Chapter 520 |
The research institute had built a massive energy-vacuum environment for the Immortals, providing them a place to reside and stabilize their condition. For the Immortals, the vacuum was far more comfortable than any high-magic environment — at least they didn’t have to constantly expend energy to resist Aether corrosion.
Even so, they could only enter a deep meditative state to reduce consumption. The vast reserves of Spirit Stones from the Immortal Realm had been nearly depleted by Daoyuan, and the remaining supply was insufficient to keep everyone in an active state.
Currently, the only one who could still move freely in the outside world was Wanxiang, who stood silently, gazing at her kin.
For over a century since arriving in the Mage World, she had spent all her time negotiating with the True Spirit Mages and searching for ways to extend her people’s lifespan. She had never had the chance to truly explore the Mage World — this was her first time seeing a Mage research institute and their bustling gathering zones.
She had to admit, the impact was overwhelming.
The vibrancy of the Mages, the way everyone pursued their own path and purpose — it was something the Immortal Civilization had never possessed. By comparison, the Mages were like a group of energetic youths, full of vigor and creativity, while the Immortals seemed like old men, steeped in stagnation.
In just five short days — since Adam had placed no restrictions on her movements — she had observed that not a single Mage hoarded knowledge or guarded it jealously. On the contrary, they were eager to exchange ideas. There were arguments, even heated disputes, but never for the sake of personal possession — only differences in philosophy.
Within those five days, she had witnessed no fewer than ten new technological breakthroughs. Such a scene… she couldn’t remember how many years it had been since she’d seen anything like it in the Immortal Realm.
Or perhaps, she thought, it had never existed there at all.
———
The M-language had now become fully perfected and mature. All the concepts Adam had envisioned when he first created it had been realized. Within the Virtual World and individual chip systems, its function far surpassed that of Runes in the physical world — more potent, more magical.
To be honest, within the research institute, Adam’s role had become minimal. Beyond offering conceptual direction and strategic ideas, he had little left to do. After passing on the detailed data he obtained from Wanxiang about the Heavenly Dao, along with the methods used by the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, to the research team, he left the institute with Wanxiang. The rest would be completed by the researchers themselves.
The two arrived at a Magi-Construct Factory located on the Fifth Element Holy Tower Continent.
Wanxiang had not uploaded her soul into the Virtual World like the other Immortal Spirits. As a Ninth-Level Lifeform, though her energy supply channels were gone, maintaining her base state without consuming energy was effortless. She wanted to ensure that this industrial endeavor became stable — that Immortal Arts could be integrated into the new Magi-Constructs as tools — before she would leave.
Everyone working in the factory was one of Adam’s clones. Responding to his mental summons, a clone arrived with a low-grade Apprentice-level Construct.
After equipping it, the clone fired several spells at a target dummy — the power amplification reached roughly 1.5 times.
To Mages, a Magi-Construct functioned as an amplifier. It held no inherent power of its own; it required activation through a Mage’s mana inputting specific spells. But an Artifact was different — it contained intrinsic functions and power comparable to that of its creator, and most importantly, could even be wielded by ordinary mortals.
Wanxiang took the Construct and, with a surge of Immortal flame, melted and reforged it. Within seconds, a newly reformed Construct appeared in her hands. Adam split off a powerless clone to wear it — the result was an ordinary attack output equivalent to a Level-2 Mage.
Yet Adam shook his head. “This approach is too costly. What we need is a standardized, streamlined production line — not individual craftsmanship depending on personal power. Our products are primarily for ordinary people. During modification, we can use Artifact-refining principles as a base, but we don’t need every mass-produced Construct to become a full Artifact. It just needs to possess one or a few specific functions.”
Wanxiang did not understand some of the terms Adam used. The Immortals had always worked in an artisan model — each master craftsman poured enormous time and energy into creating unique Immortal Artifacts, no two alike. It wasn’t a bad approach, but it was certainly incompatible with industrial modernization.
Adam didn’t intend to hide anything from her. He took her to the factory floor and instructed his clones to start up the production line under standard settings.
Within just one hour, a thousand Magi-Constructs had been completed.
Wanxiang stood dumbfounded, examining product after product, even smashing some apart to inspect their interiors. Adam didn’t stop her — he simply said calmly, “They’re completely identical. From the applied technologies to the tiniest screw and nut, every part can be interchanged. I want our new product line to be made the same way.”
Wanxiang wanted to argue — she wanted to say that such ‘Artifacts’ would have no spirituality, no Artifact Spirits — but the words caught in her throat. Artifact Spirits belonged to the Immortal Dao; Mages had no need for such things. What Mages sought was universality.
She finally said, “Then the difficulty of production won’t lie in the number of people who can craft them, but in how to transform these…”
Adam finished her thought: “Production lines.”
She fell silent. She hadn’t expected this kind of development. She knew the Mages wanted Artifact refinement technology, but she had assumed they’d still depend on manual crafting — Mages making part, Immortals making part. Now, seeing production fully mechanized, she wondered: how could she ensure that the Mages wouldn’t simply push her aside?
If they did, she would have no power to take back what she had given.
Even if they didn’t, judging by the Mages’ learning speed, she had no idea how long she could maintain her technical advantage. If they started anew on their own, what could she possibly do?
Adam understood her concerns. But such worries were unnecessary in the Mage World.
He straightforwardly took out a Source Contract and said, “Before the new Magi-Construct industry officially begins, you — representing the First Immortal Spirit Tower, or yourself — and I, representing the Holy Tower and the Mage Council, will sign this Source Contract. It will be directly overseen by the Origin of the Mage World itself.”
Wanxiang took the contract and read it. The terms were indeed fair and balanced. But to her — to all Immortals — contracts were meaningless things. Breach of contract was almost a cultural norm.
Adam didn’t argue. He simply produced two more copies, signed his name, and said, “I don’t know how things work in the Immortal Realm. But here, in the Mage World, a Source Contract is absolute. Any Mage — even a True Spirit — would never break it. Doing so would be equivalent to betraying the entire Mage World.
“And now,” he added, meeting her eyes, “you too are a part of the Mage World.”