chsdbacks Chapter 108 Land of Inheritance
Chapter 108 Land of Inheritance
Following the increasingly intense guidance of the Heavenly Decree, the group traversed the last area of devastated ruins and finally arrived before the magnificent palace.
Unlike the dilapidated buildings seen along the way, this hall, though also bearing the marks of time with its mottled walls, cracked stone pillars, and vines and moss quietly eroding the ancient stone, is a sight to behold.
But the overall structure still stands firm, exuding a solemn and imposing aura.
The palace towers over ten feet high, and the outlines of its flying eaves and brackets are faintly visible in the thin mist, revealing glimpses of its former grandeur.
The main entrance consists of two heavy, massive doors, with intricately carved patterns of machinery on them.
However, most of them have been eroded by wind and sand and are now blurred.
The door was tightly shut, not even a crack.
With a thought, Qin Xiao felt the Heavenly Crafting Token, which had been hovering and guiding him, slowly fly into his palm.
Immediately, holding the Heavenly Craftsmanship Token in his hand, he slowly walked towards the Giant Gate.
As you get closer, the blurry relief on the door begins to glow faintly.
The most prominent feature is the indented pattern in the center, which resembles a token.
As Qin Xiao gently pressed the Heavenly Craftsmanship Token into that groove...
"Buzz..."
A deep, resonant vibration emanated from inside the door, awakening an ancient mechanism that had slumbered for countless years.
The perfectly fitted grooves are crafted by nature.
In an instant, the token shone brightly, merging with the light of the door relief!
Immediately afterwards, a five-colored vortex with a diameter of about ten feet formed in front of the main gate.
The center of the vortex is deep and dark, its interior obscured.
There was no sense of danger, but rather a peaceful pulling force.
"Is this the door?"
Li Anning exclaimed softly.
"Walk!"
Qin Xiao took the lead and stepped into the five-colored vortex. The women followed closely behind.
There was no discomfort at all as I passed through the vortex.
I felt enveloped by a gentle and peaceful spiritual energy, and light and shadow flowed before my eyes.
The next moment, with my feet firmly on the ground, I found myself inside the main hall.
The interior of the main hall was unexpectedly bright.
The light originated from the countless pearls of different sizes and colors embedded in the dome, walls, and even the floor of the main hall.
The space is extremely spacious, and its height is even more magnificent than its appearance.
The dome is supported by massive pillars that require several people to encircle, and the pillars are also carved with intricate diagrams of machinery.
On both sides of the main hall, there are rows of metal puppets of different sizes and shapes.
Some resemble strongmen, while others look like mythical beasts.
Others resembled human craftsmen, holding all sorts of strange tools.
These puppets were much more intact than the broken guards outside, and their surfaces even had a metallic sheen.
But they stand silently, without a sound, as if they were just exhibits.
In the center of the main hall is a huge and complex three-dimensional structure.
It is composed of countless gears, connecting rods, pipes, crystals, and metal sheets.
Some parts were still moving extremely slowly, making a "click" sound.
The aura flickers and flows rhythmically within the crystal and the specially crafted runic metal wires.
Above the entire three-dimensional structure, a bright, soft white light, about the size of a washbasin, floats.
In the white light, a scroll could be vaguely seen.
And three items floating beside it.
A fist-sized, deep blue crystal with what appears to be nebula-like internal structures.
A carving knife that is only three inches long, entirely silver-white, and exquisitely crafted.
There was also a palm-sized dark gold metal plate.
"Is this the core site of the Heavenly Craft Valley's heritage?"
Luo Qingluan looked around, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.
Everything here exceeded her imagination of "craftsmanship".
"These puppets, and that mechanism in the middle? They seem much more powerful than the ones outside, but they don't seem to be reacting?"
Yu Fengling curiously examined a humanoid puppet clad in heavy armor that was very close to her.
Qin Xiao's divine sense had already swept across the main hall several times. He said in a deep voice, "The restrictions here have not been completely lifted. We were only allowed to enter because we possess the Heavenly Crafting Token, and we were not attacked by these high-level puppets. The item in that ball of light should be the key to the inheritance."
As he spoke, he attempted to contact the ball of white light with his divine sense. His divine sense was immediately blocked by a barrier as soon as it approached.
At the same time, the suspended scroll automatically unfolded a corner without wind, revealing the content written in ancient script.
The written language is not used by the countries currently in use.
But strangely, the moment their consciousness made contact, they understood its meaning:
Those who come later, carrying this command, are considered to have a predestined connection.
My name is Gongshu Xuan, the last master of Tiangong Valley.
[The valley has suffered a great calamity, and its heritage is on the verge of extinction. Unable to bear seeing the hard work of our ancestors go to waste, we have set up this arrangement, leaving behind the core heritage and three of the valley's most precious treasures, awaiting those destined to find them.]
To obtain the inheritance, one must pass three questions. Correct answers will reveal the inheritance. Incorrect answers, or attempts to forcibly seize it, will activate the "Heavenly Guardians" within the hall, who will execute any intruders and destroy everything in their path.
[Anyone who comes after, would you be willing to give it a try?]
The text ends here, the scroll no longer unfolds, and it floats silently.
"Three questions?"
Yu Qingyi frowned. "I wonder what kind of problem it will be."
"It's better than facing a direct attack from those Core Formation stage puppets."
Mu Ziyan glanced at the silent metallic figures on either side, still feeling a lingering fear.
Qin Xiao remained calm as he looked at the ball of light and said loudly, "Now that we've come this far, there's no reason to back down. Valley Master Gongshu, please set the challenge."
As his voice faded, the scroll, its corner partially unfurled, glowed slightly, and the ancient characters flowed and shifted like ripples on water, revealing new content:
[First question: What is "work"?]
Yu Fengling blinked: "Gong, doesn't it just mean craftsman or worker?"
Li Changle pondered, "In this context, it probably refers not only to ordinary craftsmen. It should be 'divine craftsmanship,' craftsmanship that rivals the work of the gods, involving the craftsmanship of weapon forging, mechanisms, and formations among the various arts of cultivation."
Yu Qingyi pondered: "'Craftsmanship is based on the likeness of things.' Craftsmanship is the making of objects. But the 'craftsmanship' of Tiangong Valley should be about exploring the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, using human power to imitate the wonders of creation, and creating objects that contain the essence of the Dao."
Luo Qingluan and Mu Ziyan also shared their understandings, mostly from the perspectives of practical application and inheritance.
Qin Xiao listened to the women's words.
His gaze swept over the exquisite puppets and the intricate three-dimensional structure in the center of the hall, and he slowly spoke:
"Craftsmen are those who create tools and reveal the Way."
"Using tangible materials to convey intangible principles."
"Using finite skills to pursue infinite principles."
"It can be used to create small items to benefit the people, or large items to protect the Dao, and even to glimpse the workings of heaven and earth and imitate the wonders of creation."
"The 'craftsmanship' of Tiangong Valley should be about using skills to approach the Dao and using tools to carry the Dao. What is sought is not merely the benefit of the tools, but also to understand the profound rules of the Dao through this ultimate creative process."
"This 'work' has already approached the 'Tao'."
After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.
The women seemed to be deep in thought, feeling that Qin Xiao's words were of profound significance.
The suspended scroll remained silent for a moment, and the writing on it slowly faded away.
Immediately, new handwriting appeared: [First question, passed.]