Chapter 319
Chapter 319
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 319
Chapter Title: Windowless Tower Teleportation
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Heavenly Realm
A few days later, the Zhu Rong clan summoned us, saying they had finished interpreting the ancient scroll. I waited quietly, looking around the palace, then followed their call. The three Zhu Rong clansmen sat in chairs in the library and began explaining the results.
The content was largely what I already knew.
"The Dragon Flower Tree is a being that warms its seed with fire energy beside the treasure of Fire Yao over eons. Head three thousand li south across the great ocean, and you will find the legendary continent where Shennong was exiled after losing to the Yellow Emperor."
"......"
"And the seal of Fire Yao lies on the largest rocky mountain on that continent. Breach the seal and its guardian, and you can obtain the seed of the Dragon Flower Tree."
Dongbang Mugeol's face twisted, while the Baekwon Twin Demons just looked dumbfounded. To them, it sounded like an utterly absurd fairy tale. But ignoring their reactions, the interpretation continued.
"There's also a story here about the primordial pure sacred lotus. Probably the one from your White Lotus Cult."
At those words, Dongbang Mugeol glanced at me. Even as I showed no reaction, the Zhu Rong clansman went on.
"That primordial pure sacred lotus takes the form of a black-and-white lotus blooming near the ruins of Water Yao. The ruins of Water Yao are at the ancient mountain where Zhuanxu of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors left the final evidence of his flood control. There, you can also obtain the treasure of mighty Water Yao among the Seven Yaos."
Dongbang Mugeol's face fell in realization.
"Black-and-white lotus...?"
"Probably the same as what you gave us."
Whoosh—all eyes turned to me at once. Dongbang Mugeol stared blankly for a long moment before glaring at me in fury.
"You... who the hell are you?"
"......"
"Improved sacred lotus? Why lie about that... no, if you obtained the primordial black-and-white lotus, then you must be!"
As the world's greatest physician, Dongbang Mugeol was no fool. He seemed to have pieced it together instantly, but I naturally turned to the Zhu Rong clansmen.
"Your tastes are peculiar. Did you have to put me in this spot?"
"Hey!"
Dongbang Mugeol glared at me with murderous intent, demanding an answer, but I ignored him completely. The Zhu Rong clansman replied coldly.
"We merely fulfill the commissions we receive first."
"Then fulfill mine now as well."
"Already done."
Thud!
The next instant, Dongbang Mugeol and the Baekwon Twin Demons, who had seemed ready to lunge at me, suddenly collapsed forward. Their eyes bulged wide, faces drained of color. I approached them with a wary gaze and checked their pulses—their bodies were fine, but their consciousness was completely gone.
"Mental suppression?"
[Our race can dominate the minds of lesser beings. Even if theirs are strong, the three of us together make it trivial.]
The Zhu Rong clansmen didn't bother hiding it, subtly invoking a curse from their attire. I looked at them and frowned.
"That startled me. If we'd fought Dongbang Mugeol here, everything would've gone wrong."
[Not our concern.]
"Hoo..."
I gave a wry smile.
A few days earlier, I had visited the Zhu Rong clan with two commissions. One was to help suppress Dongbang Mugeol's group as soon as the scroll interpretation ended. They had executed it flawlessly. Whether sorcery or innate ability, their mental powers were impressive.
I glanced down at the unconscious Dongbang Mugeol and Baekwon Twin Demons.
"Additional commission. Alter their memories."
[You ask a lot. Do you think we're your servants?]
"I'll pay generously, so please. Otherwise, I'll have to kill them all."
[Fine.]
Soon, I watched as the Zhu Rong clansmen implanted false memories into their minds as requested. After confirming the fakes had taken hold by questioning them in their hypnotic state, I stuffed the three into my spatial pouch. I'd release them when the time was right.
When I pulled out another pair of black-and-white lotuses, a Zhu Rong clansman spoke.
[One more pair.]
"What?"
[Don't you get it? We're granting your commission to teach you the Southern Barbarian tongue right now.]
"Ah!"
I pulled out another pair as instructed. The Zhu Rong clansman raised a hand to my forehead and chanted a strange incantation. It was clearly the tongue of another race, impossible to mimic with human speech.
Hummm.
A green light swirled between my brows before fading.
"......!!"
In that instant, I realized I could speak Southern Barbarian fluently. It felt as natural as if I'd been born and raised here. The Zhu Rong clansman, watching me intently, tested me in Southern Barbarian.
"Do you understand me? Do you know that the king of the Ayutthaya Empire here is Naresuan, the Black Prince?"
"Of course. I know Black Prince Naresuan well."
"Good."
As I replied in kind, the Zhu Rong clansman tucked away the black-and-white lotuses with a satisfied air. Though their coldness stung a bit, they truly fulfilled commissions to the letter.
Who else could instantly subdue three peak experts?
No one but guardian spirits.
'Useful bunch.'
The seers were the same—this race was incredibly capable. As I inwardly rated the Zhu Rong clan highly, the one beside me spoke.
[Follow us at once. We'll let you use the Windowless Tower.]
They seemed the type to bundle tasks efficiently. Like Astana's seers, they valued speed and efficiency. I waved a hand at their words.
"No, hold on a moment. I have business with Naresuan."
[We have no time to waste here. How long?]
"Not sure, but it's important to me. Just a little longer."
[......]
They conferred briefly, then nodded.
[Finish within a day and return here.]
"Got it."
I left the room. I went to Naresuan and informed his guards I had arrived. Less than a quarter-hour later, he emerged on his jade throne, with Sawasdee at his side once more.
Naresuan spoke.
"No Dongbang Mugeol. What did you do with him?"
"There was conflict, so I put him to sleep temporarily."
"......"
He fell silent, then rested his chin on his hand atop the throne.
"Not my affair, but handle it without trouble reaching us."
"I can manage it more thoroughly than Your Highness imagines."
"That boldness appeals. See that you do."
"Would I dare not?"
Naresuan had apparently guessed from reports that I'd "dealt" with Dongbang Mugeol. But since Dongbang wasn't someone he had to protect, he let it slide. He judged negotiations with me far more important.
'Had I not spoken to him days ago in advance, it could've been dangerous.'
Without showing the obsidian and laying the groundwork, Naresuan might have seen touching Dongbang as touching his guest. We could've ended up in bloody battle here, leaving endless repercussions—but convincing him politically let me pass this peacefully.
Naresuan spoke.
"To be clear, I don't believe the memories you showed are perfect truth. Thus, I don't fully trust you. You know that much, right?"
I nodded.
"Naturally."
"But it's also true that I sensed the path I must take from those memories, and my intuition says you'll play a key role. So for now, let's agree to use each other for mutual gain."
"Yes."
Purely political words, but sufficient. It meant he wouldn't antagonize me. Though suspicious, he felt greater pressure from the Ming Empire's emperor's ambitions. Naresuan doubtless planned to use me as a pawn on his chessboard.
'If you want to use me, go ahead—for as long as you can.'
As I mused inwardly, Naresuan continued.
"The one I'll introduce is a Western technician."
"Technician?"
"Shipwrecked and drifted here, he deciphered additional firearm tech hidden by Western merchants and passed it to me. He's also a master metallurgist. Thanks to him, we've advanced our gunpowder tech greatly."
With that, Naresuan raised a hand. The doors opened, and a young man entered.
A blue-eyed man with brown hair—a Westerner. He blinked, then spoke in Central Plains tongue.
"Pleased to meet you."
I glanced at him, and Naresuan said,
"He showed great interest when I mentioned you. He speaks Central Plains well, so talk."
"......"
"He'll explain firearms as you wish."
I felt perplexed. What was I supposed to discuss here, even in Central Plains? Asking outright for gun tech was pointless—he might not explain, I wouldn't understand, and Naresuan watched closely. A true schemer like Mangnyang would've read his intent, but I couldn't guess.
The Western youth tilted his head and shrugged.
"Nothing to say, then. I'll take my leave..."
"W-Wait."
I racked my brain desperately. What to say to this nameless Western technician? I sensed Naresuan had made an odd proposal to toy with me. Sweat beading on my forehead, a sudden idea struck.
"L-Look at this. What do you think?"
Swoosh.
I impulsively pulled out the golden tripod and showed it to him. Then regretted it instantly.
'What have I done?'
The golden tripod was a demonic artifact. No way a Western technician could recognize it. As my face flushed with embarrassment at my blunder—
"Incredible."
A gasp rang out.
Suddenly, an eerie voice emanated from the Western youth before me.
[Why do you have Alhazred's Lamp?]
"Huh?"
In that moment, I realized his words weren't of the human world. It was the tongue of another race—one I'd heard many times before. The youth, realizing his slip, smiled again.
"Seems we're colleagues. Tell me how you got that item."
"C-Colleagues?"
"Don't play dumb. Such pretenses won't work."
The Western youth looked impatient.
In that instant, I guessed his identity.
'This guy's a sorcerer!'
Recognizing the golden tripod at once, knowing its creator's name, speaking the alien tongue—all pointed to a sorcerer borrowing power from the [Ancient Overlords].
An evil spellcaster like Zhuge Shi or the alchemist!
For some reason, he assumed I was a fellow sorcerer and wanted the golden tripod's origins.
I thought quickly and said,
"First, tell me your name. Then I'll consider."
"What a hassle. All Easterners like this?"
The Western youth scowled, then answered.
"Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim."
"......"
A tongue-twisting pronunciation I couldn't catch. The alien tongue was preferable.
"Call me Philippus Paracelsus."
A bizarrely Western name, as expected. I glanced at Naresuan, who smirked knowingly.
"A tough one for introductions."
"I see."
Paracelsus, anxious, pressed,
"The origins don't matter. Trade for my secret transmission. What do you say?"
"Sorry, but this isn't for trade."
"Tch... useless."
He grumbled curtly and turned away.
"I'll be in this kingdom long. Find me when ready."
Poof!
With that, he vanished without a trace. Naresuan, as if expecting it, said,
"Willful as ever."
"That man is an evil being allied with another race. Dangerous."
As I pointed out the Westerner's true nature, Naresuan crossed his arms on the throne.
"So what? Outwardly, he's an excellent technician and metallurgist aiding Ayutthaya greatly. Use him while we can."
"......"
"The Ming Emperor likely thinks the same. But his ambitions made him a puppet of that 'alchemist.'"
Muttering, Naresuan continued.
"Doesn't seem fated for you this time. He'll come again."
"Yes."
I replied and withdrew from Naresuan. My mind grew complicated.
'Is that how all monarchs are?'
Naresuan didn't seem evil, but he used Paracelsus for his nation's strength. He'd long suspected the man borrowed alien power. Meeting us was probably to provoke deeper knowledge from him.
Calculated from start to finish—and thus dangerous. Smarter than the Ming Emperor now, but who knew when he'd fall to the sorcerer and doom the world. He likely avoided atrocities like human sacrifice himself, but in crisis, his choices were unpredictable.
I returned to the Zhu Rong clan. No more business here.
"Let's go."
"Right."
Following them somewhere, the giant ruins Dongbang Mugeol mentioned appeared, as expected. Ruins of the Flame Emperor Shennong's descendants—the so-called giants like Chiyou, Kuafu, Gonggong, and Hengtian.
The ruins themselves formed the Windowless Tower. Made of pitch-black, hole-riddled stone, it was enormous. Watching from afar, a Zhu Rong clansman beckoned me to follow.
Inside the Windowless Tower spiraled a hollow space like a cavern. But a barrier of green gems hid the interior from outside view. Curious, I touched it, and a Zhu Rong clansman warned,
"A god is sealed inside. Don't touch."
"God?"
"The main seal is elsewhere, but don't. Even one awakened giant is a headache."
Muttering that, the Zhu Rong clansman dashed up the spiral stairs. Not wanting to seem unfocused and earn disdain, I followed.
"This way."
At the summit, dozens of Zhu Rong clansmen awaited, masks off, staring blankly—chillingly expressionless. They bellowed some great shout in unison.
"......!!"
Moments later, I was somewhere strange, enveloped in light.
'What? There were so many Zhu Rong just now...'
Not a single one around!
Shaking off dizziness, I stepped outside. One Zhu Rong clansman waited there.
"Your single-use pass is half-spent. Tell me when returning."
"What?"
"You... don't know the Windowless Tower's function?"
"No."
He eyed me incredulously, then said,
"Go outside the tower. You'll see."
I descended the spiral stairs and exited. Seeing the vast, empty plain and fields beyond, I understood.
"Gasp!"
This was a wholly new place.
A new continent.
'I see! Fire Yao is here.'
I instantly grasped the Windowless Tower's function.
Spatial teleportation between [towers] scattered worldwide! This must be the southernmost continent where Fire Yao resides—I'd crossed from Southern Barbarians here in one go.