Chapter 24 - Seto's Marvels Part 2

Seto muttered a few words as he poured spirit energy into the crimson ring. The ring transformed into a vermillion ring with the image of a tiger on the front, encircled by draconic engravings. Agemo looked up at Seto, who pointed at the Dragon Monkey Bracelet on his right wrist. Agemo nodded, understanding that a craftsman of magical items was expected to identify the materials from which a magical item was made.

"Can you make Practitioner weapons?" Agemo asked.

"No. No one ever has. They simply appear from the Immortal Realms," Seto nodded. "As a Spirit Sage, I can see the true color of your Spirit Pulse and what lies in your Mystic Stone. The crimson ring—or rather, the vermillion ring—can only deceive those below the Spirit Sage tier or the Fiend Adept tier. Yes, I can see the spirit reactor. You are truly Lu Feng's descendant. If they discover you have one, they will try to force you to marry within their clans or find some method to control you. They harbor a deep hatred of the Hyperion for reasons not even I know," Seto warned.

"Can you tell me something about this?" Agemo asked as he took off his bead necklace and showed it to Seto.

"This... is a strange bead. I don't recognize the material, but it is crafted as some sort of seal. I can't analyze its power since it has bound itself to you. Judging by the wing within, it is certain that you will develop crimson wings," Seto said. "A physical mutation. It is rare but not unheard of. Most who fight the Hyperion try to steal their power using unknown methods in an attempt to imitate their pursuit of godhood. I, myself, killed an ancient dragon and absorbed its demonic core. It changed me, and I no longer look completely human. You don't want to know. Demonic cores don't just impede your cultivation past the third stage. The powerful ones don't blow you up as before; they change you into a demi-human. Be wary of those types of people you come across. They are sure to be very dangerous."

"Thank you for your advice," Agemo said, bowing as he put the bead necklace back on.

"Your business should be done here. I have just three pieces of advice. No, four. First, never fight a dragon. They are beings that the gods loved so much as to grant them power nearly equal to their own. Second, never fully trust anyone, especially those from ancient clans, cults, or religions. There are always ulterior motives behind their actions. Third, always train. Repeat the same moves over and over to master them and make them evolve to a higher level. It is tedious, but it’s always the most effective form of training," Seto began as they walked toward the entrance of the store. "Fourth, attend an academy, not a martial arts sect. Don’t limit yourself to one school of teaching. Academies don’t require loyalty after graduation, but they provide a strong background and valuable connections, much more than a single sect could. Lastly, you are a Practitioner. Don’t tie yourself down to mortal affairs like mages. Your goal is the Immortal Realms, to have power that can shake the heavens. Like your ancestors, closed-door training is a must. A must. Farewell, boy. As a parting gift, and in gratitude to my master, take this book on magical puppets. It’s crafted using a five-star point formation. This was the gift my master, Lu Feng, taught me. If you can, please give him my thanks and request that he visit me. This letter will authenticate my identity. Thank you, boy. You’ve really made my day."

Agemo accepted the letter, a black book, and a small wooden box. He bowed to Seto and left the Korgar Auction House. Agemo took a sip of lion wine and stared up at the sky. There was more to this world than he had expected. He drank more lion wine and headed to the largest restaurant in town. He sat on the second floor, which had a veranda overlooking the first floor, and looked at the stage at the center of the restaurant. Musicians played while women danced.

He had his hood down, revealing his long ponytail dangling behind his head. Taking a knife, he cut it off and tossed it in the trash as a hostess brought him some tea. He ordered his meal and drank the tea as he leaned back in his chair. Nearby, at another table, several people had gathered, discussing the tournament. An elderly man appeared and sat among them, holding a black box lacquered with gold. He placed the box on the table, silencing their discussions.

"Elder Wu, you've come," many of them smiled, nodding to him.

"I acquired the item. It was Item 94," the elder said.

"94? Not 100?" one of them gasped.

"No. I heard rumors that many people were searching for the secret method to make a spirit reactor. No doubt, there are people following the winner of that bid," Elder Wu answered.

"It'll be a slaughter. They'll probably wait until the new owner leaves the city. The City Guard of Korgar does not care for matters outside Korgar. As soon as they are fifty feet away from the gate, they'll strike," a man nodded.

"Indeed. It will be a slaughter," a girl agreed, and the group nodded as they imagined how deadly the battle would be. A spirit reactor could allow them to have the same capabilities as the ancient clans. Just possessing one would assure their future, as the ancient clans would seek to marry them into their families.

"I wouldn’t dare follow them. I’m only at the second stage of Spirit Knight," Elder Wu sighed. "Don’t even think about it, Maximus."

"I'm only at the first stage of Spirit Knight. I’d die as well," the man agreed. "Children, you are all recruits for the Golden Wyvern Academy. All four of you are the same age—eleven. You have two years until you officially turn thirteen. In our school, the accepted age is thirteen, and students are classified based on their current standing. Only one of you is a mage novice, so the next two years will be crucial for the rest of you. Attaining an Archon body, reaching the third stage, and forming a complete spirit is very difficult. You must endure. Luckily, you have all reached the second stage and can continue participating in the tournament. Winning does not matter. Upon reaching the top sixty-four, each of you will receive a hundred spirit pills. These will greatly aid your cultivation. As for the mage novice, you will receive a D-rank spirit crystal."

"D-rank?" a girl gasped. "Really? That’s amazing! I thought it would be an E-rank mana stone, but it’s actually a D-rank mana crystal!"

"Ranks? What are ranks, Karen?" a boy asked the only mage novice in the group.

"Mages care more about the world than Practitioners. Mages often join guilds and go on many adventures," Karen explained. "Mana stones are used for weapons and staffs, but mana crystals are even rarer. They are used in crafting accessories, armor, and act as reservoirs we can use to store mana and access later. Mana stones are a one-off. They don’t get replenished by any means. Unless they are on a staff, mana stones are wasted if you craft them into anything else."

"Good girl. As expected of my niece," Maximus roared as he patted her head.

"Uncle," she murmured, but smiled happily. "Jasper, Bakura, Kairi, are a hundred spirit pills also worth it?"

Jasper and Bakura both nodded, but Kairi was distracted, noticing Agemo drinking his tea. Agemo looked as if he was in pain, as if the world hurt him. She didn’t know why she thought that way. She recognized him as one of the four people who successfully completed the Steel Maze, the last maze that selected the final fifty out of the remaining 700 at the end of the second trial. Everyone saw the light-brown-haired girl with blue eyes staring off and gasped as they recognized Agemo.

"He's the one who defeated those fifty-two brats from the second trial," Maximus said. "The one using that dark spirit movement technique. He must already know what his spirit is to use an elemental spirit technique."

"I agree. I also saw his guardian, a stage 9 Spirit Shaman, named Meng Ce. They both look like they're from the Yan Empire."

"Like me?" Bakura asked. "I don't recognize him, though."

"Why would you? Aren’t you from the countryside?" Jasper laughed. "Still, he’s strong. Despite his cultivation, he beat a third-stage Spirit Shaman."

"That's because that shame-of-an-Archon had no skill," Maximus scoffed. "The boy easily foresaw every attack that idiot Archon made. Those sect members are raised differently than academy students. Every day is full of danger. They are responsible for cultivating on their own, without guidance, unless they are talented enough to become a personal disciple. That is the price they pay for their superiority over academy-raised Practitioners."