Chapter 873 - Whispering God (1/2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At the same time, maintaining the operation of the Time Domain would also require support of a gigantic mana source. The power that humans could obtain from it did not appear out of thin air, either. Lin Li ended up using up more than 10 Legendary magical crystals when he used the Time Domain to hone the cooperation and tacit understanding between the mages. If the Caesar Family wanted to use the Time Domain to produce powerhouses in batches, they’d end up using up more than just 10-odd Legendary magical crystals.
Besides, there was another problem. Obtaining power through such a method might not necessarily be a good thing for mages. Due to the huge difference in the pa.s.sage of time, the mages’ abilities and strength would not be improved in the outside world once they left the Time Domain. If they wanted to continue improving their strength, they would have to enter the Time Domain again. That might be considered a form of dependence or addiction.
Hence, when Lin Li used the Time Domain to hone the cooperation and tacit understanding between the mages, he strictly forbade any of them from meditating. Those who wanted to meditate would have to go to the outside world to do so. Anyway, in the Tower of Dusk, there was a control crystal of the Sky Castle that could allow them to increase the effects of meditation. Hence, no one dared to take the risk to try and meditate in the Time Domain.
Of course, Lin Li did not show his indifference towards the Time Domain in front of Claus. He didn’t want to give up any of the benefits he deserved. Even if he didn’t want the Time Domain, he had to pretend to want it, and then rip Claus off harshly.
In order to obtain the mageweath array of the Time Domain, Claus went all out and did not hesitate no matter the cost. He directly offered generous conditions like mines, territories, and business channels. As long as Lin Li gave up the mageweath array, he would be willing to give him anything he wanted.
As a result, the wealthy Hoffman also chose to accept Claus’s terms after carefully considering the gains and losses. They were only on the third floor of the mausoleum, and there might be more valuable items at the bottom. Even if they stopped exploring there, they wouldn’t have been there for nothing if they could receive Claus’s generous compensation.
Lin Li had been thinking about the doubts he had just now, and thus was not in the mood to bargain with Claus. Besides, the offer Claus made was already attractive enough. Hence, he quickly nodded and agreed.
Joseph and Claus were close allies in the first place, so the former definitely couldn’t deliberately make things hard for Claus. After all, they would be continuing to explore further. It was definitely not wise to have fewer allies and multiple enemies.
The four forces quickly negotiated and reached a consensus for everything including the distribution of other important items in the incubation room, and the next step was undoubtedly a major demolition. That was also the usual approach for exploring ruins, especially for such a large team of expediters. Once they encountered a small profit, they would have to put it in their own pocket. Otherwise, who knew what would happen in the future? There might not be another chance to reap such benefits.
Legend had it that there were expedition teams that wanted to save the benefits they encountered along the way in a ruin until they returned. Although they escaped, the ruin was completely buried underground by lava. Suffering a huge loss, the leader of the expedition team went berserk. Hence, there was a tacit rule for expeditions in ruins, and that was to pocket all treasures before anything else.
However, just as everyone was preparing to move into the incubation room, Lin Li frowned and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wait a minute!”
“What’s the matter, Master Felic, did you discover any problems?” Hoffman had been standing beside Lin Li because he didn’t have to move the items. Hearing Lin Li’s sudden call for a stop, he couldn’t help but be surprised. After all, Lin Li had broken through the Sky Castle and Osric’s mausoleum. Could it be that he had found some hidden danger!?
Joseph and Claus couldn’t help but immediately stop their men. Although their relations.h.i.+p with Lin Li was not very friendly, they also valued Lin Li’s experience in exploring ruins.
However, after hearing Hoffman’s question, Lin Li shook his head, and said, “No, although I don’t know why, I feel that something is wrong here. We’d better retreat now.”
“President Felic, this joke is not funny at all. You agreed to the conditions I just put forward. Are you going back on your word now!?” Claus’s face immediately grew sullen. He treated the mageweath array in the Time Domain as a treasure, and naturally felt that it was just as important to everyone else. Hence, he immediately wondered if Lin Li regretted giving it up.
Joseph originally had a grudge with Lin Li. Seeing that Lin Li could not give a reasonable explanation, his face suddenly grew sullen. He said in a deep voice, “President Felic, if you can tell me the reason, we might be able to consider it, but you’re making us stop without telling us why. What are you trying to do?”
Lin Li thought, Explain? What for? I haven’t figured it out yet!
He just felt that something was amiss with the place. However, he couldn’t figure it out; otherwise, he would have made it clear long ago. Since Joseph and Claus ignored him, Lin Li didn’t say anything to them. He glanced at Hoffman who was next to him, and said, “Master Hoffman, what do you think?”
“Well, this mausoleum is extraordinary. Just to be safe, I think we’d better quit and have a look first. Anyway, those things are here, and it doesn’t make any difference to pick them up earlier or later.” Hoffman resolutely agreed with Lin Li’s suggestion. However, there was still some doubt in his eyes. It seemed that he hoped for Lin Li to reveal some more information.
Although Hoffman supported Lin Li’s suggestion, Joseph and Claus did not change their mind. Instead, they became more determined to stay. In the eyes of the two of them, the Glittergold Trade Union was clearly on the same side as the Tower of Dusk. Now that Hoffman had agreed to Lin Li’s suggestion without asking for the reason, they were suspecting that there was some conspiracy between them.
“Do you really want to stay here?” Lin Li asked Joseph and Claus again. If it wasn’t for the fact that they had Brahere’s diary and the fact that the Tower of Dusk and Glittergold Trade Union could not explore the ruins alone, Lin Li wouldn’t be bothered to care about their lives.
However, Joseph and Claus were obviously certain that Lin Li and Hoffman were getting up to some scheming tricks. Their faces were full of disdain, and they said, “I’m sorry, we don’t find this place dangerous at all.”
“You’re so timid, yet you’re here to explore the ruins. I really don’t know how you became the President. If you want to leave, you can go ahead. It is best to take your obedient babies back to your Tower of Dusk and hide,” gibed Charles, who had been following Claus. He definitely would not miss this opportunity to mock his enemy. Although he seemed to be talking to himself, his voice was loud enough for almost everyone to hear him.