And that Gargamel! As an evolution of the Loathsome Evil, this terrifying creature not only had the frightful strength of a rank 2 Magus, it also had many unpredictable techniques.
The destruction of the entrance to the secret plane would not obstruct it for too long.
If it were to be let out, the situation on the south coast would be much the same as it was now, or perhaps even more chaotic!
If that Gargamel found traces of Leylin, it definitely would not let him off. After all, he had basically made a fool of it.
Hence, Leylin had an increasingly intense desire for power.
“The Branded Swordsman! As long as I complete this experiment, I would instantly gain two underlings with the power of official Magi. They would be unafraid of death, and there can be an unending stream of them to serve me!”
Leylin’s blue eyes flashed in excitement.
“A.I. Chip! Scan the data!”
[Beep! Mission established, beginning to collect data required. Microscopic scan ensuing!] The A.I. Chip loyally executed Leylin’s commands.
[Beep! Target’s Data. Strength: 29, Agility: 24, Vitality: 35, Spiritual Force: 19. Has been branded with runes: Flame Extension (for Male use) Effects: Able to store large amounts of flame elemental particles on the surface of the body and use it in battle. Each attack will have an additional damage from flames. All elemental particles can be set off at one go, and the effect is similar to a rank 1 Magus’ Lava Fireball. Estimated power: 30 degrees!] [The brand’s power is operating normally. Parts of it have mild defects, and is estimated to be completely damaged in 1540 hours.]
With the A.I. Chip’s microscope that could analyse on an atomic level, all information about Number 3’s brand was presented in front of Leylin.
“This means that instantly formed Branded Swordsman only have a lifespan of two or so months?” Leylin stroked his chin. “There are also some flaws in terms of agility and spiritual force too…”
“However, as cannon fodder that can only be used once, this is enough!”
Leylin thought to himself.
After which, he made plans to exchange all the contribution points he had gained from his work at Four Seasons Garden for grown male Grand Knight slaves.
On the bodies of these two instantly formed Branded Swordsman, Leylin had also made some preparations beforehand to ensure they were completely under his control.
However, due to limitations in terms of his spiritual force and other areas, the A.I. Chip had calculated that he was only capable of controlling five Branded Swordsman at a time!
Only if a few out of the five Branded Swordsman died, leaving a vacant spot, could Leylin put his abilities to use and fill the spot with other Branded Swordsman.
This was not the optimal situation, but for Leylin now, this was the best he could do.
As a rank 1 Magus, Leylin was able to control five considerably powerful Branded Swordman. If rumours of this got out, it would definitely shock the entire south coast!
“Compress!”
After gathering data and finishing his experiments, Leylin pressed a strange looking rune onto Number 3’s back.
Instantly, a large amount of fire elemental particles lingering around Number 3’s body dulled, and the energy waves from his body began to weaken until he was at the level of a Grand Knight.
This was the technique he had made sense of using the information about spiritual force compression method the old witch had given him.
By using external forces to control the energy waves in the target’s body, others’ senses would be confused.
The Branded Swordsman was Leylin’s secret trump card and he naturally didn’t want to be discovered so quickly. Hence, putting on an act and concealing his strength was necessary.
Next, Leylin repeated what he had done to Number 3 on Number 2’s body.
After ordering these two Grand Knights to stay in the laboratory, Leylin left for the Four Seasons Garden’s library.
Usually, there would be a few official Magi or acolytes reading up or conversing. Though there were a lot of people, it was orderly and surprisingly quiet.
The library was now extremely quiet, but it just seemed desolate.
Desks and chairs that would always be filled were unoccupied, and there were the occasional leaves and petals from the garden landing on the seats. It was deathly still and lonely.
“My Lord!” An old manager was still at his post in the library. Upon seeing Leylin, even the decorative items on his body seemed to brighten up, and he bowed in greeting.
“No need for that! There seems to very few people now.” Leylin leaned against the counter and spoke casually.
“All acolytes have left after receiving missions. I’ve never seen so few people in Four Seasons Garden before!” The old manager gave a bitter smile.
“Missions? Now? Could it be to the Eternal River Plains’ secret plane ?” Leylin found that inconceivable.
In the battle between Magi, acolytes were naught but cannon fodder. Other than large-scale spell formations which might be somewhat effective, the acolytes were normally just easy kills for Magi.
This maneuver by Four Seasons Garden was just irrational.
“Of course, they aren’t going to go that deeply into the secret plane!” The old manager quickly explained to Leylin.
“Though many of those heading to the Eternal River Plains’ secret plane are official Magi, there are also numerous wandering acolyte who have no fear of death. They had thoughts of going in to try their luck! The great Magi naturally did not bother with them, and now it’s our turn to be sent out…”
“After all, the Eternal River Plains’ secret plane is humongous. With a bit of luck, level 3 acolytes might not meet with opposing official Magi and make off with plenty of resources safely. Hence, there are some fearless level 3 acolytes who accepted the missions our Four Seasons Garden issued to explore the secret plane.”
It could be seen that the old manager was well informed, as Leylin himself was unaware about some of what he had said.
“Thank you!” Leylin continued, “Set up an entrance card for me. I want to go to the library’s secret room!”
Leylin then placed his identity token on the counter.
The old geezer processed everything quickly, and not long after, he returned the token and gave a translucent crystal card to Leylin.
“The price to read in the secret room is 10 contribution points per hour. Please take note of the time and leave before all your contribution points are used up.”
The old geezer explained some important matters to Leylin.
Chapter 193 – Turin Language
Similar to Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, there were restricted areas in the Four Seasons Garden’s library.
The place Leylin wanted to go to was the Four Seasons Garden’s secret storage room.
In this private room, large amounts of knowledge regarding various subjects were open to official Magi. The fees were extremely expensive, and even the current Leylin was in pain over the costly price.
Although he could copy the information with the A.I. Chip, that still took time.
Leylin had calculated that even if he used up all his contribution points, it would barely give him enough time to record half of the information available in the room.
He had originally planned to amass enough contribution points first and then record all the information at one go.
But now…
Leylin went straight to the second floor of the library and waved his transparent crystal card at an old bookshelf.
*Kreeeen!* The bookshelf moved backwards, revealing a small passage.
Behind the passage was a small library with strangely shaped books placed on the rows of black wooden bookshelves within.
Some of the books even had pairs of arms and legs, and if not for the iron chains restraining them, they might just stealthily escape.
As he had a goal in mind, Leylin ignored them.
�
��A.I. Chip! Scan the catalogue. Search keywords: Ancient Spirit Slaying Sect, Emergency Passages…”
To find the content he needed from within this extremely extensive library, a lot of time would be wasted. Luckily for him, Leylin had the A.I. Chip, and within a few minutes, he found the information he wanted.
“I see…”
Following the A.I. Chip’s instructions, Leylin came to a corner and flipped through a very old book.
It was extremely thick and heavy, and the cover was an ashen grey. The A.I. Chip judged that this book was made of a very special ancient stone material.
This method of bookmaking belonged to an interesting group of tiny sub-humans—the Stone Men!
This was a race that had an appearance extremely similar to that of humans, but the main difference was the thick layer of calcite on their skin, which looked very much like someone casting a stone-skin spell.
Leylin read through this large book made of stone. On one of the pages, a strange spell formation had been carefully recorded.
“It’s this one! It’s more than 90% similar to the spell formation in the secret plane of the Ancient Spirit Slaying Sect!” Leylin’s expression brightened up.
Right before his eyes, the A.I. Chip brought up a picture of the ancient spell formation that he had obtained from the secret plane. He then compared it to the spell formation that was recorded down, and came to a conclusion that the two had a similarity of over 90%!
“That’s astonishing!”
Leylin continued analysing it, looking increasingly cautious.
Only now did he realise the true purpose of that spell formation—teleportation!
In the secret room that Leylin had found a corpse in while escaping, there still existed an ancient teleportation formation!
This type of teleportation formation could instantaneously teleport a few Magi to a distance further than several times the length of the south coast. However, due to the geologic faults and the extinction of crucial ingredients, the current south coast no longer had traces of these formations.
The Stone Men then were the best slaves that the ancient Magi used to construct the teleportation formations. It was because of this reason that there were records of this race.
“So in the space between levels in the emergency passage, there’s actually an ancient teleportation formation?”
Just the thought of it made Leylin breathe more quickly.
The south coast was surrounded by regions filled with varying levels of danger. In some places, rank 2 or 3 Magi would only be sending themselves to their death if they went there!
It was because of the existence of such dangers that the Magi in the south coast would rather have an internal strife every once in a while to reduce the number of Magi than venture outwards. They were unwilling to expand the territory and gain more resources.
Even if Leylin wanted to leave the south coast and look for traces of the central mainland, he had no way to leave!
However, with the appearance of the ancient teleportation spell formation, Leylin saw a glimmer of hope!
If he had tremendous luck and found a new land, how much profit would Leylin receive as the controller of the transportation pathway to there?
“No, I can’t do this! Calm down! Calm down! Whether this ancient teleportation formation can still be used or not, and where it leads to are all unknown. To make effective use of it, I have to answer all of these questions!”
Leylin stroked his chin and calmed his emotions.
He then produced a tattered diary from within his robes. “I might be able to find an answer with information from this diary.”
In the secret compartment within the emergency passage, not only did Leylin find the ancient teleportation formation, but he also found what seemed to be the remains of a high-ranking Magus of the Ancient Spirit Slaying Sect. In addition, he also found some miscellaneous items and this diary on the deceased Magus’ body.
The first thing Leylin did upon returning was to order the A.I. Chip to record all of the information in this tattered diary.
Unfortunately, the language used in the diary was not one that the A.I. Chip was able to interpret. This made it difficult for Leylin to decipher the information within!
“Those strange people in black gowns who like to enslave spirits preferred to use an odd language and characters to issue commands. As long as we didn’t understand, we would be punished cruelly, which forced us to learn the name of that damned Turin Language!”
In the Stone Men’s books, Leylin found this written account.
“No wonder the A.I. Chip couldn’t interpret the contents of the diary. So it was the Turin Language!” Leylin suddenly understood.
The Turin Language was an exclusive language used in ancient times, which used special sound waves and light rays to transmit information. Even its characters contrasted hugely compared to other existing languages.
There were no records of this Turin Language in the A.I. Chip’s database.
“Turin Language?”
Leylin went around the bookshelf, and in a corner, he finally found a few books that seemed to be written in the Turin Language. There was even a book that gave a concise introduction to interpreting this language.
“A.I. Chip, scan it!”
In his excitement, Leylin hurriedly opened one of the books and ordered the A.I. Chip to record it down…
“My Lord, it’s already time for dinner. Are you planning to enjoy a dinner party here? Your contribution points are almost completely used up at this point…”
Leylin was immersed in the sea of knowledge and was using the A.I. Chip to translate and restore the information in the diary.
In summary, there was a crazy Magus who kept using spirits to create the Gargamel. In the end, the experiment backfired on him. This was truly a tragic story.
What made Leylin most gleeful were the few images similar to the ancient teleportation formation that he found at the back of the diary.
Based on the images, as well as some speculations on the A.I. Chip’s part, Leylin would be able to test whether the formation was still workable.
Now in a marvellous mood, Leylin didn’t bother with the old manager and glanced at his crystal card. “I got it. I’ll be right out!”
Disregarding the old man, who was bowing so deeply his head touched the floor, Leylin jogged out of the library.
“A.I. Chip! Based on the information from just now, how complete was the previously recorded ancient teleportation formation?”
Leylin asked a little nervously.
[Beep! Mission established, sorting through information regarding teleportation, and comparing…]
The A.I. Chip’s mechanical voice sounded.
On the virtual screen in front of Leylin, large numbers of words and images flashed past, with the formation that had been previously recorded placed in the very centre.
[Beep! Comparison results: Completion of teleportation formation: 98.8%. Situation on other end of formation unknown, unable to calculate!]
Warlock of the Magus World 1-596 Page 149