Chapter 661
Mithril City
Chapter 661 Mithril City
The first one is Charon, the master of elemental alchemy, who focuses on creating elemental artifacts.
He prefers to use fire and earth elements as the core energy source, and his works often use molten iron and flame-patterned crystal as materials, with surging lava patterns often engraved on the surface.
The second is Eleanor the Space Forger, who is skilled at creating portal cores and short-distance teleportation alchemical machinery.
He prefers to use ethereal silver and space crystal as the main materials, and the most distinctive feature of his works is the presence of distorted spatial ripple patterns.
The third is the legendary clockmaker Lottie, the only legendary alchemist who focuses on astral creations.
The book records that Lottie was obsessed with astral exploration and dedicated her life to creating navigational devices that could traverse different realms.
Her works have three distinctive features: First, they invariably use astral crystals and astral iron as the core materials;
Secondly, the core component is embedded with a "star boundary positioning crystal," which can autonomously sense star boundary coordinates;
Thirdly, they excel at combining precision mechanical structures with astral energy transmission, and their artifacts often feature components such as dials and gears.
“Astral Crystal, Star Iron Refined Gold, Astral Creation…” Gao De compared these characteristics and had already made up his mind.
The materials and properties of the dial perfectly match the characteristics of Lotte's work.
His breathing quickened slightly as he continued to peruse the materials about Lottie's integration with the craft.
The period of technological integration was the fastest period of development in alchemy, and also an era in which wondrous things emerged.
The root of everything lies in the astral tides.
According to ancient records, at the end of ancient times, an unknown dimensional change caused the barrier between the astral plane and the mage plane to thin, and a large amount of pure astral energy surged in like a tide.
This not only gave rise to rare and extraordinary materials such as astral crystals and ether silver, but also provided an opportunity for the transformation of some exquisite man-made objects.
Those objects that already possess advanced craftsmanship and carry specific functions can, under the nourishment of the astral energy tides, transcend the boundaries of ordinary magical items and transform into wondrous objects.
"A rare object..." Upon seeing this term, Gao De's breath hitched slightly, but he continued reading.
Ordinary magical items have a fixed energy limit and usage rules.
But strange objects are different. They can autonomously absorb and transform astral energy, and even possess growth potential and self-repairing abilities. Furthermore, they can ignore some of the restrictions imposed by dimensional rules.
The creation of extraordinary objects often requires a combination of craftsmanship and opportune timing.
Only the most exquisite craftsmanship, coinciding with the moment when astral energy is at its most abundant, can allow an object to complete its transformation.
Most of the extraordinary objects created during the period of technological fusion were born in this way.
A storm raged in Gao De's heart; all the clues instantly connected:
This dial is a work by the legendary alchemist Lottie from the fusion period of craftsmanship, employing a fusion of ancient star pattern casting and medieval star-cutting techniques.
Born during the Astral Tide Era, it underwent a transformation from a high-level magical item to a wondrous artifact, nourished by pure astral energy.
So, what kind of strange object is this?
As a legendary alchemist, Lottie's top-tier creations must all be documented.
God immediately turned his attention to the last entry about Lottie in "The Chronicles of Legendary Alchemists," quickly scanning her life story before finally settling on the record of her works at the end:
【Stardust Hands】: An early work by Lottie, palm-sized pure gold hands with a small, uncut piece of native astral crystal at the end.
It can passively sense astral energy fluctuations within 10 miles of the mage plane. The pointer will tremble slightly and point to the direction of the most concentrated energy. It has no navigational accuracy and can only be used as an astral energy detector.
Meteor Compass:
[Astral Navigation System]: Mid-stage works can lock onto 3 known astral nodes and automatically plan the shortest navigation path.
The book provides a detailed record of all of Lottie's well-known works from her early to later periods.
The appearance, function, and craftsmanship are all clearly described.
However, no matter how hard Gaode searched, it could not find a record that matched the old watch face in its hand.
Finally, his gaze settled on a footnote at the end of the biographies, a text written in illegible handwriting, clearly a later addition by the compiler:
In his later years (the end of the fusion period), Lottie announced a thirty-year seclusion, intending to exhaust all his life's learning to create a final masterpiece.
During her seclusion, the astral energy around Lottie's mage tower was unusually active, with starlight occasionally shooting up from the top of the tower.
However, after the thirty-year period ended, Lottie emerged from seclusion without releasing any information, and the appearance, function, and name of her ultimate creation remained a mystery.
Rumors circulated that the creation failed due to the excessive energy, and Lottie herself was severely injured by the backlash of the energy.
There are also rumors that the creation has been completed, but because its power is too great, even someone of her status would find it difficult to protect this ultimate creation, so it is kept secret.
"The unknown ultimate creation," Gao De murmured.
The dial's craftsmanship clearly belongs to Lottie's later works, yet it is not recorded in any known pieces. There are only two possibilities:
Is it a failed piece of junk, or is it related to this ultimate creation?
This is the most likely answer; however, whether it is the former or the latter, Gaode Maps cannot know for sure at the moment.
Unless there is a way to know what Lottie was planning to create as the ultimate creation.
Gaode searched the relevant areas of the library again, from "Gleanings from the Period of Craft Fusion" to "Ancient Sites of Morrison County", and even flipped through several miscellaneous books that recorded folk legends.
However, all the ancient texts either repeated the known information or were vague, and no substantial clues about Lottie's ultimate creation could be found.
The scent of ink and sandalwood mingled in the air, creating a particularly pleasant aroma, yet at this moment it only made Gao De feel a little tired.
He closed the book and put all the classic texts he had read back in their places.
It wasn't all for naught; at least I learned it was a product of the fusion of craftsmanship, a work by Lottie. Gao De stopped worrying about deciphering the origin of the dial.
There are no further clues at the moment, and dwelling on it too much will only cause unnecessary trouble.
As my mage level increases and my status rises, I will have access to more advanced and secret knowledge and history, and perhaps I will be able to find information related to Lottie's ultimate creation.
Now that we've done our sightseeing, we'll go back to the hotel to rest for the night before setting sail for Luge County.
The airship Lark broke free from the cables of the Glorious City's giant airport, emitting a deep and pleasant hum, and slowly rose into the azure sky.
Gaode stood on the observation deck.
The glorious city beneath our feet is gradually shrinking, but the towering colossal statue of glory can still be discerned in its outline.
The Lark is a sightseeing airship that was introduced in the last century.
Unlike other airships, it has a dedicated open-air observation deck and is much faster than ordinary airships. Currently, it is only used on the route between Glorious County and Luka County.
Although it was faster, the Lark traveled with exceptional smoothness.
The airship swept across the prosperous central plains.
When the distant horizon begins to reveal the outline of the undulating, snow-capped Irwinlaya Mountains, it means that the territory of Luga County has been reached.
Unlike the fertile and gentle plains of the Plantagenet Dynasty, which comprised over 90% of the region, the Rugo County was adjacent to the Erwinaya Mountains, resulting in a rugged and austere landscape with a primitive and stark beauty.
"Ahead, Mithril City." The navigator's deep voice rang out through the sound transmission alchemy device embedded in the airship, carrying a metallic resonance and clearly reaching every corner of the airship.
Mithril City is the county seat of Ryukyu County.
The cabin erupted in chaos. Passengers, who had been scattered throughout the cabin, seemed to be drawn together by invisible threads, rushing towards the observation deck.
Gaode followed the flow of people forward and climbed onto the viewing platform.
The moment I looked up, a slight thought stirred within me.
The rocky plateau known as the "Silver Heights" lies before us.
This is not a metaphor; the side of the mountain facing the airship truly appears cold, pure, and shimmering with a faint metallic luster in the sunlight.
The entire mountain appears to have been forged from a single, naturally formed piece of giant silver, without the slightest trace of human intervention. Only the vertical rock walls, steep as if carved by a knife and axe, exude an ancient, chilling aura that keeps people at a distance.
The same is true.
Every inch of rock in this Silver Heights is permeated with a massive amount of mithril.
The largest mithril mine on the continent of Nolan is hidden beneath this seemingly barren mountain.
Mithril, recognized as the top-tier magic-conducting material in the mage plane, is as light as a feather yet possesses extraordinary magic-conducting capabilities.
A piece the size of a fingernail can increase the effectiveness of ordinary magical artifacts several times over.
Its price can no longer be measured in gold.
One ounce of mithril can be exchanged for a hundred pounds of gold.
It's as if the entire Silver Heights is a moving gold mine.
How exaggerated and unbelievable!
This is also why, despite its rugged terrain and harsh climate, Liuge County was one of the wealthiest counties in the Golden Flower Dynasty.
Just like some oil-producing countries in the Middle East in the previous generation of Gaode.
Even with the vast desert and harsh environment, the black gold flowing underground alone is enough to make them the richest people in the world.
Not to mention, mithril is far more valuable than oil.
Just as everyone was captivated by the grandeur of the Silver Highlands, several clear, melodious cries suddenly pierced the sky—
Phew! Phew!
The sound was sharp but not harsh, carrying a primal and majestic penetrating power that instantly drowned out the sound of the airship's engine and the chatter of the crowd.
The passengers on the observation deck all looked in the direction of the sound, and the next second, a series of exclamations rang out.
Some people even excitedly stood on tiptoe, holding onto the railing and leaning over.
Several enormous silver figures swept across the rock crevices and mountains of the Silver Highlands.
Between the crevices of the rock walls of the Silver Heights, several enormous silver figures spread their wings and circled close to the mountainside.
Their bodies are perfectly streamlined, covered with fine, silvery-white scales that reflect a dazzling luster in the sunlight.
Its outstretched wings are enormous, with a faint silver-blue halo around the edges, like silver-plated silk gliding through the air, creating visible ripples in the air with each flap.
Its long tail trails out in a graceful arc.
It is a silver dragon bird.
National treasures of the Plantagenet dynasty.
Gao De's gaze followed those figures closely, watching them sometimes spiral upwards, soaring into the clouds, and sometimes swooping down, skimming over the rock face.
The claws scraped across the rocks, sending sparks flying.
Several dragon birds circled together near the mountain peak, their cries rising and falling.
The sound pierced through the wind and reached the airship, carrying an aura of primal power and majesty.
The silver dragon coins and silver dragon cavalry of the Golden Flower Dynasty both originated from this silver dragon bird.
To be able to see such rare creatures so closely on the outskirts of a city speaks volumes about Mithril City's uniqueness and extraordinary nature.
The glorious city has already impressed Gaode enough.
Mithril City wasn't as extravagant as Glorious City, but it gave Gaode a completely different sense of impact.
In fact, it fits Gaode's vision of a magical world city even better than Glorious City.
Mithril City is a city situated on a rocky highland.
Instead of a straightforward layout, the story ascends layer by layer along the slope of the mountain.
The houses, city walls, walkways, and rocks fit together perfectly, as if they were part of the mountain itself, forming a seamless whole without any sense of abruptness.
The outermost white wall is built against the steep mountainside. The wall is made of whole blocks of white marble mixed with mithril powder. From a distance, it looks like a silver dragon winding and coiling.
The walls are carved with huge circular runes and reliefs of sword-wielding guards.
The guards were clad in heavy armor, their postures upright, one hand holding a shield and the other a sword, their eyes sharp as blades, as if they were ready to fight any invading enemy at any moment.
Between the runes and reliefs are ancient inscriptions that read "It is our duty to defend the land and our righteousness to protect the people," as well as patterns of silver dragon birds spreading their wings.
On the city wall, the pointed towers are arranged in a staggered pattern like the nests of eagles.
Each tower features a strictly symmetrical design with straight, clean lines and no superfluous decorations.
The top is equipped with a mithril-made lookout device and weather vane, reflecting a sharp light.
Some towers are topped with perches for dragon birds, where several silver dragon birds stand quietly, like loyal sentinels, vigilantly watching the distance.
Between the towers, the banners of the royal family of Prince Mian of Liuge County are hung.
On a silver-white background, a silver dragon bird with outstretched wings is embroidered, with the edges of the wings outlined in gold thread, and the dragon bird's pupils gleaming with gold light.
The flags fluttered in the wind, showcasing the pride and glory of this city.
Moving your gaze upwards, at the city's highest point, almost touching the mountaintop, stand two of the most magnificent buildings.
One is a hexagonal mage tower, and the other is a county castle.
The tower is pure white, with vertical mithril bars inlaid on each side, extending from the base to the top like six silver pillars of light, making the tower appear even more imposing.
A large, pale blue crystal is set at the top, which subtly radiates light even in the daytime.
The crystal is surrounded by ring-shaped energy patterns, with occasional silver arcs of electricity leaping between the patterns, clearly indicating that it is both a mage tower and the city's defensive hub.
The adjacent county castle is also made of white marble, with its spire soaring into the clouds.
Amidst the murmurs and gasps of amazement, the Skylark gradually descended and finally landed at the airport located in the middle of the city.
In the center of the airport stands a silver dragon-bird statue, over ten meters tall. The dragon-bird spreads its wings as if about to take flight, its sharp claws gripping the base stone inscribed with the word "loyalty," exuding a majestic aura.
A refreshing scent, a mixture of rocky aroma, faint metallic mithril, and the distinctive crispness of dragon feathers, wafted through the air.
Gao De followed the flow of people off the airship, left the airport, and stepped onto the streets of Mithril City.
The overall architectural style of Mithril City is extremely rugged. In addition to simple patterns, the window sills and door frames are often carved with miniature dragon and bird scale patterns.
Just like the ubiquitous broom flower element in the City of Glory.
The symbol of the silver dragon bird has long permeated every corner of the city, becoming an inseparable part of it.
(End of this chapter)