CHAPTER 495: CHAPTER 248: WINTER FLOWER_2

It could inflict serious damage the instant it was used.

Just the thought of it sent a shiver down one’s spine.

"Don’t you go touching me casually. I don’t want to suddenly lose a chunk of flesh," Jason said, pointing at Pororo’s hand.

Hearing this, Pororo immediately stuck out a finger and poked Jason twice.

"Oh, damn it! You just mastered it, don’t mess around!"

Jason quickly patted the spots Pororo had touched.

With Pororo’s mastery over the Treasure, the team’s strength was enhanced once more.

The team finally had a decisive member; Pororo and his [Winter Flower] possessed such a capability.

"Alright, alright, everyone go about your business. I’ll plan tomorrow’s itinerary," Alka announced.

Hearing this, the others disturbed him no further and left the captain’s cabin to attend to their own tasks.

Meanwhile, Alka sat alone in his seat, looking at the map in his hand.

The golden light he had been observing had vanished, now just a dull golden dot on the map.

He reached out and tapped on the prominent orange pillar of light.

Although the information left by the Priest of Winter was fragmented, these disjointed voice messages were enough for the Treasure Information he possessed to become perfectly detailed.

[Heart of Vastwa]

[Difficulty: Four Forces (Third Stage)]

[Fame: 126,000]

[Treasure Information: City-state Vastva, the Ancient City. Its faith is in the Ancient Secret God of Four Parts, also known as Change...

...Gather the Treasures of the four great Temples, and you will automatically obtain the Four Forces. In the council, distribute the Treasures, place them in the hands of each statue, Chanting Vastva, and acquire the hidden Treasure.

The original activation method can no longer be used due to special reasons. You need to obtain other Treasures related to Spring, Summer, and Autumn, and gain a trace of Divine Power, to simulate the Four Forces on the council disk to unlock the Treasure. (Perfect)]

Looking at the now perfect Treasure Information, Alka’s expression turned grave as he fell deep into thought.

His heart sank.

Just as he’d expected, the Treasure Information was indeed perfect. And, just as he’d previously thought, the activation method was indeed to gather the Treasures of the four Temples. However, for some inexplicable reason, this method was no longer usable. He needed to find Treasures representing, or capable of replacing, the three seasons of Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Similar to the [Winter Flower], something related to winter would probably suffice—like withering, for instance. And he also needed a trace of Divine Power.

Alka had no idea what Divine Power even was. He could only deduce from the literal meaning that it was likely related to the power of the Divine. Was this Treasure worth it? Was it worth investing so much effort and thought to obtain? From the unknown reason for the original method’s failure, coupled with the nature of the alternative solution, he could guess. The Treasures representing the first three seasons were probably unobtainable or had disappeared.

Alka looked at the Fame rating.

126,000 Fame. Could it be that the people of Vastva aren’t actually dead? Are they really trapped in an Alternate Space? Then why don’t the other Treasures have Fame ratings? That clearly doesn’t make sense.

Alka sighed, clearing the information from the orange pillar of light and shifting his focus away from it.

In his heart, he had already set this Treasure aside. Clearly, it was a Treasure that would take a very long time to acquire, if ever. Perhaps even a lifetime. The three Treasures representing the three seasons, along with the Divine Power, were already insurmountable obstacles for him. He would just have to see if he could obtain them during future sea voyages, maintaining a calm mindset and no longer trying to force it.

After all, he had already obtained one Treasure on the island. That was enough.

Calming his emotions this way, Alka turned his attention to the other blue treasures.

The orange Treasure no longer needed his focus.

But these blue, and even white, Treasures still held many useful things.

These included, but were not limited to, technologies and finished products related to spatial expansion and spatial severing, as well as various potential weapons and equipment.

As Alka’s understanding of Vastva deepened, all of this was clearly displayed in the Treasure Information.

Now that this was clear, he realized they might have to spend the entire year on the island.

Alka decided he needed to discuss this thoroughly with his teammates.

「At night, after dinner, the group gathered once again in the captain’s cabin.」

"According to what we discussed yesterday," Akka began, "our goals and the tasks we need to accomplish in the coming period are as follows:

1. Improve our strength as much as possible, aiming to reach Nine Spirals, or even the Third Stage, all while keeping our identities hidden.

2. As much as possible, avoid any strangers who might come to the island.

3. Excavate the ruins on this island to obtain their knowledge, artifacts, and any technologies."

Akka finished speaking, then propped his chin on his hand and looked at the others. "Anything to add, or any better suggestions?"

Everyone fell into thought.

"If we want to increase our strength as quickly as possible," Chadite said after a moment of contemplation, "then we can’t all go ashore together to excavate the ruins all the time, as that will waste our Meditation time.

"Daylight here can last for more than ten, even over twenty hours. If we always operate as a full group, it will cut into our Meditation time. After all, the Magic Gathering Stone needs to cool down. And since time here is calculated based on a full day-night cycle, all things considered, we might not actually need to spend an entire year here."