Statue and Thaumaturgy

(TN: I know! I had to find a job to get money so i can't focus too much on translations. but I'll try my best!!!)

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All was silent save for the solitary statue.

Strange indeed.

'What happened to all the noises just moments ago?'

Liuping couldn't make heads and tales of things. Since awakening, he had encountered far too many unexplainable things. Yet, he remained surprisingly calm, refraining from rushed conclusions.

Standing opposite the statue, he examined it closely, ultimately determining it to be nothing more than an ordinary stone carving.

What could the significance of the statue be?

As he pondered, lines of small text materialized in the void:

[Advanced Augmented Shield Art has integrated into your body.]

[You have acquired the Holy Spirit Augmented Shield · Burning Life.]

[When activated, this art fortifies your vitality, granting you resilience for twenty minutes.]

[Attention: This magic will deplete your lifespan.]

Glancing around, he noticed a faint glow enveloping his body. Holy light washed over him, replenishing any energy used.

'Impressive...'

'Who could have thought, a mere statue could possess such power!' Liuping marveled as his horizon expanded.

'Though it came at the cost of lifespan...'

With a swift leap, he exited the secret room, prompting the rays to dissipate instantly.

Two lines of text materialized in the void:

[You have stepped out of the Shield Art's range.]

[The Holy Spirit Augmented Shield · Burning Life's effects have been lost ]

"Is the statue the source?"

[Correct.]

[It can serve as the foundation for theological research within this sequence.]

[Please exercise caution regarding the religious beliefs of this era, lest you face dire consequences.]

Liuping replied "Techniques that consume lifespan are always dangerous. You don't need to remind me, I am well aware."

[Place your hand upon the statue, and do not release it until I instruct you to do so]

"What are you planning to do?" Liuping inquired.

[I will absorb all its power and transform it so that you can absorb it.]

"What good would that do me if I'm dead?"

[When you establish your foundation, this power may assist in awakening extraordinary Thaumaturgies.]

"I forgot my grandma inside, let me get her"

Liuping reentered the secret room and rested his hand upon the statue.

A gentle beam of light emanated from the female figure, tracing down his arm and merging into his body.

A line of small text appeared:

[Commencing Energy Extraction, please be patient.]

Liuping remained still, unwavering.

As time passed, silence once again enveloped the surroundings.

Suddenly, a voice echoed from the statue:

"Who dares to blaspheme the power of Agony?"

The statue's eyes opened unexpectedly, scanning the surroundings before gradually meeting Liuping's gaze.

"A mere mortal, you—"

Before it could finish its sentence a line of small text flashed before Liuping's eyes:

[Extraction complete]

With this revelation, the statue closed its eyes and lowered its head slowly, devoid of mood and vitality.

Simultaneously, the Holy Spirit Augmented Shield · Burning Life technique dissipated entirely from around Liuping's body.

Liuping released his grip, stepping back several steps, only to realize the startled feeling that had gripped him.

"What is this? Why do I feel such despair?" Liuping questioned.

Lines of small characters jumped into view:

[ Unknown Monster.]

 [There is no comparison data for this monster in the database, making Conclusions impossible.]

[Rest assured, when extracting the statue's energy, this sequence deployed 800 million isolation barriers.]

[Although we are unsure of this monster's capabilities, its true self is far from here.]

[After losing that shred of power, under normal circumstances, it won't be able to pinpoint our location and rush here in time.]

"In any case, I should get out of here" Liuping asserted.

[Wise choice.]

Liuping turned on his heel, exiting the secret room.

Liuping didn't want to stay near the statue even for another second.

After a while...

Liuping thoroughly searched the small town, encountering several formidable entities akin to Old K, each of which he dispatched with a well-aimed bullet.

Continuing his campaign until no presence of any threat was left before finding a safe refuge. Settling into a cross-legged position, he began to regulate his breathing.

A quarter-hour later...

Once again, the aura of spiritual light manifested behind Liuping.

The foundation of all endeavors is Strength. First, increase your strength, then consider other matters.

Let the ball roll!

Liuping uttered in a low voice "Shatter."

In an instant, all phenomena behind him shattered completely, transforming into various strands of spiritual light suspended in the air, varying in length.

Liuping opened his mouth, inhaling all the spiritual strands into his abdomen.

These spiritual energies seemed to have a mind of their own, seeping through Liuping's limbs and traversing around his body at an incredibly rapid pace.

This was the sudden surge of spiritual energy, adhering to the laws of cultivation, initiating the expansion of his spiritual pathways: the meridians.

Liuping endured the discomfort, silently cultivating the Foundation Establishment Secret Technique. As his meridians expanded and the speed of the spiritual threads slowed, he guided them towards his dantian.

All the spiritual lines converged into a vortex within the dantian, causing it to swell, overflowing the dantian with spiritual power.

With the completion of foundation establishment, Liuping's body underwent a remarkable transformation. An extraordinary induction descended from the heavens and the earth, as a power foreign to him intertwined with his being, cloaking him like a delicate veil.

In the void, lines of small text appeared rapidly:

[You have completed foundation establishment.]

[Your spiritual power has undergone a significant elevation.]

[In the laws of heaven and earth that you invoke, this sequence integrates the peculiar strength from the statue, aiding in awakening your Thaumaturgies.]

[Please choose from the following three Thaumaturgies:]

[1. Art of Early Death.]

[This is a cultivation-oriented secret technique.]

[If you find yourself in circumstances related to the Yellow Springs, you can use this art to end your life prematurely. This will enlist Ghost Soldiers to ferry you across the Yellow Springs, then swiftly reincarnate you to a safe location — if there is sufficient time.]

[Two, Ascension Technique.]

[Summon a massive Warhammer to aid you in transcending the limitations of the realm and the world, sending you directly towards an exceedingly distant world..]

[— This originates from the Upper Levels of the Void.]

[Three, Void Equivalent Exchange: Divination Technique.]

[The heavenly mysteries are inscrutable, but your mastery of Divination is genuine and exceptionally advanced at that. By selecting this option, this sequence will replace your Divination Technique with an equally strong or stronger thaumaturgy—a thaumaturgy to evade misfortune—thus improving your chances of survival.]

Liu Ping stared blankly at these lines and couldn't help but comment, "Did you take the wrong medicine today?"

In response, another line of small characters materialized:

[Attention: This sequence seldom reveals its true value and allure like this moment.]

[Please select quickly, as any new developments will prompt this sequence to enter silent mode, concealing its whereabouts.]

[Failure to act swiftly will result in forfeiting the opportunity to acquire Void divine abilities.]

Liuping felt like these lines were urging him to make a decision.

However, thinking about it, His current situation was far from safe. Everything had changed from what it once was...

Perhaps discretion was indeed the wisest course of action!

Liuping calmed his mind, turning his gaze towards the three options.

The first option, the Art of Early Death, required no further consideration; he dismissed it outright. Despite his ability to command ghosts and the divine mysteries of the heavens, he had no affinity with the gods of the Yellow Springs.

Yellow Springs...

The realm of death he witnessed firsthand had little resemblance to the legendary realm of the Yellow Springs!

Maybe this was why the option came with a special condition:

"If there is enough time."

But what if there was no time?

Would his death be in vain?

Given his current circumstances, death might lead him directly to the world of the dead, where he would become just another soul among many.

But what significance did the dead hold...

With Wang Cheng's words in mind, Liuping was certain of the significance of existence even in death. However, he shook his head and turned his attention to the second option.

—To use a giant war hammer for direct ascension.

'Do I have to be bludgeoned to death for it to work?' The thought unsettled Liuping.

Going to another Highest Heavens realm was indeed an opportunity, but it also carried considerable risk. Upon arrival, Liuping, being a Qi Refinement Stage would be as insignificant as an ant. How could he ensure his survival in such an environment?

Setting aside this concern, the prospect of ascending to a more powerful Cultivation World was undeniably appealing, especially given the option's special designation:

[This originates from the Upper Levels of the Void .]

Clearly, this was a rare opportunity to escape the calamity-ridden world.

But...

This World was Liuping's home, and he still had unfinished business here. How could he abandon his home?

Turning his gaze to the third option, Divination art, Liuping contemplated.

This was a power he already possessed. Since Fate was in such chaos, all Divination arts were rendered useless. In such circumstances, allowing Divination art to manifest in a different form seemed like an interesting choice.

Moreover, Divination art in the Cultivation World was exceedingly rare and challenging to master. If this was truly an "equal" exchange...

Liuping wanted to see what he could trade for.

Liuping made his decision and declared, "I choose the third option."

[Are you sure?]

"I'm certain."

[According to the principle of equivalent exchange, this sequence will exchange your Divination art for another ability.]

[This process requires verification and evaluation from countless Thaumaturgies in the Void, which will take approximately two hours.]

[After two hours, your thaumaturgy will awaken.]