Chapter 442 Ancient City Upgrade
It was probably based on Zhong Cai's idea—
The inner city's buildings became more compact and their height was reduced significantly. At the same time, many new palace complexes of varying sizes were added, including a library—all the books, martial arts techniques, secret skills, and other knowledge that the couple currently possessed were neatly categorized and stored there, including the inheritances they received from the altar and the Sun-Shooting Bow.
Upon closer inspection, one can discover that many separate training rooms for secret techniques have been added.
For example, five interconnected small halls appeared, each containing a different elemental environment, suitable for Zhong Cai's Five Elements Secret Techniques. Furthermore, each of Zhong Cai's Secret Techniques now has its own individual training room for honing, making it much more refined than the previous centralized system. Moreover, the energy levels and ranges within these rooms can be adjusted.
For example, the Yin-Yang Millstone is a suitable training ground for Wu Shaogan. It has a dedicated training room where he can cultivate both Yin and Yang attributes, as well as archery and various other self-created secret techniques. It also provides various training environments that can be adjusted accordingly.
There are also many other types of buildings, in various styles and with various functions, too many to see at a glance.
But it seems that whatever the couple thinks of, they can find immediately.
The various military camps in the outer city remained unchanged, only the territory and buildings increased. However, since all the low-level Dao soldiers had been synthesized, only Dragon Armor Soldiers and mutated Dragon Armor Soldiers were actually stationed here—the other, even the well-trained Golden Armor Soldiers, had been taken to the Ancient City Sect.
The residential area in the middle is constantly shrinking, and the buildings that were originally intended for living people are also becoming very miniaturized—mainly because no one has ever moved in here, so it looks empty and has simply been "hidden" for the time being.
·
Different colored lights shimmered continuously on the inner and outer city walls.
After each beam of light passed by, the wall seemed to be coated with a strange paint, or as if it had been reforged by some invisible energy, making each brick many times stronger than before.
The height of the city wall did not change, but the volume of each brick was larger, and the thickness of the wall increased several times.
The ancient city's defenses reached the level of a top-grade ninth-level Xuan artifact, capable of withstanding attacks from ordinary Tongtian cultivators, even those at the first or second tribulation level. However, if the attackers reached the third tribulation level or higher, they would have a certain chance of breaking through after expending the corresponding amount of time—even a Tongtian cultivator at the eighth tribulation level would not be able to destroy the ancient city immediately within three to five attempts.
The number of cannons hidden in the bricks increased—it should be said that almost every brick contained a cannon muzzle.
However, apart from being more densely packed, the power of each cannon shot was not increased; it remained at level nine, but was slightly weaker than a typical Heaven-Piercing Attack.
The Tongtian Realm is very special; the limit of an ancient city that can automatically launch an attack without human intervention is only here.
The efficiency of the combined energy of the turrets and towers on the city wall has doubled, as have the number, types, and attack range of other firepower facilities.
·
Zhong Cai observed the rapidly changing inner and outer cities and sensed the situation in the medicine garden.
The time pattern remains unchanged, and the structure of the medicinal garden also remains the same.
The biggest change is simply the expansion of the area.
The variety of special environments suitable for cultivating rare medicinal herbs has increased, as has the sophistication.
Wu Shaogan then looked at the inner city gate tower.
At first glance, there seems to be no change; it is still divided into several layers.
What has changed is still the area of each floor, the number of rooms, and the number of crafting pools or weapon pools...
For example, the altar pool has been expanded again, and there is only one other change: the pity system for ten pulls has been changed from a four-choice option to a five-choice option.
...That makes sense. The "multi-pay alchemy to draw high-quality resources" function created by this altar is already incredibly powerful, and it seems difficult to continue "cheating".
For example, the pool for summoning Taoist soldiers can now summon 100,000 at a time, saving a lot of summoning time.
The area of each synthesis pool is also increased by at least double.
·
As the ancient city is upgraded, the function of the high-hanging mirror has also been updated.
The updates are minimal.
If it's for functions like spying, sensing, or treasure hunting, it's just that the functions are a bit more powerful than before.
However, the enhancements are limited, since these functions were already powerful enough and extremely difficult to improve.
The malicious activity list is more sensitive, faster to search, and sometimes provides slightly more detailed information, but most of the time it is the same as before.
The communication function is more flexible. Whether it is between the mirror and the Dao soldier or between two mirrors, the limitation of two million miles has been changed to two situations: one is that it does not exceed two million miles, then it remains the same; the other is that it exceeds two million miles, then it can conduct "video" within the region or continent where it is located, regardless of the size of the region or continent, and the judgment is based on the already defined area.
In other words, sometimes the range of a "video" can be as far as tens of millions of miles, but at least it can be as far as two million miles.
As for teleportation between mirrors... originally it was within a hundred miles of the two city lords, but now it has been increased to a thousand miles.
The mirror's energy recovery speed is doubled.
Search volume increased.
If the teleportation function is used, the daily teleportation limit will increase from once to three times.
The number of searches has also doubled.
·
Zhong Cai stroked his chin and said, "Old Wu, I feel that this upgrade is mainly to improve our aptitude and increase the defense of this ancient city."
Wu Shaogan chuckled and said, "The ancient city already had all the necessary functions last time, so it's not easy to add anything new now."
Zhong Cai thought for a moment, then chuckled and said, "Indeed."
As the two talked, they felt that the entire ancient city had almost been transformed.
However, the brilliance of the ancient city still flows.
Zhong Cai asked, puzzled, "Is there something else that hasn't been finished?"
Wu Shaogan was also somewhat puzzled.
At this moment, the ancient city's will resonated once more.
[If other treasures are found that can be integrated into the ancient city and further enhance its functions, should they be used?]
Zhong Cai asked in surprise, "The Yin and Yang and the Five Elements are already balanced, and new functions are being added... What kind of thing is that?"
Wu Shaogan was also pondering.
The ancient city was calm and undisturbed.
If the beast core of the Black Swamp Ghost Fish is incorporated into the ancient city, the city will gain the ability to travel through spatial rifts.
Zhong Cai blurted out, "What?"
The ancient city moves at a leisurely pace; it is devoid of any intelligence or emotion.
The ancient city will possess a certain degree of defensive capability against the spatial forces of the riot.
Zhong Cai keenly sensed the implication and said with some disappointment, "It's not a complete defense..."
But he didn't ask any more questions.
Because of his extensive reading of classical texts, Zhong Cai also managed to gather information from various obscure sources.
The power of the chaotic space is such that once you come into contact with it, you are almost certain to die.
Zhong Cai pressed on, "How much of the chaotic space's power can the defense weaken?"
The sounds of the ancient city carried a metallic clang.
[50%]
Zhong Cai murmured, "It's already quite good that it can be weakened this much."
Wu Shaogan asked, "Will the ancient city be destroyed once more than 50% is completed?"
Zhong Cai was also waiting for the ancient city's will to respond, wanting to confirm it.
The spirit of the ancient city is conveyed.
The remaining spatial power must be resisted by the ancient city's own defenses.
The ancient city itself can withstand the remaining 50%. However, the strength of the chaotic spatial power varies; if it exceeds the limit, it will also cause partial damage to the ancient city, requiring subsequent repairs.
If caught in a spatial storm, the ancient city can withstand it for no more than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. After half of that time has passed, a breach will appear in the defenses, allowing spatial energy to enter and wreak havoc within the city.
Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan listened carefully and both understood.
Therefore, if it's a spatial storm, it will only last for half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
We must disengage as soon as possible; there can be no delay.
·
With the ancient city's detailed explanation, the couple understood the benefits of incorporating the Wuze Ghost Fish Beast Core, and naturally, they wouldn't miss out.
Zhong Cai waved his hand and summoned the beast core into his hand.
Then, following the ancient city's prompting, he threw the beast core onto the ground.
The next instant, the ground opened up again.
The beast core was swallowed.
The couple keenly sensed that a strange energy was faintly appearing in the radiance of the ancient city.
It was as if they were in another space, or as if the ancient city had suddenly generated an invisible penetrating force.
Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan were both taken aback.
The ancient city once again conveys its message.
The Wuze Ghost Fish Beast Core is over 100,000 years old. After merging with the ancient city, it underwent new changes.
[The Heavenly Mirror on the ancient city tower can absorb some of this energy, which may cause other changes. Should it be absorbed?]
The couple exchanged a glance instinctively.
Zhong Cai tentatively asked, "Tell me about the changes in the ancient city itself first?"
The concept of the ancient city is revealed.
The ancient city can be teleported short distances, up to ten miles at a time.
[Drawback: Requires a large amount of Mystic Stones.]
Zhong Cai immediately smiled.
He didn't mind the high energy expenditure at all.
The ancient city has been teleported away, so what's there to worry about wasting it!
In this way, even if they get caught in a spatial storm, they can spend a lot of money to teleport several times, and that's how they get out, right?
It's a useful feature!
Seeing that Zhong Cai was happy, Wu Shaogan was also happy and rubbed his hands.
Then, the two remembered the second clue about the ancient city.
They turned their heads and looked at the mirror hanging high on the inner city tower.
Zhong Cai blinked: "The ancient city named this thing 'Sky-Gazing Mirror'? Is it because the raw material is called 'Sky-Gazing Eye'?"
Wu Shaogan thought for a moment and smiled, "The name is straightforward, but it sounds pretty good."
Zhong Cai moved closer to Wu Shaogan and asked, "Hey! You said this thing wants to absorb the energy of the Ghost Fish Beast Core, do you think we should let it?"
The mirror itself is still very useful.
Although they don't use it much now, whether they use it or not is one thing, whether they have it or not is another.
If we agree to absorb it directly, and the Sky-Gazing Mirror mutates, all its previous functions will be lost...
Wu Shaogan smiled and said, "I think A-Cai is very interested."
Zhong Cai glared at him: "You're being way too blunt!"
·
Indeed, when Zhong Cai heard that the Sky-Gazing Mirror might mutate, his eyes lit up with excitement.
He's very interested!
And my first instinct is to let it absorb!
However, this ancient city is, after all, his and Lao Wu's home, so in the end, we still want to ask Lao Wu together.
Unsurprisingly, his husband, Lao Wu, figured it out.
·
Wu Shaogan gently pinched Zhong Cai's face and kissed him on the lips.
"Do whatever you want!"
Zhong Cai had anticipated this.
He knew that as long as it was something he wanted to do and it didn't harm him, Lao Wu would never stop him!
Zhong Cai chuckled, stood on tiptoe, hugged Wu Shaogan's face, and kissed him on the lips.
Then, Zhong Caiyang said loudly, "Then let's absorb it!"
The ancient city reacted immediately.
Visibly, the radiance that had been concentrated on the entire city split off into a stream of light, which went straight toward the mirror on the city tower.
The moment the mirror's surface touched the flowing light, it eagerly absorbed it all!
The light flowed continuously, and countless strange patterns appeared on the mirror, surrounded by a peculiar shimmer.
There's a very...mysterious feeling.
Zhong Cai observed carefully.
Wu Shaogan put his arm around Zhong Cai's waist and watched with him.
He always felt that the mirror's next function... should also be quite useful.
·
After about half an hour, the mirror finally stopped absorbing the light.
Zhong Cai was very excited.
Gu Cheng noticed his master's mood and naturally reported it quickly.
The next moment, a message was transmitted to Zhong and Wu.
Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan exchanged a glance, both looking surprised.
It turns out that the new function acquired by this Sky-Gazing Mirror is the power to track and teleport living beings.
·
What is "life tracking teleportation"?
This means that if the two city lords use the key-mirror to examine information about a certain creature and determine a more specific range, they can lock onto it. Then, by activating the mirror, it will envelop the person holding the mirror and continuously teleport them towards the location of that creature.
The distance of each transmission may be long or short, and is not specific, but it is always carried out in the most suitable way.
Moreover, it must be a living being, not an inanimate object.
In other words, it can track a cultivator, a rare beast, or a savage beast.
Among these, information about cultivators is the easiest to find, followed by rare beasts, while information about savage beasts is much harder to find—there are too many of the same species, and none of them have the intelligence to help distinguish them.
At the same time, each key mirror can only release the transmission power of one person when used individually.
If the couple wants to act together, they need to overlap the key and mirror—that way they can become one in an instant.
Then, whether Wu Shaogan carries Zhong Cai on his back, or Zhong Cai enters the ancient city and is carried by Wu Shaogan, they can be teleported together.
It should be noted that the overlapping mirrors are not limited to transporting only two people. When the two forces of transmission are combined, in addition to the couple who can definitely be sent away, any other living creatures that enter the ancient city can also be carried along.
·
After appreciating the mirror's usefulness, Zhong Cai's expression suddenly became somewhat subtle.
Wu Shaogan, however, found the new function of the Sky-Gazing Mirror quite interesting.
Zhong Cai couldn't help but say, "If that's the case... then wouldn't it be possible to directly track those guys on the malice list in the future?"
Wu Shaogan immediately smiled: "Indeed, it can." He said leisurely, "Moreover, the mirror is fast enough. If the other party is also in action, this mirror may be able to teleport directly to their destination and wait for them there."
Zhong Cai subconsciously imagined the scene... and rubbed the goosebumps on her arms.
Wow.
Wouldn't that mean that as soon as someone returns, they'll see him and Lao Wu already "waiting for a long time"?
That's a bit creepy.
·
Wu Shaogan put his arm around Zhong Cai and then touched and pinched his face.
Zhong Cai then remembered something and said, "This mirror has other functions..."
The couple quickly checked.
Other functions remain unchanged; the only difference is the addition of tracking and teleportation.
This is actually quite good.
·
Only then did all the light on the ancient city completely disappear.
The ancient city has been completely transformed.
Although the overall functionality has not changed much, and most of the changes are just upgrades, the ancient city was already very well-developed, integrating offense and defense, making it a formidable companion treasure.
Therefore, the current ancient city is already very useful.
The biggest benefit for the two of them is that their aptitude has finally been raised to the top level of the Immortal Rank!
Even though they weren't cultivating, the surrounding天地气 (heaven and earth energy) was constantly surging towards them, swirling around them. It's easy to imagine that if they were to circulate their cultivation techniques, they would likely be completely enveloped!
Your cultivation speed will definitely be faster in the future.
At the same time, the two will also need to use the various secret technique training rooms more often.
The accelerated pace of cultivation may cause an imbalance in combat power, so it is essential to adapt, hone skills, and solidify the foundation...
Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan were both well-prepared.
·
As the last glimmer of light faded, the ancient city conveyed a few final thoughts.
Once more than 50% of the ancient city is damaged, it may create vulnerabilities, allowing for invasion by foreign enemies. Repairs using forging materials are necessary immediately.
[Once more than 90% of the ancient city is damaged, it will collapse entirely. However, as long as even a single fragment remains, it can be rebuilt by continuously investing high-level refining materials.]
When resources that can be integrated into the ancient city and add new functions to it are encountered, the ancient city will provide a prompt, and the city lord can choose whether to accept the integration.
Then, there were probably no further prompts, and my thoughts quickly sank into the interior of the ancient city.
·
After listening carefully, Zhong Cai couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
His lips twitched slightly as he said, "This is truly unbelievable."
Wu Shaogan massaged Zhong Cai's nape to calm him down.
Zhong Cai continued to complain: "So in order to repair the city in the future, we still have to keep stockpiling materials with Yin-Yang and Five Elements attributes!"
Wu Shaogan chuckled and comforted Zhong Cai, saying, "Don't worry too much. The only time we'll really need materials is when more than half of the city is damaged. Before that, the ancient city can repair itself."
Zhong Cai pouted, but her mood improved considerably.
Then go ahead and stock up!
Take your time to collect them.
At this point, you should be grateful...
Zhong Cai leaned against Wu Shaogan and said quietly, "Luckily, neither of us is the main character."
Wu Shaogan was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing.
Just think about it, if that brat Dongxiao had gotten his hands on this ancient city, it would probably have been damaged several times over by now. How could it still be as brand new as it is now? It would be more like dilapidated.
but……
Wu Shaogan solemnly said, "A-Cai, we can't plant the flag."
Zhong Cai quickly calmed down.
Wu Shaogan added with a smile, "We've planted our flags, and maybe that brat Dong Xiao will... affect us."
Zhong Cai quickly agreed.
really.
Their own luck might not cause an "accident" in the ancient city, but if Dong Xiao's strange luck were to infiltrate it, who knows?
--etc.
Zhong Cai quickly stopped thinking.
Let's not think about it anymore.
It's terrifying to even think about.
·
The upgrade of the ancient city is now complete. The couple has built the ancient city, which is ten times smaller than it is now, according to their own wishes. Now they float hand in hand, strolling and admiring the entire city.
The various functions within the city all seem extremely useful.
The couple were very satisfied.
After taking a quick look around, the two simply chose a cultivation room and began to move the energy of heaven and earth.
The energy in the cultivation room was extremely concentrated.
Because of their top-tier aptitude, this energy quickly enveloped the two of them, and its concentration was so high that it seemed to suffocate them!
As a cultivator, Zhong Cai naturally wouldn't suffocate.
However, he was indeed choked and started coughing repeatedly.
Seeing this, Wu Shaogan quickly went over and gently patted Zhong Cai's back.
Zhong Cai waved her hand, indicating that she was fine.
He said with a bit of a laugh, "I've never been this 'rich' before."
Wu Shaogan shook his head slightly.
Even with such a bad cough, you're still being cheeky.
However, Ah Cai's witty remarks are also quite endearing.
·
The couple adapted quickly and rapidly absorbed energy to improve themselves.
During this time, various pills provided by Zhong Cai were naturally indispensable, whether they could enhance physical strength, assist in absorbing energy, or help with cultivation changes within the Dao Palace... they were all used one by one.
Therefore, their strength is also rapidly improving.
Several months later, Zhong Cai broke through to the late stage of the Palace Building realm.
Wu Shaogan has finally reached the mid-stage of the Spirit Transformation realm—much faster than previously expected!
The couple were very satisfied with this.
Next, Wu Shaogan went to hone his secret techniques, while Zhong Cai began refining elixirs.
To be honest, Zhong Cai is now becoming more and more skilled at refining, and he can also use his Xuan power more easily.
After refining the elixir, Zhong Cai took the contaminated Yin-Yang Pearl and entered the alchemy simulation room.
This wasn't his first time here, nor was it his first time studying this thing...
However, it can only be said that this project will be extremely lengthy.
Zhong Cai was unable to solve this problem in a short period of time.
·
Time flies.
Several more years have passed.
Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan's cultivation went very smoothly, and their days were very peaceful.
Apart from occasionally seeing a few patients, Zhong Cai had nothing else to do.
Zhong Cai's ranking on the alchemist list has also reached fifteenth place.
Wu Shaogan's ranking on the martial arts leaderboard has also risen to fifth.
It can be seen that at the seventh level, the couple's speed in surpassing their predecessors was much slower than before.
But for others who have always been paying attention to the Sky Ranking, if they knew how the couple felt, they would probably be depressed or even angry.
How arrogant!
The progress has been so rapid, yet he still pretends to be humble, which sounds really unpleasant.
Of course, the sect has never been stingy with its rewards.
The couple's status within the family has been elevated once again.
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