Browsing through the items displayed on the screen, Zilan very leisurely purchased those that piqued his interest seemingly not caring about the price. Seeing this behaviour Fujo was beginning to question who between the two of them truly acted like a young Master.
If Zilan knew Fujo’s thoughts, he would immediately point to the screen in frustration shouting, ‘What young Master! Can’t you see I’m only scraping the meat of the bones?’
Within the treasure pavilion, having over a hundred thousand Mystic grains may seem like a lot to others however, to Zilan, all the things that he was really interested in were priced so highly that his current wealth needn’t even be mentioned lest he embarrasses himself.
Some of them were priced in the millions, others in the hundreds of millions and to Zilan although these numbers looked astronomical, it could still be earned with sufficient time and planning. What made his heart despair though was that on top of the millions needed, Merit points were an additional requirement and it wasn’t just one or two either. Some needed four, others five going up to tens of Merit points.
How he would turn himself into a Millionaire while also making legendary contributions to the Association was a problem he currently had no solution to.
Finished making his transactions, Zilan took back his sector badge, allowing Fujo to use the table.
‘Fujo PurpleSun.
Mystic Grains: 15,891
Merit Points: 0
Purchased Items: Childless charm
Five enchantments ring
Bringrose Dress.
…………………………………………………………..’
Being from a wealthy family Zilan was naturally not surprised to see Fujo with over ten thousand Mystic grains. He was however, shocked by the items he purchased using those Mystic grains.
‘The Dresses are gifts for women, the ring is to increase performance during….and that childless charm prevents his partners from getting pregnant. On one hand he is falling more and more down the path of debauchery but on the other hand, he can still be considered quite..thoughtful.’
(An – Young Master Starter pack lol)
The two quickly finished their business with the Treasure pavilion before finally leaving the private establishment. The funds for the service they provided were automatically deducted from his sector badge.
“Anything else you want to get?” yawned Fujo. “All this preparation, it’s not like we’ll be competing on the first day of the tournament.”
The tradition of the Rookie ranking tournament was that all those who placed within the top twenty during the first test and the Fire Guardians test were exempt from participating in the preliminaries of the tournament, held on the first day.
Zilan, Fujo and Kifo all ranked within the top twenty thanks to their good showing during the first test. Usually, the first test gave Alchemists a huge advantage since they were familiar with all kinds of herbs as they were the tools of their trade. For Fire Guardians though, it was a true challenge since lacking sufficient knowledge, they had no choice but to resort to battling and stealing making their time much tougher.
Coupled with his impressive showing in the second test, Zilan became the current unquestioned number one on the rookie rank stone. However, now that the Rookie ranking tournament, that was exclusive to Fire Guardians had arrived, he would have to prove his might before a large audience to retain his position. Of course, the same applied for the Alchemy side.
Even if he was currently a second ranked Alchemist, the rules stated that all first year members of the Association must participate in the Winter ‘Concealed Scriptures’ display. If he wanted to remain number one on the rank stone, he would likewise have to dominate the competition here as well.
The system was rigged this way. Exceptional first year fire guardians and exceptional first year Alchemists by themselves could not be ranked first on the stone if a slightly less exceptional dual skilled fire guardian/Alchemist existed. Those exceling in both were prioritised by the Association and that is why there also existed a distinction between Elders.
Zilan was about to suggest going home when he suddenly had a thought,
‘That antique store, why not try out that thing over there?’
………………………………
An hour later,
Zilan and Fujo had just returned from the Antique store.
“I’m going to check on Kifo, we can talk later.” said Zilan as he moved to go upstairs.
“Wait! During the tournament, be careful.” Reminded Fujo. “That IronBlood kid isn’t simple.”
“Hmm? What makes you say that?”
“Just because they’re from the Iron Sector doesn’t mean that they should be underestimated. In fact, it’s because they’re from there that the IronBloods are to be feared.” Answered Fujo. “Some clans and organisations despite having the ability to move to other sectors, make a choice not to. The IronBloods and even brother Kifo’s clan are the same. Why choose to be just another clan in the Iron or gold sector when you can be an overlord in other sectors? In the Iron sector alone, the undisputed number one is them and nothing happens there that the IronBloods do not want. The number of underlings they have are plentiful and even here in the Association, anyone from the Iron sector can be made into your enemy with a little persuasion from Zest. Remember this and be careful.” This was one of the few moments of seriousness Fujo displayed.
“Don’t worry, I understand. Thank you for letting me know.” Smiled Zilan as he patted his brother on the shoulder.
‘So Zest is dangerous? Well, that makes two of us. I’m looking forward to this tournament.’
“Haha, of course within my Uncle’s camp, there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Laughed Fujo. He then slapped Zilan on the back and went on his way.
‘Maybe I should tell him about Kifo later?’ Zilan thought.
With his mind on Kifo, Zilan decided to check on him again. However, the scene he was expecting and what he actually got were worlds apart.
The Kifo before him was shockingly suspended in the middle of the air. From his body a black miasma-like energy was constantly being expended.
This energy appeared eerie and mysterious and Zilan didn’t dare to touch it. This was because the aura being expended by that dark energy was something to fear, it was so domineering that air itself as well as the specially built ground of the training chamber was visibly corroding. Granted it was a very slow pace but one had to remember this was just the beginning, once Kifo understood his power and his path, this aura would continue to grow, at its pinnacle, it would become so corrosive that the laws themselves would be disintegrated.
Two stars appeared in Zilan’s eyes as he examined Kifo’s body.
‘Descendant of one of the Five Feline Lords.
Currently experiencing a rebirth due to high exposure to the Netherworld. A new disciple of the Origin laws of Death with exceptional talent in the path of the laws of Corrosion.’
“Rebirth?!”
Zilan’s eyes widened. Staying within that land for a month longer than expected could be considered a pleasant surprise compared to the changes taking place on Kifo’s current body.
“He must have met with a fortuitous encounter.” Surmised Zilan.
A rebirth meant a complete re-forging of the body. It was similar to Zilan’s own first transformation, when he had met his Grandmother for the first time.
Still stuck in wonder, a white light suddenly enshrouded Kifo’s body and his previously dark fur astonishingly turned all white, growing shorter in the process. The dark spots around his body all disappeared replacing them were tiny inscription like patterns that were indistinct yet gave off the feeling of being a manifestation of the laws themselves.
Zilan’s mouth was wide open, unable to contain his surprise any longer. In fact, if others looked at Kifo now they would definitely be shocked into silence however, no one would be able to understand the changes occurring within him more than Zilan. It was to the point that Zilan was slightly envious.
“Kifo, what exactly happened over there?”
Taking some time to calm himself, Zilan walked closer to Kifo only to see an eye catching crystal embedded below his navel. This was none other than his core but currently its previously milky white self, which represented him being in the Tempering stage, was slowly being tainted black.
“He’s breaking through to the soul-compression stage?”
Zilan’s eyes shone with an even brighter splendour,
“So it’s like that. Good for you, it looks like us brothers are truly fated. Unfortunately, with this new development, it looks like there’s no doubt who this year’s last place will be, Hahaha. As your boss I’ll take the first step and hold down the first position on the rank stone.” Zilan said, laughing his heart out.
A spark that had remained dormant within him was now awoken. He finally had a rival in his generation who could keep up with him, and it would be none other than Kifo.
Truthfully speaking, Zilan’s eyes had always been set on those of the older generation. Catching up and surpassing them was his short-term goal. After all, with all the transformations and mechanisms his [Path of Blood] cultivation method had, he didn’t think that someone of similar age could look him in the eye as an equal.
‘If this isn’t the work of destiny then I don’t know what is.’
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