Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3083: Chapter 3084: Anomalous Fire Alchemist

”The Dalmatian has left?” Angel’s voice echoed in the void network.

After a while, Wang Wang replied, ”Yes, the master has already left.”

Knowing the Dalmatian had left, Angel felt a slight regret in his heart; he never got to ask about the true nature of the ’Time Tribute.’

However, Angel’s disappointment didn’t last long. The fact that the Dalmatian was willing to transmit the scene was already good enough. Moreover, he already knew the term ”Time Tribute.” If he couldn’t find it with the Dalmatian, he still had the entire Barbarian Cave behind him.

One way or another, there’d be a method.

If worse comes to worst, he could use Shava’s name to discreetly inquire in Xinnai Land.

”Eh?” Angel suddenly thought of a possibility. Could it be that the Dalmatian had this intention? Leaving the conspicuous clue of the Time Tribute on purpose, just to make him inquire in Xinnai Land?

If that were truly the case, what could it mean to call him to Xinnai Land? Could it be that the Dalmatian plans to come out and meet him?

... It seemed a bit too narcissistic.

Angel shook his head, dismissing the thought, feeling it was unlikely.

”Wang Wang, have you heard of the Time Tribute?”

Angel didn’t actually expect to get an answer from Wang Wang, merely intending to chat.

However, to his surprise, Wang Wang provided an unexpected answer: ”The drop of blood in the high sky is a form of Time Tribute.”

”High sky” is something unique to Void Travelers, similar to a high-dimensional organ, connecting to a special space that doesn’t belong to this dimension.

And the ”blood” Wang Wang mentioned was a drop of powerful golden blood that the Dalmatian originally seized from the Thief of Time.

The ownership of the golden blood belongs to Angel.

Yet, Angel didn’t have much use for the golden blood currently, and its energy fluctuations would attract the attention of the Thief of Time. So, the Dalmatian entrusted the golden blood to Wang Wang for safekeeping.

Wang Wang’s ”high sky” is so special that it could even block the peering of the Thief of Time.

”The golden blood is a Time Tribute—is this what the Dalmatian told you?” Angel asked curiously.

Wang Wang: ”Yes, when the master gave me the golden blood to safeguard, he left me some information. Among them, he explained some basic details about the golden blood. Since the information was so complex, I didn’t delve into it at that time. It wasn’t until recently that I began to analyze the information about the golden blood.”

Because the information was provided by the Dalmatian, it also included the Dalmatian’s perspective on the golden blood.

In the Dalmatian’s understanding, the golden blood is a form of Time Tribute, which can be given to Minister Dim as material for forging tools.

Angel softly murmured, ”So to speak, does Time Tribute refer to materials of the Time Series?”

Since the Dalmatian wasn’t in the void network, Wang Wang was much more casual and expressed his opinion: ”It shouldn’t be. If it were just materials from the Time Series, a general term like consumables could be used instead. ’Time Tribute’ is likely a special term deliberately chosen.”

Angel pondered for a moment, nodding: ”I think so too. Time Tribute is not merely a simple consumable; it should have a deeper meaning.”

But what exactly that deeper meaning is, they did not know. The only clue at present is that the blood of the Thief of Time is a Time Tribute.

Angel muttered, ”Could it be that the Time Tribute specifically refers to the blood of the Thief of Time?”

Wang Wang provided a negative answer: ”No, the golden blood is just one form of Time Tribute. This is clearly mentioned in the information given by the master.”

Which is to say, there are many types of Time Tributes, and the golden blood is one of them.

Angel: ”Did the information the Dalmatian passed to you mention any other effects of the golden blood besides being used for forging?”

”The master didn’t mention any other effects. However...” Wang Wang hesitated for a moment before saying, ”Based on my experience during this time, I’ve found that the golden blood has some augmentative effect on my ’high sky’.”

Angel had known for a long time that the golden blood was effective on Wang Wang. When Wang Wang swallowed the blood and transformed into ”Golden” Wang Wang, he had guessed it.

The Dalmatian entrusting the golden blood to Wang Wang was definitely not just to avoid the attention of the Thief of Time; it probably also intended to enhance Wang Wang. After all, Wang Wang is considered a formally accepted subordinate of the Dalmatian.

Perhaps fearing Angel would misunderstand, Wang Wang continued: ”I haven’t actually used the golden blood. I’ve only utilized the energy aura emitted by the golden blood, which can strengthen my high sky and enhance the void network’s strength.”

Angel was puzzled: ”Enhance the void network?”

Wasn’t it about reinforcing the high sky? Why did it suddenly mention the void network?

Wang Wang: ”The ability of the void network is also granted by the high sky, so strengthening the high sky can also influence the void network. Now I can quickly transmit image data through the void network, a capability granted only after reinforcing the high sky.”

Wang Wang had also started accepting the term ’void network,’ both in line with Angel and because the term felt quite fitting.

”Furthermore, although I could previously receive information from the tribe, the information wasn’t very clear. Now, the void network can make this information more precise...”

Angel was reminded of the numerous information Wang Wang had accidentally sent to him before. Although Angel didn’t understand many of the locations, he could grasp the general content: travel information in the void.

From Angel’s understanding of the Void Traveler tribe, indeed, their conveyed information had become much clearer and more precise.

Angel hadn’t expected that after giving the golden blood to Wang Wang, its effect wouldn’t just benefit Wang Wang himself but could also benefit the entire Void Traveler tribe through the void network.

This indirectly improved the tribe’s ability to express... perhaps this could even be considered a form of ”enlightenment” of sorts?

Wang Wang mumbled for quite a while, finally returning to the main point: ”Please trust me, I have no intention of exploiting the golden blood.”

Angel: ”... You don’t need to repeat it, I believe you’re not after it.”

Having witnessed the Dalmatian’s abilities and knowing Wang Wang’s loyalty to the Dalmatian, it was indeed impossible for him to contravene the Dalmatian’s will. Furthermore, Wang Wang didn’t possess the strength to use the golden blood.

However, speaking of it...

If the golden blood could augment the void network, Angel wouldn’t mind Wang Wang using the golden blood.

In Angel’s view, although the golden blood’s ”future holds promise,” the Dalmatian’s ”void network” showed its limitless potential right now, not just in the future.

Considering how Wang Wang was currently separated by an unknown span of space-time from Angel, yet they could converse seamlessly, just highlighted the value of the void network.

In the past, the void network could only facilitate basic communication; now, even pictures and images could be transmitted.

If the golden blood can further enhance and facilitate ultra-long-distance teleportation through the virtual network in the future, why not let Wang Wang use the golden blood?

With this in mind, Angel presented his own idea.

Wang Wang was touched that Angel was willing to trust him; however, he directly dismissed Angel’s idea of ”ultra-long-distance teleportation,” saying, ”It’s not very realistic.”

Angel: ”Our ability to transmit information over vast distances is already unrealistic. Maybe after using the golden blood, you could make it happen?”

Wang Wang: ”I won’t use the golden blood, and... I can’t use it either. Anyway, I think ultra-long-distance teleportation is somewhat impossible.”

”If it’s difficult to teleport living beings, then we can start by researching teleporting non-living objects. If there’s no progress in teleporting non-living objects, then expand the versatility of the virtual network and enhance its tenacity; eventually, it will improve.” Angel added, ”Since the virtual network will inevitably develop, you might as well experiment in this direction. I believe that the Dalmatian would also be pleased to see the virtual network advance.”

Angel felt that Wang Wang might not be swayed by his suggestion alone, so he involved the Dalmatian as a grand flag.

As expected, after hearing this, Wang Wang fell into deep thought.

After a while, Wang Wang’s voice came through from the other side of the virtual network: ”I’ll give it a try.”

After convincing Wang Wang, Angel turned the topic back to the golden blood, still hoping to decipher the commonality of the Time Tribute from its characteristics.

Unfortunately, not much information was gleaned in the end.

Angel could only log out of the virtual network with a sigh.

...

After disconnecting from the virtual network, Angel did not put away Heideland, mainly to readily receive images sent by the Dalmatian at any moment.

Heideland had no objections. It used to lie on the little illusionary sofa inside the bracelet, and now it was just lying in a different place.

Angel looked at Heideland sprawled on the table, feeling it was being too lazy, so he thought about it and pulled Dangross out from the bracelet to accompany Heideland.

The two had previously been together in the bracelet, so Angel thought their relationship should be good.

On the other side, Dangross had been immersed in the world of the Illusion Shadow Box and was bewildered when it was abruptly pulled out, not having finished watching.

”I haven’t even seen what that Anomalous Fire looks like...” Dangross grumbled discontentedly.

”Anomalous Fire?” Angel was momentarily stunned: ”Weren’t you watching ’The Way of the Blacksmith’?”

Dangross: ”I’ve already finished the Shadow Box of ’The Way of the Blacksmith’ when I was at Star Lake Castle. I’m now watching ’The Anomalous Fire Alchemist’!”

’The Anomalous Fire Alchemist’? Angel pondered for a moment before recalling that this was a novel in the holographic tablet. He had adapted it into an Illusion Shadow Box and given it to Dangross as alchemical enlightenment for flame spirits.

”Quick, if you have anything to say, get it over with. I still need to see that Anomalous Fire, to see which is stronger, it or me!” Dangross urged.

”Nothing much.” Angel pointed at Heideland: ”I just thought you could keep it company...”

Dangross brightened up upon seeing Heideland: this was its good buddy for watching Shadow Boxes!

Previously, it had been experiencing ’The Anomalous Fire Alchemist’ story together with Heideland in a corner of the bracelet space. Although Heideland did not speak or comment on the plot, Dangross thought it was just right, preferring to chatter away on its own while the other remained silent.

Upon seeing Heideland, it immediately thought of a solution that pleased both parties.

Wasn’t it supposed to accompany Heideland? Watching the Shadow Box together counted as company too.

Hearing Dangross’s suggestion, Angel was sure that it purely wanted to watch for itself.

He doubted that Heideland even knew the meaning of ”watching.”

However, seeing Dangross pull Heideland along, with Heideland showing no resistance, Angel decided to agree.

Watching together was fine.

Although ’The Anomalous Fire Alchemist’ was simply an exciting story, there was no harm in watching it, and it could subtly expose Dangross to a pharmacist’s operations, which was a good thing.

As for Heideland... whether it understood didn’t matter, having Dangross for company was better than lying alone.

Angel took out the Shadow Box and handed it to Dangross. Dangross was already adept at operating the Shadow Box and needed no assistance.

After receiving the Shadow Box, Dangross didn’t immediately open it but instead turned to Angel and asked: ”When can I continue entering the Crystal Origin of Dreams?”

Angel: ”You can now.”

Previously, Dangross had been in the Crystal Origin of Dreams, but Angel had it log off due to concerns about the Circus’s omens recruiting Dangross.

Now that the circus’s signs had passed, entering the Crystal Origin of Dreams was no longer a problem for it.

”If you want to go to the Crystal Origin of Dreams, I’ll take you to find Luigi in a while.”

Dangross thought for a moment: ”I don’t really want to go. If it’s with you, I would. But by myself... I’d rather watch the Shadow Box.”

Angel chuckled softly and patted Dangross’s hand: ”Alright, I’ll call you when I go next time.”

Dangross turned its ’palm’-shaped face aside, grumbling for a while before softly replying, ”Okay.”

After Dangross and Heideland immersed themselves in the world of ’The Anomalous Fire Alchemist,’ Angel logged into the Wilderness of Dreams, intending to inquire about the Time Tribute.

Angel’s inquiry targets were, of course, Ironclad Granny and Tree Spirit.

However, all he received in return was, ”I don’t know.”

Upon learning that the ”Time Tribute” was related to the Time Series, Tree Spirit even went offline to Cloudtop Library to see if there were any leads.

Nonetheless, after scouring all the Time Series books, Tree Spirit found no relevant information.

Since neither Granny nor Tree Spirit knew about Time Tribute, Angel didn’t think anyone else would either. But just in case, he opened up the Tree Group to ask Lianna.

As an Alchemist, Lianna should have heard of more materials than other wizards.

If even Lianna didn’t know, then Angel shouldn’t expect to find answers in the Barbarian Cave...