Chapter 1138: Level 4 Witchcraft Artifact Unsealing (2)

Then he extended his hand, stopping half an inch from the disc, with a few fingers slowly forming a gesture to dismantle runes.

A layer of light gray aura rose from his fingertips, gently touching the outermost disc.

The disc immediately reacted, the jagged edges trembling slightly, and an intricate pattern like scales quickly covered its dark silver surface.

“Hmph, as expected, it’s something from the Bloodgold Clan.” Cecil withdrew his hand, his expression unchanged, “A disc witchcraft artifact with this kind of interlocking structure, only those crazies who use Dragon Blood to craft artifacts could make it. Six discs, each likely correspond to a different usage and a layer of seal. It’s normal you couldn’t open it; without the Bloodgold’s secret Dragon Breath key, anyone would be frustrated.”

He paused, glanced at Duke: “But once it’s with me, there’s nothing I can’t open. No matter how arrogant the Bloodgold Clan gets, they wouldn’t break ties with the Six-Ring Tower over a witchcraft artifact—they don’t have the guts.” He spoke casually, as if stating an ordinary fact.

Then he added, “However, since you’ve acquired this thing, they probably already know. The Bloodgold Clan won’t openly trouble the Six-Ring Tower, but they’ll remember you. I can help erase any trace that leads back to you, and even remove the backdoors they embedded. But since you’ve already provoked them, it’s best to be cautious when leaving the Central Islands.”

Duke nodded, “I understand, thank you, Master.”

Cecil didn’t say more, he just pulled out a very thin gray crystal panel from beneath the stone platform, drew a few lines on it with his fingers, and pushed it towards Duke: “According to the technical department’s rules, the unlocking price for a Level 4 witchcraft artifact with a family insignia is one hundred million Level 1 Magic Stones, or nine hundred thousand Level 2 Magic Stones. Pay first, then proceed.”

Duke took one glance at the number on the crystal panel, without hesitating, he took out an anonymous Star Dome Commerce Association Magic Stone Card from his Space Ring and placed it on the platform.

The card was entirely silver-gray, with extremely fine star track patterns pressed along the edges, with exactly one hundred million Level 1 Magic Stones inside.

Cecil took the card, swiped his finger across its surface, as if confirming something, then let out a hmm, and tossed the card into an open metal grid beneath the stone platform.

“Alright, let’s begin.” He said, rolling up his sleeves again, turning towards the wall where a row of black iron racks stood, reaching for a completely black crystal bottle on the third shelf.

The bottle was slender with no stopper, containing a thick, silver-blue liquid that flowed very slowly, like it was filled with liquid stardust.

Duke stepped to the side of the stone platform, leaning against the wall, his gaze fixed on the bottle.

He didn’t speak further, leaving the rest to the Level 5 Alchemy Master.

Cecil walked to the edge of the stone platform, taking a completely black crystal bottle from the rack.

The bottle had no cap; he tilted it, letting a thick, silver-blue liquid flow out, looking like liquid mercury, but brighter.

The liquid fell drop by drop from his fingers onto the stone platform, not spreading out but instead drawing a precise array under the six discs.

The liquid was clearly flowing, yet it acted like a conscious living thing, each arc precisely crafted to make one’s scalp tingle.

Then Cecil bit his left thumb, squeezed out a drop of blood, and flicked it into the array’s center.

The entire array burst into half a foot of silver-blue flames, not hot but extremely cold, with the workshop’s temperature dropping by dozens of degrees in an instant, covering the items on the wall rack with a very thin layer of frost.

The six discs spun faster in the flames, their dark silver surfaces emitting a piercing hum, scaly patterns peeling from their surfaces and disintegrating in the silver-blue cold flame.

The outer restrictions were being burned away layer by layer; Cecil closed his eyes, continuously sketching runes so complex they seemed almost distorted above the flames with both hands; each gesture sent a golden thread into the discs from the air.

The six discs appeared to be torn by multiple forces, vibrating violently, nearly flying out of the array.

Just as the Draconic engraving at the core of the sixth disc’s surface shattered, a faint dark-red dragon shadow burst from the center, opening its mouth to roar.

Cecil was prepared, flipping his right hand and smashing the entire black crystal bottle above the dragon shadow.

The dragon shadow couldn’t take form before being doused by the silver-blue liquid spouting from the bottle, not even a wisp of smoke rising.

When all was calm, the six discs stopped trembling, quietly floating above the stone platform.

The dragon scale patterns on their surfaces had vanished entirely, replaced by a faint silver glow, like moonlight freshly drawn from water.

Duke sensed a thin, weak mental connection between himself and the discs.

Cecil pushed the items towards him, speaking softly: “Alright, everything that needed dismantling and erasing is done. You’ll have to figure out how to use this witchcraft artifact on your own.”

He turned back to the workbench, as if the earlier events hadn’t happened.

Duke took the six discs back into his palm and sincerely thanked Cecil.

Cecil resumed his seat at the workbench, carving a piece of dark blue ore with a knife as fine as a needle, only lifting his chin at Duke’s words, “Go. Return if there’s an issue.”

Duke didn’t interrupt further, quietly withdrawing.

By the time he returned to his dorm, it was late afternoon; he placed the disc bracelet on the table and carefully scanned it with his Spiritual Power.

The original dragon scale pattern on its surface was completely erased, now appearing as quiet as six pieces of moonlight freshly taken from a mold.

He attempted to inject a trace of Spiritual Power into it; the discs trembled lightly, as if waiting for something.

Duke quickly realized that the item needed to be bound to a master, forming a contract through Spiritual Power, linking the artifact’s core directly to his Spiritual Sea.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, holding the bracelet above his palm, extending a pure tendril of Spiritual Power, gently probing the core of the central disc.

Initially, the core resisted somewhat, as if afraid after being dismantled excessively.

Duke slowed his pace, wrapping it in an extremely gentle manner.

A few breaths later, the central disc suddenly chimed, like a minute lock tongue snapping open.

The entire set of discs flashed a faint silver mist, automatically lifting from his palm, revolving around his left wrist three times before settling down, securing snugly in place.

A distinct contract wave formed between the discs and his Spiritual Sea, marking the acceptance of the artifact as its master.

Duke opened his eyes, inspecting each of the six discs.

As the contract formed, the knowledge of using the witchcraft artifact flooded into his consciousness.

This object, named the Rule Prohibition Ring, was not an offensive witchcraft artifact. Duke raised the bracelet, examining it against the light for some time before gradually untangling its essence from his Spiritual Sea.

It was a sealing-type Level 4 witchcraft artifact, with each of the six discs representing a fundamental elemental rule: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Light, and Dark.

Once a target was locked by the discs, they would automatically unfold and interlock, like a shackle with rules as the clasp, sealing the target’s internal power related to these six rules.

Any spells, combat techniques, or talents requiring the Sixth Element Rules would become ineffective.

It was also effective against Level 4 Life, as long as the opponent’s condensed Divine Status used one or more of these basic rules.

Duke lowered his hand slowly, feeling as if something lightly tapped his heart.

He understood why Audric would bring this item from the first floor; it wasn’t meant for ordinary contestants.

The Path of Divine Revelation was teeming with Demigod Level beings, and Audric, with the Golden Dragon Bloodline, couldn’t ensure victory in a straight fight against any Demigod Level.

But with this set of discs, things were different.

Catching the opponent off guard and locking their most relied upon Rule Power was akin to temporarily reverting a Demigod Level back to their original state.

Unfortunately, he encountered Duke on the first floor, not only failing to use it in time but also losing the entire artifact set.