23: Chapter 23 The Secret of the Ancient God Fragments

"Why don't you guess?"

Those two light words were like an invisible thorn, piercing into Monitor Zhou Yi's ears.

Jiang Xun pushed up his glasses. The gaze behind the lenses was as calm as a bottomless ancient well, reflecting Monitor Zhou Yi's face, which was slightly distorted with rage.

He didn't say another word, nor did he give Monitor Zhou Yi another glance. Under the stunned, wary, or gloating gazes of all the Prodigies in the classroom, he bent down to pack his things, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and walked straight out of the classroom.

Disregard.

This was a weapon more lethal than any retort. It was like a massive slap, shattering the innate sense of superiority that Monitor Zhou Yi and the scions of the great families he represented felt.

"Jiang... Xun!"

Monitor Zhou Yi squeezed the words through his teeth, his fists cracking as he clenched them, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent. Behind him, Zhao Kai's face was pale; he still hadn't recovered from the martial exercise where he had been completely crushed.

In the corner, Xu Qingran watched Jiang Xun's departing back, her beautiful brows furrowing tighter. That Formation, that composure, that steady air that didn't seem to belong to someone his age—it all deepened the confusion in her heart.

Just how many secrets was this man hiding?

Jiang Xun didn't go home, nor did he go to the God Kingdom space. Instead, he walked straight toward the old library at the deepest part of the school.

He needed answers.

Although the power of the "Queyue Formation" had exceeded his expectations, it had also given him deeper doubts about the tactical system of this world.

The "fragment of civilizational history" that Old Baitou had given him recorded many such powerful but long-lost ancient battle Formations.

Why were they lost?

Why had the tactical systems of modern gods become so rigid, so reliant on the talents themselves?

These questions hung over his heart like a thick fog.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, a unique scent of old paper and dust wafted toward him.

Old Baitou was still sitting in that dilapidated lounge chair, covered with a thin blanket, seemingly asleep.

Jiang Xun didn't disturb him. He simply walked to a corner and spread out the "fragment of civilizational history" again, immersing himself in his research by combining it with the practical experience of today's martial exercise.

Minutes and seconds ticked by.

After an unknown amount of time, an aged voice spoke behind him.

"You won't find the answer just by studying blindly."

Jiang Xun turned around. Old Baitou had stood behind him at some point, a faint glimmer appearing in his cloudy eyes.

"Senior," Jiang Xun stood up respectfully.

"The Formation you used in today's exercise was the 'Queyue Formation,' wasn't it?" Old Baitou got straight to the point.

Jiang Xun nodded.

"Do you know why this Formation was lost?"

"This Junior does not know and is currently troubled by this very matter."

Old Baitou extended a withered finger and pointed at the center of the Formation diagram on the page.

"Because the core that drives it is not Divine Power, but... the Power Of Faith."

"Power Of Faith?" Jiang Xun's heart stirred.

"Correct." Old Baitou's voice carried a hint of nostalgia. "The Human Race gods of the primordial era didn't have all sorts of fancy talents. The only thing they could rely on was the purest bond of faith with their believers. They fused the Power Of Faith into battle Formations, transforming it into Law. With a Mortal body, they could stand against gods and demons."

"But modern gods rely too much on talents. They view believers as tools, as data, yet they've forgotten that faith is our most original power."

Old Baitou gave Jiang Xun a deep look.

"Today, in your Formation, I saw a shadow of that purest Power Of Faith. Though weak, it truly exists. You did not treat your believers as cannon fodder."

Jiang Xun remained silent.

He had simply instinctively treated those Human Race believers as his compatriots, leading them to grow stronger step by step, much like a graduate advisor leading a project team.

He hadn't expected that this seemingly natural respect would touch the Origin of power.

Old Baitou's expression became more solemn than ever before.

He turned and walked deep into the bookshelves, fumbling around for a long time. When he returned, he held something wrapped in layers of oilcloth.

He peeled away the oilcloth layer by layer.

In the dim archive room, a soft and warm light slowly began to glow.

It was a stone fragment, only the size of a palm.

The fragment was irregularly shaped with a pitted surface, yet it was engraved with golden runes countless times finer than a strand of hair.

Those runes seemed to possess life, flowing slowly within the light. With just one look, it was as if one could see the birth and death of a Universe, vast and boundless.

"This is..."

Jiang Xun's breath hitched.

"An Ancient God Civilization Fragment."

Old Baitou's hands trembled slightly, his eyes full of expectation and solemnity.

"It is something I brought back from an exploration mission, having survived by the skin of my teeth. I have studied it for thirty years but have never been able to unlock its secrets. Perhaps only you, the only variable of this era, can make it shine again."

"Take it."

Jiang Xun reached out, his Divine Power stirring slightly the moment his fingertip touched the fragment.

Boom!!

An indescribable, vast torrent of information surged from his fingertip and slammed into his mind!

The world before his eyes vanished instantly, as if he were placed in a golden ocean of data.

[High-dimensional Civilization Beacon detected...]

[SSS-rank Talent [Civilization Plunder] is resonating with the beacon...]

[Unlocking talent module...]

[Unlock successful!]

[Congratulations! Your talent has advanced. You have obtained a new ability... [Civilization Deduction]!]

Lines of golden text exploded in his consciousness. Jiang Xun snapped back to reality. His talent panel had undergone an earth-shaking change. Below the original [Civilization Plunder], a new option had appeared.

[Civilization Deduction]: Can consume Faith Points to perform deep analysis, optimization, and Fusion of plundered civilization Laws, talent traits, and unit templates, creating brand new civilization Laws exclusive to you!

Jiang Xun's heart beat violently.

This... this was the true way to use an SSS-rank Talent!

Plundering was only the first step. To melt the essence of thousands of civilizations into one furnace and deduce his own strongest Dao—that was the true path to invincibility. He suppressed his inner excitement and tried to activate the new ability.

[Please select the civilization traits to be deduced.]

In Jiang Xun's mind, all the civilization traits he had plundered surfaced.

[C-rank Orc Civilization Trait: Berserk (Doubles strength for a short time, enters a weakened state afterward)]

[A-rank Undead Civilization Trait: Tenacity (20% reduction to physical damage, holy damage is doubled)]

"Fusion!"

[Starting deduction... Consuming 10,000 Faith Points... Deducing...]

[Deduction successful!]

[Congratulations, you have obtained a new trait... Rock Battle Soul!]

[Rock Battle Soul]: Exclusive to Human Race believers. Once activated, defense increases by 30%, strength increases by 10%, ignores pain, lasts for ten minutes, no side effects!

Looking at the brand-new entry on the panel, an amazing light burst from Jiang Xun's eyes. This was too strong! It filtered out all the dross, perfectly fused the advantages, and even eliminated the side effects!

"It seems you have already mastered its use." Old Baitou's voice held a hint of gratification.

He pressed the fragment into Jiang Xun's hand.

"This fragment itself is also a key. A key to opening the 'Ancient God Ruins.' However, the complete key was divided into several pieces and scattered across various places."

"As far as I know, the next fragment is among the rewards for the champion of the upcoming 'Jiangcheng City-Level Prodigy Qualifiers.'"

Jiang Xun gripped the warm fragment in his hand, feeling the new power on his talent panel that seemed capable of creating anything.

His gaze passed through the library window, looking toward the direction of the Key Class.

"Monitor Zhou Yi, I hope your Thunder Colossus is sturdy enough for next week's Monthly Assessment."