641: The Ancient Tomb of the Age of Stars! The Princess of the Steam City!
The ferry carrying the four of them moved across the surface of the Abyss River for about a week.
The river seemed to have no end, stretching infinitely in all directions, while the sky was shrouded in a dark purple demonic mist of Abyss Energy.
Every morning, Witch Shirley had to take a bottle of a special magic potion to maintain her body's health.
The four of them summoned the Styx Ferryman once a day and paid one Underworld Gold Coin. Locke's supply of Underworld Gold Coins was soon exhausted, so Witch Shirley paid for him.
Seven days later, the ferry passed through a section of the river where the water consisted of rising steam, and the temperature there was extremely high.
Witch Shirley looked at Wizard Warwick and questioned him, "What's going on? We've been going in circles in the same place for at least two days, and today you've led us into such a dangerous stretch of the river. The Abyss Energy here is practically boiling."
"The ferryman's boat might not be able to travel on this for long."
Sweat trickled down Wizard Warwick's forehead.
Wizard McKinley also looked at Wizard Warwick in confusion.
Wizard Warwick explained to the three of them, "The tomb of the Nameless King's wife still maintains a certain amount of power and is drifting along this Abyss River. We have indeed reached the approximate location of those ruins."
"However, finding that ancient tomb still requires a bit of luck."
Wizard Warwick summoned his sovereign book and used a History Pointer. Following the direction indicated by the History Pointer, he ordered the ferryman to head that way.
Wizard Warwick said, "That ancient tomb is protected by Prophecy School magic, which obfuscates its exact location. Even with a History Pointer, it's impossible to pinpoint it quickly. Everyone, please wait a bit longer; we'll find the tomb's location soon."
"It just takes time."
Wizard McKinley reproached him slightly, "Mentor Warwick, if you couldn't find the location on your own, you should have told us. We are all professors of Archaeology."
Wizard McKinley chanted an incantation, and a History Pointer appeared in his hand. After absorbing the aura of the ruins from Warwick's History Pointer, it immediately moved in a certain direction. "With two pointers indicating the location, even if there's Prophecy magic trying to mislead us, we should be able to use the point where both pointers intersect to reduce the margin of error."
Locke also used a History Pointer, borrowing the aura of the ruins from their two Spell Models. "If four people use History Pointers simultaneously, it will be very easy to confirm the location of the ruins."
"It's difficult for Prophecy magic to deceive the History Pointers of four different wizards at the same time. Once all four of our spells lock onto a single location, that's basically the correct spot."
"In matters like this, the more people there are, the faster the positioning becomes."
At that moment, the four of them worked together and quickly confirmed the location of the ruins.
Wizard Warwick was very satisfied with the efficiency of four Archaeology Wizards working together.
They directly broke through the Prophecy School magic protecting the Abyssal Ruins.
McKinley looked at him with dissatisfaction. "Mentor Warwick, next time there's something, just say it directly."
Wizard Warwick chuckled and said, "I just thought it would be more appropriate to wait until we reached the ruins before asking for your help."
"Alright, this time it was my fault for wasting your time."
Locke and Witch Shirley stood together on the ferry. He gazed into the distance and, through the mist on the surface of the Abyss River ahead, caught a faint glimpse of a massive complex of tombs floating on the water.
It was truly an enormous tomb.
The entire base resembled a ship.
Atop the ship sat a vast city, with an architectural style completely different from the common styles of modern wizards.
The entire city had many large chimneys that were still emitting black smoke, as if the city were still in operation.
On the ferry, Witch Shirley looked up at the city's architectural style. "The architectural styles of different Magic Kingdoms in the Age of Stars were worlds apart. But looking at the age of the negative energy particle field on the surface of this city... it indeed seems to be from that era."
Wizard McKinley was also somewhat excited. "It's more than just being from that era. Even during the Age of Stars—that feudal era of massive exploitation when the wealth of the magical royal families was piled high—a wizard who could possess such a massive tomb was definitely a rarity."
"To use an entire city as a burial accompaniment, they clearly intended to reign as a ruler even after death. The owner of this tomb refused to give up their living prestige even in death."
"Even if this tomb has nothing to do with the Nameless King, it is still a major archaeological discovery."
Warwick nodded with satisfaction. "See, I wouldn't lie to you. If this city weren't so dangerous, I wouldn't have invited the three of you to join me in exploring it."
"However, this city is indeed very sinister. It took four Archaeology Wizards just to find it. And in such a deep part of the Abyss River..."
"The three of us were able to come this deep because of our high Abyss resistance. As for Witch Shirley, she resisted the Abyss Energy through her advanced witch porcelain techniques and mysterious potions that can't be bought on the market. But, Witch Shirley, that must be very tiring."
Witch Shirley gave a cold snort and did not answer.
Locke asked, "Hmm? Mr. Warwick, did you send out advance scouts?"
Wizard Warwick laughed. "This matter is too important. How could I involve unrelated people?"
Locke frowned and pointed toward one side of the ship-burial tomb in the distance. "Then what's the deal with those wizard ships? They should be using modern technology."
The three of them immediately looked in the direction Locke was pointing.
Warwick's eyes nearly split from his sockets in rage.
Next to the tomb city, over a dozen wizard ships made of magical alloy were anchored, their magical crystals emitting a faint glow in the darkness.
These wizard ships didn't even seem to belong to a single faction.
This ancient tomb was actually being watched by multiple forces.
By reading the negative energy particle field information on the surface of those ships, Warwick immediately realized that they had arrived in different batches.
Some wizard ships had clearly arrived two years ago, while others had arrived just within the last month.
Warwick's breathing became ragged. "The Abyss River is accessible from all directions. They must have come from another way. Let's get over there quickly."
"We can't let them beat us to it."
"From the look of it, they haven't been here for very long either."
"Actually," Warwick reconsidered, "this ruin is exceptionally dangerous and is entangled with mysterious forces from the Age of Stars. It might not be a bad thing to let them explore the ruins ahead of us."
"This isn't a first-come, first-served situation."
"Some wizard ships have been anchored here for two years. That means they arrived before I met Locke, likely shortly after I left these ruins. Damn it, which wretched Archaeology Wizard leaked the information about this place?"
Warwick steered the Styx Ferryman's boat toward the tomb city. However, as they approached, a sudden gust of wind and waves on the surface of the Abyss River surged toward them.
Furthermore, the Abyssal worms and schools of demonic fish, which had previously been terrified of them, now seemed to have received some kind of encouragement and were filled with hostility toward the four of them.
They began to launch continuous attacks on the four of them.
A demonic wind blew toward them. The surface of the Abyss River, which had been calm just moments ago, was now churning with stormy waves, threatening to capsize their small boat.
In the next moment, the ferry was completely overturned by a massive wave, and the four of them were thrown into the air.
A cold voice echoed in their ears—[Ahead lies the great resting place of the Weaving Princess of the Atmo Kingdom. To those of later generations, any who trespass shall have their souls plunge into the Abyss forever, beyond redemption!]
Wizard McKinley reacted very quickly, immediately chanting an incantation to summon another Styx Ferryman's boat while still in mid-air.
But from beneath the Abyss River, a massive metal demonic hand suddenly reached out toward the ferry beneath their feet, attempting to overturn it again. It sought to knock the four of them into the Abyss River, where their souls would fall into the water and be transformed into primitive Abyssal worms, their souls circulating within the Abyss system forever.
Of course, whether this could actually be achieved was another matter entirely.
However, the ferry, which should have been able to turn incorporeal, was interfered with by the dense Abyss Energy, making it temporarily unable to immune the opponent's attack.
At the critical moment, Witch Shirley, standing beside Locke, suddenly chanted an incantation, and a holy fireball shot out.
Countless primitive demonic worms shrieked in the holy radiance as their bodies were engulfed in holy light.
A fireball struck the iron demonic hand.
Then, an angel stepped out from the holy fireball. The angel pointed at the iron demon beneath the Abyss River and declared, "You have no order!"
In the next moment, the Angelic Priest struck with a sword.
This demon—an Abyssal Lord of the Iron Demon Azmok race—was thus sliced in half by the holy angel summoned by Witch Shirley.
As it lay dying, the demon, severed in two, let out a scream. "Those who dare to trespass upon the resting place of the Weaving Princess will surely be punished."
"You have no idea whose tomb you are desecrating!"
"Aha ha ha ha... I curse you..."
Witch Shirley looked coldly at the severed iron demon. "No values."
"You are nothing."
"You are nothing but a walking corpse."
The wings of the holy angel she summoned released a divine light, and a faint illusion of a divine kingdom appeared behind it, completely nullifying the iron demon's dying curse.
At the same time, the holy angel vanished.
This was a First Ring Holy Master spell: Summon Angelic Priest.
Summoning this angel required tapping into the shared Holy Master divine kingdom system cultivated by the Holy Master colleges of Golden Crown Mountain, mobilizing the power of faith from billions of living beings.
The first stage was a fireball composed of platinum-colored holy flames that first attacked the enemy.
The second stage involved an Angelic Priest stepping out of the fireball, wielding an angelic sword to eliminate enemies for the Holy Master wizard.
Before dying, the iron demon's eyes widened. It likely hadn't expected that a wizard from the Holy Master system would appear in the later generations and directly immune the dying curse ability of its demon race.
The iron demon let out a final, weak wail. "No, how can this be..."
"Great Princess, I'm sorry... please forgive me, I can no longer protect you!"
In the next moment, the iron demon's body disintegrated, turning into countless Abyssal worms that entered the Abyss River. This was his way of reincarnating back into the Abyss system within the river.
However, a portion of his consciousness actually condensed into a primitive soul and flew toward where the Angelic Priest had vanished, entering that divine kingdom.
Locke looked at Witch Shirley in confusion. "Senior Sister, part of that demon's consciousness seems to have entered the divine kingdom of our Golden Crown Mountain Holy Master Academy."
Witch Shirley had a stern face and seemed quite displeased. "Yes, you're not mistaken. Anything killed by my priest, as long as it's not a wizard, has the possibility of entering our Golden Crown Mountain Holy Master's divine kingdom reincarnation system and becoming a divine kingdom angel, provided it conforms to our Holy Master's Eight Virtues."
"Order, Wisdom, Diligence, Justice, Trustworthiness, Dedication, Reciprocity, and Knowledge," Witch Shirley said. "These are the Eight Virtues of wizard society established by our Origin Holy Masters."
"Though I hate to admit it, that demon just now possessed the virtue of 'Trustworthiness.' Thus, part of his consciousness was blessed by holy power, condensed into a primitive soul, and entered our divine kingdom system for reincarnation."
"In the future, it might even become an Angel King."
Witch Shirley added, "This wasn't my intention. It's just an inherent effect of the spell that I can't control."
"That demon demonstrated the virtue of trustworthiness over a long period, so in the divine kingdom system, its priority for reincarnating as a high-level angel is very high."
Witch Shirley couldn't help but complain, "It's truly annoying. A demon actually has the chance to become an Angel King. Unfortunately, these are the rules established by the Third Ring Throne Holy Master of Golden Crown Mountain, and I cannot oppose them!"
Locke glanced at Witch Shirley.
Wizards of the Holy School are very different from those of other schools.
Many wizards in the Holy School become Official Wizards by virtue of their beliefs and values.
Of course, a certain amount of magical talent is still required.
Otherwise, they wouldn't even be able to construct a Spell Model.
If their magic pressure isn't high enough, they can't easily connect to the divine kingdom system built by Golden Crown Mountain.
It's just that, relatively speaking, the required magical talent is lower.
But in exchange, the level of obsession required is very high!
Furthermore, if they act against their own values, it could lead to a significant regression in their magical power or prevent them from ever advancing again.
A single inner demon could cause a Holy School wizard to remain at the same level for centuries.
Wizards of this school are also the group most likely to seek out psychotherapists.
They are the favorite client base for wizards of the Mind School.
They have the money and the need.
Wizard McKinley watched the Holy Master's spell, seemingly haunted by some past trauma, and fell silent for a while.
Meanwhile, Warwick watched the river surface return to calm following the iron demon's death. Standing on the ferry, he looked at the dozen or so magical ships anchored near the tomb in the distance and gritted his teeth.
"Who on earth leaked this information!"
"I'll tear them into ten thousand pieces!"
Warwick said, "This so-called Weaving Princess could command demons. In life, she must have been a Wizard King who borrowed heavily from Abyssal power. So, considering everything, this tomb is very likely that of the Nameless King's wife."
Locke put the Angels Tears Bracelet on his left hand and said, "Mr. Warwick, since the obstacles are gone, let's head over quickly."