Free Web NovelChapter 2007: Chapter 2007: Edwards’ "Inheritance
Pulling open the hatch, the group entered the underground. After lighting the crystal lamps triggered by the spirit on the walls, they saw a two-layer underground laboratory and storage room. Each layer occupied an area equivalent to the mansion above.
"These crystal lamps are quite something; the Witches of the Fifth Era loved making these lights, but now very few people actively use them."
Megan admired them appreciatively, while Shard thought, if there were any spare lamps here, he could use them to decorate his new room on the third floor.
So he began the inventory with the witches, hoping to find out what inheritance he had truly received. Since Megan and Audrey were still alive, even though the Diviner once said everything should be left to Shard, Shard considered it a joint possession with the Twin Witches.
Of course, although he was initially full of anticipation, actually cataloging books, various materials, and items is quite a dull task. Because there were so many things, Miss Benanis had to call in a batch of girls to help, which greatly improved efficiency.
There weren’t any traps here; although there were dangerous items, most were properly sealed away. For Shard, the most valuable was a red "little stone" found on an experiment table, embedded in the center of a silver cross ornament.
It was the same size as half a fingernail, and was an authentic "Philosopher’s Stone."
"There have always been rumors that your family was researching the Philosopher’s Stone, hoping to achieve eternal life; I suspected we might find this."
He placed the Philosopher’s Stone given by the Church together with the one found here. The two crimson little stones slowly fused into one in Shard’s palm, a characteristic of the Philosopher’s Stone.
"Compared to the one you had before, which is larger?"
Audrey asked curiously, while Megan, holding her hand, used Sorcery to command the books on the table to fly and stack together for the girls to register. Originally, she appeared alone, but Miss Benanis believed since she was two people, she should do the work of two people, which the sisters felt was exploitation.
"About the same size as before... So, after going around Green Lake, I still only have this one Philosopher’s Stone left in my hand."
He shook his head, using his fingertip moonlight to enlarge the hole in the center of the cross, then re-embedded the "Philosopher’s Stone":
"You know, Audrey, the Philosopher’s Stone enhances spellcasting effects differently for me. After advancing to the Seventh Ring, Sorcery [Active Soil] transformed into Arcane Technique due to the appearance of the Spirit Rune [Flesh]. The Arcane Technique retains its original effect, allowing me to imbue soil and creations of rock with vitality, filling the void in biological entities, making them part of a living entity." freewёbnoνel.com
Audrey thought for a moment:
"If the Philosopher’s Stone amplifies this effect... Wait!"
She widened her eyes, recalling what Shard did at noon:
"You can summon souls back from death, and with the amplification of the Philosopher’s Stone, could this peculiar Arcane Technique..."
"Yes, Sorcery ascended to Arcane Technique did not add new spellcasting effects, it just enhanced the original effects. Theoretically, with the further enhancement of [Philosopher’s Stone], a soul’s body could be reshaped."
Shard spoke cautiously, while Audrey scrutinized him up and down:
"Is this really something a mortal can do? Are you saying you can use the Philosopher’s Stone to create a person?"
"No, no, the materials are still stone and soil; the Philosopher’s Stone acts as a catalyst in the chemical reaction, not participating in the synthesis process, so it’s still a mortal body."
However, Shard pondered the possibility Audrey mentioned:
"Regarding crafting a humanoid form with a Philosopher’s Stone, this is beyond my ability, nor do I believe any mortal could accomplish it. Even with [Active Soil] Arcane Technique, it merely molds a mortal body, and creating a body with a Philosopher’s Stone... Even if I had such a large Philosopher’s Stone, what soul could sustain such a magnificent shell not its own? Is this considered creating a humanoid relic?"
"She" suddenly laughed in Shard’s ear, amused by his jest.
"True, but your mastered [Active Soil] Arcane Technique is indeed odd. I’m one of the most learned witches in the Council, but I’ve never heard of a mortal accomplishing such feats... Does every part of the body you create have to be identical to the original?"
She asked again.
"I only mold a general likeness; the soul will naturally shape it to its proper form. Of course, if the soil I sculpt differs too greatly from the original, once transformed into flesh, the difference will be significant... In this way, if I disfigure someone and then craft a mask of soil vastly different from their original appearance, I could completely alter their visage."
Shard suddenly thought of a new function for the Arcane Technique, while Audrey blinked, and spellcasting Megan glanced at her; the sisters shared mutual thoughts and had new ideas:
"Shard, could you perhaps..."
Audrey leaned close to Shard’s ear and whispered a possible scenario, making Shard shudder as though Mia had bitten him:
"That’s a terrifying idea; who would cut off their own... Besides, I’m quite satisfied with my..."
"It’s just an academic discussion, why such a strong reaction?"
Although she said that herself, her face also turned red, and her eyes looked down:
"I know a lot about Arcane Techniques and Sorcery that can reshape the flesh, but you are the only one that grows naturally. It’s really fitting that the ancestors sent you the materials on Human Alchemy."
"What are they doing?"
Not far away, Miss Sylvia asked Miss Benanis, who was looking through a nameless Black Book; the latter looked up at Shard and Audrey, who were talking:
"Flirting."
The Grand Witch of Space snorted:
"Two people are indeed more attractive than one."
Apart from the harvest of the Philosopher’s Stone, although the number of books here doesn’t reach four figures, including the Diviner’s notebooks and experiment manuals, the number of titles far exceeds three figures. Most of these are books only Circle Sorcerers can read, and although Shard’s [Library Retrieval] can quickly find books, he still has to read them himself. Going through these books will be a major project that won’t be completed in less than a year or two.
Apart from textual materials, there are even more experimental equipment, research records, Alchemy and Potion Ingredients. The Diviner’s laboratory is not the only one, maps hanging on the walls mark other laboratories on the island with different functions. After taking over, Shard certainly wouldn’t be able to use everything himself, but since it’s very close to home, some professional equipment can be left here for him to use anytime.
Of course, he also doesn’t plan to learn so many things by himself. Information related to Astrology and Divination will be copied for Luviya. Since Luviya might have inherited and developed this part of the research in the Bygone Era, let her continue to study.
It’s impossible for the "Yggdrasil’s Staff" to be researched in just one cycle; it was only through multiple Sixth Eras that research in this area was continuously pushed forward, allowing Laplace Howard to be surpassed. Therefore, in this Sixth Era, Shard very much looks forward to Luviya’s new research results.
Among the research materials, books, and laboratories, there is plenty of bloody and dangerous content, which also requires Shard to selectively discern. Beyond these, Relics are what concern the Witches the most.
Even Laplace Howard himself did not store over a hundred Relics at once, which is almost a self-destructive move. After checks and inventory, a total of 19 Relics were found in different laboratories.
of them require strict containment; even the Diviner in the past regarded them only as research subjects, not as objects of use.
Of the 8 Relics that can be used to a limited extent, 2 are Poet-Level, 2 are Scribe Level, 3 are Keeper of Secrets Level, and 1 is Sage Level. This quantity is somewhat less than the Relics Shard holds. But if you include the two special Angel-Level Relics, [Poetry Cards] and [Soul Storybook], and the Sage-Level Relic, [Philosopher’s Stone], it’s actually quite similar to Shard’s situation.
Of the seven usable Relics, Shard only took two. He already has quite a few Relics himself, and having just acquired the [Stigmata of the Stars], he currently doesn’t have any Relics he must obtain.
If among these seven Relics, there was a Relic that could absorb Divinity, he might be interested in taking it, as a supplement after using the [Desecration Cross], but unfortunately, there isn’t one.
He took two coins, which were also the only Scribe Level Relic among them, [Wrath of the Thunder God]. Luviya had previously consumed such a coin during the Randall Valley period.
This coin is similar to the [Dandelion Coin] that Shard obtained multiple times; both are considered currencies for transactions with Elemental Creatures. The coin is purely silver and white, about the size of a 1 shilling silver coin, with the numeral 1 and a thunder motif on the front, and an angry human face on the back.
On the side of the coin, ancient Elemental Sprite script is engraved:
"May the Thunder cleanse all Evil."
The usage of the Relic is to launch it with any Supernatural Power. The coin itself will transform into Thunder, similar in effect to the "Thunder Spear" and "Sunlight Gun," but with amazing power, ignoring most defenses like the [Heaton Seal], and can be reused. The downside is that the user is easily struck by lightning, and it’s not ordinary lightning.
Laplace Howard’s notebook states he studied these coins, hoping to implement thunder protection measures on the island. But his progress in this research seemed limited. After all, on the night of the Green Lake battle, Shard did not see too much lightning.
As for the only Sage Level Relic, it is a petite ladies’ revolver pistol called [Faded Memories].
The name doesn’t sound like it’s a firearm, but it at least indicates the key function of the pistol, which is "memory." Similar to Shard’s [Spear of Kindness], it is a revolver-style pistol with three modes that can be selected by rotating the cylinder.
In the first mode, it shoots a certain intelligent creature, extracting its willingly contributed memory. By shooting a wall or flat ground, it can project the memory; or by shooting another intelligent creature, the extracted memory can be implanted into the opponent’s mind to manipulate memory.
The second mode allows for the extraction of certain terrible and aggressive memories. The bullet, after being fired, carries the power of the memory, causing strong destructive effects.
In the third mode, the memory of a creature is extracted and the subsequent shot manifests the appearance of the corresponding creature, essentially summoning a certain Summoned Entity.
No matter which mode is selected, the pistol can only store six segments of memory. Also, for the last two offensive modes, the effect is much better when fired by women than when held by men. Laplace Howard kept this gun to extract Envy Edwards’ memories after the exploration of time was over.
Of course, now the six memory chambers have all been emptied, leaving nothing behind.
The gun’s body bears smooth silk-thread-like markings, which can be interpreted as:
"Faded Memories, Unchanging Power, the Most Beautiful Us."
