Chapter 181: Below

With these Magic Energy Crystals, Helag could save a lot on future expenses.

The only issue was that he couldn’t easily convert them to currency or use them yet, so he had to store them for now.

He also had various potion and spell materials. Helag recognized most potion materials, estimating their value at over ten thousand magic stones.

Some spell materials were unfamiliar, making it hard to estimate their worth. He planned to show them to Brack later to see how many magic stones they could fetch.

Beyond material gains, the most crucial aspect was validating the power of his bloodline mark.

In the Death Swamp Ruins, where the world’s will was weaker, Helag could unleash some of his bloodline mark’s power.

His body became covered in a metallic black sheen, transforming into a creature form, significantly boosting his stats.

This was despite the suppression from the wizard plane’s world will.

Without such suppression, Helag felt he could wield unimaginable power.

Helag glanced at his left palm, sensing the energy nearly full.

However, even if the planar coordinate energy was full, he couldn’t recklessly venture into the abyss.

The Barrens might have second-level wizards at most.

In the abyss, he might encounter a creature like the toad with fourth or fifth-level power.

Who could withstand that?

Helag’s previous visits were lucky, with the toad rescuing him.

If he had been a bit later, he might have died in the abyss.

Though he could use the bloodline mark’s power there, Helag doubted it would match the toad’s level.

In the abyss, teeming with powerful beings, his strength was insufficient.

Helag was also concerned about the toad’s identity.

Though the toad had been friendly, it was due to its amnesia.

Helag’s aura was familiar to the toad, but its nature was unclear.

If the toad remembered, it might not remain a friend.

Next time, the toad might devour him.

Helag pondered these issues, cautious about entering the abyss, unwilling to go lightly.

“Let’s continue training.”

Helag shook his head, dismissing distant thoughts.

His priority was steady progress in training.

He looked at the starry night sky, entering a meditative state.

***

Two months later.

Helag opened his eyes, calm and composed.

He’d spent the past two months in stable training.

Helag sold some items from the Death Swamp Ruins, earning ten thousand magic stones.

He kept the rest, not selling everything.

“Next is slowly entering the liquefaction stage.”

Helag completed meditation on the twentieth star, his mind filled with gaseous spiritual power.

The next step was compressing this power into a droplet of liquid spiritual power.

This was a long and arduous process, with many never progressing past it.

Helag was patient, beginning the liquefaction process.

He felt a slight headache as he started.

Compressing spiritual power was painful, not everyone could endure it.

Helag’s breathing became labored, less steady than before.

After a while, he stopped compressing.

This process couldn’t be rushed, only taken slowly.

Helag ceased compressing, meditating to adjust his state.

He didn’t want to harm his mental sea by rushing, which would be counterproductive.

In the coming period, Helag’s spiritual power would stagnate.

Before reaching the liquefaction stage, his spiritual power couldn’t grow, having reached the gaseous stage’s limit.

The time to reach liquefaction varied for everyone.

Some might take a year or two, others decades.

Some might take centuries or never reach it.

Morning sunlight streamed through the window.

Helag rose from bed, stretching.

Shatia stood at the door with a basin of hot water, a towel inside.

Helag’s routine was regular, ending meditation at this time, with Shatia waiting outside.

“Come in,” Helag said softly.

Shatia entered, wringing the towel and handing it to him.

After a simple wash, Shatia asked, “Are you hungry, sir? I’ll make noodles.”

Recently, Shatia had learned to make noodles, guided by Helag.

With ample flour, she quickly mastered noodle-making.

Helag tasted them, suggesting adjustments, and now they were similar to those from his past life.

He usually had noodles or pastries for breakfast.

Helag shook his head, “No noodles, let’s try your buns.”

Shatia had just learned to make buns, and Helag hadn’t tasted them yet, something he hadn’t eaten in ages.

“Yes, sir, I’ll steam the buns,” Shatia replied efficiently.

As Helag ate breakfast, Brack arrived.

“Mr. Brack, what’s the matter?” Helag asked.

Brack looked serious, hesitant to speak.

Sensing something amiss, Helag asked, “Is there a problem?”

For Brack to be so tense, it had to be significant.

Brack sighed, “There’s something I don’t know if it’s good news for you.”

“What is it?” Helag asked curiously.

Brack explained, “The Land of Dawn is recruiting, seeking formal wizards under sixty.”

Helag was stunned, not expecting this news.

The Land of Dawn recruiting?

Helag wondered if it was a rumor; why would they recruit in the Barrens?

Seeing Helag’s surprise, Brack said, “I found it unbelievable too, so I investigated.”

“The Land of Dawn plans a major invasion of the Elven Plane, needing many people. Since invading a plane takes time, they need as many as possible, so they’re recruiting in the Barrens.”

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