Chapter 873: Whispering God
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At the same time, maintaining the operation of the Time Domain would also require support of a gigantic mana source. The power that humans could obtain from it did not appear out of thin air, either. Lin Li ended up using up more than 10 Legendary magical crystals when he used the Time Domain to hone the cooperation and tacit understanding between the mages. If the Caesar Family wanted to use the Time Domain to produce powerhouses in batches, they’d end up using up more than just 10-odd Legendary magical crystals.
Besides, there was another problem. Obtaining power through such a method might not necessarily be a good thing for mages. Due to the huge difference in the passage of time, the mages’ abilities and strength would not be improved in the outside world once they left the Time Domain. If they wanted to continue improving their strength, they would have to enter the Time Domain again. That might be considered a form of dependence or addiction.
Hence, when Lin Li used the Time Domain to hone the cooperation and tacit understanding between the mages, he strictly forbade any of them from meditating. Those who wanted to meditate would have to go to the outside world to do so. Anyway, in the Tower of Dusk, there was a control crystal of the Sky Castle that could allow them to increase the effects of meditation. Hence, no one dared to take the risk to try and meditate in the Time Domain.
Of course, Lin Li did not show his indifference towards the Time Domain in front of Claus. He didn’t want to give up any of the benefits he deserved. Even if he didn’t want the Time Domain, he had to pretend to want it, and then rip Claus off harshly.
In order to obtain the mageweath array of the Time Domain, Claus went all out and did not hesitate no matter the cost. He directly offered generous conditions like mines, territories, and business channels. As long as Lin Li gave up the mageweath array, he would be willing to give him anything he wanted.
As a result, the wealthy Hoffman also chose to accept Claus’s terms after carefully considering the gains and losses. They were only on the third floor of the mausoleum, and there might be more valuable items at the bottom. Even if they stopped exploring there, they wouldn’t have been there for nothing if they could receive Claus’s generous compensation.
Lin Li had been thinking about the doubts he had just now, and thus was not in the mood to bargain with Claus. Besides, the offer Claus made was already attractive enough. Hence, he quickly nodded and agreed.
Joseph and Claus were close allies in the first place, so the former definitely couldn’t deliberately make things hard for Claus. After all, they would be continuing to explore further. It was definitely not wise to have fewer allies and multiple enemies.
The four forces quickly negotiated and reached a consensus for everything including the distribution of other important items in the incubation room, and the next step was undoubtedly a major demolition. That was also the usual approach for exploring ruins, especially for such a large team of expediters. Once they encountered a small profit, they would have to put it in their own pocket. Otherwise, who knew what would happen in the future? There might not be another chance to reap such benefits.
Legend had it that there were expedition teams that wanted to save the benefits they encountered along the way in a ruin until they returned. Although they escaped, the ruin was completely buried underground by lava. Suffering a huge loss, the leader of the expedition team went berserk. Hence, there was a tacit rule for expeditions in ruins, and that was to pocket all treasures before anything else.
However, just as everyone was preparing to move into the incubation room, Lin Li frowned and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wait a minute!”
“What’s the matter, Master Felic, did you discover any problems?” Hoffman had been standing beside Lin Li because he didn’t have to move the items. Hearing Lin Li’s sudden call for a stop, he couldn’t help but be surprised. After all, Lin Li had broken through the Sky Castle and Osric’s mausoleum. Could it be that he had found some hidden danger!?
Joseph and Claus couldn’t help but immediately stop their men. Although their relationship with Lin Li was not very friendly, they also valued Lin Li’s experience in exploring ruins.
However, after hearing Hoffman’s question, Lin Li shook his head, and said, “No, although I don’t know why, I feel that something is wrong here. We’d better retreat now.”
“President Felic, this joke is not funny at all. You agreed to the conditions I just put forward. Are you going back on your word now!?” Claus’s face immediately grew sullen. He treated the mageweath array in the Time Domain as a treasure, and naturally felt that it was just as important to everyone else. Hence, he immediately wondered if Lin Li regretted giving it up.
Joseph originally had a grudge with Lin Li. Seeing that Lin Li could not give a reasonable explanation, his face suddenly grew sullen. He said in a deep voice, “President Felic, if you can tell me the reason, we might be able to consider it, but you’re making us stop without telling us why. What are you trying to do?”
Lin Li thought, Explain? What for? I haven’t figured it out yet!
He just felt that something was amiss with the place. However, he couldn’t figure it out; otherwise, he would have made it clear long ago. Since Joseph and Claus ignored him, Lin Li didn’t say anything to them. He glanced at Hoffman who was next to him, and said, “Master Hoffman, what do you think?”
“Well, this mausoleum is extraordinary. Just to be safe, I think we’d better quit and have a look first. Anyway, those things are here, and it doesn’t make any difference to pick them up earlier or later.” Hoffman resolutely agreed with Lin Li’s suggestion. However, there was still some doubt in his eyes. It seemed that he hoped for Lin Li to reveal some more information.
Although Hoffman supported Lin Li’s suggestion, Joseph and Claus did not change their mind. Instead, they became more determined to stay. In the eyes of the two of them, the Glittergold Trade Union was clearly on the same side as the Tower of Dusk. Now that Hoffman had agreed to Lin Li’s suggestion without asking for the reason, they were suspecting that there was some conspiracy between them.
“Do you really want to stay here?” Lin Li asked Joseph and Claus again. If it wasn’t for the fact that they had Brahere’s diary and the fact that the Tower of Dusk and Glittergold Trade Union could not explore the ruins alone, Lin Li wouldn’t be bothered to care about their lives.
However, Joseph and Claus were obviously certain that Lin Li and Hoffman were getting up to some scheming tricks. Their faces were full of disdain, and they said, “I’m sorry, we don’t find this place dangerous at all.”
“You’re so timid, yet you’re here to explore the ruins. I really don’t know how you became the President. If you want to leave, you can go ahead. It is best to take your obedient babies back to your Tower of Dusk and hide,” gibed Charles, who had been following Claus. He definitely would not miss this opportunity to mock his enemy. Although he seemed to be talking to himself, his voice was loud enough for almost everyone to hear him.
Charles’ taunt immediately angered everyone from the Tower of Dusk, especially the mages. The staff in their hands immediately lit up as if they were about to drown Joseph in a magic storm the next moment. Seeing the situation, the people of the Mithril Alliance and the Caesar Family became nervous, and got ready to fight.
However, Lin Li didn’t bother to waste time on Charles. He waved his hand to stop the mages; at the same time, he said, “Retreat, go back along the same route immediately.”
Although the people of the Tower of Dusk did not understand why the President gave such an order, they did not hesitate for a moment, and quickly obeyed the order. Even Basel, who had just joined, didn’t ask much. He simply turned around and took his student Davos, and retreated to the second floor together with the team. They went back to the same path.
Seeing that Lin Li had already given orders, Hoffman didn’t say anything else. Since he had already given his support, he had to support Lin Li all the way. Hence, he also issued an order for everyone on his side to retreat. The team from the Glittergold Trade Union immediately followed suit, and prepared to retreat with the members of the Tower of Dusk.
However, at this moment, a mage who came from nowhere suddenly yelled, “Mana, my mana!”
Upon hearing that scream, all the mages discovered that something terrible was happening to them. The mana in their bodies suddenly began running out uncontrollably, and it was as if there was an invisible monster hidden in the surroundings that was sucking and draining them of their mana.
The Legendary-mages present did not feel any obvious changes, but those below the Legendary-level all turned pale as their mana weakened. However, within a short period of time, all the mages of the four forces who were below the Legendary-level lost all their mana, and became inferior to ordinary people.
The entire incubation room was immediately engulfed in a horrific tension. The mages panicked because of the shocking changes that were happening in their bodies. Although the Warriors and Assassins did not feel any obvious changes, they could not help but grow flustered as well.
“Don’t space out. Hurry, retreat and leave!” Lin Li immediately sensed that the mana in his body was reducing rapidly. Although his huge accumulation of mana allowed him to stay unaffected for a while, what was going to happen to the mages under him if there were any changes? Even he might not be able to endure it for long.
Hearing Lin Li’s urging, everyone immediately sped up, including the people behind the Glittergold Trade Union. At this point, Joseph and Claus stopped asking Lin Li for the reason, and simply yelled at their subordinates to urge them to leave the incubation room.
However, at this moment, another change occurred in the incubation room, and countless green tentacles appeared out of nowhere. They were dense like wild grass, and flew towards everyone quickly.
Seeing this scene, Lin Li’s heart suddenly tensed up, and a shadow flashed in his mind. Damn it, is this…
The terrible guess in his mind made Lin Li uncontrollably overwhelmed with fear. If it were really that terrifying thing, he would suffer a major loss during the exploration this time.
The owner of those green tentacles obviously didn’t want to let the intruders off. They immediately reached the entrance before the team did, and used their tentacles to lock the door of the incubation room.
The Warriors in the team did not need any orders. They waved their weapons at the tentacles that closed the door. However, those tentacles were persistent, and they could not be cut off regardless of how hard the Warriors tried. Instead, the two tentacles that sprang up instantly penetrated the breastplates of the two Warriors in front of them before coming out of their backs. They were dripping with blood like swords.
At this moment, who would dare to rush forward again? The group quickly backed away like tidal waves, and avoided the walls that were covered in tentacles. During this period, the mana depletion of the mages did not stop, and even the Legendary-mages began to find it hard to hang on. They became so weak that those who were weaker almost fell out of the Legendary-realm.
“Damn, what the hell is this! Hoffman, don’t you guys have the blueprint of this mausoleum? Weren’t these monsters mentioned in it!?” Joseph barked angrily in a moment of panic.
“How much information can there be on a blueprint? Don’t you guys have Brahere’s diary? Didn’t you see that he had added some stuff here!?” Hoffman was equally angry, and he thought, Felic told you guys to leave just now, but you acted like he was out to harm you guys. Do you regret it now?
Of course they did. Even Lin Li regretted it dearly. Had he known earlier that such a thing would happen, he wouldn’t have bothered talking to Joseph and the rest. He would have just led them out.
In the incubation room, screams, groans, cursing, and all sorts of other sounds could be heard. All of a sudden, splashing of water made everyone quiet as they looked in the direction of the water.
In the middle of the incubation room, the unassuming pool that was not very noticeable at first seemed to have suddenly begun boiling. While the water splashed, a huge octopus-like monster rose slowly from the water, revealing its hideous and terrifying appearance. It looked like it was covered with countless eyes, and countless tentacles kept emerging from the water.
With the appearance of the monster, the sounds of muttering could be heard in the entire incubation room. It seemed to have come from the distant horizon and echoed in their brains, making them feel that the entire world was full of the sounds. The Archmages who had their mana depleted all had deadpan expressions as if they had lost their souls.
Seeing the monster appear and hearing the whispers, Lin Li’s eyes turned gloomy, and he felt that his worries had come true. They were in deep trouble this time.
Yes, Lin Li knew what kind of monster it was. Even though he couldn’t believe that he would see it there, he had to accept it. It was a symbol of a terrifying existence, the Whispering God.