Chapter 1231 Return to Ice Valley <TOC> Chapter 1233 Vanishing Omen
Translator: SumTLMan
However, Odeklaes, much like when Angel first ventured into Ice Valley, paid no heed to Popoca.
His demeanor was haughty and indifferent, imbued with an aloofness that dismissed everything as unworthy of his attention.
Casting a cold glance at Angel, he refrained from uttering a word. Raising his hand, a luminous arc materialized out of thin air before Angel’s eyes.
The arc possessed a pull, and before Angel could fathom what was transpiring, he found his body beyond his control, drawn into the light.
Regaining his senses, Angel realized that he had been transported into a different dimension, with Popoca sent along with him.
This was still a room composed of ice crystals. Peering out the window, it seemed to be perched atop the Ice Crystal Palace. However, this place didn’t mirror the desolation of the Palace. Here, Angel spotted numerous traces of “life”.
Craftsmanship in wood characterized the elongated table and chairs, atop which were placed delicate, floral patterned porcelain dishes. A candlestick, flickering with icy flames, stood unattended, a platter still bearing the remnants of a half-eaten loaf of black bread.
As Angel was observing the surrounding traces, a message was imparted into his mind.
It was a transmission from Odeklaes.
The content of the message was straightforward, almost casually informing Angel that the room was bequeathed to him for his alchemical pursuits. Furthermore, Odeklaes disclosed that the room’s previous occupant was… Feng.
Terse and aloof, it was unmistakably Odeklaes’ style. Initially, Angel assumed that Odeklaes might pose some queries, like how he procured the synthesis method of the Firestone, or what he encountered on his journey… Yet, Odeklaes questioned nothing.
“Is this, perchance, a magic bread?” As Angel was processing Odeklaes’ transmission, Popoca was scrutinizing the remnant bread on the platter.
With caution, Popoca poked at the bread lying in the dish. It felt cold, solid.
Angel glanced over. According to Odeklaes’ message, the room hadn’t been visited since Feng’s departure. Which implied, “Unless unexpected, this magic bread might have been left here hundreds of years ago. Do you wish to have a taste?”
Popoca promptly shook his head: “This black magic bread looks unsettling. Who knows what it tastes like.”
Popoca’s words reminded Angel of the magic bread he made, which was also black. As for the taste… it wasn’t that of a stinky sock, but rather a cheesy flavor after fermentation! Yes, it was the flavor of cheese!
“Angel, it seems you know where we are?”
“Over the Ice Crystal Palace. It’s the room Lord Odeklaes lent us for our stay.” Angel paused for a moment: “By the way, the previous occupant of this room was said to be a legendary wizard of great renown.”
“A legendary wizard?” Popoca instinctively withdrew his hand from prodding the bread, as the scriptures depicted those who reached the status of legendary wizards as eccentric, unpredictable, and possibly leaving perilous traps behind.
Angel, however, doubted that there would be any traps left by Feng here. After all, this territory belonged to Odeklaes. If traps were indeed laid, Odeklaes wouldn’t have led them here.
“Next, we’ll be staying here for a while. Let’s take a tour of our temporary abode.”
The area was spacious, boasting several rooms. They appeared to be in what seemed like a reception hall. Crossing the corridor outside would lead to the other rooms.
However, this corridor was exposed to the outside wind and snow, preventing Popoca from venturing out alone.
A flame flickered in Angel’s ear, marking the presence of the Mark of Flame, which conjured a shield of fire around them, enabling them to traverse the frost-cursed corridor and reach the other rooms.
There were two bedrooms, a studio brimming with empty easels, and a few rooms whose purposes remained unknown. They were furnished much like classrooms, barren save for tables and chairs.
Angel chose one of the classroom-like rooms to serve as the alchemy room. As for Popoca, he was assigned to the adjacent bedroom. Originally, Popoca was supposed to be an assistant, but as Odeklaes didn’t seem to care about him, Angel saw no need for pretenses.
Wasting no time, Angel immediately set to work on the crafting of the Firestone.
Before starting the crafting, Angel first brought out all the materials he had, among which was a mountainous pile of Firestone fragments.
Apart from these, there were many other supplementary materials.
Angel unveiled a scroll he had obtained from Balalaika. The scroll detailed the method of crafting the Firestone.
Initially, he had told Odeklaes that he was an alchemist and that he could potentially craft the Firestone. Truthfully, he had been nervous then, because what he had claimed was nothing more than bluff. Even if he had obtained the crafting method of the Fire Demon, success was not guaranteed.
Even the Fire Demons, who were the originators of the Firestone, had a low success rate. This was because the original crafting method was accidentally discovered by the Fire Demons’ ancestors. The process was highly random and didn’t consider the quantity of ingredients used, resulting in a low success rate in crafting the Firestone.
If Angel had done as Odeklaes had suggested, seeking out Lord Night for the crafting method, not considering if Night could break the restrictions of his predecessors and share the method, and assuming he did, it would likely take a significant amount of time for Angel to reassess and recalculate the quantities of the ingredients used in the crafting process.
Fortunately, he had visited the Resting Ground first and obtained this scroll from Balalaika.
Hidden behind the parchment, there lay a method of Firestone synthesis, recorded by a human predecessor. This method is articulated not only in the Universal Human Language, but also outlined in terms of Alchemy.
The quantities of ingredients were conscientiously amended by him. He also identified and rectified the flaws in the “primitive method of synthesis” employed by the Fire Demon, thereby significantly increasing the probability of successfully synthesizing a Firestone.
Furthermore, the scarcity of Firestones in the present day, even to the extent that Fire Demons struggle to produce them, is primarily due to the rarity and peculiarity of many of the ingredients. Even Fire Demons rarely manage to gather these materials.
However, this alchemist predecessor, who was clearly an outstanding researcher, not only analyzed the roles of these precious materials during the synthesis process, but also identified common alternatives.
Consequently, if this parchment were to become widely known, even ordinary alchemists would have the opportunity to synthesize a Firestone.
Of course, this is contingent on their ability to obtain a few irreplaceable ingredients: Emberstone that has settled for over a millennium, Immortal Flame Bone from a Dark Gold Nightmare, and Ashen Flame Solvent prepared with Abyss Ghost Flame.
The first two ingredients can be procured relatively easily. The last one, “Ashen Flame Solvent prepared with Abyss Ghost Flame”, can only be made by a Fire Demon, hence, the “opportunity” for ordinary alchemists doesn’t guarantee their success.
In the subsequent period, Angel immersed himself in the study of this parchment.
As time slowly passed, the external world was ceaselessly swept by howling snowstorms, rendering any differentiation between day and night impossible.
Angel was similarly undisturbed by the passage of day or night. However, he did set an alarm on his holographic tablet, which allowed him to meditate and continually construct the “Gateway Model” originating from the Heavenly Eye during his research process.
After three days, Angel finally set aside the parchment.
Truthfully, the method of synthesis recorded on the parchment wasn’t complicated. After all, it stemmed from the Fire Demon’s method of synthesis. Given the limited knowledge of Fire Demons, it wasn’t surprising that their methods were primitive. Therefore, even when translated into alchemy, the process wasn’t overly complex.
However, while Angel had collected a variety of materials, he only had enough fragments of Firestone for two attempts at synthesis. In other words, he had just two opportunities. Failure meant finding a way to gather more Firestone fragments.
Therefore, he had to be exceptionally cautious.
One day, after ensuring he had committed every step to memory and thoroughly deliberated over every detail, Angel finally decided to Commence the Alchemy.
He extracted various synthesis tools from his bracelet, laying them out on a makeshift laboratory bench constructed from a table.
He then cast a long, deep glance at Toby, who was sleeping peacefully nearby.
Inhaling deeply, Angel summoned a flame that slowly ignited before him.
Having mentally simulated the synthesis process countless times, when it came to the actual operation, his movements were swift. Several spectral Magic Hands, whether for performing intricate operations or collecting materials, acted without any hesitation.
Flames flickered ceaselessly before his eyes, with every precious ingredient being seamlessly melded into the orb of light, just like the flow of water.
Time ticked away on the holographic tablet…
…
As Angel was synthesizing the Firestone, the Translayer Gate in the Gray Layer Zone of the surface Abyss was gradually being nudged ajar.
A figure came flying out from the Translayer Gate.
Dressed in a dark aristocratic gentleman’s suit, his figure was accentuated, rendering him tall and elegant.
It was indeed Sanders, who had hurried over from Sky Island to the surface.
Upon reaching the surface, Sanders stood silently for a moment, sensing the location of his blood essence.
Previously, because of the interlayer barrier, his perception was quite hindered; he could vaguely tell that his blood essence was at the outermost layer, but he had no idea of the precise location.
However, when he arrived at the surface, this perception became very clear.
“Not far away!” Sanders’ eyes brightened, as he turned his gaze northward.
By his estimate, if he flew at full speed, he could arrive at the destination in a maximum of a day and a half. Considering the vastness of the surface Abyss, it really wasn’t that far.
Sanders roughly calculated the location of Angel in his mind.
He found that his location was right in Ice Valley!
Angel’s appearance in Ice Valley seemed reasonable, given that Angel had once told him that he was on a mission given by Odeklaes. But on further thought, how did Angel escape after being taken by Popoca, followed by a Demon God?
Moreover, he made it to Ice Valley in such a short time.
Remember, it’s been less than a week since the destruction of La Sutherland! Even if Angel hadn’t been taken away and Fafnir brought him back to Ice Valley from the void, it would have taken more than a week!
Thinking back on what Bruce said, Sanders guessed that this time, Angel not only avoided disaster but might have stumbled upon an opportunity.
“Whether it’s an opportunity or not, I just hope he won’t stir up any trouble.” Sanders sighed softly, his figure disappearing from the spot, heading in the direction of Ice Valley.
Chapter 1231 Return to Ice Valley <TOC> Chapter 1233 Vanishing Omen