parentshiftbook Chapter 119 Identity
Chapter 119 Identity
Chapter 119 Identity
"Yes! I saw some indigenous people, their spirits dimmed, being escorted and sold, wearing shackles."
"They appear to be from a defeated tribe or criminals."
"Slaves were put to the most dangerous work in mining and smelting."
"The lower classes of this empire are brutal."
A hint of coldness flashed in the nightingale's eyes.
"What about resources and legends?" Rowling pressed.
"I found out a few place names. Besides the Burning Mountains, which we already know, there's also the Eternal Lava Lake, the Ash Plains,..."
Crystal Fire Canyon.
"Legend has it that an ancient fire beast slumbers deep within the eternal lava lake."
"Crystal Fire Canyon produces beautiful flame crystals, but the environment is extremely dangerous."
"As for the Ash Plains—that's the wasteland we passed through on our way here, considered the Empire's exile ground and junkyard."
"Have you mentioned any particularly stable minerals or ancient relics that emit starlight?" Rowling was more interested in clues about the star core embers.
Nightingale shook her head: "It wasn't mentioned directly."
"But there is a vague legend about a meteorite from outer space."
"It is said that long ago, a burning star fell into the territory of the empire, bringing disaster, but also leaving behind an inextinguishable flame."
"This legend is not widely circulated; it's more like an old story, and nobody takes it seriously."
"A meteor from outer space—an undying flame—" A thought struck Roland.
This description is somewhat similar to the embers of a star core!
Meteorites may originate from the celestial realm, their cores tempered in the high-temperature hellish environment, forming strange substances that combine the order of stellar power with fiery properties.
"Did the legend mention the crash site?"
Luo Lin quickly pressed for more information.
"There's no exact location, only that it's within the Empire."
"It might just be a made-up story," Nightingale said, pouring cold water on the idea.
The clues remain elusive.
But at least we have gained a basic understanding of this indigenous empire.
Yaoyan City is a key frontier town, militarized and strictly hierarchical, with mining and smelting as its economic pillar.
To obtain high-level information or access rare resources, one must find ways to enhance one's status and value under this disguised identity.
"We can't stay homeless forever."
"We need to find an opportunity to demonstrate some value and attract the attention of powerful local figures, but without revealing our true capabilities."
Flame Shield made the suggestion.
"What value does it demonstrate?"
"Our advantage lies in our precise control over energy, our knowledge of more efficient spell models, and our knowledge from other worlds."
"But none of these can be shown directly."
"What could be demonstrated—perhaps a method for dealing with some kind of thorny local problem?"
"Or, could you provide an improved technical approach?"
After a moment's thought, Luo Lin voiced his doubts.
"For example, could it help solve furnace efficiency problems?"
"Or, to deal with some powerful monster that's bothering them?" Nightingale interjected.
Just then, a commotion and the sound of heavy, orderly footsteps came from the street outside.
Through the narrow gaps in the stone house, one could see a troop of soldiers in gleaming armor, their soul flames blazing, escorting several mine carts covered with canvas, hurrying through the streets towards the city center.
Along the edge of the minecart, some dark purple crystalline ridges, clashing with their surroundings, were faintly visible.
A clear throbbing sensation suddenly came from Luo Lin's echo unit!
The energy fluctuations emanating from those dark purple crystals carried a familiar, chilling, and corrosive sense of chaos.
It is an energy characteristic of the source of corruption!
Although extremely faint, and seemingly suppressed and transformed by the high temperature environment of this world, its essence could not escape the keen perception of the echo unit.
"Those ores—"
"There is abnormal energy."
"Rolin said in a low voice."
Flame Shield and Nightingale also sensed something unusual.
The soldiers looked serious, and the escort team was heavily guarded, clearly indicating that the ore was not ordinary.
"Shall we follow them and see?" Nightingale suggested.
"Too risky. Directly tracking the army would make us easy to be discovered." Flame Shield rejected Nightingale's suggestion.
"But we can ask around."
"The transport of this unusual ore may cause a stir among those at the bottom."
The next day, the three of them split up and carefully gathered information at the blacksmith's shop, the edge of the market, and the gathering place of refugees.
Sure enough, rumors about the Purple Plague Stone began to spread quietly.
It is said to have been dug out from a newly discovered mine deep in the mountains.
This ore has extremely high energy, but it is extremely unstable. Prolonged contact with it can cause ordinary miners' soul fire to become disordered, leading them into madness or even spontaneous combustion.
Several slave miners have already died.
The lord ordered a strict news blackout and summoned experienced fire controllers and purifiers to deal with the situation, but it seems to be ineffective.
Purple Plague Stone — An otherworldly variant that corrupts source energy?
Luo Lin understood.
It seems that this fragment of the Scorching Hell is not completely sealed off. It may have had extremely slight energy contact or contamination with the Corruption Realm at some point in the past, forming this special mineral.
This is trouble for the Indigenous Empire, but for Rolin, it might be an opportunity.
"We can claim that we have some ancestral remedies or special constitutions for dealing with this energy disorder and mineral purification."
"Rolin said to his teammates."
"My echo unit has studied the energy of the corruption source, and perhaps it can simulate the effect of purification."
"Flame Shield allows you to demonstrate powerful fire control and suppress the instability of ores."
"The nightingale is responsible for observation and support."
"The risk is that we might be sent directly to the most dangerous mines, exposed to the true corruption and contamination of the environment!"
"Moreover, if the purification fails, or if it is discovered that our method is not a traditional folk remedy, the consequences will be severe."
"..." Yan Dun said in a deep voice.
"But this is also the fastest opportunity to reach the upper echelons and demonstrate your value."
"If successful, we may be recruited by the lord, gain better status and access to resources, and may even come into contact with records about extraterrestrial meteorites or other secrets."
After weighing the pros and cons, the three decided to take the risk.
They needed to design a purification ritual that looked primitive but was effective, one that utilized Rolin's understanding of the corrupting energy source while conforming to the way energy was used in this world.
Rowling began designing the ceremony.
The core idea is to use the high temperature of flames to burn unstable energy, but the key lies in guiding and transforming it, rather than brute force suppression.
He prepared several mineral powders commonly found in this world that had a weak energy-stabilizing effect, and planned to secretly guide a trace of extremely weak, disguised stellar power as an order catalyst during the purification process through the [Omniscient Star Vortex] and the Echo Unit to help neutralize the chaotic characteristics of the corrupting source power.
The Flame Shield is responsible for providing a powerful and stable source of fire.
Two days of preparation were spent rehearsing the ritual steps and speeches repeatedly.
On the third day, the three arrived at the Office of Affairs of Yaoyan City.
A building slightly larger than an ordinary stone house, with guards standing at the entrance.
This department is responsible for handling the city's daily affairs, including recruitment.
Flame Shield stepped forward and, using a rough voice and simple gestures, conveyed his purpose to the guards at the door:
I've heard that Your Lordship needs someone skilled in dealing with Purple Plague Stones? They wander the world and have some experience in dealing with various energy imbalances and mineral diseases, and are willing to give it a try.
The guard glanced at them a few times, especially at the powerful flame fluctuations deliberately emanating from Yan Dun and the mutated soul fire of Luo Lin. After hesitating for a moment, he went in to report.
A moment later, a middle-aged native with dark yellow soul fire burning in his eye sockets, dressed in a leather robe and looking like a civil official, came out.
He scrutinized the three men, asking them about their origins and so-called insights in slow, clear syllables.
Flame Shield answered according to his prepared statement and gave a brief demonstration of his precise control over the flames.
Lorin then released a subtle, disguised, and calming energy fluctuation.
The civil official pondered for a moment, seemingly somewhat tempted.
The problem with the Purple Plague Stone is indeed troublesome, and we have already lost a lot of manpower.
These homeless people seem to have some skills, so it's worth a try, even if it seems hopeless.
"Come with me! I'll take you to the mine."
"If you can get rid of the plague poison in the Purple Plague Stone, the lord will surely reward you handsomely."
T
If it doesn't work—or if it's messed up—
33
The civil official didn't finish speaking, but the fire in his eyes flickered, and the meaning was self-evident.