Cornflower Witch

Chapter 436 Astronomical Clock (title page)

It's getting a bit cold. Hilti looked outside and saw a thin layer of frost on the window and the sky was a bit gray.

She had no classes this morning, so she slept in a little and didn't get up until after nine o'clock. She put on warm stockings, a knee-length dress, and finally the light cloak issued by the academy before leaving the house.

She first went to the restaurant and had some fruit and bread. Hilti checked the time; it was exactly ten o'clock. The teacher should be in the office. Then she went to the building not far away.

Arriving at the duty office for the freshmen on the third floor, Hilti gently knocked on the wooden door, and soon a sound came from inside.

"Come in."

She pushed open the door and went inside. The teacher inside smiled when she saw her.

"Why did you suddenly come here today? Is there a problem with your course?" In the teacher's eyes, this girl was probably the most worry-free student. Not only was she intelligent and good at studying, but she was also very polite and followed the rules. Unlike some geniuses, who, although talented and capable, often caused headaches and trouble for the academy teachers.

“It’s not a problem with the course.” The girl shook her head first, then walked closer to ask.

"I'd like to know what advanced secret techniques the academy offers that I can learn and choose from."

"Advanced?" The teacher quickly realized something and then looked at the girl.

“For an average student, this might be a bit too much, but if it were you…” he thought for a moment.

"It seems like we can start preparing now."

"Come with me." With that, he stood up and led Siltiya out of the office, then to the other side of the academy, which was the 'Hall of Silver Wheels'. The interior of the building resembled multiple overlapping and rotating silver gears, and on the inner wall of each gear were intricate stone tablets containing various secret techniques and spell models.

After entering, the teacher spoke briefly with the guardian of the place, and then led Siltiya to the underground section, which was divided into several circular underground libraries. He led Siltiya into one of them.

“This is it.” He turned around.

"Hedra, this place contains many core secret techniques of the 'Mithril Clock' school, all of which you can choose when you reach the third tier."

"Considering this is your first time here, I'll give you a brief introduction."

"First of all, our school originated from a group of 'watchmakers' because the making of clocks and watches requires a high level of skill and knowledge, and thus developed into an organization."

"Later, the school gradually absorbed many similar knowledge theories and became one of the important factions in the early days of the Mage Alliance. Now it has accumulated a great many secret arts and techniques."

"Currently, members of the 'Mithril Clock' school can be roughly divided into three main advancement directions. One is to focus on making precision enchanted artifacts. They can also be called traditional watchmakers, who are good at enchanting spells, making enchanted artifacts, creating precision instruments, and so on."

"Secondly, they are mainly skilled in laws and interpretations. They are knowledgeable in various laws and rules, adept at identification and interpretation, breaking illusions, distinguishing truth from falsehood, investigating data and information, and so on."

"Thirdly, the spacetime star orbit is the main focus. This direction has the fewest participants and the highest difficulty. It requires gaining the perception of 'alien planets' and fully mastering the power of 'alien planets' without being corrupted or shaken. It can utilize the power of alien astral creatures, or combine the power of star orbits with the school's original time-system secrets to gain the ability to interfere with time."

"Don't rush to make a decision. Let me show you the core secret techniques for each advancement path, and then you can make your decision." The other party pulled out a silver stone tablet from the wall and then cast a special decryption spell.

A bright mark appeared on the stone tablet, like a flame, revealing the hidden patterns and characters. He then took down several more stone tablets, unsealed them, and placed them on the table for the girl to see.

One of the core advanced techniques of 'Mercury Pages', it can improve one's mental stability and enchantment refinement, indirectly enhancing the quality of enchanted artifacts and spells. (Mental Stability +2, Enchantment Quality +3)

One of the core advanced arcane techniques of 'Manifestation Page', it greatly enhances the effects of enchanted artifacts. If an orb is used, the converted elemental power will also be more powerful. (Enchanted artifact effect +3, orb cost reduced by +2)

One of the core advanced techniques of 'Engraved Silver Pages', it enhances the power of construction spells and allows control over more complex construction abilities. (Construction spell power +2, complexity +3)

One of the core advanced secret techniques of 'Lawful Decree Pages', it can greatly increase the power of lawful decrees and inscribe a lawful decree on the page, automatically imbuing attack spells with that decree's effect. (Lawful decree spell power +3, attack spells additionally add a lawful decree)
One of the core advanced secret techniques of 'Spellbreaker', it enhances one's analytical abilities and grants stronger spell-breaking capabilities against analyzed spells. (Analysis Ability +2, Spell-Breaking Effect +3)

One of the core advanced techniques of 'Prayer to the Stars', it enhances one's perception of aliens and grants partial resistance to alien invasion, allowing communication with and summoning more and more powerful alien creatures. (Astronomical Perception +2, Alien Invasion Resistance +2, Summoning Lineage +1)

One of the core advanced techniques of 'Star Selection Page' involves selecting a single star, strengthening the connection to that star, and gaining the protection bestowed by that star. (Sensitivity to alien stars +1, Resistance to alien erosion +1, Star Protection +3)

One of the core advanced techniques of the 'Astronomical Clock Cover' relies on perceiving the stars to indirectly gain a sense of real time and gradually master the ability to accelerate thought and interfere with time. (Perceive extraterrestrials +2, True Knowledge of Time +2, Time Interference +1)

Although there were many choices, when Hilti saw the 'Astronomical Clock' cover page, she knew that this was the inevitable choice for her.

Back in the Woodlands, she had heard the Woodland Alliance's higher-ups talk about this advanced secret technique, but at the time they called it the 'Mystic Astronomical Clock.' The perception of real time would involve the authority of the astrologer, so the Mage Alliance had always kept this advanced secret technique a secret.

This should be considered somewhat inevitable. Many of the secret techniques of the 'Mithril Clock' school involve rules and laws, and once these things are traced back to their source, they all involve the Hour.

“I choose the astronomical clock cover page.” Hiltiya picked up the stone tablet, which was engraved with a silver astronomical clock pattern and was exceptionally beautiful.

“This…” The teacher looked at the girl, his expression slightly hesitant.

"The Astronomical Clock's cover page is a core advanced secret technique that His Majesty assigned twenty years ago. It doesn't offer much advantage in the early stages; on the contrary, it will be affected by alien erosion, requiring you to spend extra time and energy to deal with it."

“Some students have chosen this path before, but many of them regretted it at the third or fourth level because it becomes increasingly difficult to advance further. In the end, they have to spend a lot of money to change their core in order to continue on the path to transcendence.”

“If you choose to advance to the next level of this core secret technique, you need to be mentally prepared.” “I will be prepared.” Hilti nodded solemnly, indicating that she was not joking.

Seeing the girl's firm resolve, the teacher stopped trying to dissuade her and instead spoke about the advantages of the core secret technique.

"Although it is the most difficult, its benefits are also rare among other secret techniques. It is like a key that unlocks the door to the truth of this world for you, allowing you to glimpse a trace of the secrets that Si Chen has concealed."

"The time perceived by most people is actually controlled by the 'Clock of the Four Seasons,' but the actual time and the time described by the 'Clock of the Four Seasons' do not completely coincide. Sometimes there will be errors. At this time, it is often the 'Clock of Time' that adjusts the time sequence and changes the world."

"However, as the 'Four Seasons Clock' rotates, this error will gradually disappear and the clock will overlap again."

"At the third level, this core secret technique can only accelerate your thinking at most. At the fourth level, it can slightly speed up your physical reaction speed. At the fifth level, it can slow down the passage of time on a small scale. As for time reversal, which most people think about, it will probably take the seventh level to interfere with time and make it temporarily reverse."

“However, this ability to interfere with time is ultimately a challenge to Si Chen’s authority, and it is done with the help of the power of this alien ‘star’ from another world. Even if you reach a high level, you still need to use it with caution.” He paused.

"If you choose to advance this core secret technique to the fifth rank, you should be able to meet that Your Majesty, who will tell you the path ahead."

"Whom do you mean by Your Majesty?" Hiltiya wondered to herself.

"That person is the one who led the 'Mithril Clock' school to its glory, and is also one of the named figures in the current Mage Alliance. His true name is engraved on the World Wall, and it will be triggered once I say it, so I will not say it unless necessary."

"However, this is no secret. You will find out about His Majesty sooner or later." The other party put away the other stone tablets, placed them back on the stone shelf, embedded them in the groove, and then sealed them again.

"Today you will learn the core secrets of this memory stone tablet. Once you have finished memorizing them, return the tablet to the guardian here."

After that, he gave some instructions and then left Hiltiya behind.

Hiltiya took the stone tablet and sat down at the table. She gently stroked the silver patterns and characters on it again, then closed her eyes and immersed herself in it.

Soon, the mist cleared in her mind, and a detailed and grand scene appeared in her consciousness.

That was a scene from the heavens above, where a magnificent clock, as large as the sky itself, stood, adorned with numerous vines and flowers, surrounded by many fairies, and four hazy figures guarded the clock, their forms indistinct...

A sudden realization dawned on Hilti: this must be the legendary 'Clock of the Four Seasons'. It is said that in ancient times, fairies used it to determine the seasons when all things grow and wither, dividing the world into four cycles.

Although the fairies once lost their positions as rulers of the heavens, the dragons of law who took over their duties did not destroy this magnificent creation.

Later, when an alien planet descended upon the world, this giant clock was damaged. An alien planet pierced through the clock face, creating a hole in it. The power of the astral plane then permeated the clock, altering many of the world's rules.

At the end of the Seventh Era, the Dragons of Law and the fairies reached an agreement that the fairies would repair this magnificent bell and relinquish some of their positions as Divine Diviners. After that, the four Fairy Diviners jointly took charge of the bell.

As the scene in her field of vision gradually zoomed in, Hilti delved into the magnificent clock face, wandering and moving within it. Her gaze gradually penetrated the clock face, revealing its complex internal structure. The interior of this giant clock was not controlled by complex mechanical gears as she had imagined, but rather filled with countless seashells, conches, and fish bone fossils.

The patterns on those conch shells accumulate the traces of 'time', while the dead fish bone fossils symbolize countless cycles of time in the past. The time interval for a water droplet to pass through the gap of a conch shell is one second, and the accumulation of water to fill a shell is one minute. Each additional water stain pattern deposited on the fish bone fossil represents one year.

The length of seconds in this world is not fixed, but determined by this magnificent clock. However, nothing can perceive this, because under the influence of the clock, the operation of everything is affected. It lengthens the time of a second, the reaction time of living things is also lengthened, and the time it takes for water to fall is also lengthened accordingly. Therefore, under normal circumstances, nothing can perceive the difference.

However, even such a perfect and powerful divine creation eventually developed a flaw: a cracked 'star' was embedded in the dial, its power permeating the surroundings. Although currently suppressed, it still brought about unusual changes to this perfect creation.

Inside this dial influenced by the 'stars', intricate gears are slowly taking shape and turning. Its appearance represents the birth of a new concept and rules for an independent world, and the beings that can accomplish such a feat will be called 'Named Ones'.

Although the 'named one' is not the one who governs the celestial bodies, he has already touched upon some of the changes in the laws.

……

Having memorized the core secret technique in the stone tablet, Hilti felt as if she had been in another world. Although only an afternoon had passed, it felt as if more than ten years had gone by.

She slowly rose, holding the stone tablet, and returned it to the guardian of the 'Silver Wheel Palace,' an unnamed figure clad in full armor. She didn't even know if the figure was truly human.

"I have received your return, Hedra. You may leave now."

Hilti nodded in thanks and then left the 'Silver Wheel Palace'.

Having understood the direction of advancement, she needed to start preparing all the necessary items for that advancement.

First, you need to craft the 'Astronomical Clock' required for advancement. Then, you need to learn the 'Star Prayer Meditation Method', an intermediate meditation method. This meditation method can enhance your resistance to 'alien' invasion and help you perceive some information from the astral plane.

Next comes the inscription on the title page, which also requires a lot of resources and materials. Then comes learning the 'Star Sensing Technique' to establish a connection with the 'stars' within the Four Seasons Clock.

Finally, the formal advancement involves sealing the astronomical clock into the cover page and using it as the core to adjust the runes on the cover page. After that, the entire cover page is synchronized with the Four Seasons Clock, and finally the engraving is completed. This way, no matter where she is, she can know the current time.

P.S.: Previous chapters stated that the 'Mystic Astronomical Clock' originated from the Silver Bird Tower; this has now been changed to the 'Mithril Clock'.

(End of this chapter)