NOVPUBWhen the scenery brightened again, they saw a range of verdant mountain stretching towards the sky, lush grasslands connected to a winding brook.
The stream flowed continuously as clear as crystal. On its shimmering surface, reflections of the swaying trees could be seen. From afar, it appeared like a pure canopy, lending the scenery a dreamy, illusionary touch.
Lanci stood atop a raised piece of land. Irregular white walls, layered and lined up, eventually formed an imposing temple. Stout stone pillars wound with lush vines held up the temple, on which blossoms shook gently in the breeze.
Towering and flawless, the pillars firmly held up a beautifully carved pure white ceiling. The relief carvings on it all emitted a distinctive sacred and solemn charm.
Mirroring the sunlight filtering through the high-hung branch-shaped chandelier, the glossy floor gave one a bird’s eye view of the outside world, allowing one to take in the heart-lifting green field scene.
"I didn’t expect such a celestial beauty to exist."
Standing in this pristine and mysterious domain, Lanci murmured.
"..."
Looking at him, Carlen was left a bit speechless.
Surely an outsider, capable of perceiving only the superficial.
This domain appeared to be an extraordinarily vast space, however, upon observation, one realized it was a projection created by the Superior Barrier Formula, somewhat like the Artificial Shadow World.
But this space also differed from a real Shadow World, and fell far short of it.
It could be considered as some sort of existence between the Artificial and the real Shadow World.
Due to its inherent flaws, one couldn’t traverse too far from the temple. The further away, the more challenging it became.
Maintaining this domain was a colossal mural in the center of the temple.
The incomplete mural was obviously a prototype of the [Original Slabstone Tablet-Wind], clearly modified by a Magic Artisan. Its surface was engraved with intricate Barrier Formulas. However, the material of the mural itself was not created by human Magical Engineering.
"Lanci, we are not here to take in the scenery. If you want to enlighten yourself, you should pay more attention to the mural," Carlen reminded.
For now, she couldn’t discern Lanci’s level, but was curious about Loren’s comment on Lanci being a formidable card maker.
A brief exchange would quickly rectify this.
Lanci turned his gaze to the mural and gradually became fascinated.
Not until sometime later did he finally speak up.
"Reportedly, these thirty-two Original Slabs of murals, when combined, depict an epic battle between the Gods; a divine era, until the gods vanished, leaving an age for all sentient beings. Seeing it with my own eyes, it’s indeed astonishing."
"Aren’t you interested in the Magic Spells on the mural at all?"
Carlen was disappointed, for she didn’t know how Lanci could seriously talk about things already written in textbooks.
"I think the mural itself is more fascinating."
Lanci said, with a laugh.
"You could find such things in textbooks."
In particular, the Original Tablet of Wind, and other slabs that had been thoroughly researched by various associations in recent years.
"Seeing it with your own eyes and looking at an image are different experiences."
Both of them strolled around the temple, chatting.
The spiritual pressure in this space increased gradually. Regardless of one’s rank, they would feel a strong repulsive force after two hours, after which they would no longer be able to enter this space. On this point, it was similar to the real Shadow World, offering a non-repeatable challenge.
How much of the Barrier Formula on the mural one understood wouldn’t take too much time to discern.
When someone thinks they’ve seen enough and don’t want to endure the mental pressure any longer, they can just leave. Thus, you see Magic Artisans who observe for a short time.
Generally, Card Makers observe for longer. Due to the domain’s structure being similar to that of the Shadow World, Card Makers can bring portable card-making tool kits in the form of Magic Cards and use the unique material in the Original Slabs domain to create Magic Cards and bind their souls before taking them out.
This is also the principle for Battlefield Card Makers to increase their harvest in the Shadow World. When entering and leaving the Shadow World, only Magic Cards bound with the soul can be brought in and out. Therefore, only Magic Cards crafted in the Shadow World have a slim chance of bringing out precious materials obtained during the exploration of the Shadow World in another form.
In less than half an hour, they had already roughly observed everything.
"Lanci, what do you think?"
Carlen curiously asked.
What intrigued her was Lanci’s level as a cardmaker approved by Loren.
"I don’t quite understand the spells related to wind-attribute magic, so I can only broaden my horizon this time."
Lanci admitted honestly.
After looking at it, he only felt the scenery was beautiful, the wall paintings were appealing, demonstrating a style he had never seen as a main beauty before.
But speaking of the wind magic spells depicted above, he felt like he was completely ignorant.
Just as ordinary people do not understand seal magic, he does not understand wind magic either.
Unless it is about appreciating the wall painting itself, he can actually articulate quite a few insights.
"That’s truly adorable, Lanci,"
Carlen turned her head slightly, smiling at Lanci,
"So, will you proceed to make cards later?"
The materials in the temple are not actually high-end, but just waste pieces of Original Slabs.
If you don’t understand the barrier formula of the original slab itself, then making valuable magic cards with materials that are somewhat derived from it will become impossible.
"I can do it, but I can also let it go. I want to look at the mural again."
Lanci answered in a very zen-like manner.
"Well, I won’t wait for you then. I’ll be making cards here next; you can watch from the side. As for how much you can understand, it depends on your comprehension."
Carlen said to Lanci like a caring senior.
Although her attitude was very friendly on the surface, she still harbored some resentment towards Lanci and couldn’t wait to find an opportunity to embarrass him.
The most direct measure of a cardmaker’s observation result is what card they made.
Now, scholars and journalists are waiting outside, the execution stand for Lanci is already set up.
Besides, considering Lanci’s illiteracy level in Magic Engineering based on the conversation just now, Loren had the nerve to say he’s talented?
Carlen found it ludicrous. 𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑝𝑢𝘣.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Next when she makes a good card, and then sees what card Lanci made, she can then throw the ridicule right back at him.
"Hmm."
Lanci folded his arms and sat down on the stone steps stacked like boxes not far away, watching Carlen.
He is not in a hurry to make cards because he really feels confused about the magic engineering spells on the Original Slabs.
Furthermore, he has never made a wind-attribute Magic Card before, with notoriously poor compatibility. If he can handle the slab materials here without causing an explosion, it would be a blessing.
But it’s meaningful to watch Carlen make cards now.
In the Southeast region of the South Continent, there are only a handful of Platinum Level Card Makers.
And typically, the Platinum Level Card Maker examination requires three Platinum Level or above examiners.
Arolan Kingdom and Hutton Kingdom belong to the same examination area. According to the principle of geographical proximity when the Southern Continent Card Maker Association assigns examiners for the Platinum Level Card Maker examination, Lanci is likely to fill the vacancy left by Duke Migaya and take part in the examination process.
Carlen will definitely take the Platinum Level Card Maker examination in the future, so she is an appropriate candidate.
For now, Lanci can take this as a drill for his upcoming role as an examiner.
