Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1542: Heart of the Earth Furnace

"I told you, there’s something unusual about your house."

Luviya said:

"How many doors have there been? Three doors in the basement, Room No. 2 on the second floor is the ’Hall of the Keeper of Secrets’, and the Time Corridor on the third floor is the ’Soul Graveyard’. It’s hard for me to imagine what will happen next."

"Shard’s place is indeed unusual, that’s an accepted fact now."

Iluna also laughed as she spoke, and Shard nodded, not refuting this point.

In Luviya’s dream about the ’Bygone Era: Sixth Era’, she and silver-eyed Mia were both in this house, and in such an apocalyptic scene, No. 6, Saint Delan Square still appeared intact, which in itself explained many things.

Although he still doesn’t know what this means now, whether it’s inherently special, or if Luviya from ’Bygone Era: Sixth Era’ chose this place, causing it to become special. But this does not hinder Shard from knowing that his house is indeed the best.

"Let’s go down and take a look. I received information about the ’Heart of the Earth Furnace’ from the Heart of the Earth, and the Guardian also shared knowledge; I think this will be very useful."

Because the door was installed using a ritual, to use it, one must go through the three steps summarized by Shard, namely the "Spirit Rune", "Spell Words", and "Artifact".

"Spell Words" and "Spirit Rune" are no problem, Shard even because he swallowed the Earth Origin, doesn’t need Spirit Rune to open the door. And the "Artifact" corresponds to the "Heart of the Earth". This does not refer to a complete Heart of the Earth, but any fragment can suffice.

The Guardian once said that the current Heart of the Earth can no longer undergo any division. But when Shard placed his hand on the handle of the trapdoor today, he clearly realized that this body of his could actually be considered the "Heart of the Earth".

No explanation was needed from anyone; Shard knew it was still related to what he had swallowed.

In any case, he successfully opened the door:

"May the Earth bless me standing here."

The trapdoor was opened, and cotton-like white mist drifted from beneath the floor, yet bizarrely did not leave the scope of the door, as if the door was restraining it. The mist made it impossible to see whether there were stairs below, or if there was indeed a ground.

But Shard knew there wouldn’t be any danger here, so he jumped down first, holding the cat single-handedly, followed closely by Iluna and Luviya.

The descent wasn’t very long. Shard felt as if he had jumped from the second-floor window of the house, landing in a pile of straw on the ground.

[Outlander, you have entered the "Heart of the Earth Furnace."]

After his feet touched the ground, Luviya and Iluna also stood steadily beside him. The thick white mist around them gradually dispersed.

The description on the Heart of the Earth stone pillar was "extremely similar to a scene at the Earth’s core," but what ultimately appeared before the three of them was a dilapidated stone house surrounded by a small circle of ground magma.

Calling it a stone house was incorrect because, facing Shard and the others, there wasn’t even a wall. Built with three walls and an arched roof, the house remained hazy in the mist, yet the materials constructing it were almost entirely black stones reminiscent of the "Heart of the Earth."

Two heavy, unpolished stone pillars supported the roof, which bore connection marks ensuring it wouldn’t collapse. Observing closely, the dilapidation carried an ancient charm. Though incomparable to the grand and almost palatial "Hall of the Keeper of Secrets" or the "Silvermoon Library," which seemed astrally situated under moonlight, it was superior to the purely functional "Time Corridor" and the "Spatial Labyrinth," which lacked even building structures, consisting only of broken road signs.

Inside was a gigantic stone furnace connected to outside magma, possessing a structure so simple it could be opened from the side and top.

"Based on the knowledge I’ve acquired, any alchemical items with over fifty percent metal and stone can be strengthened here. Alternatively, any material combined with an alchemical item possessing over fifty percent metal and stone can be fused into a new item."

Shard spoke, stating here the functions were quite simple and direct:

"According to the Guardian, the source of power here is Ancient God and Earth. ’Melting’ is merely a concept here. Essentially, it’s a process of tempering through Earth’s power, allowing Earth to imbue metals and stones with Power. It can even be said that the power here originates from the Earth itself."

"Can relics be strengthened?"

Luviya curiously inquired.

"They can, but it’s best not to. The Guardian mentioned that doing so is dangerous. However, for relic derivatives with not very strong Whisper Elements, it should be fine."

Shard replied, and Luviya nodded while Iluna continued with her curiosity:

"So what price must be paid to use this? I don’t think it can be used casually, right?"

Any Ancient God’s space certainly has restrictions; that’s certain.

"The thing consumed here is quite peculiar. It’s neither a specific substance nor some special force, but... experience."

Utilizing Delarion tongue made it hard to find suitable words:

"Simply put, when we walk on Earth, we’ll definitely be imbued with Earth’s aura. The further we travel, the more places we visit, the more experiences we accumulate, the denser the Earth aura becomes, the consumption here is this kind of thing."

"Traversing Earth?"

Luviya tilted her head in question, whereas Iluna’s version was simpler:

"Steps?"

"Hmm... not accurate, but it can be understood that way."

Shard was stunned by the simple and straightforward answer from the seventeen-year-old girl, but what she said was indeed very close.

He adjusted the little backside of the cat in his arms:

"Animals like Mia, who are very young, rarely go out, and even when they do, they don’t like to get on the ground, probably will never use this space. But we have been through so much, bringing some important items for enhancement or trying new alchemical recipes, there shouldn’t be any issues."

No one will inform them how much "breath of traversing the Earth" each of them possesses, but "the other me" can vaguely sense how many times each can use this place.

This is a shared experience between body and soul, and the soul of the Outlander in this world is less than one year old. But because he has been through so many things, the number of times he can use it is actually the most among the three:

"121 times."

"94 times, almost 95 now."

Iluna said.

"Only 48 times."

Luviya said regretfully, but Shard guessed it didn’t count her "other self."

"Quite generous, I thought each person would have only two or three chances in a lifetime."

Iluna sighed, then seemed eager to try.

The intention of the Ancient God setting up these spaces, while we do not understand fully, surely isn’t to trouble us. We are still young and will accumulate more chances in the future.

Shard said with a smile, using the metal rod standing beside him to forcefully open the lid of the furnace.

The sound of stone grinding stone wasn’t piercing; when the lid was moved aside, the fiery red light immediately illuminated their faces, and the heat was so intense it could affect one’s soul:

"Apart from enhancing or merging alchemical items, the Earth can also refine our bodies and souls."

"Extend your hand into the magma? Or jump straight in?"

Iluna asked.

"It’s not that horrifying, just a small cup of magma can be consumed. It doesn’t consume the breath we’ve acquired from traversing the Earth, but doing so has consequences. First, there is a limit to how much Earth Power our soul and body can bear, thus this refinement is limited. Also, this action will seriously alter the nature of the body and soul, making them inclined toward Earth’s Power."

"Polluting the core Spirit Rune?"

Luviya frowned, this is something all Circle Sorcerers try to avoid.

"It can’t be considered pollution, after all, this isn’t harmful power. But it certainly will significantly affect one’s own system. However, for Circle Sorcerers like Miss Benanis, whose core power is already ’Earth,’ there is no need to consider this issue."

As they spoke, three small Soil Holy Grails rose from the scorching magma in the furnace, each cup filled with wriggling lava:

"A small amount is okay to consume. Though the enhancement is minimal, the concept of ’Keystones’ contained within the Earth can stabilize the discordant parts in the soul and body."

With that, Shard picked up a floating cup, tried a small sip, and then angrily tossed it back into the furnace:

"Honestly, just like the [Dark Dungeon], it’s ineffective for me again."

Luviya and Iluna were amused by his expression; they both took a small cup each as well. Iluna didn’t feel much, but the purple-eyed girl felt quite good:

"My soul is becoming searing hot, this feels even better than bathing in hot water during winter!"

The power of ’Keystones’ is in repairing the "other me" of Luviya Annette.

"She" softly reminded Shard by his ear, who blinked and then took off the Witch Detector badge from his neck.

"I want to try the effect of enhancing alchemical items."

He said.

"To enhance it? Or to add materials to melt it?"

Iluna asked curiously, Shard thought for a moment and took out the Mithril Sister Delphine returned to him yesterday from his pocket.

"Let’s try it with this."

In fact, the Philosopher’s Stone is a better melting material, but Shard wasn’t willing to consume it here. As for this Mithril’s inherent trait of "showing the story of Randall Valley," Sister Delphine said as long as the Mithril itself isn’t divided, changing its shape or adding it to other materials won’t affect this trait.

And the emblem itself now possesses the traits of "Witch Detector" and "blessing of Death Angel," and Shard would be delighted to enhance them no matter how.

So the rope was untied, then the round badge and Mithril together were thrown into the furnace by Shard.