Chapter 98: Inquiry

"I am looking for 'Sloth'," Adonsa said.

The tentacle traced another circle. "Information regarding 'Sloth' exceeds your cognitive limits. Please narrow your search parameters or proceed with a forced query."

Only then did Adonsa realize his mistake.

As a concept that was far from rare, "Sloth" could be found in tens of thousands of books on Earth alone, and internet searches would yield hundreds of millions of pieces of junk data. How much more so in this library, which housed the knowledge of countless parallel universes?

It was clear that such broad search criteria were simply self-inflicted torture.

Adonsa corrected himself: "Search for the power of 'Sloth' capable of restoring a host's body and sealing a super-massive physique. Please prioritize the domain of transcendental powers."

The original circle shifted. "Information found. Confirming the browse will cost one thousand Source Energy points."

Adonsa did not hesitate and paid the cost.

"The Sloth of the Seven Sins: Originates from an Earth-based alternate spacetime isotype with 36% erosion from unknown laws. Its ability is to permanently solidify the host's material attributes, involving causal and spatial properties. Acquisition method: Complete related world missions or use transcendental powers such as Tier 10 magic for forced extraction. If technological means of extraction are desired, you must be at or above a Level 7 civilization, possessing foundational mastery of micro-universe law-reshaping technology."

Adonsa frowned. "Tier 10 magic? Level 7 civilization?"

"The initial 'Sloth' can be extracted with just a Tier 10 'Force Extraction' spell. If the Sloth has absorbed the origin of a collective consciousness, more powerful magical energy is required. If the Apostle has a need, I can perform a full-body scan to provide an optimal treatment plan for a fee of four thousand Source Energy points."

"I refuse," Adonsa stated decisively.

Adonsa did not have many secrets, but the ones he did have were earth-shattering. He did not want to expose everything due to some inexplicable medical examination.

However, it appeared that to neutralize a manifestation of Sloth that had already grown to a certain degree, Tier 10 magic alone was no longer sufficient.

"Is there anything else you require?"

Adonsa quickly provided his next request: "I want knowledge regarding magitech."

"According to your Apostle level, magitech is only accessible up to Level 5. A full exchange would require five hundred thousand Source Energy points. Do you wish to proceed?"

Shocked, Adonsa quickly asked, "What is an Apostle level?"

"A basic, free question; no charge. Apostle level represents an Apostle's merit within the Box Garden and is unrelated to strength. It can be obtained through mission completion evaluations, the submission of unknown artifacts, and other means."

Adonsa’s Apostle qualifications were inherited from Qi Qiuchan. It seemed that Qi Qiuchan’s Apostle level was not low, as he could directly exchange for Level 5 magitech.

However, the exorbitant price of five hundred thousand was something Adonsa could not bear.

Adonsa soon realized the error in his questioning style again. He said, "Query introductory knowledge on magitech."

"Fifty-seven volumes found, including *The Ignorance of Magic and Science: A General Treatise on Magitech* and *Introduction to the Light of Magic*. Each volume costs three thousand points."

If Adonsa asked for 'magitech' in general, the Box Garden would dump everything related to it, including all the miscellaneous odds and ends. Things like magitech warships, which were of little use to an average Apostle, were particularly expensive—the blueprints alone likely cost over one hundred thousand points—which was why the total exchange cost was so absurdly high.

But by specifically asking for introductions, foundations, and general treatises, the volume of information was greatly reduced, and the point cost naturally dropped to a manageable level.

Three thousand points for a general treatise was equivalent to a minor enhancement, enough to elevate an ordinary person to the level of a national athlete.

Comparing it this way, it seemed quite a bargain. Yet, one had to realize that a general treatise could not be directly converted into products or technology; it was merely an introduction. The remaining theory and applied technology would not only require intensive study but also the sourcing of raw materials and manufacturing equipment. It was incredibly complex.

Thinking about it, a basic magitech production line would likely cost over twenty thousand Source Energy points.

However, Adonsa happened to need this supplement from another knowledge system, and for him, technology and production were actually much easier to manage than for others.

Adonsa said, "Exchange the book with the highest rating."

"Confirming exchange for *Foundations of Magitech*."

The black-based, white-pupiled eye on Adonsa’s wrist blinked open and shut. By focusing his attention on his wrist, he could freely browse the content of the books he had exchanged.

Adonsa said, "If I want you to tailor a study curriculum for me—it doesn't need to be all-encompassing, just covering basic combat—what would the cost be?"

"A customized study module, capped at Level 5 magitech, requires a payment of two hundred and fifty thousand Source Energy points."

Adonsa shook his head. Knowledge was indeed the most expensive commodity; there was no way to cheat the system. Two hundred and fifty thousand Source Energy points were enough to force an upgrade to the fourth energy level.

In a minute or two, Adonsa had read the three-thousand-point introductory book a dozen times, memorizing it thoroughly. Based on this foundation, he quickly made a plan and laid out his requirements: "With the remaining sixteen thousand points, select the highest-rated books in the fields of magitech energy, magitech interference, magitech dynamics, precision magitech lathe manufacturing, and magitech safety. The level doesn't need to be high; foundations will suffice."

"Search complete. The following books require a payment of ten thousand five hundred and sixty Source Energy points."

After reviewing the list, Adonsa readily spent all the Source Energy he had extorted, leaving him with a pathetic forty points—not even enough to buy a submachine gun.

As Adonsa walked away, the tentacle lingered for a long time, watching his retreating figure.

Suddenly, countless tentacles slammed violently against the glass, spitting out infinite, strange, circular characters, restless and surging.

Behind the massive screen lay an environment of water-thick, dense fog. Infinite folded spaces and infinitely overlapping time existed here in the form of mist, inhabited by swarms of black, spherical creatures. Thirteen rugged tentacles were distributed symmetrically across their surfaces, occasionally stretching, branching, and extending into five fingers at their tips.

They plucked the cosmic strings, calmed the waves in the quantum ocean, stabilized the course of countless universes from birth to destruction, and synthesized the complex, massive, transcendent spacetime into the circular characters that constantly rotated and transformed at the tips of their tentacles—a form of three-dimensional writing extending into four-dimensional space, where a single stroke could encompass the information of an entire galaxy.

One individual, appearing no different from the rest, dashed toward the distant heights, extended a tentacle to tear open a rift, spat out ink to outline a circle, and sent it through.

It was a passage that directly twisted the skeleton of the macro-universe, piercing and squeezing through several cosmic crystal walls, capable of transmitting information instantly to the infinite beyond.

The three-dimensional macro-space was kneaded and flattened like a piece of paper, rewritten at will.

But after tearing the rift, the spherical creature carefully closed and smoothed it over, calming all vibrating spatial waves, restabilizing the distribution of celestial bodies, preventing several extra gamma-ray bursts in advance, and confirming that not a single destructive impact had been caused. Only then did it return contentedly to its companions to continue their great, incomprehensible work.