Chapter 795 The Machine Patriarch’s Vessel
“This is as far as I can take you,” the woman said. “Machine Race territory begins one light-year from here. That’s a long way to fly, and I don’t know whether your Origin Power will last for the entire journey.”
“You needn’t concern yourself with that. You may return now, my lady.”
Kael gestured toward the teleportation array.
“No. I intend to watch you leave the Celestial Maiden Galaxy with my own eyes.”
She clearly didn’t trust humans in the slightest.
Kael sighed and took out his Astral Compass.
“Arno, I need you to come and pick me up.”
“Certainly. Send me your coordinates through the Astral Compass.”
The reply came in less than half a second, surprising Kael.
Using an Astral Compass was much like sending a message through the phone he had owned in his previous life. The other person would normally take at least a few seconds to respond.
Arno’s immediate reply made his eagerness clear. He was anxious to meet Kael and discuss how they should deal with the Insect Race.
Kael entered his current coordinates into the compass.
“You’re in contact with the Machine Race?”
The woman regarded him warily.
“Yes.”
“There’s something I probably shouldn’t say, but if you’re truly this close to the Machine Race, have you ever stopped to consider whether they can be trusted?”
“Oh?”
Kael studied her closely.
For a brief moment, he seriously considered killing her and examining her brain for a Parasitic Gu.
“That is none of your concern. You should return.”
His tone had cooled noticeably.
“Hmph. You’re on your own, human.”
The woman stepped into the center of the teleportation array.
White light flared around her, and she disappeared without a trace.
Kael remained beside the array and waited in silence. The nearby guards turned their backs on him, none daring to look in his direction.
In the cultivation world, staring at a powerful cultivator for too long could easily cost someone their life.
Seven days passed.
The Astral Compass lit up again.
“Kael, give me one month. I’m bringing the Patriarch’s flying vessel to pick you up.”
Arno’s voice emerged from the compass.
Kael raised an eyebrow.
“Isn’t that an unnecessary amount of trouble?”
He hadn’t expected the Machine Race to treat him with such importance.
“There’s no other way. This empty region is simply too vast. Only the Patriarch’s vessel can cross it that quickly.”
Warm amusement filled Arno’s voice.
“All right.”
Kael sat cross-legged beside the teleportation array.
The guards retreated into the nearby woods and peered at him through the gaps between the trees. They could only hope that this terrifying visitor would leave as soon as possible. As long as he remained beside the array, none of them could relax.
“Hm?”
Kael abruptly glanced toward the woods.
The guards cried out in terror and fled dozens of miles away. After that, not one of them dared spy on him again.
Only then could Kael settle into meditation.
Time passed slowly.
A month and a half later, the void ahead began to tremble.
A flying vessel more than half a mile long emerged from empty space.
Countless marks and abrasions covered its hull, while arcs of lightning crackled across its surface.
The surrounding space vibrated.
Arno emerged from the vessel and hurried toward Kael.
“Kael, my apologies. This region was even larger than I expected, so the journey took an additional two weeks.”
He apologized the moment he arrived.
“There’s no need to apologize, Arno. Unexpected delays are perfectly normal for cultivators.”
“Very well. Please come aboard.”
Arno smiled.
Kael hesitated.
This was the Machine Patriarch’s personal vessel. Once Kael stepped inside, how could he be certain he would ever be allowed to leave?
“There aren’t any powerful Restrictions hidden inside this vessel, are there?”
Kael made the question sound half-serious, but his gaze remained fixed on Arno’s organic right eye.
Arno’s left eye was metallic and revealed no trace of emotion.
“Of course not. You are our honored guest. If you don’t trust me, you may inspect the entire vessel before entering.”
Kael hesitated again.
Blue light flickered within his eyes as he examined the flying vessel from one end to the other.
Based on his own knowledge, he could find no hidden Restrictions inside.
“After you.”
Arno gestured toward the entrance.
Kael released a long breath before stepping aboard.
Arno followed him inside and took the pilot’s seat.
Kael carefully examined the vessel’s interior.
It looked nothing like the spaceships in the science-fiction movies from his previous life. There were no consoles covered in countless buttons. The main control station contained only four palm-shaped impressions.
“Take the seat beside me.”
“All right.”
Kael settled into the copilot’s seat.
He wanted to see exactly how Arno controlled such a vessel.
Arno pressed both hands against the palm impressions.
The entire vessel began to vibrate.
A low hum passed through the hull, and the vessel launched into the void.
A wave of dizziness struck Kael. He immediately closed his eyes and waited for it to pass.
“First-time passengers usually experience a brief spell of dizziness,” Arno explained with a laugh.
After a short while, Kael opened his eyes again.
Countless spatial fractures had appeared ahead of the vessel.
They were a reaction to its extreme speed.
The fractures swept continuously across the hull, cutting into its surface.
“What is this vessel made of?” Kael asked in astonishment. “How can it withstand constant damage from spatial fractures?”
Even the Astral Mountain probably couldn’t survive such an onslaught for more than a month.
“We are called the Machine Race for a reason. We possess certain advantages when it comes to artifact forging. The material covering this vessel can repair itself, although the process consumes a considerable number of Prime Essence Stones.”
Arno kept both hands pressed against the control station.
“Prime Essence Stones? Where are they stored?”
“That is something only the Patriarch knows.”
As soon as Arno finished speaking, the flying vessel accelerated again.
The spatial fractures outside became even more densely packed.
“Wait. Something isn’t right.”
Kael took an hourglass from his spatial ring.
It was used to measure the passage of time.
Under normal circumstances, the sand would fall at a steady rate. Inside the flying vessel, however, it seemed to be moving at only one-tenth its usual speed.
“This vessel affects time as well as space?”
“Yes. When the Patriarch’s vessel travels at full speed, time inside does slow somewhat. The effect isn’t particularly significant, though. As long as we remain below the speed of light, the difference won’t become too severe.”
“I see. The universe contains mysteries beyond anything I ever imagined. Only now do I feel that I’ve begun to glimpse them.”
Kael spoke with genuine wonder.
“Once we reach Machine Race territory, you may examine any of our secrets you wish. Even our most closely guarded artifact-forging techniques will be made available to you by the Patriarch.”
“Oh?”
Kael sat straighter, and a smile finally appeared on his face.
So there truly were races in this universe willing to treat humanity with kindness.
Hope welled within him. At the very least, this proved humanity was not entirely alone.
“If your people are willing to teach me your artifact-forging techniques, then I will return the favor by sharing my alchemy with the Machine Race.”
For the first time, Arno turned away from the controls and looked directly at Kael.
Several emotions flickered through his organic right eye.
Guilt.
Confusion.
Sympathy.
And helplessness.