NOVPUB*Bing-Bong*
For the sake of easy reading, the Three Eyed Nightmare Beast Ape will be shortened to...Bobo.
Additionally, the chapter is going to be a bit...different.
Again.
We apologize for the inconvenience and will be returning to your regularly scheduled chapter shortly.
...
Bobo? Really?
|It was either that or I shorten it to TENBA, and I swear that was used somewhere before.|
I...I don’t think it was...but it sounds like it...
|Right??|
*Bing-Bong*
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<<Since it’s far easier to show than it is to tell, give me a moment while I reveal to you all what our monkey friend here had to share with us.>>
Channeling a bit of aether and anima into his fingertips, Hermit Zhong Wei proceeded to draw a floating array over the cage containing "Bobo".
Once the array was completed, multiple illusionary screens appeared one after the other over the cage, floating like pieces of paper dancing in the wind.
Each of the screens displayed locations found deep within the [Monkey’s Temple] wandering ruins, focusing on treasures that ranged from looking completely natural to being man made items that looked to be artifacts from another time and place.
Feelings of anticipation and wonder bubbled in the stomach of the Zhen Clan scions as they stared at each of the treasures, with greed replacing fear in their minds.
Any one of these items were enough to either help elevate their cultivation by several magnitudes, and if not, they could definitely be traded away to people who had whatever they needed.
However, not all of these treasures were ripe for the taking. Aside from the obvious, the scions and elders could make out several dangerous elements in the displays, indicating that even acquiring just one of these items was going to be a trial unto itself.
Luckily for them, they weren’t going to be trying to take everything...yet.
<<It took us a bit of time to parse through everything,>> Hermit Zhong Wei continued after letting everyone take in just how rich the wandering ruin they were about to raid was,<<but after consulting some historical records from both my personal archive and the archives of your local branch we managed to identify at least four treasures that can help us fulfill the objective of finishing the teleportation array. Luckily, we only need to secure just one.>>
With another wave of his hand, Zhong Wei dismissed a majority of the displays until only five remained.
"Wait a minute, what?"
"Why is there five?"
"I don’t know..."
Obviously, this momentarily confused the Zhen Clan scions, since the number of displays didn’t match the number Hermit Zhong Wei stated. Thankfully, he cleared it up before anyone could ask any further questions.
<<Aside from those four treasures though, we had also identified a fifth location that can serve as a means of solidifying your cultivation even further. Granted, this is a priviliege for those at the Aether Master stage.>>
"Ah."
"Neat."
With all precluding questions now answered, Hermit Zhong Wei’s briefing began to focus on the treasures of interest.
Evidently, Hermit Zhong Wei demonstrated great insight and knowledge in regards to these treasures and the benefits they could bring, but they were no match for a certain pair of curator spirits that had access to an entire library of lost and forbidden knowledge.
...
’Hey...Logos, Pathos. Would you two mind...’
<=Dig up everything we can find on whatever treasures your fiancée’s guardian highlighted to make sure nothing will go sideways? Already on it, and the kaijin will be informed as well.=>
’Hallelujah.’
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Treasure #1: Talisman Monument of Curing Rain
Affinity: Aquarii/Life
Grade: Gold
Description:
A naturally occurring aether talisman that takes the form of a bright blue stone with a strange markings, sitting in a large pool of water. This talisman is able to concentrate aether and produce a continuous shower of rain in a small area that has a nourishing effect on the skin. When left alone, the rain is able to cure most light to moderate wounds over time. In the hands of a skilled aether warrior, these rains are able to heal my severe injuries and even purify someone of poisons up to the fourth tier.
Complication:
The Talisman is under the guard of a Long Armed Mist Gibbon, a Fourth Tier Aether Beast. Under normal circumstances, this beast would be relatively easy to take down in a fight between itself and a well-trained Aether Lord. However, the constant falling rain provides not only an environmental advantage, but makes it so that it heals basically every second.
...
<On a massive technicality, we don’t need to take the monument, since most of the power comes from the interaction between the talisman array and the material it appears.>
=In this case, the talisman manifested on a piece of Oceanic Lapis Lazuli. Which isn’t that hard to find, but the only places it can be found is either on the Roaring Tide continent...=
<Or in the belly of Lapis Whales.>
=We can use lesser or greater materials, but I don’t think I need to explain the drawbacks on that.=
<Up to y’all if you want to fight an immortal monkey, I have bad memories dealing with them.>
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Treasure #2: Eternal Spring Calabash Trees
Affinity: Aquarii
Grade: Gold
Description:
A special type of Calabash tree that grows Eternal Spring Calabash fruits. The fruits themselves are inedible, but can be cracked open to produce enough fresh water to fill an entire lake in the middle of the desert. The fruits are of great value to those who live in dry environments, and alchemists who swear by the water produced by these fruits being significantly purer than naturally occurring spring water.
Complication:
The Eternal Spring Calabash Trees grow right alongside a lake that happens to grow Crystal Apple trees, Celestial Golden Pear trees and Crimson Bee Hives. The fruits and honey regularly fall into the massive lake that grow alongside the Calabash trees, creating a lake of mead so intoxicating and alluring that a Drunken Frenzy Orangutan has claimed the lake as their territory. The beast has reached the criteria to develop a natural formula.
...
=He’s not wrong about alchemists liking this stuff, but...the lake of alcohol bit is new to me.=
<The waters produced by this tree is weirdly pure, to the point that it shouldn’t mix with anything in nature without alchemist intervention, or at least, something potent.>
=There’s probably something more to this Calabash lake than meets the eye, so be careful.=
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Treasure #3: Grand Oasis Teapot
Affinity: Aquarii/Ignatii
Grade: High Silver
Description:
A strange teapot made of carved jade that is constantly producing hot spring water that gathers at the foot of snow covered mountain. The waters it produces contain detoxing properties and has an aroma to it that is deeper than the finest of teas.
Complication:
Several troops of Iron-Capped Macaques live in the mountain where the teapot is located, making things incredibly dangerous, as Iron-Capped Macaques are very territorial...and have a tendency to use themselves and rocks as projectile weapons.
...
<Alright, I don’t think I’d be the one who would need to point this out, but it’s a teapot. What do you think a teapot is used for?>
=She’s not wrong, by filling the pot with a specific blend of herbs, the pot will produce an endless stream of whatever tea blend it’s been fed for twenty four hours. Needless to say, the effects of the water change based on the herbal blend.=
<Looks damaged though. Hmmm.>
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Treasure #4: Fountain of Furious White Water
Affinity: Aquarii/Violence
Grade: Silver
Description:
Located in the center of a ruined courtyard, the fountain is constantly producing a type of white water that invigorates one body while causing one’s mind to become incredibly agitated.
Complication:
The vapors alone are enough to cause most people to become incredibly irritable, so the fountain can cause in-fighting to occur if a group gets close enough. Unexpectedly, the fountain is being protected by a Blood Mantis...if there was an ape or a monkey guarding it before, they’re probably that severed arm that’s floating in the fountain’s water.
...
=Alright, the Blood Mantis isn’t necessarily an issue...unless it’s given birth in the last few days...=
<Come again?>
=Blood Mantises require two things to successfully spawn offspring: nutritious meal in the form of slain aether beasts, aether rich waters for the eggs to float in.=
<Ooooh.>
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Treasure #5: Tempering Spirit Pool
Affinity: Omni-Aquarii-Ignatii-Terraqi-Aeroqii
Description:
A multi-colored pool of water that contains high concentrations of five of the seven major types of aether. For those at the Aether Masters stage, this pool can be used to solidify and condense a special type of aether ring that will influence one’s [Regalia], [Astra] and [Icon], in the future.
Has a weaker effect on those already at the aether cultivation stages that allows one to access such abilities, but it still has an effect.
Complication: There’s a dragon. Not a dragon-blooded aether beast, but an actual Diabolic Onyx Dragon, that is guarding the pool. Reason is unknown, but it’s been found loitering around the place and leaving for hours on end.
...
<=Huh...that’s...if an actual dragon is guarding the place, then there’s definitely something there that is normally very, very hard to find...=>
