I remembered that Klein had casually mentioned to me before that Old Huang, in his later years, had been searching for the tombs and ruins left behind by the various versions of "me" throughout past lives. He even said he would place some important items inside them, to strengthen the "bond" with me...
But I always felt that was unnecessary... Even if I hadn't recalled the memory from the time of the "Calamity Seal," just based on my impression from the original work, there's no way I would truly ignore him...
Of course, only after I gained enough strength.
What was he worried about? Was he afraid I'd support someone else to become the "Black Emperor," causing his complete downfall?
Or was it that after being polluted, during moments of intense madness, he did something harmful to me and wanted to make up for it?
Like abducting the "Queen of Calamity"?
But in my view, it was more likely that he had been schemed against by the "Calamity Seal"...
Thinking of this, Ebner felt somewhat wistful and became more convinced that the self from the "Calamity Seal" incident had been problematic, because that was not something his own "character" would have done.
"This looks like Roselle script." At this moment, Edwina suddenly spoke. Her light-blue eyes shifted slightly as she continued, "It was Emperor Roselle who came here."
"Most likely." Ebner nodded and was about to push open the door bearing the words "Huang Tao was here." But just then, his intuition was suddenly stirred. He quickly grabbed Edwina and "flashed" to the other side of the room.
At the same time, a ray silently swept across the spot where he and Edwina had just been standing.
That ray looked illusory, leaving no trace on its path, but Ebner clearly sensed the immense energy within it—no weaker than the "Pure White Ray" of an "Unshadowed"!
If they had still been in place, Ebner was confident he could take the hit, but Edwina could not. If she were struck by an attack of that level, even if she survived, she would be gravely injured.
Even though that attack contained no divinity, merely pure energy release.
After all, it had been a sneak attack, and even Ebner, as a "Prophet," only perceived it at the very moment it was about to strike. Edwina would never have had time to prepare her own defenses.
Clearly, the attack had been disguised and concealed with great sophistication on the "information" level.
After dodging the strike, Ebner activated the "Pure White Eye," scanning rapidly over every corner of the room, and soon locked onto the six "suns" on the ceiling—the incandescent lamps.
That earlier attack, similar to a "Pure White Ray," had come from them!
At this moment, those six "light sources" detached from the ceiling and floated into the air, revealing their true forms to Ebner and Edwina.
They were six metallic lions, resembling "Leon" somewhat, though filled with mechanical texture, radiating a strong "sci-fi" aura.
The next second, the six mechanical lions transformed and assembled themselves: two became arms, two became legs, two became torso and head...
Looking at the suddenly-appearing robot, over two meters tall, Ebner's mouth twitched as he thought:
Old Huang once wrote in his diary that he'd make the phrase "It's not that we didn't work hard, it's just that the cheaters have Gundams" come true in this world... So, is this him fulfilling that promise?
But this thing looks more like "Combattler V" or "Voltron" than Gundam... not even the same franchise.
While he mocked inwardly, Ebner kept his eyes fixed on the robot's movements, for he had already realized why this construct had been placed here.
—When Huang Tao had entered, he had violently dismantled the defenses of this room. So, as a replacement, he built this "gatekeeper" and stationed it here, so others wouldn't just get a free pass.
If that's the case... then it should have a recognition system, right? There's no way it would attack its true 'master'... Oh, crap!
Just as Ebner thought this, the robot raised its right hand, and a cold blue ray shot toward him.
Seeing this, Edwina's clear light-blue eyes immediately tinged with twilight. At once, an invisible barrier rose before the two of them, blocking the ray.
"Its power exceeds that of an ordinary Sequence 5, but it contains no divine force..." Edwina, with her rich exploration experience, instantly made her judgment. "This should only be a warning, just like that previous 'Pure White Ray.'"
When Edwina simulated the "Guardian Barrier," Ebner withdrew the ability he had been about to unleash. At the same time, he formed his own conclusion about the icy ray:
Both its appearance and intensity are very similar to the 'Frost Breath' of the 'King of the North' in the Groselle's Travels... Did Roselle come here during the time after he obtained that book and built the 'Dream Labyrinth Tower' behind the Miracle City?
Then what exactly is the 'password' or token for passing? Hmm, as Edwina said, that last attack was just a warning. If we don't retreat, it may truly unleash an attack on the level of a demigod—or even higher!
Does that mean we really have to fight this robot to pass? But what if we can't beat it?
His mind raced, and before the mechanical being could launch another strike, Ebner quickly performed a "Prophecy."
Because he lacked enough prior information and had no clear target, he received only a single word as a hint.
That word was—"Lion"!
Lion? Repeating it silently, Ebner immediately had a guess.
Seeing the robot's chest begin to glow, he quickly spoke in Chinese: "Leon!"
But the light gathering at its chest did not fade; instead, it continued to intensify.
Seeing this, Ebner's thoughts spun rapidly. Holding Edwina close, ready to "flash" away with her at any moment, he shouted another name in Chinese: "Three Lights!"
This time, the robot finally stopped its action, then separated back into six mechanical lions, which flew to the ceiling and once again became the incandescent lamps.
Watching this, Ebner finally exhaled in relief, though he did not drop his guard. His hand remained on Edwina's waist, ready for emergencies.
Edwina felt somewhat uncomfortable at this. After all, her "pirate queen attire" was actually a magical illusion, not real clothing... Fortunately, she still wore the cloak Ebner had given her, so there was at least a layer of fabric between them—barely acceptable.
"What language was that just now? It seemed the same as the one you suspected might be used in the incantation to activate the 'Blasphemy Card'... Was that Roselle script?" Edwina asked curiously, also to distract herself.
"That was Chinese." Ebner gave a brief explanation and said no more, leaving Edwina to her own guesses.
Not Roselle script... but the language of the Central Kingdom? What does that mean? Did some nation ever call itself the Central Kingdom? Hmm, definitely not in the Fourth or Fifth Epoch... Perhaps in the Glorious Era of the Third Epoch, an ancient nation once called itself 'Central'? Could this be its language?
While Edwina was making associations, Ebner had already pushed open the door inscribed with "Huang Tao was here," leading them into the final room.
No, more precisely, this was a palace—a massive crystalline palace with an Elven style, mixed with hints of Gothic design.
The palace had two levels. The lower floor was a platform surrounded by decorations of gemstones and gold; ascending the long staircase to the second level, one could see a lavish high-backed chair, upon which sat a tall figure—so tall that even seated, it was over two meters.
That figure had its head lowered, body leaning forward, right fist against its forehead, elbow on its thigh. If not for the lack of any aura, it looked as if He were still alive, lost in thought!
"The God of Luck..." Even separated by more than ten meters of stairs, and unable to see His face clearly, Ebner recognized His identity through an indescribable sense of familiarity.
But just as he was about to ascend to the second level, he suddenly realized that a complex ritual had been arranged before the staircase.
The ritual followed a binary method, with two altars. One bore a pair of interconnected, continuously turning gears; the other bore a card lying quietly.
It was a "Blasphemy Card"! A card that had already been activated!
Since the ritual did not prevent others from approaching, Ebner and Edwina could easily see the card, which depicted Roselle in his classic "Child of Steam" image. In the upper left corner of the image, brilliant starlight condensed into lines of text:
"Sequence 9, Savant.
"Extraordinary memory, learning, and practical ability. Rough understanding of mysticism, deeper mastery of science and mechanical theory. Can awaken memories, recall all knowledge once read; enhanced comprehension and learning ability..."
"Potion Formula:
"Main ingredients: 50g Radell copper ore crystal, one pair of eyes from a Noske black goat.
"Auxiliary ingredients: ..."
...
"Sequence 4, Alchemist.
"Can imbue one's creations with souls, granting them a measure of life...
"Potion Formula:
"Main ingredients: one drop of divine blood from the 'God of Steam and Machinery,' or one pair of faerie wings + one Philosopher's Stone.
"Auxiliary ingredients: ...
"Ritual: Extract all life force within a designated area."
...
"Sequence 0, Paragon.
"Potion Formula: Three portions of 'Dark Light' Beyonder characteristics + the Paragon's Uniqueness.
"Ritual: Draft a blueprint of one's civilization and guide the intelligent species of the current world to develop and progress until they match the civilization envisioned in the blueprint.
"When the scene of the blueprint and the real civilization overlap perfectly, drink the potion.
"Note: The greater the gap between the drafted civilization and the original one, the smaller the discrepancy upon alignment, the better the ritual's effect."
(End of this chapter)