However, just as Greem was thinking hard about how to approach that terrifying Adept of Torture, a fancy invitation appeared before him.
“You must be Adept Greem.” A middle-aged adept in a white robe emblazoned with two interlocking silver rings bowed to Greem.
Judging from his aura, he was a Second Grade adept.
“You are?” Greem frowned slightly.
“My name is Leo. I am a subordinate of Lady Olivia. I have come with her orders to hand this invitation to you, sir!”
“Olivia?” Greem narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled as he said, “It seems like your Adept’s Association has been doing a good job when it comes to reconnaissance. You even managed to figure out my purpose in coming here. Tell me, what are you people planning?”
“My lady wishes very much to meet a powerful outsider like yourself. That is why she will be hosting a welcoming banquet at Blueberry Villa. She hopes you would give her the honor of attending that banquet.”
“And the time?”
“Three days from now.”
“I understand. Go back and report to your lady now then! Tell her I will arrive punctually.”
Leo nodded, bowed at Greem once again, and turned to leave.
Greem listened as his footsteps slowly turned softer in the distance. He then tapped the ornate invitation with its red paper and blue lettering. The elegant words instantly started twisting and distorting, finally projecting the face of a pretty adept.
“You must be Greem! I don’t care what purpose you have in mind in visiting me, but we will have to arrange a meeting. Remember; three days from now. I will be waiting for you at Blueberry Villa in the Ais Mountains. Come if you dare!”
A simple sentence, then the projection vanished. The energy aura dissipated without a trace, and all Greem was left with was an ordinary letter.
“Chip, how did it go? Did you manage to capture her soul aura?”
[Beep. A forcefield protected that projection message. Collection of soul aura unsuccessful. However, a portion of her magical flux was observed and is currently being analyzed.
[Beep. Analysis complete.
[Target: Olivia
Gender: Female
Target Grade: Intermediate Fourth Grade
Profession: Elementium Adept (Preliminary Mastery of Gravity Laws)
Innate Abilities: Magnetic Pulse Physique
Basic Attributes: Strength (Unknown) | Agility (Unknown) | Physique (Unknown) | Spirit 42
[Magical Equipment: Unknown
Combat Style: Unknown
Offensive Abilities: Unknown]
……
Greem couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh when he saw all the unknowns in the Chip’s analysis.
The Crimson Clan’s rise to power was still far too recent. Their foundations were weak, and they had practically zero influence anywhere else apart from Zhentarim. It seemed like training a professional intelligence agency within the clan for the purpose of obtaining information on the three major adept organizations would be a necessity.
At the very least, if the Goblin Chamber of Commerce here had been paying some attention, they wouldn’t be reduced to this situation where they had barely any information on Olivia.
Right. It was time to diversify and differentiate the clan’s various factions based on separate missions and purposes!
…………
Three days later.
A strange wind dragon beat its green-white wings and landed in front of a beautiful villa at the foot of a colossal mountain range. A gale ravaged the grass as the dragon slowly landed in a clearing beside a lake.
Greem, dressed in a light robe, stepped off the dragon wing onto the ground. Billis, who was cloaked in black, followed closely behind.
A dozen hawk-like magical mounts already rested upon this clearing. When they sensed the unique intimidating aura of the dragons, they shivered in fright and cowered in a group.
The few female apprentices that had been sent to receive the guest were also intimidated by the overwhelming aura of the Third Grade dragon. They couldn’t help but back away, their faces pale and white.
Greem turned around and waved his hand. The twenty-meter-long wind dragon instantly trembled. Its scales then quickly turned from solid to unusual wind elementium, which was then absorbed by a crystalline elementium core.
The elementium crystal core flew into Greem’s hand after taking in all the wind elementium. The light faded away, and it appeared just like a normal crystal.
“This must be one of the magical golem cores you make yourself, isn’t it, sir? Truly fantastic and much more powerful than the average golem summoning core. I would certainly love to purchase some from you and look into their secrets!” A handsome young adept smiled as he walked towards Greem.
“I’m sorry, you are?” Greem looked at the male adept as the Chip quickly identified several details based on his aura.
Third Grade. An unusual chill emanated from his soul. He should be an elementium adept of the ice attribute!
A single grade of difference meant heaven and earth. It didn’t matter how careful and how secretive you were. There was no way you could hide your secrets in front of a high-grade adept.
“I am Toyn, Lady Olivia’s subordinate. I am here under her orders to greet you. Please follow me! My lady has been waiting for your arrival for a while now.”
Having said that, Adept Toyn bowed and led Greem and Billis towards the entrance of the villa.
They could hear joyful music from the villa before they arrived, mixed with the giggles of women and the clinking of wine glasses.
The villa itself was a sea of joy and cheerfulness.
An ornate fountain flowed at the center of a wide, open-air hall. Jets of water burst out from the bottom of the pool, creating little rainbows as the light shone upon them.
Several small statues also stood to the side. These statues came to life–seemingly coordinated with the music–chasing each other around the fountain in rhythm. A pretty and seductive mermaid leaned against a rock at the center of that pool sang beautiful lyrics with her moving voice.
Long tables had been placed by the pool, serving all sorts of delicacies and drinks.
Adepts in formal dress and smiling nobles with wine glasses in their hands gathered together to talk or surrounded the pool to enjoy the mermaid’s performance. Some of them were even dancing and waltzing around the pool.
At a single glance, Greem discovered that most of the guests were adepts. Even the people who were dressed as nobles radiated some degree of magic. Obviously, those people also had a talent for magic and had only stopped pursuing being an adept for specific reasons.
Most of these people were also Second or Third Grade, exceptionally experienced, and clearly elites.
Greem and Billis passed through a garden under Toyn’s lead. They circled around the banquet and arrived at a somewhat quiet hall.
Adept Olivia, wearing a dinner dress, was waiting there for them calmly.
“My lord, please go in.” Toyn smiled as he said, “As for you, sir. You must be Adept Billis. Why don’t we go to the hall at the front for the moment? There’s a lot of people there who are looking forward to meeting you!”
Billis did not respond to this invitation. It wasn’t until Greem gave a subtle nod that he followed Adept Toyn to the hall at the front.
For some reason, the environment here had become much more peaceful and quiet.
Even though he could still hear the music from the hall, it sounded more distant and almost less real.
This hall was a flower house, filled with all sorts of plants. There were ornamental green vines, berries, and Purplesun flowers. There were also more vicious, carnivorous plants like the human-faced flowers, smiling mushrooms, and Seastench grass. However, even the most terrifying of magical plants could only cower obediently before a Fourth Grade adept.
Adept Olivia lifted her dress as she elegantly walked around with a watering can an
d watered the plants.
The magical plants waved their thorned branches, shaking off the beads of water like playful dogs.
Olivia was not wearing any shoes. She walked around the dirt with her white, smooth feet.
Tempted by the rich scent of her flesh, some of the magical plants had lost all rationality. They extended their roots and branches silently towards her white, bare feet.
These roots slithered like little serpents, arriving close to her feet under cover of the dirt.
Finally, one of the plants could no longer suppress their desire. The roots lashed forward like a biting snake.
Just a millimeter away from making contact with Olivia’s feet, a shapeless, formless halo pressed down. The roots and their owner were squashed to dirt by that halo as if they had been crushed between two giant rocks. All of its leaves, branches, and roots had been ground into an unrecognizable green paste.
A pungent stench filled the air. All the magical plants retracted their branches and curled up as if bitten by frost. They then started shivering like terrified children.
Chapter 1236 - A Huge Disagreement
“These mindless things. They never learn even after getting punished so many times.”
Olivia put down her watering can lightly, patted the dirt from her hands, and smiled as she said, “They will never know who the master here really is unless you give them a proper lesson! Don’t you think so, Adept Greem?”
Greem smiled when he heard this question and its double meaning.
“There are some things you will never know are possible unless you give them a try! If adepts had always been obedient, rule-following cronies, I’m certain they would not have been able to venture into the realms beyond.”
Olivia smiled again. “It seems like Adept Greem is someone who enjoys an adventure!”
“Those who have everything naturally prefer order and stability, and those who have nothing prefer adventure and revolution!”
“So, you came here to our Adept’s Association with a request in mind? May I know what it is that you want exactly?” Olivia was obviously a straightforward person. She couldn’t help but go straight at the main issue after exchanging a few words.
Greem fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
“The Lightfire stone. I heard you obtained a Lightfire stone in an otherworldly ruin. I am here for it!”
Olivia was stunned for a brief moment, but she quickly recovered. Calmly, she said, “The lightfire stone is indeed in my hands. That said, what is it that Sir Greem intends to trade for it? I believe you should know the value of this Lightfire stone!”
Greem reached forward with his hand and waved. A magical mirror appeared in midair. A three-meter-long metal spear engraved with mysterious patterns appeared in the mirror.
Olivia shot a glance at the mirror. She quickly identified the spear’s energy level and primary attributes based on the elementium aura radiating from it.
“This spear might contain a trace of the law powers, but the person who forged it was terrible at his job. To think, this requires a specific bloodline to use it! It can be considered a Fourth Grade item, but it is certainly among the most inferior items you can find among Fourth Grade items. My Lightfire stone is a precious resource, even at Fourth Grade. It could almost be considered a Fifth Grade item.”
Greem sighed and waved his hand. The item being projected in the mirror quickly changed.
This time, it was a giant pair of metal hammers that appeared. They were also engraved with various runes, and a mysterious and profound aura of strength radiated from them.
“This one is slightly better than the last one, but it’s still trash. The Strength requirements are ridiculously high. Anyone who could fulfill such requirements would never care for such inferior law powers. Do you only have such garbage in your hands?”
There wasn’t much Greem could say in response to the scorn that Olivia openly showed him.
The Adept’s Association was one of the largest adept organizations in the World of Adepts, after all. Their alchemical knowledge and skill were far more advanced than most other places. These spoils that he had obtained from an alien world were worth practically nothing to the talented gathering of the Adept’s Association. He was only humiliating himself by displaying these weapons. It wasn’t quite Olivia’s fault for her disdainful reaction.
Greem sighed. He waved his hand again. The contents of the mirror change once more.
Three unusual white mushrooms floated in the mirror now. However, the energy aura they gave off was so insignificant it almost went undetected.
Olivia took a look at the white mushrooms and looked at Greem curiously, waiting for his explanation.
The energy aura of the three mushrooms was too weak. They didn’t seem to be any sort of powerful magical plant. Of course, as a Fourth Grade adept, there was no way Greem would produce any ordinary mushrooms to try to use as leverage. That was why Olivia figured that these mushrooms must have some unusual ability.
“These are mutated mushrooms I obtained from another world. It cannot help you in battle, but it can slowly improve your attributes.”
“Oh? How significant is the improvement? Is it effective on Fourth Grade adepts as well?”
“It is effective on Fourth Grade adepts, and the margin of improvement is between 1 to 2 points!”
“That much? Are there any side-effects to consuming them?”
“Judging from all evidence we have so far, there are no apparent side-effects.”
“…” Olivia suddenly fell silent. A light flickered in her eyes. It seemed like she was thinking about something, waiting for something.
Far away in a distant tower, the group of high-grade adepts who just heard this conversation immediately flew into a frenzy.
At the level of Fourth Grade, the improvement of one’s attributes by even the slightest amount was always incredibly difficult. Now, Greem had produced a few inconspicuous mushrooms and was claiming that they could improve their main attributes by 1 to 2 points with no drawbacks.
That was unbelievable!
No one would hate to have a better Physique and more powerful Spirit. In fact, most adepts present in this tower would be more than willing to take out their most precious treasures to trade for an improvement of 1 to 2 points in their main attribute.
Of course, no one would ever offer something as invaluable as the origin substances, but everything else was up for negotiation.
“Olivia, trade the Lightfire stone for the mutated mushroom spores, as well as their cultivation method. The Association will compensate you for any losses incurred on your part!” Naturally, it was the elderly Vice-Chairman Domhnall who spoke up.
“Compensate me?” Olivia smiled coldly. “Does the Association have another Lightfire stone in its treasuries? I have big plans for this Lightfire stone!”
“Olivia, stop messing around! This exchange is extremely beneficial for the Association. You are obligated to—”
Unfortunately, before the Vice-Chairman could finish, the projection from Olivia’s side abruptly went black. She had obviously cut off connection with the tower.
“Bastard!”
“Dammit!”
“Olivia is being a little too arrogant for her own good!”
The high-grade adepts in the hall immediately started complaining. Even Domhnall’s face turned dark.
“Horner. Your tower is closest to the Ais Mountains. Go there immediately. We must not let Olivia fool around with this deal.”
A bald man in one of the crystal screens smiled wickedly. “I’m not exactly the best man for the job, am I? Olivia has never been one to bend to rules. She only listens to the Chairman. Since the Chairman isn’t around, I—”
“This is an Association badge. Take it with you. If Olivia doesn’t recognize the significance of this exchange and insists on doing things her way, I give you the authority to temporarily rescind her identity as an elder.” Vice-Chairman Domhnall wave
d his hand, and a mysterious badge passed through the mirror and appeared before the bald adept.
The bald adept grabbed the badge and put it away before smiling. “Understood, leave it to me!”
Having said that, the image on his screen changed. He was now in the sky and flying quickly into the distance.
Naturally, Greem had no idea about all this commotion occurring behind the scenes.
He was still hard at work negotiating with Olivia.
“These mushrooms are indeed wonderful, but they can’t compare to the Lightfire stone. The Lightfire stone is far more powerful and has much more utility. If you have nothing better to offer me, then please leave now!”
Greem narrowed his eyes. Blue light flickered deep in his eyes. He was silently assessing the truth of Olivia’s words. Finally, he gritted his teeth, and the contents of the mirror changed again. This time, a mysterious egg was displayed.
“This is the egg of a divine creature from another world. It is still highly active. If you are willing to put in the effort to cultivate the creature, it has the potential to reach Fifth Grade.”
Olivia’s eyes finally opened wide when she saw the Feathered God’s egg.
Ordinary magical creatures and resources were useless when it came to saving her brother. Only Fifth Grade divine items like these could have a chance of doing so. If she could let her brother form a Lifebinding Contract with the divine creature in the egg, he would have a chance to transcend the limit of his lifespan as a First Grade adept.
As such, Olivia immediately started casting spells to verify the attributes and effects of the egg. Greem did not stop her either and simply observed from the side.
After a long while, Olivia finally stopped casting her spells.
“I want that egg, the spores of the mutated mushrooms, and the way to cultivate them. If you agree to these terms, I will hand over the Lightfire stone!”
Greem smiled mockingly when he heard these terms.
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