887: The Founding Ancestor's Test and the Super verdant spirit breath mine
The young Archaeology Founding Ancestor smiled and, with his hands behind his back, said, "After you passed my final test, I have become absolutely certain that you are not a pawn of the Black Sun Tower."
"However, you do indeed possess the Historical Spiritual Agility of the Black Sun Tower."
Locke asked, "Founding Ancestor, could you please explain what the [Spiritual Agility] of the Black Sun Tower is?"
The young Archaeology Founding Ancestor addressed Locke with a more equal attitude, saying, "So-called Spiritual Agility is a wizard's special perception of a negative energy particle field, which includes an intuition for history."
"The higher the Spiritual Agility, the more one can sense key historical information amidst cluttered data. The higher the Spiritual Agility, the greater the feats one can achieve. At the same time, Spiritual Agility is not just an intuition; it also involves resonance with a certain period of history."
"Your resonance with the Black Sun Tower and the Age of Stars is incredibly deep, which was why I was guarded against you before. But things have changed now; you and I are co-conspirators. You possess a power that I do not, a power that can escape my calculations and, naturally, the calculations of the Black Sun Tower, the Ancestral Court of Sacrificial Magic. You possess qualities similar to the Princess."
"I can tell you one thing: your guess was correct. The person who was truly expunged was the Princess. The Princess was the figure who ended the Age of Stars, and she was also the one who defeated the Black Sun Tower."
"It is only that the world has forgotten the Princess."
A terrifying power suddenly rose within the entire False Tomb Space.
The Magic Dragon Bloodline within Locke's body began to boil.
A dark sun appeared within this false tomb.
Just before the residual image of that dark sun could materialize, the young Founding Ancestor suddenly flicked his finger. A Historical Stele flew out, suppressing the residual image of the dark sun.
"The Black Sun Tower has never been able to pinpoint my location. However, as you have seen, there is much information I cannot reveal. If I do, it will trigger the Sacrificial Magic of the Black Sun Tower."
"Over countless ages, I have seen too many wizards suffer at the hands of shadows simply because they learned certain [information]."
The young Archaeology Founding Ancestor said to Locke, "That is why, previously, I only wanted you to see the Historical Stele Spell, rather than truly wanting you to understand that period of history."
"I simply wanted someone who had seen that history and to ensure that it remained in your mind. That was enough. It was enough for me to use in my plans."
Locke realized what was happening and felt an immense sense of danger in his heart.
"You treated me like that Divine Eye of the Persepolis God Clan?"
The young Archaeology Founding Ancestor smiled.
"At that time, you and I were still strangers. Moreover, if I owe you a favor, I will repay it immediately."
"So, you need not feel aggrieved. In this world, as long as you enter an Academic Lineage, who isn't someone else's pawn?"
"But if you do not join an Academic Lineage, you will be marginalized."
"The only people in this world who can succeed by fighting alone are epoch-making figures who possess wisdom at least comparable to mine. However, Academic Lineages and Academies are alright; they are not very cruel. If you had been born in an earlier era, you would have had to face an environment far worse than the current one."
The Archaeology Founding Ancestor said with his hands behind his back, "Back to the point. Locke, you have proven your own value. You have escaped my predictions three times, so you are no longer a tool, but my ally."
"Therefore, I am going to place a bet on you. *Sigh*, it has been a long time since I last placed a bet. The last time I did, I lost, so I haven't gambled in a long time."
The young Archaeology Founding Ancestor held a key shaped like a Bronze Eyebrow Fish.
"This is the key to this false tomb. This tomb can change its appearance. If you find the form of an ancient tomb taboo, you can change it into a dungeon, a tower, or something similar."
"With this Bronze Eyebrow Fish, you can mobilize the Spiritual Agility within this ancient tomb."
Locke looked at the young Archaeology Founding Ancestor in confusion.
The Founding Ancestor said, "Unlike that Historical Diamond—which enters your spirit and immediately grants you Sun Ring Level Spiritual Agility and a Ultimate Magic that reshapes you—this would be overdrawing your own potential and mixing your mental power with a considerable amount of my artificial constructs."
"It was something I used to limit your potential and prevent you from meeting me a third time."
Locke didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Founding Ancestor, you don't have to explain your evil plan in such detail."
The Founding Ancestor said candidly, "I have always been one to own up to my actions. If you had chosen the Historical Diamond, it would have meant you stopped here and would be manipulated by the Black Sun Tower, making you my enemy."
"You could only have been a pawn for me and the Black Sun Tower. But now, I see you as an ally, and I have placed a portion of my bet on you. The Spiritual Agility within this false tomb cannot be mobilized at will. You need to follow the method I left in the false tomb to construct Archaeology Spell Models and replace all the Spell Models here with your own before you can mobilize the Spiritual Agility within this false tomb."
"This false tomb can provide you with Spiritual Agility approximately equal to Sun Ring Level magic pressure."
"However, with your current magic pressure, the most you can do is modify it and utilize its Spiritual Agility up to the Star Ring level. In other words, although the Spiritual Agility provided by this false tomb is also external and artificial, it is something you created yourself using the tools and framework I left behind. It is fundamentally different from that diamond."
Locke suddenly understood.
That meant the Founding Ancestor giving this false tomb to him was equivalent to giving him a Historical Diamond, except this 'Historical Diamond' needed to be built by himself through his own hard work and would grow as he grew.
After handing the key and the Spell Models to Locke, the Archaeology Founding Ancestor said, "Locke, do you remember I once told you that if you could see me a second time, your Archaeology could be considered to have attained proficiency?"
"This is the second time you have seen me. Although your Archaeology magic is still average, I admit that at this moment, you are already a qualified Archaeologist."
"Locke, you should construct the Spell Models here now."
Locke was stunned for a moment.
"Now?"
The young Archaeology Founding Ancestor looked at Locke with a faint smile that wasn't quite a smile and said, "Otherwise, when? I can slightly warp time here, so that only a very short time passes in the outside world, while you can spend a long time constructing Spell Models here."
"If you construct them here, it will be convenient for me to give you some guidance."
With a wave of the Founding Ancestor's hand, a stone slab suddenly appeared before him. Locke looked down at the slab and saw a spell recorded on it—the [Historical Resonance Spell].
After Locke finished reading, he constructed the relevant Spell Model for the Historical Resonance Spell in his mind. This spell was very interesting.
It was a special Spell Model structure constructed using historical materials and a wizard's mana. He could not yet fully understand the entire Historical Resonance Spell; it seemed to be a spell that one could keep learning indefinitely.
Locke began to try constructing it according to the Spell Model, wrapping his mental power with historical materials...
One year later within the False Tomb Space.
A special Spell Model structure resembling a planet appeared before Locke. This planet was entwined with many historical materials, and its surface had many craters from which countless historical materials emerged as pillars of light.
The planet itself was still slowly rotating.
This was a [Historical Resonance Spell].
Locke panted softly. The modo language possessed 220 basic runes, making it the most complex basic magic language he had ever seen, and the Spell Model structure of the Historical Resonance Spell was like a planet, its structure being equally complex.
As this Historical Resonance Sphere rotated, historical materials flowed through it, transforming into Historical Spiritual Agility corresponding to one thousand magic pressure.
The Founding Ancestor nodded.
"One year is not long. Your talent for Archaeology magic is indeed quite good. This false tomb currently has enough historical materials. Stay here and read the historical materials while you construct the Historical Resonance Spells. You need to construct a total of twenty Historical Resonance Spells."
"However... each time you construct a Historical Resonance Spell, the difficulty will gradually increase."
"Nineteen to go!"
Locke asked, "Is the construction of the Historical Resonance Spell limited not only by historical materials but also by my level of Archaeology? And my level of reading and using the modo language?"
The Founding Ancestor said, "That is indeed the case. But with me by your side, you can rest assured. I will ensure that you can finish constructing the remaining 19 Historical Resonance Spells, allowing you to possess Historical Spiritual Agility equivalent to twenty thousand magic pressure."
"Alright, Locke, let's begin."
Within the False Tomb Space, 30 years passed in a flash. The Founding Ancestor seemed to have exhausted himself greatly; his appearance had changed from a youth to an old man, and a trace of fatigue showed in his eyes.
However, he now looked at Locke with appreciation.
"Thirty-one years have passed. You probably regret it now. I told you long ago that choosing the Historical Diamond would have been much easier. Look at you, you've worked hard here for thirty-one years and only just managed to use my false tomb to construct twenty Historical Resonance Spells."
At this moment, twenty historical 'planets' floated before Locke.
Historical materials flowed between these 'planets', collectively enhancing Locke's sensitivity to historical data and transforming into his Historical Spiritual Agility.
On Golden Crown Mountain, Locke's avatar in the underground Research Institute of the Dune World opened its eyes. He was dazed for a moment, but soon immediately prioritized the time perception of the Wizard World.
Because the thirty-one years of time the Founding Ancestor had warped for him in the False Tomb Space was, from an external perspective, more like a warping of his perception of time rather than a true warping of time itself.
He sensed his current vitality and found that both his physical body and his soul remained young.
In other words, those thirty-one years were more like he had been under an illusion that dilated his sense of time. Since his Advanced Meditation Technique was already extremely profound, his mental power was resilient enough to withstand an illusion of this level.
Otherwise, if an ordinary person had come, their soul would likely have split due to the discrepancy in time perception.
Within the False Tomb Space, Locke said gratefully to the Founding Ancestor, "Thank you for guiding me for thirty-one years. I can now call you teacher."
Within the False Tomb Space, the Founding Ancestor smiled.
"Archaeology Wizards are generally all equal. You don't need to call me teacher; I said we are only allies."
"I have placed a bet on you. Therefore, my investment in you is merely the stake I have put in. You are not my pawn; a pawn cannot defeat the Black Sun Tower. Locke, you must be careful. My power is no longer sufficient to maintain my presence here. But you must be very careful..."
"Be careful of the Black Sun Tower... The path forward for your bloodline is severed. At the Sun Ring stage, you will face a life-and-death crisis. You know about the Princess. You are also a thorn in the side and a speck in the eye of the Black Sun Tower."
The Founding Ancestor's figure gradually shattered and faded.
"Locke, I hope you can find me a third time."
"At that time, I will hand over something truly important to you."
"Also, be careful of those around you. The most terrifying thing about offending the Black Sun Tower is that you cannot trust the people by your side. Because some have long been their puppets without even knowing it, yet they maintain an excellent relationship with you and seem ready to sacrifice themselves for you."
"This is a difficult road."
Locke suddenly returned to the fake tomb. His mind dazed for a moment, but he immediately circulated his Advanced Meditation Technique, and his current memories connected seamlessly with those from before entering the fake tomb.
Within the Great River of the Imaginary Sea, Hussein's body was nearly severed at the waist by the black coffin ship. He coughed up blood and said weakly to Locke, "Did you get what you wanted?"
Hussein fished his lower half out of the Great River, using a Blood Curse as a connector to link his upper and lower body. By now, his two arms had already regenerated.
Locke held the bronze eyebrow-fish key. His twenty Historical Reproduction spells were currently situated within this fake tomb; essentially, this fake tomb was his spiritual agility resource center.
It seemed the Founding Ancestor needed so many fake tombs precisely to use them as his computing power centers.
At this moment, he controlled the fake tomb to sink to the bottom of the Great River.
Hussein said weakly to Locke, "It looks like you've gained quite a lot."
Locke nodded.
"However, there are too many things involved; I can't explain them to you in detail."
"Hussein, thank you for helping me hold back this fake tomb."
Hussein said nonchalantly, "Mm. It's nothing, quite right. I'm not a prying person either. As long as you got what you needed, we've both gained what we wanted from this void exploration."
"We should be able to organize the return trip now."
At this time, the three Upper Planes of the Three Caves World had all returned to reality, and the creation defects of the Three-Cave Plane had been mended. The entire world was on the verge of advancing.
Locke's Rangers were spread almost throughout the entire world, becoming the mainstream of this world's civilization.
Locke said to Hussein, "If you want to go back, I can have the exploration vanguard return first. I need to organize my gains here and collect this world's Spirit Breath mines."
The Three Caves World was rich in Spirit Breath mines, and he had already invested tens of millions of magic stones into this Three Caves World.
Whether he could quickly recoup his costs and make a huge profit depended on the number of Spirit Breath veins in the Heavens.
Locke glanced at Hussein, remembering what the Founding Ancestor had told him: to be an enemy of the Black Sun Tower, one must be careful of everyone around them.
Because the people around him could easily become pawns of the Black Sun Tower, even without knowing it themselves.
So, was the Founding Ancestor trustworthy?
Locke's eyes flickered.
Not trustworthy!
'When the Founding Ancestor communicated with me, he plotted against me once; I only avoided it because of his Historical Diamond. During the subsequent thirty-one years of guidance, aside from a few words at the beginning, I was actually working hard on my own the rest of the time.'
'He is still guarded against me.'
Locke thought, "Besides, during those thirty-one years, he also wanted to understand me. I can't judge yet how much of what he said was true and how much was false. He said he placed a bet on me, but in fact, I don't know if he's betting on me to lose or to win."
Locke's eyes flickered as the Super Intuition of his Magic Dragon Bloodline helped him clear his thoughts.
"There are many kinds of bets. Betting on me to lose is a bet, and betting on me to win is also a bet."
His mind raced, trying his best to speculate on the Founding Ancestor's thoughts. Although a low-ring wizard's thinking had limitations and could not fully see through the mind of a High-Ring Wizard.
'If he is betting on me to win, then he's betting that I can become a Sun Ring Wizard and survive that Sun Ring tribulation. If he's betting on me to lose... then it's strange. Why would he want me to see him a third time?'
Locke's brain spun frantically.
The figure of the Persepolis God Clan flashed before his eyes.
That was it. Regardless of whether the Persepolis God Clan won or lost their game against him, they were fulfilling the Founding Ancestor's plan.
Relative to the Founding Ancestor, he was indeed a low-ring wizard with limited thinking, but he had already seen one of the ancestor's complete schemes.
That was his scheme involving the Persepolis God Clan.
'If he bets on me to lose, it probably also fits his interests, and I would still go to see him a third time.'
Locke had a feeling that he was not the Founding Ancestor's true ally.
Because the Founding Ancestor could only be certain that he himself was not a pawn of the Black Sun Tower, but he couldn't be sure about the people around him, nor could he be sure if Locke could escape the Black Sun Tower's clutches.
Under these circumstances, how could he determine Locke's position?
Therefore, it was likely that only the state in which he met him for the third time would truly allow the ancestor to determine his attitude toward him.
The words spoken in the fake tomb were probably a mix of truth and lies, hard to distinguish; he couldn't believe all of it.
What was certain was that the Founding Ancestor must be on the Princess's side.
But not necessarily on his side.
After all, the ancestor had schemed against him more than once.
And he currently had very little information on the Black Sun Tower.
Locke sighed. If he had chosen the Historical Diamond in the fake tomb, it would indeed have been a way to sever karma, and he wouldn't have had to be drawn into this vortex.
But then, he wouldn't have gained control of this fake tomb, nor would he have received the benefits of constructing the Historical Resonance Spells over those thirty-one years.
Locke waited for Hussein to recover a bit before taking him to find Old Henry. The three of them headed toward the location where the Heavens were assimilating into reality.
By now, the entire Heavens had landed on the Ring Mountain, merging with the earth.
Locke first found the Sealing Stone held by the giants on the mountain and broke the seal. After all, he had signed agreements with these wizards before setting out; if they died, he would have to pay compensation to their designated parties.
A Vaporization Wizard required a compensation of twenty times their monthly salary.
That was two hundred thousand magic stones.
Although this amount was small change for him now, he should save where he could.
At this time, the Vaporization Wizard from the Illusion School bowed to Locke. He felt a lingering fear, having worried that Locke wouldn't come to save him, but now he was relieved.
"Thank you, Great Wizard Augustine."
"Thank you for saving me."
Locke nodded slightly.
Beside him, Old Henry raised the Treasure-Seeking Ruler. The ruler floated in the air and began to rotate around a certain point. After about ten minutes, Old Henry showed a look of surprise.
"Heavens, what a massive ore vein. I knew the Heavens of this world would have a large number of verdant spirit breath veins."
"That vanished void magic plant was fishing for the spirituality of the Imaginary Sea day and night."
"It must have long ago condensed a vast amount of verdant spirit breath."
Several of them followed the Treasure-Seeking Ruler.
Every time the Treasure-Seeking Ruler moved a bit, it would change direction. Soon, they stopped at a junction between three mountain ranges. A verdant spirit breath mine lay within the valley.
This vein must be massive in area.
Because Locke saw many mine shafts in this vein that were constantly erupting with verdant spirit breath.
Old Henry used the Treasure-Seeking Ruler to estimate the approximate area of the vein, and his jaw nearly dropped.
"This is a super verdant spirit breath mine. I suppose that Persepolis God Clan couldn't use this verdant spirit breath themselves, but they knew these were good things, so after scouring these resources from reality, they piled them all into this one vein."
"Unimaginable. I wonder what the reserves of this vein are."
"But there's a problem. When the Persepolis God Clan moved the vein, they tangled it with a large amount of impurities, devaluing the quality of the vein itself. I estimate we'll need to build a mining well here and then a vein purification treatment plant."
Old Henry pondered.
"This will also be a major expense. Captain Boss, I think you'll need to hire at least three excellent Alchemists at the Crystallization Stage to develop these veins."
Locke said, "Old Henry, can you do it?"
"If you help me, I can share a portion of the profits with you."
The three small veins in reality were all built with mining wells under Old Henry's help before they could be excavated.
It could be said that bringing the Old Pirate along this time was definitely worth more than the price.
Otherwise, even for those three small veins, he would only have been able to use the purest verdant spirit breath ore on the surface; anything deeper would have been difficult to obtain quickly.
As an excellent Enchanter, Old Henry had ways to efficiently mine Spirit Breath ore.
Old Henry hesitated, swallowing hard. After deep consideration, he decisively wanted to refuse.
"Me? I can't do it. I'm a pirate; pirates can only obtain resources by plundering. If I set up a Spirit Breath mine here, wouldn't that be the same as settling down?"
"Would I still be considered a pirate?"
Hussein said in a low voice, "I am a senior partner at the Mithril Law Firm. This is my business card. If you need it, I can represent you in a lawsuit to clear your name and turn you into a White Wizard."
Locke looked at Hussein in surprise. Right, he was now a Second Ring Wizard.
His status at the Mithril Law Firm had naturally risen.
Old Henry's eyes widened.
"Then how much would it cost for you to represent me?"
Hussein said, "It depends on the situation; it can be high or low. A case like yours is somewhat difficult. Generally speaking, it starts at thirty million magic stones."
"Mainly because you have a long criminal record. If you were caught by the Demon Hunter Troops of the White Wizard Association, you wouldn't even make it to a Wizard Prison; I believe you'd be executed immediately."
Old Henry's eyes widened.
"Damn it, you lawyers rob money faster than we pirates!"