Chapter 159 The Emerald Tablet
In fact, what Moria said was not entirely baseless.
During the heyday of the Norradon Empire in the Silver Age, the Silver Elves sealed the entire world using high-level magic, magic circles, and rituals to prevent enemies from invading from the Void.
Under the blockade, not only was it difficult for the Void to invade this world, but even spells and rituals related to spatial teleportation and displacement were greatly restricted.
The only exception was the Glor, led by the Holy See.
The holy cultists, who mastered the art called “Heavenly Ladder,” also known as “The Steps to Heaven,” could traverse incredibly long distances in a short period, and even travel freely between many planes outside the domain. Scholars who studied history concluded that the “Heavenly Ladder” played a significant role in the comprehensive victory of the Glor in the religious wars at that time.
But all this disappeared with the grand end of the Norradon Empire. The empire’s last unified monarch, the King of Radiance, the King of Mysteries, Faravidos, declared the Glor as the state religion and abolished the imperial barrier that sealed the world.
To this day, the enemies from the Void, whom the empire once guarded against and even feared, are almost nowhere to be found. Beings from other worlds and planes can now freely travel to the mortal realm, and even with just level four magic, Transcendants can safely travel to outer realms.
The “impurities” born from the hands of the Sage are existences from the Golden Age. Their slumber might have coincided with the time when the Platinum Council was still active in the world, the period when Norradon completed the feat of sealing the world.
Is Moriah betting that it doesn’t know much about later generations?
Even Li Wen felt that this was a bit too unreliable. After all, it was an ancient and powerful mythical being. Even without using magic, it could easily pry open the consciousness and thoughts of mortals. Secrets were almost impossible to hide from such an existence. Therefore, it only needed to extend its mental tentacles to Moriah to easily see through this lie.
However, to Li Wen’s surprise, it did not do so. Perhaps it had other considerations, perhaps it thought it was unnecessary, or perhaps it overlooked it subconsciously. In any case, it fell silent for a moment, and its furiously burning void pupils also fell into a temporary stillness.
“The Steps to Heaven…” it looked at Moriah, “One of the sacred artifacts that the cults would never allow heretics to defile.”
“The current churches are not as… rigid as before,” Moriah chose his words carefully. “At least, when necessary, the Holy See would be willing to lend out sacred artifacts.”
After all, they even tolerated Oles Die.
“If I have the Steps to Heaven, I will have a better chance of going to the world beyond the void.”
Moria’s expression turned serious. He said righteously, “Then let us trade. You will tell us the whereabouts and the method to obtain the Original Text, and I will persuade the elders of the Holy See to lend you the Heavenly Ladder. Since you are an impurity born from the hands of the Sage, your path must be the opposite of His. This trade is very suitable for you, isn’t it, compared to the useless Original Text?”
“All of this must be based on whether you actually have the ability to deliver the Steps to Heaven into my hands. Do you have that ability?”
“Of course,” Moriah said calmly, “After all, I am the Eldest Son of the Holy See.”
Normally, he disliked and would try to avoid mentioning this title, but now it was an unusual situation.
After speaking, Moriah wanted to imitate Li Wen’s behavior and swear to the gods to prove he was not lying. However, as soon as he started speaking, and almost uttered the name of the pillar of glory, the black existence stopped him.
“The Emerald Tablet is buried deep in the Abyss of Dettor. Only a few lucky ones will dream of that desolate land when the stars align. Within it, within the spire of the deep black and towering building, within the cracked eggshell, they will find the mysteries of ‘life’ and ‘death’.”
Li Wen’s expression shifted slightly. The name “The Emerald Tablet” represented the Original Text of creation… More accurately, it was a handwritten copy of the Original Text, personally transcribed and passed down to the world by the Sage, and one of the origins of Alchemy.
The Abyss of Dettor, desolate, deep black and towering spire…
Li Wen seriously pondered the meaning of these words, but could only helplessly conclude that she had never heard of such a place, let alone a way to get there. However, since there were “lucky ones” who could go to that place through dreams and glimpse the mysteries of Alchemy, it at least meant that it was not an unreachable destination.
“Can you provide a more specific description?” she asked, suppressing her slightly excited mood.
It said, “I have been asleep for too long, and I can no longer find the road at that time. Perhaps there are still ancient lives like me who vaguely remember the damp and cold mountain path in their dreams… Take this, and when you find that road, it will open the door of the spire for you.”
Something seeped out of the filthy, viscous fluid. The object was covered in dark gray, like a key or a lock. In a trance, it was easily associated with human ribs or the limbs of a decaying body. It flew towards Li Wen and fell directly into Li Wen’s hands. Holding it tightly, Li Wen seemed to hear faint whispers.
[Bone of Vantarnelgen]
Li Wen glanced at its description and then put it into the Fairy’s Treasure Pouch with peace of mind. This item was indeed the key to obtaining “The Emerald Tablet.” As for the method to go to the Abyss of Dettor, Li Wen already had an idea.
The existence calling itself “impurities” looked at Moriah and then said, “On the next lunar eclipse day, I will go to the Holy See to request the Heavenly Ladder. I hope you have arranged everything by then.”
After speaking, before Li Wen and the other could react, it disappeared from their sight.
Not only it, but also the palace it shaped with dark liquid, the warehouse destroyed by the battle, and the ground it occupied disappeared without a trace. It was as if a small piece of the center of a cloth had been cut out, and the gap left by the cut was perfectly and seamlessly sewn back together, eerily and mystically.
Li Wen looked ahead. There should have been a destroyed warehouse there, but now the position could no longer accommodate a warehouse.
Recovering from her daze, Li Wen looked at the Fairy’s Treasure Pouch again. The location of “The Emerald Tablet” was known, and she had found the key to open the “treasure vault.” The remaining task was to find a life as ancient and wise as the black existence and ask it for the way to the Abyss of Dettor, so that she could obtain the Original Text of creation.
And Li Wen happened to know of such an existence that fit the description.
Having planned the future direction, Li Wen looked up at Moriah.
“I owe you a favor.”
If it weren’t for Moriah’s inspiration, Li Wen would definitely not have been able to achieve her wish so smoothly. Although Moriah did not swear to provide the Heavenly Ladder to the other party, with his personality, he would clearly not break his promise.
“We’ll talk about those things later.”
Moria shook his head and then looked at the sky, which was like daytime.
The dazzling and blinding light was gradually dissipating. It was expected that the battle in the sky had also come to an end.
