When Angel crafted the tabletop, he didn’t bother to conceal anything, because strictly speaking, this wasn’t alchemy. It was simply shaping through thermal fusion, and he was crafting a very simple lectern, something any Wizard could do.
As for engraving the Magic Pattern, there was even less need for concealment. After all, it is a technique that inherently carries encryption.
While Angel’s crafting was fervent and lively on one side, the others were deep in their thoughts.
Perhaps the one with the least worries was Kaier, who was wandering freely in the Underground Church. The name of a traveler of relics wouldn’t fade because of the mundane atmosphere here. Apart from the possibly existing Magical Energy Array, this Underground Church itself bore many ancient traces worth studying.
Dox was lazily leaning against the railing on the second floor, one foot dangling leisurely in the air, holding a jug of blackberry wine in his hand. He was drinking while watching Angel on the stage. Though he seemed thoughtless, the constant changes in his expressions revealed that his mind was already elsewhere.
Vay, on the other hand, was sitting on a bench below the platform, appearing to be silently praying. In reality, he was quietly communicating with Black Earl through their Bloodline bond.
"My lord..." After uttering the title of respect, Vay paused, seemingly pondering his words: "Does this place we’re exploring really have anything to do with our Noah Clan?"
A cold snort echoed in Vay’s mind: "Trying to hide your thoughts from me? What you really want to ask is, what did I see on the tabletop, right?"
Vay replied hesitantly, "I just worry it’s a secret, and feel embarrassed to ask."
After a brief silence, Black Earl conveyed his voice: "Let me first answer your initial question, regarding whether this exploration is related to our Noah Clan. I can’t confirm for sure now, but the probability is high. If I could connect to my True Body, or at least three organs, my premonition should provide a definite answer, just..."
Vay naturally understood the unsaid words. Not long ago, the verbal clash between Transcendental Wizard and his lord was still fresh in his memory.
"Although I don’t know the answer, that kid definitely knows something."
Otherwise, Angel couldn’t have proposed the request not to contact other organs or the True Body.
Vay: "Perhaps the Transcendental Wizard foresaw something?"
Black Earl: "None of that matters. Although he didn’t say anything, the request he proposed means that this exploration of relics cannot avoid involving the Noah Clan."
Of course, this still doesn’t allow Black Earl to confirm that the relics are indeed related to the Noah Clan. Maybe the ancestors of the Noah Clan had some connection, but it doesn’t necessarily mean these were Noah Clan’s relics.
After all, the Noah Clan wasn’t a prominent family back then, and they probably didn’t reach the core echelon of Naraku City.
Different tiers have access to different things, and Noah Clan’s ancestors might not have had contact with the Underground Labyrinth, let alone the official organizations within it.
Because of these varied considerations, Black Earl dared not jump to conclusions.
Simultaneously, Black Earl couldn’t help but internally curse Angel again; if not for Angel’s damn request, he wouldn’t be so passive.
Black Earl didn’t curse out loud, but Vay, as someone engaged in Mind Communication through the Bloodline, heard it crystal clear.
Although Vay leaned towards the Noah Clan internally, as Angel’s newly recruited fan, he couldn’t help interrupting Black Earl’s cursing.
Of course, he used a legitimate reason.
"My lord, do those characters on the tabletop really relate to our Noah Clan’s deeds?"
Black Earl: "Indeed they do, but it’s not about deeds. It mentions a person, one of our Noah Clan’s ancestors, and one whose deeds recorded in the family tree are very few and very mysterious."
"You’re talking about..." Vay, being a member of the Noah Clan, naturally remembered the family tree, and as soon as Black Earl hinted, a name popped into his mind.
Black Earl: "Yes, it’s him."
Upon confirmation from Black Earl, Vay’s spirit heightened after a period of silence. You see, he initially had no desire to explore any relics; he preferred staying at home.
But now, knowing that these relics might be related to the mysterious ancestor, things were different.
From a young age, Vay was full of curiosity about the mysterious forebear, which was both childhood longing for legends and teenage admiration of mystery and the unknown.
This sentiment persisted into the present, and now, the "idol" he once chased in youth suddenly barged into his thoughts this way, how could he not feel excited.
"My lord, how do those Demon God cultists recount... his story?"
Black Earl: "There’s no extra description, just his name recorded, highlighted with characters that denote significance. Perhaps, our forebear had an irreplaceable status in the events of that time."
However, centuries have flown by, those truths of the past buried deeply in history long ago.
Even the Noah Clan doesn’t know what truly happened in Naraku City back then... Perhaps the only one who knows the truth is Barbarian Cave’s mysterious Book Elder.
Unfortunately, even folks from Barbarian Cave rarely see this Book Elder, let alone outsiders.
In the silence of this contemplation, time continued passing.
When they snapped out of their deep thoughts, Angel was already standing up from the ground.
Not long after, a Mind Ribbon spread from Angel’s body, connecting everyone.
"Are we done?" Without waiting for Angel to speak, Dox asked first.
Angel: "It should be almost done, let’s see the final result now."
As Angel spoke, he picked up the "lectern" placed beside him, an action that immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Angel saw the curious looks directed at the lectern, and without minding, he gestured to everyone to feel free. In the next second, spiritual power wildly scanned the lectern back and forth.
Except for Black Earl, the others probably only recognized the materials Angel used to replicate the lectern.
Although Black Earl could recognize many Magic Patterns, including Solid Magic Pattern, the arrangement of Magic Patterns became a mental and computational puzzle. He could only barely identify which parts activated or supplied energy, with the rest leaving him bewildered.
"The material of the tabletop matches the original lectern’s tabletop material, the main control Magic Pattern should also match." While the crowd observed, Angel casually explained.
"As for the lectern’s column, I previously checked Crow’s sword and confirmed there were no Magic Patterns around the part made with humanoid eagle Magic Blood Ore. Its function was to counteract the downward energy of the main control Magic Pattern through totally negative energy, preventing the Magic Pattern’s effect from sinking underground. This method was actually a bit extreme and wasteful, clearly capable of being replaced by derivatives of Spirit Transmitting Diamond... Perhaps humanoid eagle Demon Bloodstone was cheaper at the time? Regardless of the reason, I used derivatives of Spirit Transmitting Diamond to make the column."
Different types of Spirit Transmitting Diamond create various derivatives, so they don’t have a fixed name. But regardless of the type, all derivatives have the same effect, which is to block the energy leakage inside the Spirit Transmitting Diamond.
Hence, Angel chose this cheap material to replace humanoid eagle Magic Blood Ore.
Angel explained his choice of materials and reasons for doing so, but the group just listened without absorbing it, essentially letting it go in one ear and out the other.