CHAPTER 262: CHAPTER262-HEAVEN’S BLESSING

During his days at the Sanctuary, Owen met a herbalist named Anderson.

Aside from his own followers, Anderson was the one he got along with best.

Thus, when Alison arrived, Owen planned to place her under Anderson’s care, as the Sanctuary wasn’t a place just anyone could join.

If they were to shelter them based solely on their relationship with Owen, it might breed resentment among others.

Owen hurried towards Anderson’s place, simultaneously using the Sanctuary’s unique transmitting stone to send a message to Bella and the others, asking for their assistance.

He intended to prepare a feast to welcome Alison and her group.

Anderson lived in a vast forest, so overly extensive that hosting a few more people was hardly an issue.

"Owen," a voice called out just as Owen arrived at the Sanctuary’s first peak via the teleportation array.

It was Kovacic coming towards him.

Owen greeted him with a smile.

"Kovacic, you’ve just arrived?"

Kovacic, a loyal supporter of Owen, had also joined the Sanctuary.

Even here, they continued to address him by the name Owen.

Although the higher-ups in the Sanctuary might have already been aware of his identity, it was still crucial to keep it as concealed as possible, avoiding any unnecessary attention.

Kovacic nodded with a smile, "After receiving your message, I couldn’t wait to set off. I didn’t expect to run into you right at the first peak."

Owen, in an exceptionally good mood, clapped Kovacic on the shoulder.

"Kovacic, look forward to it. Tomorrow’s banquet will be lavish."

Hearing Owen’s words, Kovacic’s anticipation for the feast grew even more.

He knew Owen had risen far beyond his past status and was not lacking in funds at all.

The banquet was bound to feature fine wines and meats unlike any other.

Only heaven knew the extent of suffering Kovacic had endured after his clan was annihilated.

When Owen and Kovacic arrived at Anderson’s place, they realized they were the last to show up.

Olivia explained with a smile, "Bella and I were at the combat arena. After receiving your message, we came straight here."

Owen nodded, his gaze shifting towards Bella with a hint of surprise.

He hadn’t expected Bella, who usually preferred tranquility, to spend her time at the Sanctuary’s arena.

"What are you looking at me like that for?" Bella’s expression turned slightly awkward.

Feeling Owen’s continued gaze, she shot back, "Can’t I work on improving my strength?"

"I didn’t even mention that. Why are you getting so worked up?"

Owen chuckled dryly, then added, "I’ll go prepare the food."

Without another word, he headed towards Anderson, noticing him fishing.

Owen decided to join in.

"That jerk..."

Bella bit her lip lightly, her eyes casting a complex glance at Owen, who was engrossed in fishing, and then followed Olivia to help with the banquet preparations.

...

Owen felt a tug on his fishing rod, his eyes sharpening as he swiftly jerked it.

A three-foot-long fish was pulled from the water, tracing an arc through the air before landing beside him.

Owen’s face lit up with delight as he quickly stuffed the fish into a barrel and filled it with some water.

"Owen, you’re quite lucky!" Anderson looked on enviously.

Catching such a big fish would usually take him a whole day of fishing, yet Owen managed it shortly after arriving.

"It’s indeed luck." Owen chuckled lightly, settling back into his seat and casting his line again.

"It seems sometimes luck is more important than strength."

Anderson smiled and nodded in agreement.

"People in this world often disregard luck, not realizing that sometimes, luck can indeed be more crucial than strength."

"Have you ever heard of the concept of ’Karmic Luck’, Owen?" Anderson asked after a pause.

"’Karmic Luck’?" Owen shook his head; he was familiar with the idea of luck but had no knowledge of ’Karmic Luck’.

Seeing Owen’s lack of understanding didn’t surprise Anderson.

He looked towards his fishing rod and slowly said, "It is said that some people receive blessings from the heavens, gaining opportunities that are rare for ordinary people, which propels them to great heights."

"Moreover, these blessings are graded, and there are ways to obtain them."

Owen was suddenly taken aback.

"Really? Anderson, do you know how one can receive such blessings?"

Anderson seemed well-versed in this subject.

As soon as Owen asked, he replied, "The first way is to complete tasks given by the heavens, though what those tasks entail must be inferred by oneself. The second way is by defeating others; the blessings of the vanquished then transfer to their conqueror."

With a smile, Owen asked, "How many blessings have you received then?"

Given his knowledge, Anderson must have received some, Owen thought.

"Blessings can’t be quantified. It’s difficult to articulate," Anderson replied with a laugh, then turned to Owen, "However, I do know that your blessings far exceed mine."

"Oh? How so?" Owen’s gaze sharpened.

Anderson shook his head with a smile.

"Don’t take my words too mystically; my understanding isn’t all that profound."

"However, I do have a speculation about something. Would you be interested in hearing it?"

"Of course," Owen replied decisively.

"I suspect that the concept of blessings applies only to martial artists with supreme physiques. Others can hardly receive blessings unless they slay someone who possesses them," Anderson’s voice was grave, his words clearly reaching Owen’s ears.

Owen was taken aback.

Although it was just Anderson’s speculation, he found it highly credible.

This led Owen to wonder, did he himself possess a heavenly blessing? And if so, why?

"Anderson, would you allow me to examine your physique?" Owen had spent his days in the Sanctuary researching what was referred to as the "shackles of the gods."

Through his studies, he learned that not everyone bore these "shackles," as Greed had suggested.

Instead, they were unique to a specific group of individuals.

After considerable effort, he, like Greed, broke free from these mental shackles, gaining a unique power.

With this power, he could see the shackles within a person’s body.

His clone had a physique similar to Greed’s, exceptionally rare and coveted, and he was curious to see who else possessed such a physique.

"My physique is quite unique; it would be difficult to show you," Anderson said with a smile, not intending to keep secrets from Owen.

"Don’t worry, I have a way." Owen reassured.

"Hm?" Anderson was taken aback as he saw a translucent white light flash in Owen’s pupils.

"Anderson, you have shackles too." Owen was shocked upon using his power to see Anderson, as he had tried many times before and, aside from himself, had not seen anyone in the Sanctuary with shackles.

This indicated an extremely rare occurrence, perhaps once in a century.

Now, not only did he and Greed have them, but Anderson did as well!

Owen suddenly found himself wanting to meet Melita again, uncertain if she possessed a rare physique that, if present, would likely entail the "shackles of the gods." Given her strength, Owen felt it was a strong possibility.

"He has broken two wisdom shackles."

Observing that Anderson had two fewer wisdom shackles, Owen immediately understood why Anderson’s insight into potion-making was so profound.

Looking towards Kovacic and his other followers, Owen felt a tinge of disappointment after a moment.

Aside from Anderson, none of them had a rare physique.

Curious, Anderson asked, "Owen, what do you see?"

Owen looked deeply at Anderson, "Anderson, if you hadn’t immersed yourself in alchemy, I reckon you’d be a renowned powerhouse by now."

"Ha, Owen, you really are something else," Anderson laughed heartily, then rolled up his sleeve.

Owen noticed three marks on Anderson’s arm and asked in confusion, "What are these?"

"Have you heard of the Catastrophe Sacred Body?" Anderson asked with a slight smile.

"Anderson, you mean to say you have..." Owen was incredulous.

He had recently been researching various texts, and he knew the Catastrophe Sacred Body to be an extremely rare sacred body.

Unexpectedly, Anderson’s rare physique was the one with the highest mortality rate.

The Catastrophe Sacred Body must endure nine calamities throughout its existence.

Upon safely overcoming all nine, the physique would reach its pinnacle, granting formidable combat prowess.

However, since its documentation, only one person with the Catastrophe Sacred Body had successfully survived all nine calamities, becoming one of the world’s top warriors.

The rest perished under the repeated trials.

The calamities of the Catastrophe Sacred Body appear randomly.

There might be two calamities occurring simultaneously or hundreds of years apart.

"Indeed, my physique is the Catastrophe Sacred Body. These three marks signify that I’ve already overcome three calamities."

Anderson smiled, seemingly indifferent to the dangers of his trials.

Owen remained silent, aware that the three calamities Anderson had endured were far from trivial.

Seeing Owen’s silence, Anderson changed the subject.

"I still don’t know what your physique is, but it must be powerful, right?"

"My teacher told me I have the Pure Spirit Body. I’ve already broken five shackles, although I have no idea how I managed it. But that’s what my teacher says."

"Five shackles!" Anderson, usually unflappable, widened his eyes in shock, his mouth agape.

He was well aware of the existence of shackles.

Having survived three calamities and broken two shackles himself, he knew all too well the significant enhancement in talent breaking each shackle brought, not to mention the immense difficulty involved in doing so.