APTnovel Chapter 234 The Criterion of Fate
Chapter 234 The Criterion of Fate
Chapter 234 The Criterion of Fate
The first principle for mastering one's destiny.
It is not being tempted by fate.
This is not from "The Guide to Destiny Interpretation," but rather Chris's own experience.
He will never forget that night.
Celestia's bizarre and grotesque body
She said she came from the deep sea.
No, to be precise, they escaped death from the deep sea.
Chris had no idea what the underwater world was like.
But this damned biological instinct.
Ultimately, and inappropriately, he shivered in sync with Celestia's writhing.
Chris still regrets it to this day, feeling that he was incredibly despicable.
But so be it, I'll just be cheap.
Scammers don't care about their reputation.
However, his body began to undergo unexpected changes after that night.
His left hand began to dry out and peel.
His fingernails became thin and sharp.
His knuckles became increasingly swollen and difficult to bend.
The most terrifying thing is that his finger roots have grown into frenulum.
Moreover, this change is gradually deepening and has a tendency to spread towards the torso.
Right now, his entire palm has faded to a rotten white, like the belly of a fish.
Perhaps one day Chris will wake up to find that his entire left arm has undergone the same change.
But at least not now.
As long as it's not now, there's still a way.
Chris plans to see a doctor, hoping that the doctor can cure his illness.
Alternatively, he could seek out experienced sorcerers to help him remove the ominous power lurking within him.
But regardless of the method, it undoubtedly costs money.
Unfortunately, Chris is currently penniless.
Celestia slept with him and then kicked him out of the mansion in the middle of the night, leaving him to fend for himself.
He could only watch helplessly as his left hand slowly became distorted and deformed.
Chris couldn't help but think that if he hadn't been led by fate to that torture chamber, perhaps the ending would have been very different.
Celestia dislikes men, and has even stopped liking people altogether. If it weren't for punishing Chris,
She wouldn't choose to be with Chris.
That's why Chris came up with that kind of experience.
Don't be tempted by fate.
Chris realized that perhaps the power of fate was not necessarily a power that was beneficial to him.
Recently, he has felt that his left hand is becoming increasingly out of control.
One morning when he woke up, he was surprised to find his hand crawling away into the distance.
The abnormal behavior of the left hand only stopped instantly when the user forcibly controlled it.
This is why Chris has been feeling very anxious lately.
He feared that one day, his entire body would become out of control.
Fortunately, Chris did not give up hope.
Fate guided him; if he could find the signifier of destiny—the wizard's staff—he could become an elder of a certain community.
The elders are the kings of this frozen land!
At that time, as king, he could find the best doctors and wizards in the world to cure his illness.
His body will definitely recover!
That's why Chris has persevered until now.
Fate is either cyclical or ascending, and this cycle caused him immense suffering.
So when he reaches the moment of ascent, he will surely experience a heavenly bliss!
A few hours ago, Chris performed another fortune reading.
This time, the direction that fate has pointed to has changed to the south.
He knew he was getting closer and closer to his goal.
However, Chris found that the area was deserted, with only birch trees standing sparsely in the snow.
It's already winter.
The permafrost continent in winter is no different from hell.
His feet were so cold he could barely feel them, and only through his still-rising vision could he tell that he was still moving forward.
All Chris wants now is a wool coat from Griffith Plains or a fur cloak from Capello Forest.
At least give him a fire.
Chris felt he would freeze to death if he couldn't keep warm or get some insulation as soon as possible.
If only he had tricked someone into giving him a sled before leaving town.
Of course, with his current level of ice language skills, it won't be easy to fool him.
Even stealing one would be worthwhile.
Even for scammers, seeking illegal gains through means other than deception would inevitably be looked down upon by their peers, but Chris couldn't care less about "professional honor" at the moment.
Damn it, can someone give me some hot water or some strong liquor?!
south!
south!
Where the damn South is?!
Chris had heard that people who are extremely hungry will experience hallucinations.
But now it seems that being frozen is the same.
He saw a wisp of warm smoke rising from the snow ahead.
He saw a tall campfire and a large black cauldron placed on top of it.
He could even smell the aroma of stewed mushrooms... Hmm? It seemed like there was some dried chicken added as well.
Chris suddenly realized that if this was a hallucination, it was far too real!
He used his last bit of strength to run towards the flame.
When he arrived under the tall cedar tree, a warm sensation, like the caress of a prostitute, enveloped his face.
He was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. The flame seemed to be the embodiment of the destiny he believed in, which made him kneel down without hesitation.
But what he heard was not sacred utterances, but a man's wary question:
"Who are you!"
These words were spoken by Bingyu.
This made Chris realize that this flame had an owner.
Chris looked in the direction of the sound and saw a man.
The man was wearing a suede cloak trimmed with wool, and his boots were also made of leather.
He held a long, round-headed wooden staff in his hand, with a sparkling gem inlaid on the round head.
The man pointed the wooden staff at Chris, making him realize that what he held might be a magic staff.
Could it be that the wizard's staff that guides fate is the one in this person's hand?
Regardless, Chris knew that the person in front of him was definitely a wizard.
Even if I had an extra life compared to a cat, I still wouldn't be enough to kill it in a fight.
Therefore, he must first persuade the other party to lower their guard:
"Calm down, friend, I just came here to warm up."
"There are no towns around here, why are you in this desolate wilderness?"
What's the reason?
Ultimately, Chris decided to give a half-truth, ambiguous answer:
"I'm here to look for something."
Chris noticed that the man opposite him twitched his brow slightly when he heard his reply.
He concluded that the other person believed him, so he raised his hands and continued:
"I am not your enemy."
The man's gaze shifted to Chris's mutated hand, and his eyes suddenly widened:
"This hand?!"
Chris had to lie again: "Witchcraft!"
The man smiled upon hearing this: "I see, so you came here for this information too."
This intelligence?
Chris silently memorized the word, but this was not the time for empty talk; he needed to gain trust first.
"Yes, brother, may I borrow your fire to warm myself for a while?"
The man finally lowered his guard: "Sure, but I'd like to see your hands."
Chris was even willing to strip naked and let the other person see him to their heart's content, let alone his hands.
But to win someone over, you have to play hard to get; Chris feigns a troubled expression:
"This—just making a fire isn't worth me paying such a high price."
"It's just for looking, it won't cost you anything. How about I give you a third of the soup too?"
"Well—" Chris slowed his tone, "Well, okay, let's just consider it making friends."
The man chuckled and took out a wooden bowl, serving Chris a bowl of mushroom soup.
Holding the warm soup in his hands, Chris chuckled to himself.
Sure enough, fate had not forgotten him!
He followed fate to this point, and although there was a slight hiccup along the way, and he was tempted by a fork in the road of fate, he was indeed getting closer to the signifier of fate.
Therefore, fate would never allow him to meet his end before reaching the ascent.
Chris took a sip of the thick soup.
The mushrooms were crisp and the chicken jerky was fully cooked.
Especially the piping hot soup, it is absolutely the most precious blessing in this freezing world!
After he finished his warm meal, the man hurriedly took away the wooden bowl and said to Chris:
"You promised me you'd see your hands."
Chris didn't object and extended his hand.
The man grabbed Chris's hand, brought his face close, and examined him closely.
He repeatedly praised, "It's amazing, as if I was born this way - and I can feel the power flowing in my hands."
Chris was startled upon hearing this. Could this person know about the abnormality in Chris's body and the reason for it?
He quickly asked, "Can you untangle it?"
"Undo it?" The man looked up at Chris warily. "Of course not! This must be some kind of strange witchcraft, and I know nothing about biological witchcraft. Besides, judging from the aggressive nature of this power, it's probably an ancient technique."
Chris finally realized that the person in front of him mistook him for a wizard.
This person probably believes that the reason Chris's hand is like this is because Chris used witchcraft and actively chose to do so.
What saddened him was that, if the man was right, it would be extremely difficult to restore his hand to its original state.
But perhaps it's just because the person in front of him is a mediocre wizard.
Since that's the case, Chris doesn't intend to let the other person watch any longer:
"Is that enough?"
After hearing this, the man slightly raised his head, looked at Chris with disdain, and curled his lip.
It sounded like a complaint that Chris was too stingy.
But he still chose to let go of Chris's hand and continue to sit against the trunk of the big cedar tree, with the staff lying flat on his lap.
Chris also sat down by the campfire. After tidying himself up a bit, he prepared to ask the other person:
"So, you also knew that information?"
That intelligence.
It was a word Chris had just heard from the man.
As for what exactly it was, Chris naturally had no way of knowing.
“Yes,” the man said, “this matter has already attracted wizards to gather there, brother, we’re not the fastest.”
"But I'm worried we'll arrive too late!"
"Haha, you don't need to worry about that at all."
Why?
"Even the members of the Holy Alliance are helpless against this. You should know that this organization is considered evil even in the Frozen Continent, which is exceptionally tolerant of power."
Face-to-face meeting?
Chris knew absolutely nothing about wizards or the situation on the frozen continent.
"That doesn't prove anything," Chris continued.
"Can't?" The man chuckled. "Don't be ridiculous, brother. You should know that no one is more obsessed with and understands ancient power than the people of the Holy Alliance. Since they can't do it, naturally no one else can either."
So, what exactly happened?
Specific intelligence proved more difficult to obtain than Chris had anticipated.
"If that's the case, why has the information spread so widely?"
"It was the Meeting of the Emperor that discovered it, but it was also the Meeting of the Emperor who leaked the information."
Why?
"Do I even need to say it? All wizards are slaves to truth, which may be the truth they have been pursuing their whole lives. But they can't decipher it, so they don't hesitate to let others try."
Even if it benefits others?
Even if it benefits others!
What exactly did you say was cheaper?
Chris realized that with his understanding of wizards and his proficiency in ice language, he was simply not capable of extracting information at will.
However, at least one thing he was certain he could learn from this man:
"I've been walking for a long time, look, my feet are frozen."
"It's not far, at most ten miles away."
Alright, this man is no longer of any use.
Chris asked, "When do you plan to leave?"
"Shili Ge is not far, but it's not close either. You see, since I've started a fire, I naturally plan to wait until tomorrow."
"Could I borrow a light? It'd be safer to take turns keeping watch."
The man considered it for a moment: "Okay, but you'll be on the first shift."
Chris agreed.
Night fell silently.
The man fell asleep first.
The writhing flames, like dancing demons, twisted and turned in Chris's right eye.
patience!
Chris said to himself.
Wait a little longer!
Chris added some more branches to the fire, making it burn even brighter.
Those who have experienced cold will not find the heat of fire unbearable.
Moreover, Chris had to make sure his body wasn't stiff at all.
midnight.
Chris felt the time was right.
He stood up, turned his back to the campfire, and his pupils reflected only darkness.
Chris walked toward the man.
The man was fast asleep, clutching his staff tightly.
Chris carefully pulled the staff out.
But at the very last moment before she got her hands on the staff, she woke the man up.
The man rubbed his eyes: "Is it my turn?"
Chris did not answer.
He didn't know how to use the staff.
But he knew that the rounded top of the staff must be very hard.
Chris raised his staff high and slammed it down.
A collision sound.
It crashed down.
Screams.
It crashed down.
Curses and curses.
It crashed down.
A plea for mercy.
Slam down, slam down, slam down.
Chris only stopped when he could only hear his own breathing.
Chris leaned on his staff and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
The man in front of him had taken Chris in, shared his food, and provided him with information.
But so what?
Fate is either cyclical or ascending.
The second principle for mastering one's destiny.
Don't overlook any possible loop.