Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2598: Chapter 2599: Serpent Emblem

”Without a doubt, there definitely is one.” Angel gave a definitive answer in the Mind Ribbon: ”However, this also indicates one thing, there’s indeed a way out hidden above the chimney.”

The sewage systems and the labyrinth are actually one and the same, now being discussed separately merely for later classification purposes.

Before Naraku City fell into ruin, the underground and the surface were quite alike, both containing large living areas. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it an underground city. Otherwise, Naraku City wouldn’t have established various official institutions in the Underground Labyrinth.

Wherever people live, there naturally needs to be sewage channels, hence the later ”sewage system.”

The appearance of mutated Carrion Squirrels on this path suggests that there must be a sewage system, and where there’s a sewage system, a living area is not far. A living area implies a way out.

Of course, the distinction between a way out and a dead end is a classification made by later generations. Even the concept of a labyrinth might have been a casual jibe by the people who once lived here, rather than an accurate depiction.

This place is the Underground Aqueduct, an underground jungle of steel. The people who lived here once considered all paths their way out. They merely lived underground, and the so-called search for an exit to the maze—paths leading to the surface—was just a part of their daily life.

Time has passed, and now most of the exits in the Underground Aqueduct have collapsed. It has become very rare for a path to lead to the surface, which has transformed the Underground Aqueduct into the so-called ”labyrinth.”

”It’s not like ten thousand years ago; a way out could also become a dead end now.” The Black Earl said faintly.

Angel: ”But this doesn’t affect us, as the place we are looking for has always been considered a dead end, whether ten thousand years ago or now.”

”Since it’s originally a dead end, why are we looking for a way out?” Kaier asked curiously.

”Positioning. I need to find a landmark to position it for me.” Angel: ”Typically, such landmark buildings are on the way out.”

After saying this, Angel didn’t continue speaking, and the others did not inquire further. They all understood that further questioning would likely result in an awkward silence.

It was better to end the conversation early.

Ending the conversation just meant not delving into Angel’s words; they continued talking in the Mind Ribbon, discussing only what they discovered in the hall.

Angel listened for a moment; none of the discoveries were significant.

The only certainty was that this place was once a laboratory capable of accommodating hundreds of people working together. The experimental logs and samples were gone. Most of the experimental tools left behind were broken or carried away by predecessors, resulting in almost all clues here being lost.

However, the fact that it was a laboratory capable of accommodating hundreds of people working simultaneously is itself a clue.

”Since the Noah Clan was once part of the Garden Labyrinth, Lord Black Earl, did your Noah Family ever record any major experimental outcomes from the Garden Labyrinth?” Dox asked, clearly sharing the same thoughts as Angel.

Unlike Earth civilization, where experiments, big or small, are almost always a team effort, in the Wizards’ Realm, a wizard alone can match a large team. The Hand of Magic allows them to manipulate multiple tools at once, their developed spiritual power enables them to multitask without confusion, and wizards themselves have a broad knowledge base. Especially the Academy Faction and technical wizards exhibit astonishing breadth and depth of knowledge. Their memory never fades, and as for inspiration, wizards won’t start an experiment without it, meaning they have it from the outset and don’t need brainstorming.

Due to this mechanism, wizards usually work alone on experiments, perhaps with one or two assistants and a few apprentices merely as spectators.

Such large, collaborative experiments involving hundreds of people are extremely rare.

But when such experiments occur, they yield astonishing outcomes.

”No records.” The Black Earl: ”Regarding the Garden Labyrinth... let’s just call it Naraku City. Almost all records of Naraku City were destroyed after its decline.”

”Was there external intervention?” Angel immediately considered a conspiracy theory.

The Black Earl: ”Probably, but I don’t know what kind of external force. Maybe it was people from the Origin World; after all, ten thousand years ago, the Origin World and the Southern Domain interacted frequently.”

Dox squinted his eyes: ”Perhaps Naraku City was secretly conducting some large-scale research that provoked certain people’s nerves, leading to Naraku City’s decline? And this laboratory was one of the research sites?”

”Who knows? Whether it’s true or not no longer matters; these things are buried in the river of history... and they have nothing to do with our goal.” The Black Earl didn’t want to discuss conspiracy theories, even acknowledging the likelihood of such theories was high. Investigating further wouldn’t be a good idea. After all, ten thousand years is neither too short nor too long for a wizard or a powerful Wizard Family or Organization. If delving too deeply into Naraku City would involve the Noah Clan, it wouldn’t be worthwhile.

Seeing Dox’s intention to continue questioning, the Black Earl cut him off, saying, ”If you’re really curious, you can follow Angel to the Barbarian Cave and find Book Elder; Book Elder surely knows the truth of this history.”

These words were practically meaningless, as Book Elder rarely appears in front of people, even the Barbarian Cave members can’t see him, let alone outsiders.

Dox sighed and patted Kaier on the shoulder: ”Seems like my attempt to help you explore some historical truth is doomed.”

Kaier silently took a step away from Dox.

He’s not foolish; he may pursue history, but he also knows that delving into certain hidden truths will only bring trouble. Clearly, the downfall of Naraku City is probably such a case.

Kaier is curious about history, but sincerely exploring the history here could lead to an untimely end.

After another five minutes, Dox said in the Mind Ribbon, ”We’ve searched all over here, finding nothing, how about you?”

Dox was naturally asking Angel, who had walked off to the side, yet received no response from Angel for a long time.

Everyone became curious and looked up toward where Angel was.

There they saw Angel holding something unknown, looking at it intently.

Could there be a discovery? Without a second thought, Dox strode directly to Angel’s side, disregarding personal space, and craned his neck toward Angel’s chest to see what was in Angel’s hand.

”Is this... a fragment of an experimental instrument? Is there something special about it?” Dox asked, puzzled after observing for a while.

Angel: ”Now, move three meters away from me immediately.”

Dox lifted his head, realizing he was almost leaning on Angel’s chest, and locked eyes with Angel, who was looking down at him.

”Ahem.” Dox also felt embarrassed, quickly backing away, then added, ”I must say, good-looking people still look good from below.”

Angel: ”Thanks for the compliment, but next time I’ll be more mindful, using a Shapeshifting Technique to take on an uglier form to avoid any more men falling into my arms.”

Dox scratched his head, not knowing what to say, feeling quite embarrassed.

However, there was no need for Dox to say anything further to break the ice, as the Black Earl took over the topic: ”Are you focusing on the Coiled Serpent Emblem on it?”

The Black Earl hit the mark.

Angel was holding a fragment of an experimental instrument. In terms of value, it was no different from other fragments. But what made this fragment stand out was a very conspicuous emblem.

A silver snake coiled around a bone staff.

”Hmm, I’ve seen a similar emblem before.”

Before Angel finished speaking, the Black Earl directly said, ”You mean the Fairy Tale World, the Eternal Serpent Emblem of the Giant Serpent Nation?”

”Yes.” Angel nodded, not surprised that the Black Earl knew about the Giant Serpent Nation. After all, the Black Earl was a true big shot.

”The Giant Serpent Nation perished a thousand years ago, and even if it hadn’t, it wouldn’t have lasted many years. It’s far from ten thousand years ago.” Angel: ”I’m just curious, why does the Eternal Serpent Emblem of the Giant Serpent Nation resemble the emblem on the instrument here from ten thousand years ago?”

”Do you think there’s a connection?” the Black Earl asked.

Angel shook his head, ”I don’t know. Maybe not, given the long time interval.”

The Black Earl said, ”Indeed, the time interval is very long. But do you know why such an ordinary Mortal Kingdom as the Giant Serpent Nation, which is in an affiliated world, attracts the attention of many wizards?”

Angel, of course, knew, but he remained silent.

”Because of the Baiyuanians. It’s said that the Baiyuanians were completely annihilated ten thousand years ago. But later, there was a rumor that the Giant Serpent Nation had the last group of Baiyuanians.”

”Of course, whether this is true or not, I can’t determine. However, the Baiyuanians were annihilated ten thousand years ago, Naraku City was also destroyed ten thousand years ago, and the Giant Serpent Nation supposedly had the Eternal Serpent Emblem. The Naraku City laboratory discovered the Coiled Serpent Staff mark. Do you think there could be a connection between these?”

The Black Earl merely laid out some possible connections, without providing direct answers.

Angel was silent for a moment. His palm exerted a slight force, and the fragment of the instrument shattered into pieces, with crystalline powder slowly falling from his palm. It was then completely swept away by the breeze of Speedy’s tail, disappearing without a trace.

”I don’t know if there’s any connection, nor do I want to speculate lightly. We should end the exploration of this laboratory here. It’s time to leave. If we don’t, my Illusionary Realm might soon be filled with those carrion squirrels with wing membranes.”

Angel turned and walked away.

Watching Angel’s movements, the Black Earl didn’t feel slighted; instead, he smiled lightly.

Regardless of whether these two matters are truly connected, it’s clear that there’s a secret behind the fall of Naraku City, and the Baiyuanians are significantly involved. It’s not easy to extricate oneself, not for Angel and not even for the Black Earl himself. So the best result is to not get involved at all.

Angel’s approach was evidently the best choice.

However, what the Black Earl saw was only the surface. Once some things are seen, even if the evidence is destroyed, they remain etched in memory.

Angel could remain unconcerned about the situation in Naraku City, but he was quite concerned about the Coiled Serpent Emblem.

Because Dororo is currently the last surviving Baiyuanian.

And the only thing Dororo carried, the only item that accompanied him upon his resurrection, was a silver bowl. The inner wall of this silver bowl bore an emblem—a Black Snake Entwined Cone.

Previously, Angel thought the Giant Serpent Nation was the origin of the ”Coiled Snake Column.” But now it seems that the ”Coiled Snake Column” might be more related to the Baiyuanians.

Could the Baiyuanians and Naraku City really have had interactions ten thousand years ago?

Angel sighed deeply in his heart, discarding the complicated thoughts in his mind. He would remember these clues, but now was not the right time to explore them.

He needed to hibernate and wait.

Wait for Dororo’s growth, wait for the Primeval Flame to return. When the time comes, even if Angel does not seek it out, perhaps the ”Coiled Snake Column” will present itself to him.

...

Besides the hidden smoke channel, there was only a door leading to a corridor in the external world.

At this time, the corridor on both sides flickered with shadows, and numerous carrion squirrels bounced in the light and shadow. However, no matter how they bounced, they remained in place, seeming somewhat enchanted.

”Just using light and shadow to control the movements of these carrion squirrels—the path of Illusions does have its merits,” Dox remarked.

Angel: ”Don’t comment with such an overwhelming sense of superiority.”

Dox: ”It’s not superiority; I’m genuinely praising your Illusion Technique. But no matter how strong the Illusion Technique is, it’s still not as good as the Bloodline Wizards at the same level.”

Angel: ”In the end, you just wanted to say that last sentence.”

Dox chuckled, not arguing back.

He previously made great efforts to slay the Magical Creatures, cutting a dashing and formidable figure. Wherever the Red Sword reached, there was no living creature left, impressive indeed. Yet, Angel, with just a Shadow Illusion Technique, managed to control all the carrion squirrels. This elegant Illusion Technique instead highlighted how brute Dox’s earlier actions were.

So, to save some face, Dox went around and around and finally managed to say that Bloodline Wizards of the same level were stronger than Illusionist Wizards.

Dox didn’t seek Angel’s and the Black Earl’s agreement. As long as he didn’t lose face in front of Vay and Kaier, that was enough.

However, Dox’s ”effort” might have been pointless. Because Kaier was from the Academy Faction; he didn’t dislike fighting, but he didn’t like it either—Dox’s words didn’t move him at all. Instead, Angel’s Illusion Technique intrigued him, sparking a desire for research.

As for Dox’s old friend Vay, let’s not even mention him—a homebody and a little fanboy rolled into one. Who cares about strength when Lord Chaowei is far more admirable?

Angel didn’t argue with Dox about who was stronger, because many Bloodline Wizards rely on this bit of superiority to find a sense of existence. Similar situations occur frequently in the Wizards’ Realm; arguing would be endless, and if it ended in a red-faced brawl, truly rolling up sleeves to compete...Bloodline Wizards would be more skillful, making them even more cocky.

So, when encountering such situations, either respond with a perfunctory compliment or ignore it as the best reply.

Angel opted for the former, for Dox’s contributions in this exploration were significant and worthy of his perfunctory praise.

After dealing with Dox, they continued forward.

The shadowy illusion was laid on both sides of the corridor, so even with a large number of carrion squirrels on both sides, the path remained unimpeded.

However, after walking about fifty meters, the corridor reached a dividing line, leading to a fork.

At this fork, there was a thin layer of shadowy illusion membrane, marking the boundary of the Shadow Illusion Technique laid by Angel.

Even standing before the illusion membrane, they could hear the chattering sounds outside.

Outside, there were evidently more mutated carrion squirrels, no fewer in number than those trapped in the laboratory.

This also meant that once they stepped out of the corridor protected by this illusion membrane, they would face an unprecedentedly terrifying tide of rats.