Chapter 402: Section 189: Tuck’s Enlightenment Scroll
Fire Island.
Inside the volcano, the Alchemy Factory.
“This is it,” said the Legendary giant City Lord of Fire City to Tuck, who stood beside him.
Tuck surveyed his surroundings; this was the deepest and most heavily defended part of the factory.
The largest feature was the central magma furnace, which had a radius of at least five hundred meters, surrounded by a ring of dark gold embankments. The embankment, about three meters high, firmly enclosed the constantly boiling, gurgling orange-red molten lava.
The heat was immense, steaming Tuck’s face.
“This must be the largest magma alchemy furnace in the Empire, spectacular!” exclaimed Tuck sincerely, “With it, the efficiency of producing some alchemy items could increase by at least 30%.”
The City Lord of Fire City couldn’t help but laugh.
Tuck’s words greatly increased her good impressions of him.
They resonated with the City Lord, an alchemist herself, and made her proud.
Tuck then examined the alchemy tools along the walls, which were all very large; some resembled cranes, others drills, and there were also huge iron tongs. The tools were all ruggedly built, embodying the style of giants.
Tuck commented briefly, guessing the purpose of the tools.
He guessed most of them correctly, impressing both the City Lord and the mason.
A few guesses were wrong, and Tuck immediately asked for instructions, humbly bowing.
After the City Lord explained for a while, Tuck praised the ingenuity, unintentionally causing the mason to curl her lips into a smile.
“This is the main site where I manufacture giant puppets; other places are too small, only here is spacious enough. This is the newest puppet I’ve created; please have a look,” the City Lord volunteered, giving the mason a cue.
The mason promptly activated an array, turning on a switch.
In the next moment, the magma boiled and surged upward, forming a small hill.
The hill cracked open, magma flowing everywhere, and a huge humanoid puppet slowly rose, apparently lifted by a platform beneath its feet.
Tuck’s pupils constricted, a solemn look on his face.
This was his main purpose for coming!
“Please forgive my intrusion,” Tuck bowed to the City Lord.
“Feel free to look,” the City Lord said with a smile.
This sample of the giant puppet was already prepared for Tuck.
Tuck repeatedly performed alchemy spells, examining the ins and outs of the giant puppet.
The puppet, standing six meters tall and robust, was made of a copper-iron alloy, very hard and tough.
There were alchemy arrays inside and outside the puppet. After some observation, Tuck noted there were about one hundred arrays in total. These arrays combined to form three major systems: Power System Array Group, Firepower System Array Group, and Defense System Array Group.
Tuck soon became engrossed, and as his understanding deepened, a look of awe and amazement appeared on his face.
Just the materials used for the main body of the puppet were unidentifiable by Tuck.
It was a proprietary alloy, presumably developed uniquely by the folks of Fire City.
“The material properties are excellent, but the key is… the cost!”
Tuck guessed the cost was not high.
This meant large-scale production was feasible.
After all, this was a Holy Domain Level giant puppet!
Mass production…
The mere thought was thrilling.
Besides the main materials, the arrangement of the alchemy arrays within and outside the giant alchemy puppet was also outstanding.
Tuck counted them; there seemed to be 121 arrays in total. This number wasn’t high, it could even be considered low.
The number of alchemy arrays wasn’t large, which meant that the assembly costs were kept within an acceptable range.
This also meant mass production!
The key was that the alchemy arrays worked in close coordination, their performance not lacking in any way.
“There’s one more thing; this is just a sample that Fire City showed me.”
“The true, fully formed giant puppet will definitely be stronger than this one!”
Moments later, Tuck ceased performing the alchemy spell.
“With the advent of such giant puppets from your city, the entire military arms market will be in turmoil.”
“Even the Empire might have to purchase from your city!” Tuck remarked thoughtfully.
But the City Lord of Fire City slightly shook her head, “The cost is much higher than you imagine, Earl Tuck. And the manufacturing process is not simple; this place is the only suitable location for making puppets, given the high standards required for the manufacturing environment.”
“Lord Tuck. It’s your turn now,” the mason was somewhat impatient.
Tuck nodded.
While the giant puppet was impressive, it had one significant flaw.
It lacked a spiritual intelligence.
Thus, Fire City had invited him to initiate the spiritual awakening of the giant puppet.
Tuck pulled a scroll from his chest.
“This is the Enlightenment Scroll.”
“My latest creation.”
“I believe, Miss Mason, it would be more meaningful for you to use this.”
With that, Tuck handed the scroll over to the mason.
This was a Holy Domain Level scroll.
When the mason took it, her face showed a hint of hesitation.
It was well-known that awakening the spirit intelligence of objects like alchemy puppets, Mage Towers, and demon energy ships consumed the spellcaster’s soul. After the spell, the mage’s spiritual capacity would be permanently reduced.
But Tuck assured her, “Don’t worry, the price of using this scroll is merely some of your mana, it won’t harm your soul or spirit at all.”
In an instant, both the mason and the City Lord’s eyes sparkled, displaying surprise.
Sha Gua immediately unrolled the scroll, channeling mana, and successfully cast the spell.
The physical form of the scroll turned to ash, but the cluster of light that formed flew into the giant puppet.
Feeling the light cluster, the alchemy array inside the giant puppet quickly activated, emitting intense waves of mana.
About a quarter of an hour later, the giant puppet’s eyes suddenly lit up, first its limbs, then its entire body started moving.
The giant puppet stretched its limbs, first inspecting its body, then scanning the surroundings. Upon seeing the three people including the City Lord of Fire City, it saluted Sha Gua, “Master, Sha Gua reports to you!”
Sha Gua was a spellcaster, so the giant puppet took her as its master, awaiting her commands.
Even the name Sha Gua was chosen by her.
Sha Gua was stern, “Sha Gua, introduce yourself, and demonstrate your abilities, albeit within limits.”
Next, the giant puppet began its performance.
Jumping, turning, running, rolling, crawling forward, using arrays to unleash spells for attack…
“Very well, very good,” the City Lord of Fire City nodded repeatedly, clearly delighted.
This was exactly the result she wanted.
“Lord Earl, had I not used it myself, I would not believe such enlightenment scrolls existed in this world,” Sha Gua, although loathing Tuck, sincerely admired him at this moment.
The City Lord of Fire City then asked, “Inviting you to collaborate was a wise decision. Earl Tuck, what price do you have in mind for these enlightenment scrolls?”
Tuck smiled and named a price.
The price astounded both the city lord and Sha Gua.
Not for being too high, but for being too low!
“Lord Earl, you aren’t joking, are you?” Sha Gua almost doubted her own ears.
Tuck smiled, “Actually, the cost of making these alchemy scrolls is very low. With this pricing, my profit margin is already quite substantial.”
“Ordinarily, the essence of enlightenment spells is the consumption of souls.”
“I borrowed from undead magic, using the soul fragments of other spellcasters to create these scrolls.”
“I must say, in the realm of souls, undead magic is uniquely significant; it’s quite astounding!”
Undead magic…
The expressions of both the City Lord of Fire City and Sha Gua shifted slightly.
Undead magic was strictly forbidden, suppressed and eradicated by both the Holy Bright Empire and other forces across the continents.
Yet, Tuck had been secretly studying undead magic and even directly told these outsiders, the City Lord of Fire City and Sha Gua.
Was this a show of sincerity or just sheer recklessness?
“You do not need to worry, regarding this matter, I have already informed the clan leader of my tribe, and have obtained permission from the empire,” explained Tuck.
Sha Gua then understood.
Indeed, while all the powerful forces suppressed undead magic on one hand, they also studied and learned it in secret on the other.
“With your scrolls, Earl, and our puppets, I believe our collaboration will be very pleasant,” the City Lord of Fire City said with a smile.
Tuck also smiled and nodded.
The craft of making puppets was among the finest in the Fire City.
His collaboration with Fire City was indeed a joining of great strengths.
Next, they discussed the details of the collaboration.
After a long discussion, it concluded.
Both parties reached an agreement.
Tuck’s candid personality once again endeared him to both the City Lord of Fire City and Sha Gua.
“I only advocate for fair trade,” Tuck explained with a smile.
After parting with the City Lord of Fire City, Tuck returned to his residence, feeling very good.
This trip to Fire Island was primarily for this collaboration. Now, it seemed the prospects of the collaboration were very broad, and the future benefits were immense and tempting.
Tuck, in a great mood, attempted to craft items again.
Double happiness.
Having failed during his previous attempt on the ship, this time, he succeeded.
“With this, I’ll be able to complete the task assigned by my teacher.”
Tuck exhaled a breath of relief.
Feeling unburdened was truly wonderful; he looked forward to exploring Fire Island the next day and relaxing.
“Next, let’s see who this deliberately damaged magic device is actually connected to.”
Tuck channeled mana and activated the alchemy item.
“Hmm?”
“Is it the Hundred-Needles Clan Leader?!”
Tuck blinked repeatedly, stunned.
“Wait a moment…”
Tuck didn’t trust this result but instinctively started to doubt himself.
“Is this item I’ve crafted correct?”
It was because of the Hundred-Needles Clan Leader’s remarkable Nine Swords that he had been inspired to construct a new alchemy array.
So, the newly crafted alchemy item being linked to the Hundred-Needles Clan Leader might still be for another reason.
Tuck began a meticulous, cautious, and comprehensive examination.
As he immersed himself in the field of alchemy, time flew by quickly.
Half the night passed.
Tuck’s face showed surprise, “It’s correct.”
“The truth is indeed this.”
“It really is the Hundred-Needles Clan Leader!”