Yuto's mouth twitched slightly as he looked at the light screen in front of him, which seemed to be more about messing around than being serious.
Although he felt that this world was somewhat out of place for someone like him, relatively speaking, these abstract things weren't that important.
These titles wouldn't be called out by acquaintances in Teyvat, so as long as they gave him popularity points, it was a good thing.
Yuto nodded slightly, then looked at his "account balance."
"Current Popularity: 95000"
"Pending Popularity: 100000"
"Current Available Main Quests: None"
"Current Available Story Quests: 'Neuvillette: Act I - The Tide's Embrace,' 'Lyney: Act I - The Warden of the Fortress,' 'Furina: Act I - The Songstress,' 'Navia: Act I - The Wild Rose,' 'Arlecchino: Act I - The Cleansing Flame,' 'Clorinde: Act I - The Swift Blade.'"
Yuto's mouth twitched slightly as he looked at the series of available story quests.
"Looks like... I'm quite busy, huh..."
He truly hadn't expected that story quests, which he previously had to purchase with popularity points, would now become directly accessible.
This... truly surprised him.
"However, this is also a good thing. It means I can invest a considerable amount of future popularity points into improving my strength..."
With a thought from Yuto, the light screen previously used to purchase the "Extremely Evil Skill: Law Enforcement Agency" reappeared before him.
"Forbidden Codex (Incomplete): 50000 Popularity"
"Abyssal Revelations: Missing prerequisite, cannot purchase"
"Crimson Solstice, Brilliant Black Sun: Missing prerequisite, cannot purchase"
"Primordial Creation Method: Missing prerequisite, cannot purchase"
Looking at the only three remaining items for improving combat power, Yuto couldn't help but rub his chin.
He now understood that these abilities were like pieces of a puzzle, meant to be assembled into some inexplicable form.
But in a sense, the Immortal Spirit's true form wouldn't change much because of this, which might be his special characteristic.
After all, those who can withstand the Abyss power's corruption... are inherently different from ordinary beings.
Thinking of this, Yuto gently shook his head, then bought the "Forbidden Codex."
Although this item was incomplete now, and it was unclear how much improvement it would bring him after being fully completed...
Compared to stagnation, something with some room for improvement could still bring him a thin sense of security.
"Melee mage, melee mage. The melee aspect has been improved as much as possible, but the mage aspect is completely unrelated..."
Yuto said, spreading his palm. A purplish-black electric arc flickered back and forth in his hand, eventually forming a small purplish-black spear.
"Bearing the title of 'melee mage,' yet I only have one spell from beginning to end... The methods Skirk gave me for manipulating Abyss power aren't interchangeable, so I can't even research anything..."
Thinking of this, Yuto couldn't help but sigh, seemingly still dissatisfied with his abilities.
As previously mentioned, the enemies he would face next... were of a very high standing.
"Rene, who was able to expand himself from an ordinary life form all the way to a Descender... Narzissenkreuz..."
A difficult-to-discern light flashed in Yuto's sea-blue eyes, as if he felt a sense of pity for this genius from Egeria's era.
Having sat in the high position of Assistant Administrator for so long, he couldn't help but develop a fondness for talented individuals.
The current Fontaine Scientific Research Institute, compared to the one during Egeria's time... was truly dilapidated and useless.
"If Rene could be successfully brought back, even if he just gave lectures, Fontaine could rapidly develop with his genius-like mind, possibly even surpassing Snezhnaya in a short time..."
Yuto nodded slightly, secretly resolving to bring Rene back.
After all, no one knew what the Ice Queen Barnabas would do in the future, nor whether the war ignited by Snezhnaya would affect other nations like Khaen'riah once did.
Regarding the various uncertainties of the future, all Yuto could do was prepare everything and quietly await that time's arrival.
Although Fontaine had Neuvillette, the complete Dragon, guarding it, in terms of top-tier combat power... Fontaine feared no one, but the middle and lower ranks were a bit... too strained.
Snezhnaya possessed Evil Eyes, and had eleven... no, now nine Harbingers, three of whom possessed power comparable to Gods, and one Jester.
In this regard, perhaps only Ritou, with its Immortals, could compete with Snezhnaya; that was Ritou's natural, irreplicable advantage.
"Perhaps Rene's inclusion could completely change this situation..."
"Of course, the prerequisite is that I must be able to defeat Rene, and then find a way to free him from that state, similar to a Pure water element being corrupted by Abyss power..."
Yuto shook his head helplessly, then slowly closed his eyes, attempting to establish a deeper connection with the book in his mind.
After all... no matter where, strength speaks for itself; without strength, everything is empty talk.
As time passed, the black mist that originally surrounded the book was dispelled bit by bit by Yuto's consciousness, finally allowing the "Forbidden Codex" to appear before him.
However, when Yuto saw the book's cover... he felt utterly dismayed.
Because this book was the one he had been reading most frequently for a while now—
—"Narcissenkreuz Adventure."
"Why is a storybook considered a Forbidden Codex? It's not like 'Princess Pig,' a 'fairy tale book' that records Teyvat's true history. What does this mean?"
Yuto frowned slightly, then slowly opened his eyes and, with a thought, brought up his character panel.
He skipped over the basic information he had seen countless times and directly focused on the phrase "Forbidden Codex (Incomplete)."
"Forbidden Codex (Incomplete)"
"Description: This is a grimoire that records the uses of various elemental powers. It contains not only power but also many truths."
"Current Chapter: Echoes of water element"
"Completion Conditions: Obtain 'World Formula Derivation Draft,' 'phobos Fragment,' 'Primordial Sea Dew.'"
"Upon completion, the 'Forbidden Codex' will unlock the 'Echoes of water element' chapter, and the owner's understanding of water element will greatly increase."
If things had stopped there... perhaps Yuto wouldn't have said anything more, but the next prompt that popped up gave him new thoughts about this item.
"Detected 'Void Realm Power' from the Abyss. Lost chapter - 'Boundary of Light and Shadow' unlock progress: 50%"
"Unlock Conditions: 'Gu Xianling de Yiyu (Ancient Seelie's Murmur),' 'Whispers from the Bottom of the Abyss' (Achieved)"
"This is a turning point in your destiny. Choose: do you trust them, or do you trust Them?"
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