Reaching the surface, Wu Hai was tired. He had been digging and now he had made a soul contract with both of the spirits of the compasses. Their existences were a mystery, Wu Hai thought about the drain on his energy levels over the years and then sighed inwardly.
Taking out some potions to drink and rolling back to a large size Wu Hai found that flight was of considerable ease over burrowing. He was rather disappointed that he had been turned into a mount, that Khan Ni's Mount was now riding alongside her. Wu Hai thought about how a girl was wrapped around his body.. then he thought about how his brother had gotten this close and his mood turned a bit sour.
He pressed into his flight.
Wu Hai hadn't taken any time to explore sexuality or even what he wanted from that type of relationship since he came into this world after regaining a lot of his memories from his previous life. When he thought about the sex life of Professor Quanli.. he felt undignified and completely disrespectful, he would push himself out of those memories as fast as possible.
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As they made the trip back they found the remains of the Doberamon Village, some survivors that had gone into the woods noticed the flight overhead and signaled for Wu Hai to land.
"Khan Ni, I don't really want these people in our city if they care to live like the did when we first met them, but at that time we were not looking for extra residents. Now we will need people to mine and stand guard" Making his way down, the Doberamon survivors were told the way to the city.
Wu Hai was not about to ferry an entire group of people no matter the size. One of the survivors suggested using a net to carry them all, Wu Hai hadn't considered that possibility.
"That, I'm fine with." Wu Hai made adjustments to his powers and created a very large cage before returning to Zao City.
The Doberamons were completely obedient this time around, they had lost everything and many of their people had been killed. The few that did survive would be forever tainted by the reminder of their clan being exterminated, eaten and made to run.
The relaxing and expedient flight back was intensified with some approaching cool winds. The temperature dropped suddenly for the group as they climbed the Mountain. When they came to the city walls they could smell smoke and see a pillar of it coming from one of the buildings.
The Forges had started construction.
The methods used to create weapons were as close to the metallurgists on earth as possible. When it came to enchanting a weapon and making it strong, the humans of earth knew nothing, they could only shape the metal finely. This was the same method of construction for all of Wu Hai's crafted weaponry, which was also why he relied solely on his magical attacks and occasionally the Creators Crusher.
The Crusher itself was a fine weapon, but it really lacked finesse and when it was possible Wu Hai would rather choose to ignore it than use it. He needed to learn to forge himself, or find someone to do the work. Wu Hai had the benefit of a lifetime in another life, and his current one. With all the chance and rare materials he had come by over the years, he was sure to be able to provide or come up with a lot of choices.
It wasn't just forging, but almost all the subjects had a sincere amount of merit to them. Adventure was the dreams of nearly every light novel reader. One that would carry them into legend or even tear the a new asshole with the worlds most ridiculously overpowered stat. Wu Hai had a weapon like that, a game breaking storage device with tons of materials, even books on how to do so.
"Its time I did these things I've been talking about." Wu Hai muttered to himself as the came to the tower.
When he released the Doberamon's, he had some guards keep watch over them while Qu questioned them one by one. They had been quiet on the way back and Wu Hai had been through enough with their earlier disinterest.
Qu greeted the Prince of the Zao Clan in his usual awkwardness "Master, when would you like to brief us on our next course of action. I have some ideas. Recall me down when you're ready."
Wu Hai passed a large pile of storage rings over to Qu, the contents of their expedition minus the vault.
Wu Hai had Xuan Kim Li take a look and even Master Jiang. There was no reason to worry about the contents being disturbed, but it would be nice to open it. If they used force to enter it, it could be terrible for the World Tree Seed. It was unlikely that cheap regular fire would harm the Seed, but the fire that would be needed to melt their way in would be impossible.
No cutting torches existed in this world and the vault might be magical. The best course of action was still to get a quality Unlock Magic Spell Book or Scroll. Other methods to unlock things likely existed but they were not in the records that they currently had. The Zao Clan had a decent library in the Tower, but Wu Hai didn't want to leave the tower behind when he went to his travels.
Meeting with his father after dropping off the Spacial Rings, Wu Hai was looking for a welcome distraction. He had been busy, but he had plans; He would have to go through a Mountain of Books and that was just to get started.
"Father, there are some things I want to do like, go out and explore more of this world. I've helped fulfill both promises I made during my earlier adventure, I've helped resettle the clan, brought new chances for everyone and even helped Khan Ni in her quest. Mine must resume." Wu Hai was not going to be impatient with his father, but he had to be direct and completely forward with his needs.
"After Qu sorts things out, I'd like to start preparations on building the new castle to replace the tower. If Khan Ni stays, and I think she will. Zhan will stay and with Khan Ni, The Clan will be fine under the protection of the Transmigrated. I also have some new things to help grow our forces, but, it doesn't come without the risk." Wu Hai started to elaborate for his father, telling him about the experiences in the cavern.
"Wu Hai, you're saying that there are a number of Gygax out there.. what happens if someone bad uses the dice? Patriarch Ooran started to become alarmed after hearing his explanation.
"Yes, its possible a great number of them exist. But, This is a secret I'd like to keep close to heart." Wu Hai was cautious.
"We can start making the tower once you've rested. I saw you brought back Doberamon villagers, Make sure the guards are notified on what to do with them." Patriarch Ooran was well informed, he hadn't even gone outside to see what was there.
Teleporting to Xuan Kim Li, Wu Hai pulled a few bottles of the fluid from his weapon storage to pass to Kim Li. Test these sparingly, its limited but has potential. There were dozens of fluid colors and it seemed like they were very important. "What are these, and what do you want me to do with them?"
Wu Hai called out Qu and waited for his arrival. "Qu, I have a number of rings I gave you earlier that were filled with liquids from the Minaur's Sacred Cave. Have you identified them or any of their properties so we can sort them."
"Master Wu, The liquids are a multitude of Elemental essences and there are a few I cannot identify, we would have to use them for alchemical development or enchanting a weapon. We just don't have the methods of use for their full potential" … "Master, I have read the mathematics section. After some quick figures I have a precise estimation for completion of reading the library's science section." Qu had a lot to say.
Wu Hai was glad to hear it, He had his own learning to do once he made his way from the city. "Absorbing the selected portions of the science section is going to take one year, six months, four days seven hours 12 minutes."
"I'm going to move the tower, so we can build the new pagoda. Be ready to go when we're done building it. It shouldn't take longer than a day or two to finish the new tower." listening to Wu Hai, Qu stopped reporting.
Shrinking down the tower left a large flat area on the summit of the mountain. Wu Hai moved the tower to the outside of the city in the eastern slope. The footprint from the building would help create a smaller neighborhood sooner or later.
Wu Hai decided to use some blueprints from modern architecture to make the tower. It would be a bright gleaming Tower to light the night, they used the purple glass that Wu Hai had been making for windows. The Violet Tower would be in-observable at night.
The finishing touches were the elevators that Wu Hai had salvaged from the Minaur community. They were well engineered. After Kim Li and the research team had a few minutes to look at it, spare parts were replicated or reinforcements were made.
The floors were lined with bright turquoise, the mineral was present in a lot of the recovered rubble Wu Hai had gathered during his dig. A boiler room and heating duct-work had been routed through the building, windows could be opened making cooling it as simple as opening one for a moment. While it hid in the night under the moonlight, it did not during the day. The tower was a beacon that lit up the surroundings.
There was little that meant anything to Wu Hai when he started his journey, at this juncture he had been made into a Prince, gotten himself the power to topple an enemy force and even worked to help so many others around him. His world was changing for the better. Now, he had a lot more to worry over and distance from his family had made the trip a bit more weary than it needed to be.
"Kim Li, there is something that needs to be done and I want you to come along, but... I don't think its for the best. What I want is for you to develop this clan into an absolute leader in all things, you played MMO's just like I use to. But, I was successful as a player whereas you were a lot more successful in development and study. I need more answers and I intend to find them, one of my first objectives is to gather more information about this World." Wu Hai had been working hard toward a goal but rarely spoken about it.
"Before I went to Earth, I had a singular objective to learn about my past and save my family from a destiny of tragic proportion. I completed it, I think... I have given them the best resources I could possibly hope for and so much more. I want to learn more about this world and in order to do that I need ,I have to, …" Sighing significantly and working to calm his nerves, he continued. "I have to go back to School."
Dropping his head significantly, Wu Hai thought about his memories of going to Academy on Earth. They were not the best, he was hazed in ways that made him cringe. Everything from drinking Wilkers and Romans to pushing the limits of his endurance levels by doing ridiculous activities like amateur racing or Practical Jokes.
"I almost wish I had some coffee, but that went pretty fast during the first year. I can't wait around trying to have an Epiphany, I need to go out and find a solution to what's bothering me. If more dice exist, I'll have to go collect them at all cost. These dice are too powerful, We have a lot of ways that can take care of the family while I'm away. I don't know how long its going to be.." Wu Hai had been through a lot to get where he was, leaving for a long time was difficult for him in many ways.
"Ugh. I will probably be gone for years. I've already had duplicates of a lot of the library made and put into the new tower. I'd like a copy of your research on the memory crystals." It was nearly time to go and Wu Hai had a few more matters to attend.
"About that. I've made a breakthrough. It would almost work like a phone, but.. it would show a self-image and not break. Here's yours." The Device was sitting on the table, it looked like a television.
"Does it really have to be so big?" Wu Hai had some objections to the design, but knew it was asking a lot for it to even be possible.
"You're really going on about size? Just put a crystal into the pocket on the side for it to consume for energy and place your hand on top. When you visualize your target, you'll be able to communicate. The magic spells for contacting people long range work on the same principal." Xuan Kim Li was pretty proud that they had made communication possible in only for years.
Producing a satellite or tower to transmit radio signals could be counter productive. Crystals and Scrolls were somewhat mystical in nature and harder to intercept or fake.
"It will take some time for the message to reach us if you're much further away, just like data over phone lines. Make the messages brief or feed it more crystals." Explaining its operation, Wu Hai put a crystal into the pocket on the side and watched the crystal be consumed magically.
Xuan Kim Li answered on the other side and each of their images showed up on the other unit. Waving his hands around to show the lag time Kim Li spoke and the tiny image also spoke the same words.
"Interesting, and this is perfect. Thank you Kim Li." Wu Hai's problem had just been made a lot easier, with this he could contact home if things were crazy.
Kim Li had an expression of pain on his face. "There is something you should be aware of, if we put this device away, we can't be reached. If you put yours away, you can't be reached. Receiving also takes crystals, so.. use sparingly. This one will remain monitored, if you fail to reach someone after making a connection.. try again."
Placing the communication device into his ring, Wu Hai gave Kim Li a hug and left.
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It was time to get out of town. He had a few more places to go on his way out. He stopped at the newly built Zao Castle, a 9 story pagoda that took up 1/18th of the entire city. Viewed as a shrine to this new world, the massive 400 meter building could take many hits from Wu Hai at full strength. He had tried just to make sure it was sturdy, only then he was satisfied that inner hallways were spacious enough for the grandest of ceremony.
Wu Hai addressed the Patriarch "Father, It is time"
The Patriarch and the rest of the Zao clan knew Wu Hai would be leaving again soon. They were not sure what was going to happen, but he would go for a long time. "Father, it is time for my quest to continue. I am going to find a school, and learn everything I can about a few subjects; I don't know where I'll find the right direction, but I'm young enough."
"Wu Hai, You must make sure to come back and see us sometime soon." Patriarch Ooran and the entire Zao Clan had shown up to see Wu Hai off.
Mike had also come. "Master Wu. You and I are not destined to part, I want to come along."
Wu Hai had given everyone a chance to say their peace before he was going to leave but Mike had been quiet until just then.
"Mike, there is something I need to do. Your help would be appreciated, but you would be left to Idle a lot during my studies." Wu Hai had a lot of things to do, he wasn't sure if he could be there for someone else during that time.
"I intend to go with you to learn, I'm not going to play second." Mikes competitiveness had shown up a bit.
He did get the tattoo, if they were going to learn more about it perhaps they would find out together.
Wu Hai agreed to let him tag along and soon a number of people wanted to come as well. Wu Hai couldn't bring them all along. In the end it was just Mike, Qu and Wu Hai. The clan leadership would take charge of the direction for the city while Wu Hai went to find the next problem before it found him.
"Lets go." Rolling to a dragon form, Wu Hai placed the pagoda into storage and left with Mike.
Everyone on the ground watched as the man they had all been brought together by flew off into the distance. "He'll come back. We all have to push harder and become unbreakable, I want to double the Adventure Teams and stockpile more Ore. When Prince Wu Hai returns I want him to be lost at the advances we've made." Kim Li looked over the developer team, they were originally going to go with Master Wu but in the end Wu Hai had chosen not to take any of them.
"Its only right that he resume his quest, any more waiting will only keep him here against his will." Patriarch Ooran was certain he was going to be fine.