Chapter 347: Eternal Gear, Another Machine Soul

At the heart of the Sky Mechanical City, where the three great towers converge, Astartes ushered the residents away from this restricted thoroughfare and opened a concealed portal.

Layers of anti-magic metal plates, several meters thick, shifted and folded away to reveal a lift mechanism, parallel to the one Wang Yu had used to ascend to the higher levels.

Wang Yu stepped inside, and Astartes’ voice resonated within the lift, explaining that this descent led to the hub of the Sky Mechanical City, the very place where its source of power resided.

"The power core of the Sky Mechanical City? Sounds like some kind of reactor. Tell me, how is the maintenance? It must be incredibly complex, and if handled poorly, wouldn't it be prone to a catastrophic explosion?"

Wang Yu listened to Astartes’ explanation, making no effort to suppress his curiosity, and naturally began to inquire about the city’s inner workings.

In Wang Yu’s estimation, the power required to lift an entire metropolis into the sky must be immense; considering the standard alchemical energy cores he had encountered, or the reactor in the chest of the Iron King Bogul, the consumption of magic crystals and fuel was usually exorbitant.

Yet, from his occasional observations, the Sky Mechanical City rarely imported materials for energy production from the kingdoms below, relying mostly on alchemical consumables.

To Wang Yu, the technology that had stagnated for years under the Central Council could not possibly derive enough energy from such a small fraction of materials to sustain an entire aerial city.

"What you are curious about is precisely what I intended to tell you. The Sky Mechanical City houses four giant energy furnaces, occupying about half of the city’s base, capable of converting various alchemical materials into power for the entire city."

"However, in most circumstances, these four furnaces remain empty, which effectively prevents the very scenario you imagined—a devastating explosion caused by an accidental energy overflow."

As Astartes detailed the power source, Wang Yu began to feel something was amiss; if these four furnaces were not running, how was the city maintained?

"Then where does the power come from? It can’t be something like a Void Engine, can it?"

Wang Yu pondered for a moment, making a guess. If it drew energy from the Void, that would actually make sense; after all, no one knew how much energy the Void held—perhaps it was infinite?

"A Void Engine? A brilliant hypothesis, but no. Unfortunately, that technology had not been perfected when the city was built, and the subsequent technological blockade left the city without the means to research it. But I suspect the Academy will take that step soon enough."

Astartes denied the conjecture with a tone of lament, leaving Wang Yu even more intrigued. After mentally crossing out the possibilities, a bold idea surfaced in his mind.

"So, the power source that keeps the Sky Mechanical City running... it wouldn't happen to be a Wonder, would it?"

As Wang Yu voiced his thought, the lift halted at the lowest level. The heavy doors parted, revealing a stark, simple corridor leading to a door—his final destination.

"Indeed, you are correct. Do you know that besides my creator, Merlin, who forged my machine spirit, there exists another?"

"Malfurion, one of Merlin’s disciples?"

Wang Yu answered, recalling what Sieg had told him, as the alchemy texts he had studied remained silent on the matter.

"It is he. The Wonder that sustains the city resides with the machine spirit he created. Its name is the Eternal Gear."

"This Wonder manifests as a gear, ten meters in radius, made of an unknown material. Once released by its keeper, it ignores all external interference and rotates endlessly at a constant speed."

"By virtue of this absolute nature, we can utilize the Wonder to its fullest extent. Anything, provided it doesn't shatter, will be driven by the Eternal Gear once coupled with it."

"The true energy core of the Sky Mechanical City was built around this Wonder; through special devices, we draw enough energy to keep the city in operation."

Astartes revealed the truth, and Wang Yu realized the implication.

"So, the four energy furnaces you mentioned are actually for emergencies?"

"Correct. We still know very little about Wonders and cannot fully trust them, yet we cannot afford not to use them."

"If one day the Eternal Gear were to stop, the four furnaces would provide enough power for the city to find a suitable place to land."

Wang Yu nodded; the Sky Mechanical City was truly a magnificent creation, a crystallization of countless forgotten insights.

"As a machine spirit, I am responsible for the city’s operations, including the Central Council. But the machine spirit Malfurion created is unique; it seems to believe it is Malfurion himself."

"Therefore... it is not tasked with much. Aside from the energy core, it manages the database of 'forbidden' knowledge you seek."

"The authority remains with me; if I wish for you to see something, it cannot stop you. But if you can communicate well with it, it might save you much time, though its temperament is rather peculiar."

Astartes spoke of the other spirit with a strange tone, and Wang Yu could sense a lack of affection between them.

"May I go in then?"

Wang Yu pointed to the door at the end of the hall.

"Go ahead. Remember, the knowledge within is merely recorded and analyzed; it is not absolute truth. Do not be overly influenced by it. Also, my authority is not absolute, and the time I can allow you inside is limited—about a day. I will notify you when the time is up."

Waving his hand to signal his understanding, Wang Yu stepped out of the lift, walked down the hall, and opened the door. He extended his Chariot’s power in advance, capturing the dizzyingly complex mechanical structures hidden within the walls.

Stepping inside, he found the layout peculiar—not because of any flaw, but because it deviated from the city’s overall aesthetic.

If the Sky Mechanical City was defined by a modern, mechanical sensibility, this room felt like a return to the stereotypical mage’s study.

Antique wooden desks and chairs, rows of bookshelves neatly stacked with parchment scrolls and grimoires, even the lighting was provided by old-fashioned magic crystal lamps; everything else followed suit.

"It’s much like how I perceived this world when I first arrived..."

Wang Yu muttered to himself, ignoring the atmosphere to begin searching the shelves for the information he required.

"What are you rummaging for? To tamper with another’s bookshelves without permission is, in the eyes of a mentor, an utterly vile act. I suggest you stop at once, or I shall have you removed."

Wang Yu paused, turning toward the source of the voice. It was a magical projection of a woman, appearing to be in her thirties, her face unremarkable and currently twisted in profound dissatisfaction.

"Well... I have authorization. Astartes has already granted me permission to search for information."

He slid a book titled *Structural Analysis of Five Special Seventh-Circle Spells* back onto the shelf. It was impressive knowledge, though not what he needed; he would record a copy for Avia and Sieg later.

"Astartes, the machine spirit created by the Mentor? What right does it have to let others into my private library? I am Malfurion, the Mentor’s disciple, and these are my own research results. Why should I show them to anyone?"

The projection, claiming to be Malfurion, continued to grumble, clearly displeased with Wang Yu’s response.

"You’re an alchemist, aren't you?"

After a moment’s thought, Wang Yu pulled a grimoire titled *Singularity* from the shelf and asked. Judging by the surrounding texts, it was likely an eighth-circle spell.

"I am."

"Then why do you have a spellbook on your shelf?"

"I am a mage as well as an alchemist. Is there a problem with that?"

"No problem. Then why don't you interpret this book for me?"

"Read it, then... ..."

Wang Yu ignored the projection, which had fallen into a stunned silence after taking the book, and continued his search. Astartes had said Malfurion could only complain; he couldn't stop him.

As for the claim of being both a mage and an alchemist, Wang Yu didn't see the issue—Avia was the same. But Malfurion was a figure in history, a pure alchemist who was indeed a mage, but only at the level of a formal practitioner; interpreting an eighth-circle spell was a pipe dream.

Unbothered, Wang Yu searched rapidly. He calculated the time; he could finish the entire library soon enough. He hoped to find what he needed regarding space, the starry sky, and the nature of Abyssal creatures.

"Fine, I admit I cannot interpret this spell, but that is no reason to ransack my shelves. What exactly are you looking for?"

Malfurion, having been silent for a long while, spoke again, his haughty tone now tinged with helplessness.

"I want to know where Abyssal creatures come from. How could such weak things force the Five Races into such a desperate war that even several gods fell?"

Wang Yu replied casually.

"You don't know this? Abyssal creatures naturally originate from the starry sky. As for these 'weak' things you speak of, they were not like that in those days. The Abyssal creatures you see now are merely degraded shadows of their former selves."

Malfurion looked at Wang Yu with astonishment at his ignorance.

Wang Yu paused his frantic searching once more, struck by a sudden, chilling realization: the knowledge he could harvest here was not confined to the dusty manuscripts lining the shelves.

The memories etched into the very soul of this machine spirit, who called himself Malfurion, were also treasures he might dare to claim.

"Care to have a chat?"