prynovel Chapter 62 Floating Fortress
Chapter 62 Floating Fortress
Through the mental connection established after the bond was established, Li Ang could vaguely perceive the environment around the guard. The lake water was icy cold and the visibility was extremely low, but there was no immediate danger.
The guard continued to descend, and after about ten meters, he touched the bottom of the lake. In a vague sense, he could see a huge stone door embedded in the rock wall on one side of the lake bottom, with the door slightly open.
Confirming that it was temporarily safe underwater, Li Ang took out the underwater breathing agent, tilted his head back and drank it. A cool sensation spread through him, and he felt as if invisible gill-like structures had grown on the sides and back of his cheeks.
He took a deep breath, jumped into the lake, and swam toward the location of the guard.
The lake water was icy cold, and the already limited illumination range of the magic lights became even narrower underwater.
Fortunately, the underwater breathing agent not only allowed him to breathe underwater but also gave him good swimming ability. He quickly swam to the stone gate and instructed the guards to push it open and explore the way.
Through the guard's eyes, he saw an upward-facing passageway filled with lake water behind the door. After confirming that there was no immediate danger in the passageway, Li Ang carefully swam into the stone gate.
As the passageway ascends, the surrounding walls transform from natural rock into neat rows of stone bricks, clearly indicating that it is a man-made structure.
After swimming upstream for three or four minutes, Li Ang suddenly felt a lightness on his head and surfaced.
He wiped the water off his face and found himself in a small pool of water, with a smooth rocky platform in front of him.
Upon climbing onto the platform, Li Ang discovered a faint glow. Upon closer inspection, he found that the light source was a luminous moss.
A thought struck him: it was moonlight moss! Li Ang knew the value of this stuff very well; a tiny drop of its extract could fetch tens of silver coins, yet it was growing densely here. He suppressed the urge to collect it immediately and began to observe his surroundings.
He soon discovered that a hundred meters away, another huge door, gleaming with a cold, hard metallic luster, stood in the dim light.
On either side of the gate stood two incredibly ferocious-looking puppets.
They are taller than the Golden Guardians, nearly three meters tall, with a dark metallic luster. They have six incredibly thick mechanical arms equipped with different weapons or claws, and six neatly arranged eyes on their heads that emit a chilling red light.
It seems that what Mr. Polk said in his letter was true.
However, after Li Ang saw the two puppets clearly, he was first stunned, and then a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.
[Six-Armed Guardian Puppet (Left) Lv0]
[Status: Bindable]
[Binding Cost: 20 Spirit Points]
[Six-Armed Guardian Puppet (Right) Lv0]
[Status: Bindable]
[Binding Cost: 20 Spirit Points]
"It really works!" Li Ang was overjoyed. He only needed to spend 40 points of mental energy to pass through here safely without bloodshed.
He immediately began the binding process. As the first puppet was bound, Li Ang had a thought, and the spiritual power stored in the ring quickly replenished the star. Li Ang then bound the second puppet.
After the binding was successful, Li Ang established a mental connection with the two enormous figures. Through this mental connection, the information fed back by the puppets stirred his heart even more.
These two six-armed puppets are far stronger than the Golden Guardians, making them true war machines. However, they also have limitations on their range of movement and cannot stray too far from the core area of the floating fortress.
Floating fortress? Li Ang caught this keyword, and his heart pounded.
Could it be that what lies behind the door is not just simple ruins, but a...flying fortress? This thought made his breathing quicken.
Control a six-armed puppet to step forward. Its black mechanical arm pressed against the metal door, emitting a dull groan, and slowly pushed the door open a crack large enough for a person to pass through.
The scene behind the door slowly unfolded. Li Ang had two six-armed puppets lead the way, with the golden guards bringing up the rear. He gripped his wand tightly, walked in the middle, and carefully stepped into the doorway.
However, the scene behind the door was not what he had imagined; it was not a magnificent flying fortress.
Wherever the light of the magic lamp reached, there were only ruins, huge metal beams twisted and broken, walls collapsed, and mechanical parts and broken building materials scattered on the ground that were unrecognizable.
This place seems to have experienced a cataclysmic disaster; everything has been completely destroyed. Only from the scale of these ruins can one vaguely imagine the magnificent landscape that once existed here.
The anticipation in his heart was instantly extinguished by the desolate scene before him. Li Ang directed a six-armed puppet to clear the way forward, while two other puppets stood guard beside him as he cautiously explored the interior.
The ruins were eerily silent, save for the sound of his footsteps and the metallic scraping of the puppets as they moved.
After walking for a good seven or eight minutes, and going around a huge pile of wreckage, Li Ang finally found a room that seemed to be relatively well preserved.
The door to the room was ajar. He carefully guided the puppet inside first, and only after confirming that there was no danger did he follow.
The room was also in a mess, but the original layout could still be vaguely seen. There were several collapsed shelves against the wall, and many broken crystal vessels and dried, discolored medicinal residues were scattered on the floor.
In the center of the room was a huge black stone workbench, now cracked into several pieces.
"This... seems to be a potion workshop?" Li Ang examined the remaining traces, feeling a pang of heartache. These damaged tools looked extraordinary, and if they had been well preserved, their value would be immeasurable.
It seemed that the floating fortress was truly and completely destroyed, and there was nothing of value left. He sighed, inevitably feeling somewhat disappointed.
Just as he was about to leave and try his luck elsewhere, the spotlight swept across a pile of inconspicuous fragments in the corner, and a broken sphere, half-buried in the dust, caught his eye.
He took a few steps closer and focused his attention.
[Floating Core LV0 (Destroyed)]
[Status: Bindable]
[Binding Cost: 40 Spirit Points]
Li Ang's breathing suddenly stopped, and then his heart began to pound wildly like a war drum.
The floating core can actually be bound, does that mean...!
He suppressed the surging emotions within him and immediately ordered the three puppets to form a triangular formation to firmly protect him in the center. Then, without hesitation, he sat down on the spot and began to meditate, trying to recover the mental energy he had consumed when binding the puppets as quickly as possible.
His mental energy quickly recovered, and Li Ang opened his eyes, staring intently at the broken sphere.
"Bind!"
A massive surge of spiritual energy erupted and poured into the seemingly lifeless sphere.
[Binding successful]
[Floating Core LV0]
Current status: (Damaged -> Repairable)
[Repair Requirement: Gravity Stone (0/5000 grams)]
The binding was successful, and it really could be repaired. The key item needed for the repair, the Gravity Stone, was a name he had seen before; it was in the faction exchange list.
The description states that it is a rare mineral that can alter the local gravity environment, and its price is extremely high. He remembers that it takes about 300 contribution points to exchange for 100 grams.