Chapter 354: Hidden Fragments, Low Roar
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Soon, the group arrived at the center of the city, where the tower was.
The area within a thousand meters of the tower had been completely sealed off. No one was allowed to approach it unless they were from the various big factions in the city.
The top-notch treasure trove of resources, the Arcanist Tower, was actually monopolized by the various arcanist factions in the city.
Xu Ning and the members of the Gao family unhurriedly entered the sealed area and arrived at the tower.
'Almost everyone from the various factions is here…'
Xu Ning looked around. There were people everywhere outside the tower. There were about a thousand people.
There were more than a dozen factions in the city that were qualified to enter the Arcanist Tower.
The stronger the faction, the more people they could have entering the tower. This was a consensus reached by various parties after a fierce discussion.
The power of the Gao family could be ranked top five in the city, thus they had a hundred spots for their members.
Those factions stronger than the Gao family had between one hundred to two hundred spots.
As for those from the weakest faction, they were only allocated less than twenty spots.
'The tower has a specific rule. Rank nine arcanists can't enter, so the leaders of the various forces are all rank eight masters.'
Xu Ning also looked around. 'The tower is also full of dangers, otherwise the various forces here would have sent more rank eight masters.'
Although the various factions wanted to obtain more from the Arcanist Tower, once too many top masters were lost, it would be a huge blow to the arcanist faction behind them. It might even shake their foundation.
Therefore, although many masters came, this was not the full strength of the various factions.
"The Arcanist Tower is opening!"
At this moment, someone shouted.
Xu Ning looked at the tower and saw that the surface of the tower began to emit a faint white light.
Soon, the light became more and more blinding.
Whoosh!
Finally, the light faded. The surface of the tower was filled with colorful hues, creating an iridescent surface that looked like flowing liquid.
"We can enter!"
The leader of the Gao family's rank eight arcanists, Gao Yuji, said.
This Gao Yuji was the middle-aged man who had previously interviewed Xu Ning and allowed him to join the Gao family.
"Everyone, after entering the tower, not only do you have to be careful of the dangers inside, but you will also have to be careful of the people from other factions."
Gao Yuji said, "After entering the Arcanist Tower, everyone will be randomly teleported. After meeting our own people, you must gather together and face the dangers together!"
"Yes!"
Everyone responded.
Most of the people looked excited and a little afraid.
"Let's go!"
Gao Yuji gave the order.
Afterwards, the Gao family's forces, like the other factions, rushed into the liquid light curtain outside the tower.
"Xu Ning, I hope everything goes well for you."
Gao Qixuan said to Xu Ning before entering.
"You too, try to come out alive."
Xu Ning responded.
The two smiled at each other before entering the tower.
After feeling dizzy, Xu Ning found himself in a dark red space.
In this space, there were many volcanoes, dense dark clouds, and a pungent smell filled the air.
According to the information he had received previously, Xu Ning knew that there was a large amount of independent space inside the tower.
Every space had a teleportation gate. After entering the teleportation gate, one would be randomly sent to another independent space.
In these independent spaces, the risks and resources were different for each of them. In most independent spaces, the risks and resources were proportional, but in a few independent spaces, there could be large amounts of resources and no danger, or there could be no resources but with high levels of danger.
Therefore, no matter which independent space he entered, he would encounter an environment that he couldn't predict.
'After entering the tower, all the arcanist resources I encounter will belong to me, but if I obtain a 'hidden fragment', I will have to give it to the Gao family after leaving.'
This was the agreement between the Gao family and the recruited members before entering the tower.
The recruited member would be paid and be given the opportunity to enter the tower, but the condition was to help them search for the hidden fragments.
After obtaining the hidden fragments, they could also use it to exchange for resources with the Gao family.
In a sense, the Gao family was quite generous to their recruits.
'What is that hidden fragment? After obtaining it, I have to investigate it…'
Xu Ning was a little curious about those hidden fragments.
According to the information Xu Ning knew, this hidden fragment was a secret that could help a rank nine arcanist advance to rank ten.
It had been a long time since a rank ten arcanist appeared in the Arcanist World.
Ever since the three rank ten arcanists who built the tower disappeared, the method to advance to rank ten was no longer circulated outside, and the rank nine arcanists lost their direction.
All the secrets of advancing in this world were hidden in these hidden fragments.
'According to the realm of the Martial Arts World, the difference between rank nine and rank ten is the difference between the dao realm and the grandmaster realm. Therefore, those hidden fragments should be related to the outer worlds.'
This was Xu Ning's own guess.
'I wonder how many resources there are in this independent space, and how dangerous it is…'
Xu Ning looked at the dark and oppressive space and thought to himself.
'I'll investigate first. If it's not too dangerous and the amount of resources here are not bad, then I'll gather some resources here. If the resources are poor and the environment is dangerous, then I'll find the teleportation gate and leave this place…'
Xu Ning walked on the ground and found no signs of life in this independent space.
Not even plants exist.
In a hot independent space, it was difficult for arcane plants to survive.
'There are no resources, and there is no danger…'
Xu Ning was a little disappointed. 'In that case, I should find a teleportation gate and leave this place to enter a different independent space…'
'Wait…'
Xu Ning looked at the volcano in the distance.
'Let's go and take a look…'
Xu Ning climbed up the nearest volcano.
He looked down and saw bubbling magma.
This magma was different from ordinary magma. It was dark red in color, giving off a dangerous aura.
Xu Ning felt that even a rank six arcanist would be injured by this magma.
'There are no resources inside the volcano either…'
Xu Ning felt a little helpless.
'Let's continue to search for the teleportation gate…'
Just when Xu Ning gave up searching for resources, a low roar suddenly came from the distance.
Xu Ning looked over at the source of the sound.
The source of the roar was from the highest volcano.
At this moment, magma was bursting out of the volcano.
'Let's go and take a look!'
Xu Ning's heart stirred and he quickly rushed
over
…
Xu Ning quickly rushed towards the highest volcano.
'There should be a terrifying creature in that volcano, maybe it is a monster cultivated by an arcanist…'
The closer he got, the more Xu Ning could feel the terrifying aura of the volcano.
Sure enough, Xu Ning cautiously touched the crater. He looked into the crater while guarding against the magma.
'It really is a monster created by the power of an arcanist!'
In the magma of the volcano, a monster covered in golden scales was soaked in it.
There were strange lines on its scales that had been altered by the power of an arcanist.
Its body was extremely large, almost filling the entire inner area of the volcano.
The monster's head, neck, and back were exposed, while its torso and limbs were soaked in magma, as if it was in a hot spring.
The monster closed its eyes and breathed heavily, not sensing Xu Ning's approach.
'This monster should be in deep sleep… That low roar just now should be the ravings in its sleep…'
Xu Ning felt a huge pressure coming from this monster.
'The strength of this monster should be comparable to an elementary ninth stage. The current me is no match for it…'
Xu Ning carefully observed it. 'If it hadn't fallen asleep, it might have sensed my existence and smashed my clone…'
'The ones who could create a monster of such a level should be the three rank ten arcanists who built this tower…'
Xu Ning guessed.
'Huh?'
When Xu Ning looked away from the monster, he suddenly noticed that there were densely packed brown crystals embedded in the inner wall of the volcano.
These crystals had the same color as the inner walls. If one didn't look carefully, they would easily be ignored.
'Those are… Rock Flame Crystals!'
Xu Ning quickly recognized the brown crystals.
Rock Flame Crystals were an extremely precious arcane technique resource.
When Xu Ning was in the Barren Wind Region, the Ice Feather Institute had given him a Rock Flame Crystal before.
'If I absorb this many flame crystals, I can at least obtain more than 3 million units of energy…'
Xu Ning was a little excited.
He had just entered the tower, but he had already encountered such a large amount of resources, which was quite unexpected.
However, it was not easy to obtain these flame crystals.
If he entered the volcano and leaned against the inner wall to pry off these flame crystals, it was very likely that he would wake up the monster in the magma.
This would definitely be extremely dangerous.
'I have to think of a way out first…'
Xu Ning thought. 'It's best to find the teleportation gate of this independent space first. This way, even if I alert the monster, I can teleport to another independent space and escape danger…'
After thinking about this, Xu Ning slowly walked away from the volcano and went to find the teleportation gate.
Xu Ning took about two hours to find the teleportation gate that was at the foot of a small volcano.
Xu Ning felt more at ease with a way to retreat.
Afterwards, he returned to the highest volcano and went down from the mouth of the volcano. He leaned against the inner wall and prepared to pick some flame crystals.
'I should just absorb it…'
Xu Ning wanted to take off the Rock Flame Crystal first, but after thinking about it more, it was obviously more efficient to absorb it directly.
Xu Ning's finger touched a palm-sized flame crystal.
…
Discovered 5100 units of energy, absorb?
Yes / No
…
'Yes.'
Xu Ning absorbed the energy in the Rock Flame Crystal.
After Xu Ning finished absorbing the energy, the flame crystal turned into powder and fell into the bubbling magma.
Xu Ning repeated his previous actions and absorbed the flame crystals.
Xu Ning absorbed the energy while staring at the monster, in case it suddenly woke up and attacked.
Time slowly passed by. Most of the flame crystals embedded in the inner wall of the volcano had been absorbed by Xu Ning.
Only the flame crystals above the monster's head had not been absorbed yet.
'Should I take the risk and absorb the flame crystals above the monster's head?'
Xu Ning was still weighing his options.
If he took the risk to absorb them, it was very likely to wake this monster up.
Even though he had found the teleportation gate, he was still not 100% confident that he could escape to the teleportation gate.
But if he just gave up like this, Xu Ning would feel extremely unfortunate.
The quality of the flame crystals embedded in the area above the monster's head was obviously higher.
The energy contained in them would be extremely rich.
'Before I began absorbing these flame crystals, I estimated that after absorbing all the flame crystals, I would be able to obtain 3 million units of energy. But now, I have already absorbed 3.5 million units of energy… If I absorb those top-quality flame crystals above the head of the monster, the energy I will get in total this time should exceed 5 million units.'
Xu Ning hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to take the risk.
He was a rank seven arcanist. Even if he woke up the monster, although he was not 100% sure he could escape to the teleportation gate, it should not be too difficult.
After making up his mind, Xu Ning gently climbed to the top of the monster.
Just like before, he began to absorb the high-quality flame crystals.
'As expected of a high-quality Rock Flame Crystal, the energy contained in it is five to ten times that of the previous Rock Flame Crystals!'
Xu Ning quickly absorbed the energy. His remaining units of energy were about to reach 10 million.
Finally, there were only five or six more flame crystals left.
However, just when Xu Ning was about to continue absorbing, he suddenly noticed that the monster's breathing had stopped.
He looked down subconsciously and saw that the sleeping monster had opened its eyes.
A pair of cold, terrifying eyes stared at him.
'Not good, I am discovered!'
Xu Ning made a prompt decision. He waved his hand and put away the remaining Rock Flame Crystals.
Afterwards, he activated his full strength and jumped out of the volcano.
Behind Xu Ning, there was a roar, followed by a burst of terrifying aura. Immediately after, magma spewed out with a loud rumble.
'Run!'
Xu Ning fled towards the teleportation gate.
A light membrane condensed around his body, protecting him completely.
This was an arcane domain that could only be activated by existences above rank seven arcanists.
This arcane domain was condensed by all the arcane techniques of the arcanist, which was similar to the true domain of the Martial Arts World.
However, the power of an arcane domain was obviously greater. After all, a true domain was only a void realm technique.
Xu Ning fled frantically.
Behind him, the monster had already jumped out of the volcano. Its huge body stepped on the ground as it furiously chased after Xu Ning..
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The monster shot out multiple fireballs towards Xu Ning as it chased him.
Xu Ning reacted quickly, dodging all of them.
"Huh?"
As he was frantically trying to escape, Xu Ning glanced back.
He suddenly noticed a small lump of silver glow under the monster's neck.
'That is… a hidden fragment!'
Xu Ning recognized it instantly.
'I wonder if I can find a way to snatch it!'
Xu Ning thought as he fled.
At this moment, the distance between Xu Ning and the monster was getting shorter and shorter.
But Xu Ning was also about to reach the teleportation portal.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The monster was still shooting out lava fireballs. After the rocks and the ground exploded, rubble splattered near Xu Ning, but they were blocked by the arcane domain light membrane around Xu Ning.
'The teleportation gate is right in front of me!'
A few dozen meters in front of Xu Ning was a distorted ring that was as tall as a person.
As long as he entered the ring, Xu Ning could leave the independent space and go to another independent space.
Roar!
At this moment, the monster behind Xu Ning gave off an unresigned roar.
It was still hundreds of meters away from Xu Ning, so it could no longer catch up to Xu Ning.
However, when it continued to roar towards the sky, Xu Ning's eyes lit up.
'Good opportunity!'
Xu Ning did not continue to rush towards the teleportation gate, instead he accelerated the activation of the arcane domain to increase his speed.
Xu Ning rushed over a distance of a few hundred meters in the blink of an eye.
Pak!
Xu Ning grabbed the hidden fragment on the monster's scales and rushed towards the teleportation gate.
The monster was taken aback at first, then its eyes were full of madness and murderous intent.
It didn't expect Xu Ning to dare to come back and make a fool out of it.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
This time, a large number of lava fireballs spewed out of the monster's mouth, covering Xu Ning's path like a chain of firecrackers.
Xu Ning activated his arcane domain to the limit. The light membrane around his body endured the impact from the lava fireballs.
"Pfft!"
The violent vibrations caused Xu Ning to vomit blood.
Fortunately, Xu Ning's arcane domain had not been broken yet.
Swoosh!
In the end, Xu Ning blocked the impact of the lava fireballs, and his body smoothly passed through the teleportation gate.
Xu Ning then felt a distorted sensation.
When he reappeared, he was surrounded by endless green grass and a vast blue sky.
Compared to the independent space from before where it was filled with dark clouds and dense smoke, it formed a strong contrast to the current environment.
Breathing in the fresh air, Xu Ning felt refreshed.
'Fortunately, I'm safe for now…'
Xu Ning did not feel any danger from the current environment.
He was quite lucky. Xu Ning was already injured. If he came to another dangerous environment again, he would definitely die.
'I'll heal my injuries first…'
Xu Ning took out a healing arcane medicine from his spatial ring and swallowed it.
The spatial ring in the Arcanist World was the storage ring in the Martial Arts World. There was not much difference between the two.
However, in comparison, spatial rings were more precious in the Arcanist World.
Xu Ning did not obtain a spatial ring when he was in the Barren Wind Region. He only obtained one when he was recruited by the Gao family in the City of Arcanists.
Xu Ning did not move, instead he stayed on the spot.
If he encountered any danger in this independent space with his current injuries, the situation would be quite troublesome.
'What is this hidden fragment…'
While waiting for his injuries to heal, Xu Ning checked the small silver object in his hand.
Although it was called a hidden fragment, it was actually an irregular piece of metal.
Xu Ning poured the power of arcanism into it and a vague feeling came.
'This feeling… is a little similar to how I felt in the Martial Arts World when I advanced to the ninth stage of dao realm and sensed the outer worlds…'
Xu Ning understood. 'Sure enough, this hidden fragment is actually the coordinates of the outer worlds.'
'For some unknown reason, after the three rank ten arcanists disappeared, the rank nine arcanists in the Arcanist World seemed to no longer be able to sense the coordinates of the outer worlds, so they couldn't find a way to advance to rank ten?'
Xu Ning speculated in his heart.
However, Xu Ning was not sure about this guess. He would only know the correct answer when he advanced to rank nine.
Xu Ning did not continue to worry about this problem, instead he put away the hidden fragment.
After taking it to the outside world, he could hand it to the Gao family and exchange it for resources.
Xu Ning rested for a few hours. His injuries had completely recovered with the help of the arcane medicine.
This was also because after Xu Ning advanced to rank seven, his mortal body had improved.
Otherwise, if he still had a mortal body, Xu Ning's clone might have been shattered by the lava fireballs.
'Next, I'll explore the amount of resources and gauge the danger in this space… At the same time, I have to confirm where the teleportation gate is.'
Xu Ning began to explore this space.
After exploring for half a day, Xu Ning finally figured out the situation of this independent space.
There were weeds everywhere, the sky was high, and the environment was comfortable.
However, with it being a safe environment, resources were scarce.
'I'll stay here for a while longer. If I don't find anything, I'll go to the next independent space…'
Xu Ning also realized that there were a lot of independent spaces in this sealed tower, and there was a high probability that there were more than 1,000 different independent spaces.
Otherwise, Xu Ning wouldn't have gone through two separate spaces and never met anyone besides himself.
'It must be extremely difficult to build an independent space with more than a thousand different environments similar to the real world. Only a rank ten arcanist can do this…'
Half a month went by in the blink of an eye.
Three months had passed since the opening of the tower. One-fifth of the total duration the tower would be opened for had already passed.
Over the past half month, Xu Ning had gone through multiple teleportation gates and entered several different independent spaces.
During this period, Xu Ning finally encountered other arcanists during his few teleportations.
However, although he discovered other arcanists, Xu Ning did not approach them. He still acted independently.
Although Xu Ning encountered some dangers in different independent spaces, he also obtained a lot of resources as a result.
Xu Ning's energy reserves had reached 23 million units.
As long as he obtained another 2 million units of energy, he could advance to rank eight.
In addition, Xu Ning also obtained some hidden fragments. These hidden fragments varied in size, and when combined, it was considered a huge gain.
On this day, Xu Ning passed through the teleportation gate again and arrived at a new independent space..