webnovel

Tarthocas : Chronicles of the Transmigrating Scribe

Do you love the thrill of world travel? Are you captivated by intricate and high-quality power systems? [ Relative to Creator cough ] Do you relish a good mystery? Then, dear readers, this novel is for you! ----------------------------------------- Carto Harts was just an ordinary college student until he found himself transmigrated to another world. Armed only with a computer and a mysterious library, he must navigate this strange new land. Will he flourish or drown in a river of madness? Only Avacaniya knows. Dive into this enthralling journey and uncover the secrets that await. --------------------------------------------- 5 Acts 4 Stages 3 Writers 2 Ideals 1 Actor -------------------------------- This Book is brought to you by The Big Machine, whom people who have come here from WN may know as The Living Typewriter. Release Schedule is Mon/Wed/Sat. - The Machine. .................................................................. This is a reupload of the Novel Tarthocas on this account and will only be published on Web Novel through this account. Cover Art by Malt ( Discord Handle)

thebigmachine2 · Fantasy
Not enough ratings
17 Chs

The Dragon who fell from The Stars

As the Computer loaded his answer, Carto started feeling very excited.

"Haha my protagonist moment has arrived!" 

As he was thinking, the Computer gave the answer.

"Yes! Lets see what shall be my path to becoming a Jade Immortal!"

[ Information on requested topic is low, please collect more information for better computation]

"Huh"

Ling Xuan could not understand what was happening.

"What do you mean by information is low!"

As soon as Ling Xuan realised what the computer meant he immediately wanted to punch the monitor yet he held back only shouting at it.

After cursing the computer for some time, Ling Xuan calmed down in the end.

"Why was I even cursing at the computer ! The one who should be cursed at is me. I'm the one who got over excited over such a matter." Ling Xuan sighed.

He then clicked on the search option and asked what the computer meant by low information.

After entering the command, the green loading bar appeared and after a few seconds the answer was revealed.

[ The term 'Low Information' is used by the Want Generator whenever there is a scarcity of information on a given topic which is related to the want of the user and can affect the creation of a product suitable to the user. If the user wants to ignore this warning, then they can just enter the command again yet one must take notice that the end result created by the Want Generator may prove to be heavily detrimental to the user.]

Carto finally understood why the warning had appeared.

"The way to overcome this problem should be more information regarding this topic." Carto deduced the solution.

"I should begin to visit libraries and collect information about the Mythical Beasts , yet how much of it will be true and how much will be false, that's the question" Carto sighed.

The information he had gotten from Shang Zhang was the only credible information he could trust as it was able to actually make the Want Generator start to process a solution, yet would it hold true for those folklore?

 "I have two choices currently, either I comb through libraries to find even a bit of information that can help me or I find Senior Shang Zhang again!" Carto quickly understood his goal.

—---------------------------------------------

As morning came Ling Xuan headed out of the inn and went straight for the Eastern Sector.

"The Disciple Selections will take place about 2 days later and the last day for signing up for it is today, I have to get signed up!" 

Both the Eastern and the Western Sectors were filled with stalls to enlist in the Selection. The Western was expected to be the most crowded as it was closer to the Southern Sector than The Eastern Sector.

"Although the Eastern Sector won't be empty it's still better than being in a crowded area that is the Western Sector." With this in mind Ling Xuan hitched a ride and paid 10 Silver Taels for the driver to go fast.

—-----------------------------------------

In just half an hour , Ling Xuan had reached the Eastern Sector.

Ling Xuan started walking as the Caravan was not allowed further inside the Sector

There was no major difference to separate the Sectors except probably the style of their architecture which depended on the inhabitants of the Sector such as the Eastern and Western Sectors being full of buildings resembling brutalist architecture.

The buildings looked like fortresses with iron and wood fusing together in harmony. There were also numerous training grounds sprinkled like salt all over the Sector.

"To think that such a world can perfectly employ Brutalism."? Ling Xuan was amazed at the architectural differences from the Southern and The Eastern Sectors.

"Hey! What is a kid like you doing here!" A gruff voice called out to Ling Xuan.

Turning around Ling Xuan saw a middle aged man coming towards him.

"Ah I am here to enlist for the Disciple Selections!" Ling Xuan quickly answered.

The middle aged man looked at him for a few moments before throwing a punch.

"What the!" This action caught Ling Xuan surprised and he swiftly parried it using his left arm, bruising it as a result.

Ling Xuan launched a counterattack with a Hidden Serpent Pill at the stomach.

CLACK

The man had caught Ling Xuan's punch and pushed Ling Xuan back.

"Senior, why did you attack me !" Ling Xuan finally asked as he saw the man take a more relaxed stance.

The man did not say anything but instead walked away.

This perplexed Ling Xuan yet seeing that the man wished to not take the matter further, Ling Xuan could only sigh and resume his journey.

BANG

Ling Xuan suddenly was knocked back.

"Another attack !" Ling Xuan was surprised.

Looking ahead he saw another man stand in front of him. But surprisingly this was not the first guy!

"Senior, why have you attacked me !" Ling Xuan asked, hoping for a reply which never came from the man.

Just like the first man, he also silently walked away.

"Do these people hate children !" Ling Xuan thought weirded out by their behaviour.

Sighing, Ling Xuan continued walking.

BOOM

Just as Ling Xuan took his first step, another attack had arrived !

"You have to be kidding me !" Ling Xuan was now irritated as he realised that he was going to get jumped by middle aged men.

—------------------------------

In the twenty minutes that passed afterwards Ling Xuan was attacked thirty times. 

He had understood that these groups of men really liked to Jump Children.

"Now I've had it ! Enough is enough ! They have forced me, it's time to beat up old men !" Ling Xuan had decided in that instant.

As soon as he had decided it, someone else attacked.

BANG

Ling Xuan used his Hidden Serpent Pill technique and realised his complete strength. He was truly going all out this time !

Soon someone was thrown to the ground yet this time it was his assailant !

The man's jaw had actually got dislocated !

"You still wanna throw hands !" Ling Xuan shouted so everyone could hear his voice.

"Because if you want to I'll oblige as well !" Ling Xuan spoke as he cracked his knuckle joints.

Soon two men arrived and moved away the man who got his jaw dislocated by Ling Xuan.

Ling Xuan stood there for a while and noticing nobody had said anything, he cautiously took his first step, ready to attack again.

Yet this time nobody attacked. It had seemed like Ling Xuan's were indeed correct.

Realising this Ling Xuan continued walking away to the enlistment centre that suddenly seemed so far away.

—---------------------------------------------------

In front of Ling Xuan stood a shop open with the sign board saying 'Enlistment for Selection.' There were not many individuals, just five stood in front of him, all were the same age as him.

"Are these the others who have come to enlist for the Disciple Selections as well?" Ling Xuan thought.

One of the five hearing the footsteps of Ling Xuan turned their head and looked over.

"Is this the Enlistment Centre for the Disciple Selection?" Ling Xuan asked the youth.

"Ah yes, this is the place." The youth timidly answered.

Hearing this Ling Xuan felt happy as he no longer had to beat up old men.

"Did you get attacked by those people as well?" The teen asked Ling Xuan.

"Yea, I had to dislocate the jaws of one of them. Wait, they jumped you as well !" As Ling Xuan narrated his experience he realised something .

Those men really like beating up kids don't they!

"Yes, they attacked me as well. But fortunately I was strong enough to survive against their attacks." The teen replied.

"Wait, why didn't you counter attack them?" Ling Xuan asked.

"Are you kidding, all of them were at least in the High Adept Rank ! It's a miracle that I didn't get my bones destroyed by them." The teen who was surprised by Ling Xuan's question answered.

"Wait, does that mean I beat up Old men in the High Adept Rank !" Ling Xuan realised that he was becoming quite powerful.

"No, that's not right I only broke one's jaw and didn't completely defeat him so I am most probably close to the High Adept Rank" Ling Xuan quickly surmised his actual strength

After this the teen and Ling Xuan didn't have a chance to talk as the former's turn came.

Soon he was gone and only Ling Xuan stood facing the head of the Enlistment centre.

"So what's ya name mate tell me." The gruff voice spoke and as he dipped his quill in ink.

"Ling Xuan !" Carto answered.

"Oh you are of the Ling Clan ! No wonder you were able to pass the first test." The man muttered which Ling Xuan heard.

"What first test are you talking about?" Ling Xuan asked.

The man looked at him like he was an idiot and spoke.

"The men that attacked are to make sure no weakling comes here."

The man chuckled

"Do you really think that middle aged men would attack you just because you're a kid ?"

This caught Ling Xuan off guard. After all, once I thought about it deeply, why would soldiers want to beat children?

Seeing that Ling Xuan actually couldn't refute what he had said, the manager was surprised.

"Wait, you actually thought that."

"...."

"..."

"Well I have written your name and registered it, here take your token and never return." The man quickly gave Ling Xuan a token and then waved him off.

"Wait at least tell me where the Selection will be held !" Ling Xuan asked.

"Just go to one of the border posts and show them your token, they'll take you to the site." Saying this the man pushed Ling Xuan out.

Ling Xuan could only return home and wait for the day to come.

The remaining days would pass in the blink of an eye and soon the day would arrive.

 

—--------------------------------------------

Ling Xuan walked to the Southern Sector's Boorder. It was only a twenty minute walk and considering Ling Xuan's Cultivation it didn't affect him too much.

There in front of the post was a crowd. These were probably the other participants yet due to the sheer number of qualifiers.

"How am I supposed to even be able to reach the site?" Ling Xuan fell into a predicament.

Suddenly he felt someone place his hand on his shoulder.

Turning around he saw the one man, he never would've guessed, Shang Zhang.

"Senior, what are you doing here?" Ling Xuan was surprised to see that the man who had completely disappeared yesterday appeared today.

"Oh well, I was just observing the crowd when I noticed you." Shang Zhang spoke chuckling at the coincidence of their meeting.

"Ah, I was here to go to the site where the Disciple Selection will be held." Ling Xuan explained. As he observed Shang Zhang he noticed that he could not sense his power.

"Just how powerful is this individual?" Ling Xuan wondered, his amazement at this senior growing with each passing moment.

"Well you won't be able to go to the site with such a crowd now can you ? I will help you this time as I'm your senior and you were interested in Mythical Beasts." Saying this he walked towards the crowd.

TAP

 The sound of Shang Zhang's foot hitting the ground echoed.

Nearby birds, startled by the disturbance, took off in a flurry of wings and alarmed cries.

The dirt beneath everyone's feet started quaking and the once bustling crowd became silent.

A tense silence fell over the crowd. Sweat trickled down everyone's necks except Shang Zhang's, as they all experienced a profound and overwhelming fear.

It was the fear of death 

Shang Zhang put his arm around Ling Xuan and started walking, pulling the horrified Ling Xuan along.

As they neared the post, the crowd made way for them without any disturbance.

They soon arrived at the post and Shang Zhang gave the guard Ling Xuan's token.

"I'll be leaving now my dear Junior !" Shang Zhang walked away laughing.

Yet even after Shang Zhang started walking away nobody moved an inch.

After what seemed like hours a voice said.

"W-who w-was... t-that?"

As if a row of dominoes had toppled, the crowd erupted in screams, releasing their pent-up fear and terror all at once.

Ling Xuan, who was closest to Shang Zhang, succumbed to the overwhelming pressure and fell unconscious.

—---------------------------------------------

Meanwhile as this was happening in another location two old men were talking to each other.

 

"The Clans have started becoming quite weak Li Zongu. What do you suggest we do ?" One of the old men dressed in white robes asked the other who wore yellow robes.

"Hmm…We have to provide more resources to them, Shi Ma, that's the only way we can make them more powerful," Li Zongu answered.

"By providing them with more Essence ! Bah ! We will be wasting more resources than them. We have to look for another way." Shi Ma refuted Li Zongu.

As they were about to discuss further, someone barged in.

BOOM

The new arrival was quickly tossed aside hitting the wall with their back.

SHING

A sword was near their neck with its wielder being none other than Shi Ma. 

"You imbecile ! Do you not know that one must have to knock before entering ?!" Shi Ma shouted.

"Give us a very fine reason we should not end you here !" Li Zongu walked towards Shi Ma.

"Lords ! My greatest apology !" The injured individual quickly said.

"Now tell us for what reason you came here and how important was it for you to risk your life" Shi Ma asked, still not removing his sword and instead driving it slowly closer to the neck.

"My Lords ! Yimo Ji has returned !" 

As soon as this was spoken, the sword fell out of Shi Ma's hands and he quickly backed away.

Li Zongu's face turned pale as snow as he started gasping for air.

"You are lying ! He has been in exile for so many years ! How can you know he has returned now !" Shi Ma questioned.

"Lords ! He had used his pressure to stun the entire Southern Sector !" The man quickly answered fearing for his life.

Hearing this Shi Ma's face looked like it had lost its life.

"Only 'he' could stun an entire sector like that—no one else," Li Zongu sighed.

"We have to inform the King quickly !" Shi Ma spoke to Li Zongu.

"Yes, let's go !" Li Zongu nodded.

He then looked at the injured man and threw him a talisman.

"You ! Go and notify the other Generals !" Li Zongu ordered and turned to leave.

"Tell them that the Exiled Dragon has returned !"

The Great Dragon Generals are a group of individuals whose authority is only below The Dragon King, they are the overseers of The Xia Kingdom and The Clans.

thebigmachine2creators' thoughts