Chapter 464 - 239: Multiple Arrangements
The Undead wearing Elpham’s skin knelt on one knee before the child on the dais and answered with the utmost respect, "Saint One."
"Indeed, I have made a significant discovery."
"Last night, to the southwest of Atlantis City, a massive tide of Demons suddenly began to gather..."
"Many powerful individuals went to investigate."
"It was a suddenly formed Tier Seven Dungeon. The Demons inside, I must say, are extremely dangerous."
"I made thorough preparations to investigate, yet I still nearly lost my life."
As he said this, Elpham glanced at the people protecting him on his left and right.
One was a Level 6 Warrior, and the other was a Level 6 Archer.
"Yes, what Lord Elpham says is true."
"It’s a Dungeon like a Sea of Trees, with a large number of tree-type Demons..."
"Before we entered, many other powerful individuals had also gone in to investigate. We saw some of them emerge already heavily injured. An ordinary Level 6 Reincarnator might not even survive a minute in that Dungeon."
Saint One stroked his chin. "It seems this Dungeon is truly dangerous."
Elpham lowered his head and continued, "Yes, extremely so."
"However, I may have uncovered some information related to our Sect."
Saint One raised his eyebrows. "Related?"
Elpham: "Mm."
As he spoke, he connected his Perception with Saint One’s. Although Elpham was currently an Undead, he still possessed the abilities of a Level 6 Observer.
Wrapped in the skin, and with Saint One’s suspicions unaroused, the boy truly couldn’t sense anything amiss with Elpham.
A series of images was transmitted into Saint One’s mind.
These images were filled with a Sea of Trees, and within it, emblems related to Reincarnation could occasionally be seen.
This emblem was none other than the crest of the Reincarnation Sect.
Although, as a mere Observer, he couldn’t know the specific meaning behind the emblem.
But seeing an emblem identical to his own Sect’s inside a Dungeon—that was something he naturally had to report to Saint One.
At the same time, the stone stele standing in a wide, open clearing was also clearly recorded by "Elpham."
He couldn’t understand the words on it... but Saint One, a Level 6 Scholar with a wealth of knowledge, surely could.
"Saint One, these are my findings from the Dungeon."
"The fact that this Dungeon has so many emblems similar to our Sect’s... could it mean something?"
"Right now, all the major Sects are vying for the right to explore this Tier Seven Dungeon. Perhaps in a little while, reinforcements from their powerful experts will arrive."
"Saint One, if these matters are of great importance, I urge you to make a decision quickly."
Saint One perceived the emblems, paused, and then said, "Elpham, you have performed a great service."
"This Dungeon... we of Reincarnation are determined to have it."
"Give the other Churches some benefits and have them withdraw."
Although Reincarnation wasn’t the strongest among the Sects, when it came down to it, their influence in Moon Sea was substantial.
Especially now, with Saint One himself in Atlantis City.
The leader of a Sect, who was also the "god" worshipped by the entire Sect, was right here.
Unless the other Churches’ top leaders appeared or their True Divine Beings descended with an Oracle, they truly couldn’t shake Reincarnation’s influence.
As for the struggle over this Dungeon, Reincarnation could easily secure it by paying a certain price, making a few sacrifices, and calling in some favors with the other powers.
After all, taking down a Dungeon always required a certain degree of sacrifice.
This was a Tier Seven Dungeon, which even Level 7 Adventurers might not be able to clear reliably. As for Level 8 beings, they were as rare as a phoenix’s feather and couldn’t necessarily be hired.
Therefore, it was both an opportunity and a hot potato.
If Reincarnation wanted it, the other Churches would naturally be willing to step aside.
"Hmm... This time, I will go to this Dungeon myself."
Saint One glanced at the two people on his left and right.
"Black on the left, Bai on the right."
"The two of you will accompany me."
The figures on his left and right bowed slightly to Saint One. "As you command."
...
On a street outside, Lu Cang watched this scene dispassionately.
’Mm, a smooth success. Next... I still need to make a few other arrangements.’
Lu Cang had Elpham accept the reward and, with the report complete, had him return home under the pretext of having a prior engagement...
Then, Lu Cang recalled Elpham to the Little Nether Realm.
And with that, he vanished.
Hmm...
Next, Leng Qingying went to her target’s private chamber and dripped a few drops of blue liquid into their wine flask.
The droplets merged into the wine, their color disappearing.
As for Lu Cang, he once again arrived near the Dungeon he had created.
By this point, the Dungeon was heavily fortified with Restrictions.
Many powerful experts had already arrived to set up camp nearby, with the major Churches all establishing a presence.
Lu Cang’s Perception swept over the area, and he noticed several figures of interest. In the Light Church’s encampment was a white-haired, golden-eyed girl whose aura was so powerful it even overshadowed the other Level 7 experts from the Light Church beside her.
’Hmm...’
’That person is the Inheritor of Zuya, the Light and Day. I saw her during today’s rehearsal.’
’Also, over at the Lucky Church, there’s a black-haired man in a wool sweater. That guy’s aura isn’t anything special.’
’But during the probing in the rehearsal, I learned he is the Inheritor of Yakadikto, of Luck and Harvest.’
’Furthermore, among the Atlantis City garrison, there’s a young man currently in conversation.’
’This person should be the Owner of a Divine Talent, and also a former early awakener.’
’These few are all candidates for the Realm of Ascension.’
’But now that a Tier Seven Dungeon has appeared, they’ve all rushed over to check out the situation.’
’Hmm...’
’Since I was focused on designing the ambush for Saint One, I didn’t get into a fight with these people during the rehearsal. Otherwise, the whole simulation would have been thrown into chaos.’
’The priority right now is still dealing with Saint One.’
’As for these few... I’ll get a measure of their strength after I’ve chopped up Saint One.’
’I wonder how strong these so-called Inheritors really are.’
’It seems Kumironi is Sophia’s successor.’
’If I consider Kumironi and Iz to be on the same level... then I really can’t underestimate these so-called Inheritors.’
This was no longer the initial period when he was the center of attention.
Around the Dungeon, the major Sects had all set up their own Restrictions.
Right now, there weren’t many people guarding the Dungeon.
Lu Cang entered with ease and went inside the Dungeon once more.
But upon entering, he saw that the red trees near the entrance had been mostly cleared out, and the ground was scarred with deep marks of Light...
Radiant bursts of light could also be seen throughout the space.
’Looks like the work of that Inheritor from the Light Church. She didn’t press deeper to clear more, though.’
In the distance, many towering giant trees still remained.
Lu Cang swept his gaze over the area and released Elpham.
The Perception of the Level 6 Observer was shared with Lu Cang, greatly expanding his sensory Range. He then continued deeper inside.
He frequently dodged the attacks of the giant trees.
After just a few dozen seconds, Lu Cang reached a clearing with relatively few Demons.
"Hmm..."
"This should be the place."
Lu Cang raised his hand, and countless stone blocks flew out. The blocks stacked on top of each other, fused together by Magic.
Although he wasn’t an architect, Lu Cang could still construct a building very quickly using Magic and materials.
Immediately after, Lu Cang released more materials into the surroundings.
[Level 4 Decryption Scholar Proficiency: Restriction Recovery (Exclusive) - Recover a portion of the materials used to set up a Restriction after it has been triggered.]
This proficiency allowed Lu Cang to recover a certain amount of material after breaking a Restriction.
Having broken so many Restrictions along the way, he had collected quite a few materials, enough to set up some formidable Restrictions of his own.
He sculpted the Reincarnation Hall, based on his own records.
Lu Cang roughly replicated the appearance of the hall from his Reincarnation Inheritance.
Although it was difficult to create a 100% perfect reproduction, well... no one ever said a second Reincarnation Hall had to look exactly like the first.
Afterward, Lu Cang also carved an emblem in the main hall.
On the stone pillars, he left some cryptic clues, along with some enigmatic phrases.
"In Reincarnation, there is Rebirth."
"The eternal cycle of Reincarnation—how could it belong to one alone?"
"Immortality is not a dream, so when is the return?"
...
Lu Cang stood high in the sky, looking down upon his completed masterpiece.
A masterpiece, indeed.
Finally, Lu Cang arrived before the main gate of the great hall.
Inside the entire palace, he laid down a powerful Restriction to bar entry, and on both sides of the entrance gate, he wrote: "Shed the vanities of this life to attain Reincarnation and rebirth."
’I wonder if he’ll get the point.’
’My intention is to suggest that by removing all one’s equipment and divesting oneself of everything owned in this life, one can enter the Reincarnation Hall...’
’Mm.’
’But I feel like this alone isn’t quite enough.’
’If he does as suggested, that would be great.’
’If he doesn’t... that’s fine too.’
’As long as Saint One enters this Dungeon, I’ll have him trapped like a turtle in a jar.’
’Inside this Dungeon, this is my home turf.’
’It’s like one of those phone scams. Once you’ve tricked them out of a hundred bucks, that’s already a success. Then you see if they’re willing to go deeper. If they do, you press for more...’
’However, I’m actually quite greedy for his Root Magic.’
’It would be great if I could also learn his Root Magic after killing him.’
’In fact, I also quite want this Reincarnation Church that’s been operating for a thousand years. Building a faction from scratch is a real pain.’
’I wonder if there’s a chance to seize control of the Reincarnation Sect after taking out Saint One?’
’After all, I truly possess Reincarnation.’
’It all depends on whether their faith is in the person, Saint One, or in Reincarnation itself...’
Lu Cang thought for a moment, then set up several Magic Arrays in various locations throughout the Dungeon. Using the ever-present and indestructible Root Source, he made these Arrays permanent.
When Saint One arrived and sensed those Magic Arrays, he might be a little puzzled, but he wouldn’t just turn and run at the sight of them.