Chapter 435 The Ruins of the Tower of Heaven_2
"The Alchemists, Astrologers, Necromancers, Ritualists, and Cursing Sorcerers of today… all inherit the legacy of the Tower of Heaven."
He didn't say everything.
During this promotion ceremony, Aiwass happened to learn of other secrets about the Tower of Heaven...
Upon hearing Aiwass's words, everyone held their breath.
If what they were excavating was the relics of the Tower of Heaven—
The origin of all spells in the Material Realm! The Mage Tower of the Amber Era!
This is the Narcissus Duchy, the country with the most Mage Towers. Everyone knows that Mage Towers are brimming with treasures… not just gold and silver, but more valuable items: various books of mysticism, tablets, and Extraordinary Items. They are remnants of civilizations at least eight thousand years old!
Not to mention, materials from Amber Era's Extraordinary creatures, which can now be auctioned off for astronomical prices. These materials are almost entirely extinct… and extinct items are even more valuable!
"...Could the Tower of Heaven be right beneath our feet?"
Professor Bard frowned in thought: "Could this mountain be the remains of the Tower of Heaven?"
Sine sneered dismissively, clearly disdainful of mortal wisdom: "Foolish! It must be hidden within some spatial rupture… Ancient mages were perfectly capable of such feats. And even modern magic can achieve these kinds of miracles… Though, not a single fluctuation of energy has leaked out. That's probably the reason why it's been preserved for so long without being discovered."
"There are telltale signs."
Zhu Tang spoke up: "I can see it… there's a 'water' fluctuation here. Even though we're on the mountain, water seems to be gathering upwards from the base."
Everyone turned toward Zhu Tang upon hearing this, only to find he had opened his eyes!
His eyes were entirely Pure White, with intricate black formations etched within them. They were rotating now, sending chills down the spine of anyone who looked for more than a few seconds.
Zhu Tang only kept his eyes open for a few seconds before closing them again.
Then, Insect Amber slowly spoke: "This is why I said… this place isn't just a relic. What you're sensing, that 'water flow,' belongs to the second layer of relics."
"Oh, come on, boss, just spit it out!"
The wanderer was nearly losing his patience, feeling like the boss was the ultimate riddle-master: "What the hell is going on?!—The others, stop asking! If we keep this back-and-forth up, it'll be dusk before we learn anything!"
Insect Amber remained unhurried.
He was so calm that even his breathing stayed steady, his gaze tranquil as though he was merely savoring the mountain's air and the singing of birds.
He wasn't truly a riddle-master—just an unusually patient slow-talker.
Only when the wanderer began grinding his teeth in frustration did Insect Amber Master start to speak, calmly recounting: "Preservation Arts are the most intact branch of the Tower of Heaven's legacy. This place wasn't 'hidden,' it was 'preserved.'
"As early as the Amber Era, this piece of time and space was severed and stored. Unlocking it requires a key...
"At least Seventh Level Preservation Arts are needed to unseal this locked dimension."
"...Seventh Level?!"
"—That's impossible!"
"Even the Eternal Pope wouldn't—"
Instinctively, everyone wanted to dismiss the idea.
But Aiwass understood.
—It was a matter of "priority."
Not all priority terms could be applied to Preservation Arts… Most priority terms pertained to "penetration," "resistance," or worked during "opposition." But that wasn't absolute. For instance, one of the golden terms Aiwass had recently acquired directly added priority to spells with an "unconditional activation term."
To reach Seventh Level spell immunity from Fifth Level, two distinct sources of priority would be required, both perfectly aligned with Preservation Arts. And they'd have to be unconditional as well—functional even outside conflict!
"...Others can't do it, but I can."
Insect Amber Master said calmly, as he reached out to touch the air.
A phantom web of amber threads unfurled from his fingertips, expanding outward.
In an instant, the web blanketed the entire forest.
A moment later, the web shattered.
Pale mist appeared out of nowhere, enveloping the surroundings completely.
As the mist gradually dissipated, blazing light suddenly erupted, forcing everyone to shield their eyes instinctively.
Aiwass didn't shield his eyes.
He simply looked up. The azure sky appeared stunningly vivid, the clouds standing sharply three-dimensional. The Sun burned several times brighter and larger. Its searing rays pierced through the woodland mist, enough to scorch bare skin.
At that moment, the wanderer and Little Cat both simultaneously sensed something and turned toward the path they had come.
There was only darkness left in that direction.
Where the village had been, a colossal tower now stood silently.
The tower was massive, far exceeding the entire village in size; looking upward, its peak was barely visible. It loomed over the mountaintop, its sheer scale making the mountain look diminutive—like a mere cliff.
—It resembled "The Great Tree" more than a "tower."
Considering the sequence of events… perhaps "The Great Tree" resembled the "Tower of Heaven."
But why it was said "barely" visible… was because the upper section of this colossal tower was entirely charred and broken in two. Halved, it no longer seemed as tall.
It appeared as though a tapering spire had been scorched and then cleaved horizontally, excising the burned portion. Smoke still drifted up from the pinnacle—a signal fire of sorts.
"...Was the Tower of Heaven destroyed by something?"
Zhu Tang murmured: "A lightning strike?"
But "Encyclopedia" suddenly spoke, revealing the truth: "The Tower of Heaven was severed by the Great Sage's own hand. This happened during the Second Solar Epoch..."
"—This is a preserved fragment of time from the Amber Era."
Sine immediately grasped the essence.
He looked toward Insect Amber with newfound respect and caution: "May I ask, are you..."
"—Let me introduce you all. This gentleman is Insect Amber Master, originally from the Helasal Empire."
Seeing that Insect Amber Master neither rejected the introduction nor spoke, Aiwass smiled, patting the elderly man's shoulder as he provided a brief and understated introduction: "The world's first Amber Artisan.
"And also the only… or perhaps one of the few who can truly resurrect the dead."
"You flatter me, Your Holiness."
Insect Amber retorted mildly: "It's not true resurrection… merely 'preserving another's vitality.'"
"Just as you've preserved the fallen Tower of Heaven, correct?"
Professor Bard muttered: "Reviving a dead dimension in the present world… is that not akin to resurrecting the deceased?"
At this moment, the group finally realized the horrifying reality of what had occurred here.
"Without exceeding the world's limits, it's naturally impossible to defy nature's laws."
Insect Amber gave Aiwass a deep look: "In a world with a cap at Sixth Level… Seventh Level is the prerequisite for 'calling forth miracles.'
"...And if this world's cap were raised to Seventh Level, reversing life and death would require reaching Eighth Level instead."
Hearing this, Aiwass squinted slightly.
Insect Amber… What did he know?