Humanity's Great Sage

Chapter 927, Time’s Up

Translator: Jon

Translation Checker: Silavin

At the same time, Lu Ye had never forgotten that he had planned on getting the Earth Fire to serve as the Tree of Glyphs’ fuel.

He secretly activated the Tree of Glyphs’ power, after which roots that only he could see extended from his feet and snuck into the ground.

The roots couldn’t be extended for too long. However, since the Earth Fire could be drawn to the anvil, it showed that it wasn’t too deep beneath the ground. Therefore, the roots would most likely reach the Earth Fire.

Lu Ye focused on controlling the roots to search around. Soon, he found the location of the Earth Fire and started absorbing it through the Tree of Glyphs’ roots.

Following the Tree of Glyphs’ transformation, Lu Ye was now able to control how the absorbed energy was used. It could either be stored as fuel or used to burn the leaves to unlock new Glyphs.

Previously, he had opened up seven new Glyphs at once, and he hadn’t fully digested them. As such, he had no intention of unlocking more Glyphs for the time being. Moreover, he wasn’t in the mood to study the new Glyphs in this place, so he stashed away the absorbed energy to serve as fuel.

He was the only one in the spacious workshop. His upper body was naked after he took off the Red Dragon Warsuit. With his entire figure covered in sweat, he repeatedly struck the sword embryo, and new patterns were formed. As the patterns increased, a Glyph took shape. That was one enchantment.

It was significantly more difficult for him to build a Glyph by repeatedly striking the sword embryo than by activating his Spiritual Power to construct one. Therefore, being able to build Glyphs wasn’t enough for Artification.

Days went by peacefully. Lu Ye’s progress in the Way of Artification was rapid because he had set the goal of leaving this Hidden Realm in half a year. As such, he had been diligently studying the Way of Artification.

Every morning, he would head to the hut on time to listen to Kong Kong’s lecture.

Naturally, the Sect Master of the Sword and Tool Sect was satisfied with Lu Ye’s hard work. For a long time, he had been waiting for a cultivator as brilliant as Lu Ye to obtain the Sect’s inheritance. Therefore, he didn’t hide anything when giving lessons to Lu Ye, which helped hasten his progress.

The first Artifact Lu Ye crafted was a Low-Grade Spirit Artifact with five enchantments. Two days later, he was able to make a Low-Grade Spirit Artificat with nine enchantments.

Nine enchantments were the limit of Low-Grade Spirit Artifacts, and above that would be the Middle Grade.

In the past, Lu Ye didn’t understand the difference between nine enchantments and ten enchantments. He felt that a difference of one enchantment wouldn’t matter much.

However, it wasn’t until he started making Artifacts that he realised there was a huge difference. That was because it was tremendously more difficult to make an Artifact with ten enchantments than an Artifact with nine enchantments.

Ten days later, Lu Ye was able to easily craft a Middle-Grade Spirit Artifact that was of decent quality.

Around one month later, he was able to produce a High-Grade Spirit Artifact.

By this point, Ying Wuji finally passed the first test and was allowed to start crafting Artifacts alongside Lu Ye. This went to show there was a huge gap between their aptitudes.

Kong Kong was even more hopeful now. Lu Ye’s performance had consistently exceeded his expectations. It was to the point where he found it inconceivable.

Unbeknownst to him, Lu Ye was able to make rapid progress not only because he was a Glyphweaver. It was also because he had a Divine Ego.

When he activated his Divine Ego, he could feel what was going on inside the Artifact. That way, he could accurately adjust his strength when crafting the item. A Divine Ego was immensely helpful in the Way of Artification.

Lu Ye’s excellent performance made Ying Wuji look terrible. Initially, Kong Kong would teach Ying Wuji some knowledge of the Way of Artification. However, a month later, Kong Kong wouldn’t teach him anything unless Ying Wuji took the initiative to ask.

He had apparently pinned all his hopes on Lu Ye, so Ying Wuji’s presence no longer mattered to him.

Ying Wuji was fine with it, though. He felt at ease after Kong Kong stopped bothering him. He even hoped that Lu Ye could pass the test sooner by making a flying sword that was good enough so that he could leave the Hidden Realm as well.

Just like Lu Ye, he wasn’t interested in the Way of Artification. He was forced to learn it previously. Now that he was set free, he would only study it whenever he felt like it. When he lost interest, he would just cultivate his power. He had been carefree.

Life in the Hidden Realm was boring and repetitive. Lu Ye was so engrossed in Artifaction that he rarely returned to the wooden house. He spent most of his time in the workshop. Kong Kong would visit the workshop from time to time to give him some guidance.

Another month passed in the blink of an eye. When Lu Ye looked at the newly made Top-Grade Spirit Artifact that day, he remained calm and collected.

After two months of training, he was finally able to make a Top-Grade Spirit Artifact. Although luck played a role in the successful creation of this Artifact, he could certainly produce more Top-Grade Spirit Artifacts following the success of the first one.

Above Top-Grade Spirit Artifacts were Spell Artifacts. There was no doubt those items would be even more difficult to make.

A so-called decent flying sword was most likely a Spell Artifact. It wasn’t like Kong Kong would make Lu Ye craft a Spirit Treasure. As a Real Lake Realm Master, Lu Ye couldn’t possibly achieve that.

Therefore, as long as he could make a Spell Artifact, he would meet Kong Kong’s demands. By then, he would be allowed to leave.

He tossed away the Top-Grade Spirit Artifact and was ready to get more materials. Nevertheless, as soon as the sword fell to the ground, something strange happened.

Following a clang, the entire workshop started shaking. At the same time, Lu Ye was shocked because he could feel that something was off with the underground Earth Fire.

He was able to detect that because the Tree of Glyphs’ roots had stayed underground to absorb the Earth Fire’s power.

The roots were like the extension of Lu Ye, which was why his perception of what was going on with the Earth Fire was sensitive.

Before he could figure out what happened, the Earth Fire uncontrollably spurted from the Dragon’s heads of all the anvils. At that instant, the entire workshop was set aflame.

A moment later, a battered Lu Ye dashed out of the workshop. His skin was as red as a cooked shrimp.

If he hadn’t activated the Tree of Glyphs’ power to protect himself earlier, he would’ve lost his life.

The ground was still shaking. Even the weather started changing unpredictably. Lu Ye looked around and saw many gaps. The gaps came in different sizes as they were scattered everywhere like fissures.

[What’s going on?] Lu Ye was shocked and doubtful.

It wasn’t until a moment later that the anomaly subsided. The fissures in the Void also disappeared.

Ying Wuji rushed over from the wooden house while Amber crouched down on his head and grabbed his hair with its paws. At first glance, it looked like he was wearing a tiger’s head cap.

He was flustered as he asked, “What’s going on, Lu Yi Ye?”

Lu Ye shook his head, for he had no idea what was going on either.

Just then, Kong Kong’s voice was heard saying, “Come to the hut!”

“Yes,” Lu Ye replied and flew towards the hut. When he turned his head and realised Ying Wuji wasn’t coming with him, he frowned. “What are you waiting for?”

Ying Wuji almost broke into tears as he said, “I can’t move!”

Lu Ye instantly realised what happened. Kong Kong had told him to go over, so Ying Wuji didn’t have a right to tag along.

“Just wait here, then,” Lu Ye said and left the place.

Soon enough, he arrived at the hut. Just like the first time they met, Kong Kong was seated there.

Lu Ye stepped forward and saluted him. “Sect Master.”

“Have a seat,” Kong Kong said gently and looked into the distance with his deep gaze.

Lu Ye sat down cross-legged in front of him. He had a feeling that Kong Kong had asked him to come over to talk about the anomaly earlier. However, after waiting for a bit, he realised Kong Kong had no intention of saying anything.

It wasn’t like he could disturb him. Although he had been trapped here during this period, he thanked the old man from the bottom of his heart. Regardless, Kong Kong had been diligently teaching him the Way of Artification without hiding anything.

Lu Ye had made huge progress in the Way of Artification in just two months. Besides his ample heritage, it was also thanks to such a wonderful teacher.

“Time’s up…” Kong Kong suddenly sighed.

“Sect Master?” Lu Ye frowned. He felt that Kong Kong was both dejected and relieved, though he didn’t understand what the latter was trying to say.

“It’s about time.” Kong Kong smiled and pocketed his gaze before glancing at Lu Ye. “I’m just a wisp of willpower. The real Kong Kong passed away long ago.”

“A wisp of willpower…” Lu Ye wasn’t surprised because Nian Yuexian already had that speculation on their first day here.

“A wisp of willpower is the manifestation of Divine Ego. Before the real Kong Kong passed away, he was concerned about the inheritance of the Sword and Tool Sect, which was why I was born. I am him, but I’m also not him. I’ve been around for a long time, waiting to pass down the inheritance. Over the last thousands of years, there had been some visitors, but no one had managed to pass the tests until you came along.”

As he spoke, he looked at Lu Ye with a gratified expression. “You’re just as gifted as I am in the Way of Artification. It can even be said that you’re more talented. I thought I could see you graduate, but now, it seems to be an unattainable dream.”

“What has happened, Sect Master?” Lu Ye asked.

“Something has indeed happened.” Kong Kong sighed. “But it has nothing to do with you. This Hidden Realm can’t hold on any longer.”

“Why?” Lu Ye furrowed his brows.

Since Kong Kong knew he was just a wisp of willpower, he was naturally aware that this was a Hidden Realm.

The collapse of the Hidden Realm meant that Lu Ye and the others could leave, but when it eventually happened, he didn’t feel happy. Instead, his heart grew heavy.

“Regardless of how powerful an enchantment is, it’ll lose effect one day. It takes energy to sustain this Hidden Realm. Now, the foundation that has been sustaining the Hidden Realm has become unstable. That’s why this place is about to disintegrate.”

Upon hearing that, Lu Ye suddenly felt uneasy. He asked cautiously, “What’s the foundation that has been sustaining this Hidden Realm?”