Chapter 42: Multiple Wishes Always Come True

After examining his left hand for a moment, Duan Wenxuan promptly returned to the Fourth World. Currently, this world held immense value for him. The ability to directly gain power by controlling xenological entities and unique objects was both simple and swift, making it crucial for building up his strength in the early stages.

Following his instruction to Steele to expedite the construction of the temple, several tutors whom Duan Wenxuan had hired from Westphalia arrived.

Next, he selected a group of children aged between ten and fifteen from among the farmers. Duan Wenxuan planned to have these tutors teach them basic literacy and knowledge relevant to this world. Eventually, he would choose some of the more intelligent and quick-witted ones to become the initial followers of the Universal Church.

The chosen age range was deliberate; younger children might not comprehend well, struggle with learning, and tend to be unruly, while Duan Wenxuan’s focus wasn’t on childcare. On the other hand, older individuals, long accustomed to farm work, could be mentally numb and lacking in spiritual energy, making education challenging. Overall, children within this age bracket were deemed most suitable.

For these children and their families, it represented the first step towards changing their social class, albeit a crucial one. Whether they could seize this opportunity depended entirely on themselves. Duan Wenxuan did not force anyone; the world was inherently unstable. Even with the Nightwatcher’s protection within the city, death remained a constant threat. Outside the cities, villages lived under perpetual uncertainty. Finding individuals eager to grasp their destiny would be all too easy.

As these plans unfolded smoothly, Duan Wenxuan suddenly remembered Bern.

It had been two days since Bern’s family contributed the teapot to him. Duan Wenxuan recalled that Bern had made a wish, but considering his kidneys were already removed by the teapot, how was he faring now?

The teapot immediately digests extracted organs, making any restoration impossible. The worst-case scenario would mean Bern should have died. However, contrary to Duan Wenxuan’s expectations, Bern was still alive, and surprisingly energetic.

This piqued Duan Wenxuan’s interest.

He summoned Bern once again and asked if he experienced any discomfort or issues with his body?

Bern remained as reserved as ever, “I’m doing well, sir. Although I still feel a slight chill on both sides, it seems like my strength has actually increased somewhat.”

Duan Wenxuan looked at him and pointed again towards the position of Bern’s kidneys, appearing somewhat perplexed.

The Landgraf had now asked twice about Bern’s health. Despite feeling unprecedentedly good, Bern couldn’t help but worry if something might be amiss.

Duan Wenxuan was certain that Bern should indeed be renal-less, meaning he shouldn’t be alive. Yet here he stood, completely unharmed. The only plausible explanation was that the teapot’s power was sustaining his life.

Normally, losing both kidneys would lead to death, and losing one’s heart instantly results in fatality. However, the teapot could ensure its host remains alive even after losing these vital organs, up until the moment the host makes their third wish, which then takes away the host’s brain, causing their demise.

Therefore, Bern’s current state likely placed him under the first layer of the teapot’s lethal mechanisms. Without Duan Wenxuan’s intervention, the teapot would not allow anyone or anything else to claim Bern’s life before he made his third wish, since Bern had already been marked by it.

By suddenly intervening before the teapot could kill Bern and forcibly taking it away, this was likely something unprecedented for the teapot. Consequently, Bern may have stumbled upon a bug within its workings.

He remained perpetually under the first layer of the teapot’s lethal threat, yet he would never be able to make the subsequent two wishes. This resulted in Bern never fulfilling the conditions for the teapot to claim his life, effectively granting him a relatively immortal state. Unless some force surpassing the teapot’s power emerged, capable of killing Bern even under the teapot’s influence.

What a surprising discovery; the xenological entities and unique objects in this world truly are bizarre.

As Duan Wenxuan pondered, Bern’s complexion turned deathly pale. The Landgraf’s prolonged silence felt like a silent punishment to him, almost as if he were already sentencing himself to death.

“Bern,” Duan Wenxuan suddenly spoke.

Bern shuddered involuntarily.

“I plan to establish a cultivation class within the manor. When the time comes, children aged ten to fifteen will have the option to join the class for learning without any fees. In fact, I will provide them with three meals a day.”

“You’re already twenty, and your age doesn’t quite fit the criteria, but I will grant you a spot. I hope that in the future, you can become one of the Universal Church’s Enlighteners as a Protectorate.”

”…Me?”

As the son of a farmer, Bern had grown up seeing only dilapidated houses and endless fields of crops throughout his life. Beyond these, he had no other distractions or knowledge of the world outside this realm.

“Think carefully about it. Perhaps you don’t fully understand its significance now, but I hope that in the future, when you look back on today, you won’t regret it.”

Bern departed.

Along the way, he seemed somewhat bewildered. Only after distancing himself from the Landgraf’s residence did he suddenly break into a frantic sprint towards home.

Gasping for breath, the wind whipped across his face. Somewhere along the run, he had lost his shoes, yet Bern felt an oddly calming sensation.

When he was eleven or twelve years old, facing relentless work that left him exhausted to the point of tears, he had done something similar once before. He ran, not thinking about anything, emptying his mind completely. However, afterward, Moto had beaten him, demanding to know what madness had possessed him. Such aimless running, serving no purpose, merely drained his energy and made him hungrier.

“Dad!”

Upon running home, Bern’s face was flushed red, his sweat-soaked hair sticking to his forehead. This rough-skinned young man, usually reserved, looked around their clean house. His father, unusually relaxed, was engaged in some woodworking, while his mother and sister were busy sorting beans—a scene of idyllic domesticity.

Shanfu immediately noticed the soft, pristine bag in Bern’s hand. Only the Landgraf would casually gift such clean and delicate bags.

A few days earlier, Bern and Moto had delivered a worn-out teapot to the Landgraf. Not only did the Landgraf treat them to a lavish feast until they could barely walk back, but he also sent them off with plenty of delicious food. Additionally, the Landgraf provided flour, smoked meat, sausages, and more—all packed in several white, soft bags…

“Did the Landgraf give this to you?” Shanfu promptly stood up, eagerly taking the heavy bag from him.

As she opened it, inside were freshly baked bread loaves, salt, sugar, and spices wrapped in brown paper, followed by numerous apples at the bottom and a neatly packaged roasted chicken.

“I want some!” The second son, Burke, immediately lunged towards the roasted chicken.

Quickly, Shanfu lifted the chicken out of reach. “No, not now.”

“Bern, what did the Landgraf want with you?” Unlike Shanfu’s joy and Burke’s tantrum, Moto, though tempted by the food, prioritized asking about important matters first.

“Dad, the Landgraf said he’s opening a cultivation class at the manor, and kindly offered me a spot.”

”…And how do you feel about it, Bern?”

“I…I want to go.” This was the first time since becoming more mature that Bern had expressed his own desire. “If I attend the cultivation class, my labor will be absent from home tasks. But Dad, during my free time, I’ll still help you in the fields. Even when everyone else is asleep at night, I’ll go there too. I…I really want to…”

As the eldest son, Bern was already a crucial pillar and the best source of labor for their family. Attending the cultivation class would mean losing one of their primary workers.

Shanfu carefully placed the roasted chicken along with the other food Bern brought back. She meticulously divided everything, then stored them securely in the kitchen, sternly warning the children not to touch anything without permission.

As for Bern’s situation, she refrained from expressing her opinion. In their household, Moto had always been the decision-maker.

Moto remained silent for a long moment. Eventually, he looked up, his deeply lined and weary eyes meeting Bern’s gaze with a fierce determination that flickered red within them.

“Go! You must go!” Moto made his decision firmly. “And not just any half-hearted attempt - you need to fully commit yourself. While attending, I won’t expect you to work at night or contribute to any chores here! But you absolutely must focus on your studies. Do as the Landgraf instructs without question. If you fail to learn despite these conditions, I’ll break your legs.”

This was Moto’s utmost effort as a father to secure his son’s future. By uttering these words, he demonstrated his firm resolve: from now on, no matter how demanding the farm work became, he would宁愿 exhaust himself to death in the fields也要 ensure Bern could attend cultivation classes regularly.

Moto’s eyes reddened slightly.

Shanfu murmured some reluctant words before adding, “The roasted chicken is what Bern brought back; let’s eat it tonight. Bern should have more than usual.”

Later that evening, Shanfu and Moto pulled off both chicken legs and gave them to Bern. However, Bern divided one leg between his two younger sisters. Moto had four children in total: eldest son Bern, second daughter Sierra, third son Burke, and the youngest fourth daughter named Simey. Sierra, already a sensible young woman, then shared half of her chicken leg with Burke.

Dinner concluded.

As night deepened, Moto and the others fell asleep. Bern, listening to the rhythmic sounds of insects outside, was too excited to even close his eyes. When he was younger, he had yearned for Westphalia, imagining with anticipation the day he might visit. Later, all hope faded, and he believed his life would mirror his father’s exactly.

Now, everything has changed.

Will he seize this chance of fate? Will his future truly undergo transformation?

Bern felt excited, nervous, and apprehensive, tossing and turning through a sleepless night.

As evening settled, all returned to quietness.

At that moment, within the Landgrave’s manor residence:

Duan Wenxuan had not yet departed back to the present world; it was only around 8 PM, so he certainly wasn’t sleepy. However, for many farmers here, there were limited leisure activities, and they often hesitated to light candles at night. Consequently, early to bed and early to rise became their ingrained habit.

On the desk lay seven or eight religious scriptures brought from the present world. Various religions existed in the modern era too, with the Universal Church having the largest following. Of course, for contemporary people, such beliefs were mostly superficial.

Here, Duan Wenxuan directly adopted the Universal Church framework.

The name “Universal Church” could be used as is, but its corresponding holy scripture had three or four different versions in the present world. Duan Wenxuan needed to edit and adapt them, incorporating elements specific to this world’s concept of ‘It.’

Construction of the temple was progressing swiftly, and now the doctrines must also be established quickly.

While making revisions, absorbed in his scholarly efforts, Duan Wenxuan didn’t notice his shadow gradually fading away until it completely disappeared under the lamplight. At that moment, he felt a slight drowsiness creeping in, as if sleepiness was overtaking him.

He yawned and tried to stand up, but realized his legs seemed numb from sitting too long. His brain sent the command to rise, yet his legs remained utterly motionless.

Something’s not right.

Duan Wenxuan instantly became alert; given his current physical condition, it wasn’t easy for his legs to go this numb so casually. Realizing something was amiss, he bumped against the table, then looked down at his legs.

Shockingly, everything below his knees had vanished, leaving them hollow and empty. Moreover, this sensation of disappearance was gradually spreading upwards. Instinctively activating his internal martial arts energy, Duan Wenxuan discovered it could slow the progression, albeit with limited effect.

“I wish to return to normal,” Duan Wenxuan said grimly, immediately voicing his desire to his left hand.

— Ding —

In about four or five seconds, the spread reached Duan Wenxuan’s knees. Suddenly, the progression halted and began slowly reversing course, with the previously vanished muscle tissue gradually returning.

“I wish for the person or object responsible for this to immediately appear before me.”

After four or five seconds, there was no response from the teapot; his wish had failed.

Duan Wenxuan knew that normally, with the teapot’s wishes, there was a fifty percent chance they would not be fulfilled. This was inherent to the teapot itself, and even his deep fusion with it could not change this aspect.

“I wish for the person or item attacking me to immediately appear before my eyes.”

Since it depended on probability, by making numerous wishes, there would naturally be times of success. Duan Wenxuan decided that after observing four to five seconds without the teapot fulfilling his wish, he would continue wishing again.

On the fourth attempt, one light source in his study suddenly dimmed completely. Simultaneously, beneath the fading light, a translucent yet partially solid figure became visible.

Shock lingered on the figure’s face. “You can repeatedly make wishes without dying?!”

Initially, Duan Wenxuan dared not return to the present world, fearing that if even the teapot couldn’t save him, going back would mean certain death while also allowing the murderer to escape. In that case, he truly would have no hope.

Now, the best-case scenario unfolded. The teapot’s power was sufficient to restore him to normal, and moreover, the murderer was forced out due to the teapot’s influence.

“Eat them,” commanded Duan Wenxuan.

As Duan Wenxuan’s words echoed, the previously quiet Terror Slime, clad in its yellow duck raincoat and crouching beside the desk, suddenly transformed with a plop into a flowing pool of dark red liquid resembling blood. It swiftly wriggled towards the shadowy figure.

The figure possessed unique abilities to conceal itself within shadows and stealthily cause people’s demise, but beyond that, its offensive capabilities were limited.

When the Terror Slime enveloped him entirely, its massive body began compressing bit by bit, intending to crush him within its grasp. The shadowy figure continuously struggled in terror and agony.

”…Make his head emerge from the body.”

Eager to be close to Duan Wenxuan, the Terror Slime demonstrated complete obedience to his instructions. Its crimson liquid squirmed, pushing the shadowy figure’s head out from the chest area while still trapping the rest of his body inside the slime.

Upon drawing breath, the shadowy figure immediately gasped for air.

“Who are you? Why did you come here to kill me?”

Seeing Duan Wenxuan’s intense stare, fear lingered on the shadowy figure’s face, mixed with profound regret. What kind of monstrous creature was this?

Not only did it defy the Greedy Pot’s rules, fearlessly making multiple wishes, but it also had control over monsters. Had he known earlier, he would never have dared to enter this place.

“Who are you? Why do you want to kill me?”