Translator: CinderTL
Regardless, the detailed and profound knowledge contained within the Firmament Breathing Technique in his hand was irrefutable.
This served as an undeniable testament, declaring that none of the tomes on this bookshelf were mere fantasies or empty boasts. Instead, they were the true crystallized power of that glorious era.
An unprecedented, dizzyingly vast future vision suddenly exploded in Roland's mind, causing his heart rate to accelerate uncontrollably and his blood to surge as if instantly boiling.
If—if the knowledge in these books, like the Firmament Breathing Technique, were as systematic, complete, and directly focused on the core of power...
Then, with his unique Job Panel, analyzing, mastering, and even changing class to these legendary extraordinary professions would no longer be an unattainable dream.
At that moment, he would no longer be merely a lone wanderer confined to the path of the knight.
The power of the elements would roar at his command, shadows would transform into his invisible blades, and ancient runes would obey his will—
He could merge multiple transcendent paths into one, shattering the barriers between classes and forging a path to power that was entirely his own, a path no one had ever tread before.
This wasn't merely a simple accumulation of strength; it was a fundamental transformation and transcendence.
The mere thought of the infinite possibilities made him tremble with excitement, almost beyond his control.
He took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down.
Opportunity lay before him, but he couldn't afford to make any mistakes due to impulsiveness.
He quickly retrieved the mysterious Secret Imprisonment Dice from his pouch and began manipulating it with practiced fingers.
After a moment, a dark, profound spatial gate slowly opened before him.
Roland hesitated no longer. Carefully, he wrapped the intact bookshelf, along with all the texts it held, in his mental power and steadily guided it through the spatial gate, ensuring not a single item was damaged or left behind.
Having completed this, he meticulously scanned every corner of the library one last time to confirm nothing of value had been overlooked. Then, the burning desire to study these texts surged through his entire body like a raging flame.
He could no longer contain himself and immediately strode forward, calling out, "Galvis! We need to leave!"
Roland's voice echoed through the empty, dilapidated library, but the response he expected never came.
He turned to find Galvis still sitting amidst a pile of shattered wood chips and paper nearby. As if he hadn't heard Roland's call at all, he was holding a thick, tattered tome with its cover nearly detached, reading it with rapturous intensity. He occasionally made faint, indecipherable clicking sounds with his tongue.
This peculiar scene piqued Roland's curiosity. Suppressing his urge to leave immediately, he slowly approached and crouched beside Galvis, his gaze falling on the ancient text in the man's hands.
The pages were yellowed and brittle, but the ancient Common Tongue script remained clear.
Galvis sensed his presence without looking up, excitedly tapping the page he was reading with his finger. In a hushed, excited voice, he said, "Roland, look at this! This—this is simply unbelievable!"
Following his finger, Roland's eyes fell on several passages written in ornate, archaic script.
"—According to the Seven Centuries Census of the Dawnlight Empire, by the year 437 of the Crystal Era, the number of recorded individuals possessing extraordinary power within the empire's borders had surpassed one percent of the total population. The Scholar Council advocates for widespread enlightenment, aiming to increase the number of blessed individuals tenfold within a decade—"
"—The Civil Magic-Pattern Regulations, now promulgated by the Royal Capital Rune Institute, meticulously detail the engraving, installation, and maintenance of magic patterns on residences, shared transportation, and household items. chief inscription master Herman decrees that arcane power should flow like a clear spring and gentle breeze, serenely benefiting every windowpane. This is the empire's solemn vow and glory—"
"—The Skyship: Flowing Shadow has commenced its regular route, connecting the Imperial Crown Morning Star with Southern Jade Harbor. This air route, under the jurisdiction of the Royal Wing-Guard Bureau, utilizes the latest Condensed Void Magic Cores and Windwhisper Arrays, enabling a three-day round trip at remarkably low fares. The apprentice subsidy and Honorary Merit Discount are also offered, reflecting the empire's aspiration for seamless trade and flourishing prosperity—"
Roland's gaze remained fixed on the pages, his heart overwhelmed with shock.
Transcendents exceeding one percent of the population?
This meant that at the time, nearly one in every hundred citizens was a formal transcendent professional.
This stood in stark contrast to his previous understanding, where extraordinary power was monopolized by a select few nobles, knight orders, or secret organizations, and ordinary people could hardly touch it in their lifetimes.
Moreover, these ancient records painted a picture of a glorious and incredible era.
Extraordinary power was not a lofty privilege reserved for the elite, but rather a fundamental part of education and civic development, as essential as craft skills or commercial accounting, deeply integrated into the daily rhythm of city streets and alleys.
Civil Magic-Pattern Regulations, widely established Enlightenment Academies, and magic vessels that benefited ordinary families—
At that moment, his long-standing question—why these precious transcendent professional texts had remained intact here—seemed to find a vague yet plausible explanation.
In an era where transcendent professions were so common and related knowledge was perhaps nearly public and standardized, these books detailing the "basic" advancement paths might not have been as "irreplaceable" as Roland had imagined.
These books might be like the "nine-year compulsory education textbooks" or "vocational skill standards training manuals" he'd seen everywhere in his previous life—important, but not unique, irreplaceable treasures.
When disaster struck and order collapsed, raiders might prioritize plundering powerful magic items, rare materials, or cutting-edge technology, while neglecting these "commonplace" knowledge carriers.
Thinking of this, Roland gazed at the seemingly ordinary book in his hands, which depicted a mythical era, his expression becoming infinitely complex.
A mix of awe, yearning, and a flicker of understanding intertwined in his mind.
The prosperity and power of the era known as the "Crystal Era" likely far surpassed anything he, or even Galvis with his most imaginative ballads, could describe.
Unlike Roland's internal turmoil of shock and contemplation, Galvis's reaction was far more direct and fervent.
He abruptly slammed shut the book containing the ancient messages, as if he'd discovered a peerless treasure. Grabbing Roland's arm, his voice trembling with excitement, he exclaimed, "Quick! Roland! Use your magical dice! Take all of this—every single bit—and put it away!"
Roland pointed to the bookshelf in front of him, a repository of historical fragments, as intact as the previous one.
The books were neatly arranged, their titles mostly including Chronicles of the Empire: Crystal Era, Dawnlight Gazetteer, Royal Capital Daily News, and Arcane Review Monthly.
Clearly, these were records, newspapers, and collections documenting the social customs, major events, and daily life of the Dawnlight Empire during the Crystal Era.
Roland didn't refuse Galvis's request.
It was a trivial task for him, and moreover, he was equally curious about that era, where extraordinary power had been wielded with the same convenience and depth as modern society in his previous life.
Without further delay, they immediately set to work.
Roland activated the Secret Imprisonment Dice again. A dark spatial portal opened, safely enclosing the history-laden bookshelf within.
Afterward, they thoroughly searched the library precinct, carefully gathering scattered books and scrolls in relatively good condition. They collected every last item, ensuring no significant pieces were left behind.
Having completed their task, the two quickly departed the silent Knowledge Graveyard, their arms laden with treasures, and returned to the shell ship docked outside.
Seeing their swift return, Durga, Bronson, and the others naturally showed a hint of curiosity.
Roland offered no detailed explanation, merely mentioning that they had discovered and successfully recovered several well-preserved ancient texts.
He then instructed Avril to strengthen the ship's perimeter defenses for security, before immediately retreating to his assigned cabin.
As the cabin door sealed shut, creating a private space, Roland eagerly reopened the space within the Secret Imprisonment Dice. Together with Galvis, they began the initial process of organizing and sifting through the massive collection of books they had acquired.
However, as they delved deeper into the texts, a sense of regret gradually surfaced in Roland's mind.
While there were numerous texts detailing the advancement paths for various extraordinary professions, and their content was remarkably comprehensive and systematic, it seemed that precisely because the Crystal Era had been so brilliant and advanced, its transcendent system had undergone centuries of development and refinement. As a result, the standard advancement methods for many professions had become highly dependent on the unique environments, resources, or technologies of that era.
For instance, some meditation techniques require a specific high-concentration mana environment, while bloodline awakening rituals depend on precision-crafted constructs or expensive catalyst potions. Even core spell models, which once seemed to require connection to a public Mana-Net System, are now impossible to implement.
With these conditions no longer met, these once-advanced and powerful advancement paths now resemble rootless trees, impossible to sustain.
After several rounds of screening and comparison, Roland ultimately selected only a few methods that, at the time, might have been considered ancient, basic, or even "outdated."
However, their advancement requirements remained relatively primitive, relying more on the individual's own capabilities and ordinary materials or environments that could still be found in the current era, as described in extraordinary profession texts.
Among these, the most straightforward and easiest to attempt in this era of decline was the...
[Path of Ancestral Spirits and Fury—Barbarian Class-Change Ritual]
(End of the Chapter)
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