"The script is small seal script, and the architectural style is unmistakably from the Qin-Han period."
With Roy's insight and knowledge, a casual glance around was enough to deduce the approximate era.
"This underground complex is neat and tidy. I also noticed there are still living people here earlier. The interior decorations use black as the noble color, so there's no need to wonder, this must be the Qin Dynasty. Though exactly which period of Qin Dynasty remains unclear for now."
Roy appeared in one of these buildings, where the room was filled with various bamboo scrolls and large objects resembling Gundam model kits. He casually picked up a bamboo scroll and glanced at it, nodding upon seeing the small seal script inside.
This was the writing system created after Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms, simplifying the large seal script used by Qin to abolish the six states' scripts.
This could truly be called a monumental achievement benefiting generations to come. It was precisely by abolishing the six states' scripts and unifying the writing system that gave China its concept of unity. Otherwise, this land of China would still be embroiled in conflicts between different states.
"To be honest, for those who time-travel to ancient times, it's manageable if they end up after the Song Dynasty—most of the writing is still somewhat recognizable. But if they land in the Qin Dynasty and see seal script, they might as well be illiterate."
Roy chuckled as he examined the bamboo slips in his hands. Had he still been an ordinary person before entering the world of Campione, he wouldn't have recognized anything on these slips except for the characters for "Emperor." But now, after his time in that world, Roy had become a scholar of profound knowledge, and this mere seal script posed no difficulty at all.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Roy let out a soft sound of surprise. He had been casually flipping through the bamboo slips just to confirm the exact time period, but he hadn't expected the content recorded on them to be so intriguing.
These bamboo slips, piled high on the bookshelves, meticulously documented Emperor Qin Shi Huang's orders to numerous alchemists, as well as his personal inspections of his territories—his ascents to Kunlun and descents to Penglai in search of immortality.
In the real world Roy came from, such expeditions would have yielded nothing, as that world presumably lacked any mystical elements. But in this world, Qin Shi Huang had actually discovered many things.
"I was indeed biased, imposing the history I knew onto this place. This is a world with mysticism—while the broad strokes of history might align, the finer details could differ significantly."
Roy's interest was immediately piqued. He noticed these bamboo slips were protected by spells, making them difficult to damage, so he rather roughly pulled them all down and began scanning their contents at lightning speed.
The slips recorded Qin Shi Huang's many explorations. The emperor, seeking eternal life, had indeed discovered remnants of the immortal path—traces from the Shang and Zhou dynasties—within Kunlun. He obtained numerous mystical techniques, transported them back to Xianyang, and built this underground palace to study them.
The slips also contained extensive esoteric knowledge, which Roy, ever the avid learner, devoured with relish. These immortal techniques bore similarities to magecraft, though they were rooted in Eastern philosophy, leading to significant differences in the details. Fortunately, Roy had acquired a wealth of occult knowledge from Luo Hao, allowing him to tirelessly absorb these divergent teachings.
For a time, Roy forgot everything else, treating the place as a library and immersing himself in reading.
However, given Roy's current knowledge and intellect, he quickly finished reading all the bamboo slips despite their volume, leaving him with a look of lingering fascination.
"I've learned some new things. These immortal techniques are incomplete, more like a patchwork assembled by the First Emperor. But with my level of understanding, I can infer the broader system. According to these records, the so-called 'immortals' and 'deities' are no longer in this world. Did they, like Scáthach, depart for the outer reaches of the world? Or did they, like other gods in this world, descend into the planet's inner sea?"
Roy pondered but couldn't arrive at a definitive answer. Still, whether they had gone beyond the world or into the planet's depths, it meant these immortals had severed ties with this world—no need to concern himself with them further.
From these bamboo slips, Roy also learned what exactly the First Emperor of Qin had burned during the "burning of books and burying of scholars." The emperor had actually destroyed the esoteric knowledge passed down from the Shang and Zhou dynasties. It was precisely the burning of this mystical knowledge that caused the rapid decline of the mystery in China, leading to the flourishing of human civilization and allowing mankind to become the dominant force.
If the late Shang Dynasty marked the beginning of the fading Age of Gods in the lands of Huaxia, then the era of true humanity arrived with the First Emperor.
The First Emperor could be called the great architect behind the flourishing of human order in China.
"Truly a contradictory emperor. On one hand, he 'burned books and buried scholars,' erasing the influence of gods over humans to consolidate his rule and strengthen human order. Yet at the same time, he secretly sought the elixir of immortality, longing to harness mystical power to achieve eternal life. This is an emperor I truly wish to meet."
Roy wore an expression of yearning, showing respect for the First Emperor—but nothing more.
Had Roy still been an ordinary citizen of the Heavenly Dynasty, he would naturally have revered Qin Shi Huang. But now, Roy was a Campione, a slayer of gods who wielded the power to overturn the world. Faced with even the most accomplished 'mortal,' his heart remained calm.
"I wonder what year it is now in the B.C. era, whether the First Emperor is already dead, and why I've been brought here. What must I do to break the Curse of Human Order?"
Roy shook his head helplessly. At this moment, he almost wished that mysterious 'Throne' had been part of a Main God's Space—at least then he might have been given a mission to guide him, rather than stumbling blindly in the dark with no direction.
"Never mind. In this land where mystery is fading, there should be no real danger to me. I'll take things one step at a time."
Roy's gaze fell upon the massive alchemy furnace standing silently at the center of the palace. Its metal surface bore the scorch marks of fire, evidence that it had been in operation until recently.
This small detail alone told Roy that Qin Shi Huang was likely already dead. Had the First Emperor still been alive, this furnace would still be active, and this underground complex would be bustling with activity.
Roy's emotions remained perfectly steady, unshaken—this was the confidence his power granted him.
As he had said, the upper limits of this world's mysteries were high, with beings far beyond his current ability to contend against—such as Scáthach, who dwelled beyond the edges of the world. Yet at the same time, the lower limits were remarkably low, with the average level of mystery even inferior to that of the Campione world. As the strongest of that world, he could roam freely here with only minimal caution.
Just then, a sudden commotion erupted within the underground palace.
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