make sure you remember, don't just eat and drink all the time." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The slime called Fatstone cast its gaze on Baiyu, "Don't worry, is he the one who will participate in the next ascension contest? I can't tell, Loloya, are you sure about letting such a young kid participate?"

Loloya curled her lips disdainfully, "What do you know? The City Lord has given me the authority, and I can use it as I see fit. It doesn't matter even if the ascension fails."

Baiyu looked bewildered, ascension? What ascension? Could it be a direct rise to the Dream Realm?

He didn't want to stay in such a spooky place.

But Loloya didn't explain to him, instead, she had Baiyu take out the champion medal, which Fatstone then swallowed, and inside its belly appeared a life-sized photo of Baiyu, as if recording him.

After doing all this,

Loloya used her finger to draw a circle in the air and suddenly opened a passage door. She led Baiyu through this door, surprisingly returning directly to the Holy Purple Crystal School. Inside the library of the Holy Purple Crystal School, Loloya took Baiyu to a private room and pushed over a document from the table.

"The Ascender Odysseus: On the Method and Necessity of Ascension"

"Read it, and you will know the situation you are facing." Loloya crossed her arms and watched Baiyu with interest, a smile on her face.

Seeing this situation, Baiyu said nothing more and directly opened the document.

In general,

This document is an autobiography of an ascender, which also mentions various ascension methods.

There are ritual ascension, physical ascension, spiritual ascension, and so on.

Of course,

The main point here is to explain in detail the concept of ascension; ascension is not leaving this world, but gaining the qualification for the physical body to enter the Dream Realm, which is commonly referred to as the Divine Realm by average people.

This is where the Divine Spirits reside, and mortals cannot set foot.

In the most ancient times of humanity, before humans had fully evolved limbs, they could spiritually enter the Dream Realm, just like a squirming worm slowly burrowing into a fruit. But afterward, the firestones endowed humans with the techniques of shaping, learning, and creation, ushering in a new era for humanity.

However,

The firestones also took away the right for humans to enter the dream. The Dream Realm and the real world were separated, and afterward, cultivators had to find various ways to enter the dream. Ascension is one of the simplest paths for a physical entrance into the dream.

As for why to enter the Dream Realm,

As the dwelling of the Divine Spirits, the Dream Realm is free from any ailments and unaffected by lifespan limitations. Beings within can access the ultimate mysteries of the world, which is an irresistible temptation for any cultivator.

The mere words "eternal life" attract countless people.

The so-called ascension is to enter the Dream Realm.

Upon reading this, Baiyu couldn't help but feel a chill. It turns out it's true; he really doesn't want to go to the Dream Realm, that dreadful place.

"Are you saying I might get a chance for ascension and enter the Dream Realm?"

Baiyu looked at Loloya.

The other nodded, then quickly shook her head, "To be precise, you are getting an opportunity to become an Immortal, rather than necessarily entering the Dream Realm. To enter the Dream Realm, you must become the servant of a particular deity and serve them.

Keep reading down, and you should be able to figure it out."

Upon hearing this,

Baiyu continued reading, then learned that about ascension, there is a lot of room for maneuver.

Initially, ascension was about entering the Dream Realm, or having a prolonged life, then becoming the servant of a Divine Spirit.

But many cultivators wouldn't have it.

After working hard to cultivate, the goal was to slay gods and crush the heavens, so why should they end up as someone else's dog after ascension? Hence, many methods were conceived so that one may avoid being trapped in the Dream Realm for a lifetime as the Divine Spirits' dog, while still enjoying the perks of an ascender.

In other words, to escape death and possess the right to a long life.

Every ascender, after ascending into the Dream Realm, faces a choice of becoming a deity's servant, or being cast back to Mortal Bone, or being directly extinguished.

Afterwards,

"Old Harbor" emerged, a place where all ascenders evade the aforementioned choices. By drinking from the spring at Old Harbor's center, one could shield oneself from divine pursuits while still gaining a long and eternal lifespan.

Apart from entering Old Harbor to evade divine pursuit,

there's another way by joining under another deity's command to gain the capability of providing oneself protection.

As Baiyu read through the various contents listed in the document, he couldn't help but frown.

It seems like,

none of these are good choices.

After becoming an ascender, there are more and more restrictions, and listed below are even more methods explaining how after becoming an ascender, one might evade capture and comfortably live as an Immortal.

Baiyu looked at them, finding the methods bizarre and varied.

"I, Lilith, and other City Lord's Attendants, we are all Immortals." Loloya took advantage of Baiyu's absorption of the information to inform him.

Baiyu had long suspected this, so upon hearing it directly from Loloya, he wasn't too shocked. He closed the document and said, "Is your idea for me to become an Immortal and then escape the Dream Realm?"

Loloya nodded, "Yes, but it's not that simple. Anyway, we'll handle the matters that follow. You just need to participate in the next ascender trial. If you can survive the trial, even if you don't become an ascender, you'll still gain a lot."

Baiyu nodded and then asked softly, "So what do I need to give in return?"

Loloya smiled, "I like straightforward people like you, without any nonsense. The Great City doesn't require you to give anything, just hopes you'll have a sense of belonging to our Great City. You're human, and we should make humanity strong.

If one day, you have the opportunity to join the Great City, will you consider it? And if one day the Great City is in trouble, will you lend a hand?"

Baiyu thought carefully and then said, "Joining isn't certain, but if there's a place where I'm needed, I'll surely step in. Of course, the Great City's strength probably won't have such times."

"Yes, if there are indeed needs, I'll let you know. Consider this a prepayment of sorts, but rest assured, as long as you're fighting for the Human Race, we won't leave you shortchanged."

Loloya patted Baiyu's shoulder with a big brother-like demeanor.