While Arslan reviewed the list again after receiving the revised version from the First Emperor, Selena had already traded the particle she received for those two books. Having enough data recorded to reach the Demigod stage, Selena decided to trade it since she had no other use for it. She only hoped it was worth it. Arslan watched her go to a private room. He guessed she would become a Demigod before these rounds started, but he wasn’t sure. Time would tell.
He also received a list of choices. Feeling compelled to make a decision for himself and his family, he found himself unable to make up his mind. He decided to request four more sets of the books, certain they would be helpful—one set for each member of his family and for the two children on the way. His father and brother had already made their choices, so he didn’t worry about them.
He then selected a few Divine materials for their Life Treasures. His current Life Treasure was with Derin, so he couldn’t use the materials yet, but he would once he got out of here. He couldn’t ask for more right now, as the items the Empire had chosen were already beneficial to him and his family. After all, for everything they received, he would have access to it as the Emperor. What surprised him were the choices the Academy’s board had made. They had taken the highest amount of resources, which he guessed would be used for further research.
Some of these resources included "Cosmic Start: Big Bang" and "Seed of Cosmos," indicating their obsession with the creation of the cosmos itself. He was also interested in these and planned to check on them later. What he searched for but couldn’t find were bloodline resources. Arslan removed his eyes from the list.
“Mr. Gold, why are there no bloodline resources?” asked Arslan.
Mr. Gold, who was still playing, replied, “Both books you selected will show you that when you attach them to your existence. After all, resources for bloodlines are precious as they enhance talent. I don’t trade them because I use those resources myself.”
Even Divines cultivate bloodlines? Arslan thought. It was a notion hard for him to believe. They were Divine and still raised their talent with bloodlines? How much can bloodlines be cultivated?
A hunger for more information gnawed at him, consuming his thoughts like a beast hidden deep inside. He curbed these thoughts, hoping these books would provide answers. Then he pulled out the list of the First Emperor’s treasures and the chosen items, placing them on the table. “Here. Please determine their cost, and you can take them from this list.”
Mr. Gold eyed the lists with a raised eyebrow. His eyebrows rose even more upon seeing the choices, as they were quite expensive. Nearly half the list was circled. He calculated the cost but wasn’t sure if Arslan could afford it.
Knowing that further thinking was useless, he checked their counteroffer. When he saw the Realms, he paused. These realms could only be created by Divines close to reaching Celestial levels. Acquiring them meant that either Arslan had the backing of such a Divine or had obtained them in another way he couldn't yet fathom. His main focus was calculating whatever he needed.
He noticed there were no bloodline resources and felt disappointed. Nevertheless, he mentally chose two of the realms and everything inside them. If he could acquire them, it would help him with his cultivation. Later, he might even create his own realm and reach a higher stage!
From his left, Mr. Gold brought his drink and took a large mouthful. His Goddesses would surely be even more happy. He smiled at the thought. They cultivated from Mortal to Immortal to Divine Realm. The moment he became a God of Trade and Intelligence, he traded his Intelligence Divinity to two Divinity Seeds, and his wives reached his level and even surpassed him in terms of power. And they always made sure to remind him it was the best choice.
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“Big brother, does your wives know you are drinking?” teased Dynamos. But when Mr. Gold sent a disapproving look, he shut up, having taken advantage of the distraction. He leaned in and looked at the list. The list made his eyes widen. He looked at Arslan with twitching eyebrows. He could have just told us he was a rich young master, he thought.
Meanwhile, Arslan turned his head towards their previous table. After Mortelle stopped the discussion with her leaders, she directly rose from the table, nodding towards Eren. With a confident walk, she approached his table. Her tunnel vision towards him showed she didn’t want to look at anyone else.
“Your Majesty,” she said upon arriving. With her fist on her heart, she stayed like that for a few seconds before continuing, “We made a decision. We will join the Empire as an autonomous sect and share our network. However, we only request a chance for a trade rather than requesting something. This is only for the opportunity, as I have already received enough items to trade myself.”
“By all means,” Arslan answered. If they didn’t provide resources themselves for any other item than the books, he would not have let them be autonomous. However, it was still a win, as they would still be under the Empire’s control.
With phase one becoming meaningless in terms of benefits, he had already decided to destroy the eternal enemies of the Empire once he was out. As for the remaining neutral factions, they would either join the Empire or leave the galaxy. However, he was still worried about phase two. Unlike phase one, where they dealt with the Immortal factions, phase two involved competition between galaxies. Some of these galaxies were even at the center of the cosmos, descendants of the Divines!
The Luvi Empire was not a weak faction, but if the First Emperor had gained so many benefits once he ascended, Arslan couldn't imagine the benefits for those who had ascended for hundreds of cosmic cycles. The last Divine to ascend, as far as he knew, had done so thirty million years ago, three times the span since the Luvi Empire was founded.
He knew the Empire’s history was longer than that, but its foundation was still not comparable. Who knew if the main descendants had been cultivating with the same resources he would get now, but for a much longer time? How could he compete with that?
Mr. Gold’s drawing on the paper took his attention away from his musings. He focused to see that all the previously blurred items had already been selected, making him feel an unknown pain through his existence. He could have left a few!
“Friend Arslan, you saw my items,” Mr. Gold said patiently, no irritation visible. “These items are mostly Divine but common among the Gods. Just look at this item called the Tablet of Creation. You selected an item that can even give advice to a Celestial about Creation, equivalent to one whole realm you are giving me and its contents inside. And these things could be learned, creating Creators en masse. So, don’t crease your eyebrows like that. This is a trade that would be irreplaceable for any new Divine faction. After all, you seem to be one. Otherwise, you wouldn’t offer me everything so that I would choose. Right?”
Of course, he knew. If his ancestors hadn’t already selected these items, he would have. It made choosing different for himself and his family difficult when nearly everything they needed had already been selected. He guessed he was a little greedy.
“Forgive my inexperience, big brother,” Arslan said, trying to find a middle ground. He was thinking of creating a partnership that would last a long time.
Mr. Gold smiled at that. He nodded multiple times, drawing the circles more slowly due to comfort. He could leave a few of these items out. He would already profit from the chosen items. But he also knew that leaving too much in the first trade would give the impression that the items were cheap, so he reminded Arslan, “I’m helping you out by not choosing more for the honor of our first meeting. Don’t think it will always be the same.”
He then gave the list and a key made of thousands of letters linked to his DivinePad. “You can send the items, except for the realm, through the trading option. I will also add items once you have added everything that I wanted. Then notify whoever will guide me to these realms, as my place in the outer cosmos is far away. I will personally come with my main body.”
While Arslan was busy with the process, Mortelle finished her own transactions. She had lost a lot of treasures for a total of twenty items. The worst part was, she could only acquire a set of books for herself. The rest would all go to the Sect, and she could only wait for them to research everything and then gain benefits, later taking advantage of them for herself.
However, she trusted her leaders. She was sure they could finally find a Path forward. She could only wait and do her best in these rounds, as she would gain everything for herself!