Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 2812: Chapter 2813: Eternal Serpent Emblem

As Angel was remembering the mural, the Wise Sovereign had already reached the center of the room.

He sat down directly on the floor.

”The mural has been discussed enough. Now we can talk about the Eternal Serpent Emblem, and those Baiyuanians you are interested in.”

Angel also came to sit opposite the Wise Sovereign. He initially wanted to conjure an illusionary chair, but seeing the Wise Sovereign seated on the ground, he felt uneasy about being at a higher position, so he sat cross-legged on the floor as well.

”Let’s talk about the Eternal Serpent Emblem first,” said the Wise Sovereign. ”Before we delve into the topic, I want to ask you, why do you think the Eternal Serpent Emblem is the Snake Coiled Awl?”

Angel responded with a question: ”Has the Wise Sovereign ever heard of the Kulakuka Tribe?”

The Wise Sovereign thought for a moment, then said hesitantly, ”Are you referring to the Little People?”

Angel was taken aback: ”Little People?”

In a sense, the Kulakuka Clan members indeed qualify as Little People, being no larger than the size of a palm. What else could they be? However, was their scientific name truly Little People?

The Wise Sovereign could sense Angel’s confusion, so he explained: ”In the Southern Domain, apart from humans, any beings accepted by the Wizards and able to learn Transcendent knowledge must have close kinship ties to the Human Race. These include: Giants, Humanoids, Dwarfs, and Little People.”

”Among these close human relatives, most would guess Dwarfs might be closest in kinship to humans, since many humans aren’t much taller than Dwarfs. And apart from resembling dwarfs, Dwarfs appear no different from humans.”

”But in reality, Dwarfs aren’t all that close in bloodline to humans, only slightly more than Humanoids.”

”Actually, the closest in kinship to humans are the Little People, those tiny palm-sized beings.”

”There’s a rumor that Little People were originally a creation of some powerful Transcendent Wizards, a race created using their own bloodlines in the pursuit of miracles. So their anatomical structure is nearly identical to humans.”

”Thus, Little People are generally not barred from entering Witcher Organizations. In contrast, Humanoids, Giants, and Dwarfs may not be readily welcomed.”

The information given by the Wise Sovereign to Angel was something he had heard briefly before, but it was the first time he listened to such detailed information.

The Wise Sovereign’s words were indeed akin to reality.

Some talented individuals of the Kulakuka Clan had entered the Barbarian Cave without any barriers, and the Wizards willingly served as their Mentors.

”The Kulakuka Tribe should be considered as Little People,” said Angel with a sigh. ”I thought the Wise Sovereign hadn’t heard of them.”

The Wise Sovereign: ”I’ve encountered many Little People, but not the Kulakuka Tribe. However, I’ve read many wizardly travel notes, including records of the Kulakuka Tribe. I remember hearing they are protected by the Black Castle?”

Angel nodded: ”Yes.”

Presently, a part of the Kulakuka Tribe remains under the Black Castle’s protection, while another part is under Angel’s guardianship.

”So you suddenly mention the Kulakuka Tribe in relation to the Eternal Serpent Emblem?”

Angel replied: ”Sort of, the term Eternal Serpent Emblem was told to me by the Kulakuka Tribe’s Priest. That Priest shared with me that the symbol of the Snake Coiled Awl is known as the Eternal Serpent Emblem; as for the circular awl within it, it’s called the Cone of Eternity.”

The Wise Sovereign raised an eyebrow: ”Cone of Eternity? It’s my first time hearing this. A name given by the Baiyuanians? Also, how did the Kulakuka Tribe learn of this information?”

Angel: ”I don’t know if it was named by Baiyuanian descendants. But the Kulakuka Tribe, living in the Fairy Tale World, witnessed the fall of the Giant Serpent Kingdom, hence gaining some knowledge of its history.”

”The Giant Serpent Kingdom.” The Wise Sovereign pondered for a moment: ”I’ve vaguely heard of it, but didn’t expect it to be connected with the Snake Coiled Awl.”

Angel: ”From what I know, the Giant Serpent Kingdom was a Mortal Kingdom with a flourishing healing practice, with all those practicing medicine swearing an oath to the Snake Coiled Awl emblem.”

”An oath?” asked the Wise Sovereign: ”Related to the Snake Coiled Awl?”

Angel shook his head: ”The oath’s content is mostly about post-medicine conduct and the ethics of healers, without mentioning the Snake Coiled Awl.”

”I see,” said the Wise Sovereign, touching his chin, pondering for a while, then saying: ”Based on your explanation and my own conjectures, there might be a Baiyuanian descendant influence within the Giant Serpent Kingdom. The Snake Coiled Awl is indeed skilled in medical practice, so their association with the Giant Serpent Kingdom for healer oaths must involve the Baiyuanians.”

”That’s my hypothesis as well,” Angel quietly affirmed, pointing to the black snake above the Snake Coiled Awl: ”Previously, at the Giant Serpent Kingdom’s ruins, I encountered a wise black snake that lived for over a thousand years. I thought this black snake was the snake above the Snake Coiled Awl.”

”But now it seems, I was mistaken.”

Previously, Angel believed the Snake Coiled Awl’s emblem to be the Eternal Serpent Emblem.

The snake on the Eternal Serpent Emblem was Axo. The awl on the Eternal Serpent Emblem was the Cone of Eternity.

But now the Wise Sovereign told him he’d never heard of the Cone of Eternity. And regarding the Eternal Serpent Emblem, although the Wise Sovereign hadn’t explicitly denied it being the Snake Coiled Awl, the implication in his tone suggested no equivalence between the two.

In other words, Angel’s previous understanding might be entirely wrong.

However, as Angel reflected on his misunderstanding, the Wise Sovereign assured him: ”Times change, my knowledge might not be correct. Just like the Cone of Eternity, if it’s the recognized name within the Giant Serpent Kingdom, then it’s also acknowledged by the Baiyuanian descendants.”

”My knowledge comes from ages past, enough to witness a forest transform into deserts, plains raised to ridges. So, don’t overly focus on my answer; let your judgment be your guide, my answer is just a reference.”

Reflectively, the Wise Sovereign narrated what he knew from ages past about the ”answer” to the Eternal Serpent Emblem.

The relationship between the Snake Coiled Awl and the Eternal Serpent Emblem wasn’t just as Angel understood it. But the Eternal Serpent Emblem was indeed connected to the Snake Coiled Awl.

The Snake Coiled Awl is an internal faction within the Baiyuan Clan, excelling in healing and research, leaning toward the Academy Faction in wizard terms.

Within the Academy Faction, the primary medical research targets curing stubborn ailments. A bit more advanced involves studying the sources of illness. Even more advanced entails targeted research on the microscopic and macroscopic world. Ultimately, medical research aims at... Immortality.

The Academy Faction of the Wizard World is such, as is Jon’s concept of Earth scholars.

The pursuit of immortality seems to be deeply embedded in the highest command center of human beings—the brain, an indelible imprint on human thought.

Not only for humans alone but also for the continuation of the ”brain” itself.

Though discussing it this way separates the brain from thought, countless experiments show the brain sometimes deceives even its thoughts. Just like the famous split-brain experiment, the left and right brains concoct numerous reasons that seem laughable to outsiders, and you wouldn’t find anything amiss.

Similarly, seeking immortality is also the goal of the Snake Coiled Awl.

The Baiyuan Clan considers itself the favored lineage under the gaze of fate, the true children of the World Will; such prodigies must surely be deserving of eternal life, right?

So, within the Baiyuan Clan, some aspire for immortality, and this group is the Snake Coiled Awl.

The ultimate aim of the Snake Coiled Awl is immortality. And the tangible symbol of this immortality is the so-called Eternal Serpent Emblem.

After hearing the Wise Sovereign’s explanation, Angel personally believed it, as these matters don’t concern Naraku City’s core interests, and the research on immortality is not exclusive to the Baiyuanians; thus, regardless of the angle, the logic remains coherent.

However, Angel was puzzled: ”Why ’snake,’ ’emblem’?”

Firstly, why use a snake as a representation of immortality? Moreover, why is immortality merely an emblem?

Or did Angel misunderstand, and the Serpent Emblem is not a logo, but a symbol?

Angel voiced his doubts, but the Wise Sovereign didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, ”Why can’t immortality be a logo?”

Before Angel could respond, the Wise Sovereign continued, ”To the Baiyuanians, the continuation of civilization can be the blazing fire on the unknown dimension’s altar. So why can’t immortality be a logo on the altar in that unknown dimension?”

Upon hearing the Wise Sovereign’s question, Angel vaguely understood.

”A logo placed on the altar... Eternal Serpent Emblem...” Angel murmured softly, ”What the Baiyuanians want to do is truly an act against heaven.”

The Wise Sovereign was pleased that Angel grasped the concept quickly: ”So now you should also understand, the extinction of the Baiyuanians isn’t as simple as it appears on the surface. Cicia pondered for so many years but failed to understand because he was caught in the trap, only seeing the scene before his eyes.”

Angel didn’t respond verbally, but he agreed with the Wise Sovereign.

The ambition of the Cone of Eternity is even more terrifying than he imagined.

Baiyuanians only need to close their eyes to see an altar blazing with fierce flames, the Primeval Flame Altar. Outsiders have no idea where the actual altar is located, but to Baiyuanians, the altar is their shared spiritual connection.

The Primeval Flame is their spiritual source.

If the Cone of Eternity intends to add another emblem on this Primeval Flame Altar, which signifies eternal life—the Eternal Serpent Emblem—it implies—

All Baiyuanians would live eternally, as undying beings, under the radiance of the Eternal Serpent Emblem!

This is akin to elevating an entire clan to a new life form!

Others study immortality merely for self-preservation, while the Cone of Eternity’s research on immortality is for collective leap transition.

Even Angel is astounded by such a grand feat; if this isn’t defying heaven, then what is?

And this ”heaven” isn’t defying the World Will, isn’t contradicting law and order, but is... the heaven of humans! The heaven of humankind!

It’s no wonder that the Baiyuanians slowly faded from the Southern Domain. The public reason given was the coveting of the Primeval Flame, but this is likely just an excuse.

The true reason might be those few extremist Baiyuanians.

In the Baiyuanians, the Cone of Eternity is merely responsible for medical and research factions, yet the goals are so astonishing. It’s imaginable that other factions within the Baiyuanians might have some extreme notions too.

One can only say, success and failure are both tied to the altar.

The altar seen by the Baiyuanians with closed eyes shares everything with them, leading them to forge a unique path, but it also leads them into a quandary.

And because the Baiyuanian altar is shared, when they encounter a predicament, essentially all Baiyuanians suffer together.

Angel: ”Did they achieve it?”

The Wise Sovereign shrugged: ”Who knows, the Cone of Eternity wasn’t researching the Eternal Serpent Emblem in Naraku City. To what extent they have studied the Eternal Serpent Emblem, what progress has been made, whether they succeeded, I have no knowledge.”

Angel: ”Isn’t the Wise Sovereign curious?”

”Of course curious, but when you have more important matters to attend to, even the most intriguing matters can be put aside,” the Wise Sovereign’s tone carried a deep implication.

”More important matters?”

The Wise Sovereign: ”Yes. At that time, there were many things to attend to in Naraku City, such as some significant experiments.”

The Wise Sovereign intentionally paused, sending a meaningful glance at Angel.

Angel understood the Wise Sovereign’s intent; the deliberate pause was to tease him into asking actively about the experiments.

Angel didn’t resist and followed the Wise Sovereign’s tone: ”Oh, might you tell me what important experiments?”

The Wise Sovereign: ”According to regulations, I can’t disclose that to you.”

Angel: ...why bring it up?

While Angel bemoaned inwardly, the Wise Sovereign continued: ”However, if you are willing to become a participant, I can reveal the truth of these experiments to you.”

”Participant? Does the Wise Sovereign mean these experiments are still ongoing?”

The Wise Sovereign shook his head: ”No, all experiments have ceased.”

”Then does the Wise Sovereign want me to restart these experiments?”

The Wise Sovereign: ”No. Many experiments I myself do not endorse, it was merely needed by other sovereigns or Naraku, but since experiments have long ceased, let them remain so.”

”What I mean by participant, is akin to the relationship between the Cone of Eternity and Naraku City.”

Angel: ”What is the relationship between the Cone of Eternity and Naraku City?”

”Cooperation.”

Angel immediately understood, it essentially means forming an alliance.

It’s similar to the friendship between Illusion Demon Island and Black Castle.

However, Angel has good self-awareness; he knows his capabilities clearly. Now, he has full confidence to confront anyone, because Ironclad Granny supports him from behind.

Without this confidence, Angel has to lower his head and play it safe.

Even if he possesses alchemical talent, it can’t hold on its own. Moreover, the Wise Sovereign is also skilled in alchemy, only their research directions differ; alchemy, though differing in direction, ultimately leads to the same place.

Thus, Angel doesn’t believe the Wise Sovereign values him as an individual.

The Wise Sovereign actually values the power behind him, specifically the Barbarian Cave.

This proposal, he can agree to in his own name, but if he agrees on behalf of Illusion Demon Island or Barbarian Cave, it would be typical overstepping of authority.

Furthermore, cooperation inherently implies mutual benefits for both parties. Only if both parties derive benefits can cooperation be reached.

Currently, what can the Underground Aqueduct offer in cooperation with Barbarian Cave? What benefits are there for Barbarian Cave to contribute?

As of now, the answer is negative.

Therefore, Angel is absolutely unlikely to agree.