Ye Chui had clearly spotted some clues in the divine artifact the dwarves presented. This instantly energised everyone present. The dwarves became overwhelmingly excited. They had gambled correctly. This artifact, which the dwarf race could forge but not activate, might truly be brought to life by Ye Chui.
It would give them the means to stand against Golden City.
Dwarf Mikus breathed heavily, trembling as he asked Ye Chui, “Can you activate the divine artifact? Can you really do it?”
“I should be able to. Let me try,” Ye Chui nodded. His expression unusually solemn, he walked to the artifact and crouched before the magic device that resembled a motherboard. He examined it closely. His brows furrowed at times, then relaxed. The crowd’s faces shifted with his. Finally, Ye Chui nodded as if understanding something. He searched his pad magic guide book. With a flash of white light, a thin strip appeared in his hand. It was a data cable.
One end fitted the pad’s port, the other was a USB connector.
Seeing what Ye Chui had summoned, everyone was stunned once more. The small object felt profoundly mysterious. Debbie whispered to Resha.
“It looks like Ye Chui really knows what to do.”
“Little brother is always so astonishing. That thing seems to be a device to connect the artifact to his magic guide book.”
“Since Ye Chui can produce it, he might truly activate the artifact.”
Amid such murmurs, Ye Chui inserted the USB end into the magic device that resembled a motherboard. It had several ports that looked exactly like USB sockets. The cable Ye Chui had materialised fitted perfectly.
Feeling the flawless connection, joy flashed across Ye Chui’s face. He quickly plugged the other end into his pad and began operating it, testing whether he could control the artifact through the pad.
Yet soon his brows knitted again. The pad showed no response.
“Hmm.” Ye Chui nodded lightly.
“Ye Chui, what did you find?” Debbie asked anxiously.
Ye Chui chuckled, unplugged the cable, stood up, and looked at the crowd.
“It really won’t work.”
Everyone: “”
The highly tense group nearly collapsed to the ground in unison.
Ye Chui scratched his head, examining the cable in his hand. Its construction differed from ordinary data cables of his previous life. It was a magically modified device that transmitted magic signals rather than normal data. Yet it failed to link the pad and the artifact. As Ye Chui frowned in thought, the dwarf Milas beside him suddenly let out a surprised sound and stepped closer, eyes fixed curiously on the cable.
“What’s wrong?” Ye Chui asked Milas.
“This cable…” Milas glanced at Ye Chui. With permission, he took it and studied it carefully. After inspecting it from all angles, he looked up, shocked. “How do you have this? This, this thing…”
“What about it?” Ye Chui asked, puzzled.
“It is one of the original components of the divine artifact,” Milas said in wonder. He pointed to a part of the artifact. “Look, the connecting cables here are exactly this type. But the one you produced lacks enchantment, so it cannot transmit signals. The dwarf brothers spent a long time successfully forging cables that can carry information. Without doubt, apart from the missing enchantment, yours is identical to the ones we made.”
“Do you have any spare cables now? I mean this kind of cable,” Ye Chui asked, his face lighting up with excitement. His materialised cable did not work, but an enchanted dwarf version might.
Ye Chui had no doubt his pad could serve as the artifact’s core. The difficulty lay only in linking them.
“We have plenty in the Mine world,” Milas said joyfully, but his expression soon turned bitter. “Only, we do not have any spares on us.”
“Can you forge one here?” Debbie asked quickly. She could see the cable was crucial to Ye Chui.
“No. The forging equipment for the artifact is extremely complex. The dwarf brothers spent five years building a factory. All components must be produced there,” Milas shook his head regretfully. Then resolve filled his face. He clenched his fist firmly. “Golden City is attacking the Mine world now. It is very dangerous, but I am willing to risk returning to retrieve the cables Lord Ye Chui needs.”
Ye Chui saw Milas’s determination. After a moment’s thought, he said, “I must warn you in advance. Even if you bring the cables, I cannot guarantee I can activate the artifact.”
The dwarf gave a bitter smile. “But for us, this is already hope. Even if it is the last straw, we will grasp it tightly.”
“Very well.” Kuba stepped forward from the side. He addressed Mikus, “Dwarf brother, I will help you obtain the cables.”
Elves and dwarves. One race noble by nature, the other rough. One lived in beautiful forests, the other in dark, damp caverns. Historically they had always looked down on each other and fought often. Yet now the dwarf’s resolve seemed to move Kuba, who volunteered aid.
Mikus looked at Kuba in surprise, then gave a hearty laugh and extended his large, rough hand.
Dwarf and elf clasped hands firmly.
Entering the Mine world via a normal bridge was impossible. The Mine world was on full alert. Establishing a bridge there was out of the question. But the Mine world had a secret passage to the central city. Mikus had used it to reach the central city. To sneak back, they would use the same hidden route.
Kuba, Mikus, and several other volunteers needed to reach the central city first, then enter the Mine world from there. With flashes of white light, Mikus, Kuba, and the others vanished.
Hesitation showed on Ye Chui’s face. Mild unease stirred within him as he pondered what the divine artifact truly was.
Given its extreme resemblance to a computer, it was undoubtedly the work of his predecessor. Ye Chui’s pad also derived from the power of the God of Gods. Could linking the pad truly control it?
Retrieving the cables from the Mine world would take at least several hours. Ye Chui planned to use the time to study the artifact further. Yet just as he and his companions prepared to return to the forest plaza, a golden light suddenly tore across the Stan world’s sky.
“Invaders!”
Old Merlin’s figure instantly appeared beside Ye Chui. The aged magus looked breathless, one hand holding a tray with Celty’s head upon it. Lately he had spent much time with Celty, learning ancient magic secrets from her. It had made his own magic increasingly powerful.
He gazed worriedly at the golden rift in the sky and said urgently, “Our defences cannot stop them. They have forcibly established a bridge. This must be Golden City.”
“Mikus and the others only just left. Golden City found us already?” Ye Chui frowned. He immediately had his companions prepare for battle. “It cannot be that Mikus’s group was discovered. Impossible so quickly.”
As he spoke, a golden pillar of light descended from the sky, smashing directly onto the street before Ye Chui. The stone pavement cracked in radiating patterns. Several golden figures flickered within the light.
Golden City had invaded.
Golden City’s bridges were golden.
When the light faded, thirteen warriors in golden armour stood before them.
Their armour was golden, their hair golden, their faces radiant and flawless like gold itself.
The people of Stan world instantly entered maximum alert. Dragon Tooth troops and orc warriors drew weapons, surrounding the street, ready to attack at any moment.
“Golden City warriors…” The orc high priest arrived panting beside Ye Chui. His aged eyes fixed at once on the central figure among the thirteen. A middle-aged man with jade-like skin, holding a massive golden staff. He exuded divine majesty, or rather, an imposing aura, coldly surveying the crowd.
“It is him,” the high priest recognised the golden-staffed man. “He is the current ruler of Golden City, the Golden King. Fifty years ago he was merely an ordinary Golden City warrior. He is the one who killed Chieftain Sar.”
“He killed my father?” Dulong, beside the high priest, heard this and fury filled his face. “For my father’s glory, I will kill him! Father, I fight for you!”
“Wait…”
Ye Chui tried to stop him, but the enraged orc warrior had already leapt forward, swinging his battle axe toward the Golden King.
Facing the charging Dulong, the Golden King showed no alarm. He allowed Dulong to reach him. Bang. He struck his staff firmly on the ground. The next instant Dulong seemed struck by immense force. His massive, muscular body flew backward, crashing into a nearby building. With a crash, it collapsed beneath him.
The power gap was simply too vast.
Dulong’s mournful roar emerged from the rubble. “Father, I have tarnished your glory!”
Ye Chui and Debbie exchanged a glance. Child, your very existence has already turned your father’s glory a vivid green.
At that moment the Golden King stepped forward, slowly approaching Ye Chui. He stopped four or five metres away, then spoke coolly.
“I hear several dwarves came here. You have great nerve. Kneel before me.”
