Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Treasure Map of the Lost
"The fusion is finally complete. This new module was a real pain to figure out." Qi Suian smiled as he looked at the Skin of the Foolish, which had captured the latent consciousness hidden within Celestial Fate: Profound.
Today was his fourth day in the Polar Day World. Including the one day he spent in the Profound World, it had been five days in total.
[SSS · Treasure Map of the Lost]
"Huh? What the hell is this???" Qi Suian was dumbfounded. He had no idea what he was looking at.
’First a Lost Soul, now a Treasure Map... It’s not going to tell me where some treasure is buried, is it?’
’But this thing is from the previous world. Even if there was a treasure, it couldn’t possibly be in the Polar Day World.’
[This is a special module, similar to a radar.]
The Smart-Brain chimed in with an answer. After its transformation, it had naturally been the first to learn the new module’s functions and how to use it.
[The module will reveal favorable opportunities to you, indicating the direction and general location.]
As it spoke, a crude map materialized. Although it was a virtual projection, Qi Suian could tell at a glance that the "material" it was made of was his own cerebral cortex.
"I see. So it replaced the consciousness-guiding function of Celestial Fate: Profound."
"Then this red dot must be the treasure, and the green dot is me," Qi Suian said.
The so-called treasure map looked cheap; it didn’t even have a scale.
[Correct. Based on the direction, it is most likely the Yanyi Cao Family, which has taken over the Jade Dragon Association.]
[The current coverage of the Treasure Map of the Lost is a one-hundred-and-sixty-kilometer radius centered on you.]
With the Smart-Brain’s explanation, Qi Suian understood.
"Oh, so I just have to fight my way over there? Simple enough." Qi Suian was a firm believer in the adage: to refuse a gift from heaven is to invite disaster.
This function might seem underwhelming, but it was actually incredibly useful. Before, when Qi Suian relied on his "plot armor," it was mostly a passive effect, and he never understood how it worked.
But now, the Treasure Map of the Lost gave him a direction and even a location. The rest was simple: go there, kill whoever was in the way, and take what was his.
"By the way, can this thing predict how long an opportunity will last?" Qi Suian asked.
[The opportunity’s color will fade over time until it disappears completely.]
[This means they are not permanent. You must act quickly.]
Qi Suian glanced at the red dot. It was still shining brightly.
"No rush. I’m almost finished with my research on the Power of the Limit. I can perform the transformation tonight; it won’t be too late to go tomorrow." Qi Suian decided not to act immediately.
There was no need to worry for the time being.
’Too bad I can’t use it as a regular map and radar.’
’It has a one-hundred-and-sixty-kilometer radius. If my reconnaissance network could cover that range, I’d always be one step ahead of my enemies.’
[There is enough time. You do not need to rush. Data projections estimate it will take approximately three more days for the opportunity to disappear.]
[This assumes no unforeseen variables arise.]
Hearing this, Qi Suian grew curious. "How did you calculate that? This stuff is completely intangible."
Qi Suian couldn’t research luck even if he wanted to, so he had no data, not even a point of reference.
The Treasure Map of the Lost only tapped into a part of his "plot armor," not the whole thing.
[By monitoring the rate at which the red dot’s color fades, I can track it as background data.]
In other words, the Smart-Brain didn’t understand luck, but it understood data.
The dissipation of the opportunity was represented by the color fading. So, as long as it could measure the rate of fading, it could roughly calculate the remaining time.
"I have to admit, that’s a pretty effective method," Qi Suian praised.
’We can’t observe luck, but we can observe the color on the Treasure Map, right? It’s just another form of data.’
’I just don’t know what the deal is with this Yanyi Cao Family.’
’To think they’d have an opportunity I need,’ Qi Suian wondered to himself.
As for conflict, that was a given. They were in opposing camps, as incompatible as fire and water.
’It couldn’t be an Ancient Martial Technique, could it?’
Qi Suian quickly zeroed in on the possibility. What else could it be?
’An Ancient Martial Technique is probably similar to a martial art, while the Power of the Limit...’
’They seem like they’d be a perfect match.’ Qi Suian suddenly remembered that the Yanyi Cao Family supposedly had an old patriarch.
’As the leader of an Ancient Martial Family, his knowledge must be vast. There’s a good chance he could discern the characteristics of the Power of the Limit.’
’If he manages to master the Power of the Limit through an Ancient Martial Technique and then spreads it...’
’...won’t we see a horde of monstrous survivors with dual attributes at 3 or 4 points?’
He always assumed the worst-case scenario. It was better to be prepared.
[The probability is high. You need to be cautious.]
The Smart-Brain agreed with Qi Suian’s assessment.
[However, you must first deal with your Vice Mansion Master. He needs to see you and has been waiting anxiously outside the laboratory for half an hour.]
[It appears someone has delivered a letter to you. There is an eighty percent probability it is from the Yanyi Cao Family.]
The Smart-Brain interrupted Qi Suian’s thoughts to report the situation.
Normally, the Smart-Brain wouldn’t have bothered with a reminder. After all, the Vice Mansion Master was just a puppet, far less important than Qi Suian’s experiments.
But based on the man’s demeanor and behavior, the Smart-Brain had judged the matter to be urgent, hence the alert.
"Alright, I’ll go see." Qi Suian, unconcerned, opened the door and stepped out of the lab. He saw the Vice Mansion Master, who was already drenched in sweat.
"Mansion Master, you’re finally out. A letter has arrived for you from the Yanyi Cao Family," the Vice Mansion Master said, handing Qi Suian a quaint, old-fashioned envelope.
Qi Suian opened it. The gist was that they wanted to discuss future developments with him. The meeting was set for three days from now.
The timing was a perfect match for what the Treasure Map of the Lost had shown.
"The Yanyi Cao Family... it seems they intend to annex us," the Vice Mansion Master said, then hastily added another sentence.
He was, of course, fiercely loyal to Qi Suian. He had gone from being just another exploited commoner to the second-in-command, a man with power over thousands, second only to one.
If they were really annexed by the Yanyi Cao Family, he would undoubtedly be right back where he started.
And that was something he could not tolerate.
It had only been two days since his promotion, and he had already offended many people by riding Qi Suian’s coattails. If he lost this power and the "tiger skin" he hid behind—and Liebo Mansion was left without a strong leader to keep everyone in line—he would be a dead man for sure.
"I know. They do not come in peace," Qi Suian said casually.
Annexation was a common occurrence. There’s an old saying: "Scholars stay poor, warriors get rich." The very name "Ancient Martial Technique" implied it required a massive amount of resources.
And if they were also planning to cultivate the Power of the Limit, their need for resources would only increase.
"Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it."
"I need one hundred more test subjects. Have them sent to my laboratory in half an hour." With that, Qi Suian turned and went back inside.
Most of his experiments were highly destructive, which meant the consumption of test subjects grew in tandem. It wasn’t that he was cruel; it was simply his style.
He was ruthless even with himself, so how could he possibly be gentle with his test subjects?
He only acted this way with subjects he had in abundance, however.
With the tissue sample from the Blood Moon, for example, his experiments were far less destructive. He handled it with extreme care—after all, it was the only one he had.
A bitter smile crept onto the Vice Mansion Master’s face.
A large part of the reason he had offended so many people in just two days was his work procuring test subjects for Qi Suian.
For him, however, there was no other choice.
After all, Qi Suian could easily replace him, but he could not bear to lose his power and status.
In the end, bitterness curdled into ruthlessness. ’A man can’t stand firm if he isn’t cruel.’ Since he had already started down this path, he might as well see it through to its dark end.
There was no turning back now, anyway.
Besides, Qi Suian had given him an order, not a suggestion.
If he failed this time, Qi Suian wouldn’t give him a second chance. At best, he would be stripped of his title as Vice Mansion Master. There were plenty of others who could do his job.
He wasn’t indispensable.
At worst... the outcome would be far more miserable. He would either end up as a subject on the operating table or be killed outright by Qi Suian. There would be no escape.
As an ordinary man swept up by forces beyond his control, he had naturally felt powerless.
But feelings were one thing; resistance was utterly pointless.
-----------------
"Grandpa, why did you send Liebo Mansion a letter proposing peace talks?" Cao Ming asked, confused, looking at Cao Li, who was sitting cross-legged and regulating his breathing.
"I’ve told you to watch and learn, not to ask me about everything," Cao Li said, opening his eyes. Through his continuous meditation on the Power of the Limit, he had finally grasped the rudiments of his next breakthrough.
But to truly break through, he needed a catalyst.
An Ancient Martial Technique was, at its core, a killing art. A breakthrough couldn’t be achieved through child’s play like shadowboxing and meditation.
It required brutal combat—a breakthrough could only be achieved through the dual stimulation and enlightenment of both body and will.
Those Ancient Martial Artists who only knew how to hoard resources and be coddled like hothouse flowers were nothing but trash. Against a true combatant who had fought their way up, they wouldn’t last a single round.
Cao Li had fought his way up from the very bottom, so he knew exactly how to use the Power of the Limit to achieve his breakthrough.
What he needed was a battle that would put him on the brink of life and death.
After reaching his current level of mastery, his Martial Dao intuition had begun to take shape. It would only complete its transformation at the next major stage, at which point he would be able to perceive firearms and sneak attacks.
For now, it was enough. Cao Li had an intuition, a vague premonition that the catalyst for his breakthrough was lurking within Liebo Mansion.
And that catalyst was very likely the new Mansion Master of Liebo Mansion.
The man was most likely a survivor, but unlike him, who came from the Yanyi Cao Family—an Ancient Martial Family—this new Mansion Master was probably an independent.
That would explain why he needed to use such brutal methods to purge Liebo Mansion after taking it over.
"You don’t need to concern yourself with this. If you have this much free time, go tend to the family’s affairs," Cao Li said, casually dismissing Cao Ming.
If it weren’t for this miraculous doomsday game, Cao Li would indeed be focused on his family and his heirs.
But things were different now. With the help of the doomsday game, he could glimpse the higher realms of the Ancient Martial Arts. Even immortality was no longer a vain hope.
As a result, his mindset had shifted. The Yanyi Cao Family was no longer the focus of his life, but merely a stepping stone on his path to greater power.
"Yes, Grandpa." Cao Ming wanted to say more, but Cao Li was the cornerstone of the Cao Family. He not only held all the power, but he was also their strongest member.
Defiance was not an option, so he could only leave obediently as he was told.
