Chapter 1197: Hyderabads High Priest! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Wang Chong laughed, ”Haha, now that you mention it, I have to thank Venerable Sirs for promptly sending over the Hyderabad ore…”
The three exchanged a few pleasantries before swiftly setting off into the mountains. Given the steep terrain, Wang Chong left the majority of the Wushang Cavalry behind and led Li Siye and the other experts toward the peak of one of the mountains.
At the summit, he saw roiling plumes of smoke and crude, simple huts. Thousands of Sindhi were laboring away atop the mountain. They wielded various simple tools which they used to pound away at the rock, slowly chipping away at the mountain.
Farther off, Wang Chong could see several massive machines, like giant beasts, squatting in the center of the Hyderabad mine, drilling and excavating away.
This was Wang Chong's first time coming to the Hyderabad Mountains and seeing how that most precious ore in the world was excavated. All of this was extremely shocking. However, when he saw the simple tools being used by the miners, Wang Chong almost imperceptibly creased his brow, but he did not comment.
”Lord Marquis, it is rare for you to personally grace us with your presence. Is there anything Ablonodan and I can assist you with? As long as it is within our power, Lord Marquis, please state your request,” the black-robed Arloja said with a respectful face.
”Is the High Priest present? I would like to discuss with the High Priest the matter of the Hyderabad ore. In addition, there are also a few other matters I wish to seek his guidance on,” Wang Chong said.
”Heh!”
Ablonodan and Arloja glanced at each other and smiled, apparently having predicted Wang Chong's request.
”Lord Marquis, please follow. The High Priest has been waiting for you for some time now.”
Wang Chong, Li Siye, and the others followed Ablonodan and Arloja deeper into the Hyderabad mine.
Deep within the Hyderabad Mountains, Wang Chong finally saw the legendary Sindhi High Priest. Here was a simple and ancient temple built of steel, located at the bottom of a collapsed mine in the center of the Hyderabad Mountains. There were no decorations on the steel pillars, only speckles of rust to signify the storms this temple had endured.
”High Priest, the guests are here.”
In the temple, Ablonodan and Arloja stood side by side and bowed to the figure on the raised platform.
Wang Chong looked up and saw that a monk wearing a black robe was seated on the platform, his eyes tightly shut and his body motionless, as if he was a statue.
At this close distance, Wang Chong was unexpectedly unable to detect any signs of life, as if the thing sitting there was just a shell. For someone of Wang Chong's cultivation level, this was simply inconceivable!
”The High Priest has already cultivated his secret ascetic art to its highest stage. If the High Priest is willing, he can go three or four years without eating or drinking,” Ablonodan and Arloja explained, as if sensing what Wang Chong was thinking.
”What?!” Li Siye and the Gangke King both blurted out in shock before Wang Chong could speak.
”A person who doesn't eat or drink for three or five days will be in mortal danger, and even martial artists are considered formidable if they can endure ten days. How could someone go for three or four years without even taking a drop of water?”
”Not even Great Generals could do such a thing.”
”Impossible! How could a human go for so long without eating or drinking!”
Living beings had a limit. Just like how humans could not escape the grasp of gravity, all creatures could not go without eating or drinking. Three or four years was far beyond what any of them could imagine.
At this moment, Wang Chong suddenly spoke. ”Don't get too carried away. The world is home to innumerable secret arts, and the ascetic arts of Sindhu are completely different from the Stellar Energy we cultivate. These arts focus on tempering the will of the fleshly body. In the process of ascetic practice, they can minimize the function of their bodies. The most powerful ascetic masters can even survive being buried underground for three or four years, and when they are dug back up, they will still be alive. All of this is true.”
Wang Chong understood far more about the secrets of Sindhu than any of the others. Although the High Priest's abilities were shocking, they were not impossible.
”I didn't think that the Young Marquis would have such an understanding of we Sindhi!” a voice abruptly said.
Wang Chong had never heard this kind of voice before. It had such a complicated tone that it was impossible to distinguish whether its owner was a man or woman, old or young. For a moment, one would even get the impression that they hadn't actually heard a voice but had spoken those words themselves.
”High Priest!”
To everyone else's surprise, Ablonodan and Arloja suddenly prostrated on the ground and became motionless.
Everyone looked up to the High Priest with a jolt. On the chair, the motionless High Priest began to move, his entire body rustling and crackling, and then large chunks of dirt began to drop from the High Priest's face to the ground.
At this moment, Wang Chong sensed that the High Priest who had seemed like a clay figurine just moments ago was now like bamboo sprouting after a rain. An enormous vitality erupted from his body, sweeping through the temple like a hurricane. A moment later, the High Priest's eyes trembled and opened.
”Venerable High Priest, we finally meet.”