198. Elder Breed
“Is everything to your like liking so far?” A waiter stood on the side of table while checking if a customer needs anything else.
“Quite satisfactory. I may have to stay for another hour or two so if I could ask someone to refill this thing ah….” The customer stuttered as he has no clue what the coffee is called.
“Cofanair? Like what you currently have?”
“Yes, that. Make it two cups after an hour.”
“I’ll have it serve in exactly sixty minutes.” The waiter delightfully smiled then entered the shop.
Meanwhile, the customer is none other than Clay. It is currently midnight and the moon is illuminating a small outdoor space at the back of a restaurant located not far from a train station.
Five days ago, Tarihk gave him a spatial ring containing at least eight Caudal Xenomorphs all sealed in a cage and upon obtaining the samples, he decided to travel back to the east. He could technically just fly but to avoid trespassing a random mage’s hideout and kill due to misunderstanding again, he will travel like a normal man. Besides, he may need to travel in the future and it is best to take care of his identity.
There are dedicated trains one must board when travelling across the border and since he came late, he had to wait for the first trip during the day which lead him to one of the restaurants he passed by earlier.
*Sip!
“Oh yeah!” Clay unconsciously praised the cup of coffee in his hand. Since he is the only customer on this side of the restaurant, he sipped as loudly as he can.
Clay blankly stared at the moon as his other hand played with his goatee and after a few seconds, he sent his mana into one of his spatial rings.
On the side of the floating islands inside one of his rings, two gigantic pitcher plants are currently in hibernation after a sumptuous meal.
The original plan was to build a specific portion of a Druid Shrine but having met Tarihk, his plan changed and resorted to capturing Caudal Xenomorphs and perform the same similar test like Bolivar did.
Using his Godly Eyes, he can already tell that the specimens handed to him did not have trace of Elemental Law but he still he still fed them to a modified pitcher plant.
Three days ago, he made a stop at a random mountain and used the Berserk Blood he got from Grumaht to corrupt two Tranquil Sarracenia Pitcher plants transforming them into two gigantic hungry beasts then later fed it two Caudal Xenomorphs.
It was a fruitless endeavor and he even converted two of samples into Vein Models and still ended with nothing.
While his travel did not end like he expected it to be, having met Tarihk is more than a consolation. At least he now know what Dao is called in this world and even saw a proof of its existence. Maybe when he returns back to the east and find better samples he can experiment on with.
*Sigh!
Clay let a long sigh. During his past life, he was able to attain a level of Dao comparable or even stronger than anyone at the pinnacle of cultivation but since this universe have different laws governing primordial energies, he may have to really work his way out to the top. For now, he should be satisfied he was able to integrate with a 200,000TH year Beast Essence.
As Clay is contemplating on his next move, a tall and attractive Moon Elf with golden earrings approached his table.
“This seat is not taken, is it?” The man is holding a cup of coffee as he asked Clay.
Having disturbed from his thoughts, Clay deliberately looked at the empty tables on his left, then slowly turned to his back, then to right, then finally looked at the man. With his mouth slightly open, the message should be clear to let this man know to stay away from him.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
“Well, not to offend you but even if you think I’m cute, I’m not into Elves. Let alone male Elvens.” Clay already knew this Elf is a 4TH Circle Mage and since this man is not showing any ill intentions, he made an obvious hint not to talk to him and seat somewhere else.
“My name is Luristrei of Lustera Family. I’m the current headmaster of the branch school you visited a month ago and I’m sorry if I was not around to greet you.”
*Sips!
After a casual sip, Clay responded, “It should be me apologizing for showing and disturbing the peace of your lands. Be assured that in the next two hours, I will have been gone.”
“What do you know about Elder Breeds?”
“Don’t know, don’t care.”
Luristrei anticipated Clay’s answer so he took out a wooden rectangular token and placed it on the table.
“I’d like to invite you to visit Bellvid Shrine. I’m confident you will not be disappointed if you visit that place.”
“Whatever happened to not overstaying your welcome?”
“Let’s just say that there was a misunderstanding and now I’m giving you a token that will allow you to roam our Lands and stay for as long as you like. Now…”
“I’ve got nothing in return.” Clay interrupted.
“Come talk to me if that place has any value to you. You can take as much time as you want but at least give me an update me in five years.”
“And if I don’t go?”
Luristrei forced a smile. Actually, it was him who manipulated the strings to have Tarihk investigate Clay and assuming everything Tarihk said is true, then Clay must be an itinerant 5TH Circle Mage. And the reason it can’t be above 5TH Circle is because Mages needed to awaken their Beast Essence when breaking through to 6TH Circle.
And the fact that Clay is searching about Elemental Laws and ancient methods of Spirit Essence Awakening, his guess is that Clay is preparing to breakthrough to 6TH Circle.
And for Clay to come to the west for answers, means that Clay is not affiliated to any Magi Schools otherwise, why would someone even bother spending resources and time to understand something that can easily be provided by any school?
In the next five years, it will be his sister’s coming of age ceremony and he had been worried where to look for trusted and reliable companions and since a perfect candidate already knocked on his door, he will not let go of such opportunity.
“Five years is a long time.” Luristrei is confident Clay will visit the Shrine and when he does, convincing him will be a lot easier.
*Sips!
“Ahhh… What makes you think I’d go there?” Clay already knew it was this guy monitoring his movements and to not further reveal anything about himself, he made an uninteresting reply.
“Because breaking through to higher circles requires information and who knows if your questions about Elemental Laws can be answered.”
“I remember declining similar offer the last time.”
*Sips!
“Ahhh” Luristrei mimicked Clay then slightly pushed the token on the table which then slid near Clay. “There are currently six Magi Schools and what is common to them is they do not accept outsiders especially Zodiac and Erindal which is supposed to be considered home to humans. The last time I checked, those two schools would enslave fellow humans. I wonder…”
“Are we done?” Clay interrupted.
Sensing that Clay did not want to further engage with the conversation, Luristrei got to his feet.
“Five years from now, I need your help babysitting a rookie for a month. As for my offer, as long as it is information or knowledge, my resources will be at your disposal.”
Clay slightly tilted his head in response.
“There’s a hotel called Ezheta White Hall near the border northwest. Drop by before wandering around.”
Clay watched as Luristrei turned around and left. Even if he did not ask, it is evident who manipulated the recruitment he posted a month ago and had he known it was Luristrei who Tarihk was referring to, he probably had immediately agreed.
Honestly, he did not want to abruptly end their conversation but it just annoys him that he doesn’t really much have of an option. Over the past two years, he had done his research and joining a Magi School is already impossible for him. Unless of course if he breaks through to 5TH Circle.
He could not even break through to 3RD Circle as he needed potions to stimulate his mana centers and how much more if he needed to breakthrough to 4TH or 5TH Circle.
In truth, if Luristrei did not approach him today, then the plan is to research potions. As to where he will be getting the ingredients and recipes, he just prays Ludonia Kingdom has them.
Clay looked at the token.
The fact that Luristrei came to him means the event five years must be important. And as for what they need him for, he guessed it is related to how he had been able to eliminate Atzali’s backer and whoever that mage back then two years ago.
*Sips!
Clay closed his eyes and lifted his face to moon.
If he could turn back time, he should have had shown his ability when he was tasked to inscribe Vibra Lamps almost two decades ago. Had he chosen that route, he guessed that even if Erindal had kicked him out, he should have been able to secure at least everything he needed and still retained a good image to be re-accepted at Erindal and with that amount of time, he estimated he should have had reach 4TH Circle by now.
However, his pride and ignorance had led him to waste twenty years of his life.
From his estimate, he should have another century and a half and if he does not improve his cultivation, his lifespan will have had run out while pursuing immortality.