Age of Adepts c1-1513

by Zhen De Lao Lang, 真的老狼

  The two stationed adepts hastily waved their special wands and sealed the entrance to the lava sea once again.

  When Greem parted company with Freina, he turned and glanced at the slowly closing stone doors. A faint but meaningful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

  …………

  In the depths of the lava sea.

  The flowing magma was as viscous as jelly. Ordinary adepts would have difficulty passing through this area, even if they had full fire immunity.

  Real fire creatures all had their own unique way of moving through such areas!

  The lava sea returned to peace and quiet once Greem left. The lava continued coursing ahead according to its usual pattern. The speed was not as fast or ferocious as rivers on the surface, but the flow of the lava was just as unstoppable.

  A strange, red, glowing gemstone slowly rolled about along with this stream of lava.

  When the preset time had arrived, a single red dot glowed on the surface of the intricately carved gemstone. This red dot appeared to be insignificant in the bright, crimson sea of lava, but the red point of light quickly spread throughout the entire jewel.

  The elementium gemstone wildly absorbed the nearly solid fire elementium around it and quickly formed a two-meter tall fire humanoid. As large amounts of fire elementium filled the interior of the fire humanoid, a new ‘Greem’ was born in the depths of the lava sea!

  It was a new fire spell containing some basic functions of the Chip, formed with a magical golem core as a base, and combined with Soul Repose as well as a projection spell– Fire Clone.

  The fire clone avoided the runic arrays attached around the underground tunnels with the help of the elementium ripples of the lava sea. It quickly swam away into the depths of the sea once it was fully formed.

  As this technique was still not fully developed, the fire clone only had the strength of a beginner Second Grade. It might not be suited as an assistant, but it was more than enough as a scout and ‘messenger.’

  As a pure fire creature, the clone was able to move freely in the lava sea despite being only Second Grade. Moreover, it transmitted a message to its surroundings with the unique elementium language of fire creatures as it probed deeper into the lava sea.

  Cindral…Cindral…Cindral…

  It wasn’t a loud voice nor a resounding one, but it could travel very far through the ubiquitous fire elementium here.

  All the way until the strange voice was picked up by a certain strange existence.

  It was a giant magma rock the size of a hill.

  The lava sea had completely eroded the soft dirt and stone on the surface. All that was left was the large metallic ores that even the high heat of the lava could not melt away. From a distance, the surface of the rock was very uneven, filled with honeycomb-like holes everywhere. The surface gleamed with a metallic shine.

  It was the existence of these strange metals that prevented the lava sea from further destroying the stone, allowing it to exist in its current form in this terrifying environment.

  Yet, at this moment, a strange, three-meter long fire tiger engulfed by raging flames was crouching in a small den carved out within the rock. Its eyes were shut as it enjoyed its sweet sleep. All sorts of metal ores of various sizes and shapes were spread out in the cave around him, along with many more magical gemstones.

  There was a purple-red metal ore visible in the flaming tiger’s stomach through its semi-translucent body. A brilliant crimson fire enveloped the metal ore. The flaming tiger would absorb the molten liquid from the ore and assimilate it into its own body.

  If Greem were here, he would be surprised to find that the tiger’s aura grew stronger as the purple-gold liquid slowly merged with the tiger’s body.

  However, this increase in its aura was extremely slow. Greem would probably never realize without the help of the nano-scanning ability of the Chip in his mind.

  The increase in power might be slow, but it was guaranteed.

  If this flaming tiger had enough time and enough of the purple-golden ore, it might just be able to increase its power to peak Third Grade through this method.

  That was already very shocking!

  Over the past two years, ever since he had realized that the mines contained the eternium ore that he required, Cindral had stayed here, refusing to leave. Every so often, he would run over to the human’s outpost and take some of the stuff he needed.

  Unfortunately, eternium ore was also something that the adepts needed badly. Though Cindral had managed to obtain quite a lot of metal ores during his raids, there were very few of the eternium ores that he so badly needed.

  Cindral had no choice but to excavate a hidden den near the human outpost and start a guerilla war against the human adepts.

  Yet today, while Cindral was pleasantly absorbing the molten eternium liquid, an unknown elementium flux scanned across his body.

  Cindral…Cindral…

  Cindral stood up abruptly, his flaming face filled with an expression of disbelief.

  Why…why does it seem like someone’s calling my name from outside?

  Could it be a conspiracy of the human adepts?

  But how did they know my name? Was an environment as harsh as the lava sea insufficient to prevent the divination spells of the human adepts?

  Cindral was suspicious and surprised, but he had no intention to stay here any longer.

  As the fire roiled, Cindral slipped out of the den silently and slowly moved toward the source of the strange elementium flux in a roundabout manner.

  This feeling…why did it seem familiar?

  …………

  Inside the lava sea.

  Greem’s fire clone quickly traveled through the lava, constantly stirring the lava and transmitting his message through the medium, letting it spread out through the massive lava sea.

  It had already been an hour, and he had still found nothing.

  Oh? Could the flaming tiger have hidden somewhere even further?

  The fire clone frowned and turned to continue spreading its voice in a different direction.

  However, just as the fire clone turned, Greem was shocked to find a giant flaming tiger of pure flames standing behind him, sizing him up with curious eyes of golden fire.

  They were so close to each other that they could hear each others’ breathing.

  The sulfuric flames exhaled from the tiger’s nostrils was so hot that they could almost ignite the skin of the fire clone.

  “We know each other?” Flaming tiger Cindral asked curiously.

  He was indeed very curious.

  This fire humanoid gave him a faint sense of familiarity, but the method used to solidify its form was very advanced. It was difficult to sense the mental flux hidden within the humanoid without first destroying the humanoid itself.

  Cindral only seemed to know one adept in the World of Adepts, but that person was just a Second Grade adept. He couldn’t possibly create a clone and travel so far just to find himself!

  While Cindral was stunned in suspicion, the face of the fire clone shimmered and turned into Greem’s face.

  “Cindral, we’ve only been apart a few years, yet you’ve forgotten me?”

  “I knew it was you!” Cindral paused for a moment before lifting his snout and started sniffing about the fire clone. He then said with utter shock, “You…you advanced?”

  “Thanks to you, Cindral, my travel to the Fire Elementium Plane was incredibly bountiful. I only just advanced to Third Grade a few years ago!”

  “You won your bounty with your own ability; no need to pin it on me.” Cindral’s golden eyes suddenly shone, “You came here this time because the adepts at the outpost above invited you?”

  “Indeed!”

  “Then what do you intend to do? Help them deal with me?” Cindral betrayed a fierce and savage expression when it said this.

  “Do you think I would have sent my clone here if I wanted to deal with you?” An amused expression appeared
on Greem’s face.

  This flaming tiger might be smart and sly, but his personality was just as straightforward as the other elementium creatures. He didn’t overthink like the human adepts tended to.

  “Then what are you here for?” Cindral couldn’t help but be confused now.

  “Before we start negotiating, I think its best we figure out what we want out of this. May I know what Lord Cindral has been staying here for?”

  Cindral hesitated for a moment.

  He sensed no hostility from Greem. After a bit of hesitation, he told the truth.

  “I need the eternium ores here!”

  An enchanting smile immediately appeared on Greem’s face when he got this answer.

  “Good. Very good.”

  “What is good?”

  “Our goals aren’t in conflict, because what I need here is Queyras ore.”

  The flaming tiger probed, “You mean we can work together?”

  “We must! Perhaps we can come up with a brilliant plan that benefits both of us if we carefully discuss the matter.”

  Chapter 883 - Secret Battle

  Inside Molten Fire City.

  A small welcome banquet was well underway.

  Greem and the newly arrived sealing master were undoubtedly the stars of tonight’s banquet. They were welcomed warmly by the leaders of Molten Fire City.

  Unlike the banquets of the past, this welcoming banquet was held in a massive stone hall. The ones participating in the feast were all adepts of Second and Third Grade.

  The three deputies of Molten Fire City had all attended the banquet as well, though one of them was clearly a body created with a projection spell.

  Karak.

  Male, Third Grade, Elementium Adept (Poison).

  Tall and skinny, a jade green gemstone embedded in his forehead.

  Lynas.

  Male, Third Grade, Body-Refining Adept.

  A bald and muscular man with a giant golden sword on his back,

  Dorian.

  Male, Third Grade, Array Master.

  He had a sinister face, and his exposed skin was covered in colorful and strange patterns.

  Adept Lynas was not personally present at the Molten Fire City. He was only attending the banquet with a body formed by a projection spell.

  Meanwhile, the Third Grade sealing master that had hurried over from the Ailasia Region in the south was a middle-aged witch with an expressionless and sinister face. She had slanted eyes, a broad nose, and was simply ugly; it caught Greem by surprise.

  It was important to note that neither organ transplantation or limb regeneration was a difficult matter for adepts with their knowledge and techniques. Altering your own body and appearance was child’s play compared to that. Anyone could do it.

  That was why Greem had never seen an especially ugly individual among all the adepts he had seen up until now.

  Only those whose bodies had been severely corrupted or polluted by magic and had their soul origin damaged would have horrible and disfigured appearances.

  Moreover, Greem sensed no sign of artificial magical construction on this Third Grade sealing master.

  That meant her current appearance was her original appearance.

  However, Greem had no prejudice against this. After all, there were far too many unique characters among the adepts. In truth, people like here were usually horrifyingly powerful.

  After all, it meant that all her achievements to date had been obtained by her own diligence and power, without any opportunistic behavior.

  Clap, clap, clap.

  Adept Karak clapped his hands together a few times, and all the adepts in the hall fell silent and looked toward him.

  “Today, we have the honor of inviting the legendary Adept Greem from Ailovis and the powerful Adept Yunid from Ailasia. Let us welcome them with our warmest applause!”

  Thunderous applause instantly rang out throughout the hall.

  Greem stepped forward with a smile and looked around. He then lifted his wineglass and drank all of the liquid before stepping back.

  There was no smile on Yunid’s face. She lifted her glass and brought it to her mouth slightly.

  There were as many as two or three dozen Second Grade adepts from Molten Fire City in the hall. They were all silently assessing these two Third Grade adepts with expressions of surprise and curiosity. In particular, their gazes hung around the legendary fire adept Greem for the longest period of time.

  Though the Ailovis Region was hundreds of thousands of kilometers away from Molten Fire City, news of Greem killing a Third Grade adept in arena combat as a Second Grade himself had reached them as well.

  To be utterly honest, at this very moment, the name of this Third Grade legendary fire adept might even be more widespread than the names of some Fourth Grade adepts!

  Now that this person had advanced to Third Grade, how powerful was he exactly?

  Many of the adepts in the banquet were extremely curious and couldn’t wait to find out.

  However, no one dared to break courtesy during such an event to walk forward to ask a brazen question like that. As such, the adepts could only keep their curiosity to themselves and wait to see Greem demonstrate his power in the future.

  High-grade adept gatherings were always more straightforward and direct compared to low-grade adepts.

  They could all return to their own matters after some simple introductions and conversation.

  Some adepts who were hung up on their experiments or had specific duties in Molten Fire City silently left the hall. Meanwhile, Greem and Yunid entered a more hidden and quiet room under Adept Karak’s invitation.

  Here, Adept Dorian gave them a comprehensive and detailed introduction on the flaming tiger.

  Adept Karak couldn’t help but turn toward Greem when Adept Dorian was done with his report.

  “Sir Greem, you went into the lava sea yesterday. Do you think the place is suited to be our battlefield?”

  Greem narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment before shaking his head lightly.

  “The internal temperature of the lava sea Adept Freina brought me to is over 3,400 degrees. The pressure of the lava is also over 212 points. I have no problem moving in there, but anyone else, even the few of you here, won’t be able to last more than an hour.”

  The three Molten Fire deputies exchanged looks when they heard Greem’s words.

  “We also came up with a hunting plan after recruiting the two of you.” Karak slowly said.

  “Oh? Why don’t you tell us about it!” Yunid’s sharp voice rang out.

  “We intend to set up a trap near the underground mines and lure the flaming tiger into the trap. Once the tiger has entered the trap, Lord Dorian will use the runic arrays hidden in the mines to expel all fire powers within one kilometer. When that happens, Miss Yunid can take the opportunity to seal it.”

  “Then what will I do?” Greem asked with a frown.

  “Of course, you will have to hide in the lava sea ahead of time. Once the flaming tiger has walked into the trap, we will be responsible for capturing the tiger. You need to obstruct its escape path. We must not let the flaming tiger escape into the lava sea again!”

  Greem frowned again.

  As the person responsible for the operation, Karak had arranged for all the deputies to be together, such that they could protect each other. Yunid was also hidden in the shadows and only needed to come out when the flaming tiger had nowhere else to run. This way, it seemed like all the risk was placed on him.

  Once the flaming tiger had entered the trap, it would most definitely fight with all of its power to escape back into the lava sea.

  He was the one who had to put his finger in the gun barrel. Hehehe, what a good mission!

  Greem caressed his chin and chuckled coldly, his face full of dissatisfaction.

  “Sir Greem, if the mission is a success, we can make the decision and add a hundred kilograms of Queyras ore to the mission reward.”

  A hundre
d kilograms of Queyras ore? If it was refined into Queyras alloy, it probably wouldn’t even be enough for half a space furnace, much less the expensive magic generator furnace.

  Greem finally stopped smiling and spoke with a serious tone: “Lord Karak, that is a Third Grade flaming tiger! Push a tiger into a dead end, and it will retaliate with all it has. I’m afraid I will have a tough time dealing with the tiger alone. I cannot bear the crime of letting it escape if it does manage to do so!”

  Karak finally betrayed an awkward expression. He turned around and had a simple discussion with the other two deputies before finally turning toward Greem again.

  “How about this……we of Molten Fire City will assign two Second Grade fire adepts to you. They will listen to all your orders. If the mission is a success, we…we will be willing to pay you one hundred and seventy kilograms of Queyras ore!”

  At this point, Greem knew that this was their psychological bottom line. He had no choice but to nod and agree to the offer reluctantly.

  “The operation will be set for two from now. Lord Dorian will arrange the runic arrays as soon as possible. Once the trap is set, we will act according to the plan and hope that the tiger falls for it.”

  …………

  Inside Cindral’s den.

  The adepts were secretly discussing the details of their plan in the distant city. Lord Karak probably never expected everything in the room to be projected to these two through the soul brand of the fire clone.

  Cindral crouched on the pile of metal ores, watching the projection of the fire clone intently and listening to all the things that the adepts were saying.

  Though he was confident in its fire powers, Cindral still felt fear creep up his heart when he heard of the arrangements of the adepts.

  If…if he didn’t know about all this and was lured into the trap with ore as bait, the chances of escaping the attacks of five Third Grade adepts was nearly zero!

  Those weren’t five cabbages; they were five Third Grade adepts!

  In all honesty, just the array master alone had managed to wound Cindral last time through the use of his strange magical abilities.