Chapter 166 Appraisal

The appraisal mage lived in a small villa in the distant suburbs. The place was deserted. Han Xiao knew the way and easily found the place, ringing the doorbell.

After waiting a while, the door opened, and an elderly Godoran stepped out, looking at Han Xiao with a puzzled expression.

"Who are you?"

"Hello, Master Angleton, I came here admiring your name, seeking assistance. I want to ask you to open a magical sealed item," Han Xiao said straightforwardly, recognizing the target.

Unexpectedly, Angleton looked bewildered. "I only moved here three months ago and haven't notified anyone. How did you find me?"

Han Xiao was stunned, then realized that at this point in time, players were still playing in the mud on the newbie planets. He was too far ahead. Fortunately, Angleton had moved here early, otherwise, it would have been awkward to not find him.

Angleton, unable to understand, didn't dwell on it. He invited Han Xiao into the house, saying as he walked, "You are the first guest I've received since moving in, which is very memorable. I think I should write this day in my diary, an unexpected guest who came uninvited. What should I call you?"

"Just call me Han Xiao."

"Today is the official opening. To celebrate the first business, I will do my best to help you…" Angleton said with a hearty laugh.

The interior of the villa was luxurious. The two arrived in the basement, where many magical items were placed. The walls and floor were engraved with numerous magic arrays, and there were various precision instruments for researching and analyzing magic.

After paying the appraisal fee, Angleton placed the Mimir Bead in the analysis array, opened a thick magic tome, and began to chant.

Ding…

The sealing magic array of the Mimir Bead appeared in the air. Angleton, wearing reading glasses, squinted and observed, occasionally using his fingers to draw magic lines on the array, breaking it down bit by bit, like picking a lock.

The magic system and the mechanical system are known as the two most complex super-power systems. The mechanical system has a wide variety, from nanobots to battleships, from nuclear weapons to psionic cannons, from network technology to artificial intelligence, encompassing everything, belonging to the tech side. Corresponding to the mysterious side is the magic system, which also has complex branches: elemental, arcane, protective, spacetime, energy, summoning, cursing, blessing, and so on.

Mages can master various branches of magic without restriction. They can simultaneously wield ice and fire. Just like the mechanical system spends experience to gamble on blueprints, the magic system consumes experience to learn spells. As long as there is enough experience, they can learn as many as they want. Of course, for players, there are natural differences between the two. A mage's learning of a spell is divided into different "stages." For example, learning Fireball requires going through three stages. Completing each stage consumes experience, with the amount increasing with each stage. If learning fails at a certain stage, one must spend an additional amount of experience to try again. Only when all stages are completed does one officially master the spell—that is, obtain a new skill.

The success rate of learning spells depends on intelligence and mystic attributes. The higher the level of the spell, the more stages it is divided into. It is equally a big pit for burning experience. High-level mages find it relatively easy to master low-level spells, but the reverse is difficult. Moreover, high-level spells often have prerequisites, such as first learning the preceding low-level spells or having the attributes reach a certain value.

The difference in magic branches is like the difference in mechanical types, belonging to the difference in the skill category. In the division of professional inclinations, the mechanical system has Gunners, Mech-fighters, Mechanics, and other types, while the magic system also has different classifications. The professional differences in the mechanical system are determined by acquired choices, while the magic system is often determined by innate factors. The way of awakening determines the path. The first type is a mage who normally awakens super-power genes, is born with mana, activates it through meditation, and becomes a proper mage, belonging to the talent-type players.

The second type is those who cannot activate mana or even do not have mage talent. By implanting a magic circuit in the body, there is a chance of generating mana and obtaining mage qualifications. This is like some espers who can awaken on their own, while others have to use gene awakening fluid. The implanted magic circuit is the foundation of mana and needs to be continuously improved and strengthened. The biggest difference between circuit mages and talent-type mages is that they cannot learn all spells. Circuits usually have tendencies and can only be specialized mages because once the underlying foundation is implanted, it cannot be changed, so there is only one chance to choose a circuit.

Of course, as the saying goes, being proficient in one thing is better than being mediocre in many. Specialized mages are not weak; on the contrary, they are the largest group. After all, an individual's energy is limited, and it is better to delve deeply into one area than to dabble in many areas. Some talented mages even implant circuits later in life to become specialized mages because circuits are equivalent to specializations that amplify that type of spell, abandoning comprehensiveness in exchange for amazing spell power. For example, Goya is a specialized mage, a pure ice mage.

There is also a special type of mage called a nether mage, a group of anomalies. Their mana does not belong to themselves but is "borrowed." They contact magical entities (usually with indescribable appearances) existing in other dimensions through bizarre methods such as faith, prayer, rituals, and so on, and reach a contract. They cannot learn spells but can only use the spells granted by the magical entity. Most do not consume mana; they only have a daily usage limit, which is equivalent to having a cooldown but no consumption. The way to become stronger is to strengthen the connection with the magical entity or reach a contract with a new magical entity to obtain more spells and uses.

The Great Technician Han played a mage alt in his previous life. It was highly technical, focusing on combining various spells into combos, with countless combinations. It was completely the opposite of the simple and crude martial arts system. PK emphasized details and required calculation, which was uniquely charming, suitable for technical players with good brains… oh, except for the Fireball and Summoning streams. These two were even more mindless than martial artists. They didn't need any analysis; they just burned through their mana, and basically, no one could stand on the field. Just go all out!

Holding a cup of magical coconut milk tea, Han Xiao sat aside and waited for several hours, almost falling asleep.

Crack…

In mid-air, the sealing magic array was finally broken, like a shattered mirror.

"Completed." Angleton took off his glasses.

"Let me see what's inside…" Han Xiao took back the Mimir Bead, took a deep breath, and slowly twisted it.

Without the seal, the Mimir Bead was like a gashapon, easily twisted into two halves. Each side was fixed with a miniature vacuum glass cabinet. These two things were shrunk by magic to fit into such a small bead.

[Unknown item has been identified. You have obtained [Mimir Bead] x1]

[You opened [Mimir Bead]]

[You have obtained [Seventh Generation Alienation Primordial Body] x1]

[You have obtained [Super-power Gene Stripper - Experimental Model] x1]

"It's actually these two things!" Han Xiao's breath caught, his eyes froze. He finally understood why DarkStar was relentlessly pursuing them. The significance of these two things was extraordinary. He had almost taken away DarkStar's lifeblood!

These two things concerned two major conspiracies of DarkStar and were the source of two major events! One of them was even the main storyline of the Aquamarine Star 2.0 version, the Alienation Disaster!

A flash of inspiration struck him, and he pieced things together.

"DarkStar bought these two items from another organization. The seller was far beyond the Shattered Star Ring. They chose a subordinate to transport the goods, who happened to be a Silver Spirit. He came with a tour group, preparing to deliver the goods secretly. However, the Silver Spirit was just on vacation when he was suddenly robbed by bandits…cough, by slave traders. The transporter was out of luck, forcing DarkStar to come and find the items. And coincidentally, the other Silver Spirits hired us… At first, they didn't know that there was a secret transaction behind it. Everything that followed all started from the initial accident…"

Han Xiao marveled. Through a series of coincidences, he had cracked DarkStar's private transaction and robbed them of the goods they bought at a sky-high price!

The secret forces selling these products were like arms dealers. DarkStar didn't have much research strength to develop new "weapons" themselves and could only buy them to cause trouble. The Alienation Primordial Body had reached the seventh generation, so they must have experimented with it elsewhere.

Just as these thoughts flashed through his mind, the panel prompted the triggering of a new task, and not just one.

[You have triggered the A-level main task [Alienation Disaster]!]

[Task Description: You accidentally cracked DarkStar's private transaction and discovered the source of the Alienation Disaster. DarkStar secretly投放了异化原体 on multiple civilization mother planets. When the virus enters maturity, a terrible disaster will sweep through. Defending against the disaster will be the responsibility of every living being.]

[Task Requirements: Clean up the Alienation Disaster virus and defend the planets where the disaster has erupted]

[Aquamarine Star - Progress: 0/30,000,000]

[Barryforth Star - Progress: 0/21,000,000]

[Dusk Star - Progress: 0/19,000,000]

…

[Success Condition: Successfully defend any of the above planets before the Alienation Virus becomes a complete form]

[Failure Condition: All planets are lost, and all survivors are forced to evacuate]

[Reward: Depends on contribution progress (Note: Even if the virus spreads, causing the total progress to decrease, the individual's previously accumulated progress will also be included in the reward evaluation)]

[Task Current Status: Frozen]

"The main task of the next version!"

Han Xiao's eyes lit up, greatly surprised that he could trigger the 2.0 main storyline in advance.

The Alienation Disaster main task was not a single-player task but a task executed jointly by all players. Aquamarine Star needed to accumulate 30 million progress, and each player's actions would accumulate into the progress. The Alienation Disaster had several stages, and the virus would grow, causing the progress to plummet. The task required completing the requirements before the virus became an uncontrollable complete form, requiring the cooperation of all players.

"This task is different from the players'. I remember that the players' task only needed to defend Aquamarine Star, while my goal is other planets as well… Is it because I got the Alienation Primordial Body?"

Han Xiao was a little surprised. This was a good thing, giving him more choices. Of course, the first planet he would defend must be Aquamarine Star, not only for the so-called hometown but also for the players of the next version.

At this time, the task status was frozen. Only when the timeline reached version 2.0, after the disaster completely broke out, would the task begin… He was considering how to use the Alienation Primordial Body in his hand to maximize its effect.

"The key factor in solving the Alienation Disaster is Godora. In my previous life, Godora took a long time to develop an antidote, and it was too late. If I hand over the Alienation Primordial Body to them, they can make the antidote in advance…"

Han Xiao pondered. This should be the best way to maximize the Alienation Primordial Body. He needed to think about how to hand it over to Godora. Giving it too early would prevent the contribution from being counted in the task and would also arouse suspicion.

He searched his memory and had a rough plan, but the details still needed to be improved. He put it aside for the time being and looked at the other two new tasks.

[You have triggered the A-level task [Godora Alliance]!]

[You have triggered the S-level task [Bloodline]!]