Inside the bathroom.

After a hot shower, I looked at myself in front of a mirror. Not using Zeng Wei's face, but my unaltered and undivine face.

My eyes were deep emerald again, and my hair was the original brown. Only the crystal on my forehead, flashing all colors possible, showed I am an Ascended. And, more specifically, a Dreamer.

"So dreamers return to the original form, hah?" - I muttered.

After inspecting myself for a while longer, I transformed back to Zeng Wei and exited the bathroom.

Looking at the bed, Tess and Zhu Li were still resting, exhausted from our passionate time together. Not wanting to disturb them, I put on some clothes and fetched water for the three of us to replenish lost moisture.

After placing it on the table, I sat on a chair facing the sea view. Watching the vast blue, my spirit satisfied, and drinking some cold water, I felt at peace.

"Hm... I'll check those rule-bending rules later. But, for now, I want to see how expensive the follow-up evolution is." - I muttered.

 

Currently available evolutionary routes:

1. Ascended Dreamer II: Cost: 10,000,000 Evolution Energy A. 100,000,000 Basic Energy. Estimated Time: 33.2 hours
2. Ascended Intersect: Cost: 100,000,000 Evolution Energy A. 1,000,000,000 Basic Energy. Estimated Time: 332 hours

 

Wow, just, wow. The cost is ridiculously high, requiring a disproportionate amount of energy. Even with the support of an entire planet, creating an Ascended Dreamer II would require a considerable sum. Evolving into that thing would usually take almost four years. YEARS. This is when I am using Basic Energy. Imagine how long it would take with food energy or scientific research.

And the Intersect, whatever it is, multiplied that by ten, obviously being a superior evolution.

The Intersect is an ultra-high-end unit and should never be mass-produced, or it would bankrupt even an empire.

That said, creating a dozen on a planet shouldn't hurt...

"Now... let's see what these two are..." - I muttered.

 

{Ascended Dreamer II: The Dreamer II is the generic follow-up evolution of the Dreamer, having more powerful rule-bending powers and control. However, although exceedingly powerful, they are considered a lesser evolution, as they permanently lost their potential to become an unreality race. Nevertheless, their roles in the Kin Society remain the same, albeit with greater weight - Wild cards and protectors against unimaginable powers.}

{Ascended Intersect: The Intersect, as the name implies, is an Ascended able to manipulate the laws of Physics, along with bending the rules of reality like the Dreamer. Although sharing the same role as the Dreamer, the Intersect is a reality warper of a higher order and is thus able to face far greater dangers, including Unreality races, corrupted beings, and pseudo-gods. They are a preliminary Unreality race with incredible potential.}

 

"Welp... That happened." - I said with a stomped look.

Dreamer II didn't surprise me, but the Intersect was plain broken. It was like a nerfed version of Dr. Man***tan.

"Now I know what I would evolve to next... But it'll take roughly two weeks. I should probably Increase my compatibility and raise my affinity before evolving again." -  I muttered.

{Not necessarily.} - Trod suddenly said.

"Hah? What do you mean?" - I raised an eyebrow.

{You are a Dreamer, a Rule Bender by race. Within the rules of reality, you can augment your body in various ways. Among these, you can temporarily increase your body's energy absorption, which could greatly hasten your evolution.} 

"... That's... cheating, man." - I couldn't help but say.

{It is not. You will lose the enhanced energy absorption when you lose focus, run out of energy, or fall unconscious. And the duration and absorption rate is limited by your mental energy, willpower, vessel, understanding of the rules of reality, and mastery. Although Rule Bending is a powerful gift, it has clear limits and cannot break the rules.}

"It is much more balanced when you put it that way... still broken, though." - I muttered.

However, I quickly realized a big problem.

"So, if I can't use it when unconscious, how am I supposed to use it?" - I asked.

{Simple. Turn off pain protection.} - Trod replied.

"Eh... You mean..." - I had a bad feeling.

{Correct. You will need to evolve... while experiencing the pain in its entirety. You will feel a pain so profound that your racial pain resistance would be useless.}

"... Give me a good reason why I should do that. Just evolving faster is not enough reason." - I said with a crunched look.

{It would significantly temper your willpower and increase your True pain resistance.} - Trod gave two reasons.

"... I get increasing willpower, but why pain resistance?" - I asked.

{Besides sustaining mental or bodily harm, some powers can amplify the pain of another. When in extreme pain, you will be paralyzed, becoming an easy target. Gaining resistance to True pain can save your life later on.}

"... Okay, you bought me. By how much?" - I decided to go with it.

{Conservatively, your willpower would be sufficient for Increase Compatibility 4. However, if you persevere, it will rise to Increase Compatibility 5 standards without fail.}

"... Hah... We will discuss it later. So, do you think I am ready to face those Sun's Advent guys?" - I asked.

{As an Ascended Dreamer and the shard almost fully enhanced, you have enough power to do anything you want. However, you can add several affinities and increase compatibility 3 for better protection. Of course, I hardly believe they are stupid enough to risk angering you, especially since they know your capabilities as fact. Then again, it is always better to be prepared for the worst.}

"True." - I nodded and checked the affinity menu.

 

{Power: Grant Affinity (Mortal Tier) has been selected.}

{Please select the affinity category.}

Affinity category:

1. Physical
2. Mental
3. Elemental Control
4. Conceptual

 

I already checked the physical affinities. However, I didn't check the rest yet.

 

{Category: Mental has been selected.}

{Please select the affinity you want.}

Affinity:

1. Universal Mental
2. Universal Mental Pathing
3. Universal Mental Infusion
4. Universal Mental Perception
5. Universal Mental Tempering
6. Universal Mental Manipulation

 

"Well... That was unoriginal." - I commented.

{The mind, ego, or fake soul is not so different from the body on a grander scale. Some creatures don't have a physical body. They are entirely made out of gathered thoughts and energy. In some realities, metaphysical creatures such as ghosts exist, composed of a fake soul infused with reality energies to sustain themselves. These mental creatures can also grow stronger and even evolve. In some realities, that is even the norm, and a physical entity like a ghost to them.}

"... That is an interesting concept." - I muttered.

Shaking my head, I checked Universal Mental Affinity.

 

Universal Mental Affinity 1: Grant's affinity to all absorbable mental energies, converting them into a Universal Mental Energy usable in all realities. Increases Mental Energy Conversion and Mental Energy Recovery. Price: 1 Enhancement Energy A, 10 Basic Energy.

 

"Wait... There are different types of mental energy?!" - I exclaimed.

{But of course. In different reality spectrums, mental energy takes various forms, and one reality's mental energy might be incompatible with another reality's mental energy. For example, if this reality's efficiency is 100%, then another reality's efficiency can be as low as 50%, 10%, 1%, or even 0%. Not only that, you might produce unexpected and unwanted effects. It is not unheard of to be blown into pieces.}

"...Gulp*..."

My face turned a shade paler at the thought.

"What about the increased regeneration, then?" - I said, trying to shake the thought away.

{Like Universal Energy Affinity, it is additive on the same formula. And before you ask, the Dark Idol is also an additive improvement. Only the Immortal Soul is a multiplicative one.}

"Ah... Yeah, that sounds a bit more reasonable." - I nodded.

I then suddenly had an idea.

"Wouldn't this increase my energy income if I give it to everyone?" - I thought.

Giving the level 1 affinity to a regular Ascended would pay itself back within several days. And if I give it to someone more evolved, it would pay itself back within hours. The evolved ones should even get the level 2 or 3 affinity. As a psychic race, it would improve their training and production.

Before, I might have hesitated to do this on a grand scale, but now, I have the capital to do it.

"I'll discuss it with Primrose later." - I decided.

With that thought, I started granting it to myself while checking the rest.

 

Universal Mental Pathing Affinity 1: Channeling mental energies becomes quicker and more efficient. Price: 1 Enhancement Energy A, 10 Basic Energy.

Universal Mental Infusion Affinity 1: Can infuse mental energy into the fake soul, body, or objects with greater ease. Price: 1 Enhancement Energy A, 10 Basic Energy.

Universal Mental Perception Affinity 1: Detection of mental energies becomes easier. Price: 1 Enhancement Energy A, 10 Basic Energy.

Universal Mental Tempering Affinity 1: Mental Energy tempering and improvement becomes faster and easier. Price: 1 Enhancement Energy A, 10 Basic Energy.

Universal Mental Manipulation Affinity 1: Manipulating all mental energies becomes more natural, allowing quicker adaptation. Price: 1 Enhancement Energy A, 10 Basic Energy.

 

Well, those affinities were self-explanatory. I planned on raising them all to level 4. It only takes half an hour each, so it's only three hours.

I also took the time to check the Elemental Control affinities.

 

{Category: Elemental Control has been selected.}

{Please select the affinity you want.}

Affinity:

1. Solid
2. Liquid
3. Gas
4. Plasma
5. Atomic
6. Subatomic
7. Fundamental Particles
8. Gravity
9. Magnetism
10. Electromagnetism
11. Thermal
12. Chemical
13. Organic

 

"Hah? What about fire or water? Aren't they elements?" - I asked.

{No. Fire and water are not elements but concepts. These 13 affinities are the essential elements of most realities, and while the form they take can vary, they remain in the broadest sense.}

"Hah... but why should I get these, anyway? I can bend the rules of reality now." - I asked.

{Perhaps that is true, but your understanding of the elements and universe is shallow. Even if you understand them in theory, it would do little to aid you in manipulating them. Having affinities would make things easier and more efficient.}

"True... I might as well add them up to level 4 for now." - I muttered and continued to the final article.

 

{Category: Conceptual has been selected.}

{Please select the affinity you want.}

Affinity:

1. Fire
2. Water
3. Earth
4. Wind
5. Lightning
6. Mineral
7. Metal
8. Ceramic
9. Polymers
10. Plant
11. Blood
12. Bone
13. Flesh
14. Light
15. Dark
16. Order
17. Chaos
18. Space
19. Time
20. Void
21. Divinity
22. Immortal Body
23. Immortal Soul
24. True Sun
25. True Tongue
26. Unreality
27. Wealth
28. Combat
29. War
30. Fertility
31. Restoration
32. Famine
33. Stealth
34. Sword
35. Axe
36. Dagger
37. Staff
38. Shield
39. Spear
40. Bow & Arrow
41. Armor
42. Guns
43. Claws
44. Fangs
45. Tendrils
46. Wings
47. Accuracy
48. Rune Crafting
49. Life
50. Death
51. Karma
52. Probability
53. Consciousness
54. Existence
55. Creation
56. Destruction
57. Wisdom
58. System
59. Mana
60. Shapeshifting
61. Summoning
62. Holy
63. Unholy
64. Virtues
65. Sins
66. Blessing
67. Curse
68. Morality
69. Judgment
70. Taming
71. ...

 

"... What... What the fuck..." - I muttered.

In the concept category, I saw a tremendous amount of concepts. It was a comprehensive list of all notions I could think or not think of. It was so massive I couldn't even see the end of it, and I stopped counting at over a thousand.

There were still reasonable things that included cleaning and cooking, Overpowered ones like insta-death, and there were useless things that included noodles manipulation. I even saw a system affinity somewhere, which implies systems are real in some realities, likely created by someone bored enough. As for compound affinities, they were uncountable. Among them, there were xianxia bullshit things like Nine Yang True Body, weird ones like S&M and Ugly Bastard, and then there were entirely bullshit things such as Yandere. Ostensibly, being a Yandere is not limited to personality but also affinity. That... is scary.

"Trod... what the heck is this..." - I said, lips twitching.

{These are all the affinities Ic'thotl'itrod gathered and compounded over his incalculable lifespan. From trading knowledge to eating other gods and powerful entities, he gathered many concepts in all of existence. And yet, for all his vast wisdom and power, he considers himself as but a journeyman, as knowledge is infinite, and he can always learn more.}

"How... How high can they reach?" - I tentatively asked.

{The weakest of them can only reach the High God level, but many can reach the Overgod class. Some, like Space, Time, Void, Creation, and Destruction can reach the creationist god level. Ic'thotl'itrod was born a creation god, his True Sun affinity was originally at the creation god level. However, over the years, Ic'thotl'itrod perfected many affinities and compounded them into his True Sun affinity, eventually raising it to the existential god level, above the creationist god level. Few affinities can reach the existential god level, and chief among them are Unreality and Existence.}

"... I'm starting to get why he limited Increase Compatibility to only several affinities..." - I muttered.

If he added all of these, that would probably require an enormous amount of energy I can never get in a reasonable amount of time.

"So... I can add anything I want without limit?" - I asked.

{Correct. Given enough time and energy, you can grant anything to yourself. However, I advise against granting yourself the Affinities Increase Compatibility grants. It is redundant. Nevertheless, I recommend raising a few other affinities to level 4 to play with. Also, some affinities are detrimental, but you can disable them at any time, so feel at ease.}

"Yeah, makes sense." - I nodded.

However, I then thought of something.

"Wait a minute... What about rule-bending?" - I asked.

{Rule Bending is a shallow application of Unreality affinity, and I don't consider it as an affinity, but an ability.}

"Hah? So, I was already a reality bender!? Why pick the Dreamer, then?!" - I exclaimed.

{Because you lack fine control. Trying to manipulate Unreality is incredibly dangerous for someone as inexperienced as yourself, and thus, a more limited and specialized version is recommended. Rule Bending does not even count as an introduction to Unreality Affinity but is a much safer alternative.}

"... Eh... As expected, I guess?" - I made a sour grin.

Understanding the power level of Ic'thotl'itrod is a fool's errand, so I better keep things simpler for now.

With that decided, I selected the first five, namely fire, water, wind, earth, and lightning to raise to level 4 to play with. As for everything else... Yeah... I'll think about it...

By the way, here is a sample of what fire affinity looks like.

 

Fire Affinity 1: Grants affinity to the concept of fire, becoming more accepted. Owners can master fire faster and easier and gain resistance to fire. Price: 1 Enhancement Energy A, 10 Basic Energy.

 

Yeah, pretty generic... Except I get affinity to the concept of fire, which is a highest-order fire affinity.

"Oh, by the way, how much does Divinity cost?" - I wondered and checked.

 

Divinity 1: Grants the essential indicator of a divine being. Can pressure others using divinity while resisting the divinity of others. Price: 100 Enhancement Energy A and 1,000 Basic Energy.
Prerequisites: Immortal Body 1, Immortal Soul 1

 

"Wait,  what?! Why does it cost so much?!" - I incredulously exclaimed.

Increase Compatibility 1 barely costs 100 Enhancement Energy A. In reality, it is ten times more, and this is in Enhancement Energy terms. And this doesn't include the other affinities.

{That is because you are receiving a subsidized price. Starting from Increase Compatibility 12, the price would return to the full price.}

"... Hah... Thanks, I guess?" - I pursed my lips.

Increase Compatibility is candidly a highly economical choice for now.

"Wait, if this costs that much, then how much does True Sun affinity cost?" - I wondered and checked.

 

True Sun Affinity 1: Grants affinity to the True Sun. Can produce and use True Sun flames and gain resistance to it. Price: 1,000 Enhancement Energy A and 10,000 Basic Energy.
Prerequisites: Unreality Affinity 1
Note: Although you can grant this to anyone, do limit it to only your Zealots. The last thing you want is to let your enemies gain resistance to your trump card.

Unreality Affinity 1: Grants Unreality Affinity. Can sense the rules, elements, aspects, and concepts of reality and unreality and slightly manipulate them. Gains resistance to Unreality. Creatures of Unreality will view the owner as a fellow creature of Unreality. Price: 1,000 Enhancement Energy A and 10,000 Basic Energy.

 

"... Never mind." - I muttered.

I then hesitated for a moment before looking at the Yandere affinity...

 

Yandere Affinity 1: Grants an affinity to the Yandere Blessing(Curse). Those with this affinity can bless or dispel themselves or others the Yandere Blessing(Curse), causing them to slowly convert entities who meet certain prerequisites to become Yanderes attracted to them. These Yanderes are a double-edged sword. They can be initially great lovers and possibly powerful guardians before their obsession overcomes them, gradually becoming stronger than the target before grotesquely killing them and those around them. Grants resistance to unwanted Yandere Blessings(Curses). Price: 1,000 Enhancement Energy A, 10,000 Basic Energy.
Prerequisites: Blessing 1, Curse 1, Love 1, Jealousy 1, Lust 1, Obsession 1, Sins 1, Virtues 1, Karma 1, Unreality 1
Note: Ic'thotl'itrod almost died once when he was blessed(cursed) by a Yandere Goddess. The Yandere(s) hunting him kept getting more powerful on the existential level until some reached the Creationist God level. Luckily, he managed to kill and consume the Yandere Goddess, taking her affinity away and dispelling the blessing(curse). The Yandere(s), losing their target, soon lost their power, and their existence was erased. This is also why this affinity is so detailed. Even Ic'thotl'itrod fears this affinity. Use it with great caution...

 

"... Welp... I see even gods fear the yandere..."