Chapter 550: Chapter 14 This World Really Sucks
“A deeper level of information? You still need information?” Tai’er was sowhat astonished.
In his view, Alchemy was nothing short of a miracle, and any creature that could master such technology would find performing transformation surgeries as simple as pie.
“Of course I need information,” Richard replied, puzzled. “You’ve studied transformations for so many years; the information you’ve accumulated must be more detailed than what I could gather on my own.
Transforming a body is precise work. If you don’t pile on the materials, then all you can do is focus on the details. Otherwise, the transformation surgery would be nothing more than reckless endangernt of life.”
Tai’er was stunned for a mont, then he quickly understood.
Alchemy was a technology, not so divinely gifted black-box ability. It was the crystallization of wisdom concluded from research by countless generations of Wizards.
Since it was a technology, naturally, information was needed as support.
“I understand. Please follow ,” he said.
Following Tai’er, Richard left the secret room and ca to a separate building at the back of the manor. Upon entering, Richard was greeted by towering bookshelves and neatly arranged hardcover books.
“With all due respect, Master Sage,” Tai’er said reverently to Richard, “my library should contain all the publicly released techniques from the inception of the Artificial Body Cult to the current Master of All Machines Church.
I believe you will find all the information you need within.”
“All publicly released techniques?” Richard took note of that qualification, “So there are so that have not been made public.”
Tai’er nodded and smiled, “As researchers, everyone likes to keep so tricks to themselves.”
Richard also smiled upon hearing this; indeed, it was the sa everywhere.
Looking at the massive collection of books before him, Richard waved his hand, indicating that Tai’er should go attend to his own affairs. He was going to need a long ti to study, and having Tai’er accompany him would be pointless.
…
Although many of the Goblin’s technologies seed extrely primitive in Richard’s eyes, after so many years of developnt, even the most backward technology had its rits.
The origin of Goblin prosthetic technology was unknown, but it was clear that the technology had existed and matured during the ti when the Complete Lord walked the earth.
The prosthetic technology of that era wasn’t as extre as it now; its main purpose was to enable crippled Goblins to recover normal function.
However, as the Abyss Demons invaded, the technology began to deviate. People realized in battle that the Goblins’ frail bodies simply couldn’t compare to the stronger bodies of Abyss Demons.
Apart from regenerative capabilities, Goblins were thoroughly outclassed in physical qualities by the Abyss Demons.
It was from that point on that Goblins began to replace their flesh with prosthetics crafted from tal.
Thus, the precursor to the Master of All Machines Church—the Artificial Body Cult—was born.
mbers of the Artificial Body Cult initially only replaced parts of their bodies with prosthetics. But as the war progressed, they started adopting more extre practices.
From initially replacing parts of their bodies with prosthetics, to keeping only so flesh while chanically transforming the rest, and eventually, completely replacing their entire bodies with prosthetics, preserving only the heart and brain—two organs necessary for surviving.
Had it not been for technological limitations, Richard had no doubt that these Goblins would have transford themselves to resemble Alchemy Wizards—materializing their Souls, constructing artificial magic circuits within, and thereby completely prostheticizing their entire bodies.
In the end, they ca up with the teaching now followed by the Master of All Machines Church—flesh is weak, machinery is eternal.
So much so that now, all the Defender Knights and regional Bishops and above in the Master of All Machines Church are completely transford. Aside from the brain and heart, their entire bodies consist of artificial components.
This kind of transformation had considerable advantages. Freed from weak flesh, the senses of the Artificial Body Priests could be vastly expanded.
Things they couldn’t see before, they could now observe through their prosthetics. Things they couldn’t perceive before, they could now clearly sense.
But the disadvantages were evident; the Goblin technology was inadequate. Upon encountering higher life forms, their prosthetics were at no advantage compared to the Church of the Lord of Flesh’s Priests.
Instead, due to technological reasons, their reactions might be slower than normal third-level creatures by an instant. Though that mont was trivial, it could be fatal in battle.
To compensate for this flaw, the Bishops of the Master of All Machines Church never operated alone. Each ti they moved, they were accompanied by a large number of Knights and transford servants. Through sheer numbers, and enough firepower, they compensated for the shortcomings in individual strength.
However, with Richard’s arrival, this drawback was naturally nullified.
But as Richard was imrsed in a sea of books, a call from Ulysses roused him from his studies.
“Richard, co to the Secret Realm. There’s big trouble in this world.”
Big trouble?
Richard was slightly startled. There weren’t many things that could constitute a ‘big trouble’ for Ulysses.
What was hidden in this world?
…
Inside the Secret Realm, Ulysses was carefully observing a Blood Crystal from the Abyss. Suddenly, a rift appeared in the Secret Realm, and Richard stepped through it.
“What’s the problem, what big trouble?”
Ulysses presented the Abyss Blood Crystal to Richard and explained, “This is Abyss Blood Essence, one of the high-grade supplents of the Abyss Demons.”
Hearing this introduction, Richard’s hand that touched the Blood Crystal trembled slightly.
He was well aware of just what kind of existence Ulysses referred to as Abyss Demons—the fearso civilization of the Abyss Demon Civilization, which had waged a two-thousand-year war with the Gods Civilization.
Now, high-grade supplies for the Abyss Demons had appeared in this world, the implications of which were self-evident.
Richard held the Blood Crystal in his hands and examined it. This Blood Crystal, rather than being a crystal stone, was more like flesh pretending to be a crystalline structure.
Within this crystal, there were vast amounts of energy and a considerable number of dormant cells. These cells were asleep, protected by the crystal shell and nourished by a huge supply of Life Energy, and they could survive for thousands of years.
“Is this world about to be invaded by Abyss Demons?” Richard asked with furrowed brows and a sowhat somber expression.
If this world was to be invaded by the Abyss, then he could only switch to another world to continue the ritual.
“No, it’s a bit better than that,” Ulysses replied.
“The Abyss has already finished invading.”
Upon hearing this “good news,” Richard’s hanging heart finally died.
“What kind of good news is that,” Richard couldn’t help but complain.
“Of course, it’s good news,” Ulysses explained, “that bunch of Abyssal riffraff has been sealed, and the Abyss Demons that invaded aren’t connected to the Abyss Main World by an Abyss Pipeline.
If this isn’t good news, then there is no good news.”
Richard’s brows furrowed slightly as he asked, “What is an Abyss Pipeline? And a native world can seal an invasion from the Abyss?”
Ulysses shook his head slightly, “I don’t know the details, but from what I see, that bunch of Abyssal riffraff must have been suppressed by the Complete Lord. And as for the Abyss Pipeline… you can think of it as your Teleportation Gate.
The Abyss is so troubleso because this pipeline system can transport Abyss Demons and Great Demons from other worlds continuously, just like a Teleportation Gate.”
“So you an to say, these Abyss Demons are currently being sealed.”
“Correct.”
Richard lanted, “This is really cursed. Why am I always dealing with seals lately?”
Ulysses didn’t offer any consolation upon hearing this; instead, he delivered more troubling news.
“Stop complaining and get ready. If nothing goes wrong, the Abyss Demons will probably break the seal soon. These Blood Crystals are highly pure, which shows that the strength of the Abyss Demons isn’t weak. They haven’t broken through the seal yet, either because the seal is too strong or more likely because this allows them to secretly corrupt this world.”
Richard probed, “So you’re saying that now, not only do I have to be hostile with the two churches of this world, but I also have to deal with potential Abyssal agents?”
“Correct.”
“Damn, this world really sucks.”
But gripes aside, Richard wasn’t planning on giving up on this world unless things completely fell apart.
In the vast expanse of the Star Realm, looking for a world by drifting was not an easy task. He was lucky this ti to have found one, but whether he could be lucky again was questionable.
After contemplating for a mont, Richard spoke, “Ulysses, continue to preach in this city with Ben. I will have Tai’er send a trusted individual to the church side to ensure that no one from the Master of All Machines Church will disturb you.”
Ulysses nodded slightly, a flash of appreciation in his eyes.
“Okay.”
After a pause, Richard added, “Furthermore, when preaching, pay close attention to those robust Goblins. I’m currently learning Goblin Artificial Body knowledge. In a while, I’ll create a Transformation Surgery and start transforming these Goblins.”
“That’s possible. Additionally, I plan to teach these Goblins so Divine Arts, what do you think?”
Richard raised an eyebrow, “My friend, you don’t need to ask about sothing like that. As long as it’s beneficial for the developnt of our order, go ahead.”
“Then I’ll teach them. It won’t do for a Priest of a church not to know Divine Arts.”
With the arrangent finalized for what was coming next, Richard prepared to leave and continue reading in the library. But Ulysses stopped him.
“Richard, how should we deal with this little guy?”
Ulysses tossed Imilo in front of Richard. At this mont, Imilo’s limbs were perated with mycelium, with every gear and joint firmly fixed by the fungal filants.
“Who is he?”
“A Defender Knight. This Blood Crystal was found on him.”
“Found on him?” Richard was slightly surprised, “Has the Master of All Machines Church been infiltrated as well?”
“That’s not the case,” Ulysses replied indifferently, “They plan to use these Blood Crystals to artificially create an Abyss Sect, and then pin the disappearance of Osiris on the Abyss Sect.”
Richard frowned. Creating an Abyss Sect to pass the bla? These Defender Knights really are shaless.
It’s not soone else’s backyard after all.
“Keep him alive for now; I could use so tangible teaching materials.”
“What if other Defender Knights co to cause trouble?”
Richard opened the Secret Realm Rift and called over his shoulder without turning back, “If they can be captured, capture them; if not, kill them. There’s no need to recruit such trash into the order.”
Ulysses watched Richard’s retreating figure and bowed his head slightly.
“Understood, Divine Lord.”
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