Chapter 185: Chapter 85: Level 7 Puppet Master (2)
"Besides, I’m an expert when it comes to barbecues."
"I had no idea you had such a skill, Lord Alvin!" Vanessa said, blinking.
"Haha... In that case, you’ll have to give my handiwork a proper taste later."
Soon, the trio left the town, following the winding, rugged mountain path deep into the ancient Ancient Fir Curtain Jungle.
Atop the towering, giant ancient fir tree in the center of Sugi Tree Town.
One after another, enormous "Eye Spiders" hid deep within the dense trunk and foliage.
They wove together countless hidden puppet threads, which all converged deep within their eyes.
And these hidden puppet threads were already interwoven into every corner of the entire town.
Anyone who lived here long enough would become a puppet bound by these strings.
Meanwhile, those large, spider-limbed eyes communicated with rustling whispers.
"A Level 2 Wizard."
"A Level 4 Witch."
"A Level 4 Assassin."
"None of them are the Level 5 or Level Six [Fighting Master] the master needs."
"Should we notify the master?"
"Dammit. Last time a Level Six Wizard showed up, that guy reported it and disturbed the master, and the master ate him on the spot."
"The master specified a Level 5 or Level Six Fighting Master."
"No Fighting Master, no Fighting Master, shhh..."
"We can’t disturb the master if there’s no Fighting Master."
"The master is cultivating. The entire town is his Flesh and Blood Ranch for cultivation, shhh..."
Deep within the ancient fir tree, the Level 7 [Puppet Master] controlled a dense web of hidden puppet threads that permeated the entire town. His thread-like tentacles would even scan every steam train that passed through.
...
Upon entering the depths of the Giant Wood Forest, Zorn finally released the Steam Magical Castle.
The chest-sized Steam Magical Castle rapidly expanded into the form of a jungle cabin.
Then, six dark, mechanical legs with a metallic sheen grew out from it.
"WHOOOO WHOOOO..."
A high-pitched steam whistle echoed passionately through the ancient, primeval jungle.
After expending considerable time and resources.
The "Mobile Steam: Magical Castle" was now officially complete.
The trio entered the mobile castle through the Steam Gate.
Zorn immediately linked his consciousness with the mobile castle, giving it a general direction.
The Steam Castle then began to traverse the desolate mountains and ancient forests at high speed.
And its Climbing speed was incredibly fast.
Neither steep slopes, rugged cliffs, muddy swamps, nor narrow canyons where it was hard to get a foothold could stop the powerful mobile castle.
Like a giant Demon Spider brimming with power and mobility, it moved smoothly and naturally through the depths of the ancient Giant Wood Forest.
Meanwhile, Zorn and the others had gathered some good, dry fir wood and started a delicious barbecue inside the Magical Castle.
’The ancient Divine Kingdom has a total of three entrances.
One is in Ogrande City, at the beginning of the epic Chapter.
Another is near the capital of the Saintisman Empire.
The third is deep within the remote Ancient Fir Forest, near the Ancient Porcelain Holy City.
Excavating any one Divine Kingdom Passage will cause the other passages to be mostly unsealed as well.
The Divine Kingdom Passage in Ogrande City is already almost fully excavated.
For this passage at the Ancient Fir Forest entrance, I just need to clear out the bizarre creatures guarding it to easily reach the Divine Kingdom’s entrance.
After a normal Transcendent opens a path to a Divine Kingdom, the next step is to gather their forces and gradually begin excavating its resources.
At the same time, they use these Divine Kingdom resources to continuously strengthen themselves.
But... that’s too slow and inefficient.
It’s also extremely dangerous.
If other factions enter through the Divine Kingdom Passage, they’ll immediately compete with, fight, and kill the original excavators.
At that point, the [Divine Kingdom] would truly become a battlefield.
Generally speaking, excavating a Divine Kingdom on your own often just ends up benefiting others.
But if I can claim the [Divine Kingdom] for myself and freeload off someone else’s efforts, that would be much more comfortable.
My plan is—
After opening the path to the [Divine Kingdom].
I will establish a new Divine Kingdom Passage and completely lock down the original one.
That way, other Evil Spirit Sequences won’t even have a chance to compete with me for the Divine Kingdom’s resources.
They won’t even be able to touch the gates of the [Divine Kingdom].
Afterward, I will use the Divine Kingdom’s soil to cultivate my own [Magic Ring Holy Witch Curse Tree].
The key points of this plan, such as entering the [Divine Kingdom], sealing the [Divine Kingdom Gate], and opening a new one... are all minor issues.
The core difficulty lies in acquiring and cultivating the [Magic Ring Holy Witch Curse Tree].
I need to use my Spiritual Realm to venture deep into the Exotic Border of the Calamity Origin Land and search for a suitable [Magic Ring Holy Witch Curse Tree] seed for myself.
Then, I’ll bring it back and plant it properly within the Divine Kingdom.
I have to remember that many hidden factions, powerful and terrifying creatures, and even some wandering Upper Rankers... as well as... that Demon Lord I offended before... all have their power radiating throughout the Exotic Border.
And they all covet the Holy Land Continent.
Any power that ventures out from the Spirit Realm Layer Realm will be seen as prey by them.
Even though I have the power of Resurrection and thus a high tolerance for error... I still need to be extremely cautious.
I need to be Level 7, or even Level 8, to be qualified to enter the Spirit Realm, travel through it, and find a suitable Magic Ring Seed for myself.
After getting my hands on the Magic Ring Seed, while in the Divine Kingdom, I will also need to defend the newly born Tree of the Magic Ring from the covetous eyes of other powers.
There’s a lot one can do at the Middle Rank Level.
At the same time, the pressure from the outside world will also become much stronger.
Although I’m no longer the one making the biggest waves in the current era... after more than half a year of consolidation... my foundation is already quite strong. Acquiring the Divine Kingdom will strengthen it even further.
A sufficiently powerful foundation and strength, plus the prophetic traits of a [Player]... as a Middle Rank, I will be qualified to ascend to a new, towering peak in the new era’s Ancient Porcelain Holy City.’
「Roughly a day and a night later.」
Zorn found the specific location of the "Divine Kingdom entrance" in a valley within the Ancient Fir Forest.
After giving some instructions, Zorn stood guard at the entrance and made his preparations.
Alvin and Vanessa began their journey into the Divine Kingdom.
For Vanessa, who lacked practical combat experience, this journey was an excellent training ground.
They would have to face all sorts of bizarre creatures and push their own strength to the absolute limit.
The passage for this Divine Kingdom journey was already mostly cleared, so the two of them working together could definitely break through.
Zorn was very satisfied with their performance.
In just three short days, the two of them joined forces and fought their way through this simplified version of the Divine Kingdom passage.
The gateway to the ancient Divine Kingdom opened before Zorn.
During this time, Zorn had long since used the massive amount of resources he brought from Ogrande City to make thorough preparations.
The opening of the Divine Kingdom, and its subsequent sealing, would be accomplished all in one go.
No one else would have the slightest chance to compete with Zorn for ownership of the Divine Kingdom.
