Chapter 31: The Most Suitable is the Best

Lin Xiao’s heart skipped a beat.

Su Wan’s words struck his defenses like a heavy hammer.

Anything he wanted… he could have?

His breathing quickened involuntarily, and countless images flashed through his mind—the heroic spectacle of him sweeping across armies with telekinesis, the arrogance of standing aloft and looking down upon all living things.

What man could refuse the power of telekinesis? Unless it were to trade it for time or space manipulation!

"You only need to tell me if you want it," Su Wan said, her tone light yet heavy with implication. "As long as you nod, I will ask my aunt for help. She will certainly be able to..."

Lin Xiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed; he felt a deep, primal desire.

Su Huaijin?

Lin Xiao believed that as a Priest of the Earth Bureau, she truly had the power to make this happen. But… what was the price?

He could not forget the first sentence written on the inside cover of his Awakened registration card: "Everything has a price!"

The more precious the item, the heavier the cost behind it. There is no such thing as a free lunch; that principle held true in any world.

When this thought entered his mind, he immediately calmed down.

"Better not," Lin Xiao said with a smile. "Such a priceless treasure is not something I can afford to accept."

Su Wan grabbed his sleeve in a panic. "You don't need to feel any burden; it can truly be given for free! My aunt said that you are very, very important!"

"That makes it even more impossible, but I thank you and Priest Su for your kindness," Lin Xiao refused again.

Seeing that Su Wan still wanted to persuade him, Lin Xiao spoke first:

"The reason I refuse telekinesis is not just because it is too valuable. More importantly, I want to find an ability that is best suited for me."

As soon as he said this, Su Wan froze.

A more suitable ability?

Lin Xiao nodded. Faced with the temptation of telekinesis, he had wavered for a moment. But fortunately, he kept in mind the conclusion he and Yang Shubai had reached: the most suitable is the best.

While telekinesis was undoubtedly powerful, for Lin Xiao, it was far from the strongest. As a secondary ability, even if he obtained it, he could only raise it to Level 1 at most. (A secondary ability must be at least one level lower than the primary ability.)

A Level 1 telekinesis would at most allow him to retrieve objects from a distance, with no real destructive power.

What Lin Xiao truly wanted was an ability that would allow him to control the weapons and equipment from his past life. If he could single-handedly operate a 155mm self-propelled howitzer or a swarm of suicide drones, his combat capability would rival that of a Level 4 Awakened.

By comparison, while telekinesis was tempting, he had to let it go. Lin Xiao did not feel it was a pity; even if his telekinesis were to reach the peak in the future, it would still not compare to the power of controlling intercontinental ballistic missiles.

His goal was clear. Su Wan sensed this was his genuine intent, so she asked, "Then may I ask, Mr. Lin, what kind of ability do you actually need?"

"The kind that allows me to multitask—ideally, an ability that lets one person do the work of several," Lin Xiao said. "Do you have any suggestions?"

Su Wan suddenly started to laugh, leaving Lin Xiao bewildered.

"My aunt was right, after all."

"What?"

"My aunt said you would definitely refuse telekinesis and that you know very well what kind of ability you truly need."

Just as Lin Xiao wondered how Su Huaijin could know him so well, Su Wan took a box made of golden silk wood from her backpack and handed it over.

"What is this?"

"The ability you truly need."

Lin Xiao did not reach out to take it; he only felt more confused. Did Su Huaijin prepare an ability crystal for him? How did she know what he needed?

Despite being completely baffled, he knew the telekinesis crystal from before had been a test. Had he chosen it, the test would have failed, and Su Wan would not have produced this wooden box.

But… wasn't this ability, which was more suitable for him than telekinesis, just as precious?

Lin Xiao did not take the box. Seeing this, Su Wan said, "The ability crystal inside this box is only a Tier 2 ability, and it’s the most trash-tier among Tier 2 abilities. You don't need to feel burdened; this is not an expensive gift."

"Is that really so?" Lin Xiao asked skeptically.

"Yes. The ability engraved in the crystal is called 'Phantom,'" Su Wan explained further. "This ability allows you to create a large number of phantoms that look exactly like you."

"Isn't that a clone?" Lin Xiao asked.

Su Wan shook her head. "No. The 'Clone' ability allows you to generate multiple physical incarnations. That is a very powerful, standard Tier 4 ability."

Lin Xiao nodded in understanding. Being able to create physical clones to swarm enemies was obviously a powerful ability no less than telekinesis.

"The 'Phantom' only generates shadows that look exactly like you. These shadows can only last for 30 minutes and can only perform simple tasks, without the ability to use any supernatural powers. Aside from creating a massive number of phantoms, it has no advantages. But who needs a bunch of phantoms that have no supernatural power and disappear at the slightest touch? Therefore, 'Phantom' is known as the most useless Tier 2 ability; almost no one wants it. This led to the ability crystal being discontinued many years ago; the Divine Palace no longer produces them."

As she explained, Su Wan expected Lin Xiao to be disappointed, but she found his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

Did Lin Xiao really need such a trash ability?

He needed it desperately!

Lin Xiao’s heart was filled with wild joy, far more intense than when he had seen the telekinesis crystal.

Su Wan had listed three major flaws:
1. It only lasts for 30 minutes.
2. It cannot execute complex commands.
3. The phantoms have no supernatural powers.

For most people, no matter how many such phantoms there were, they would have little effect. The 30-minute time limit meant the phantoms couldn't even go far from him, making them incomparable to a powerful ability like "Clone." Wasting a precious ability slot, especially a secondary one, would be a huge waste.

But this seemingly useless ability was a divine skill tailor-made for Lin Xiao!

How many weapons of mass destruction were sealed in his past-life memories? Operating these weapons didn't require much time, and the instructions were rarely complex.

The 155mm self-propelled howitzers that required an entire artillery battery to operate, the super-bombers that required professional crews to maintain, and even strategic intercontinental ballistic missiles…

Once he could command these terrifying weapons, the seemingly invincible and powerful Awakened of this world would be wiped out in total confusion before they even saw the enemy.

Vivid images already surged before Lin Xiao’s eyes: thirty of his phantoms forming an artillery position, loading shells in perfect unison; hundreds of phantoms lining up on the runway, collaborating like precision gears to maintain fighter jets; thousands of phantoms gathering in a base, launching one "justice from the sky" after another, each hitting its target ten thousand miles away!

Lin Xiao closed his eyes again and delved into his current memories. When he touched the wooden box in Su Wan’s hands within his memory, a line of information flashed through his mind:

[Tier 2 Ability Crystal: Phantom (Requires 190 Source Energy to replicate)]

After receiving this information, Lin Xiao withdrew from his memory. Su Wan hadn't lied; it was indeed a Tier 2 ability. But 190 points of Source Energy was a massive, unattainable number for him at the moment.

"Looks like I owe a favor..." Lin Xiao sighed inwardly.

However, he wasn't worried. With his current rate of growth, repaying a favor for a Tier 2 ability wouldn't be difficult in the future. Instead of consuming his precious Source Energy, it was better to accept this gift gracefully.

He reached out and took the wooden box from Su Wan. "I really need this ability. Please thank Priest Su for me."

Su Wan blinked. She truly couldn't understand why Lin Xiao would value this widely recognized "trash ability" so highly. What concerned her even more was that her aunt seemed to have anticipated this scene—but whenever she tried to probe, all she ever got was that mysterious smile.

Lin Xiao held the box, but his confusion only deepened. He didn't know how Su Huaijin knew he needed the "Phantom" ability.

Were the answers to all these questions hidden within that golden amber of memory?