novelraw Chapter 144 - 143 - Backroom Deals
Chapter 144 - 143 - Backroom Deals
The grade 4 and grade 5 refining contest had come to a tie! Dred and Temptress stood on the podium for first by breaking through in the middle of the contest. Their weapons were both high grade 5.
Dred, of course, made a fearsome sword with intricate inscriptions woven into adamantine steel. The metal was notorious for resisting inscriptions but Dred had shown his power. It was not complicated but the achievement was hard to overcome.
Temptress had made 2 short swords that complimented each other well. They were made of an alloy of erebium, a dark steel that easily accepted poison inscriptions, and sliverthread, a bright blue metal that allowed for much more delicate inscriptions compared to normal metals. It allowed the 2 short swords to reach high grade 5 as she had delicately woven the patterns into them.
The 2 weapons were tested and inspected for 2 days before the judges agreed they were on par with each other. The poison was neutralized by the adamantine steel but the other effects of cold fire dragons and shadow thorns could overcome the defenses.
Not all were happy about the result but Lind had cheered for both. He may not love the Demon Empire, but he could not argue with a true artisan. He slightly regretted not meeting Temptress. Even so, he suspected higher powers behind some people approaching him.
He switched back to the alchemy contest as a grade 5 alchemist was revealed yesterday. He had held back it seemed until it was too late to stop him. Lind frowned at the pale man's technique. It was not sloppy and he could not comprehend much at all, but Lind knew the dangers of reaching above your safety limit.
He could not use his Eyes via these formations but he had lived with a very good alchemist most of his life. His mother was not a god tier expert but she had a solid foundation and a gift to progres steadily that the Alchemy Guild appreciated.
"His pill is going to fail." Both Vice-Sect Masters did not seem surprised by his words as they agreed. The alchemist seemed to be doing well but even they could tell his steps were unsteady and not looking like stability would be reached in time.
"It seems someone is meddling again." Lydia mumbled but Lind heard it. He looked confused at her but she only shook her head. Lind went back and widened his view. The grade 5 alchemist was not near anyone big but he saw another silver robe similar to Magda's . Her clan seemed to have good talent.
The young man was sweating but his hands were steady. He would only make a low to mid grade 4 pill from what Lind could guess but it would all be ruined if that grade 5 nearby imploded.
No one would be hurt but the light and Qi disruption would ripple to those nearby. It was too coincidental that the grade 5 was far from star members but near rising stars at the same time.
"I see, Silverthorn is being targeted." Lind moved his display and saw the young man looked very similar to Magda. Given his cultivation being so similar, likely a brother or close cousin. He saw Lydia nod and Cora's eyes glinted at him.
He realized they were teaching him. He was no longer going to be a recluse after this contest and there were many that would not be happy with his rise. They could not interfere directly but indirectly they could make his life a pain.
Lind nodded his thanks but wondered if there was anything he could do. He smiled in humility as he was getting full of himself. There was little he could do and if the 2 powerful women next to him did not make a move, what in the world could he do?
A sudden idea occurred to him.
"Excuse me for a moment." Lind stood up and whispered to the acolyte who stared at him but he only looked at her quietly before she nodded and led him out of the VIP booth. The 2 Vice-Sect Masters looked with concern at his back but silently agreed to see what happened before acting.
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"Prince Yor, the Temptress has been slighted. We should challeng–" A demon was trying to get close to a young looking demon man in a dark gilded chair. It looked very close to a throne but the young demon seemed to enhance it rather than the other way around.
He was a peak Gold Tier and had just sent the fool speaking flying into the wall of their booth. His spiky gold hair seemed to spark with violet lightning. He was a dual elemental of cold fire and dark light. Much like the soul cultivators, he could produce demon lightning and was an expert at it.
His weapon was a pair of gauntlets that enhanced his ability to channel the power to his fists with some greaves to do the same for his legs. He was essentially a walking storm cloud.
"We will not besmirch our purpose by angering the Emporium. We need their resources and it is a fine sword." Yor did not sound angry. He sounded bored. He did not understand why his father insisted he come to Cimmeria but when the exciting event occurred with the emerald spire of light, he had an inkling.
Then the rumored Immortal revealed themselves and called out a familiar name, he was now certain and immediately lost all interest.
"You are getting senile old man." All the demons in the booth suddenly swore to Heaven and Earth they had heard nothing. Only a truly suicidal being would admit Yor had insulted the Emperor.
Father and son were at war but that was how they preferred it. The strongest would become stronger and the weaker would die. Yor had trained most of his life, but his father remained unbeatable.
The only hope was that his father could not go any farther. The peak of tier 1 Sky Realm is where he would die.
"Who told Viola to seduce Lind Frey?" The booth now became chilly but lightning sparked between Yor's fingers. He was one of the few people that could use the Temptress' real name. A demon near the exit tried to lower his head as he slid to the door but violet lightning blasted him into oblivion.
The booth stood up to the power but the formations flared strongly enough for the guards to glance at it before turning back to their duties.
"Never act again without permission. We already angered the boy once, Imperial Father does not want any other–" Yor was barely repeating his father's orders while yawning when there was a knock on the door.
Yor waved his hand as he had been expecting a report.
A slim demon girl entered. She was at the peak of the Soul Realm but she seemed to blend into the shadows even as she moved across the carpeted floor. She knelt and waited for orders.
"Well? What is he doing?" She looked up and half the demons shivered. Her eyes were vacant. There was no life there at all and even for the brutal demon empire, it made them afraid. She was just a tool for the Crown Prince.
"He has left the Maiden booth for Sapphire Auction House. Shortly after, a messenger was sent out to the officials offices and Starfire House." Yor arched an eyebrow as his burnt orange eyes finally glowed with interest.
"So, he noticed. Clever. Rather than abuse his connections, he went up the chain thus avoiding drawing attention." Yor waved his pale lavender hands and the display brought up their little bomb waiting to go off. The critical point was not even close to being reached and he frowned as a judge swiftly stopped the human.
It would not lead back to them but it meant Darkmoor's Silverthorn Clan retained another promising alchemist. The back door dealings were not Yor's style but in Cimmeria his hands were tied.
"Does he know it was us?" Yor doubted it but better to be sure.
"I do not know but–" The girl paused before continuing and she seemed to shiver. "He saw me."
Yor leapt to his feet and stared at her. She was one of the Damned. They were taken as children and broken completely until there was no free will left. She was taken because demons, unlike humans, knew before the Demon Soul Realm what elements a person was going to have.
Their Body Refining Realm was more advanced in that area compared to the humans. Thus, the Emperor long ago created a force solely loyal to the Imperial Family. They would be nothing but tools that could never be turned.
They excelled in assassination, subterfuge, and spying. They did the things Yor loathed but he acknowledge their power needed them. The Shadow Sect did similar things but only the Demon Empire knew of it. It was why the other name for their empire was the Blood Empire as they controlled even the very blood of their subjects.
"How?" Yor knew of no way that this girl could be sensed unless she allowed it. She was nearly 100 years old and had never failed him. He had complete faith in the training she had received and a long track record of success.
Her blank face screwed up as she tried to recall what she had felt but no words came. She closed her eyes and meditated until she finally remembered the moment her target saw her.
"The emerald flame found me." Yor's control broke as they had not been certain but the coincidence could not be denied. The boy's harmony was new. They had studied 6 elementals as much as any other power but there was no record of an emerald one in any place ever.
"Go back to your post but do not engage." Yor was about to let her go when he thought of something. "Do not allow him to study you." She nodded and seemed to vanish from the room but all knew she was still there. The door suddenly opened and she left once more.
"Your Highness?" Yor's eyes were glowing. All in the room could see that their Crown Prince was happy for some reason.
"I want to know if that useless snake Trynith has found what he promised me. Send more people but it is now a much higher priority." A few nodded and left to send out his orders. Yor smirked as he resumed his seat and looked out at the arena.
The officials were exposing the rigged cauldron already and disqualifying the human they had set up. He would only live for a few more days and knew nothing of his masters. It would still draw some suspicion but Yor no longer cared.
"You have made me interested, Lind Frey. Don't disappoint me." He then turned to summon a communication jade. "Viola, approach Frey on what you wanted. I give my permission and be honest. He values honesty."
Yor smiled. He could feel his heart get excited as he finally found something interesting to play with.
"You defeated them, Lind Frey. They will not let you off but can you do it again? I really want to know and I want to fight you so break through. Show me what you can become!" Yor's hair began to crackle with lightning sparks and all backed off. It was a bad habit their Crown Prince had when he was excited but no one understood why. What could a 6 elemental boy possibly bring to a peak Gold Tier?
The contest resumed and almost no one was in doubt that Magda was going to win. She seemed determined and the pill she made was even more difficult than the Radiance Pill. Yor no longer cared. All he could see was a dark green eyed youth with dirty blonde hair. His instincts told him the boy could do it.
The shackles would be broken and a new world would exist. He could feel it and the smile on his face scared the crap out of all his men.