Chapter 62: Fragment of Primordial Chaos
Months passed, and Priam returned to focusing on his training and studying Magic. He also stayed alert, checking on his mother’s condition every day. Flora was ordered to focus 100% on her as well and keep a close eye on her.
Seien was given permission to visit one of the clan’s training grounds, where there was an exceptionally pure forest filled with high-level medicinal herbs. Every day, she and Flora would go there so Seien could absorb some natural energy.
Her Bloodline was a mutation of the Elves, something Priam knew from the stories of Earth. In fact, the descriptions he had read of the pure Elves that once existed matched reality almost perfectly.
It shocked him quite a bit, especially after learning that Orcs, dark elves, Ogres, and many other things he knew from Earth also existed.
As the days passed, nothing seemed to change with his mother. She showed no signs of getting worse, even with Priam monitoring her carefully.
After six months, Priam finally became a sixth-level Mage Acolyte.
Seeing that his mother showed no obvious signs of deterioration, Priam devoted himself even more deeply to his cultivation. He wanted to reach the divine plane, where it would be easier to find a cure for what he believed was a ’curse’ she carried.
Of course, he wasn’t relying solely on that. He also spent part of his time buying the best pills available with the clan’s help.
It was a method with double benefits. Priam studied the various natural energies within the pills and sometimes experimented with creating a Power Rune to observe its effects whenever he felt something promising might emerge.
He never kept those Power Runes, but he recorded the types of materials used to create them. That way, in the future, he would already have a good idea of what kinds of materials were needed to create something specific. Using pills was an excellent way to study synthesis.
At the same time, after analyzing them, he gathered all the energy into a Void Pill, which Flaris’s demonic family then sold.
This second part was his way of making money. He wanted as much of it as possible.
If that treasure ever appeared for sale, he wanted to be able to buy it, even if it showed up at an auction. To do that, however, he needed to convert everything into the currency used on the demons’ mortal plane.
The conversion came with a 30% loss because the currency used by humanoids was made from a material that demons considered far more common and therefore inferior.
Fortunately, on the divine plane shared by all universes, there was only a single currency. So when he eventually went there, every bit of money he earned would be valuable.
***
Time flew by, and before long, Priam turned seventeen.
On that same day, he became a seventh-level Mage Acolyte.
He had found a balance between physical training, studying Magic, and advancing his cultivation. It was an astonishing speed, considering he was improving in every area at the same time.
His advancements were carefully calculated. He would spend six months preparing and then break through to the next level at the end of that period.
Without any major changes, the months continued to pass as he accumulated more and more wealth and grew stronger.
...
...
...
Another year passed, and he finally reached the ninth level!
It was morning when Priam opened his eyes. As he stood up, he felt power radiating from his body, reaching the natural limit of that Rank.
He was eighteen years old now, with a little over a year left to train before the sect’s test.
Over those years, he had accumulated a total of 12,235 GP. In the end, he purchased the Training Amplifier three more times. During the last use, in a single night, he amplified his physical training by four months all at once.
At present, he only had 2,485 GP remaining.
He took a deep breath, excited. Unfortunately, breaking through to become a Disciple was the most difficult step for any Mage. Flaris, Shione, and Lumiere had reached the same level several months earlier, yet none of them were in any hurry to advance.
Most likely, all of them would only break through safely when the time to travel to the divine plane and take the entrance test was near.
Priam left his room and headed straight for the training field.
When he arrived, he noticed that nobody was there. As he turned around to look for them, Flora appeared in front of him.
"Master, Young Lady Flaris asked me to deliver a message. She received good news from her family and is waiting for you in her room."
Priam’s eyes widened with disbelief. He thanked Flora and hurried toward Flaris’s room.
"Cousin! Good news!" As he approached the door, she sensed him and opened it, speaking excitedly. "My parents received word through secret channels. One of the largest demonic merchant clans is going to hold a secret auction. It’s been confirmed that that item will be auctioned there."
Hearing this, Priam felt his heart race.
But when he stopped to think about it...
The demons were neutral in the conflict between the humanoids and the Beasts of Primordial Chaos. They served as a bridge, and within the demonic universes, the two enemy races could meet and conduct business.
So if something that important was being auctioned, his father and the Aether-Wood Deers would most likely be informed as well, since they wanted it at any cost.
’Well, I’ll go take a look anyway, just to make sure.’ He thought excitedly.
Flaris took two items out of her spatial ring. First, she handed him a black crystal.
"My demonic family is an important ally of the massive demonic race known as the Alu-fiends. They’re the ones organizing the auction. As thanks for your help, my grandfather gave me the only participation invitation they managed to obtain. It’s safe because it’s impossible to steal. My grandfather’s blood was placed inside it. If anyone tries to take it, he can activate its self-destruction mechanism no matter where he is."
Priam nodded. During these years, he had done business with both of Flaris’s families, providing them with many pills of unmatched purity. As a result, both sides had profited greatly from selling them and were more than willing to help Priam whenever he needed it.
Then, Flaris showed him a small yellowish crystal.
Priam took it and immediately felt a strange tremor coming from the object. A sense of unease rose in his chest, as if it contained something incredibly terrifying.
"This is a fragment of Primordial Chaos. It’s relatively rare and expensive, but it exists in every universe, even on mortal planes. It’s also a gift from my grandfather. With a high-level teleportation inscription, it can be used to travel between universes," Flaris explained calmly.
"On our planet, there are two teleportation inscriptions capable of using it. One is inside the clan, and the other is in the capital. You can ask the Clan Leader to activate it. The exact location of the planet Darknorth has already been marked inside this fragment of Primordial Chaos, so you’ll be taken directly to the place where the auction will be held."
"The planet Darknorth is a peaceful place. Humanoids, Beasts of Primordial Chaos, and, of course, demons use it as a major trade center on the mortal plane. It’s like that because another planet in that solar system is a treasure, so this one was deliberately developed and maintained as a safe zone. That’s why nobody should cause trouble for you. Once you arrive, head straight to the Alu-fiend clan’s trade building."
Priam listened to everything and nodded. The fruits of his hard work were finally being harvested, and fate had truly placed the treasure he needed in his path.
Flaris explained a few more details. In the end, Priam thanked her excitedly.
"Just hurry back. Those two are way too soft and can’t handle real training! I don’t want to spend too many days without my training partner." Flaris said goodbye with a smile.
Priam waved, then turned and ran off to find Flora.
He explained that he would be away for a few days so his mother wouldn’t worry. Then he headed to the clan’s main building.
He requested an audience with the Clan Leader. Within a few minutes, Orlaith came to meet him.
Priam briefly explained that he wanted to use the inscription to travel to the demonic universe and participate in an auction. Orlaith nodded and asked to see the fragment of Primordial Chaos.
After examining it, she approved the request and explained:
"Your fragment can still be used two more times. It will take you to the planet Darknorth and then become marked with the previous location. All you need to do is return to the same inscription at your destination and pay to use it again. That will bring you back to the point of origin."
Priam nodded in understanding. These fragments were incredibly useful.
Using the inscription also consumed a large amount of resources, but Orlaith refused to let Priam pay for it. Instead, she personally led him to an inner area of the clan.
It was an open field with a massive runic circle more than ten meters wide engraved into the ground.
Orlaith looked Priam in the eyes seriously. She wanted to send someone to accompany him because it could be dangerous. However, a fragment of Primordial Chaos wasn’t something that could be easily obtained, even with enough money to buy one.
Furthermore, Priam had said that he only possessed a single invitation, so additional help wouldn’t be very useful once he was inside.
Although sending an eighteen-year-old alone into a demonic universe was obviously risky... whenever she looked into Priam’s eyes, she couldn’t see someone immature. He had always seemed exceptionally mature, someone capable of taking care of himself.
"Kid, you’ll encounter some Beasts of Primordial Chaos there. Don’t become friends with any of them, or... ’they’ might interpret that the wrong way," she advised solemnly. "As for demons... never trust them completely. Demons are known for smiling warmly one second and wanting to rip your head off the next. Their personalities can be extremely unstable and chaotic."
Priam nodded gratefully. "I understand. Don’t worry. I only plan to attend the auction and then come straight back."
She snorted and gestured for him to step into the center of the circular inscription.
Priam stood inside, holding the fragment of Primordial Chaos in his hand.
Orlaith activated the inscription, and the entire ground began to pulse. At the same time, the runes connected to the fragment in his hand, causing it to glow and heat up.
He endured it for a few seconds until the space around him twisted.
Before he realized what was happening, everything stabilized.
Then an overwhelming coldness and pressure descended onto his shoulders.
