Endless Ocean: Survival Begins with a Dugout Canoe

The Heart of Chaos?

Her candor took Shi Ming by surprise.

’They actually know the whereabouts of another of the Divine Remains? And what’s more, activating it seems to be no simple task—it requires killing these so-called "usurpers"?’

’On second thought, that makes sense.’

’For his own Eye of the Divine to evolve into its complete form, he also had to meet all sorts of conditions. There was its previous evolution, and then the upcoming [Slaying the False God] trial. The process was even more convoluted, but in essence, it was similar to a task like "killing the usurpers."’

’The difference was, even before his Eye of the Divine reached its complete form, Shi Ming could still use it. It had granted him several powerful skills and had been an indispensable aid to his growth.’

’But the Heart of Chaos they possessed hadn’t even been activated yet...’

’This implied that a task like "killing the usurpers" must be incredibly difficult.’

’For two people like Amonif and Ali to need to plan so far in advance and seek out collaborators, the usurpers’ power must be terrifying—at least on par with Amonif’s own.’

’Could it be the other members of the [Pillars of Truth]?’

’They certainly fit the description of "usurpers."’

’Is this Amonif the hidden werewolf in their midst?’

In an instant, all sorts of possibilities flashed through Shi Ming’s mind. However, he didn’t betray any of his thoughts, showing only the appropriate level of astonishment—

"The Heart of Chaos?

"One of the remains left behind after the fall of the God in the legends? I learned of its existence from the great stone monument in the Endless Ocean. There are three other similar remains.

"And you actually have one of them?"

His question traveled through the channel established by the Star Lamp, and soon, the woman in the Star Skirt, Ali, replied again.

"Yes.

"But it hasn’t been activated, so it can’t be used yet.

"Unlike the remnants of a god’s body that a Pillar Stone needs to ascend to a New God, the four Divine Remains—the Eye of the Divine, the Heart of Chaos, the Primordial Flow Body, and the Uncertain Shadow—contain [True God Skills] from the God. There seems to be more than one, and their level and status far surpass ordinary Nirvana Skills.

"But to obtain their power, you must first gain their acknowledgment.

"The condition for gaining the Heart of Chaos’s acknowledgment is to kill at least one usurper. The more usurpers you kill, the greater the degree of acknowledgment you will receive from it."

???

Shi Ming paused for a moment, preparing to bring a few things to light. This was not just a question, but also a probe.

"If I’m not mistaken, your sister should be one of the five original New Gods. I’ve seen mention of her in the archives of the First Civilization Cosmic Country. She’s a master of the numbered Nirvana Skill [Concealment] and one of the Speakers for the Pillars of Truth. She has undoubtedly stood at the pinnacle of the universe for a long time. For there to be a usurper that even she cannot kill, their strength must be evenly matched, or perhaps even a cut above hers. Such beings can be counted on one hand. Could it be..."

Shi Ming left his statement hanging, not fully revealing his speculation.

The other party clearly paused for a moment, as if hesitating, then replied with a single word.

"Yes."

The message remained concealed. The instant Shi Ming read it, it vanished without a trace. There was no way to detect any record of it, not even through strange and unpredictable means like reversing time or peering into fate. It could not be seen or heard.

’She was very cautious, but she also understood that this was a time for honesty.’

’The Shi Ming of today was no longer the S-Class Awakened from before. He was now the bona fide Heir of the Gods of the First Civilization Cosmic Country. He had also awakened the new will of the Cosmic Country and must have obtained many other benefits. There are five Speakers for the Pillars of Truth and four Divine Remains, but in the entire Star Sea, there is only one being like Shi Ming!’

’We have to pull him into our group!’

’Fortunately, they had started investing in him a long time ago.’

"I admit, regardless of anything else, the Civilization Prologue on those twelve stone slabs was a great help to me."

"But the cost and price of killing a usurper are far beyond imagination. While I am willing to help you, I must consider the pros and cons. This isn’t just about being responsible for myself, but for you as well. You must realize that what you’re planning will provoke widespread outrage."

The subtext was,

’You need to sweeten the deal.’

’Failed collaborations are just a matter of not offering the right price. If you want to pull me into your risky venture, you have to offer a suitable price. Since our general goals were similar anyway, Shi Ming didn’t mind collecting an extra reward while completing his own mission.’

’Perhaps this pair of sisters could even help him shoulder some of the pressure.’

At that moment, Ali, located in the [Sea of Fallen Stars], actually breathed a sigh of relief. An aborigine from the Endless Ocean who had mastered the Civilization Prologue could only attempt to usurp Bertutan’s schemes and fruits. But having an Heir of the Gods join them would allow their plans to advance to a much deeper level. Compared to that outcome, the price was nothing.

"The enemy is indeed powerful, but we can make you three promises."

"First, we cannot guarantee absolute safety. But if we encounter danger, we will prioritize your safety above all else."

"Second, you will have first pick of all spoils of war. This includes the potential Source of a numbered Nirvana Skill, or any other treasure you value more."

"Third, to show our sincerity, you will receive our unconditional help on one occasion, with the timing to be decided by you. This help can be given now, or after we acquire the Heart of Chaos. The former guarantees you will gain something, while the latter provides an opportunity for the value of this help to appreciate. Of course, if you feel the risks and rewards are still not balanced after receiving this help, you can withdraw at any time without any further obligation."

Oh?

Shi Ming was a little surprised.

’If the first two promises seemed like pie in the sky, with the so-called spoils only being delivered after success, then they didn’t hold much appeal. The third promise, however, was something else entirely. It gave him a chance to receive their help for free. This meant Shi Ming could have them do one thing for him unconditionally beforehand, and he could back out at any time. He could take the benefit and then refuse to fulfill his end of the bargain.’

’They seemed to trust him a great deal, despite only having had one in-depth contact.’

A glint appeared in Shi Ming’s eyes.

Then, he nodded.

"Alright, I accept."

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PS:

I was returning to Shenzhen today and spent the whole day on the high-speed rail. I squeezed in some time to write a Chapter after getting off the train. I feel very guilty about it and will maintain a normal update schedule from now on.

Also, today is the eighth day of the first lunar month, which is the first day back at work for many. I wish everyone a prosperous start to the work year! May you all get promotions and raises, and be successful in your careers.

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