***
Once they went through the gate, they went their separate ways. Erik and Rugrat looked over the streets.
Rain came down everywhere. The sun was still high in the sky.
“Damn. Feels like the Florida swamps,” Rugrat said.
“I hate the humidity.” Erik’s shirt was already sticking to him even though he wore his waterproof cloak.
“Markets?” Rugrat asked.
“Let’s check when the auction halls are open. They’ll have the most valuable items. We hit those up when they’re going on. In the meantime, we go looking for art and art manuals,” Erik said.
“All right.”
The two of them trudged through the rain.
“See those people with the red and yellow glowing crest?”
“The nuclear fallout-looking one?”
“Yeah, those are the Sunset boys. And the girls with the veils who are dry even with all this—they’re the Silver Garnets. Left breast.”
Erik saw the silver garnets that shone brighter than silver as they caught the light.
“I thought garnets were red and green,” Erik said.
“Dude, really? This is the Ten Realms, after all,” Rugrat said.
“Yeah, that was pretty dumb of me,” Erik said.
They reached their first auction house, looking at the sign that told them about the items that would be up for auction and when the auction would be held.
They saw two groups yelling at one another.
“Soul Hammer and the Golden Path sect,” Erik said.
“Seems like some kind of argument,” Rugrat said.
“You came in and stole the Miod sand! We saw you prowling the area and you must’ve crossed the border and come into our territory to steal our sand!”
“Really? Who calls themselves a crafter and doesn’t have tools to harvest some sand?” the other asked, looking down on the other man.
“You!” the Golden Path sect yelled as he drew out a hammer.
“Smith?” Erik asked.
“Ten bucks,” Rugrat said.
“Really, you draw a hammer to fight us?” the Soul Hammer crafter said, his eyes dead and disdain heavy.
“You’re the lowlife here! Repay back our sand and your trespass!”
“What is that saying? Fortune favors the strong? Well, I don’t see anyone who is strong enough for me to give them my fortune.”
“You!” The Golden Path sect group couldn’t take it any longer and rushed the Soul Hammer sect, who drew their weapons as well.
The Golden Path had momentum, but the Soul Hammer looked at them with the same bored eyes. Although the Golden Path sect were filled with emotions, the Soul Hammers were devoid of them.
Mana was stirred up in the air and the rain was tossed back. The strength of the blows was enough to shake the Fifth Realm houses and clear the rain from the sky above.
Erik and Rugrat watched.
“Looks like a hammer art—heats up the hammer. Would be good when smithing,” Rugrat said as the Soul Hammer man struck forward with his glowing hammer, only to have their opponent jump to the side and then send out a kick.
Their face twisted.
“Well, seems that they can still feel pain,” Erik said.
“Who is creating trouble!” A voice called from above as a group arrived on beasts, wearing powerful weapons and armor.
“Shit! It’s the Arman guards,” one of the Golden Path members said as everyone distanced themselves.
“Time we were going?” Rugrat said.
They headed down an alleyway, not wanting to get caught up in whatever was next, making their way to the next auction house.
“Well, with the guards being strong enough to restrain the sects, it helps keep everything running and manageable here,” Erik said.
“Well, I don’t know if anyone that strong is really manageable,” Rugrat said.
“You might have a point.” Erik grinned.
***
“Why do I have to look after it?” Tan Xue asked.
“You’re the highest level person in the academy,” Taran said.
“Come on. But you’re better at this stuff than me!”
“Uh, nope! I’ve got enough to deal with back home,” Taran said.
“You just don’t want to be the leader!”
“Look, Jia Feng is sending you a proper assistant to run things and you just need to be the power behind them. Don’t you already get a ton of resources and aid?” Taran said.
“Yes, but!” Tan Xue wanted to complain more but she couldn’t, making her just pout more.
“That’s what I thought,” Taran said.
Tan Xue groaned. “Why me?”
“We’re not doing this again,” Taran said.
There was a knock at the smithy door.
“Come in!” Taran said before Tan Xue could say anything.
The door opened to reveal Hiao Xen.
“I thought that I might be able to find you here. Experts Karlo Savic and Bai Guo are here. I was wondering if you would greet them with me, Academy Head?”
Tan Xue shot a look at Taran. “I won’t get any smithing done!”
“Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll get the first art technique books!” Taran waved her away as he looked at the item he was working on in the forge.
“Heartless!” Tan Xue said.
Hiao Xen nodded to Taran, who gave him a thumbs up.
“Who are Karlo Savic and Bai Guo?”
“Karlo Savic is a formations master. He fell in love with a girl he wasn’t supposed to and his family turned on him. He has had many offers but he wants to just work and live with his wife. Bai Guo is a smith. He was a powerful figure, focused on his smithing, but there was a girl, a student who liked him, and he didn’t like her back. She wanted to bring them together so she drugged him and said that he took her forcefully.
“Her family was powerful and they took it badly. It had been started and she couldn’t stop it at that point.
“He had never been really liked. He had an odd personality. Those who wanted to see his downfall turned on him.
“His cultivation was destroyed. He was castrated. They used poisons for his wounds so that they’re impossibly hard to heal. They mangled his hands and burned his eyes, scarring and cutting him so he would only hear people screaming in horror as he passes. It’s not a pretty sight,” Hiao Xen said.
“What did the girl do?”
“She disappeared. No one knows where she went. Some accused him of kidnapping her; others said he killed her. It was impossible because he was recovering from his wounds. Elan found him and we brought him here after he agreed to be a teacher.”
“His wounds?”
“I don’t know if they will ever be fixed, but then I have never seen a healer like Erik before,” Hiao Xen said.
Tan Xue let out a sigh. It wasn’t long until they reached a meeting hall for the academy grounds.
Waiting for them was Julilah and Qin.
“I guess that you have heard about the Expert formations master, Karlo Savic?”
“Is he here?” Julilah asked.
“Never interested in boys, but now you’re chasing a married man?” Tan Xue tutted.
“It’s not like that! And who said I’m not interested in men!?” Julilah said.
Immediately, Tan Xue had more questions she wasn’t sure she wanted answers to.
“Don’t hound him too much,” Tan Xue said, leaving her questions unasked.
Karlo Savic stood as the duo entered the room.
“Expert Savic, this is Expert Tan Xue and the head of this academy,” Hiao Xen introduced.
“Your academy is indeed impressive. I am looking forward to looking at it more,” Karlo Savic said with a nod.
“Thank you. I know there are a number of people within the formations department who are eager to learn from you.”
“Oh?” Interest sparked in Karlo’s eyes.
“Our background in formations i
s not that deep but we have been able to raise a number of Journeyman formation masters who are eager to learn more and make that final step into the realm of Expert, as you have done,” Tan Xue said. “Hiao Xen did inform you of the rewards that come with every person who you are able to assist in becoming an Expert, right?”
“I am sorry. I was in too much of a rush,” Hiao Xen said with a short laugh.
“It is no worry. You are busy running the city,” Tan Xue said. Everything that she was saying was part of a plan, one part to make him feel the competition from others looking to get his spot and then also show him the rewards for helping other people. One would cause him to grow, the other make sure that he wouldn’t stunt the growth of others.
“With every Expert you are able to raise, you would receive six months of your salary as a bonus, including resources. These can be claimed immediately as resources or as supplies, as with all of the resources and mana stones laid down in your contract.”
“Oh,” Karlo said, trying to sound only mildly interested.
But Tan Xue could see the light in his eyes.
“Now, I would be a decent guide but Julilah and Qin are the top two formation experts and they would be more than pleased to show you around the academy and allow you to get to know one another,” Tan Xue offered. Ugh, sounds too much like a date. I don’t want to think of Julilah on a date! Now I can’t not think about her on a date! Who is this boy who she likes?
“Thank you,” Karlo said.
Hiao Xen sent a sound transmission and the two girls appeared.
“It is good to meet you, Expert Savic,” they both said, cupping their hands and bowing.
“I’ll leave you to it. Please let me know if you have any troubles,” Tan Xue said.
“Thank you, Head Tan.” Karlo cupped his fist to her.
She gave him a slight nod and then headed out of the room with Hiao Xen.
He guided her to another room.
Tan Xue opened the door and saw a man wearing red clothes. His face was wrapped, covering his features. His hands were hidden in his sleeves.
“Expert Bai Guo, my name is Expert Tan Xue. I am also a blacksmith Expert and head of this academy. I thank you for accepting our invitation. I believe that there is a lot that the students and I can learn from you,” Tan Xue said.
“Another Expert blacksmith.” Bai Guo nodded. “That will be good. I have lost the skills to smith, but with your ability then you can surpass my ability.”
He sounded unemotional, as if passing on his teachings were a mechanical process.
“I hope that we can assist each other. Though I do not currently have any smithing arts.”
“Currently? Which means that you have a way of obtaining them.”
Tan Xue couldn’t see through his bandages, but from the way they moved, she believed he was smiling.
“I might not be able to increase my smithing skill, but through others I can do so. The teaching, more than the benefits, are what interested me,” Bai Guo said honestly. “I was a high-level Expert for forty years, and a mid-level Expert smith for fifty, a low grade for thirty. Now I don’t have much time. With my cultivation crippled, my body is starting to fail and I have some eighty years left being in a high mana environment like Vuzgal, before the Ten Realms are done with me.”
“Do you want to fight your former sect?” Tan Xue asked.
“There was a time that I wanted to burn them to the ground. I still despise them, but I guess it was because I cared more about smithing than people. I was aloof and arrogant. I kept away from them, aiming to improve. I stepped over people and used them. So when they had the opportunity, they all turned on me. My emotions...are complicated when it comes to them. There are certain people I hate, but this is my situation and I will not be able to change it anytime in the future. Maybe one of my students will be able to go on and make them apologize, but I have no expectations. Taking a step back from smithing, I realize how much I enjoyed it and didn’t fully appreciate the enjoyment and sense of purpose it gave me. Now my new purpose is teaching others. I will not create issues with my old sect without seeking permission.”
“That is good to know. I thank you for joining us,” Tan Xue said, standing to let him go.
“Well, I have nothing that I am doing now, unless you have something else. What were those burning questions?”
“Well...” Tan Xue slid back down into her seat.
Hiao Xen stood and headed out of the room as Tan Xue started.
“I want to make a weapon with a formation in it at one time, just a simple one but I haven’t been able to do it.”
“How are you adding the formation?”
“Using my hammer and chisel.”
“See, there are smithing arts to allow you to add a specific formation to a weapon. I believe them to be a waste of time—flashy practice to make an enchanted weapon in one shot. But there is a reason that the formation master and smithing skill are two different skills. Make the weapon, then add a formation. When you start and when you finish, the product may be very different; use all of your smithing skill, then all of your formation skill. Work the metal in the smithing portion so that it will be better suited for a formation, but do not make that the sole purpose.
“It’s like an ornate sword. A sword is ugly but it functions. A sword can be beautiful, but because it has had so much metal removed, it is weak and prone to breaking.
“Formations augment and increase the power of the sword. The strongest metal, the perfect fire, the right enhancers—pour all of your smithing skill into it. Smith the ever-loving crap out of that weapon, then add in a formation that takes that weapon to the next stage. Some people say that Expert smiths can forge complete blades in one go. Yeah, a crappy one, maybe a Master-level smith or a Star-level smith could.”
Hiao Xen closed the door behind him, leaving them to talk.
Chapter: Opening Curtain
Erik copied down the last information of when the auction would be held, then he organized the auction times together and then put numbers over them according to the priority he placed on them.
Rugrat looked around, watching out for others. They were alone in a new city. One of them was always alert and ready to act if something happened.
“Okay, so it looks like most of the auctions are over the next three days. We can get a better idea of how much items will cost us if we go and wander the markets,” Erik said.
“What’s a bit more rain?” Rugrat grumbled.
Erik let out a dry laugh. “I wanted a second shower today,” Erik said, following Rugrat to the market.
People stared darkly at the skies that seemed to ignore them, happily continuing its hot downpour.
“I don’t think I have sweated in rain before,” Rugrat said.
“Really? Thailand?”
“Well, maybe in Thailand. Hard to not, it’s so damn hot all the time!”
“And you hated every minute of it?” Erik asked.
Rugrat grinned and pulled on his cowboy hat he had replaced his doupeng with. “Oh, it was some of the most fun I’ve ever had.”
Rugrat moved to the side and wove into the crowd that was forming as they entered the marketplace. There were half-covered and erected stalls, with people pressed in together as they looked at the wares.
There were cultivation aids, spell scrolls, information and technique books. Rare resources, tools of all kinds and weapons.
“Any of these items would cause people in the First Realm to go nuts,” Rugrat said in a low voice.
“We just need to make sure that we buy the right things.”
Rugrat nodded and they continued looking through the market stalls, going from marketplace to marketplace.
Erik saw an older man, sitting underneath his porch covering, watching the world go by, a local to Arman.
“Sir, I was wondering if you could help me and my friend. We were wondering if you knew where the best place to get art manuals from would be?” Erik asked.
“Art manuals, you say.” The man held his chin. “My memory is rather hazy these days. I’m sorry.”
“Would this help clear it up?” Erik showed a box of thirty Mortal mana stones. Earth mana stones were something that only those from the Sixth Realm could easily pull out and was something that the upper middle management in the Fourth Realm might have. Most transactions were done with Mortal mana stones still.
“It seems that something is coming back to me,” the man said.
Erik pulled out another twenty Mortal stones.
The man waved him forward and took the Mortal mana stones with a smile.
“Go to the Lee clan. They specialize in spell scrolls, but they always have a number of arts for sale. They increase the prices on the arts that are associated with the competitions going on, though!”
“Thank you,” Erik said.
“I have heard some rumors, though,” the old man said. “About technique arts.”
“How useful?”
“Incredibly useful to people not part of the sect, and cheaper.”
“The Ikazi baths?” Erik asked.
“Oh, so you know where, but do you know what they have on offer this time? Thirty might make me recall.”
Erik passed over the stones and the man leaned forward, making sure that no one else was able to hear them.
“They’re selling an Oleha plant. One that is said to come from the Grey Drake sect that can be used to increase a beast’s bloodline strength. Many people will be bidding on this, so the other items will be cheaper.” The man smiled.
“They’re focused on the prize,” Erik said and looked at Rugrat.
“We take the leftovers.”
“Thank you for the time.” Erik nodded to the old man, who smiled and went back to sitting back in his seat.
Erik and Rugrat headed off into the market.
Erik saw some ingredients he hadn’t seen before and stopped at the counter. “A batch of these, please.”
“Certainly!” The seller quickly packaged them up. “Twenty Mortal mana stones!”
Erik passed them over and took the ingredients.
“You still doing that thing?” Rugrat asked.
“What thing?” Erik asked as he took out the ingredient, balled it up, and put it in his mouth, his hand crushing the other ingredients. He screwed up his face. “Lemon, chilies—tastes like eating crayons and flowers!”
The Fifth Realm Page 42
