Chapter 677: Chapter 439: Version 2.0 Goes Live

Chen Lun scrutinized the engravings on the damaged stele, extending his index finger to lightly trace the indents and recognize their meaning.

“…In the year 13,325 of The Fourth Era, the old man Bankroth, wielding divine power, schemed against the Star Religion and dissolved the Kingdom of Anita from within, leading to internal conflict and bloodshed that filled the continent for hundreds and thousands of years, creating mountains of corpses and seas of blood, a desolate scene, ultimately causing the collapse of human civilization… The hard-won unity shattered in an instant, and the Royal Family of Anita splintered into the three great families of Tresor, Matthaios, and Hilbert…”

As Chen Lun silently read the words recorded on the stele, he was simultaneously astonished.

Although he had known that the only human Kingdom “Anita” eventually disintegrated, he had not anticipated that Death, the ancient Elder Bankroth, was the push behind the scenes.

Chen Lun did not know the purpose behind the Elder’s actions nor the specifics of what had transpired, but even from the lightly inscribed narrative, he could imagine what a terrifying era it must have been.

“…In the year 15,623 of The Fourth Era, the believers of the Elder Bankroth dwindled to the point of lacking faith anchors and Sanity, and in the long stretches of time, due to the reckless spending of mythical power, ultimately lost their humanity and completely degenerated into a Mythical Creature Form, weaving an endless web in the Divine Kingdom’s Spiderweb Hell, executing the last Will, attempting to connect the Spirit World, Dream Realm, Star Realm, Netherworld, and the present world into one… No one knows the Elder Bankroth’s ultimate purpose, nor can anyone predict whether the consequences of this act are good or bad… But by doing this, He incited the wrath of the Master of Destiny, Ring Duke, and on June 15th of the following year, people came to understand a truth, that Death, too, can die, and that even Death has an end.”

Chen Lun quietly gazed at the fragmented stele, the cool carvings paradoxically giving him a burning sensation. Slowly coming back to his senses, he couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

‘Ring Duke… single-handedly killed Death?!’

He originally did not know much about that deity at the end of his own path, but from bits and pieces gathered from various sources, it seemed Ring Duke definitely belonged among the strongest echelon of True Gods.

At the same time, the stele mentioned the “Netherworld” and “Star Realm,” two worlds Chen Lun had never heard of before. He silently took note of them and continued reading along the script:

“…From a historical perspective, it is believed that all acts by the Elder Bankroth will eventually bring catastrophic disaster to the world, possibly even destruction. Ring Duke’s action to kill Him was a move to save the world, and I carve this stele in memory of the grand deeds of Ring Duke–Historian, Time Engraver, Witness to Great Deeds, Seth Mitchell.”

‘So this is a stele dedicated to recording the grand deeds of Ring Duke… No wonder it’s called ‘Monument of Destiny’.’

Chen Lun suddenly understood.

‘The carver of the stele is named Seth Mitchell…’

He looked at the signature at the end, his eyebrows raising slightly.

He had once again come across this familiar name.

Previously, in the Simon Family Museum in Peacock City, he had acquired a travel manuscript by Seth, which recorded some travel experiences, including references to Saint Aye’s Town.

Seth also hoped to spend his twilight years in that small town.

‘Could this person really have witnessed that ancient and hidden history? If so… He might very well be an Angel of the Earth Faction, otherwise how could he live for so long.’

Chen Lun remembered the last time due to the chaos in the Spirit World, he had taken a trip to Saint Aye’s Town with a team and encountered a small incident there.

‘It seems Saint Aye’s Town harbors a high-ranking individual, and now it seems quite possible that it is this ancestor of the Mitchell Family, Seth…’

At that time, the little white snake he left there to observe was “abducted” by that mysterious high-ranking individual, and Chen Lun was not sure if it was a good or bad thing.

‘Historian, Time Engraver, Witness to Great Deeds… This indeed sounds like a three-part noble title, and he likely holds a position of considerable authority.’

Chen Lun became more certain.

At the same time, from the inscriptions on the Monument of Destiny, it seemed that this “Seth” had a mysterious reverence for Ring Duke…

‘Assuming it’s as I’ve surmised… So an Angel of the Earth Faction is actually the ‘little fanboy’ of the True God of Destiny? And even carves a grand monument in His memory?’

Chen Lun mused with a comment, a strange expression on his face.

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With less than ten days left until the update to version 2.0 was complete, Chen Lun did not wander around during that time; instead, he waited for players to come online while preparing for the Western War.

Based on vague memories from a former lifetime, he recorded many key events that would occur during the Western War and committed them to memory.

This was to help him profit from the situation when the time came.

‘After all, I still need to fill the gaps in both experience points and reputation…’ Chen Lun thought.

Meanwhile, he invested nearly one hundred thousand Gold Pounds, purchasing all sorts of extraordinary materials from the Silver Dragon Trade Association for his team members to research and forge.

After being promoted to [Sequence Six-Nightwalker], Floey was even more adept at using the [Sun-avoiding Potted Plant], and her “Moon Craftsman” skill in forging Mysterious Objects became increasingly skilled.

She was now able to craft [C-level Mysterious Objects], and although the probability of crafting top-quality items was still consistently low, the sheer quality was there. Most of the “defective and pointless” items were exchanged by Chen Lun for lower level Merit Points at the Judiciary building.

Compared to selling them in loot boxes to players, he was now in greater need of experience points.