Chapter 318: Weather Altar |
"You know what kind of altar this is?" Qin Ziwen noticed Luoen's expression.
"Chieftain, this is our fish-men race's Weather Altar. It can predict sea conditions and water phenomena," Luoen said.
Qin Ziwen asked, "There's such a thing as 'weather' at the bottom of the sea?"
In his impression, weather belonged to things above the sea's surface.
Even if a torrential downpour occurred, its impact on the deep sea would be minimal, after all, the sea wouldn't rise much from a single rain.
"There is, Chieftain," Luoen explained seriously. "Changes in ocean currents on the seabed can bring new schools of fish, and may also attract predators from unfamiliar waters. Changes in water temperature can cause fish migrations, requiring our tribe's hunting grounds to shift accordingly. Sometimes, the flow of hydrothermal vents brings high temperatures and potent toxins, but it may also be accompanied by minerals."
Luoen spoke fluently and without pause. Since childhood, it had loved reading the ancestral records inscribed on stone tablets within the tribe, especially the parts concerning the Priest Clan's sacrificial rites.
Back then, their fish-men were still in their heyday. Every time it thought of that period, it felt a deep sense of longing.
"So that's how it is," Qin Ziwen gained some knowledge.
"It should be able to," Luoen hesitated. It hadn't used it much either and was worried that if it didn't do well, it might displease the Chieftain.
This altar was also a strange, novel thing to it.
Qin Ziwen told it to give it a try. Luoen agreed without hesitation, eagerly climbing onto the altar.
Standing on the altar, it turned in a circle, somewhat at a loss for where to start.
Suddenly, the blue crystal pillar in the center of the altar began to glow faintly.
Then, inside it, suspended transparent water droplet patterns began to coalesce.
Simultaneously, on the jade wall at the back, clumps of dark gray, cotton-like substances continuously spread and flowed. At the same time, some semi-transparent water droplets on the wall followed those dark gray, cottony masses.
Luoen stared blankly for a good while, then excitedly did a somersault on the spot and jumped down from the Weather Altar.
"Chieftain! I know! It will rain tomorrow, over there, and there!" It gestured, pointing at two directions on the jade wall, but struggled to articulate the specific locations clearly, growing more and more anxious as it spoke.
"Don't rush, take your time," Qin Ziwen said, then asked, "How long will tomorrow's rain last?"
This question stumped Luoen.
Its face scrunched up like a bitter melon, and it turned back to look at the Weather Altar with a worried, troubled expression.
"It's normal to be unfamiliar when you've just started. It's fine, just try more and get more familiar with it. By the way, when you have free time, you can go to the Hundred Schools Book Tower to read more. You can also record some of the fish-man knowledge you've learned inside," Qin Ziwen comforted Luoen, gently patting its head.
It was round and smooth, just like a little marinated egg.
Hearing that the Chieftain wasn't blaming it, Luoen secretly breathed a sigh of relief while also solidifying its resolve: it must figure out this altar.
That way, it would become the Grand Weather Priest of the Shedding Abyss in the future!
It had heard that in the fish-man tribes of old, the Grand Weather Priest held a position of considerable status.
At that moment, Mogu approached from behind. After standing quietly for a moment, he said to Qin Ziwen in a low voice, "Master, tomorrow, approximately a hundred li to the east, there will be a shower lasting twenty minutes, covering an area of four li. Simultaneously, eighty li to the southwest, another shower will fall, covering thirty li and lasting one hundred and forty minutes."
"???"
Luoen, who had just made up its mind, slowly turned its head, looking at Mogu with despair.
My Grand Weather Priest position...
Was it gone before I even got to become one...?
"Have you seen this before?" Qin Ziwen turned to look at Mogu.
If he hadn't seen it before, it would be hard to find another explanation.
Mogu nodded.
"How do you read it?" Qin Ziwen became interested.
Mogu proactively explained, "The central pillar displays the main weather near us tomorrow. The jade wall at the back shows the range and duration of different weather patterns. Inside the jade wall are light yellow small grids; each grid represents ten li. Our current location is by default considered the exact center. The weather displayed on it is moving..."
Luoen pricked up its ears, eavesdropping from the side.
After hearing Mogu's explanation, Qin Ziwen suddenly understood. This thing wasn't actually that difficult; the key was having the crucial points pointed out.
For example, a modern TV remote control. After using it once or twice, most people can roughly understand its functions.
But if you gave it to an ancient person who had never seen an electrical appliance to try, they might need to cautiously experiment again and again, struggling for a long time to figure out how to use it.
After understanding the altar's purpose, Qin Ziwen didn't need an explanation for its remaining Special Effects. Just looking at the literal meaning was enough to guess their uses.
One was that the Weather Altar could slightly suppress extreme weather near the Home.
The other was specifically for amplifying Luoen's rain-summoning prayers.
Heavy torrential rain could allow fish-men to march on land. Through inquiry, Qin Ziwen learned that even Mogu, after leaving the seawater environment, would inevitably suffer a certain degree of attenuation in his abilities on land.
However, if he was within the torrential rain summoned by a Priest Clan fish-man, he could maintain his combat power level as if he were in seawater.
After settling the fish-men, Qin Ziwen left from the rear.
Mogu followed behind him.
Qin Ziwen said, "Actually, there's a question I meant to ask you last time, but things got in the way. After stepping into the Superhuman realm, how should one develop abilities and maintain progress?"
Mogu said, "Master, as far as I know, there are two paths.
The first: use cards to raise the Superhuman level cap, then continuously practice to improve.
The second: consume some special treasures, or wear certain treasures, which can also raise the Superhuman level cap, then practice to improve abilities."
"I hear you say both require continuous practice? How does one practice?"
Mogu said without hesitation, "Use the ability! Repeated use, and the ability will continuously improve!"
"Does it work?" Qin Ziwen felt many people weren't afraid of hard work, but of working hard in the wrong direction. If the direction is wrong, you only go further astray.
Mogu said, "It works. If one can have suitable special buildings, it can shorten this process."
"What counts as a suitable building?"
Mogu gave an example: "For instance, Luoen. It has an ability to pray for rain. The Weather Altar is helpful for it."
Qin Ziwen understood now.
He couldn't help but think about himself and the other Superhumans in the Home. At this stage, which buildings in the Home could be helpful?
He first thought of Cao Biansheng's [Weapon Mastery].
The Martial Training Ground and the Celestial Star Arrow Gallery were undoubtedly excellent venues for improving weapon proficiency, perfectly complementing that ability.
Next, he thought of the two abilities on himself: Taming Spirit, Gathering Radiance and Plundering Favor from the Fallen. One for contracting, one for plundering.
They sounded somewhat mysterious and profound—especially the "plundering" ability. Once the plundered abilities solidified, they couldn't be changed, leaving almost no opportunity for additional practice.
Qin Ziwen turned to Mogu for advice.
Mogu pondered for a moment, then said, "Master's abilities, though rare, are not without precedent. In my opinion, you could try to deeply study and refine the sub-abilities obtained after plundering. Their improvement might, in turn, drive the growth of your 'plundering' core ability."