The past was built upon collecting unique characteristics.

"Will you store it with me temporarily?"

As they were about to part, standing on the street outside the hotel, the girl unexpectedly made this suggestion.

"Well, leaving it with you, sir, will be helpful for your subsequent investigation." Charlotte winked mischievously with her right eye.

After saying that, she gracefully turned around and got into the accompanying private car.

She had politely invited him to return together, but the detective simply didn't want to trouble others and insisted on choosing the "classic" mode of transportation.

Passing through a diverse crowd, we arrived at a street corner where several coachmen dressed in old vests were leaning against their four-wheeled carriages, waiting for customers.

Not only in Bet City, but throughout the entire Kingdom of Hiran, carriages used for transportation are parked at major intersections to pick up business. This makes management easier and allows travelers to see available transportation options at a glance.

Morian casually pulled a shilling from his pocket and, without asking for change, bent down and sat in the back seat of the car. Perhaps because he had received a big order, the coachman quickly took him away, and the speed was even much faster. It wasn't until he returned to the office that he collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted.

"We're making so much money, we're raking in the cash!"

After drawing the curtains, Morian excitedly took out the payment from his last commission and began to assess his current assets.

Charlotte paid 500 pounds, and after expenses during this period, she still had 483 pounds and 5 shillings left. In addition, she still had 100 pounds from Sheriff Evans. If she included the money she had saved up, she had a total of 661 pounds and 7 shillings.

As for the loose pennies? He waved his hand, deciding to ignore them.

Should I find some time to get a more presentable outfit, and if possible, rent a better place to use as my office? No, no, that would be too expensive, and probably still a bit too much for me right now. I'd rather renovate the furniture in this office.

Morian smiled from the bottom of his heart, and while planning for the future, he suddenly remembered that there was another major gain from this trip.

That ancient book was regarded as an important object by a certain secret organization, triggering a series of subsequent events.

Only after unwrapping the package and holding the ancient book in his hands did Morian truly feel how heavy its "weight" was, not only psychologically but also physically.

He carefully lifted the dark yellow cover, and when he turned to the title page, all he saw was a blank sheet of paper.

Undeterred, I turned to the next page, only to find it still blank.

"Why isn't there even a table of contents or a preface?"

Nothing on the third page, nothing on the fourth page, so he simply flipped through the entire book quickly, the pages rustling as they went. All he saw was blank space!

What the hell?! This is the book without words that everyone has gone to great lengths to fight over, even at the cost of several lives?

Morian was taken aback and tried to activate his cheat system to see if it would produce any reaction.

The moment my mind touched the ancient book, several lines of clear information appeared in my field of vision.

The Book of the Sages

[High-risk relic number: No. 6]

[Function: Unknown]

[Philosopher's Stone detected. Extract it?]

The Philosopher's Stone? It was mentioned in the novel before I transmigrated; it seemed to be the ultimate product of alchemy. Could it exist in this blank book?

"extract."

[Extraction complete. Would you like to analyze the Philosopher's Stone?]

"Hmm, let's analyze it." Morian nodded, eager to see what kind of magic this so-called "high-risk relic" possessed that drove superhumans mad.

[Analysis progress: 30%...60%...Analysis complete]

[Creating a brand new and extraordinary destiny – "The Sage"]

hum!

The moment the analysis was completed, Morian suddenly felt his vision go black, as if all the light had been instantly sucked away, followed by a strong sense of dizziness that made him feel like the world was spinning.

thump!

Without warning, Morian knelt down, clutching his head tightly with both hands, which felt like it was about to explode.

The intense headache caused him immense suffering; the feeling was indescribable, as if someone had taken a stick and roughly shoved it deep into his brain, stirring it wildly and relentlessly!

Damn it... Could there be a mistake? This isn't how you use it? Painful thoughts came in fragments as Morian struggled with his remaining ability to think.

Just as consciousness was about to be completely swallowed up and lost, that familiar low murmur rang in my ears again.

This time he finally heard it clearly; it wasn't some kind of babbling, but a cry for help!

At that moment, the excruciating pain that was tearing my mind disappeared almost entirely, and the discomfort gradually receded like a tide, leaving only a faint tinnitus.

[Congratulations on your successful creation! You have become the first ascendant with the destiny of a "Sage"!]

[The genealogy obtained is the "Seven Deadly Sins" ether – "Gluttony" and "Pride"]

As the two lines of information appeared, Morian, breathing weakly, used his hands to support himself on the armrest of the sofa next to him and slowly got up.

When he sat back down on the sofa, all his strength was drained. He steadied his breathing and looked at the special attribute panel that represented his condition.

Sure enough, the "Extraordinary Destiny" section has changed from blank to "Sage".

In the "Ether" section, there are two entries with different meanings: "Gluttony" and "Pride".

Looking down at the expanded list of abilities, there are now several new abilities.

["Elementary Alchemy", "Extraordinary Analysis", "Absorption", "Compensation"]

[Absorb]

Each successful attack restores one's spiritual energy and spiritual essence.

The extraordinary thing I'd been longing for actually came to pass? And in such a way at that?

Morian was at a loss for words, and felt the changes inside his body.

The enhancement brought by becoming an "Ascended One" is comprehensive. Not only do one's spirituality and spiritual essence increase significantly, but one's physical fitness also improves considerably, and even one's five senses become more acute.

If I had to use an analogy, it would be like going from an ordinary person to the level of a professional athlete or a well-trained combat boxer.

"But what does this compensation mean?" He looked curiously at the only ability brought by "arrogance," only to find that the ability was displayed extremely faintly, with a darker color, and he couldn't even see the specific description.

Perhaps it means it hasn't been unlocked yet... Morian seemed thoughtful.

Indeed, this book contains considerable secrets, and the opportunities within it cannot be glimpsed in ordinary ways.

In contrast, the "Basic Alchemy" ability contains a wealth of information.

Within a few quarters of an hour, thousands of knowledge about alchemy and crafting flooded into his mind.

This includes the function of the finished product, the required element ratios, and the material requirements, among other things.

Of all the knowledge available, with my current level of "beginner alchemy" and my limited spiritual support, I can only understand and attempt to practice the most basic part.

As for those that are more advanced, or even taboo, Morian paid particular attention to one particular item.

[Supreme Alchemy - "Life Alchemy" (Not yet unlocked)]

Forget it, let's take a step back and see what we can do first.

Morian swallowed hard, then focused his attention on the "Recovery Potion" in the basic alchemy.

[Recipe Requirements: Kiwi Fruit, Seven Star Grass, Honey, Morning Dew]

The ingredients for the recipe are not rare and are not difficult to collect.

For example, kiwifruit, despite its appealing name, is actually just a fruit that you can buy a bunch of for a few pennies at a roadside stall. He has it readily available at home. It's true that this thing has "medicinal properties," but that's only for treating constipation.

As for the morning dew, it's not difficult to collect it by making a few simple devices and hanging them on the roof and windowsill.

Right now, we only lack honey and seven-star grass, both of which need to be purchased from the market.

It seems the shopping date will have to be moved up again. Morian decided on tomorrow and then looked at the higher-level potions.

[Recipe for Berserk Potion: One hair from a three-headed wolf, a few drops of blood from a Titan, and a core fragment of the Solemn Ruler]

Well, I can't get any of these weird-looking things.

...Whether the wolf in the alternate dimension would be willing for me to lend it some of its fur or not, Morian suddenly had a reckless idea that he wouldn't actually carry out.

Well, it should support me being the one in charge, which makes sense.