A few months after the top forces in the Dimensional Alliance signed the treaty, the Tower of Knowledge became immensely popular.
Members of the top families, elite sects' disciples, and the Overlords' organization members flocked to experience the features of the Tower of Knowledge.
Thanks to the contract, they could access the first hundred thousand floors and browse all the books for free.
Ingrid, one of the Primordial Candidates from the Midgar Family, grew curious and decided to visit the library.
Upon reaching the hundred-thousandth floor, he felt his comprehension skyrocket nearly a hundredfold.
Slightly impressed, he sat down and browsed through books of interest, from history to forbidden techniques.
A few hours later, Ingrid felt bored.
Although it was interesting, reading books wasn't really his thing.
"Is that it?"
Feeling that his family had overpaid for nothing, he couldn't help but complain.
If the only benefit was enhanced comprehension, the Midgar Family had better treasures and potions with similar effects.
As for knowledge, although not as comprehensive, they still held a vast collection as one of the top families.
Suddenly, Ingrid overheard a clansman muttering something.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm asking the Spirit of Knowledge to deduce a tailored cultivation manual for me."
"Hm? This tower can also deduce knowledge?"
Focused on training, Ingrid didn't know much about the Tower of Knowledge.
If not for his father's insistence, he wouldn't have known the so-called supreme Primordial Candidate ran a business as dull as a library.
Learning this from his clanmate, Ingrid summoned the Spirit of Knowledge.
"Can you really deduce anything?"
[Yes. However, according to the contract, you would only receive a discount for the deduction.]
"I know. Then, deduce my chances of defeating Paragon!" Ingrid asked in curiosity.
Although Maximus was called the Supreme Primordial Candidate and the first among them to master a path of law, Ingrid still revered Paragon and believed he was the strongest.
[This deduction would cost 10,000 origin coins. Do you wish to proceed?]
"Just ten thousand? Proceed!"
[Deducing...]
[Ingrid Midgar: Tier 10 Realm, 630 million power magnitude, 67% mastery of the River of Divine Law.]
[Paragon: Tier 10 Realm, 3.8 trillion power magnitude, 99.99% mastery of the River of Boundless.]
[Probability of defeating Paragon: 0.000001%]
6. Master all runic languages.
7. ...]
Seeing the endless list of requirements, Ingrid grew solemn.
"How could I possibly do all this? Isn't this an empty deduction? What a waste of money!" he complained.
Although some tasks seemed useful, he lacked the time and loathed the boredom they entailed.
[To achieve the impossible, you must also attempt the impossible.]
"What? Are you mocking me?" Ingrid muttered angrily, yet the line resonated with him.
If he truly dreamed of surpassing those at the top, he'd have to leave his comfort zone.
Since it was an impossible dream, he also needed to achieve impossible things.
"What about Borish? How can I surpass him in strength?"
Ingrid was the 11th of the 13 Primordial Candidates. Borish, from the Primordial Beast Alliance, ranked 10th.
[This deduction would require...]
"Just proceed. I can afford it."
[Deducing...]
[To surpass Borish, you need to change your cultivation manual to one tailored to your physique and path of law.]
"Can you do that?"
His cultivation manual was near-ultimate, containing 161,802 laws.
However, due to his family's limited resources, he couldn't select a manual more attuned to his physique and path.
[Yes, it would cost 150 trillion origin coins to deduce.]
"Is that price discounted?" Ingrid gasped.
[No. According to the agreement, once the deduction price reaches a trillion, no discounts apply.]
[Do you wish to proceed?]
"This—" looking at his balance of about 150 trillion, Ingrid felt as if the Spirit of Knowledge was extorting him.
After a moment's hesitation, he gritted his teeth and proceeded.
If this could make him stronger, it was worth the cost.
[This deduction will take 75 years. Please wait...]
...
Meanwhile, at the top of the Tower of Knowledge, Maximus gazed down upon the bustling crowds.
Prodigies, old masters, mediocre elites, and arrogant entities had all gathered in the library.
"Now, let's see if there will be more true seekers of knowledge..."