LIGHTNOVELONLINE The Forked Road
“Wake up Carto.” A voice spoke in Cato’s ear prompting him to jolt upright, heart racing as if he had just escaped a nightmare.
“Where am I?” Carto asked Urizen.
“Don’t you recognise this? Your most important cheat?”
“Wait, this is the Library?” Carto asked, surprised.
After all, it looked nothing like the past version.
Whereas the original was just a set of shelves and a library in literal nothingness. This version was actually a Library! He was literally in a mansion filled with nothing but bookshelves after bookshelves.
“The books that you currently can see are the ones that have information printed on it, whereas the ones in the far horizon are empty.” Urizen gave an explanation.
“Follow me.” Urizen spoke and in the next moment a bicycle appeared before Carto.
“Are you kidding me ?” Carto’s lips twitched.
“I do not kid Carto.” Urizen gave it’s short reply.
Carto could only sigh and get on the bicycle.
TRING TRING
Habitually he rang the bell and began pedalling.
“But where am I supposed to go?” Carto asked.
“Nowhere you just keep pedalling across the entire library as we talk.” Urizen replied.
Carto raised an eye but didn’t say anything as he roamed across the Library.
After a while Carto finally broke the silence.
“So what was the reason for you to allow me entry now.”
“Significant progress has been made in the creation of the Mythical Cultivation Method.” Urizen replied, causing Carto to almost fall from the bicycle due to the shock.
“What ?!”
“Yes indeed.”
“Wait, how long was this progress made?” Carto asked, although Urizen claimed to be working on his side and even gave him the opportunity to have a goal. Carto was still suspicious of This ancient artefact spirit’s origin.
“A few hours after the ‘remodeling’ began.” Urizen answered.
“Wait this meant that by the time I had awakened in the Cabin, the progress was made during that time?” Carto asked.
“You are correct.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me then?”
“You’ll figure it out later.”
“Ok, so tell me what is this progress ?”
“The research says that there are possibly two ways to become a being that either possess equivalent or greater strength compared to other Mythical Beasts There may be more ways but up until now we have only got two.”
“And what are these two ways?”
“Chimeric Transformation and Qi Beholder.”
“Explain.”
“The Chimeric Transformation is a method conceived after your discussion with Shang Zhang, it involves the absorption of several types of Mythical Genome into the body and mixing them to create a completely unique Mythical Genome that only the user possesses. The probability of success in cultivating this method is 30% in the best case and ignoring several factors and 6% if one takes all known factors into account.”
“Wait, so if I were to cultivate this technique would it essentially make me lose my humanity ?”
“You’ve watched too much anime and read a lot of novels Carto.” Urizen sighed.
“When you make an omelette and sprinkle a bit of salt and black pepper does the egg yolk disappear? Of course not, if you cultivate this technique it will use your human genomes as a foundation and build the new genome with your original genome at the centre. Also since when did you start cherishing your Humanity Carto?” Urizen asked Carto.
“Uh, It’s nothing, so tell me about the other method.”
“I don’t blame you for that train of thought but sooner or later one day will come when you have to forgo all your ideals of race and such.”
“Anyways about The Qi Beholder method, it’s inception was about the same time as The Chimeric Transformation Method , whereas the latter tells an individual to become a Mythical Beasts through other Mythical Beasts, this method tells one to do it yourself.”
“Huh ?”
“Well the plan for The Qi Beholder Technique is about Qi itself. It is said that the reason why Mythical Beasts were so powerful was not due to some incomprehensible strength but due to the sheer control of Qi itself. Thus this Technique is meant to allow one to control Qi to a level equal to the very Mythical Beasts.” Urizen gave a quick explanation.
“I see so the Chimeric Transformation Method literally makes me a Mythical Beast whereas The Qi Beholder makes me a human with the ability of a Mythical Beast am I right ?” Carto thought for a moment and spoke.
“Indeed you are correct considering your current circumstances the Qi Beholder Method may be the correct one yet you have to remember that these two techniques are in their nascent stage currently. As more information is acquired there may be a change in preference as one method may prove to be a greater method but for now you can only cultivate using the Thunder Law method which in and of itself must be good if it truly allows one to be a Grand Master.” Urizen sighed.
“I se-” As Carto was about to reply, suddenly the bicycle he was riding twisted and he fell head first.
A muffled sound was produced as Carto’s body collided.
THUMP
“Ah that hurts.” Carto rubbed his head.
“Carto there is no pain in this place.” Urizen reminded Carto, causing the latter to blush in shame.
“Now do you understand why I made you ride a bicycle?”
“While in combat if you wish to speak to me you’ll have to split your mind to perform two different tasks. If you get too engrossed in one task you will be unable to perform the other.”
Carto's face flushed slightly with embarrassment. "Split my mind? I've never been good at multitasking, especially not in the heat of battle. What if I mess up and can't do either task properly?"
“Carto, do not act like a child. Forget not the fact that you possess a powerful ability.”
“Ah I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine soon you’ll be able to perform the task.” Urizen spoke in the tone a master would to their apologetic disciple.
“Anyways now you can get going, I’ll summon you back if there is any update or you can come here as well. See that door over there? You go through that door and you’ll return to your body.” Urizen gave Carto the way out.It was a door that had just appeared out of nowhere.
“Alright.” Carto nodded and walked through the door.