Post-Apocalyptic Survival Modpack

Chapter 44: The Mysterious Era, Visitors from Beyond the Borders
The reform of the territory has begun.

Wang Ji first opened up a hell passage connecting the two territories, shortening the journey from the Rift Mine to the Great Mine from two or three days to a round trip in half a day, thus improving mobility.

For many days in a row, Wang Ji led Ryder, Ian, and Morin back and forth between the two territories, handling various affairs.

Maureen was mainly responsible for acting as an air conditioner, helping Ryder and Ian withstand the hellish environment.

Wang Ji and his two companions first conducted a thorough cleanup of the Rift Valley Mine, eliminating all the old forces and hidden dangers left behind by Adred, leaving nothing behind.

The entire territory underwent a bloody purge, and the wicked and their accomplices, who thought they had escaped death and were still secretly rejoicing, met their doom before everyone else.

New managers are elected by the people and then undergo an assessment; only those who pass the assessment can take office.

The residents no longer lived in chaos; they were all allocated houses and had a place to live permanently.

These residences are subdivided into streets and communities, and each community elects a representative for easier management and feedback.

These community representatives don't have any absolute power; they simply have the responsibility to manage the community, convey opinions and messages, and carry out various daily tasks.

They carry the weight of trust.

After roughly tidying up the territory, Ryder and Ian began to divide up the tasks for the next step.

Ryder was in charge of overall management, including tasks such as mobilizing town resources, policy design, and planning.

Ian, on the other hand, went deep into the grassroots to do the most basic practical work.

So, after the initial cleaning and settlement, in the days that followed, temporary classrooms were set up one after another, and almost all literate people with a certain level of education were recruited to popularize various basic knowledge.

In addition to general cultural knowledge, the class also taught how to use the tools made by Wang Ji.

Crops that ripen every three days mean there's no need to worry about resources; you can easily grow crops that will overflow your coffers.

Therefore, the people can have a lot of free time to study or do other things without having to worry about survival.

To fully unleash productivity, everyone needs to know how to use tools, but the tools of the past are certainly no longer effective. Now is the era of King of Cube tools.

Ian was still in charge of this aspect. He first trained a group of teachers to learn how to use the King's tools and adapt to the laws of creation at the workbench.

Then these teachers can teach more people, allowing everyone to gradually adapt to the new items.

“Our lord, Wang Ji, is a born sage. Everything he creates is imbued with magical power and is a natural alchemical tool.”

"And the things he creates also have their own unique laws, which do not follow common sense, such as the farmland and the stones dug out by the pickaxe..."

As Ian spoke on stage, the representatives from each region listened intently, motionless, afraid of missing a single word.

As I listened, I felt a sense of awe.

Some people secretly bestowed titles upon Wang Ji, such as sage, born saint... Others took him as their faith and began to regulate their behavior, just to get one step closer to this so-called 'born sage'.

Ian watched all this silently, recalling Wang Ji's words.

"There's no need to establish a faith. There's no such thing as a god in this world, so why bother with that?"

"Believe it, but it won't work. When you really encounter a problem, you still have to rely on yourself."

"Instead of using beliefs to regulate behavior, we should do something else. Think about it: when someone is starving, they might fight for food or hoard grain. But if food were as common and readily available as the soil beneath their feet, would they still do that? I believe everyone will definitely make progress..."

Recalling Wang Ji's innocent face and naive words, Ian couldn't help but smile.

Yes, there is indeed no need for faith or God here.

God does not exist, and forcing yourself to believe in God is pointless and only provides comfort.

But Wang Ji is a real, born sage who overturned everything.

Ian looked up.

"But no one says we don't need role models and examples."

"I just recounted what he did; I didn't offer any guidance."

While the residents attended classes, some infrastructure construction continued uninterrupted.

They learned while engaging in moderate physical labor to practice and become more familiar with the new tools.

The smelting furnace in the mining area started operating, and magma flowed out, which was caught by the iron bucket synthesized on the workbench.

When the lava was released from the iron drum again, it became a processing plant that could devour all garbage. Anything thrown in would be immediately incinerated and disappear in no time.

This is the characteristic of magma.

Like a black hole, it can never be filled, relentlessly swallowing everything.

In this way, the streets gradually became clean and odorless, and the waste and harmful substances accumulated in the mining area were also treated and no longer polluted the environment.

The territory has been completely transformed.

The residents' complexions visibly improved, and laughter was no longer a rare and precious occurrence.

"It's much cleaner and tidier than the capital city."

Looking at the scene before him, Ryder clutched his liver, feeling that it was all worth it.

Ian, standing to the side, took a deep breath, feeling an indescribable sense of relief. He exclaimed:
"Yes, all kinds of 'garbage' have been cleaned up, and it is indeed much cleaner now."

“You know what, Ryder, I’ve always felt that Wang Ji is too soft-hearted.”

"He disliked killing people. Like the merciful saints described in some books, he often did things that might harm his own interests for people who were unrelated to him."

“Sometimes I really want to remind him, because in the scriptures, saints are often described as being used and framed by wicked people and always suffering.”

"Although we haven't fallen to that point yet, I would be very upset if that day ever came."

"However... perhaps that's why he came up with those naive and absurd ideas, thinking they were even more wonderful than the Kingdom of God."

Ian smiled and said:

“There are some things that the ‘saints’ are unwilling to do, but as their agent, I will help them.”

Ryder glanced at him and said:

“You’d better tone it down, Ian. I think you’re turning into a cultist.”

...

While the territory is changing rapidly.

Wang Ji arrived at the castle inside the Rift Valley Mine and began to loot it.

Adelaide left behind...not much. Surprisingly, he had little wealth left behind, and there were very few luxuries in the castle.

Besides the usual fireplace, a large high-backed chair, and some candlesticks for lighting, the hall only had a long table and a few stools, making it quite simple.

Adelaide's private room was also very simple, consisting of nothing more than a bed, table and chairs, carpet, and storage boxes. The most valuable item was probably the bearskin coat hanging on the wall.

There was also a flag that looked very well-made.

Wang Ji approached and examined it closely, discovering that there seemed to be a line of small characters embroidered on the edge of the flag.

"A Grand Knight of the Templars... Commander of the Legion?"

"What kind of position is this?"

A moment later, in a room inside the castle used to store books and various documents, Wang Ji asked Ryder, who had come to help organize the documents, a question.

As Ryder scanned the titles of the books on the shelf, he replied, "I'm not sure, but judging from the titles, it seems like there aren't many people on it anymore."

"Don't forget that the Empire currently has a 'Temple Archmage' whose status is extraordinary. It is said that even the Emperor doesn't dare to speak too loudly in front of him."

"However, judging from the label on the back, the owner of that flag was just a legion commander, and probably did not have the status of a Grand Mage now."

"Ok."

Wang Ji nodded, looked at Ryder who was still busy, and asked, "Are you done?"

"Shouldn't you come with me to check out that alchemy lab over there?"

"Of course, anytime is fine, you don't have to wait for me."

Ryder immediately put down what he was doing.

The two walked out of the castle one after the other and arrived at the alchemy workshop next door, which had long been sealed off.

There was another person waiting at the entrance of the alchemy workshop—Morlin, who was very interested in these things. Ryder said, "According to the records in Adred's library, he has always maintained an alchemy workshop in order to seek some kind of breakthrough."

"Hopefully there's something good inside."

Wang Ji was the first to push open the door.

Ryder opened his eyes wide and looked left and right.

"Wow—it's just as comprehensive as a university laboratory."

Wang Ji's eyes also lit up.

The two practically pounced inside and began taking inventory of the equipment.

Alchemy table, laboratory table, spell engraving tools, elemental lens, magic crystal crusher...

Each item felt novel to Wang Ji and familiar to Ryder.

The progress bar is increasing; it has begun.

[10% 30% 50%]

[87%]

"Is there more, is there more?"

"Find me some more, tell me what they're used for, what the underlying principles are, and teach me!"

Wang Ji urged him on.

"Looking for it! Looking for it!"

Ryder was equally unsettled.

It's been so many years, so many years since I've touched these things.
"I want to take everything here... hiss—"

As he was reading, Ryder suddenly trembled and instinctively dropped the book.

"Evil magic!"

If this thing is found, you'll be beheaded!
"What are you afraid of?"

Wang Ji was somewhat confused by him.

"Oh right, it's none of their business, they're used to it..."

Ryder patted his heart and picked up the book.

Then, the on-site learning began.

Morin hid to one side, pressed against the corner of the wall, watching the two madmen rush in and ransack the place, not daring to say a word.

"Very interesting, a wild idea, and quite practical, except for the somewhat obsessive writing style."

Ryder watched more and more intently.

Seeing that he had calmed down, Morin curiously leaned closer to look.

As he read, he would nod and shake his head, seemingly savoring the content.

Seeing that the two of them were focused, Wang Ji also went over to them.

Looking at the distorted content recorded in neat handwriting, he felt dizzy, as if something had crawled into his head.

[100%]

[Cognitive Points +1]

In a daze, Wang Ji once again understood the things and systems before him.

A complete system of mysticism, including magic, elements (source matter), alchemical science…

As he tried to activate his cognitive points, familiar modules appeared before his eyes.

The most prominent of these is the Mysterious Age.

From the moment he came into contact with the Empire's knowledge of magic and alchemy, Wang Ji had a very familiar feeling, as the principles of these things were extremely similar to those of the 'Mystic Age' module.

In any case, now is the time to make a choice.

At this moment, Wang Ji can add another module—a magic-related module.

He recalled things from his memory.

Starlight Magic, Plant Magic, Blood Magic, Iron Magic, Mystic Age…

Each of these will greatly enhance your current strength.

Unfortunately, you can only choose one... right?

As Wang Ji recalled the mysterious era, he suddenly had a premonition.

It seems that because the source of this knowledge point is too similar to the principle of the [Mysterious Age], if you choose this one, there will still be some left over.

These remaining resources are insufficient to materialize one more module, but they can materialize one more branch of the Mystic Age.

A word came to Wang Ji's mind: mysterious craftsman.

"It's you!"

【Cognitive Points - 1】

Reality is distorted by perception.

A mysterious era has begun, and the craftsman has obtained his code.

However, along with them came certain beings from beyond the heavens.

In the Outer Realms, in a newly formed ancient labyrinth filled with creatures imbued with evil magic, a tall, dark figure, its body covered in thick arcane energy, opened its eyes.

Lord of Evil Arts

He turned his gaze to a new world.

There, a mysterious messenger was born.

"A new world...a new distortion..."

The dark figure laughed, looking expectantly at the new world, anticipating that the person who would manifest it would delve into profound mystical theories and be forced to come into contact with distorted knowledge.

Finally, it inevitably came to me.

"what?"

Suddenly, his smile froze.

His crimson eyes were uncontrollably drawn to the four towers covered in runes.

That is the central place of this world—the imperial capital.

In the instant that attention shifts.

A giant hand made of pure primal matter appeared out of thin air, crushing everything in its path and tearing apart the entire ancient labyrinth, finding the evil sorcerer in the very center.

With a gentle squeeze of its large hand, as if popping a bubble, it first crushed the lord's shield, and then crushed the main body into dust.

They didn't even have time to let out a wail.

A dazzling pearl, radiating six mixed lights, emerged from a pile of rubble and crashed into the surrounding world.

This world.

Wang Ji stared blankly at the Primordial Pearl that had suddenly appeared before him, his mouth agape.

"What's going on? There's a newbie gift pack?"

"And they even gave such an expensive gift?"

"Then...then I'll accept it?"

(End of this chapter)