51. Search for Death Qi Cultivators II
"Depending on the duration and the amount of the Death Qi Circulated, the cultivator will completely transform on the third and before reaching the fifth month, they will have had become mindless simian devils provided they were not starved. Elves have a unique ability to suppress the effects of Death Qi and maintain their sanity by sealing their cultivation but human physiology is different.
This practice coeval with human existence and one has yet to find cure. The person can destroy their cultivation during the curse's infancy, but they won’t still live past five years and die a horrible death. The only good news is that everyone has a certain level of tolerance and can easily be expelled for as long as no symptom has surfaced yet."
Clay listened attentively as Urda explained. According to him, these are basic knowledge.
Earlier, Urda explained where Death Qi comes from and how it is naturally purified or how it is collected and disposed inside a specialized spatial ring if the Death Qi is too thick. Some demonic sects use it to grow herbs under strict monitoring.
"How much would it cost to catch a live sample?"
He is certain that his case does not involve Death Qi circulation and when he asked similar transformation not involving Death Qi, the answer he got are Demonic Techniques which makes one exhibit symptoms however that only transpires when the cultivator naturally reaches the end of his lifespan. Regardless of the cause, if one is looking for a cure, there is none. There are rumors but one must travel to the west and look for traces about an extinct ancient Elven clan called Ul Al'iya Colony.
According to the symptoms, he should have had fully transformed by now and with regards to always being hungry, he did feel it but only once. He is beginning to worry but if he could find a live Death Qi Cultivator, he can compare himself and who knows if he can figure out a cure.
"You could purchase reliable slaves. By estimate, you will have had spent less than a thousand gold coins. I can use my connections to contact a demonic sect. If you want a perfect sample, three months should suffice."
Clay was taken by surprise. Not long ago, he mourned the passing of her maid and although he thinks the people he killed deserves to die, he would still feel a little remorse just thinking about it. Just how unfortunate that slave must be to become his sample.
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"I prefer a wild one and I cannot wait three months."
He was suddenly conflicted so he only gave a simple response. In perspective, what difference is a criminal who killed nine people to a criminal who killed ten. The logical option is to cultivate multiple samples, but can he really live in conscience knowing that his life is extended at the cost of sacrificing another life?
"Using our network alone would cost a thousand gold coins. Considering the danger of keeping one sample alive, it would already cost less than five thousand gold coins. Adding the number of people involved, I am afraid that even with a friendly discount, you will still spend at least eight thousand gold coins. "
Urda as merchant knows when a client wants something. Since it is a business, his job is not to dissuade but to provide the information their client needs to know and pray that client chooses the more profitable deal.
"This ring contains at least ten thousand gold coins. There is an inn a few blocks to the left. I shall await your good news."
Clay turned around to leave. He is still under a moral dilemma. He believes that the impetus of human morality is conscious choice of not bringing harm to others.
He asked himself just how long can he keep this hypocritical and pretentious act. He just hopes that if one day he kills another man, he would have compelling reason aside from self-preservation. Before he could step out of the room, he heard Urda say something.
"Spiritual Veins"
Clay turned around confused.
"It is the ultimate creation of heaven and earth that stretches underground thereby the abundance and replete Qi."
Urda is tempted to conduct an investigation on this new client. How could a person reach such age and not have a clue? He first thought Clay was making fun of him, but the conversation he just had proves how innocent Clay must have been raised.
Clay smiled, slightly bowed and departed.
Upon exiting the premises of the guild, he did not immediately head to the inn instead, he walked outside the city. He had always been curious where Qi comes from so after walking enough distance, he activated his wings and levitated. He would like to see what Spiritual Vein looks like from the distance through his Godly Eyes.
As Clay activated his eyes, he saw a span of silver root-like structure that spread throughout the city. At first glance, Clay thought he was looking at someone’s circulation circuit but as he observed further, he could not find anything special.
Clay hoped he would discover some big secrets but in order not to attract troubles, he had levitated some four kilometers and from this distance, the view is limited. But at least he now has an idea and who knows if he can come across unclaimed Spiritual Veins in the future.
Clay descended and walked back towards the city and while pretending to stroll, he can’t help but compare this world to earth.
Back on his previous life, countries who have control over deposits of fossil fuels controlled the world and it is fairly obvious that in this world, he who controls Spiritual Veins have dominion over others.
Clay is tempted to walk closer toward the center of the Spiritual Vein but he needs to tend to a more pressing matter which is his condition.