Chapter 78: The Truth Revealed

Splash

Luosen controlled Sage Levin, using force to push open the coffin lid.

Although the coffin bore an evil threat in Set ancient script reading 'Anyone who opens the coffin will bring endless misfortune upon their whole family,' Luosen had never seen a curse over 2000 years old still effective.

Moreover, this thing might be over 3500 years old.

Furthermore, he also didn't sense any power aura through Levin.

Indeed, after opening the coffin, nothing happened.

He poked his head in and saw a splendid dry corpse lying inside.

Beside it were many splendid burial jewels, including a gold plate recording history.

Luosen took the plate and looked, discovering it recorded historical details.

After reading it, he fully understood.

"Turns out this is actually the first ancestor of the Iron Dragon Instatarubu, no wonder he could use such a splendid gold coffin."

"That is to say, the Iron Dragon Instatarubu might have fought the Majestic Heavenly Father Otal'garse fiercely in order to guard his ancestors' grave."

"After the battle, Instatarubu fell, but Otal'garse surely was injured, even seriously."

"Because the ancestors' grave remained intact, and in myth records, shortly after this battle the Majestic Heavenly Father returned to the natural divine court and never appeared again."

"Most likely he died from severe injuries."

"Luosen examined the dry corpse's body, wearing a splendid gold-thread robe, a jeweled crown, and holding a jeweled scepter."

"After all, it's gold; even after 3500 years, it still shines like new."

"But the body couldn't withstand it; after 3500 years it became desiccated and unsightly."

"Looking at the splendidly wrapped corpse, Luosen sighed."

"\"Brother, gold and aurum are circulating currency; having possessed you for over 3000 years after death is enough. \""

"\"Let's make a deal: I'll help you bury properly, rest in peace. Your funerary goods can't be taken anyway, so consider them my payment, okay? \""

"\"If you don't speak, I'll take that as your consent, okay? \""

"After some self-consolation, Luosen lifted his hand and took the Iron Dragon ancestor's body out of those dazzling, filthy, worldly objects."

"He carried the dry corpse to the snowy peak outside the temple, dug a deep pit in the black mud, and buried the corpse deep inside."

"Then he bowed a few times, and Luosen felt completely at ease."

"He had intended to return directly to the temple, but a sudden idea came to mind, so he quietly made a Detect Guard seal on a nearby exposed rock."

"Then he returned to the temple, placed a single hand on the gold coffin, and activated Transformation Technique."

"\"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, gold, aurum, and jewels are all mine~\""

"The gold coffin was melted into a metal ball, then Luosen wrapped it in a wear-resistant soil layer, while jewels and such were placed into his clothing pockets."

"Afterwards, he pushed the huge metal ball, rolling it all the way out of the underground temple; upon exiting, he first closed the temple entrance again, then continued pushing the ball forward."

"Pushing and pushing, he felt that Sage Levin's mana might not be enough, and this amount of gold temporarily had no great use."

"After thinking, Luosen found a hidden spot, carefully buried the metal ball, erased all traces, and finally placed a Detect Guard seal."

"Then he took over thirty dove-egg-sized flawless jewels and first returned to Crescent Castle."

"Shortly after he quietly left, a figure cloaked in a white hooded robe suddenly appeared on the snowy peak, standing where he had buried the dry corpse."

"The figure looked at the stone stele on the ground, lingered for a long time, then suddenly knelt and performed a great salute before the stele."

"After finishing the salute, the figure whispered: \"Ancestor, your glory has vanished for a full 3568 years, but I have been trapped by the guardianship oath before your tomb for a full two hundred years. \""

"\"You bestowed upon me noble and strong blood; as repayment, I guard your tomb, which is fair and just. \""

"\"But now, an invader far stronger than I has appeared, destroying your tomb and also my guardianship oath. \""

"\"So I am free, and you should also depart completely. \""

"The voice was not loud, but could be discerned as that of a young woman."

"After saying those words, she exhaled deeply, then suddenly jumped vigorously in place, like a prisoner who had just gained freedom after his chains were cut."

"After a few jumps, she immediately performed a salute to the stele again, muttering apologies."

"But soon, the joyful figure again became despondent, softly asking herself."

"\"But where should I go next? \""

"Long-term guardianship, to slow aging by prolonged slumber, has completely detached her from the outside world's time."

"After thinking back and forth, she suddenly turned her head, directing her gaze toward the plain west of the snow peak."

"\"That should be the liveliest, most interesting place on the whole White Sturgeon Island. \""

"After looking for a long time, she unconsciously stepped forward a few steps, but immediately stopped again."

"\"He is a lord; no matter how he appears outwardly, it's just a facade. Lords are all a group of very complex, deep individuals. \""

"\"I also don't understand what kind of person he is; rashly approaching might provoke a deadly disaster. \""

"From their previous brief clash, she sensed the opponent's mana was extremely overbearing, giving her the feeling of facing a violent tsunami, and also very keen, with extremely fast counterattack speed."

"This indicates the opponent's mana strength is two rings above hers at least, and he is highly skilled in combat; if a misunderstanding sparks conflict, she would likely be the one to die."

"But she had just regained freedom, and still had a wonderful future ahead; she didn't want to die just like that."

"\"Wait, do I really have a wonderful future ahead? \""

"From what she recently learned, the world outside the island seems to have undergone huge changes; even the descendants of the great Otal'garse have become very low-key, let alone her. \"Let's quickly learn about the new world, \" she thought, and she ran down the snow mountain."

"Originally she intended to leave the island directly, but halfway she suddenly changed her mind, turning to run toward the northeastern forests of the island."

"Just as the woman left, inside Crescent Castle Luosen gave a faint smile."

"\"So that's how it is; he seems to be a pitiful person as well. \""

"Since he's not an enemy, Luosen relaxed."

"He was quite interested in that girl, but he didn't devote thought to deliberately tracking her."

After all, the other party is very sensitive; if they discovered they were being followed, they might grow wary of him.

Besides, he himself has many things to attend to and doesn't have the mental bandwidth to long‑term focus solely on one person.

First go to the Magic Potion Room to find Weige.

Weige said as soon as she saw him, "Lord, our alchemy material reserves are low; when will the new shipment arrive?"

"At most five days, and it will be a large batch."

"Then that's good."

Weige relaxed, then handed over an alchemy scroll: "Regarding the Dragon's Blessing Potion, I have already analyzed quite a bit."

Strangely, the blood component contains a completely unknown mystical energy, and this energy actually has an effect similar to that of the Steel Potion, but far stronger, because it can almost turn any common substance into steel.

"If we can reproduce this effect via a potion, it would exceed your preset goal, Lord."

Luosen now knows this is the so‑called Steel Dragon Blood.

He couldn't help but think of the Goddess Merelkilina, for she might be the only being in this world possessing Steel Dragon Blood.

"I wonder if I'll ever meet her again."

He felt an impulse to seize her and drain her blood for research, but he also worried she might have a hidden trump card.

No, her family lineage is deep; her ancestors, Yintaslub, even with the power of the Seven Rings, gravely injured the Nine‑Ring Heavenly Father God‑Might, so she surely has a life‑saving secret technique.

So, let's just go with the flow.

After all, even without Steel Dragon Blood, with his Dominion Dagger and the knowledge he got from Sebatis, if he puts in the research, he will surely be able to steadily produce Steel Power.

Thinking this, Luosen set aside those dark thoughts in his mind.

To facilitate Weige's research on Steel Power, Luosen intends to quickly create a Steel Lattice to store Steel Power using the new knowledge he just learned.

Thus he said to Weige, "I recently obtained some information on Steel Power; I'll organize it and give it to you as soon as possible, hoping it will be helpful."

"Oh~ that's really nice."

Weige was very pleased, but she is also a busy person, and soon immersed herself in research.

Luosen then stopped disturbing her and turned to go to the Weapon Research Department.

After learning of the Lightning House's existence, Gatran and his crew were as if injected with stimulants, beginning to work overtime to forge Lightning Torrent Crossbows, while also making many incremental improvements during the process.

When Luosen arrived, they had already produced a full ten Torrent Crossbows, plus thirty Lightning Bow Disks, the size of the disks having been increased to hold five hundred shots.

The weight naturally increased considerably as well.

But this device is positioned as a battlefield stronghold weapon, and since ordinary people in this world also have considerable strength, it's not a major issue.

Seeing so many new weapons, Luosen decided to start building momentum in Crescent City to showcase this powerful new weapon to the whole island.

He didn't rush off, but stayed to discuss concrete improvement ideas for the Torrent Crossbow with the mages.

For example, they considered how to forge an intermediate Torrent Crossbow, even an advanced one, and a wildly crazy Master Torrent Crossbow.

Although many arcane problems remain unsolved, everyone is very optimistic, and the discussion was very heated.

Just as Luosen was immersed in the rich academic atmosphere, a detail suddenly flashed through his mind.

"When I first arrived at Sleeping Dragon Snow Peak, I felt a very, very faint wandering mystical energy in the mountain range; now I think that must be Steel Power."

"What is this Steel Power escaping from?"

"The Goddess? The tomb? Or something else?"

"I don't know if this Steel Power still exists now."

Uncertain, he needed to go inspect personally to be sure.

If this matter isn't clarified, Luosen will remain uneasy.

Thus, his true body slipped away silently from Crescent Castle and hurried back to Sleeping Dragon Snow Peak.

He soon obtained the result.

"Strange, this power is still here, and has even slightly strengthened!"

Although it is extremely faint—perhaps even the Goddess couldn't detect it—Luosen's Ten‑Rings mana sensitivity, plus Laifu's fine probing, naturally allows him to sense it.

The Goddess has already left, the tomb has been destroyed by him, yet the power remains.

Who produced this power?

After a moment's contemplation, Luosen began to follow the gradient of the wandering energy's concentration distribution in the mountain range, carefully seeking the power source.

Three hours later, in a mountain cave, he obtained a definite answer.

"Well done, Mbabate, secretly pulling this kind of aircraft on me!"

"Fine, if you want to scheme against me, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

(End of chapter)