The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 233 Where Did the Fireball Technique Come From? (4k)

"Coo coo, coo coo—"

A thin lizard struggled to climb up the withered yellow grass.

It peeked out from among the dense leaves, raising its timid head for the first time to look up at the moonlight in the dome.

The crimson and deep blue glows intertwined under the stars, forming a shimmering, deep purple that spread across the dark night sky like a long river carrying starlight.

"Boom!"

The shadow covered its sky.

The giant tortoise in the sky, which was moving slowly forward, did not stop for it.

It didn't even notice the existence of this tiny creature.

As I trod on the wasteland, I only felt a tiny pebble under my feet.

Each step was slow and heavy, causing the towering tower and suspension bridge on the turtle's back to sway, and Tang Qi at the top of the tower was also jolted.

The cool evening breeze was like mint, cold enough but not too stinging, stirring his hair and creating shallow ripples on the golden-tinged, maple-red field beneath his feet.

Therefore, he didn't need to wear an overly thick leather blanket, making his narration appear quite relaxed.

Wild wasteland.

Clearly, my understanding of it is not deep enough.

Before leaving Dragon Gold City, I inquired about some information about this wasteland from the adventurer friends I met in the deep well.

Unfortunately, even the most experienced adventurers traveling between the two places only had a superficial understanding of the wasteland, thanks to the 'Road of the Prisoners,' a main road that was extensively repaired by Eve, the soul of the Little Dragon, who was once the open lord of Dragon Gold City.

"We generally don't go looking for trouble outside of highways."

They all say that.

"You know, adventure is always about profit. If there's no rich treasure, or girls flirting with us like they're swaying in a brothel, I really can't understand why anyone would willingly explore a dangerous place."

So all I can tell you are three things—

First, the origin of this phenomenon is unknown, but the magic network there is unstable.

Secondly, due to the chaos caused by the magic network, the landscape and wild beasts of the wasteland have also become chaotic and disordered.

If you see a lake ablaze, or a giant python with enormous fleshy wings, remember that's normal. That's where the snake-chicken's home is, you know what I mean.

Third, the Prisoner's Road, and even the surrounding trading towns, were the only places that could be considered orderly.

If you don't know where to go, at least wander around the highway area.

This excludes 'Wildlands,' which is under the jurisdiction of the Hal family. Of course, if you want to go to a place even wilder than the Wildlands, then disregard what I said.

Based on the above information, I think the first thing to do after leaving the Dawn Forest is to find the Prisoner's Path and then head south along this main road that connects the north and south.

As for the wasteland itself, it should be explored only after it has been understood.

I don't want to risk burning my mouth even when drinking water by wandering aimlessly across this plain.

Even the nature of this chaos is enough to pique one's curiosity.

The loss of history has made most people forget why this land was shaped.

But Tang Qi had already learned bits and pieces of information from the Dawn and Dusk Forest.

He understood that the wasteland's current state was inextricably linked to the Chaotic Tide of many years ago.

Lilith rarely paid attention to these things, so he was unable to learn more.

"Fortunately, we passed through the Dawn and Dusk Forest and learned some inside information; otherwise, we would still be completely in the dark about the situation in the wasteland."

Tang Qi closed the book and put the Snake Pen back into his dimensional bag.

"I was worried that the pursuers from Longjin City would track me down and intercept me in advance. Now that I'm out of Longjin City's control, at least they won't station troops there, so I can be more audacious in my choices—"

But in which direction does the "path to prison" lead?

The guide's expertise ensured that Tang Qi would never get lost under any circumstances.

However, unlike Gao Huan's [Pathfinding Technique], which allows one to immediately know the shortest route between two locations simply by silently reciting a place name, it cannot.

Based on previous experience, they could only determine their location after leaving the forest, roughly northeast of the highway, so they should head southwest.

After bypassing two hills and navigating several forks in the valley, doubts inevitably arise about the current route:
"If only I could ask someone for directions, but how can there be a place in this world more desolate than the Dawn Forest?"

It's hard to imagine that the experience along the way felt like the end of the world, as if only one tribe remained in the entire world.

Aside from encountering some troubles that were hardly a threat, such as a herd of snake-chickens rushing northwards, the most pressing issue was that when they approached a marshland, a giant tortoise lay prostrate beside a puddle, refusing to leave.

It wasn't until Tang Qi found an orc and, in the name of a god, had him taste the water that he realized the shallow lake was like it had been filled with a large amount of honey, so sweet that it felt like his throat was coated with syrup.

Tang Qi collected some lake water and, imitating the halflings' method, brushed a layer of sugar water onto the snake-chicken's leg meat, making it taste even sweeter after roasting.

Whether it was a problem with the breed or the recipe, at least this simple method finally allowed Tang Qi to taste the fat of the snake-chicken beast, and he ate it for seven days in a row.

"Speaking of which, we should probably change the menu tonight..."

"Brother, the teacher has brought people back."

Ambition's ears twitched slightly, suddenly interrupting his thoughts—

Actually, she thought the roasted chicken drumsticks were quite delicious, so there was no need to change the recipe.

What if the dish I make turns out just like the wild game stewed chicken from that day?

The young girl wanted to dissuade Tang Qi from this idea as soon as possible.

"Hmm, it seems there's been no progress today. Well, no change is the best change."

Tang Qi had no interest in managing the affairs of the tribe, big or small; during this time, he only decided on the general direction of where to go and what to do.

As for execution, Shivana took charge of it herself. As long as the goals he set were achieved, Tang Qi didn't care what her intentions were or what methods she used.

He could also tell that Shyvana seemed quite satisfied with their current situation.

Her own existence compensated for her weakness in decision-making.

It's as if she's connected to an external brain called 'Tang Qi,' making her actions more leadership-oriented and easier, to the point that her hunting and reconnaissance activities during this period have helped her salvage a lot of her reputation.

Now, when obeying Tang Qi's orders, even the cold, dismissive tone has vanished.

Having tamed the animal to this point, it can be considered a complete success, and there is no need to conduct any further obedience tests.

If the training continues, she'll probably reach the point where even if the reins are removed, she'll pick them up and put them around her neck...

But there is no need for that at the moment.

"But... there seems to be an extra person on the teacher's horse?"

Anbinu sniffed and noticed an unusual smell.

It wasn't until the hunting party, riding dire wolves, galloped from the edge of the yellow-red plains and came close that Tang Qi could see the halflings bound to the wolves behind Shyvana.

This was the first intelligent life they had seen after leaving the wasteland.

Every traveler who leaves the path of imprisonment and ventures into the depths of the wilderness possesses the means to survive. At the very least, they should know where the nearest town is.

Thinking of this, Tang Qi hurriedly climbed down the watchtower ladder and went to the large market to greet the visitors:
"Finally, I've found someone to ask for directions."

……

"But why is it a dead person?"

Looking at the half-human corpse behind the dire wolf, Tang Qi couldn't help but cover his mouth and nose.

Anbi, who had run down the same path, finally realized what that indescribable smell meant—

The smell of a corpse is always nauseating.

Milky white maggots crawled all over the dead man's body, gnawing away at his skin until it was unrecognizable, vaguely revealing his pale bones.

Based on the temperature and climate of the wasteland, as well as the degree of decomposition of the body, he had been dead for at least a month.

His severed left leg was wrapped in bandages, the blood that had seeped out had long since dried, and the brown soil stains made it look even dirtier.

Having lived in the vast desert and grown accustomed to the stench, Sivana nonchalantly peeled off the bandages, revealing her festering wound with certainty:
"His leg was bitten off by some wild beast."

Tang Qi roughly guessed: "So he encountered some danger in the wasteland, which led to excessive blood loss and death?"

"not like this."

Ambition shook her head, pointing to the corpse's shriveled belly that clung to the bones.
“Dad said that this kind of death usually means that the nutrients he ingested could not support his life activities, so in order to maintain life, he could only keep consuming himself in his body—he must have starved to death.”

Her answer was convincing enough, and Kuru followed her line of thought:

"First, get injured. Then, starve to death!"

This is not a conflict.

Tang Qi also realized:
"So you survived a threat, but due to insufficient food reserves and the loss of the ability to walk normally, you eventually starved to death in the wasteland?"

He looked at Sivana.

"Besides this body, have you found anything else noteworthy in the surrounding area?"

"Besides him and the small cloth bag he was carrying, there was nothing else."

"Where's the cloth bag?"

Shyvana reached under the corpse and pulled out a pouch the size of a waist bag, which had been tightly fastened to his belt.

"A dimensional bag?" Tang Qi recognized its extraordinary nature at a glance.

This is a fairly common magical item, but common doesn't mean cheap.

At least most adventurers are unwilling to spend a lot of money to buy a bag with limited capacity—it seems more cost-effective to hire a cook with a backpack for less money.

This, to some extent, proves the identity of the deceased before his death.

Tang Qi took out all the items from the package at once.

The waist bag has limited storage space, and within that limited space, it contains a large number of empty glass bottles of unknown purpose, with one small bottle only the size of a finger joint.

Then came a change of half-human clothing, a badge engraved with a spherical sponge with hollowed-out circular holes of varying sizes, and finally a broken wristwatch.

The watch's glass case was half broken, and there were no time markings on the dial, so it didn't look like it was meant to indicate the time.

Apart from that, no other clues could be found.

"We don't know the reason, the purpose, or the process... It seems we can only ask them ourselves."

Tang Qi sighed.

"Everyone step back, and no one is allowed to speak from now on."

When Tang Qi decided to send Shyvana to explore ahead, he had already considered the current situation.

The intelligent creature you encounter in a dangerous area may not be a living person.

So he issued the basic order: see them alive or dead, so that he would have at least five more opportunities to question them and learn about the wasteland they inhabited.

"Please forgive me for disturbing your sleep, but I really need some advice."

As the song gently reached everyone's ears, the Three Rings' [Death Conversation] also landed on the halfling's corpse.

The corpse, which had been peacefully enjoying its final rest, suddenly sat up with a "bang".

As he swayed, he opened his eyes, which were mostly exposed and being eaten away by worms, and stared blankly at Tang Qi.

The opportunity was precious, so Tang Qi skipped the unimportant questions such as names and asked first:
"Where did you live, and where were you before you died, in which direction?"

Conversations with the deceased cannot elicit definitive answers from the body, making it impossible to ask general questions like "Where is the location?" Instead, many limiting conditions must be added.

"I do not know."

Tang Qi frowned, and the word "How is that possible?" almost slipped out, but fearing that this question would become a second question, he could only forcibly suppress the doubt in his heart:
"What's the reason you don't know?"

"I don't know where I was teleported to."

So he experienced a teleportation before he died, thus losing his ability to orient himself?
There are still three questions left, and Tang Qi can't expect to find direction in the lost people.

He can only ask another question:
What do the badges in your package represent?

“That’s the Hal family crest, it shows that I’m working for the Hal family.”

So this halfling comes from Wild Country?
Why were there so many empty bottles in the package?

"That's a container for holding [Source Matter]."

What is the source substance?

"A source of magic born from the wasteland, fragments born from the twisting and shattering of the magic network. Using the source material, many magical items of chaotic nature can be created, and it can also be used to provide stability for the casting of magic in the wasteland."

As the fifth question was answered, the halfling fell backward to the ground, regaining its previous peaceful appearance.

"Although I didn't get the most pressing questions, I at least obtained some useful information..."

Tang Qi breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's speculate that he's a member of the Hal family, and his purpose in wandering the wasteland is to collect the source matter that can help stabilize the properties of magic..."

The clarity of his thoughts made Tang Qi realize something, and his relaxed state of mind instantly turned into vigilance.

Provide stability for 'spell casting'?
That other layer of meaning...

"Doesn't this mean that ordinary spellcasting is not stable?!"

He just used [Talk to the Dead]!
Almost the instant he realized what was happening, a sharp, pricking itching sensation forced him to immediately become alert!
"careful!"

The dawn, not far away, was the first to notice something amiss and suddenly shouted.

Tang Qi felt a sudden surge of intense heat wash over him.

"Where the hell did that fireball spell come from?!"

(End of this chapter)