Chapter 45: Sealed Artifacts
"Sealed artifacts" and "magical items."
Essentially, they are no different.
It's just that sealed artifacts pose a greater threat than their potential for use.
While magical items, their utility outweighs their dangers.
Take, for example, the magnificent creation of Gune, the "Coin of Fate."
If it were left somewhere, undiscovered, its harm would be zero.
Even if someone were to utilize the Coin of Fate, the harm caused would only be to individuals, not causing widespread damage.
But some sealed artifacts are different.
Some sealed artifacts possess biological activity, and even a degree of sentience.
They abide by their own rules.
And they leverage these rules to cause death, even large-scale death.
Throughout the history of this extraordinary world, the number of deaths caused by sealed artifacts has surpassed any disease, even war.
Especially during the era of the Church's feudal rule.
Certain extraordinary items with "extraordinary memetic" abilities created memes that led to death, like a grim reaper, reaping human lives repeatedly for millennia.
Controlling and sealing sealed artifacts is no easy feat.
And the corresponding personnel must possess extremely high levels of knowledge in arcane arts, memetics, and sealing techniques.
Most importantly, they must also possess exceptional life-saving skills and abilities.
After all, when dealing with these sealed artifacts, the ability to survive is paramount.
Gune hadn't expected that the Extraordinary Association of the Sugg Relic City would have a containment and sealing site for sealed artifacts.
"What? Are you interested in sealed artifacts?" Baron Dylan asked with a smile.
"Compared to sealed artifacts, I'm more interested in magical items," Gune shrugged.
"Their essence is the same, and through the study and in-depth understanding of numerous sealed artifacts, we've discovered that through a certain degree of modification, sealed artifacts can also be transformed into magical items."
"Sealed artifacts can become magical items?" Gune's eyebrows rose slightly.
Upon a moment's reflection, Gune understood.
Wasn't his own Coin of Fate created by that Blood Curse Master?
Although, that Blood Curse Master himself was ultimately tricked and killed by the Coin of Fate.
Undeniably, sealed artifacts and magical items can both be manufactured through specific techniques and methods.
However, whether the result is a more terrifying "sealed artifact" or a more wondrous "magical item" remains unknown.
"Sealed artifacts aren't as terrifying as many believe."
"Many develop a fear of them simply because they don't understand them," Baron Dylan elaborated gently.
"Fear of the unknown?" Gune said softly.
"One could say that."
"Sealed artifacts and magical items, based on our classification system."
"Are divided into four tiers."
"Safe, Controllable, Dangerous, and Destructive."
"Safe, this tier is self-explanatory. They generally have some function, but their negative effects and hazards are minimal."
"Like this pocket watch," saying this, Baron Dylan pulled a silver pocket watch from his inner pocket.
Gune had noticed this silver pocket watch earlier.
If Gune wasn't mistaken, it should be a sealed artifact, or perhaps a magical item.
"This pocket watch was originally a sealed artifact. Its primary function was to induce intense feelings of fatigue in the holder, leading to a deep sleep state. If the duration is long enough, it would further progress into a soul sleep state. And if the duration extends even further, entering a deep soul sleep wouldn't be impossible."
"Soul sleep?" Gune's heart stirred.
According to Extraordinary studies.
The human sleep state has four levels.
They are physical light sleep, physical deep sleep, soul light sleep, and soul deep sleep.
Most people, when they sleep most soundly, are in a state of physical deep sleep.
They are far from reaching the level of soul sleep.
And entering a true soul light sleep state is extremely rare.
Only Extraordinary individuals can actively enter this state.
However, not many are willing to do so.
During soul light sleep, one can be considered to have absolutely no perception of the outside world.
It's equivalent to completely shielding or relinquishing control of one's physical body.
The specific manifestation of soul light sleep in academia is "vegetative state."
Individuals in soul light sleep still have the possibility of waking up.
But soul deep sleep can be considered a state where the soul itself is dormant and solidified.
This completely eliminates the possibility of waking up.
Those in soul deep sleep will forever perish in their slumber.
Gune hadn't expected that this small pocket watch could possess the ability to induce soul sleep.
"It was originally a sealed artifact."
"But through my modifications, the soul sleep state of this item has been suppressed."
"Furthermore, by adjusting the three rings on the watch, one can reasonably choose the time to sleep and wake up. And even during sleep, the individual can be awakened."
"It truly is a remarkable magical item," Gune couldn't help but praise.
"Sleep when you want, no more worrying about staying up late. If I had such a treasure in my past life, my hairline wouldn't have receded so quickly."
"Above the safe-level sealed artifacts are the controllable ones."
"This type of sealed artifact, once unsealed, remains in a controllable state. Unless absolutely necessary, this type of sealed artifact is not taken out."
"Next are the dangerous ones."
"The Sugg Relic City branch of the Extraordinary Association has one of this level, and it's the primary object of our watch."
"It possesses a degree of intelligence, strong biological activity, and extraordinary memes. Fortunately, its infectious and destructive capabilities are not strong."
"Intelligent, biologically active, and with extraordinary memes," Gune rubbed his temples.
"If this thing were to be released, it would be a walking reaper, bringing death wherever it goes."
"As for the higher-level destructive sealed artifacts, I've only heard of them."
"But it's certain that our Extraordinary Association headquarters likely has sealed artifacts of this level."
After listening to Baron Dylan's explanation, Gune couldn't help but close his eyes and rub his temples.
"Indeed, the more I know, the more I realize the terrifying and dangerous nature of this world."
"This extraordinary world is fraught with danger. Even with 'Rebirth' at my disposal, I need to be cautious."
"Dare to roam freely, and the beatings from the Steam Punk Extraordinary Era will teach you a lesson in a heartbeat."
"But then again, what level is my Coin of Fate?"
"A magical entity capable of effortlessly severing fate threads and effortlessly devouring souls and obliterating bodies."
"At least... it should be dangerous level, right?"
"Destructive level? Is that possible?"
Gune, with his limited knowledge of sealed artifacts and magical items, found it difficult to determine the specific tier of the Coin of Fate.
"Alright, we're here."
Just as Gune was pondering, Baron Dylan suddenly spoke.
At the same time, the carriage began to slow down.
"Finally arrived," Gune glanced out the window, faintly seeing a few dim yellow lights.
The moment he stood up, Gune quickly opened the system's encounter page.
Whenever he arrives in a new and interesting place, checking the encounter page has become Gune's habit.
After all, no one knows when an encounter might appear.
Checking more often might lead to an encounter one day.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 46: The Sealing Grounds
After opening the system encounter page.
The [Encounter] function page was pitch black.
"No encounter," Gune quickly closed the system page and then, appearing nonchalant, followed Baron Dylan out of the carriage.
A light drizzle began to fall.
With the help of the dim yellow light from the kerosene lamps on either side of the road.
Gune could vaguely make out the outline of the mountain at the foot of the road.
A standard deep black, austere, and vast classical Byzantine-style ancient castle, like an ancient beast, lay prostrate there.
At the main entrance, Gune's gaze lightly swept across it.
"Quite a few guards."
"This was once a castle church where the Church spread its teachings."
"However, after the war between royal power and divine power broke out, the forces of the Church were driven out of the Northern Continent."
"Nowadays, the religious and mystical methods used by the churches in the South to maintain their rule no longer work."
"The fact that those churches are increasingly weakening is proof of that."
"That's good," Gune nodded.
Gune didn't have much fondness for those feudal, theocratic churches.
As they approached.
"Baron Dylan," the four Extraordinary individuals guarding the castle entrance, clad in extraordinary black iron armor and wielding black iron spears, saluted Dylan.
"Mm!"
With a slight nod, under Baron Dylan's lead, Gune and Via followed behind and entered the castle.
As soon as they entered, Gune felt numerous gazes converging from the shadowy corners.
Gune's gaze inadvertently swept across the surroundings.
"Extraordinary hounds," Baron Dylan said softly.
"These Extraordinary hounds have been trained and nurtured with extraordinary resources."
"They possess considerable combat power. At the same time, their sense of smell, vision, and powerful perception abilities far surpass those of humans."
"If those Shadow-type Extraordinary individuals were to sneak in, our guards might not notice them, but these creatures have a high probability of detecting them."
"Extraordinary creatures are indeed superior to humans in certain aspects," Gune said.
Following Baron Dylan, they continued forward.
A few minutes later.
The three of them followed a bunker-like stone staircase entrance, descending diagonally.
After turning a corner, the scene suddenly opened up, and the kerosene lamps on both sides of the walls also increased, making the entire underground passage brighter.
At the same time, the number of guards also increased.
After glancing at these guards, Gune couldn't help but marvel.
These guards were not of low rank, mostly second-order, and some were even third-order.
A third-order Extraordinary individual would be considered a powerful Extraordinary individual outside, but here, they were merely guards.
The power of the Extraordinary Association was evident.
"The equipment these guards wear isn't cheap, helmets, armor, bracers, greaves, weapons, and boots."
"A standard set of six pieces of extraordinary black iron equipment."
"On the battlefield, a second-order or third-order Extraordinary individual equipped like this could easily cut down hundreds of ordinary soldiers without any problem."
After going about a hundred meters.
The three of them stopped at an extremely spacious underground platform.
Extraordinary Gate.
At a glance, Gune saw the Extraordinary Gate made of special materials.
"Is there another void space behind this?"
"There should be, otherwise, this place wouldn't be so heavily guarded."
On this platform, there were over ten guards in black iron armor.
Three spellcasters in hooded robes, their heads completely concealed within the hoods, which were pitch black, clearly some kind of protective measure.
These three mysterious spellcasters, whose true faces were obscured, gave Gune a sense of danger.
The three spellcasters had the emblem of the Jade Orchid Extraordinary Association embroidered on their chests – a blue and white magnolia flower.
Besides these guards.
There was also an elderly man with a wide, tall, dark brown wizard's hat, sitting cross-legged, his face wrinkled, seemingly meditating.
"Baron Dylan," many on the platform lightly saluted Dylan.
"Elder Wix," Baron Dylan walked to the side of the elderly man in the wizard's hat, who was sitting on a cushion, seemingly in meditation, and spoke.
The elderly man named Wix slowly opened his eyes.
Then, he lightly glanced at Baron Dylan beside him: "What is it?"
"This is the talented alchemist I mentioned to you earlier, and..." Baron Dylan took a step forward and whispered a few words in the elder's ear.
"Oh?" The wrinkled-faced elder named Wix suddenly perked up.
"Really?" Wix lowered his voice and asked.
Although the voice was low, everyone present was an Extraordinary individual, and they could all hear it.
"Of course," Baron Dylan nodded.
Wix chuckled.
"Entering is naturally no problem, but the necessary procedures must be followed."
"Of course," Baron Dylan nodded slightly.
Seeing this, Via spoke softly beside him.
"All extraordinary equipment and extraordinary storage equipment are prohibited from being taken inside the Extraordinary Gate."
"You need to temporarily deposit your extraordinary equipment and storage equipment in the rest and storage room on the side."
Via pointed to a few small stone chambers not far away.
"The control is really strict."
"No problem," Gune nodded.
After the experience of the demon on the Coin of Fate devouring his clothes, Gune had stocked several sets of clothes in his Green Leaf Bracelet and system backpack, just in case.
A moment later.
After changing his clothes in the rest and storage room, Gune came out again.
The Green Leaf Bracelet was left in the storage room, and it didn't contain many valuable items. Mostly materials, potions, food, and water.
Of course, in the system's space, he stored a similar amount of clothes, food, and water.
At the same time, Gune directly placed his valuable extraordinary equipment in his system backpack.
A guard on the side, after Gune passed through a black frame about two meters high and one meter wide, said: "No extraordinary equipment detected."
Gune glanced at this detection frame and smiled faintly.
Extraordinary equipment with extraordinary properties couldn't hide from this "frame," but the omnipotent system was clearly not included.
"Alright, follow me!"
Wix nodded.
After Wix chanted a series of complex spell passwords in front of the Extraordinary Gate.
Click, click...
The stone gate slowly opened.
As the stone gate opened, sure enough.
A blue curtain of water appeared before Gune.
Behind this Extraordinary Gate, there was indeed a void space.
Wix took the first step and walked in.
Gune and the other three followed behind.
Entering this void space, the first thing they saw were the excavated stone walls on both sides, and the floor was paved with black stone bricks.
These black stone bricks were much harder than bluestone bricks.
It is said that these black stone bricks are made of the same material as extraordinary black iron ore, with a strength about three times that of bluestone bricks with the same craftsmanship.
Source energy lamps were hung on both sides of the walls.
The vault of the passage, due to its ruggedness, was not built.
One could see the twisted, hard, dark black rocks.
The entire passage was silent, cold, rugged, and somewhat oppressive.
Occasionally, one could hear heavy collision sounds.
Those biologically active "sealed artifacts" were unwilling to be sealed, and they would try every means to break the seal and escape.
As they moved forward, Gune glanced at his idle system, and no encounter appeared.
Following the rugged passage, they continued forward.
From time to time, Gune could see sealed Extraordinary Gates on both sides.
After traveling about two hundred meters.
Wix, who was leading the way, stopped.
"Have we arrived?"
Gune looked ahead.
Thank you!
Lan Tian Huo Yun,
Ka zha ka,
Tian Xin Jiu Ge
Zhen Leng Qian Jia Si Yao Qian
Da Pang Mi 100
For your generous rewards!
嘤嘤嘤~~~
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 47: Another Encounter
Before him was a towering Extraordinary Gate, about two meters wide and five meters high.
Wix turned to Gune.
"All the scriptures in the room have been contaminated."
"They are placed separately, each within a sealed box."
"After that terrifying entity contaminated these scriptures, even when sealed, they still emit a slight amount of extraordinary memes."
"The specific manifestation of this extraordinary meme is the birth of a genuine faith in that terrifying entity from the depths of one's heart, becoming its loyal believer. This faith cannot be dispelled. Preliminary suspicions suggest that this meme has the effect of altering the form of the soul."
"Then, those transformed into believers of that terrifying entity by this extraordinary meme will zealously preach their faith to those around them."
"As they preach, the extraordinary meme will also spread."
"Currently, over six individuals have been infected by this extraordinary meme."
"Apart from solitary confinement and execution, there is no other way to deal with those infected by this extraordinary meme."
"Extraordinary memes?" Gune frowned slightly.
Wix continued.
"This extraordinary meme is very subtle. Only after prolonged exposure, such as several days of contact, will signs of infection appear."
"Previously, some individuals underwent a catalyst reception. Even though they received the content of the scriptures through the catalyst, they didn't have prolonged contact with the scriptures, so they didn't show signs of infection."
"Of course, the content of the scriptures themselves has been contaminated, and there are some minor drawbacks in cultivation, which I believe Baron Dylan has already mentioned to you."
"Although the probability of you being infected through catalyst reception is negligible. But I need to explain these things to you."
"Mm, I understand," Gune nodded.
Extraordinary memes are incredibly terrifying and dangerous.
Once infected, it's basically a death sentence. The more cautious one is, the better.
Moreover, this is a contagious extraordinary meme, making it even more crucial to be cautious.
"This is the unsealing spell password for the No. 3 Sealed Box, which contains a high-level soul scripture." Wix handed Gune a black iron token about the size of a medal.
"Open the Extraordinary Gate. In ten minutes, I will open it again. By then, I believe you should have completed the inheritance of the high-level scripture."
"Ten minutes, that should be enough," Gune nodded.
"Very well, I'm going to open it. Be prepared," Wix placed his palm on the Extraordinary Gate and began to open it.
A moment later.
Click, click, click...
The Extraordinary Gate slowly opened.
Gune moved his feet, swift as the wind, and instantly entered.
Then.
Click, click, click...
The Extraordinary Gate closed.
With the complete closure of the Extraordinary Gate, Gune, who had entered, let out a sigh of relief and looked around.
Before him was a rather ordinary storage cellar, just a bit larger.
On the walls were some night pearls.
Although not very bright, the faint light was enough for Gune, who was half-Extraordinary, to see the surroundings clearly.
On all sides were boxes made of Dragon Blood Wood, about the size of a suitcase, each with a spell seal.
There were at least twenty of these boxes.
Gune casually opened his idle system.
Upon scanning the [Encounter] system page, Gune was startled for a moment, then he smiled.
The [Encounter], it had arrived.
"It didn't appear before, but it appeared after I entered here."
"This encounter function seems to have certain restrictions."
Combining his multiple encounter experiences, Gune was gradually figuring out some of the rules of this encounter function.
It can be completed silently and seamlessly, and that's what makes it an encounter.
Forcibly seizing an encounter treasure in front of others is called looting, not an encounter.
Encounters are mostly secretive, silent, and unknown to others.
Gune carefully looked at the content of his encounter this time.
[Encounter]Soul Imprint Scripture
Encounter Content: Soul Imprint Scripture.
This time, there was only one "Soul Imprint Scripture" as the encounter content.
Gune followed the system's guidance and looked carefully.
The system's dynamic view pointed to a Dragon Blood Wood box where the treasure of this encounter lay quietly.
An ancient scripture called the "Soul Imprint Scripture".
The encounter content was just that one thing.
"Logically, there are quite a few high-level scriptures here. Could it be that those high-level scriptures can't be considered treasures?"
"The inheritance of a high-level scripture costs at least 500 gold pounds, so it should definitely count as an encounter."
"However, these scriptures are all contaminated, and when the two are offset, it's almost as if they're not an encounter, which makes sense."
"The Soul Imprint Scripture that the system is pointing to, since it's here, should also be contaminated, but it's still recognized as an encounter by the system."
"That is to say, even after deducting the part offset by the curse, its inherent value still makes it a powerful scripture."
"Whew..."
Gune calmed his mind.
The last encounter had led to a transformation for Gune, making his methods much more profound.
It was like a rebirth.
And this time, another encounter, would make Gune's potential even more profound.
Following the system's guidance, he saw the No. 8 Sealed Box.
And the system had already marked the opening spell password.
Gune went straight over and quickly entered the spell password.
"Click!"
The Dragon Blood Sealed Box opened.
The container holding the extraordinary scripture was like a piece of dark green stone.
At the same time, under the "Encounter Dynamic View,"
This dark green stone was also in a sealed state.
However, this seal was not the seal of the Extraordinary Association, but the ancient seal of the stone itself.
"It seems that the people of the Extraordinary Association are unaware that there is a mysterious scripture within this dark green stone that far surpasses these high-level scriptures."
"The sealing spell is quite strange. The people of the Extraordinary Association would most likely not be able to crack it."
For Gune, the system had clearly marked the sealing spell, so he just needed to copy it.
He chanted the spell, and in a moment, the seal was broken.
Then, Gune condensed several catalyst runes and placed his hand on the dark green stone.
The moment the two came into contact.
"Whoosh..."
A torrent of profound, ancient scripture information surged into Gune's mind through the bridge built by the catalyst.
After several rebirths, Gune's extraordinary talent had improved significantly.
Plus, Gune's own soul's carrying capacity was already extremely strong.
About three minutes later.
The scripture, recognized as an encounter by the system, was completely inherited by Gune.
After the inheritance, Gune rubbed his slightly swollen temples and gasped slightly.
"The impact of this scripture is truly powerful. It deserves to be recognized as an encounter by the system."
After a minute or so, Gune finally recovered.
Then, Gune resealed the dark green stone and closed the Dragon Blood Wood box.
This way, no one would know that Gune had ever opened this box containing the ancient scripture.
Then, Gune looked at the Dragon Blood Wood Sealed Box marked with the number "3".
This high-level soul scripture, he wouldn't miss the opportunity to take it.
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(End of Chapter)