Every birth of a Chosen One is predicated on a blessing bestowed by the Superior.
The essence sprinkled from the vast tapestry of time, born out of infinite events, descended into the soul, answering the Chosen One's yearnings and prayers, bringing the power granted by the world.
Although there is no rule stating that after receiving a blessing from one Superior, one cannot receive another Superior Blessing, the majority of Chosen Ones choose to delve deeply into the Path of One Superior, and unless necessary, they seldom engage with other Superior Blessings.
Each person's capacity to endure is limited.
Most people, even if they specialize in one path, find it difficult to withstand multiple blessings. And once the number of blessings surpasses their capacity, the gradually uncontrollable blessings will shatter the overburdened soul, severely damage consciousness, and even, cause physical mutations.
At that point, what's triggered is the 'Mutated' state that sends shivers down the spine of Chosen Ones!
With some luck, they might be salvageable, becoming disabled or vegetative after stripping away the blessings. With bad luck, if sensed by Evil Fools outside the realm of Superior, the outcome is often worse than death.
To avoid such a situation, the 'Matrix' Secret Ritual was born.
After generations of exploration and experimentation, the Chosen Ones created the soul imprints of the Twelve Superiors—it enhances the soul's endurance and guides the Chosen Ones to grow in the predetermined direction during Ascension, so as to not lose control.
It's like the guidance and map of the Path of Superior.
At the same time, it is also the armor and protection for the soul, able to resist the Erosion and contamination from other Evil Fools. Moreover, more advanced Matrices even include commandments and oaths, abilities not possessed by ordinary Chosen Ones.
Just as Ji Jue once witnessed on Wen Wen, the 'Minerva' on her body.
Named after the war goddess from before the Cataclysmic Epoch, it itself is one of the top-tier Matrices from the Ruins series, not only maximizing Wen Wen's crystallization abilities but also adding unmatched Erosional, defensive, and lethal capabilities, and in the end, it can even overlay reality to create a 'Circle Realm' akin to an Otherworld!
"Hmm, it sounds like it's a professional template specially made for twelve enhancement directions, where you methodically level up to gradually unlock specified skills, to avoid inadvertently ruining the account, right?"
Ji Jue felt he understood, not a little, but a lot, completely grasping the concept.
"...Although that's roughly correct, why does it sound so devalued when you say it?"
Ye Chun's eye twitched slightly, but without dwelling on it too much, she continued on the subject, "From the moment of awakening, a person who becomes a Chosen One will grow step by step.
They experience—Summoning, Transformation, Rebirth, Transcendence—four states, and after crossing the twelve Ranks, they reach the Heavenly Person Domain, which is beyond the reach of most Chosen Ones for a lifetime.
A Chosen One who enters that kind of domain, to ordinary people, might as well be no different from a deity.
However, that has nothing to do with you. As a level 1 newbie, you should worry about how to handle your Matrix; otherwise, even if the Superior rains down blessings, you won't be able to retain them."
She took delight in his misfortune: "The Matrix passed down from my aunt is called 'Mo Ye,' one of the top-tier Matrices in the Ember Domain, best known for its enhancement of Alchemy, but sadly... it's limited to females.
Why don't you consider a trip to the Southeast Islands? The gender change services there are said to be quite comprehensive."
"It even restricts gender?" Ji Jue was shocked, his body involuntarily shivering with a chill, nearly in tears, what kind of good Matrix comes with gender restrictions?
Universal Matrix, easier said than done!
No, I need to write a little rant...
"Not just gender? The stronger the Matrix, the more restrictions there are, some limiting the age of implantation, the personality required, and some need surgery to remove eyeballs or limbs concurrently, while others may forcibly change personalities, or, in extreme cases, completely erase the user's emotions."
Ye Chun shook her head: "Just being restricted by gender is basically one of the classes with the least restrictions already."
In silence, Ji Jue did not speak.
There was a moment when he really wanted to crack a joke, but he couldn't help but think of Wen Wen... with those indifferent eyes void of any emotion as she unfolded her Circle Realm.
He wanted to make light of the situation, but when he started to speak, his voice came out hoarse, leaving even himself startled, "Senior, I once heard a bastard saying that the Ruins Path is the least in need of a human heart.
Is what he said true?"
"Hmm, it makes some sense, after all, Ruins represent the material, and if there's anything that material cares about least, it's probably what's referred to as feelings.
However, it's not so absolute."
To onlookers, Chosen Ones will, to varying degrees, exhibit certain traits based on the Path of Superior they choose. No, perhaps it is precisely because of these traits that they are able to receive the Superior's blessing.
For instance, the Chosen Ones of the Ruins Path are stubborn, cold outside and inside, while the Superiors in control of the soul, Chosen Ones in Ascension, are so emotionally volatile they almost seem neurotic.
Chosen Ones of the White Deer are often lax and wilful, and to the Chosen Ones of Tian Yuan, it seems those on the White Deer Path are utterly intractable, not advice-taking, unfaithful to promises, utterly lacking in manners and upbringing.
Chosen Ones of Tian Yuan tend to adhere to rules, walking the straight and narrow, while those of White Deer find Tian Yuan's Chosen Ones to be control freaks, with every word they utter filled with pitfalls, doling out tyrannical contracts and the like.