Chapter 49: The Real Treasure!

Chapter 49: The Real Treasure!

Jiang Zhe had dabbled in both Primordial Laws enough to recognize their essence without error.

The dark purple metal plate displayed the Storm Origin Law. Regarding its 72 protruding points, Jiang Zhe had a reasonable guess. Immortal deities must have fully comprehended an entire lower-tier law, so the Storm Origin Law likely contained 72 fundamental intricacies. These basic elements combined to form subcategories, and mastering any one subcategory earned recognition from the Primordial Laws. Even within the same Primordial Law, the Origin Mark imprinted on one’s forehead varied depending on the specific subcategory mastered. Multiple subcategories then coalesced into broader categories, ultimately completing the Thunder Laws!

The bright silver metal plate revealed the Time Law, its circuitry formed by nine protruding points. But this simplified layout could never fully capture the Time Law’s mysteries.

"It should match space’s complexity—108 fundamental intricacies", Jiang Zhe mused logically. "The complete version would use 108 protruding points."

Undoubtedly, these were foundational cultivation methods to aid in grasping Primordial Laws. They fell short of the Space-Time Essay’s caliber but shared the same lineage as the Vermilion Blood Secret Canon, albeit with significant differences. The Vermilion Blood Secret Canon meticulously analyzed all 108 spatial intricacies, while these two metal plates combined offered only 72 thunder-related intricacies and nine time-related ones.

Still, Jiang Zhe felt satisfied. These plates would serve him well before the Genius War—and even afterward for some time.

"Praise the Virtual Universe for allowing Primordial Law cultivation there", he thought. "Otherwise, such cultivation methods might be lost forever. Other races, even the tech-specialist Mechanical Race, can only exchange distant words through their virtual worlds beyond their territory. The unique law rhythms embedded in these methods can’t be replicated in virtual space, so they must carry the originals. How convenient for me!"

Turning to Orianna, he asked, "Alpha, do you know details about these plates?"

Orianna had already accessed Alpha’s memories upon seeing the plates. As a sentient AI born after its Mechanical Race Immortal master’s death, Alpha lacked clearance to enter the Spire Summit, so it didn’t know what the original owner had hidden there. However, basic Mechanical Race knowledge was preloaded into its core programming, which evolved as it became sentient. This included information about the metal plates.

"Affirmative", Orianna reported. "These are called Law Engraving Plates, common among the Mechanical Race as essential Primordial Law cultivation aids. Ordinary members simply study the engraved intricacies, while gifted ones attempt to sketch or innovate their own circuitry based on personal insights. Only those pursuing this advanced path earn a Higher Law Engraving Plate.

"The complete Time Law Impression Plate has three parts. Ours is the first; the other two remain unclaimed. As for the Lower Law Engraving Plate, it’s relatively common—many Mechanical Race Ais possess one matching their affinity."

As Orianna spoke, she moved to the workbench, bypassed a smart lock, and opened a compartment. Dragging out a chest filled with Circuit Boards, she laid them all across the hall’s floor with Jiang Zhe’s mental energy assistance. Seventy-two boards in total, each circuitry uniquely radiating Storm Origin Law’s essence.

"All the late Immortal’s work?" Jiang Zhe asked.

"Yes", Orianna confirmed. "Personal interpretations meant for their subordinate Ais. But remember", she added, "individual law comprehension varies. These boards are references, not absolute answers."

Jiang Zhe nodded, slightly exasperated. Obviously, I’m not that clueless...

Regarding Alpha’s factory memory, it resembled a Goldhorned Beast’s inherited knowledge—detailed explanations of the Mechanical Race and the entire universe, though lacking cultivation methods.

"Try this", Orianna murmured, inputting commands on the workbench.

Clunk—clunk—

A machine resembling a massive photocopier rose from the alloy floor. Jiang Zhe, unfamiliar with machinery, recognized only basic components: a card slot, interface, and a laser-like assembly. Orianna inserted a Circuit Board, adjusted settings, and said, "Watch closely, Master."

She pressed a red button, hurling a fist-sized A6 Blue Gold ingot mid-air.

Energy surged! The Circuit Board activated, its circuitry glowing mysteriously. The laser assembly focused purple energy until the ingot’s arc intersected the beam’s trajectory.

Hiss!

A dazzling purple laser erupted, slicing the ingot cleanly. Jiang Zhe retrieved the halves, examining their mirror-smooth cross-section.

"Was that a law-infused attack?" he asked, slightly dazed.

"Only a single intricacy—very weak", Orianna explained. "To unleash combined intricacies or subcategory-level attacks, the user must personally channel their law comprehension. This machine merely tests progress. If your drawn Circuit Board fails to activate, you haven’t grasped the intricacy. If it cuts A1 metal, you’ve crossed the threshold. A9 metal means full mastery."

Jiang Zhe now understood his path: study the Law Engraving Plate, sketch circuits on blank boards, test them, and iterate until solving all 72 thunder intricacies. Mastery would bring him near recognition by the Primordial Laws. Then, combining intricacies into subcategories and broader classifications would follow—a Domain Lord’s domain, for now.

Smiling, he said, "I love this systematic, quantifiable cultivation method."

Yet inwardly, he sighed. "Only nine time intricacies... mastering them would reach Heavenly Bridge’s third or fourth tier."

"Master, keep going!" Orianna urged. "Your Proxy talent awaits development!"

Jiang Zhe: ... Thanks for the reminder. My mood just turned cloudy.

"Anna, did you find the Immortal’s treasures?"

The World Bracelet was a troop production base, Mechanical Puppets were combat tools, and the Machinery Factory a money-maker. But none compared to an Immortal’s true hoard.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end