Chapter 297 - 010: Furnace
Chapter 297: 010: Furnace
Time Hut, Circular Plaza.
In the plaza, Lynch was meticulously reading through a newly acquired magic formula.
The knowledge fragments from the Acadica Era left behind within these ruins remain an enigma; nobody knows what they truly signify. Over millennia, various Wizard Families have excavated this site numerous times, uncovering significant amounts of related magical knowledge.
However, due to the incompleteness of the knowledge and its excessively cryptic nature, decoding it has always proven challenging, often ending in failure or yielding no meaningful conclusions.
After all, this knowledge dates back ten thousand years. The runes, thought processes, structures, and such utilized by Wizards of that era are vastly different from those in the present day. Even understanding an intact set of knowledge requires significant time, let alone a single fragment.
Simply put, it’s akin to grasping a tiny puzzle piece from a colossal mural. With the mural itself lost, only the scattered puzzle fragments remain. Holding just one piece, who could possibly determine its meaning?
Such decoding challenges account for the recurring cessation and quiet abandonment of relic explorations over thousands of years.
Now, the question arises:
While incomprehensible to others, could Lynch manage to decipher these knowledge fragments?
The answer was clear.
“Magic Formula Number AC306 Skill Level +1.”
“Magic Formula Number AC306 Skill Level +1.”
The system’s crisp notification echoed in Lynch’s ears. Each review brought an increment in Skill Level, and with each increase, his understanding of this unfamiliar knowledge deepened.
Though he could confidently confirm he’d never encountered such knowledge before, with each reading, he was gradually piecing together its purpose and significance. He began uncovering the essence embedded within this fragment.
Effort would always yield results!
Lynch couldn’t fathom how the system achieved this. The principle underlying its functionality remained mysterious—likely some manifestation of higher-level rules.
A total of 50 Skill Level points wasn’t much, and soon, Lynch had completed 50 readings.
[Magic Formula Number AC306, Level 1: 0/100.]
Changes appeared in the system interface; he had reached the entry-level understanding of the formula. Formerly alien knowledge now felt slightly familiar—he vaguely discerned its apparent relation to Space Magic.
The learning continued.
“Magic Formula Number AC306 Skill Level +1.”
“Magic Formula Number AC306 Skill Level +1.”
Quickly, another 100 readings were completed.
[Magic Formula Number AC306, Level 2: 1/300.]
His comprehension of the formula advanced to proficiency.
By now, Lynch’s mind had a clear understanding that the formula was related to Space Magic.
Keep going, keep going.
“Magic Formula Number AC306 Skill Level +1.”
“Magic Formula Number AC306 Skill Level +1.”
Finally,
[Magic Formula Number AC306, max.]
Upon reaching mastery, the previously obscure magic formula laid itself bare before him. Stroking his chin, Lynch remarked, “Ah, I see. Turns out this is an elemental arrangement formula within Space Magic!”
Space Magic—a rare and valuable field. If he could uncover its complete model, the outcome would be extraordinary.
Shaking his head, Lynch dismissed his stray thoughts; such considerations were for later.
Currently, more pressing matters awaited verification.
Eagerly rising to his feet, Lynch made his way toward the heart of the plaza. There stood the peculiar alchemy device left behind by Wizard Somda. On its far-left side was a contraption resembling a furnace.
“I wonder if using fragmented knowledge is even feasible…”
Raising his palm, Lynch summoned forth a parchment textured like sheepskin. Upon closer inspection, it was densely inscribed with Rune Language—a precise transcript of the magic formula he had just mastered.
“Phew!”
Taking a deep breath, Lynch tossed the parchment into the furnace before him.
The parchment settled briefly within the furnace before letting out a resounding ’boom’ as it ignited, fueling the furnace and compelling it into motion.
“Rumble! Rumble!”
Heavy, muffled sounds accompanied grinding metallic noises, and before long, streams of white energy began to coalesce inside the furnace. This energy traveled through a pipe on the furnace’s right-hand side, following its route forward.
The pipe extended out from the furnace and into the ground, leading ultimately to the second ancient stone gate encircling the plaza.
Indeed,
After learning what lay behind the first stone gate, Lynch found himself unable to open the second, barring entry into the knowledge of higher Secret Skill Levels. In comparison to the first gate, unlocking the Mystical Stone Gate required both personal strength and adequate knowledge.
This involved channeling mastered knowledge into the Knowledge Furnace, which would convert it into Knowledge Energy to fuel the stone gate. Only once the gate’s intricate patterns were fully illuminated could it be opened.
The type of knowledge inserted wasn’t fixed, but it had to be magic-related and completely mastered.
Initially, upon encountering this condition, Lynch hadn’t given it much thought. After all, he had read countless books over the years and considered himself a leading authority in knowledge within the Ancient Ruins.
However, when he attempted to channel all the knowledge he had amassed into the furnace, he discovered he had vastly overestimated himself. Despite pouring his lifetime’s learned knowledge into it, he couldn’t even illuminate a third of the stone gate’s patterns…
Because of this limitation, Lynch had consistently lagged in mastering Secret Skills. He’d been forced to rely on extreme measures to save Graham during a critical moment.
“Will these knowledge fragments even be accepted?”
Fixing his gaze on the magical conduit on the ground, Lynch couldn’t help but feel a touch of anxiety.
The energy created from the converted knowledge traveled forward rapidly, eventually reaching the second stone gate. It climbed along its patterns and paused briefly before illuminating a previously dormant rune on its surface.
“Haha, it worked!” Lynch exclaimed in delight.
He had previously fretted over the scarcity of knowledge required to satisfy the stone gate’s voracious appetite, to the point of considering switching meditation rules altogether.
Unexpectedly, the situation had reversed. Beneath his feet lay an immense trove of knowledge accumulated by the Wizard Civilization. If he could unearth it all… haha, would he even need to worry about opening such a small stone gate?
Lynch’s heart surged with excitement.
“Looks like I need a serious plan for this grand ’farming’ endeavor!”
Previously, expanding his forces had merely flickered as a fleeting thought—a backup option for legitimizing his identity. But now, he was earnestly plotting out the framework and feasibility of this idea.
Stroking his chin, Lynch dived into deep contemplation…