Age of Adepts c1-1513
Page 533
However, if he wanted to browse knowledge, he required points as well. First Grade required fifty points, Second Grade required four hundred points, and Third Grade needed seven thousand points. Moreover, this was just the basic cost. It would rise correspondingly for knowledge of a unique nature or greater effectiveness.
Over the past eight years, Greem’s Crimson Clan had slowly devoured three to four insignificant small-scale organizations in the Ailovis region. Greem had also obtained some fairly interesting knowledge legacies from these forces.
The Chip ran some calculations. If this knowledge was contributed to the library, it could bring about approximately 1,400 points of contribution.
It might not be enough for Greem to obtain Third Grade knowledge, but it was enough for some Second Grade fundamentals.
That was already enough for Greem!
After all, with the Chip and some First and Second Grade fundamental knowledge, successfully sequencing and generating Third Grade knowledge wasn’t a complicated matter. It simply required time.
Thus, Greem sold the knowledge he had to the Winds of Freedom without any hesitation. He then used the 1,370 points to obtain three sets of Second Grade fundamental knowledge.
Soul Parasitization Experiment.
Aidiven’s Notes.
Crimson Cemetery.
Soul Parasitization Experiment was research on high-grade spirit beings. If thoroughly analyzed, Greem would obtain significant improvements in the protection of spirits and souls.
Aidiven’s Notes were the research contents left behind by a mechanical adept. The notes mentioned the topic of assimilation between flesh and magical metal. It had some degree of referential utility for the Iron Titan being constructed in the Goblin Plane.
Meanwhile, Crimson Cemetery was simply a book of introduction on the vampires. It also provided some insights and potential solutions to the bloodline limit that existed among them. The book might not be completely accurate, but it would still be a great help in solving Mary’s bloodline limit problem.
Greem arrived at the Mission Hall after spending all his contribution points. It was now that he realized that this was the place to earn contribution points quickly.
Many high-grade adepts had put out bounties in this hall. The contents covered everything from the exploration of other worlds, searching ruins, adventuring in the Black Forest, and even hunting down high-grade magical creatures. The most basic reward for these missions was a large number of contribution points.
These missions were also divided into Second and Third Grade based on their danger level. Second Grade missions meant that the enemies that would be encountered during the task would be Second Grade. Naturally, Third Grade missions meant that they would be Third Grade.
However, what Greem never expected was the long list of Fourth Grade missions in the Mission Hall.
He didn’t think that any Fourth Grade adepts would come here to accept a Fourth Grade mission. All these Fourth Grade missions would have to be undertaken by a group of Third Grade adepts.
One could easily imagine how dangerous these missions were!
……
Nevernight City Ruin Exploration Mission. Third Grade.
Mission Issuer: Adept Angmar. Third Grade.
Mission Contents: Proceed to the southwest corner of the Nigon region to explore the ruins of Nevernight City.
Mission Rewards: 50,000 magical crystals. 2,000 contribution points.
MIssion Requirements: Recruiting five Third Grade adepts.
……
Coarse Hill Demon Investigation. Third Grade.
Mission Issuer: Zhentarim
Mission Contents: Three years ago, tracks of demons appeared in villages near Coarse Hill. Seven villages became victims of blood sacrifices. Second Grade Association Adept Kede went to investigate and discovered traces of a Third Grade demon before going missing during the investigation.
Mission Rewards: 70,000 magical crystals. 3,000 contribution points. Reward will double if the demon lair is found.
Mission Requirements: A group of adepts Second Grade and above.
……
Greem also unexpectedly saw a familiar name amongst the many missions.
……
Dragon Hunting Mission. Third Grade
Mission Issuer: Adept Sanazar. Third Grade.
Mission Contents: Green Dragon lair discovered in a lesser plane. Two Third Grade adolescent green dragons, one male and one female. The female dragon is currently expectant. Hiring adept companions to hunt the dragons.
Mission Rewards: 20,000 magical crystals. 800 contribution points. Dragon corpse will belong to mission issuer, and participants will obtain a share of the dragon’s hoard based on contribution.
Mission Requirements: Two Third Grade adepts.
……
Greem couldn’t help but smile slightly when he saw this mission.
It seemed his old friend Lady Sanazar hadn’t been slacking off during the past couple centuries either. She had been wildly improving her power. The Flying Venom Dragon bloodline of hers was somewhat similar to Oliven’s Dragon Devourer Physique. They both liked to devour dragons of the same grade to improve their own abilities.
However, while Oliven seemed to devour any dragon without qualm, Sanazar leaned toward acidic dragons like the green dragons.
As for the lesser plane mentioned in Sanazar’s mission, Greem suspected it was the Knight’s Plane he had helped the Sarubo Clan conquer. To his understanding, there was a large green dragon tribe in that plane.
It was very likely that the green dragon tribe had been forced to retreat from the plane after the adepts conquered it. That said, it was still very possible that one or two green dragons were staying back in the plane to give birth. After all, it was hazardous for a pregnant female dragon to cross through a spatial rift recklessly!
However, Greem had a bit of trouble understanding why Sanazar didn’t turn to her companions in the clan and instead chose to recruit adepts from the outside.
After gaining a simple understanding of the nature of this Spirit Illusion Realm, Greem finally withdrew from it. He then put away the round mirror and stored it properly.
The round mirror was his tool of communication with the Spirit Illusion Realm, and the best place to enter the Realm seemed to be his tower. It was only in his own tower that the mirror could be continuously supplied with magical energy and sustain Greem’s mental consciousness activity in the Realm.
If Greem chose to access the Realm in the wilderness, safety would become a problem. Furthermore, the elementium consumption would be immense as well.
Meanwhile, if he were in another world, the lack of information exchange towers would make it impossible to connect to the Spirit Illusion Realm.
Greem wouldn’t get addicted to a magical tool like this.
In the end, the Winds of Freedom had only gathered together high-grade adepts through the sharing of knowledge, resources, and information. As for its actual influence and power? That would depend on the skills and organizational abilities of the Fourth Grade adepts behind the organization.
…………
The Sealing Room.
Greem would take the time to come here and visit an old friend every single day.
Third Grade Vampire Haines Vik was locked in a massive floating array in the sealing room. He could not move at all.
A hollow silver tube the size of a finger had been pierced into his exposed chest, reaching all the way into his heart. Drips of viscous, dark purple blood flowed down the tube. A jar the size of a human head caught the blood dripping out of the old vampire’s heart; it looked as if it was almost full.
Greem waved at the jar and took it into his hand. He covered the container and drew a sealing rune on it before carefully stashing it in his storage ring. However, he immediately took out a new clay jar and placed it before Haines.
Greem did not leave after doing all this. Instead, he took out a crimson crysta
l and waved it at the old vampire.
“Sir Haines, it’s time for your meal now!”
Haines grunted. He couldn’t even be bothered to open his eyes, much less take a single look at that blood crystals.
He had been imprisoned in Fire Throne for ten years. The only reason he had been able to live until now was due to these blood crystals. How much better than death was living in such suffering?
He didn’t think that his opponent was keeping him alive out of some reservation or concern. It was most likely that this was all for that damned bitch.
The reason Haines was alive was that he was food the male adept was providing that bitch Mary.
Once Mary had accumulated sufficient blood energy and reached peak Second Grade, it would probably be the time his life ended.
Leicester had died like that. He had turned into a stepping stone for Mary’s advancement to Second Grade.
He would die an even more tragic death and become the sacrificial piece for Mary’s advancement to Third Grade.
Haines wanted nothing more than to end his life immediately when he thought of his eventual end. He would never give the enemy the chance to progress upon his dead corpse.
Sadly, his weak body could not overcome the powerful sealing ability of the tower.
Haines was almost always kept in a dazed state of consciousness. It was only when this terrifying demon came that he would be woken up with special methods and tortured in the cruelest ways possible.
Chapter 863 - Secret Experiment
As expected, the silence of the old vampire was only returned with cruel vengeance from Greem.
Greem’s right hand held the bloody crystal. It burst into flames as the crystal made of concentrated dragon blood slowly broke down and turned into a ball of strong-smelling blood mist.
As the flames continued to increase in heat, the temperature of the mist also started to rise. Soon, it gathered in front of Greem and turned into a bubbling crimson water ball.
Once the temperature approached the boiling point of dragon blood, Greem chuckled and pushed the water ball forward.
It floated into the array of light and came into contact with the old vampire’s body.
The four weeks of bloodletting had left the old vampire’s origin withered and dry, and he was already hanging on by a thread. Yet, when his body came into contact with the boiling blood, it immediately absorbed the blood into his body like a whale thirsting for water.
It wasn’t the old vampire’s intention, but an instinct of his body!
The blood of a Second Grade dragon was indeed an excellent tonic for the old vampire in his current state, but perhaps not boiling dragon blood.
As the vampire’s body instinctively took in the boiling dragon blood, it quickly seeped into his body and surged toward the heart along with the flow of blood.
“Ah!”
A long and tragic cry.
The already weak old vampire was stuck in complete pain and ecstasy.
The boiling dragon blood was coursing through his dry veins, nourishing the nearly withered cells along the way. Yet, as it was providing Haines with power, it was also boiling and scalding all of his cells and tissues, causing him unbearable agony.
The old vampire struggled with all he had. The gray wings behind his back unfolded completely, but just three seconds later, they were bound and sliced to countless pieces by the magical chains around him.
Red spots started to appear all over the old vampire’s pale skin. Countless small flames started burning on his body. Haines raised his head and opened his mouth in an attempt to let out an agonized scream. However, it was a jet of dark red flames that burst forth, carrying with it the scent of roasted meat.
After a long time, the tortured and battered vampire finally managed to let out a grunt. His entire body was like a reed in cold winds, shivering and trembling unstoppably.
If it had been anyone else, such gruesome torture inflicted on such a weak body would have killed them.
However, the vampires were a resilient race. The boiling dragon blood might have brought him the most extreme pain, but it was also rapidly healing all of his wounds. It didn’t take long. Soon, Haines’ body had recovered completely, and he was restored to peak condition.
However, his Spirit had hit rock bottom after such intense agony. He only had the strength to pant now!
Having completed all of this, Greem carefully looked over the sealing array and ensured there were no problems. It was then that he turned and left the sealing room.
Two magical machine warriors with Second Grade power stood beside the door, keeping solemn guard over the place.
“Continue to guard this place well! No one is allowed inside without my orders.”
Greem gave a simple order before erupting in a blast of fire and vanishing from the spot.
He was already in a secret magical room on the fifth floor by the time he reappeared.
There were no windows or doors here, making it impossible to break in through conventional methods. Even Greem would have to rely on the magical brand he had left in the room if he wanted to get in.
This room was an extensive biology laboratory. All sorts of glass vats of various sizes could be seen everywhere, protected behind defensive barriers. These were either the organs of magical creatures, formless tissue, creature specimens, or even some strange, unnameable substances.
It was chilling to even walk through the collection of displays!
A specially forged blood coffin lay silently in the corner of the laboratory.
The blood coffin was carved entirely out of a massive piece of blood crystal. Complex patterns had been carved onto the walls of the coffin and were lit up by the blood energy rippling out from within.
Greem walked forward, pushed open the coffin, and frowned when hit by the pungent smell of blood.
He held his breath, took out the jar, took away the seal, and poured the blood into the coffin.
The addition of the blood caused the blood level in the coffin to rise even further. It was so full it was almost overflowing.
Greem nodded in satisfaction.
This blood coffin specially prepared for Mary’s advancement was now ready. The sacrificial ceremony in the sealing room was also prepared. Now, he only had to wait for Mary to raise her power to peak Second Grade!
Greem placed the lid back onto the coffin and sealed the blood energy inside. He wasn’t in a rush to leave yet, though. He turned and walked to a different corner in the laboratory.
Here, inside the giant magical barrier, was an exotic unicorn. It crouched on the ground breathing laboriously, the color of life slowly draining from its eyes.
A tumor the size of a fist was quickly moving through its swollen stomach before finally stopping where its heart was. Greem then faintly heard the chittering sound of flesh being torn and devoured.
The process of waiting was long and tedious, but Greem was not at all impatient.
Ten entire hours later, a dull thud rang out as a strange creature the size of a palm emerged from the body of the unicorn, landing on the ground.
Judging from its appearance, it was a creature that resembled a small mastiff. It had no hair throughout its body, and its skin was covered in the blood and flesh of the unicorn. The creature only had two thick hind legs and no front legs to speak of. The creature’s bare, fleshy head was composed mostly of its broad, bloody mouth.
The creature sat there after emerging from the unicorn’s body. It opened its mouth and extended a flexible, fifty centimeters long tongue and started licking all the blood and flesh off of its body.
A milky white flame suddenly burned on the skin of the unicorn, its flesh now wholly devoured. The blaze turned the rest of the body, along with the hair, into a pile of ashes. Only a crystalline horn was left on the spot.
The creature suddenly saw Greem through the barrier of light and immediately lunged forward adoringly.
Its weak and frail body crashed against the
barrier, and it fell to the ground. The creature struggled to get up before letting out a wailing cry at Greem.
No one could possibly connect this creature with the idea of a pet just by the looks of its rows of bloody teeth.
“Come, let me see what powers you have inherited from devouring a unicorn,” Greem spoke softly to the creature.
This creature was the Sourcestealer that Greem had taken the painstaking effort to nurture to maturity.
As for why an insect appeared so much like a beast after maturity, that was not something that Greem could understand.
Greem placed his right hand on the barrier, only half a meter away from the Sourcestealer.
The formerly gentle and obedient Sourcestealer immediately turned restless. Viscous saliva dripped from the gaps in its teeth, corroding little holes into the magic resistant metal floor when it landed.
The Sourcestealer’s murky, yellow eyes were fixed upon Greem’s right hand as if it was raring to go.
There was no doubt that the Third Grade Greem was a much more delicious prey compared to the dead unicorn!
Parasitic creatures like the Sourcestealers had no so-called loyalty or emotion. All intelligent beings in the world, as long as it was something they could hunt, were on their list of prey.
“Simmer down and show me what you can do. Or else…”
The smile on Greem’s face was unchanging, but a trace of killing intent slowly emerged in his black eyes.
The Sourcestealer was still hungering for his flesh.
Greem flicked his fingers, and a flame the size of a small finger suddenly appeared on the back of the Sourcestealer.
Fire clashed with flesh, and a strange sizzling sound rang out.
The Sourcestealer immediately started shrieking in pain.
Strangely enough, as it shrieked, a powerful light burst forth from the horn left in the ashes of the unicorn. The magical fire was instantly extinguished when the milky white light landed on the Sourcestealer’s back.
As the rest of the milky white light surged into the Sourcestealer’s body, the scorch marks left by the fire were instantly erased.