Chapter 00030: The So Called Supreme Good (Thanks to the Master of the Broken Blade)
# The So-Called Supreme Good (Thanks to the Master of the Broken Blade)
Chapter 30
Novel: Above Destiny
Chapter 30: The So-Called Supreme Good (Thanks to the Master of the Broken Blade)
In the afternoon, at two o'clock.
Still in the Northern District, in a desolate coastal area, Professor Ye led the way, stopping the car in front of a deserted factory.
Several factory buildings were scattered behind tall walls, with a low office building covered in greenery.
The sound of the waves added a quiet, serene atmosphere.
It didn't appear dilapidated.
Beyond the weathered high walls, the inner compound was so quiet that not a soul could be seen—no security, no cleaning staff, and no workers.
Yet, it was spotless, even the plants trimmed neatly.
Simple and straightforward, everything was in its proper place without any clutter obstructing the orderliness.
"Is this yours?" Ji Jue asked, glancing around.
"About ten years ago, when I intended to settle in Cliff City, the Balance Chamber of Commerce gave it to me," Ye Xian replied calmly as he walked ahead.
"This is my workshop where I carry out most of my alchemical work. You can freely move around buildings A and B during your spare time, and you can use the equipment when it’s not in use—just clean up after yourself. Area C, well, you need to keep your distance from that door with the warning sign, and don't wander into the upper floors of the office building."
"Understood."
Ji Jue nodded obediently, keeping the instructions in mind.
He didn’t ask what would happen if he accidentally wandered in; he assumed the outcomes were limited to life or a fate worse than death.
Back in his freshman year, while working on a project, he barely escaped a near-death experience after a foolish teammate mistakenly activated a blade.
Since then, he had memorized all safety procedures related to production.
"I’ll go prepare what we need next," he said, pushing open the door to the hall.
He gestured toward the spacious lobby, which felt warm and cozy like a living room, and saw Ye Chun sprawled on the sofa, engrossed in watching TV while munching on chips.
"You can chat with her."
"Aunt? Didn’t you have plans this afternoon?" Ye Chun exclaimed in shock, springing up from the sofa.
She hastily tidied her snacks, spotting Ji Jue and froze, her expression shifting from surprise to fear.
"Isn't it just clarifying my second draft? How did you end up here?!"
"…"
Professor Ye sighed, utterly perplexed by the abstract interactions between the two.
"The timing has changed a bit. Ji Jue will officially start working in the workshop today, and he is under your supervision now. Please introduce him to the specifics and share some basic knowledge. I trust you know how to train him?"
"Eh? So soon?" Ye Chun was incredulous.
"By the way, he was involved in a serious incident a few days ago. After suffering from spiritual erosion, he has awakened of his own accord."
"Eh?! So quick?!" Ye Chun looked even more shocked.
"Also, both of your papers are unsatisfactory and need to be redone."
Professor Ye began ascending the stairs.
"Submit them before next month."
"Eh?!! This…" Ye Chun tried to protest but halted her words as she caught Professor Ye's gaze from the stairs.
She quickly composed herself, forcing a smile that was both submissive and eager to please.
"That's great! I really like it!"
With that, Professor Ye withdrew his gaze and headed upstairs.
Now, only Ji Jue and Ye Chun remained in the silent lobby, looking at each other.
Ye Chun’s disheveled hair and makeup gave her a rather shabby appearance, far from the radiant vibe usually found in school; instead, it felt much more grounded.
Her eyes were wide with disbelief, as if she had seen a pig with wings flying in the sky.
She bounced around Ji Jue, still clutching her drink and chips, utterly incredulous.
"You actually awakened on your own? That’s amazing!"
Ji Jue looked confused.
"Is it impressive?"
"Well, if we score you on a scale of one hundred for awesomeness, you'd probably get around ninety."
Ye Chun gave a sympathetic pat on his shoulder as she grinned.
"It's really impressive, but last month, there was some weirdo who triggered a divine call. That person was a real monster… compared to that, you’re just average!"
"…Mm, true enough."
Ji Jue nodded, finding it hard to disagree.
He then picked up one of her chips and another can of soda, comfortably settling down to eat.
Ye Chun leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
She blinked, asking, "They say those who awaken on their own have special soul abilities. What’s yours?"
Ji Jue lowered his voice, pretending to be mysterious.
"I can make my phone talk."
Ye Chun's eyes widened with excitement.
"What a coincidence! I can do that too!"
"Then you’re a chosen one who awakened of your own accord—really impressive."
The two exchanged glances, then burst into laughter together.
Before long, Ye Chun theatrically retrieved a small chalkboard from a corner, mimicking Professor Ye's serious demeanor, picking up the chalk.
"Aunt asked me to fill in some knowledge gaps. What do you know about chosen ones?"
"Reporting to the teacher."
Ji Jue raised his hand.
"Basically nothing."
"Eh? Ji Jue, your foundation is really poor," Ye Chun exclaimed, shaking her head in teacherly dismay as she tapped on the chalkboard.
"Let's start with the types of awakenings for chosen ones."
With that, she wrote three lines on the board: [Higher Inheritance], [Autonomous Awakening], [Divine Call].
"Autonomous Awakening, like yours, could be due to spiritual erosion or perhaps caused by a calamity or something else. Under peculiar circumstances, a soul touches the essence of Supreme Good and transforms into a chosen one. Due to the varying situations, innate abilities differ greatly—some are strong, some weak; the weak can talk to their phones, while the strong can make lampposts converse with them. The upper limit is high, but the lower limit can be quite low."
"Higher Inheritance involves fixed rituals, using various special items derived from the Twelve Supreme Goods, or even through alchemy, contracts, or organ transplants, to forcibly corrupt the user’s soul, ultimately awakening and undergoing transformation. Those who use this method generally belong to a faction aligned with the relevant Supreme Good, and their abilities are usually similar. The lower limit is relatively assured, but the upper limit often relies on luck. The only advantage is that if you’re willing to spend money, you can mass-produce chosen ones."
"How much?" Ji Jue couldn't help but raise his hand, his curiosity piqued.
"Let me think."
Ye Chun pondered for a moment before answering, "A safe higher summon ritual costs around six million to ten million federal coins. They say there are methods relying on higher matrices and divine craftsmanship, but those prices soar to the heavens; often it’s more about relationships than money—you might end up working your whole life to repay a debt. Some may be cheaper without such strict requirements, but the success rate is… hard to describe."
"Alright, I overstepped my bounds."
Ji Jue felt embarrassed, lowering his head.
"By the way, Senior Sister, you…"
"Not me," Ye Chun shook her head.
"Aunt has her connections. When I graduated, she asked for my opinion, preparing a complete set of processes and rituals, even possibly borrowing the Safety Bureau's ‘Mountain Light.’ Yet, I always felt that daily research wasn’t suitable for me. Fighting and killing seem to be a lack of talent for me—being an ordinary person seems safer. I have no real passion for research, which doesn't align with Ember's requirements, so I’d rather comfortably assist Aunt. However, that entire setup is still here. I originally thought Aunt would give it to you, not realizing… you’d save money and handle it yourself, and even choose a professional path with Ember."
Ji Jue couldn't help but wipe his sweat.
"I already owe Professor Ye so much—it’s best not to incur more debt…"
He could hardly manage his student loans at the moment, let alone anything else.
"…Let's return to discussing the concepts," Ji Jue finally found the opportunity to ask a question he'd pondered on for a long time.
"What exactly is a chosen one? Is there really a ‘heaven’ that selects me?"
"Perhaps there is, or maybe not, but it isn't just one; at least there are twelve," Ye Chun replied.
"Chosen ones, in one sense, are difficult to come by, making them rare. In another sense, the moment they autonomously awaken, they are entrusted with their destinies. Chosen ones are those selected by the ‘Supreme Good.’"
As she spoke, she continued writing on the board in one breath, jotting down the title Ji Jue had heard several times before—[Twelve Supreme Goods].
Transformation, Heavenly Origin, Great Group, White Deer, Vortex, Heart Wheel, Ether, Eternal Gate, Ember, Mirror, Entropy, Ruins.
"This is the source of power for chosen ones, twelve different aspects, which we refer to as the Twelve Supreme Goods."
Ye Chun explained solemnly.
"They are neither beings nor deities, but magnificent tapestries woven from countless events of the past and future, extending to the beginning of time and concluding at the end of destruction. To some extent, everything they comprise is what we recognize as the world itself. Representing transcendence and truth is [Transformation]; representing order and dominion is [Heavenly Origin]; representing wildness and chaos is [White Deer]; representing the cycle of life is [Vortex]; representing conflict and destruction is [Great Group]; representing thought and desire is [Heart Wheel]; representing observation and record is [Ether]; representing time and space is [Eternal Gate]; representing illusion and nothingness is [Mirror]; representing creation and renewal is [Ember]; representing energy and explosion is [Entropy]; representing matter and eternity is [Ruins]."
"As a newcomer, you must remember their representations and symbols, and steer clear of any tapestries or symbols outside of these twelve—beyond the Supreme Good lies only evil and folly!"
Ji Jue curiously asked, "What happens if I accidentally get tainted…?"
"You would go through mutation," Ye Chun smiled.
"If you’re lucky, you’d die quickly, but if you’re unlucky, life would be torturous. You might even become a non-human aberration capable of outlasting the world in eternal suffering. So, it’s crucial to remember… of course, if you can’t remember, it doesn’t matter; after some time, you’ll naturally get used to it. Just don’t touch those strange things."
Ji Jue leaned against the chalkboard, staring intently at the writing, puzzled again.
"You just said that Great Group represents conflict and destruction, but… isn’t Great Group a Supreme Good? What’s good about that?"
"Exactly, why not?" Ye Chun answered naturally.
"War and slaughter are also parts of the world; although ugly or brutal, they are part of it. If Great Group isn't considered a Supreme Good, then wouldn’t the White Deer, representing wildness, instincts, freedom, and resistance, also be excluded? Doesn’t Heavenly Origin, which represents order and dominion, also symbolize tyranny and control? The Supreme Good is eternal, transcending the mundane world, unaffected by the favor or disdain of mortals."
(End of Chapter)