Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 494 - 445 Radiance

The entire city lay within an underground cavern. The dome of the cavern glowed faintly, a special kind of fungus that constantly emitted fluorescence.

The cavern’s overall structure was supported by many giant trees. These giant trees sprouted numerous branches, each supporting compact and dense towers.

Judging by the proportion of the towers, it was astonishing to conclude that each giant tree stood as tall as three hundred Zhang.

Rails connected these branches, with countless Spiritual Energy Locomotives speeding along them to transport goods.

Far below, in the deepest part of the cavern, wide and winding rivers flowed.

If Li Ang were still here, he would certainly recognize that the flow of these rivers strongly resembled the Dark Rivers spread throughout the underground of Yu Country.

"..."

Su Feng’s fingertips brushed over the still-unfinished scroll, his expression complex and somber.

During the afternoon’s classes, Li Ang was slightly distracted. So much so that during the Yu Law course, he almost asked, Do the ropes need to be disinfected before executing a death row inmate by hanging?

Once he finished the day’s classes and returned home, he immediately went into his study and took out the wooden box from his backpack.

Why does this feel so much like drawing a lottery...

Muttering to himself and rubbing his palms together like an eager fly, Li Ang nervously opened the wooden box.

The bottom of the box was padded with brown hemp cloth, and resting quietly on the hemp was... a crossbow?

The crossbow was about half an arm’s length. Its Crossbow Arm, Crossbow body, and Crossbow Mechanism were all made of metal, the surface etched with flowing cloud patterns. It felt heavy in his hand and, strangely, lacked a bowstring.

On the grip was a round piece of Glaze Glass, slightly larger in diameter than a copper coin. Through this Glaze Glass, one could see a complex mechanical structure embedded beneath, resembling the inner workings of a clock.

While examining it, Li Ang found a slip of paper wedged in the middle of the Crossbow Arm. Unfolding it revealed the item’s instructions.

[Alien Name]: Radiant Crossbow

[Exotic Species Number]: Exotic-Two-Seven-Four-Three

[Containment Measures]: The Radiant Crossbow must be placed in a wooden box containing desiccant carbon powder. The side of the box must be made of glass, allowing Dongjun Tower administrators to observe the Radiant Crossbow’s condition from seven feet away.

The bestowal and use of the Radiant Crossbow require approval from the Academic Palace Master, the Sacrificial Officer, or two or more Masters, or signed authorization from the Supervision Department.

In emergencies where Masters cannot exercise their authority, it may be deferred to the Second Level of the Supervision Department, but no further down.

[Description]: The Radiant Crossbow’s structure is similar to the standard-issue military crossbows of the Former Sui forces. It is made of an alloy cast from Mithril and Mountain Copper, with both sides of the crossbow arms foldable towards the center.

This Mutated Object remains dormant when unused.

When wielded by an ordinary person lacking Spiritual Vein Talent, it automatically draws upon their Essence Qi. This causes extreme fatigue, drowsiness, and numbness, among other symptoms. Severe cases can lead to premature aging or even sudden death.

However, when wielded by a Cultivator, the Radiant Crossbow automatically draws Spiritual Energy from their Qi Sea. The minimum consumption is equivalent to using one Rain Listening Realm technique. Therefore, the minimum standard for using this Mutated Object is the Rain Listening Realm.

If a Cultivator’s Qi Sea is depleted, the Radiant Crossbow will draw upon the Cultivator’s Essence Qi, just as it would from an ordinary person.

The Radiant Crossbow is not fitted with a bowstring. When it has absorbed sufficient Essence Qi or Spiritual Energy, both crossbow arms will simultaneously extend lines of light, forming the Light Bowstring.

The Light Bowstring can last for a maximum of ten breaths. If this duration is exceeded, the bowstring dissipates, and the expended Spiritual Energy is not refunded.

If the user pulls the Crossbow Mechanism while the Light Bowstring is active, the bowstring will launch an intangible light bullet in the direction the crossbow is aimed.

The bullet will automatically explode upon contact with an object.

The bullet’s speed and power are directly proportional to the Spiritual Power the user invests in the crossbow. Its Spiritual Power efficiency is equivalent to an explosive charm from the Cloud Patrol Realm.

Another function of the Radiant Crossbow is to launch talismans. By placing a paper talisman into the groove in the middle of the crossbow body and activating the Crossbow Mechanism as usual, it will not fire a light bullet. Instead, it directly annihilates the paper talisman and compels the nature’s spiritual energy in the targeted direction to flow according to the talisman’s patterns, thus manifesting its effect.

In other words, the Radiant Crossbow allows talismans to take effect directly at a great distance. The cost is a higher consumption of Spiritual Power.

This ability has a cooldown. Within a 15-minute period, a maximum of ten talismans can be launched, regardless of their tier or power.

Subsequently, this function can be used once every five minutes.

Specifics are indicated on the Glaze Glass indicator on the grip.

[Remark]: It is largely confirmed that the Radiant Crossbow was created during the Former Sui period by the Hidden Sect, Tonglu Castle, at someone’s behest.

The identity of the client who commissioned Tonglu Castle, and the exact methods Tonglu Castle employed to forge the Radiant Crossbow, are now lost to time.

It is speculated that the Radiant Crossbow’s manufacturing method might be connected to a Level 1 Demon, ███.

Further investigation is still required.

[Remark]: Receptacle, Chou Zhibai.

That was the complete description of the Radiant Crossbow.

"..."

Li Ang smacked his lips as he read the item description.

The Radiant Crossbow could fire light bullets with the effect of a Cloud Patrol Realm explosive charm, significantly compensating for Li Ang’s current lack of long-range offensive options.

If he’d had this crossbow back in Xingzhou, dealing with the Shadow Demon wouldn’t have been so arduous. He might even have reached the Xingzhou Town Commandery sooner, potentially rescuing the Nearby Worm from the Shadow Demon and sparing He Fanshuang the journey.

Of course, firing light bullets was just one of the Radiant Crossbow’s functions. Its other function was even more helpful to Li Ang.

Remote launching of talismans, or rather, making talismans take effect at a designated location.

Li Ang muttered to himself, "In the past, when I launched talismans, I’d stick them onto the Crossbow Arrows of a Mechanical Crossbow and shoot them.

Crossbow Arrows are relatively slow and easily affected by strong winds or Sword Qi.

But with the Radiant Crossbow, I can instantly launch Rain Listening Realm Cloud Mist Talismans, Fire Intense Talismans, and similar items over a kilometer, or even further.

Moreover, they don’t have to be talismans I’ve inscribed myself; I could purchase them from my mentors.

For example, Cloud Patrol Realm talismans like the Exhausting Talisman, Electric Light Talisman, or Sand Sinking Talisman."

Rain Listening Realm Talisman Masters can also use talismans inscribed by Cloud Patrol Realm masters.

Thanks to the Radiant Crossbow’s special effect of autonomously activating talismans, Li Ang wouldn’t even need to expend additional Spiritual Power for this.

No matter how he looked at it, this crossbow perfectly suited his current needs.

Mountain Master, you’re too kind.

Li Ang chuckled, set the crossbow down, and rubbed his chin.

This Radiant Crossbow was clearly selected by the Mountain Master from Dongjun Tower. The remarks intentionally omitted some information, consistent with Dongjun Tower’s policy: only those with sufficient clearance could view the complete details.

The very first receptacle... to think it was the previous Mountain Master...

The previous Mountain Master, Chou Zhibai, had been deceased for many years. During his lifetime, the Academic Palace had acquiesced to the Holy Empress’s ascension. Now that the Li Yu Royal Family had reclaimed power, Chou Zhibai’s historical standing was somewhat awkward, so the Academic Palace avoided deliberately mentioning him.