Extra's Strategy: Cultivate Protagonists, Become Invincible
Chapter 78: The Golden Lore

Chapter 78: The Golden Lore

Since this blind shot didn’t work out, Han Xuhan decided to resort to his golden finger instead of wasting any more time with such experiments. With a command from his mind, the minimized system panels in the corner of his vision came into full view.

[ Survival System ]

[ Host Body: Unique ]

[ Survival Points: 120 ( New Survival Tokens Available) ]

[ Existing Survival Tokens: ]

- [ Silver Grade: 1 (2) ]

The previously empty counter for Survival Points reached three digits for the first time after he had met the requirements of the Quest centered around Mu Ran.

He could purchase a Golden Token with 100 points, but he didn’t know what the functions of a Golden Token were. If it ended up becoming something that he didn’t really need right now, the 100 points would be a wasteful expenditure, and he’d be stuck here.

In comparison, the Silver Token, which ensured that he could make the best choice at any impasse, seemed to be a better choice. However, he wasn’t really in a position to make a choice between many options right now.

He couldn’t be sure if the token would be effective here.

"Two uses left for this one... Let’s just activate it and see what happens."

Following the experience of his previous usage of the Silver Token, Han Xuhan activated it for the second time. The counter smoothly went from 1 (2) to 1 (1).

But the outcome was disappointing.

His mind didn’t suddenly become sharp and analytical. His heart didn’t automatically lurch at certain foreseeable paths. No list of choices popped into his sea of thoughts. He felt no sudden drive to do anything specific.

"Did it fail?... Fuuuuuuck!"

Cursing himself for wasting a precious use of the Silver Token, Han Xuhan contemplated his options for a long time and then made a desperate move.

"It’s a system meant for survival. The Golden Token is costly enough to be of use in a wide array of circumstances, right?"

With that thought, he made his third purchase from the Token shop.

[ Congratulations to the host for purchasing your first Golden Grade Survival Token! As a token with high influence through this reality, this token will allow the host to see through the craftsmanship of any element of the Main Storyline! The only requirement is for the host to be in contact with such elements! ]

"...What the hell is this supposed to mean?" Han Xuhan was completely lost at the vague description. And even the system seemed to sense it.

[ A Golden Token has only one use, so the system is policy-bound to guide the host through its activation. Please learn the basics as this tutorial will only be shown once. Running automatic plot detection... ]

[ Detected that the host is within a Main Storyline Quest. ]

[ Detected that the host is in contact with elements relevant to the Main Storyline Quest. ]

[ Assessment: The situation is highly suitable for the activation of a Golden Token. ]

[ Running Token Activation Command... ]

100 points from the counter disappeared, and Han Xuhan felt a dull ache coursing through his head. While he massaged his temples, the primary panel of his system was replaced by the panel for the Main Storyline Quests!

The golden book in the panel opened up with familiar motions. However, the sense of familiarity ceased soon, when the current Quest page appeared on one of the pages.

[ Quest Name: The First Trigger Of Apocalypse ]

[ Quest Description: ... ]

[ Quest Difficulty: Nightmare ]

[ Quest Rewards: (1) 200 Survival Points; (2) An unorthodox Mystic Art; (3) An orthodox Mystic Art; (4) Access to a hidden realm ]

[ Warning: Other than the Survival Points, earning all rewards will be up to the host’s intentional efforts. ]

The quest data disappeared suddenly, leaving Han Xuhan staring at the bright golden mosaics covering whatever was written on that page. And then, at the pace of a snail, the mosaic began to fade from the top-left corner.

A sentence written in plain English was revealed there a moment later, but the fading didn’t stop. Han Xuhan’s breath was caught in his throat as he began to read.

The autumn wind has stopped moving, as have the bodies littering the ground, all still and silent, the stink of death and decay shrouding the plains of the Holy Land.

Not so holy anymore, not after their prime disciple, their future sect master, and the only hope of their survival, colluded with the abyssal nightmares and laid waste to each and every inch of the vast land of prosperity.

A name that once shook the giants of the planet was now gone, in ruins and smoke, in ashes and fire, unable to contain one human’s ambition, and any who spoke of hope was but a liar.

Shi Xian, an ordinary disciple of the Dragon Sealing Clan, was watching the chaos and destruction with apparent indifference.

His master, old Elder Zhen, had died not long ago, trying to defend the young disciples from the horde of nightmarish creatures that were running amok, and the way he had been ripped apart was a visage terrible enough to turn a man into a still piece of fleshly rock.

But the ghastly sight made Shi Xian show no sign of unrest.

A faint voice, forbidden from speaking, yet flowing as smooth as silk, was offering him a choice; to escape his sealed fate and abandon his ilk.

"Little snake, you are but a sealed creature yourself. How can you offer me hope of such help?"

A laugh in his ears made a mockery of his words. The iron in that sound rang louder than the chaotic swords cutting through the purple clouds.

"Foolish human, consider it a boon, for you cannot survive the disasters that loom. Over, beneath, and around you—the nightmares have reached. Any in your shoes would have bowed and beseeched.

"Choose what you will, death or life. One carries sweet relief and the other offers strife. But you know it in your heart, the future that you desire; for your life is so precious, you’d live through hell’s fiercest fire. I chose you and only you, forasmuch as that spirit I admire!

"I have spent a lifetime here, sealed beneath the ashes of my race. To me, death is nothing to fear, but life is a sweet embrace."