113. Data

In many novels, time travelers who arrive in ancient times are able to use their advanced knowledge and information advantage to completely overwhelm famous ancient generals, and even teach them how to fight.

In reality, the ability to exploit information gaps between ancient and modern times to launch attacks is often at the strategic level. At the tactical level, the concepts of warfare differ drastically across different eras.

The so-called strategy aims to cut off the enemy's supply lines, destroy their supply lines, or gain something advantageous through the exchange of interests in the silent competition between nations.

Simply put, strategy is macro-level; it doesn't encompass the gains or losses of a single city or region. Tactics, on the other hand, are regional wars of varying scales.

In this situation, the overall morale of the soldiers, their fighting spirit, the speed of information transmission, and the speed of troop movement all differ.

To be honest, Yuan Chen didn't understand tactics. However, he was very clear about the strategic role that Hexgates could play...

The ability to reduce the time to traverse the entire Runeterra from two months to three days means that any area with Hexgates can become a teleportation coordinate for troops.

Although this world is not based on the War of the Two Cities Worldview, Noxus's attitude towards Hexgates is evident through the War of the Two Cities —before the appearance of Hexgates, Noxus basically let Piltover run rampant.

However, not long after the Hexgates appeared, much like how oil is prone to mold growth, Noxus warships made a visit.

"Hexgates..."

After thinking for a moment and remaining silent, Yuan Chen looked at Jayce beside him and said, "Let's make a deal."

"A deal?" Upon hearing this, Jayce was slightly taken aback, then a strange look appeared on his face. "About Hexgates?"

"Um."

Seeing Yuan Chen's admission, Jayce said somewhat helplessly:

"Regarding this... it's a bit of a pity, because the four major families have already invested enough. The workshops don't lack funding. And as you know, trade is the lifeblood of these families; they wouldn't share their profits with an outsider."

"They will be willing." Yuan Chen didn't care much about whether the four major families agreed, and simply said, "I can help you speed up the establishment of the Hexgates. But in return, the Hexgates will be for me... no."

Originally, Yuan Chen wanted to say "serve me" or "serve Ixialia." But just as Yuan Chen about to blurt it out, he fell silent once again.

After a long pause, Yuan Chen said, "Hexgates will remain neutral forever."

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words and seeing the solemnity between Yuan Chen's brows, Jayce was momentarily at a loss for words.

Jayce was certain that Yuan Chen had just wanted to take ownership of the Hexgates. But why... did he suddenly give up?

Although puzzled, Jayce temporarily put it aside and then simply asked:

"So how should you help me? Let me make this clear first, I'm not denying the Yuan Chu Axiom. It's just that, under the current circumstances, your Yuan Chu Axiom of Ixialia haven't yet achieved compatibility with Hextech, even if..."

Upon hearing this, before Jayce could finish speaking, Yuan Chen patted the silk pouch at his waist. A moment later, a thick Book of Thresholds flew out of the pouch. The book was facing up, the pages facing down. It wobbled as it flew out of the pouch, giving the impression that it hadn't woken up yet.

The Book of Thresholds

The creator is unknown, but it records a large number of regions in Runeterra and constructs a stable teleportation channel on each page through written descriptions, connecting the two realms of matter and spirit.

The Book of Thresholds is neither a living being nor a living thing, or perhaps both. In any case, this magical Book of Thresholds is the only one that Yuan Chen can still live in his spatial pouch while possessing his own will.

Looking at the Book of Thresholds, who seemed to have just woken up, Yuan Chen raised an eyebrow and asked, "How was your rest?"

Swish, swish, swish,

The Book of Thresholds turned the pages, but neither Yuan Chen nor Jayce reacted in the slightest. It was only then that the Book of Thresholds remembered that Yuan Chen and Jess couldn't understand its words.

"Where's Yuumi? Where did she go to play again?" Seeing this, Yuan Chen was also a little helpless - although the Book of Thresholds temporarily with him, it was already bound to Norra, and apart from Norra and Yuumi, even Yuan Chen couldn't understand what the Book of Thresholds was saying.

As it is now, even a simple greeting needs to be conveyed by Yuumi, the translator.

Although it had just woken up, the Book of Thresholds didn't have the playful nature of a kitten like Yuumi. It immediately opened itself, following Yuumi's scent, and opened one of the portals in front of Yuan Chen.

Seeing this, and ignoring the surprise in Jayce's eyes, Yuan Chen simply reached in. But as soon as he went in, he pulled his hand back in pain.

Splash splash splash splash!!

As Yuan Chen withdrew his hand, a large amount of clear seawater poured in through the portal. Fortunately, the Book of Thresholds reacted in time, so no disastrous consequences occurred.

On the other side is the deep sea—and at least two thousand meters underwater.

Under such water pressure, Yuan Chen's arm bore at least 200 kilograms of weight per square centimeter in that instant. Under such Heavy Pressure, an ordinary person might not be instantly crushed, but the cavities inside the human body would definitely suffer severe damage due to the enormous pressure.

It's only because Yuan Chen's physical attributes are what they are, and he's also undergone Dragon Blood Enhancement. If it were anyone else, they'd probably be rolling on the ground clutching their arm right now.

The Book of Thresholds was somewhat helpless about this—it wanted to offer a reminder, but the problem was that Yuan Chen couldn't understand what it was saying.

In other words, the Book of Thresholds understood Yuan Chen's physical strength and knew that this wouldn't injure Yuan Chen; otherwise, it wouldn't have dared to open the door so directly.

Knowing this, Yuan Chen didn't blame the Book of Thresholds. Instead, he flexed his wrist and, after completing his communication with the Water Element, reached his hand into the portal once more.

With a splashing sound, after groping around for a while, Yuan Chen gave a strong tug. Immediately afterward, Yuumi, who was hiding in a golden magic barrier, was pulled out with a "Meow!"

She even had a freshly caught, lively deep-sea fish in her mouth.

What are you doing?

Yuan Chen looked at Yuumi speechlessly. Yuumi, however, proudly raised her cat head:

"Of course we're hunting! Fresh small fish taste the best!"

"Didn't I prepare some food for you?"

"I am an independent cat!"

Upon hearing this, Yuumi said angrily, "Besides, the fish in the hotel isn't fresh at all; they're all from the river! If you ask me, deep-sea fish taste much better!"

As she spoke, Yuumi miraculously performed a set of cat-like punches and said:

"And you don't need to worry! I have the coordinates of the Book of Thresholds on me! And it's only a little over two thousand meters underwater, which is no problem at all for someone like me who is proficient in protective magic~"

Watching the human and cat conversing, Jayce couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Although he already knew that Yuan Chen had a magical book and a magical cat by his side, seeing the two of them communicate so fluently still surprised him.

Could magical creatures really be this intelligent?

Jayce couldn't help but think this way—and it wasn't Jayce's fault. Because in most cases, magical creatures, even if they possessed intelligence, had very limited abilities.

Aside from wild demigod beasts, the intelligence of the others, even the Elemental Drake, is only at the level of a three- or four-year-old child.

Yuumi's remarkable intelligence during the conversation was enough to redefine Jayce's understanding of magical creatures.

After chatting for a while, with the return of Yuumi as the little translator, Yuan Chen was finally able to fully utilize the Book of Thresholds Tome.

"I just took a look at your design, and it's generally fine, but the problematic parts are exactly where I can offer assistance."

Yuan Chen turned his gaze to the Hexgates prototype to the side.

Even as a prototype, the Hexgates prototype was enormous and sophisticated. Its overall structure was similar to Jayce's weapon, the Mercury Hammer, both operating through a stable energy cycle formed internally via a power suppressor.

Yuan Chen was certain that Jayce's breakthrough in Hexgates should have occurred around this time... perhaps not long ago, but in any case, it wouldn't have been more than a month.

Because the Hexgates requires a stable and massive energy core. And that core is none other than the ancient crystal from Shurima that caused Jayce and Viktor to become bitter enemies.

Previously, this crystal was used by Viktor to accelerate the extraction of toxins from the brain. Now, it serves as the energy hub at the core of the Hexgates prototype, supplying and stabilizing the energy cycle of the entire Hexgates.

"The two ends of the door are already in place; what's missing now is the passageway, isn't it?"

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Jayce thoughtfully placed his hand on his chin.

Just as Yuan Chen said, the two ends of the Hexgates had already completed the anchoring of spatial phase. The only problem is that once the distance increases, the spatial phase connecting the two gates will fluctuate with the distance in the material world.

Connecting the spiritual and material realms, even a fluctuation of only one percent can cause irreversible and permanent damage to both the body and mind.

As for the reliability that the Book of Thresholds has just demonstrated... no, there's simply not enough data to perform calculations at this level.

After thinking for a moment and remaining silent, Jayce said with a serious expression, "We need more data."