Free Web NovelChapter 392: Chapter 384: New Determination of the Difficulty of Killing the "Active Wormhole
The Ice Lake, filled with ribbons of blood, looked dreamlike and clear up close.
But when observed from a distance, it resembled a blue eye riddled with bloodshot veins.
Shi Ming activated his Sunpiercer’s *Ten Thousand Realms as a Sea* ability, forging a new path beneath the ice. At the same time, he enabled its "Traceless Vessel" feature. With these multiple buffs active, even an expert of the same Holy Hall Tier would be unable to detect him unless they possessed exceptional mastery over Spiritual Power.
Without a trace.
Meanwhile, his Spiritual Power twisted into a fine thread.
Just like last time, he gradually seeped it into the lake, probing and observing, and soon, he could see the scene within.
’The Candle Mirage’s physical body is almost gone.’
’At this rate, the Active Wormhole will complete its consumption in two days at the minimum, three at the maximum.’
’Looks like I arrived at just the right time.’
’Eye of Destiny, acquire intelligence!’
The first thing he did upon seeing the Active Wormhole was to investigate the current changes in its power.
He needed to know the current danger level.
Additionally, Shi Ming had to locate the fourth-ranked Wondrous Item from that surprise ranking list: the "Miniature Wormhole." He then needed to devise a plan based on its characteristics. Even if the Eye of Destiny’s frequency of proactive alerts was zero during this period, he had two to three days to actively use the Eye of Destiny and obtain the necessary pieces of intelligence one by one.
Once the Active Wormhole finished its meal and began to advance in tier, he would need a different strategy.
[BEEP... BEEP...]
[Compiling intelligence...]
[Searching. Confirming detailed coordinates... Search successful. Summarizing intelligence... Intelligence generated:]
[Danger levels for killing "Active Wormhole-Quintetra" at different stages.]
[After 33 days of feeding, the Active Wormhole’s power has grown! It has now fully touched the barrier. As long as it crosses this final threshold, it can ascend to the Nirvana Tier!]
[It is the dawn that follows the darkness, and it will give its all.]
[Option A: Kill Quintetra.]
[Danger Level: One Star]
[It has improved quickly, but not as quickly as you.]
[Even though it has fully reached the threshold of the Nirvana Tier, it is still just at the Holy Hall Tier for now! For you, who can overwhelm techniques with pure power, killing it would be an easy task requiring only a little effort.]
[However, due to the assistance of some other objects, there is still a certain chance of failure.]
Shi Ming felt a sense of relief. ’The eye really is close to the brain,’ he thought. The Eye of Destiny had given him the exact information he wanted most right now.
The danger level for Option A had dropped from two stars to one.
This was an expected change.
A one-star danger level was nothing to worry about.
As for the mentioned chance of failure...
The reason for this potential failure wasn’t specified. The Eye of Destiny’s intelligence wasn’t without limits; it could only focus on one specific aspect at a time. To get other information, he would have to use it multiple times with targeted queries.
But it was easy to speculate.
The chance of failure likely lay with the Wondrous Item, the "Miniature Wormhole," and the countless mutable skills it had accumulated in its stomach.
For example, if the Active Wormhole used the Miniature Wormhole to escape at the moment of near-death, that would count as a failure for Shi Ming. Another example: if its stomach exploded after he killed it, releasing the countless stored skills like a biological weapon and causing irreversible damage to the planet, that would also be a failure.
Shi Ming needed to prevent such possibilities from occurring.
The best way was to cast "Destiny Calibration" before the kill, which was already part of his plan.
The intelligence report continued.
[Option B: Allow the Active Wormhole to ascend to Nirvana, then kill it to seize the Nirvana Tier skill "Bore."]
[Danger Level: Five Stars.]
???
Shi Ming froze. ’No change?’
No, that wasn’t right.
There was a change.
Last time, there were three exclamation marks: "Danger Level, Five Stars!!!"
This time, there was only a period: "Danger Level: Five Stars."
At least the tone was much calmer.
If that could even be considered a change...
Shi Ming suspected the reason was that the danger rating’s maximum limit of five stars was based on conventional understanding. It didn’t mean the danger was merely five times that of a one-star rating. It was like in his past life, where his physical fitness scores, like those of other soldiers, could easily hit 100 points on some tests. This didn’t mean his strength was only worth 100 points, but rather that the upper limit of the score itself was 100.
’Even with my current strength, combined with the Arm of Power and my many skills, the threat is still this high?’
’Is the gap between the Nirvana Tier and the Holy Hall Tier really that enormous?’
The reminder style of the Eye of Destiny was an external reflection of his subconscious combined with the Eye of the Divine skill.
At this moment, he found himself believing it even more.
Putting himself in the shoes of an observer, he realized he would use similar methods to achieve a set goal. At the very least, it was an effective way to prevent himself from being intimidated by a far-off objective—
For instance, what if the first time, the Eye of Destiny had given a warning of a ten-star danger level?
What would have been the result?
Shi Ming probably would have killed the Active Wormhole on the spot without a moment’s hesitation, leaving no room for the threat to grow.
It couldn’t be helped; the goal was just too distant.
Better to just eliminate the threat directly.
But now...
The threat from the stars was approaching. The *Nirvana* was about to return, its target his Eye of the Divine. Now that he was free from the "Net’s" control, it would be difficult to explain the origin of his two King-level Wandering Ships. He would undoubtedly become the prime target of the mysterious youth from the *Nirvana*.
He had to possess power sufficient to match it.
...
[On an endless timescale, single-syllable Nirvana Tier skills are still exceedingly rare. Their specialty isn’t just in the name; it is a direct presentation of their essence, approaching the primal "Principle."]
[Danger is always accompanied by commensurate, massive rewards.]
[The Fierce Beast Quintetra spent who knows how many years just to find this chance to ascend to the Nirvana Tier. Snatching it away will require not only the perfect opportunity but also unyielding courage.]
[It is absolutely worth it.]
[...]
The rest of the intelligence detailed the Active Wormhole’s skills in its current state. There weren’t many major changes; it was basically the same as last time. The only difference was the addition of the Candle Mirage’s Holy Hall Origin inside its stomach. Furthermore, because it hadn’t truly stepped into the Nirvana Tier yet, the Eye of Destiny—though occasionally able to see the future—was neither omniscient nor omnipotent. It couldn’t guarantee that it would show Shi Ming the future he wanted to see.
Shi Ming fell into deep thought.
This five-star difficulty was something he had to face.
It was a crisis, but also an opportunity.
Given the current situation, even if the rating wasn’t five stars but seven or ten, he would still have to bite the bullet and go for it. Fortunately, this time, the [Five Stars] most likely meant five stars in the conventional sense.
’Back when I encountered the Sky Net Robot, didn’t I handle its three-star danger level with ease?’
’As long as I plan properly, what’s a five-star rating to me?’
’This skill of yours, [Bore],’
’I’m taking it!’
