Half an hour later, Luviya, who had returned to the second floor, finally learned about the Ancient God Statue and all of Shard's experiences in Coldwater Port City from him. Of course, regarding the young girl who adventured with him, to protect Dorothy's privacy, Shard only ntioned her as a friend he t during his last visit to Coldwater Port.
"Although there might have been other incidents in the past six months that fit the prophecy of the 'Whispering Verses,' your mysterious appearance there was definitely suspicious. Shard, even without divination, I can almost be certain that the new fragnts of the 'Whispering Verses' found from the New World refer to the accident you experienced."
Luviya appeared sowhat anxious:
"But how could that be? How could it be such a coincidence that you encountered it?"
"Thinking about those things now is useless; the key is to confirm the identity of the other person."
Shard shook the little bag containing coins:
"Actually, I have other things I want you to help
divinate, but given the current situation, the matter of the second Chosen One is equally urgent. Luviya, I would like to ask you to help
divine a God Summoning Ritual to estimate how many coins it might cost?"
"It's hard to say, divinations aid at a Deity are definitely not simple. Moreover, the efficiency varies with different coins."
"Well then."
After so thought, Shard made up his mind and handed her the Universal Currency:
"First, help
divine whether the Apocalypse research group, which I asked Professor Manning to help locate, can be found soon, and whether it can lead
to find the Guiding Light Hermitage, and if the latter has the information I need."
Luviya did not know Professor Manning or the Guiding Light Hermitage, but she vaguely guessed that this was related to Shard's ti travel:
"Once a coin is used, it's gone. Are you sure you don't want to use all the coins to directly get the answer?"
She was very worried:
"These relics were found by you; you have the freedom to choose how to use them."
"There's more than one way to get the answer. Please proceed with the divination."
Shard said.
In reality, strictly speaking, there was no hurry for the third ti in the year 3002, and Shard could even spend a lifeti looking for the answer. That's why he dared to risk wasting a coin on divination for Professor Manning's findings first, then deciding how the remaining 10 coins should be allocated.
"Alright, I'll begin."
The diviner with purple eyes closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then suddenly flicked the coin in her hand. As the coin reached its apex, it rapidly rusted and decayed until it disintegrated into a pile of ash in mid-air. Before all the ashes fell to the ground, they had already dissolved into the air.
This ti, Shard did not see the more mature but physically incomplete figure behind Luviya while she was divining.
"How did it go?"
Luviya opened her eyes, her purple pupils seemingly flashing briefly:
"It went well; although this Universal Currency isn't rated very high, its efficiency is higher than that of the Blood Coin. Your professor friend has a wide network and will find the person you're looking for within this week, and bring you the answers you want to know. Although there might be so minor troubles, overall, you'll get everything you want to know."
This answer greatly relieved Shard. Professor Manning's hobbies might be sowhat unique, but this senior archaeology professor was very dependable, and Shard was right to seek his help.
"Since that's the case, let's first see what the remaining ten coins are."
He then pointed to the small cloth bag on the table:
"Put on gloves, try not to touch them directly, and if you find any problems, imdiately put them into the God's Gift Box for containnt."
"No problem, I'll inspect them. Shard, don't refuse; I'm from the Three Rings, you're from the Second Ring, it makes no sense for you to take the risk. And even if I'm affected by so curse, as long as it's consud, the curse will naturally be lifted."
Luviya took control of herself, carefully untied the rope on the cloth bag while wearing gloves. The bag was just an ordinary item, really just a piece of torn cloth, but upon opening it, ten coins of three different types appeared.
The two were most familiar with the Pirate's Blood Money, three of which were present, and it was these three coins that had caused Shard to sense sothing before the appearance of the pirate ship.
The other two types were unknown to Shard, but Luviya recognized them; she had researched many materials to gather coins for divination:
"Don't worry, the other two types of coins are not cursed."
Despite saying this, Luviya did not take off her gloves.
She first picked up the smallest of the black coins, which had a radius only about two-thirds that of a small copper penny. However, the coin itself was very cold. Even though Shard did not directly touch it, he had felt an almost bone-chilling cold through the bag: Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire
"This is a Poet-Level Relic called the Atonent Coin of the Grim Reaper. Don't be frightened by the na; its effect is very minimal. For people about to die naturally, holding the coin can extend their life by one week per coin. Moreover, during that week, the coin must not leave the skin, and each person can use up to 5 coins."
"What? Isn't that very useful?"
Shard asked, puzzled:
"Why is it only Poet-Level?"
"Useful?"
Luviya shook her head, her brown hair swaying with the motion:
"Shard, how many people do you think in our era can live to die naturally? The definition of a natural death is the body's functions naturally reaching their end, not dying from illness. Think about it, Shard, how many people do you think can die naturally?"
Shard was montarily startled, then slowly leaned back, letting himself rest on the couch. Even in his holand, dying of natural causes was extrely difficult. In this world, the life of the lower classes determined that they hardly ever lived past the age of 50, while the upper class nobility and wealthy rchants were constrained by the limited dical resources of the era and affected by the health problems brought about by the developnt of the steam industry.
It was even harder for a Circle Sorcerer to die a natural death; it was hardly a safe profession.
"The Atonent Coin of the Grim Reaper's negative trait lies in the fact that prolonged contact with the living accelerates their aging and brings bad luck, so let's use this one first. Keeping it around is not beneficial. I've always believed that instead of preparing for death, it's better to focus on the present," she said.
She handed the coin to Shard to examine, and Shard noticed the fine inscription on the edge of the coin:
"Seeking atonent from the Grim Reaper might earn you compassion."
"Pirate's Blood Money" totaled three coins, "Atonent Coin of the Grim Reaper" totaled five coins. The last two were Gold Coins, roughly the size of a shilling silver coin. Compared to the simple designs of the first two coins, both sides of the last two Gold Coins had extrely complex patterns.
The side Shard considered the front featured a cluster of fresh flowers, and the side he considered the back bore the portrait of an unrecognizable man with a large nose.
Luviya casually flicked one coin, apparently free of any curse:
"I recognize this one, a Scribe Level Relic, 'Kolmor Empire Civilization Coin'."
"What is the Kolmor Empire? A kingdom of the Fifth Era or even earlier?"
Shard's study of history covered only one book, and he was unfamiliar with pre-Era history.
"I can't answer that. When these coins were found, a docunt referred to them by that na. No records in any church or academy can trace this Kolmor Empire. According to the analysis of that docunt, it might have been a human kingdom from the Fourth Era, but all traces and information of the entire kingdom have been erased by so formidable force."
Shard shifted uneasily on the sofa and asked:
"What's its specific function?"
"Unlike the uncertain number of 'Atonent Coins of the Grim Reaper,' we are certain that there are exactly 285 'Kolmor Empire Coins.' Each has the sa effect. If you blow on the coin and hold it to your ear, you can hear so bizarre sounds. Prolonged, high-frequency listening can bestow so strange knowledge. The academy has always believed that it's the lost knowledge of the Kolmor Empire, which along with the kingdom itself, was cast into these 285 coins by so entity."
This explanation made Shard feel even more uncomfortable.
Luviya stacked the ten coins into three piles on the table, her purple eyes looking at Shard:
"So, what would you choose to divine?"
"Luviya, can your body endure using so many coins for divination?"
First, Shard asked this concern, as the purple-eyed diviner smiled:
"No worries, it's not permanent damage, just a bit draining."
"Then good, I've kept one more Blood Coin here, so you should also have one to continue the search," Shard said, pushing one from the table towards Luviya, leaving only nine coins.
"There are two matters needing divination now. Although Professor Manning might find the person I am looking for, we must also prepare for other eventualities. Moreover, in daily life, we might encounter other situations that necessitate divination."
Shard placed one 'Kolmor Empire Coin' and one 'Atonent Coin of the Grim Reaper' into the box, leaving seven coins behind: two Blood Coins, one Gold Coin, and four Atonent Coins.
"Alright, let's proceed with the divination using these. First, let's confirm if the recent discovery about the pirate accident is indeed the one I encountered," said Shard, as Luviya picked up an Atonent Coin. The coin was flung into the air and disintegrated into ash as it fell:
"The divination effectiveness of 'Atonent Coins' is much worse than Blood Money. But since you've provided specific details, the divination is sowhat simplified. Yes, it was indeed the incident you encountered. Shard, it turns out you've encountered The Chosen One twice in a row."
She teased him a bit, and Shard shook his head:
"Next, let's confirm the gender of The Chosen One. More than ten people jumped off that ship; we'll sift through them one by one."
"No problem."
She picked up another Atonent Coin, but when tossed, nothing happened, suggesting that specific information about The Chosen One couldn't be revealed by just one coin.
After using three coins without results, they finally saw the coin turn into airborne ash:
"A definite answer, male."
Shard breathed a sigh of relief as it couldn't be Princess Lecia. But then he hesitated, pointing towards himself:
"Luviya, could it be possible..."
"Although you are also male and were on that ship, it's absolutely not you, Shard, I've told you many tis. Think carefully, do you possess any 'dark'-related special abilities that could rival Iluna's 'Balance'?"
Her tone was gentle, as if Shard were a child repeatedly speaking nonsense.
Shard pondered:
"Does glowing in the dark count?"
At that, Luviya looked at him as if he were indeed a child talking foolishly.
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