Chapter 182: Steel God Temple
Their conversation was vague and confusing. Yao Yifei knew these two were definitely hiding something from her, but she didn’t point it out. Instead, she asked curiously: “Are you so sure the Grand Festival is dangerous? You know, that’s the Asian Alliance Grand Festival.”
The Asian Alliance hasn’t disbanded yet, and the participants in the Grand Festival aren’t just from the Jiuzhou Region, but players from all regions within the Asian Alliance.
“This might be the Asian Alliance’s last Grand Festival. Some people want to give it a perfect ending, while others want it to start a new chapter.” Ekaterina said meaningfully.
The Alliance Grand Festival is a unique event exclusive to the Asian Alliance; other alliances don’t have this match. This match is led by the Jiuzhou Region and originates from the ancient imperial examination system of the Jiuzhou Region.
Just like the European Alliance, commoners in the European Alliance don’t have such an easy time rising to prominence because other alliances implement a recommendation system.
“Since you’ve already decided, shall we set off now?” Ekaterina asked Lu Li, who had already packed his backpack.
Lu Li nodded. Let’s set off now then.
“Are we riding Flying Pokémon again?” Lu Li asked.
Ekaterina suggested: “Of course. You ride Dragonite with me. The Bidoof you borrowed has too low strength and isn’t suitable for long-distance riding.”
Lu Li nodded.
After instructing the Wei sisters on some precautions, the group headed toward the Ancient Capital.
Gudu City, this city, is the capital left from the previous epoch, located in the northern region of Jiuzhou. Corresponding to it is the Primordial Capital, the ancient city left from the Second Era, located in the northwestern region of Jiuzhou.
Actually, the Southern Region also has its own ancient city, but it’s now turned into a forest.
It took the group nearly three hours to reach Gudu City, mainly because some cities don’t allow Flying Pokémon to cross borders, so they took a detour.
On Dragonite’s back, Ekaterina asked: “Should we go straight to search for the ruins, or rest here for a day first?”
“Let’s go straight there.” Lu Li replied.
“Then let me tell you about the six Secret Realms in Gudu City. First, there are the three Secret Realms under official Alliance control. If we want to enter, we must apply in advance.
Next, there are three Secret Realms in the wilderness. Although there are official troops stationed there, they aren’t directly under official jurisdiction, so we can enter freely. However, those three Secret Realms are also the most dangerous because one of them is a Large Secret Realm.”
After thinking for a moment, Lu Li decided: “Then let’s go to the Large Secret Realm.”
“You should know where the ancient ruins are in that Large Secret Realm, right?” Lu Li asked again.
Due to the tight timeline, they didn’t have time to investigate where the ruins were.
“There are many ruins in that Large Secret Realm, easy to find, but Unown might not be so easy to locate.” Ekaterina reminded.
Hearing this, Lu Li smiled confidently: “No problem, I have special treasure-hunting skills.”
“I advise you not to be too optimistic. Unown’s attribute is Psychic Attribute, and they’re called Symbol Pokémon. A single one isn’t scary, but once multiple Unown appear, they possess incredible abilities.
The most common is shielding perception, meaning Psychic Type Pokémon’s spiritual power can’t scan them at all. That’s why Unown’s traces are so hard to find.”
After Ekaterina’s explanation, Lu Li gained new understanding of Unown.
No wonder Unown are so rare in this world. Being able to shield spiritual power detection means that if Unown wants, they can even achieve a form of permanent invisibility.
But spiritual power not detecting them has nothing to do with spiritual sense?
Spiritual sense and spiritual power seem related but are actually completely different things. Spiritual sense involves soul power, but spiritual power does not.
Spiritual sense is a more advanced ability than spiritual power, which is one of his most unique cheats in this world.
“I hope you can stay this confident.” Ekaterina didn’t persuade further.
But deep down, she still believed in Lu Li. After all, ever since being with Lu Li, he had constantly been refreshing her understanding.
Since that Large Secret Realm was in the suburbs of Gudu City, the three didn’t even enter the city and headed straight for the Large Secret Realm.
This Large Secret Realm is named Primordial Stars Secret Realm. It’s named that because it’s filled with many cities from ancient times.
There are those from the First Era, the Second Era, and even ruins from even more ancient times predating the First Era.
The three entered directly by showing their faces—well, using Yao Yifei’s face.
As a Gym Leader, Yao Yifei can freely enter non-fully controlled Secret Realms in the Jiuzhou Region.
Primordial Stars Secret Realm is a semi-controlled Secret Realm by the Alliance, so Yao Yifei can bring people in and out freely.
The officials even thoughtfully prepared a map for Yao Yifei, a map of ancient ruins.
This Large Secret Realm doesn’t have any particularly rare Pokémon（Pseudo-Legendary）, so it’s not managed strictly.
Those entering the Secret Realm are generally scholars and ancient culture enthusiasts. Some also enter Primordial Stars Secret Realm to catch Pokémon.
Whatever Pokémon are in Primordial Stars Secret Realm, other Medium-sized Secret Realms have them too, but Primordial Stars Secret Realm has Champion Level Pokémon, and Heavenly King Level Pokémon are also common.
This greatly increases the danger of this Secret Realm. There’s no need to come to a Large Secret Realm for Pokémon that can be caught in Medium-sized Secret Realms.
Yao Yifei took out her phone and opened an official Alliance app called Alliance Secret Realms.
Opening the app, Yao Yifei glanced and said: “There are only over three hundred people in the entire Secret Realm now, no lone wanderers, all organized research groups.
Should we directly join a research group? With their help, our probability of finding Unown should be higher.”
Yao Yifei’s words made sense. After all, none of the three were serious ancient culture researchers—not even enthusiasts.
Having professionals lead the way would indeed be much more convenient.
“No need, we’re not here for archaeology.” Lu Li shook his head and refused.
“Check the nearest ruins to us, preferably ancient mausoleums or ancient temples.” Lu Li said.
According to anime or game settings, ancient totems generally appear in those mausoleums or temples, so Lu Li decided to start with those two types of ruins.
Yao Yifei nodded. The Alliance-explored ancient ruins are marked here, even with some introductions.
This is the benefit of backing from the Alliance. If Yao Yifei wanted to enter a Secret Realm deep in the Qingyun Mountain Range to find something, as a Gym Leader, she wouldn’t even need to buy Secret Realm information. The Alliance’s intelligence is definitely more than what individual powers know.
“Found it!”
Yao Yifei, holding the phone, quickly locked onto the target.
“The nearest to us is an ancient temple, seemingly dedicated to the legendary God of Steel.”
“God of Steel?” Lu Li looked at Yao Yifei, confused.
Thinking Lu Li didn’t know about these Divine Beasts, Yao Yifei explained: “The God of Steel’s full name is Meltan, a pure Steel-type Divine Beast, corresponding to the Steel Titan.”
Lu Li: “…”
Lu Li was speechless inside.
In anime settings, Meltan is just a Phantom Beast, but in this world, it’s classified as a Divine Beast.
As for the other Steel Titan, Lu Li could guess it was probably Registeel, one of the Regi trio.
Let’s go check it out first then.
Lu Li was still a bit curious about Meltan.
If not rushing to find Unown, Lu Li would even want to thoroughly explore that temple.
Temples in the Pokémon World aren’t just shrines but huge palaces, somewhat like legendary pyramids. Temples and mausoleums aren’t much different in this world.
Ekaterina had no opinion on this, and the group headed straight for the Steel God Temple.
The Steel God Temple was deep in a forest. Lu Li, riding on Dragonite’s back, closed his eyes and observed the environment below.
The God of Steel’s temple is in a forest, with abundant Grass-type and Ground-type energy around. Who was the genius that chose this location?
Lu Li complained inwardly about this outrageous setting.
Soon, they arrived in front of the Steel God Temple. A massive ancient temple ruin stood isolated deep in the forest, like an island in the river of time, giving a sense of loneliness just by looking at it.
Now, this ancient temple was only broken walls and ruins, witnessing the relentless passage of time. Notably, the temple’s outer walls were built from huge, rough stones, each etched with traces of age, covered in moss and vines.
“No trace of steel at the Steel God Temple?” Lu Li complained.
“This ruin once stored a large amount of ancient Metal Coats. Later, explorers discovered this place, and the Metal Coats here were very special, so…”
Yao Yifei didn’t need to say the rest; Lu Li could guess where those Metal Coats went.
“I’ve heard about this. Back then, people thought the Metal Coats here outnumbered all the world’s combined, with Metal Coats as ponds, rivers, and seas—unimaginable how many there were.” Ekaterina chimed in.
Yao Yifei denied expressionlessly: “Fake news. Those were Liquid Metal, not Metal Coats.”
Ekaterina nodded: “That makes sense. With ancient production capabilities, how could they make that many Metal Coats?”
“It’s said there were quite a few Steel Gems here too.” Ekaterina added.
“That news is true, but they were all taken.” Yao Yifei replied.
None of the three mentioned finding a bargain. This place had been scraped clean; spiritual power just can’t scan Unown, not other things.
After waves of Psychic Type Trainers exploring, all valuable things in this temple had long been looted.
Lu Li didn’t speak but gently stroked the thick stone walls. Some parts had collapsed, revealing complex internal structures and once magnificent murals. Though colors had faded, one could still make out scenes depicting myths and Priest rituals.
Entering the temple led to a long corridor lined with tall metal pillars on both sides. Some still stood, others lay fallen on the ground, as if telling past stories.
“Finally something related to steel.” Lu Li summarized.
Neither Ekaterina nor Yao Yifei responded. Who would be the genius to come to a Secret Realm just to haul away these steel pillars? Space Backpacks have space limits.
The main hall’s location was obvious, with a huge altar there. Though now ruins, it still showed the temple’s former glory.
“So how do we find Unown? If there really were Unown, previous people would have spread the news.” Yao Yifei asked.
President Lu didn’t speak but calmly activated his spiritual sense.
Spiritual sense expanded continuously, soon enveloping the entire temple.
A 3D model of the temple condensed in Lu Li’s mind as he quietly explored every part.
Bad news.
This ruin had no Unown, not even traces of Unown ever being there.
Good news.
He found something better than Unown.
Lu Li subtly glanced at Ekaterina and Yao Yifei beside him.
“Do you know about this so-called God of Steel?” Lu Li asked curiously.
Ekaterina nodded: “The European Alliance has legends about Meltan. Legend says It was tall with unmatched physical attack and defense, but most legends about It are rather brutal.”
“Do you know how Meltan comes about?” Lu Li asked again.
Ekaterina asked puzzledly in return: “Isn’t it born from the Laws?”
In this world, people already have some understanding of Divine Beasts’ origins.
They are manifestations of the world’s Laws. They never die, only return to the Laws.
Laws can’t be annihilated unless the world is destroyed, but even if the world is destroyed, as long as the world’s base remains, the Gods can reshape the world.
Hearing this, Lu Li smiled meaningfully.
People in this world seem unaware that Meltan evolves from Melmetal, or perhaps this knowledge is too deeply hidden for the Alliance to discover—or they have, but Ekaterina and the others don’t know.
Either way, it didn’t hinder his next big bargain find.
Lu Li narrowed his eyes at the secret rooms in the temple’s basement.
Most of the temple’s secret rooms had been explored, valuables taken, leaving only some metal parts.
Like various gears, various nuts, even various tools like hammers and wrenches.
These things had poor craftsmanship; anyone who could enter this Secret Realm wouldn’t want them, so they were left behind.
