novelraw Chapter 1297 - 1296 - Pride Leads to a Fall
Chapter 1297 - 1296 - Pride Leads to a Fall
A century had passed since the Frey Clan had begun administering the Inheritance of Death. Many powers were actually happy as not only did they stop losing people to the storms or the Laws around the Inheritance, but they also got access to the high quality items produced by the Frey Clan!
Such easy access was not so easy before as Lind had heavily restricted exports. In the beginning, everyone understood it was due to limited supply but now they saw that a few short centuries had allowed for massive growth!
The small power growing its foundation was fully fledged supreme power!
Lind's experiences in the 3rd layer were extremely beneficial but his wives were the true backbone as they had built extensive relationships in the 1000 years he was gone.
Lind had also proven how immensely versatile his understanding of natural, demonic, and Celestial QI was. That last one was also critical as Celestials had begun to ascend to the 3rd layer!
They flocked to the Frey Clan as some knew Lind of old!
The race was so similar to Fiends but rather tha vile, people felt they were akin to perfection. They felt awe and inferior to them! Their control of the world around them was also stunning!
Things seemed to be going well as 27 slots had been filled but none had yet returned. A few had died but the majority were still alive. Even those that died may not be truly dead as it did not specify between body death or soul death.
Given the nature of the Inheritance, it might be far too soon to give up hope on the dead ones.
While Lind had opened markets up, they were all subterranean in nature. They were not in the folded space of the Clan proper. Still, the secret of the Frey Clan was impossible to totally hide.
The sheer scale of what Lind had done left some in awe but others were stymied as entry was strictly regulated with little to no way to 'accidently' wander in.
Still, they were always looking for weaknesses.
⬧⬧⬧⬧
Thomas was bored! He was wearing the crimson robes lined in black to mark his status as a simple Star Tier cultivator in the Frey Clan. Gold denoted an Immortal.
His shoulder length brown hair was fine but his face was average. In fact, his life could be summed up in that word. Average. He needed an elixir to become a Heaven Realm cultivator and his uncle had to pull strings to allow him to come up to the 3rd layer.
He had advanced at first and thought he would finally rise but he had stopped at the high Star Tier. Now, he struggled to make any progress!
Elixirs and pills existed to help but he had to work or make contributions to get them! He could never afford them on the salary he was paid to work at the shop he was in!
He was currently helping customers find artifacts, weapons, or armor in the shop they had set up in the external market. He sneered at those fools that thought these were the best the Clan could do.
While they were not bad, even he had a spirit spear. None of the tools here had spirits.
"...So this shield is excellent for a new Sliver Tier." He was currently describing a shadow steel shield to a human. Demonic qi was not usually used by humans but many artifacts existed that allowed other races to use the unique characteristics to their advantage.
The shield in question had a dark base with a shimmering inner panel. It would allow any cultivator to reduce their presence and seem to vanish even to naked eyes.
She had fine robes of silken azure with a flower batten sash tied at her waist. It complimented her tan skin and pink hair to his eyes. Her narrow silver eyes also was a cute feature but he was long immune to the beauty of cultivators.
Further, beautiful people were shallow in his experience.
Rich beautiful people were fat sheep for the taking!
"I see. You are quite knowledgeable about the various tools in this shop. Are you also a refiner?" Only long practice kept Thomas' blue eyes placid. He had long since gotten used to the tactics of those seeking a discount through flattery.
"I do not have the gift for refining or Forging but I am well versed on our Clan's products. This staff for instance–" He suddenly felt a touch on his arm and saw her delicate hands on his body. An internal sigh was followed by a professional smile.
"My good Lady, please let me find the most suitable item for you from our humble Clan store." He was irritated at being treated like a simpleton. Just because he had no outstanding gifts was no reason to assume he was a fool!
"Forgive me, I just thought you might be single." Her hurt look did not fool him! He was not born yesterday!
"If we could return to–" He wrapped up a profitable sale and she thankfully left. He let out a sigh as he moved back behind the counter. A door opened behind him and another young man poked his head out with a smile.
"Another flirty customer?" Thomas sighed and nodded.
"I may not be happy with my skills but the number of people that think I can be hoodwinked is pathetic!" He had his pride as a Frey Clan member. He may not be doing well in his clan but only at the age of 100 years, he was already a Star Tier.
Even he knew that was monstrous for most cultivators.
His coworker smirked but his handsome features irritated Thomas. He then went back to the supply area to find some more tools to replace what was sold.
He was restocking the shelves and activated the protection arrays when the chime came from the door. He glanced and saw a mousy young girl looking around nervously. A gentle smile crossed his face but he kept his heart guarded.
It would not be the first time someone pretended to be the pig to eat the tiger.
"Welcome to the Frey Armory. How may I–" The girl flinched and shrunk in on herself. He stepped back and waited for her to ask questions.
She carefully looked around and slowly picked up a low grade 5 dagger. It was the lowest grade offered and usually only there as an example of their craftsmanship. He saw her look at a rather ratty bag at her waist.
He truly took in her appearance and his experienced eyes saw that she was wearing barely functional robes at grade 6. Her cultivation was only at the Moon Tier and it was hardly stable.
What was such a person doing here?
"How much?" Her voice was so soft he would have missed it if not for his superior hearing!
"Why are you here?" His question threw her off but he was not a fool. Such a person was either abandoned, fodder, or a survivor of a failed group. In all cases, she would not survive.
"Just, how much, please?" Her trembling arm made him soften his look.
"It is a trifling to us here. A Sky Stone will cover it." It was merely an example to compare so it truly was nothing to the shop. They had more examples if needed as some truly needed such items.
It had no special features, just high quality for its grade.
She nodded and carefully pulled out a cracked Sky Stone. It was still shining with Qi but Thomas could tell it was just barely holding on. He took it anyway. He smiled and turned to deposit it.
A weak cultivator needed any edge and the pride of the Frey Clan stood on enabling such people.
He was smiling as the dagger punctured his heart.
His robes were grade 6 and of excellent quality that should have easily withstood the much lower quality dagger.
He looked down in shock as he looked back only to see an entirely different being standing where the mousy girl had been.
"So happy to help the weak. So happy to feel superior. You will do for my new face." The being before him shimmered as elemental qi stormed around her. It was an Elemental!
Why?! They had good relationships with the Elementals but that was the last thought as Thomas died.
Ashes collapsed where the woman had been and Thomas slowly took a breath before a strange smile spread on his face.
"Finally, a true Frey Clan member. I can truly begin after 200 years of attempts!" The being that was now Thomas took a moment to clean the dagger completely and put it back on the shelf.
The fire and air quickly destroyed all evidence of another being.
"No sale again?" 'Thomas' took a moment before a name came to him.
"Broken Sky Stone was all they had, Byron. I had to turn them away." The handsome figure smirked before ducking away again. "Hmm, maybe I will make you my next face."
They were idle words. He had to choose his targets carefully now. The core members were beyond his reach but they all had servants. He had to make his way up and have plausible reasons people were missing.
It was a challenging mission and he could not be happier!