Chapter 26: The Road to Divine Mortal

During the next training session, Feng Biao was approached by Zhang Fang.

"I've been informed you reached Ascending Mortal. As I promised I will give you a roadmap to reach Divine Mortal," Zhang Fang said as he tapped his PDS.

Instantly a message was sent to Feng Biao. Feng Biao read through the contents in silence.

"Greetings recruit Feng Biao! According to the data gathered from your Contract, you will require an equivalent of 25 Mythological Shards to gain enough Divinity for the chance to become a Divine Mortal. The current Merit aid offered by the HCF is not able to cover 25 Mythological Shards. Therefore the HCF has an exciting opportunity for you!"

From there it was nothing but boilerplate, page after page of words that told Feng Biao one thing.

"This is a contract," Feng Biao said aloud.

"You lack the Merits to cover the cost of 25 Mythological Shards, so the HCF is extending the same offer to you it does to all who wish to reach Divine Mortal, but lack the Merits."

The terms of the contract were, as far as Feng Biao could tell, terrible. A few select passages stood out from the skimming he had done.

"Pursuant to relevant HCF by-laws dictating the definition of 'culpability' be stated, in the instance where signee has suffered from gross bodily harm to a level such where function within the HCF is impossible then family members will be taken into HCF employment. The definition of 'family members' and 'gross bodily harm' have both been outlined before this in paragraph..."

Essentially, Feng Biao understood the contract he was given as a long-term deal. One where in exchange for years of his life in HCF service they would pay in full for his bid to reach Divine Mortal.

"My life is fine, but Wang Hao's?"

That was the main issue Feng Biao had with the contract. If he was ever disabled before he could fully pay back the debt then the burden would fall on Wang Hao. According to the contract as an elderly man unable to work the only answer would be to sell off and repossess all of his assets.

Feng Biao knew Wang Hao didn't have enough to cover the debt, so it would simply fall upon Wang Hao's relatives to pay for Feng Biao's potential misfortune.

"I doubt they can pay it back either."

As Feng Biao saw it, if the worst happened then he'd be leaving Wang Hao and all his relatives in a mountain of debt they would never escape from.

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm gonna explore different opportunities," Feng Biao said looking back up at Zhang Fang.

"There is no expiration date on the offer, Feng Biao if you ever feel like reaching Divine Mortal is out of reach remember, the HCF will be there to assist you," with that said Zhang Fang promptly departed towards those who had already reached Divine Mortal.

Closing his eyes Feng Biao looked at his Rank Up Quest.

Rank Up Quest: Gather Pure Divinity (0%)

Pure Divinity, a term he had been taught by Tang Ruolan. It referred to the Divinity found within objects like Mythological Shards.

"A single Mythological Shard would take years to work for. The HCF can see that I need 25 Mythological Shards to gain enough Divinity for a Rank Up. I need to find another way."

There were two ways Feng Biao reasoned he could gain those shards without having to sign his life away to the HCF or work decades.

He could either borrow them from someone wealthy or get them directly from the source.

"Asking Song Zhilan for Shards would be wrong."

Feng Biao felt depending on how he sold her the story of his need she might happily loan him some shards at a generous rate.

Feng Biao felt that taking such a large amount from a friend would no doubt endanger their friendship. The best choice after all was to earn it himself. Which required him to go to the only place where Mythological Shards could be found, a Mythological Marble.

After training, which for Feng Biao consisted of him practicing using [Indra's Tricks] willingly, Feng Biao sat through another round of lectures from Tang Ruolan. After that, he excused himself from Song Zhilan and Hunter and went straight to his room.

"Now time to find out how I can enter a Mythological Marble."

And with that thought, the PDS in his hand responded in kind, words forming on its surface.

"At your Rank, Ascended Mortal, entering a Mythological Marble is possible, but a special requirement must be met. You are not allowed to enter a Mythological Marble above Grade F."

"However, Feng Biao, as you are currently in HCF boot camp you should be aware that a portion of your training will take place within an F Grade Mythological Marble."

"When is that?" Feng Biao asked.

"Here is the full itinerary of the remainder of your training."

A series of calendars appeared with "training/lessons" popped up for days, but two things stood out to Feng Biao.

"Mythological Marble F Grade Exam (Optional) you just told me about, but FSA/HCF Sparring Event (Optional)?"

"Yes, the FSA has chosen your training site as the location for the annual FSA/HCF Sparring Event."

"Which consists of?"

"A selection of recruits and newly recruited HCF members sparring against selected FSA members of similar age. For recruits, a large portion of the judgment they should be chosen comes from performance within the Mythological Marble F Grade Exam."

"So why is the Exam optional?"

"Not all Marked are able to perform in combat at a level that would be considered safe for them to survive within Mythological Marbles. Therefore this is optional, but not entering will make entering into combat-centered professions within the HCF impossible."

"User Feng Biao, if I may offer advice?"

"Uhh, sure?"

"I have seen your combat data. It is calculated that you have an 87% chance of dying within an F Grade Mythological Marble. Since the chance of you dying has reached an elevated level I am authorized to advise you to not enter into the exam."

"I'll think about that," Feng Biao said as he gripped his fist.