Free Web NovelChapter 216: Chapter 209: Exploration
Wizard World, Shadow Moon Tower, underground cavern.
Ian’s main body sat cross-legged before the Abyssal Altar, his eyes snapping open.
’The flow of time... it’s wrong!’
Just now, he had clearly perceived that in the Projection World, several hours had passed from his arrival to the present moment.
Fighting, getting injured, fleeing for his life, killing the Mutant...
But here in the Wizard World, the vortex on the altar had only just stabilized, and the light from the Anchor Stone Array had barely dimmed.
He stood up, walked to the edge of the altar, and held his hand out over the vortex.
A thread of his Spiritual Sense extended into it.
’The time flow ratio is about 1:30...’
A thoughtful look flickered in Ian’s eyes.
The difference in the flow of time between the two worlds was too great. For every day that passed in the projection, only about an hour might pass here.
’Is this a characteristic of the Abyss Passage? Or... is it caused by the difference in ’Energy Level’ between the two worlds?’
He recalled the "Endless Sea" mentioned in Tower Master Morton’s Sketches.
The closer one got to the continent’s core, the higher the Energy concentration, and it seemed the flow of time also underwent subtle changes.
Although Morton hadn’t recorded it explicitly, Ian could feel that the old man definitely knew something.
’If it really is a difference in the worlds’ Energy Levels...’
Ian stared at the deep, dark vortex, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
What did this mean?
It meant he had more time to develop in the Projection World.
It meant he could plan, grow, and acquire knowledge at a more leisurely pace...
But at the same time, it also meant danger.
The "information delay" caused by the differing time flows could prevent him from reacting in time at critical moments.
Moreover, the Projection World was clearly deeply corrupted by the Abyss, with a harsh environment teeming with monsters...
’I have to stabilize the projection as soon as possible.’
Ian sat down again and closed his eyes.
He poured most of his consciousness into the projection, leaving only a sliver of his mind to maintain the altar’s operation.
Once the projection was stable, he could also return to his normal life.
「Yalan Continent, observatory ruins.」
"HUFF..."
Ian opened his eyes, waking from a short Meditation.
The Starfall Core on his chest was still faintly warm. A cool stream of Energy flowed slowly through his body like a brook, repairing his damaged meridians and muscles.
The data on his panel had already changed:
[Name: Li Xing (Ian)]
[Age: 21]
[Realm: Awakening Late Stage (69%)]
[Bloodline: Star Attractor (Faintly Awakened)]
[Status: Moderately Injured (Internal organs repairing, left shoulder fractured, slight pollution Erosion)]
[Skills:
Starlight Perception (Bloodline Technique) - Skilled (74%)
Star Step (Bloodline Technique) - Beginner (43%)
Basic Swordsmanship (Rune Combat Technique) - Skilled (68%)]
His recovery wasn’t fast, but at least he had stabilized.
His Realm had risen by another two percentage points, which was likely feedback from forcibly activating the Starfall Core and killing the Mutant during the fight.
His Skill Levels had also increased by a small amount.
’Gaining experience in this world... seems to rely more on combat and Bloodline Awakening.’
Ian touched the pendant on his chest.
The Starfall Core was much calmer now. The surging Energy had receded again, only continuing to emit a gentle warmth to maintain the most basic repairs.
He recalled the moment during the battle when he had poured his Spiritual Power into the Iron Sword.
The silver light that flared on the blade, and that faint Gravity Field...
’Star Attractor... draws on the Power of the Stars, affects Gravity...’
Ian looked down at his right hand.
He tried to once again mobilize the thin, pale-gold mist in his Sea of Spirit, slowly infusing it into his palm.
Without a sword as a medium, the change this time was even fainter.
But he could feel that the air around his palm... seemed to have become a little "heavier."
It was extremely slight; if not for the high quality of his Spiritual Power, he wouldn’t have noticed it at all.
’Is it a Bloodline trait, or a boon from the Starfall Core?’
Ian wasn’t sure.
But one thing was certain: this world’s "Starlight Energy" and his Wizard World’s Spiritual Power could, on some level, convert into and strengthen each other.
Especially... the parts related to Gravity.
’Gravity Witchcraft...’
Ian’s eyes flickered.
If he could really complete the puzzle of his Gravity Witchcraft in this world by studying the "Star Attractor" Bloodline and the Star Vein phenomenon...
Then this projection trip would be a massive gain.
He shook his head, temporarily suppressing these thoughts.
It was too early to be thinking about all this now.
The top priority was to survive and recover from his injuries.
Then, he needed to find a way back to Maple City and ask about his younger brother, Li Yao.
Ian moved out from the corner of the wall and began to explore the observatory ruins.
The ruins weren’t large, about the size of a basketball court.
Most of the buildings had collapsed, leaving only a few half-standing walls and an archway covered in black vines.
Ian searched carefully through the rubble.
The wooden crates were empty, and beneath the stone slabs, there was nothing but rubble and damp earth.
But in a corner on the inner side of the archway, he found a metal plate half-buried in the dirt.
The plate was palm-sized and covered in rust, but some engravings were still faintly visible on it.
Ian crouched down and carefully scraped off the rust with the tip of his sword.
The engravings gradually became clearer. They weren’t words, but a kind of twisted symbol, or perhaps a pattern of stellar trajectories.
In the center of the pattern was a small, indented hole, surrounded by fine lines.
’Is this... a Star Map?’
Ian frowned and reached out to touch the small hole.
It was cool to the touch, and the edge of the hole was smooth, suggesting it had been artificially drilled.
He tried to infuse a trace of Starlight Energy into the small hole.
VMM...
The metal plate vibrated slightly.
The stellar pattern on its surface actually lit up with an extremely faint silver glow!
Although it was just for a fleeting moment, Ian saw it clearly.
The stellar trajectories seemed to point in a specific direction.
’A Star Vein... guide?’
With a flicker of inspiration, he carefully tucked the metal plate into his clothes.
This thing might be useful.
Continuing his search, Ian found a hidden depression behind a nearly completely collapsed wall in the deepest part of the ruins.
The hollow wasn’t deep, only reaching his calf, but it was lined with dry withered grass and tattered cloth, looking as if someone had once hidden here.
At the bottom of the hollow lay a small cloth bundle.
Ian crouched and opened the bundle.
Inside were a few pieces of jerky that had gone hard and dark, a small pouch of murky water, and... a thin leather-bound notebook.
The notebook’s cover was damaged and its edges were curled, but he could still make out the crooked handwriting, seemingly written with a charcoal pencil.
[Stargazing Log]
Ian opened the notebook.
The handwriting inside was very messy, and many parts were stained and illegible.
But he could still barely make out a few fragments:
[...Anomalous celestial phenomena... seventh observation... orbital deviation...]
[...The Elder said... the corruption fissures are expanding... the Star Vein Nodes are being contaminated...]
[...We must evacuate... to the northern... highlands...]
[...May the stars guide...]
The notebook ended there. The following pages had been torn out, leaving only ragged edges.
Ian closed the notebook, lost in thought.
’A log for observing stellar trajectories... anomalous celestial phenomena... corruption fissures...’
These terms, combined with Li Xing’s vague memories of this world, gradually began to form an outline.
This world once had a civilization, with observatories for watching the stars.
Later, a "cataclysm" occurred, corruption fissures appeared, and contamination spread.
The survivors evacuated, leaving these ruins behind...
’Star Vein Nodes... contaminated...’
Ian looked at the Starfall Core on his chest.
Could this thing be related to the "Star Vein Nodes"?
He stood up and surveyed his surroundings.
These observatory ruins were built halfway up a barren mountain, offering a wide field of view.
Before the cataclysm, this would have been an excellent location for observing the stars.
But now, he could only see a hazy gray sky and the faint, scar-like black fissures on the land in the distance.
’Corruption fissures...’
Ian muttered the words under his breath.
Those fissures were likely where the Mutants crawled out from.
They were also the source of this world’s nightmare.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the complex emotions in his heart.
Now was not the time to be sentimental.
He returned to the corner where he had been hiding and took out the jerky and the waterskin.
The jerky was as hard as a rock, making a crunching sound when he bit into it. It tasted salty and fishy, with an indescribable odd flavor.
The water was also murky, leaving his throat feeling dry when he drank it.
But Ian wasn’t picky.
He ate and drank in small bites and sips, simultaneously circulating the most basic Meditation from the Star-Attracting Chapter to guide the Starfall Core’s Energy to repair his body.
Time passed, bit by bit.
Outside, the sky gradually darkened. The gray clouds hung lower, and the dark red twilight almost completely disappeared.
In its place came a deeper darkness, approaching the color of ink.
More rustling sounds began to echo through the ruins.
And in the distance, beast-like howls rose and fell one after another.
The Wilderness was more dangerous at night.
Ian curled up in the corner, gripping his Iron Sword, his eyes fixed on the outside.
He didn’t dare to sleep, so he could only maintain his vigilance while using Meditation to recover.
「A night passed.」
When the first ray of dark red light once again filtered through the cracks in the clouds, Ian opened his eyes.
The status on his panel had changed again:
[Status: Moderately Injured → Lightly Injured (Left shoulder fracture recovering, pollution Erosion has been Purified)]
[Realm: Awakening Late Stage (69%) → Awakening Late Stage (71%)]
His recovery was going well.
Although his left shoulder still hurt, he could now move it with some effort.
His internal injuries had mostly stabilized, and the cold, invasive sense of pollution that had lingered in his body had been Purified by the Starfall Core’s Energy.
Ian stood up and stretched his arms and legs.
Most of his Power had returned. Although he was still far from his peak, he at least had the ability to protect himself.
He looked to the east, the direction of Maple City.
According to Li Xing’s memories, Maple City was about a half-day’s journey from here.
During yesterday’s riots, the city might have fallen, but there should still be survivors inside.
And possibly... clues about his younger brother, Li Yao.
’I have to go back. I’ll scout it out from the outside first.’
Ian gathered his things.
He had two pieces of jerky left, and the waterskin was less than half full.
He tucked the metal plate and the Stargazing Log securely against his body.
He held the Iron Sword in his hand.
He walked out of the ruins and set off on the road back to Maple City.
「Wizard World.」
Ian’s main body opened his eyes and let out a long breath.
’A whole day...’
An entire night had passed for the projection, while less than an hour had gone by here in the Wizard World.
He glanced at the altar.
The vortex remained stable, and the light of the Anchor Stone Array had not dimmed.
The passage was holding up well.
Ian calculated.
From his arrival until now, about fifteen or sixteen hours had passed for the projection.
Here in the Wizard World, it had been forty minutes at most.
’A ratio of nearly 1:24.’
This discovery made his heart race.
If he developed for a month in the Projection World, a little more than a day would pass in the Wizard World.
If he developed for a year, the Wizard World would only see about fifteen days pass.
’This is practically... cheating.’
Ian couldn’t help but smile.
But the smile quickly vanished.
While the difference in time flow brought advantages, it also brought new problems.
He had to ensure the projection was safe enough and developed smoothly over there.
Otherwise, if the projection died, the [Phase Soul Weaving Technique] would go on cooldown for a year.
A year in the Wizard World, at that. If he failed, it would disrupt all his plans.
’I need to have the projection find a stable foothold as soon as possible, then begin systematically researching this world’s power system.’
Ian closed his eyes, pouring more of his consciousness into the projection.
’Especially... the Star Attractor Bloodline and the Star Vein phenomenon.’
