Chapter 24: Secret Treasure
The Wild Beast Train gradually came to a halt. As soon as the doors opened, the bustling noise of the Black Iron City station poured in.
In other worlds, this was a common sight, but in the Eternal Light World, this scene could only be seen at the Black Iron City station. This was the only large-scale sanctuary in this world. As for the Sanctuary City located in the central area, that was merely a cage built by the Dark God Cult.
When Su Xiao first entered this world, he saw in the world's introduction that the lifespan of the Sanctuary City's residents had been continuously decreasing over the past century. Initially, few lived past 60, and now, it was rare for anyone to live past 40.
For a high-tier world like the Eternal Light World, the average lifespan of ordinary races was around 200 to 270 years. The situation in Sanctuary City clearly indicated that the Dark God Temple had set up something within the city, slowly absorbing the Primordial Life Force of its residents. The less Primordial Life Force one had, the shorter their lifespan.
This Primordial Life Force undoubtedly ended up in the mouths and stomachs of the Dark God Temple's Four Giants. Compared to devouring all the living beings in Sanctuary City at once, this method allowed for a much longer period of consumption.
The Four Giants' actions clearly revealed their lack of life-attribute secret treasures. The reason they could join forces was precisely to divide the Primordial Life Force obtained through Sanctuary City.
For powerful world-destroying beings and Abyss Spawn like the Four Giants, even if they didn't consume Primordial Life Force for a long time, they wouldn't wither away from it, but they would become weakened.
This meant that once a life-attribute secret treasure appeared, the Four Giants would definitely not let it go, especially since a Law Destroyer had come to this world and shown signs of wanting to kill them.
Stepping off the train, Su Xiao had been to Black Iron City once before and had exchanged a sum of Black Iron Coins at the exchange. This time, entering Black Iron City was much smoother. A security officer who came to check even recognized him; he had asked this officer for directions when he went to the exchange last time.
The streets of Black Iron City were somewhat dim, with every shop along the street lit up. Su Xiao hadn't walked far when the aroma of food slowed his pace. It was a small restaurant that didn't look very big. The colored lights on the shop door formed a horned monster.
The smell was pretty good, and since he hadn't eaten properly for the past two days, Su Xiao stepped inside. As soon as he pushed open the door, a wave of hot air hit him. There were quite a few customers inside, and they were all talking loudly due to drinking. Su Xiao sat down and opened the menu, almost thinking he had picked up the wrong thing; it looked like a monster guide.
After flipping through a few pages, he realized this small restaurant specialized in cooking exotic beasts. When adventurers went out hunting and caught exotic beasts, the dried and processed organs were valuable and could be used as materials. However, the meat itself was cheap. Compared to the processing cost, it was better to sell it cheaply to the restaurant.
Since he was in the Eternal Light World, he naturally wanted to try the local specialties. He took out the Goddess of Fortune's "Ten Thousand Worlds Food Guide" and wrote on a blank page: 'Eternal Light World · Exotic Beast Restaurant.'
Before long, a serving of exotic beast meat rice bowl was placed in front of Su Xiao. The rice was provided by him from his own ingredients. He picked up his utensils and took a bite. Not bad, the taste was quite good. Although the exotic beast meat was a bit tough, cutting it into small pieces and putting it on rice with a thick, savory sauce created a unique flavor.
Su Xiao, Bubu Wang, and Baha had a hearty meal, costing only 2 Black Iron Coins. As they were leaving, the restaurant owner even gave them a few cups of juice, made from a special berry unique to Black Iron City. The juice was a bit sour and astringent at first, but after a while, a sweet aftertaste lingered in the mouth.
Just as Su Xiao exited the restaurant, he saw a familiar figure sitting across the street. It was the Grocery Guy, Sauness.
Carrying a large bundle and wearing a face scarf, the Grocery Guy raised his hand. When Su Xiao approached, Sauness said, "The Machine Maker has noticed you and wants to meet you. Want to meet? If not, I have a way to help you deal with it."
The Machine Maker was the founder of Black Iron City. Although he was a world-destroying level existence, he was an anomaly among them. This one had no interest in devouring living beings but was obsessed with creation. Several of the Watchtowers in this world were built by the Machine Maker.
After a moment of thought, Su Xiao decided to meet the Machine Maker. Seeing this, Sauness was about to lead the way when Su Xiao casually took a bottle of Elemental Brew from his storage space.
The Grocery Guy, Sauness, said, "Good wine like this, every bottle you drink is one less. You keep it."
"Home-brewed."
"Oh?"
The Grocery Guy, Sauness, immediately took the Elemental Brew, pulled out the cork, and took a big gulp. But as soon as he swallowed, he coughed violently. The pupils in his eyes visibly dimmed. After more than ten seconds, he waved his hand, indicating he was fine.
Taking the city's rail train, they arrived at the Central District half an hour later. This was an industrial metal area filled with pipes and steam. A steel building stood tall in the very center of Black Iron City.
At the top of this towering steel building was a huge metal ring. Inside the ring was an orange-red flame, looking like a giant eye of fire. This was actually the power core of the entire Black Iron City.
After passing the outer security checks, Su Xiao entered the steel building and took an elevator up to the top floor. The place looked spacious overall. Various machines were placed against the walls, and in the center was a glass pillar. Inside the semi-transparent solution, metallic-looking marine creatures swam.
Seeing these metallic creatures, Su Xiao gained an understanding of the Machine Maker's skill. He wasn't top-tier in creating inanimate objects, but in creating mechanical life, he had reached a level few could match.
Walking further inside, when Su Xiao entered a workshop, he saw the Machine Maker. He looked very much like an old man with white hair and beard, slightly hunched. His left eye was a mechanical eye, and his right eye had a micro-magnifying lens fixed to it, allowing adjustable focus. His back was a metal structure, with a tentacle-like mechanical arm extending from it.
The Machine Maker had a total of three arms. Two were complex mechanical arms. The only normal arm had only four fingers, but they were relatively thick, with calluses, as well as scars from burns and corrosion damage.
The lower half of the Machine Maker's face was covered by a mask, with dense air holes around the mouth. This made his voice sound somewhat muffled, with a metallic quality.
"It's been many years since I last saw one, a Law Destroyer."
As the Machine Maker spoke, he stopped using the micro-magnifying lens on his right eye to closely examine a small, beating metal heart. He placed it into a solution and screwed on the lid.
"What do you want from me? If you want to leave, I can help open the door."
Su Xiao wouldn't refuse to let the Machine Maker leave the Eternal Light World. The Law Destruction Faction had long allowed him to leave. It was just that the Machine Maker felt this place was more suitable for creation, so he never left. Later, he established Black Iron City.
"The people here need me. Besides, if I leave, where would I go? This is my home. Here, I have my disciples, and people who admire and respect me."
As the Machine Maker spoke, a small mechanical octopus detached from his shoulder, ran down his arm onto the table, and stared at Su Xiao with its red-glowing mechanical eyes.
"Then why did you call me here?"
"A long time ago, a Law Destroyer left something in my care. As the last Law Destroyer, you are qualified to take this thing from me."
The Machine Maker took a wooden box from under the table. The tentacle-like mechanical arm pushed the box in front of Su Xiao.
Su Xiao was momentarily surprised. It had been a long time since he had such an experience. Usually, it was because some previous Law Destroyer had caused him trouble.
[You have obtained Crimson Eye (Key Item).]
[Crimson Eye]
Origin: Eternal Light World · Law Destruction Faction.
Quality: World Rank.
Durability: 1180/1500 points (Over time, this item's durability will gradually decrease. When durability reaches zero, the seal on the Purgatory Nightmare will fail.)
Item Effect: Can open the seal of the Purgatory Nightmare, entering the interior of this place, the Crimson Nightmare.
Introduction: The root of the crimson is here. The Law Destroyers sealed it within the deepest nightmare of the Sand Sea.
...
Su Xiao picked up the Crimson Eye from the wooden box. A wondrous scene occurred. The [Crimson Eye], which had been slowly decreasing in durability, immediately stopped dropping. It seemed that as long as a Shadow of Law Destruction carried this item, it could prevent the crimson deep within the Sand Sea from continuing to erode the Purgatory Nightmare that sealed it.
"Law Destroyer, just carry it with you. There won't be any danger. At least, in all the years I've kept this item, there has been no danger. And your Law Destroyer fortune will cause this eye to stop being eroded by the crimson. It should be kept by you. Only you are qualified."
As the Machine Maker spoke, the small mechanical octopus on the table moved towards Su Xiao, as if about to pounce on his face, but was caught by the Machine Maker's tentacle-like mechanical arm.
After being caught by the Machine Maker, the small mechanical octopus became extremely agitated and fierce, even opening its mouth, which was lined with metal fangs, and letting out a roar.
"Don't mind it. This is one of the sealed items I keep."
As the Machine Maker spoke, he locked the small mechanical octopus in a transparent container. It was clear that the Machine Maker had no fear of this thing.
Su Xiao looked at the small mechanical octopus. For some reason, he didn't feel it was very dangerous, even though the Machine Maker had explicitly stated that this thing had brought disaster more than once.
"Let me see this... dangerous object?"
"Don't touch it directly. It's very dangerous, and..."
The Machine Maker's words stopped mid-sentence because Su Xiao took the container with the metal octopus. The metal octopus, which had been flailing its claws, suddenly shuddered as if electrocuted, then curled up into a ball.
"You must spend a lot of resources to control this sealed item, right?"
Su Xiao, holding the transparent container, raised his finger and tapped the container shell twice. The metal octopus inside curled up even tighter, not moving at all.
"Hmm, every few months, my apprentices have to feed it some rare metal resources. But compared to the trouble it would cause, this is nothing."
"So, you wouldn't object if someone took it away?"
Su Xiao opened the transparent container, pinched the curled-up metal octopus between his thumb and index finger. The Machine Maker, who had just raised his mechanical arm, paused his movement. He saw with his own eyes Su Xiao pinching this thing between his thumb and middle finger, and even tapping it with his index finger.
This made the Machine Maker very puzzled. This disaster item, which he had sealed for years, was being unusually well-behaved today.
"If you can take it away, it would be good for all of Black Iron City. But it's more dangerous than you imagine."
"Compared to an Original Sin Object?"
"That's not comparable. They are not on the same level. If it had even one-tenth the danger of an Original Sin Object, I wouldn't keep it in Black Iron City."
After the Machine Maker finished speaking, Su Xiao carefully examined the metal octopus pinched between his fingers. This thing could burrow into a living being's brain, control its actions, and grant the being the ability to control others' minds.
"Look, this thing and I have a connection. Let me take it away."
As soon as Su Xiao said this, the metal octopus in his hand became restless. It stopped curling up, stretched out, and tried to break free from Su Xiao's grip. When it became enraged, it opened its mouth, lined with metal fangs, ready to bite down on Su Xiao's hand.
But just before it bit down, the metal octopus's single eye met Su Xiao's eyes, which were looking down at it with lowered eyelids. This made the metal octopus dare not bite down. An instinct told it that the consequences of this bite would be very severe, severe enough to make it tremble uncontrollably.
The Machine Maker once again stated that this item was dangerous, but with Su Xiao's insistence, the Machine Maker decided to give it away. As a token of thanks, the Machine Maker originally wanted to give Su Xiao some mechanical creations, but Su Xiao was more interested in one of the Machine Maker's old workshops.
This workshop was previously used by the Machine Maker. Although he didn't know what Su Xiao planned to do, he still transferred the place to him.
An hour later, in front of the workshop. This was a three-story concrete building. Many pipes were attached to the outer walls. After opening the door, the first floor had a few bedrooms, several workbenches, and various machines. The second and third floors were filled with all kinds of machinery.
After inspecting the place, Su Xiao decided to manufacture the "Life Ore" here. If he needed any machinery later, he could borrow it from the Machine Maker. He was certain that the Machine Maker was hostile to the Dark God Temple's Four Giants, the reason being the millions of residents in Black Iron City.
The Machine Maker truly considered this place his home and was willing to protect its residents. However, the total number of living beings in this world was just over ten million. Apart from scattered wanderers and scavenger tribes, only Sanctuary City and Black Iron City had large populations.
The Primordial Life Force of the Sanctuary City's residents was almost drained dry by the Four Giants. Naturally, they had their eyes on Black Iron City. Therefore, the Machine Maker and the Dark God Temple were inevitably hostile.
An enemy of an enemy might not be a friend, but if it could make the enemy suffer, even if they didn't cooperate, they wouldn't betray this enemy of an enemy, and might even provide a certain degree of convenience.
This was the situation Su Xiao wanted. He didn't need the Machine Maker to remember the old ties with the Law Destruction Faction. As long as he didn't stab him in the back, that was enough.
Checking the team channel, Zuiyasi had already left the underground maze. From his words, it seemed that Zuiyasi, Wude, and Kaisa had all gained a lot. The Devourer of Darkness was sulking and not speaking, probably having been tricked quite badly, but unable to do anything about it.
Seeing this, Su Xiao decided to give the Devourer of Darkness some compensation when he returned, to prevent this fool from getting angry and quitting the team. He would still need to confront Shenfu later, and this fool might become a trump card.
The 'good teammates' were about to be in position. The raw materials for manufacturing the "Life Crystal" were also on the way. It was the Silver Queen's nest's output for three days. The reason she was so generous was that Su Xiao had promised that if he could solve the Eternal Light World's problem this time, the promised insect race secret potions would be increased from 20 bottles to 30 bottles.
Su Xiao still had over 200 bottles of this potion. When he had prepared them for Jila, he had made a batch of 1000 bottles. But as Jila drank them, the potion's improvement limit was reached, leaving these 200 bottles.
He couldn't promise all these potions at once. He could gradually add them when he needed the Silver Queen to do something later. For example, this time, the Silver Queen had only promised to provide one day's worth of Life Stone mining, and he had to wait because it was mined that day and delivered the next. Now, the Silver Queen agreed to provide three days' worth of mining and directly took from her own stock.
Besides this, Su Xiao had also asked his three 'good teammates' in the team channel if they could refine and process the "Life Crystal." All three said they couldn't, that it was too difficult and far beyond their capabilities. Seeing this result, Su Xiao was relieved. These three bastards could all do it. If they couldn't, no one would have said anything.
This matter was basically settled. Su Xiao took out a semi-transparent sealed container. Seeing this, Bubu Wang and Baha both came closer. Bubu Wang even stuck his big head under Su Xiao's right arm to look at the metal octopus inside the container.
As for this item, the moment Su Xiao saw it, he felt its aura was somewhat familiar, very close to the Mysterious Eye he possessed.
Perhaps for others, this metal octopus was quite dangerous, but for Su Xiao, who possessed four Original Sin Objects, this level of risk was nothing.
This was also why the metal octopus didn't dare to be arrogant when it saw Su Xiao. It clearly sensed that Su Xiao had sealed Original Sin Objects.
Su Xiao took out the Mysterious Eye. He had always suspected that this Mysterious Eye was missing something. After encountering this metal octopus, he confirmed that the Mysterious Eye was indeed missing some parts. Its core part was lost, which was why it was so difficult to use.
The metal octopus was naturally not the original core of the Mysterious Eye, but it had some similarity to the original core. When Su Xiao took out the Mysterious Eye and the Mysterious Eye extended its adsorption towards the metal octopus, it meant this guess was correct.
Bang! The metal octopus used one of its mechanical tentacles to kick the Mysterious Eye away. Seeing this, Su Xiao frowned slightly and pointed at the kicked-away Mysterious Eye, meaning for the metal octopus to pick it up.
The result was that the metal octopus rushed straight towards Su Xiao, aiming for his face.
Clang!
A crystal short blade was embedded in the path the metal octopus was about to take, causing it to stop immediately. It looked at Su Xiao with its red-glowing mechanical eye. Su Xiao got up, retrieved the Mysterious Eye, and placed it in front of the metal octopus, indicating for it to enter the Mysterious Eye's interior.
Clang!
The metal octopus kicked the Mysterious Eye again. This time, it didn't kick it away, but it firmly indicated that it wouldn't enter the Mysterious Eye to be bound. Su Xiao would have to feed and care for it like the Machine Maker's disciples.
Seeing this, Su Xiao took out the "Book of Original Sin" and, without giving the metal octopus a chance to react, sealed it on the fifth page.
Time passed slowly. About half an hour later, Su Xiao unsealed the fifth page and pulled the metal octopus out. He found that the metal octopus had become limp. When it was sealed in the Book of Original Sin, its spiritual fluctuations were annihilated by the adjacent Soul Crown. This thing was actually half-dead.
Su Xiao took out several metal-attribute materials, mixed a potion, and slowly poured it over the metal octopus. The result was that the dangerous object's body trembled once, then completely lost its aura. This thing, which had killed many living beings, had actually died completely.
Su Xiao felt a bit regretful. He thought this thing was quite tough, but after being sealed in the Book of Original Sin for just a while, it died completely. It had to be said, the Molten Gold Demon was really something else. After being sealed in the Book of Original Sin for so long, besides his head's pain mask becoming more vivid, he hadn't dissipated.
He manipulated the Mysterious Eye to open and wrapped the metal octopus inside. He wanted to try if he could use this thing as a temporary core.
[Tip: Mysterious Eye has been activated.]
[Detected that your activation method is special. Unable to unlock the Mysterious Eye to its final stage.]
[Mysterious Eye]
Origin: Second Era: Alchemical Civilization.
Durability: 100/100 points (This equipment can restore durability by absorbing World Force.)
Equipment Requirement: None.
Detection Form: After activating this function, you can detect enemy information.
Unlock Form: After activating this function, you can enter adaptive unlock mode.
Enhancement Form: After activating this function, you can attach this equipment to an item that needs enhancement. The volume of the enhanced item cannot exceed 3 times the volume of this equipment.
Introduction: A wondrous way of use. Perhaps even the creators of this equipment didn't expect it could be used this way.
...
Su Xiao decided to try this newly unlocked detection function when he encountered a strong enemy. If this detection was good, he would have hit the jackpot. He had never been able to buy detection equipment. The detection equipment on the market all used Charm Attribute for judgment.
Su Xiao really couldn't imagine what a detection judgment with a negative Charm Attribute would be like. Would it reveal his information to the enemy?
Putting away the Mysterious Eye, Su Xiao used the Watcher's Ring to return to the Gray Sanctuary. After the spatial fluctuations dissipated, he arrived at the Alchemy Laboratory. Amu was still sleeping soundly. The "Primordial Potion" on the mixing table had completed its catalysis.
[You have obtained Primordial Potion (Perfect).]
He hadn't managed to concoct a (Miracle) grade, which made Su Xiao hesitate about whether to drink this bottle. This type of potion could only be drunk once in a lifetime. Anyone who dared to try a second bottle would surely die.
A Perfect grade had a qualitative difference. It was like the hardest stone could never compare to the sturdiness and reliability of metal.
Drinking it wouldn't directly increase combat power. Su Xiao decided not to rush into drinking this potion. If he could return to Reincarnation Paradise alive this time, he could try to sell this thing, selling it for Precipitated Glass.
This way, he could not only buy more.
After putting it away, Su Xiao left the Gray Sanctuary. After the spatial mist dissipated, he returned to the workshop in Black Iron City. As soon as he returned, he saw Bubu Wang coming back from outside. Checking the team storage space, there was already a large amount of "Life Stone."
He went to the workbench, equipped the [Miracle Maker] title, and began to liquefy and purify the "Life Stone" in batches. In the end, he obtained a highly pure life-attribute liquid. However, this life force attribute was closer to a plant nature. Therefore, the Four Giants of the Dark God Temple had no interest in the life mineral vein of the Wild Growth Land.
Su Xiao took out 10 kilograms of Black Maple Tree branches. But thinking about the gains from killing two or more of the Four Giants, he took out another 5 kilograms of Black Maple Tree branches. Using this as the main material, he began to twist and enhance the properties of the life liquid.
When Su Xiao finished all the mixing, a liquid emitting a pure life force fluctuation was contained in a container. This had already surpassed the classification of biological attributes and plant attributes, rising to the next tier of "Life Origin." This life liquid now held a huge attraction for the Four Giants of the Dark God Temple.
"This is really tempting. I want to take a sip myself."
Zuiyasi examined the liquid "Life Origin" in the container. Not far away, Kaisa was already busy, sweating profusely. After muttering some unintelligible goblin language, a dense Abyssal Force surged from the Abyssal Jar. This was extremely pure Abyss energy.
Kaisa didn't have time to wipe the sweat from his head before pouring the liquid "Life Origin" into the Abyssal Jar. He muttered something else before pouring it out. At this point, the liquid "Life Origin" had become so concentrated that crystallization particles were forming inside it.
Zuiyasi took the container, raised one hand, indicating for the others to step back. He was going to show off... ahem, he was going to use his ability.
The space around Zuiyasi showed slight distortion. A few hours later, the container in his right hand rapidly aged, cracked, and finally crumbled into powder. The liquid "Life Origin" inside had condensed into three "Life Crystals" of different sizes.
Originally, the Four Giants of the Dark God Temple were to divide three "Life Crystals," meaning one would inevitably not get any. Now that the three "Life Crystals" were of different sizes, there would be new disputes among the three giants who got them.
"Phew~, that was quite hard to condense."
Zuiyasi let out a long breath. He held the three "Life Crystals" in the air, not touching them at all. Details determined success or failure. Although touching these "Life Crystals" might not necessarily leave traces detectable by others, it was better to be safe.
Now it was Su Xiao's turn. He crushed a [World Core (Fragment)], then used the world energy that exploded from it to wrap the three "Life Crystals." A few hours later, the three "Life Crystals" looked as if they were sealed in a layer of amber.
Then, Wude used a gray smoke to wrap the three "Life Crystals." A few hours later, when the gray smoke dissipated, these three "Life Crystals" showed no trace of having been processed. Everything was natural, as if they were naturally occurring secret treasures.
Now, the most critical question arose: where should the members of the Dark God Temple discover these three "Life Crystals"? The answer was the Wet Salt District. Because the Dark God Temple had been searching for the monarch's treasure there, they had been extensively searching the Wet Salt District.
As for who should discover these three "Life Crystals," Su Xiao already had someone in mind: the High Priest of the Dark God Temple, Ezle. Because this person, the more he looked at him, the more he seemed like Shenfu.