The Innkeeper
Chapter 1961: Next time

According to a preliminary theory of Lex’s, the percentage power one had in Arch-Heaven was a reflection of the extent of acknowledgment one had by Heaven. Certain actions in the normal universe could carry over approval, granting the percentage power. But, for the most part, this approval was accumulated through time and effort in Arch-Heaven.

The true purpose of this system was not to make people dependent on using Blessing Stones. Instead, it was to make them realize that Blessing Stones were not a good option to make them opt for official positions as well. After all, it had become obvious to Lex that by working in official positions, one could slowly raise their power percentage.

The Blessing Stone was not supposed to provide a massive boost to the percentage, as was evident by the fact that most people had very little percentage power, and the fact that the stones could only be used once a century. Everything about them just made the option of getting an official position more alluring.

The fact that it was so hard to leave this place for most was also an indicator that this might be on purpose. Once everyone was trapped here, they had no choice but to follow the rules and play along. It was an obvious yet devious ploy that worked regardless of whether people caught on or not.

Of course, Lex being a dignified gentleman, a noble cultivator, and a responsible role model for all the little workers in the Midnight Inn did the only thing a completely normal, and not at all abnormal, thing to do.

He decided that since he didn’t want an official position, then he also didn’t need to adhere to the common sense which dictated that the effect of Blessing Stones was limited.

By adapting his body, making himself more like a Blessing Stone due to his cultivation technique, Lex was able to squeeze out all the blessings in that stone, and take them for himself.

He had only just begun cultivating when his percentage shot from 1.1% to 2%, because everyone knew that whole numbers were better than decimals. It was only dignified that his power percentage be a whole number.

Now, Mango did not have a memory longer than 10 days, but his body had instincts at least. No matter what, one could not reach his level of power, or power percentage, if one was a fool. So when he saw how rapidly and significantly Lex’s limiter was being affected, his jaw dropped.

The goldfish approached the glass of his fishbowl and wiped it with his fin to make sure that he was seeing things clearly. Yet not only had Lex not stopped, his power percentage rose to 3%.

Fenrir, too used to Lex’s shenanigans, just looked on normally, as if this was the most ordinary thing in the world.

Fortunately, they had set up some formations around to keep Lex’s aura from spreading, or the whole town might have descended on them just to find out what was happening.

In a matter of minutes, Lex reached 4%. Yet as admirable as his progress was, Mango quickly noticed an issue. The Blessing Stone in his hands was draining quickly, to the point where it was already half faded.

“As your great and fabulous goldfish guardian, I suppose it is my duty to sacrifice for you,” Mango uttered, maintaining a cool and calm expression as he tossed his own Blessing Stone into Lex’s hands.

Although the Blessing Stone rule said that only one could be used once a century, that was just a generic interpretation. In truth, it was more akin to one absorption session per century, which is why there was no specific limit on the Blessing Stone size required. Most people just gathered as many as they could, which is why the second stone in Lex’s hand had no issue contributing to his growth.

When his percentage power hit 5%, Lex felt a change. It seemed he had reached some kind of threshold. He seemed to have unlocked some level of authority among the white marble buildings, now able to exert some of his power on them and use them if he wished.

Moreover, Lex could innately feel that the quality of professions or positions available to him had improved. Before this, the type of positions he could have taken were restricted to more menial and basic roles, but now he could be granted some more important posts – not that he had any interest in attaining them.

Fenrir, seeing how the fish had donated its stone to Lex, decided to follow suit and threw in his as well. After all, between Lex and Fenrir there was a strong bond. Whoever was stronger would naturally pull up the weaker in strength, and so Fenrir could feel that he would naturally begin to unlock his power percentage due to Lex’s influence on him.

Now, with three Blessing Stones in hand, Lex’s percentage power continued to rise at a stable rate, yet what Mango had not realized was that this new power was not Lex’s greatest gain, nor was it the new unlocked authority. Instead, with his body taking on a faint aspect of the Blessing Stones due to his cultivation technique, he would be able to slowly accumulate the power of blessings. Or, more accurately, steal the power of blessings from some unique structures.

But at the moment neither Lex, nor Mango knew that.

They all just watched silently as Lex’s percentage grew. In only a few minutes, all three stones were nearly drained, and Lex, who was glowing like the sun, finally touched 10%. At that point, he seemed to unlock even more authority, and even better options for official positions.

Lex once again ignored them, and finished up the Blessing Stones, bringing his final percentage to a total of 11%.

Lex opened his eyes and felt his power returning as a deep and terrible aura began to rise out of his body. Yet instead of feeling pleased, he felt even more dissatisfied. It was a stark reminder that here, everything about him was being controlled by Arch-Heaven.

As Lex clenched his fists, the popping of his knuckles rolled out like thunder, shattering the formations and spreading across the town.

For one more century, he would not be able to use Blessing Stones. But if he gathered enough, the next time, he could directly reach 100%. He’d like to see what would happen then.

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