Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 592 - 520: Deer Bone God

In the central region of the undeveloped Georgia Territory, there is currently a vast wilderness without any settlements.

By a small river with clean water, in a relatively elevated area, seven or eight identical tents are arranged in a circle.

Crackle...

By the campfire, two figures holding firearms are on night watch.

Though it's already late, there is still a dim light glowing inside one of the tents.

A young man, obviously marked by the elements, is carefully sorting and packing dry, white, soft minerals into several labeled wooden boxes.

Especially a few pieces that have a silky white sheen, which he seals tightly and keeps close after careful storage.

This is their harvest for the entire day, taking samples every ten kilometers to determine the quality of the mineral.

Finally finished with today's work, the young man sees his companion lying beside him humming a countryside tune, seemingly in a good mood, and can't help but ask:

"Hey, Old Buck! Do you think this so-called 'porcelain clay' can truly be fired into the porcelain that the Viscount talks about?

They say that such things are called 'white gold' by the big shots in high society, something we might never afford in our lifetime."

The middle-aged man dressed as an artisan, with graying beard, lies on his blanket, glances at the young man:

"Of course, why would the Viscount lie to us? Although Old Buck only knows how to fire pottery, I know the Kingdom has been imitating those exquisite utensils for a long time, mostly using clay transported from the Peacock Islands.

I'd say that the entire porcelain clay reserves of the Peacock Islands might not compare to what's here. Although we haven't explored it fully, the width of the current mineral beds is at least 24 kilometers, and the length extending north exceeds 200 kilometers. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Heading further north to Charles Territory, and south to Far Sails Territory, adding it all up could easily be more than 500 kilometers in length. If not for the Viscount's orders, we wouldn't even be aware of this treasure in Georgia Territory.

Think about it, if we can create real porcelain, it wouldn't trade even for a gold mine!"

This group is a geological survey team sent by Aiven, comprising the guard team and professionals like them. Within the area roughly outlined by Aiven, they are assessing the reserve and quality of porcelain clay and identifying the best location to set up kilns for porcelain firing.

It's one of the five future industrial development centers.

Marble in Pigens Town in the north; establishing Ceramic Town in the center; in the gully-steep Cumberland Mountains in the west, a Steel City based on several small-scale mines and smelting plants; Savannah and Brunswick, two deep-water ports bordering the Black Sea in the east;

Along with the extensive farming areas scattered throughout the plain region.

Aiven's ability to draw a blueprint was evidently skillful, even though merely some raw materials have been discovered and no kilns have been excavated yet, his subordinates already began envisioning a bright future.

Swoosh!

Suddenly, a wave of cold air swirled inside the tent, and the two who were filled with warmth couldn't help but shiver.

"Hiss—! Will, do you feel it suddenly got colder?"

Old Buck tightened the blanket around himself.

"Yeah, is it still July?"

Before the two could delve deeper.

Clop.. Clop.. Clop..

A loud sound of hooves clattered as if thudding upon one's heart.

Getting closer, louder.

Bam! Bam!

Alerted by the sudden change, two night watchers fired warning shots.

A terrifying figure appeared in their sight, draped in a filthy deer skin robe, wearing a skull of a big-antler elk on his head, wielding an obsidian saw sword and obsidian spear, riding a skull warhorse spewing sparks.

Breaking through the dense darkness of the night and entering their vision.

...

Thump thump.. thump.. thump thump..

As the drumbeats for the ritual dance gradually came to a halt.

The new god ceremonial of the Arawak Clan had been completed successfully.

The devotees earnestly prayed for three days, hoping the white oak talisman offered under the bronze tree totem pillar would fully form and facilitate a baby boom, which Aiven greatly anticipates, among the indigenous couples.

From now on, as four young individuals with Shaman Wizard aptitudes continually host ceremonies and rituals,

They can gradually grasp the pulse of the "Life Tree", aligning with the teachings acquired from the Hurons, transforming into genuine Shaman Wizards, and bringing the tribe back on the right path.

The moon hangs high, at the entrance of the newly built outline of the town.

The old chieftain, wearing a crown of luxurious feathers, holds Aiven's hand, continuously expressing gratitude:

"Thank you, sir, for your kindness to the Arawak Clan.

"Without your help, it might not even take ten years before the last Arawak person falls on the road of revenge against Hilus, and this ancient tribe would vanish without a trace."

"Chief Maruinter, there's no need to be polite. The encounter between the Arawak and Georgia was arranged by the 'Father of Creation' in the unseen realm.

Additionally, once those warriors from the tribe are ready, just have Zinaro come to me directly.

Whether it's our Dragon Cavalry Privateer Fleet or the Georgia Territory, we are in need of talents, and I'm very pleased to see new 'Life Tree Totem Warriors' being born."

After bidding farewell to the old chieftain and Zinaro, who had already shown the makings of the next chieftain after becoming a Totem Warrior, the group that witnessed this unique ceremony departed New Hispaniola Town under the cover of night.

Although Aiven felt the outcome of incorporating the Arawak into the "Life Tree" faith was promising, he wasn't planning to promote this belief among the Nimansite people in his territory for the time being.

Simply put, it's only natural for the aboriginals to worship their Totem God, but every Nimansite is a lamb of the Seven Gods, and can only belong to the Seven Gods!

Even though there's only one Tier 2 dean stationed at the "Black Iron Cross Church" in Brunswick, Aiven never considered this idea, because the risks and rewards weren't proportional.

Of course.

Based on the current faith model Aiven has adopted, there isn't really a complete binding of believers like the gods of the Old Continent do. In the orthodox church's view, this is "pan-faith," grasping for straws only when in need, and ignoring it otherwise.

So, in other words, even if a non-believer gets the [white oak talisman], they can still harness its effects. Their hopes and reverence can also be fed back to the "Life Tree."

This situation doesn't violate the church's bottom line, and the actual benefits aren't much diminished.

The same principle applies.

In the future, aside from contributing knowledge and power, the members' reputations in the school are also extremely important. They must actively participate in secular affairs in their respective professional fields, aiming to become renowned scholars.

Pharmacology, medicine, biology, materials science, metallurgy, mathematics... The groundbreaking achievements they make in various fields can provide positive feedback to the "Life Tree," accelerating its growth.

Of course, both Aiven and Angie understand very well that this opportunistic approach can only satisfy the demand for power growth. If the knowledge system isn't robust enough, even if manifested, it's just a facade without the mighty power a Mysterious Source should have.

"Then I'll head back first, see you tomorrow."

Not far from the camp, the group parted ways.

Anita needed to return to Brunswick, as the Pirates' tentative siege against "Oathbreaker" Bradley had already begun, and she needed to be back at Hatrafa Port by early morning to oversee the situation.

The remaining four wizards in the group, however, continued their journey deep into the interior.

Because today was the full moon night, the Spiritual Power projecting from the Spirit Realm was strongest, favorable for linking to the Mysterious Source "Life Tree," as well as for seeking... the nodes of "Magic Element."

Aiven planned to take advantage of this opportunity to find the most active "Magic Element" nodes within his territory, and then set about gradually building a wizard tower for the school!

A wizard tower could serve as a sanctuary, research hub, and fortress for wizards, providing them with a state-of-the-art laboratory, reliable shelter, secure treasure vault, augmented power, faster promotion speeds... the benefits are endless.

Additionally, in the course of various witchcraft experiments, it's unavoidable that dangerous forces and substances will be emitted.

Even though the strength of the church on the New Continent is weak and intervention is difficult, from an environmental perspective, a large congregation of wizards in a city for prolonged study and research activities is certainly not a good choice.

Especially for the "Vitalist School," which specializes in biology, a major accident could potentially turn half the city's populace into monsters.

Unless it's like the "Violet Eye," which has a Witchcraft Garden developed by a Great Wizard to keep the wizards' research area separate from the Material World.

However, at this point.

As the school chief, Aiven was only a seasoned Official Wizard.

Though, within his Spirit Realm beacon's anchor ground, the "Life Tree," serving as the beacon, has greatly improved its ability to absorb the Spirit Realm Sun's energy thanks to the addition of Magnetic Ore.

They have even utilized a thirty-six-fold time difference to create a vast independent micro-world beneath the tree's canopy.

Countless tiny grasses and shrubs are gradually extending, reaching up to the third layer.

In no more than a year, the entire Lost City Poseidya will be fully covered, allowing Aiven to maximize his control over the city.

But only when he advances to become a Tier 3 High-Rank Wizard will he have the capability to sever this region completely from the Spirit Realm, forming a small world of his own, the prototype of all Upper-Rank Wizards' Witchcraft Gardens!

By using his own power to elevate it from the Spirit Realm to the edge of the Material World, and then using Spiritual Materials, a large quantity of matter, and his own knowledge to fill it up. With patience, it could be developed into a unique Witchcraft Garden spanning the Material World and the Spiritual World.

Yet still some distance away, Aiven could only retreat to the next-best option of establishing a wizard tower as per the Wizard School tradition.

With the wizard tower as the base for the "Vitalist School," he hoped to build it from scratch into a "Violet Eye" Witchcraft Association similar to the one at New Inn Port.

And even in the future, when he has his own Witchcraft Garden, he'd prefer to place it on his Legendary Battleship rather than on the immovable land.

Glancing at Olivia, Angie, and Calvin, already filled with anticipation for this journey, Aiven chuckled lightly:

"We'll search according to the direction of the mountains and rivers. Prepare the Kaka train, first stop, Savannah River Valley."

Clap—

Aiven snapped his fingers.

A black cavity opened beneath their feet, swallowing them up instantly.