Modern Patriarch

Chapter 89: Creator of New Wisdoms

Yao Shen found himself intrigued by Vondars approach in his line of questioning. Instead of pressing him upon the details of the manufacturing process of each of the inventions in question, he chose to consider the juxtaposition between two of the five weapons that he had described.

This handgun you speak of seems like a highly effective tool for killing. Your world was populated entirely by mortals, yes? Vondar asked, his tone not betraying any hint of emotion.

Indeed.

Then what need is there to design a non-lethal weapon like the taser? Why invest time, resources and technology in the development of a far more inefficient tool and complex tool?

That question gave Yao Shen pause.

Though I am not clear on the exact sciences employed in the design and creation of the taser, its low-current allows for its target to be incapacitated with minimal risk of serious injury.

Would the handgun not be the more efficient tool, even if the goal was merely to incapacitate and not kill? Mortals should not die from a puncture wound as long as it does not strike them in the vitals and the taser is slower than the bullet, Vondar theorized based on the information Yao Shen had offered him earlier, considering the matter from an analytical perspective.

Perhaps, Yao Shen replied after a beat, as he considered Vondars question. These tasers are primarily employed by people that are tasked with maintaining the order of society. Their goal is not to kill or to harm, but to apprehend. Then, the weight of their crimes will be measured against the existing law and their sentences, decided by the governing body.

A tool designed not to kill, but to incapacitate without harm. Fascinating, fascinating! Vondar exclaimed, his tone quaking with an excitement that seemed almost unbefitting of the ancient existence. Ashamed as I am to admit it, the idea never crossed my mind. Us dwarves might value craftsmanship, but that does not mean that our hammers are not forged with the intent to spill the blood of our foes.

Yao Shens expression couldnt help but turn a little quizzical. There were a wide plethora of artifacts that could accomplish incapacitation without killing the target, his own bell artifact having proven to be one of them in the fight against Gavril- if only highly situationally. What value did Vondar see that he remained oblivious to?

Many artifacts could accomplish such a feat far more effectively than a mortal taser would. What do you see? Yao Shen could not hold back the burning curiosity that had been lit aflame in his chest, as he came face to face with the realization that perhaps even knowing much about the Dwarf, he had still underestimated him.

Yes, yes, I suppose I did promise to share any insight that I gained from your knowledge. Though, do you really not see it? Are you not bordered by an entire forest bordered by spiritual beasts? Vondars tone seemed expectant.

Yao Shen considered the hint that had been offered. Theories cropped up at the fringes of his mind, but his own lack of knowledge in the field of artificing and the capabilities and limitations of Vondar meant that he could not provide a concrete answer.

No, Yao Shen admitted his own lack of knowledge without so much so as a hint of shame.

Hm. I suppose us dwarves are partly to blame for your ignorance. I have always maintained that wisdom is not a wealth to be hoarded, no. More a reactive catalyst that can grow exponentially the farther it is spread. Unfortunately, my peers did not share my wisdom and the Tellurarchs would likely have ordered for my head if they had any reason to suspect that I was leaking information, Vondar reminisced, his tone sounding a little melancholic.

That philosophy served my planet well, even if it required us hundreds, if not thousands of years to understand the deceptively simple lesson-that peace would serve our collective purposes and needs far better than destruction ever could, Yao Shen replied, adding merit to Vondars seemingly utopian ideals.

Then let me pose a question of my own, Vondar began. Before you united the three sects of the Azlak Plains under the banner of your Modern Sect, were they powerful enough to confront the spiritual beasts of the Nayun Forest? He asked a question whose relevance Yao Shen failed to understand, yet compelled to respond for the very same reason.

If they were deemed large enough a threat, then the three sects would likely have come together under the flag of the righteous path and likely succeeded in their efforts, Yao Shen answered after some deliberation.

Then why did they not do so? Vondar asked. Are Human Cultivators benevolent enough to prioritize long term sustainability over short term benefits?

There would be a cost, Yao Shen conceded. While Human Cultivators have the edge when it comes to refinement in their techniques, beasts have access to a hoard of Natural Treasures that give them an edge in raw Qi output. Moreover they are-

Wily. Sly. Heartless creatures that operate on a scale of morality completely foreign to us. Unlike the Demonic Cultivators that derive a twisted joy from the slaughter of both helpless mortals and cultivators, they are only following the law of the forest. If they detect the approach of a powerful cultivator, they flee without hesitation. If they are stronger, they ambush their prey mercilessly. And if you were to attack as a group, the sapient ones among them would likely ensure the slaughter of every mortal in your land before the last beast is eradicated,

Likely, Yao Shen confirmed. Already, the beast tides cause many casualties amongst mortals. Though I will make sure that it is not the case from now on.

Do not be so sure, young one, Vondar warned. While the similarities between beasts and other sapient races tend to diminish after passing the Nascent Soul Stage, their physiology is still markedly different. Our lifespans remain the same, but many spiritual beasts can halt their aging by hibernating deep in the recesses of the Earth.

You are implying that one or more Soul Emperor level spiritual beasts from bygone eras could be residing in the Azlak Plains at this very moment? Yao Shen asked, as his features warped in surprise.

A possibility, nothing more, Vondar off-handedly replied. Hibernating beasts tend to lose their grasp over the flow of time, so if one hasnt resurfaced in hundreds of years, it is unlikely to do so anytime soon. That is, of course, only if you do not disturb the forest significantly enough for it to perceive a threat.

Thank you for the warning.

No need to, for in it lies the point I am trying to make. Confronting the Nayun Forest has the possibility of inviting consequences that I assume you have no interest in dealing with. Not to mention the loss of Natural Treasures and Spiritual Beast byproducts would be so catastrophic that it would further lower the ambient qi of the Azlak Plains.

You mean to., Yao Shens eyes widened as he finally understood.

Indeed. If weaker cultivators are equipped with a version of this taser that targets weaknesses in beast physiology, then it would be easy to incapacitate and capture them without stronger beasts in the vicinity noticing. Killing a Spiritual Beast is easy. Capturing one is fiendishly difficult at the same level. A powerful electric shock that temporarily paralyzes the nerves. It is not impossible. Far from it, in fact. And beast taming methods will be more effective with this device, the threat of incapacitation keeping them in line without causing them any actual harm.

You All this Just from vague descriptions of technology from a foreign civilization, Yao Shen murmured in awe as he took in Runebound Oresplitter with a new degree of respect.

Just who are you, Yao Shen finally asked, finding that the title Scholar did not do the Dwarf enough justice.

In my prime, my people bestowed upon me many titles. The Dwarf Lord bestowed upon me the title of Scholar for my contributions to deciphering part of a text that was said to have been inherited from time immemorial. But personally, the title I favor the most was granted to me by a young Dwarf apprenticing under a worker of mine- Creator of New Wisdoms, he called me. Though perhaps, the term Inventor might be more palatable to your tongue.