Death Notice-Book 2: Chapter 57: Physical Test

Death Notice-Book 2: Chapter 57: Physical Test

“Did you want to test your physical attributes?” Adeline stared at Qin Lun’s face with a strange expression.
“What’s wrong?” Qin Lun touched his face.
“Nothing. I originally thought your first Otherworld Mission had already failed.” Adeline raised her brows in surprise.
“Why? Because I didn’t go deal with those attackers?” Understanding dawned on Qin Lun, bringing a bitter smile.
“No! Under normal circumstances, most Probationary Apostles fail their first Otherworld Mission…” Adeline shook her head, giving Qin Lun a meaningful glance. “Follow me. Moonlight Town doesn’t have any equipment suitable for Apostle testing. We’ll need to go to Moonlight Forest.”
Adeline gave a few instructions to the Elven guards nearby, then led Qin Lun towards the underwater tunnel. Moonlight Town was located at the bottom of Moonlight Lake. They needed to take the tunnel back to the forest shore.
The Elven beauty wore a black sleeveless leather vest today. Below the vine-leaf battle skirt at her waist were black leggings—an unusual choice for an Elf. Paired with her sharp features and short black hair, she looked charming and sexy. Qin Lun, walking behind her, feasted his eyes.
“Adeline, do Apostles always request physical data tests after successfully completing an Otherworld Mission?” Qin Lun inquired politely.
“No, only lower-level Apostles have such needs. High Apostles seem capable of perfectly controlling their bodies. Even if they gain a lot from an Otherworld Mission, they can adapt very quickly!” Adeline explained patiently.
Qin Lun’s heart stirred. The information the Elven beauty revealed was important. It seemed High Apostles likely possessed a special piece of equipment similar to his Death Notice, allowing them to meticulously manage their Law Body and Apostle Soul Mark. The path he was treading had already been walked by others.
However, unlike Qin Lun who was just starting out, a High Apostle’s “Death Notice” was probably far more advanced. Even if they gained new powers during their Otherworld Mission, they could immediately manifest them through this special equipment without needing a Floating City to test their attributes.
“We’re here.” Adeline led Qin Lun through the underwater tunnel and walked a little further into the forest. Soon, they stood before a giant tree that looked strikingly like Earth’s banyan tree.
Like some ancient banyan trees, this colossal tree had countless thick aerial roots. These roots tightly encircled the main trunk, leaving only narrow gaps between them—spaces barely wide enough for a single person to squeeze through sideways. It seemed like a perfect hiding spot.
“You’re not suggesting I squeeze in there?” Qin Lun pointed at the giant tree, irritation evident in his voice.
“Hehe, Lord Fernand’s aerial roots generate an illusory gas. This gas allows an Apostle to achieve unparalleled clarity of mind, enabling them to envision the testing equipment and environment most suitable for themselves.” Adeline declared with pride. “This is a testing method unique to our Elven Race. Sometimes, even High Apostles specially come to Moonlight Forest to request access!”
“Lord Fernand?” Observing Adeline’s proud expression, Qin Lun shrugged his shoulders in surprise. “This tree is alive?”
“Hmm, Lord Fernand is currently dormant. Unless severely injured, it won’t wake up. Just squeeze inside.” Adeline stifled a laugh and pointed to the narrow gap between the aerial roots.
“Alright!” Qin Lun sighed and cautiously edged sideways into the banyan tree roots.
Once inside, he realized the space wasn’t as cramped as he had imagined. It seemed Lord Fernand had deliberately arranged the roots to form a ring around the main trunk, leaving a round open area between the trunk and the roots.
…
Watching Qin Lun enter the tree, Adeline found a nearby tree stump and sat down to wait. Though the Treant slept deeply, it would naturally become aware of a foreign entity within it and release a certain amount of illusory gas.
The time it took for the gas to affect an Apostle varied depending on their constitution. Plus, considering the time taken for an Apostle to mentally conduct the envisioned self-tests, she estimated Qin Lun wouldn’t emerge for a while.
As she waited in boredom, Adeline’s earlier lighthearted expression faded. A trace of sorrow appeared in her delicate eyebrows. She was worried about her father, Mafa.
Mafa and Adeline belonged to the Moonlit Elf clan, one of the five main branches of the Elven Race. Unlike humans, Elves, perhaps due to their longevity and ageless appearance, placed less emphasis on traditional family hierarchy.
A grandmother-level female Elf marrying a male Elf centuries younger than her wasn’t considered strange, as long as there was no blood relation. Of course, the bond between father and daughter remained exceptionally strong. Especially since the trouble Mafa faced now concerned the very survival of their Moonlit clan.
“Sshhhk!” Just as Adeline became lost in her worries, a sound came from the tree. Qin Lun emerged, squeezing back out through the aerial roots after roughly twenty minutes inside.
“Did you finish the test already?” Adeline asked, genuinely surprised.
Usually, Apostles conducted their initial self-tests with extreme care, sometimes taking hours. Only Apostles who already had firm control over their Law Body and only needed minor adjustments completed the test so quickly.
“Yes, finished.” Qin Lun managed a stiff smile, his expression unpleasant, as if he had witnessed something horrifying.
Adeline looked at Qin Lun oddly. Testing using the illusory gas was perfectly safe. Though the test itself was an illusion, as long as the Apostle’s mind was stable, they wouldn’t see anything truly frightening.
Of course, Adeline didn’t know Qin Lun belonged precisely to the category of ‘mentally unstable.’ During this test, while he succeeded in gathering his desired physical attribute data, he almost couldn’t escape the vision.
Within the illusory testing ground, Qin Lun perfectly fed the measurements of his Law Body back to the Death Notice. Although his basic attributes—Explosive Power, Agility, Constitution, Perception—were collectively labeled as 10 points each, he got specific underlying data.
Based on this data, Qin Lun’s current physical capabilities were approximately 1.2 times that of an average human male. Of course, the data in the Death Notice could subtly fluctuate based on body chemistry and emotions.
While 1.2 times an average human male might not sound extraordinary, the real-world effects were terrifying.
For a rough example: an average human male could run 100 meters in 11-13 seconds. Taking 12 seconds as the norm, Qin Lun, moving 1.2 times faster, would easily surpass Usain Bolt’s times.
The normal vertical jump for an average male was around 50cm standing still, slightly higher with training. At 1.2 times that, Qin Lun could already compete with the famous high-flyers of the NBA.
In terms of combat power, 1.2 times the muscle strength and power, multiplied by 1.2 times the nerve reaction speed, meant Qin Lun’s punching power rivaled that of heavyweight professional boxers.
Faster than Bolt, jumps higher than Kobe, punches like a pro. While he hadn’t transcended the human condition, he had become a comprehensively super athlete. This was the conclusion Qin Lun had drawn after his tests.
“Since you’re done, let’s head back early. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow, Moonlight Forest will open the Starry Sky Gate for departure from the Crimson Gobi.” Adeline suppressed her curiosity and spoke plainly.
“You’re not coming?” Qin Lun took a few steps but noticed Adeline hadn’t moved. He turned around to ask.
“Since I’m already out here, I think I’ll stay and enjoy a moment of peace,” Adeline answered somewhat desolately, gazing at the shimmering waters of Moonlight Lake in the distance.
“Haha, it seems you have some worries! If you don’t mind, you can chat with me. Perhaps I can offer some ideas.” Qin Lun chuckled softly and turned to sit beside the Elven beauty. “Also, I still have some questions I’d like to ask.”
“Then ask first, Lord Qin Lun. Serving Apostles is my duty.” Adeline removed her hairpin, tossing her smooth dark hair, and leaned lazily against the tree stump.
“Adeline, I’d like to ask if Shattered Starry Sky has any special settlements or cities entirely inhabited by Apostles?” Qin Lun asked casually.
“You…” Adeline looked startled, clearly not expecting this question. She hesitated before answering, “How did this idea occur to you? Are you dissatisfied with Moonlight Forest?”
“No, I’m very satisfied with Moonlight Forest’s environment. However, there are too few Formal Apostles here. My experience on this Otherworld Mission made me realize that besides training survival skills, I need to engage more with other Formal Apostles. Otherwise, I’ll inevitably fail future Otherworld Missions due to a lack of information.” Qin Lun answered candidly.
“I didn’t expect you to realize this problem so quickly. It seems Mafa’s high regard for you is justified. Many Apostles only start to value this after several failed Otherworld Missions.” Adeline sighed softly before continuing slowly.
“Moonlight Forest never intended to hide this information from Apostles. Typically, after your third Otherworld Mission, Moonlight Forest will voluntarily tell you. There are specialized Apostle gathering places in Shattered Starry Sky. However, for low-level Apostles, going to such places too early isn’t suitable. You actually receive more comprehensive foundational training here in Moonlight Forest.”
Qin Lun blinked, unconvinced by Adeline’s explanation. He understood why Moonlight Forest withheld this information and insisted Apostles complete three Otherworld Missions first. The earliest missions were life-or-death trials.
During these missions, Apostles faced tremendous physical and mental strain. Places like Moonlight Forest and Moonlight Town provided a crucial sanctuary for them to recover once they returned to Shattered Starry Sky.
Furthermore, this environment fostered a sense of belonging and loyalty towards Moonlight Forest and the Elven Race. Combined with the Elves’ selfless early assistance, it became much easier for them to forge lasting contracts. Even if Apostles eventually left, the Elves could potentially call upon their aid in times of war.
As for setting the mark at three missions? That was because surviving three missions meant an Apostle usually became Formal. By then, they would have absorbed the core survival knowledge and basic combat techniques Moonlight Forest provided.
The aid Moonlight Forest could subsequently offer became minimal.
At that point, these Formal Apostles would urgently need to exchange experiences with seasoned veterans, trade their excess equipment or items for useful gear, and generally boost their combat effectiveness.
Simultaneously, as task difficulty escalated, they needed to meet other Formal Apostles to potentially form dedicated Apostle teams.
“There is a special kind of Floating City in Shattered Starry Sky. These Floating Cities are open to travelers from across the cosmos, though they are rare and require specialized Starry Sky Gates for access.” Watching Qin Lun’s focused expression, Adeline frowned but continued. “Actually, the trouble my Moonlit Elf clan faces right now is linked to one of these very cities!”
“Oh?” Qin Lun asked with heightened interest. “Might Adeline elaborate on these cities? We apprentices owe the Moonlit clan a great debt for your care. If possible, I would hope to offer some help.”
Help? More like an excuse to ditch Moonlight Forest the moment you became Formal, right? Adeline pouted internally but maintained a respectful tone. “I haven’t seen an Apostle City myself. Rumors say they have no native Shattered Starry Sky residents. All facilities cater exclusively to Apostles. There are Arenas, Auction Houses, shops hawking various spiritual items, magic towers and martial halls teaching High Apostle skills, Alchemist Foundries crafting unique gear, and so on.”
Seeing the increasingly bright spark in Qin Lun’s eyes, Adeline sighed inwardly. This Apostle was almost certainly lost to Moonlight Forest. Mafa would scold her fiercely when he returned.
“Miss Adeline, are these Apostle Cities built by Apostles?” Qin Lun pondered for a moment before asking seriously.
“No, Apostles lack the ability to construct such floating cities. Even the most elite Apostle teams don’t have the time or resources to collect sufficient natural materials for one.” Adeline explained slowly.
From Adeline’s subsequent explanation, Qin Lun learned Apostle Cities were also built by Sapient Races within Shattered Starry Sky – but not one race, several in alliance.
Floating Cities were unique Shattered Starry Sky constructs born from the survival struggle faced by Sapient Races inhabiting the Suspended Continents. They desired Apostle aid but couldn’t become entirely dependent. Apostle Cities served a different core purpose.
No matter how perfect a Floating City built by an individual Sapient Race was (like Moonlight Forest providing essential survival lessons, Elven combat techniques, and magic), it held inherent limits. Apostles ventured into vastly diverse Other Worlds, some governed by World Laws entirely foreign to anything the Elves could teach.
Consider an Other World resembling Transformers – a high-tech universe. Elven battle skills and magic became useless. Stuck with irrelevant techniques, how would they survive their mission?
Recognizing this problem, certain powerful High Apostle factions at the pinnacle began demanding a dedicated facility from the various Sapient Races they knew. Thus, the Apostle City concept was born.
An Apostle City had no indigenous inhabitants. It was managed by the coalition of Sapient Races who built it. Consequently, an Apostle City contained not just orderly, lawful civilizations, but also those with darker philosophies. Offerings included not only magical skills, but also high-tech gear.
This enriched the equipment choices for Apostles, enabling them to better survive diverse missions. It also provided a city-scale base for Apostles to form teams and share mission experiences.
Naturally, the coalition Sapient Races also reaped immense benefits:
Firstly, hiring High Apostles became far more straightforward. Though they lacked ingrained loyalty and might slack off, it remained a viable recruitment channel.
Secondly, the constant influx of thousands of Apostles, high and low level, generated colossal levels of commerce and transaction fees. While rates were minimal, the sheer volume represented enormous collective wealth. Crucially, Apostles paid not in gold coins, but with currencies traded amongst themselves: Shattered Crystals, Exchange Vouchers, real items like Soul Power Crystals, Skill Scrolls, or gear.
This currency—especially equipment—held fatal appeal for the managing Sapient Races.
Just think: a single piece of Blue Quality equipment was considered an heirloom by someone like High Elf Mafa Moliya! The Spirit Equipment circulating in an Apostle City would easily surpass Blue Quality, encompassing Purple, Dark Gold, even Legendary Equipment…
The management races contested yearly for seats on the city parliament. The voters? The Apostles themselves!
If placed on Earth, an Apostle City would be hands down the planet’s most service-oriented metropolis. For the managing races, it wasn’t just about profit; it was about absolute survival for the entire alliance.
“The trouble facing the Moonlit Elf clan involves the re-election of officials in the Apostle City!” Adeline openly disclosed. “Even if you are now a Formal Apostle, your rank is still likely too low to be of help.”
“Haha, so presumably Mafa teleported to that Apostle City? Rank reflects combat strength, but a re-election should abide by rules. It theoretically doesn’t require lethal combat. Whether I can help remains to be seen.” Qin Lun said meaningfully, narrowing his eyes. “By the way, I have some herb ingredients here. Could your clan craft recovery potions?”

Book 2: Chapter 57: Physical Test