He’d like to call it an act , but he really was tired . Some of these people were surprisingly powerful , and were incredibly motivated . Defeating them all before the Fate Kernel expired took its toll . That cold woman in particular had almost won a martial duel , even if she was a mage . Still , Zac had already gained 2 , 806 Mana in half an hour , and all of the powerhouses of the crowd were dealt with . It should have been more , but one after another had given up as the minutes passed . Two had left while the rest joined the spectators .
Well? - Zac said after no one had stepped forward after half a minute .
It seems you are out of challengers , - the barbarian grinned as he looked at the chain ball hungrily . - Time to honor your agreement . -
Not yet , - Zac said with a shake of his head .
You’re going back on your promise? - the cold woman frowned . - You said you’d sell it after you had run out of challenges . -
That’s not what I said , - Zac grunted as he stood up , his abyssal gaze turning to the spectators . - I said I’ll put it to auction after I’ve dueled everyone present . There are still 15 people present who I haven’t dueled . So how can I start the auction now? -
Are you serious? - the woman frowned .
Like a heart attack , - Zac said . - And do remember , there is not a single Fate Kernel left in the Quarry . This is the last chance . -
We’ll be on our way , then , - one of the weaker spectators muttered as he backed off , but a hulking figure soundlessly appeared right behind him .
You wanted to watch us get our ass beat and then slink away? - the barbarian grinned as he grabbed the man’s shoulder .
This is a Green Zone! - the man frowned .
That’s true , but we can keep you here until you come to your senses . Nothing illegal about that . -
Zac inwardly smiled . What the barbarian said was absolutely true , and it was another reason few solo cultivators wanted to mess with coalitions . They could cause trouble even in Green Zones , though they weren’t allowed to kill or rob . They could keep people locked down for months by rotating wardens if motivated . And Zac just so happened to have twenty-two highly motivated guards who had already made their move .
An immense emerald array had already sealed off the whole valley . It was the mage who almost defeated him . The powerful array she activated utilized Cosmic Crystals . A proper D-grade array . The mage had to be incredibly powerful and talented to use something like that freely . If not , it would destabilize and blow up in her face . It was almost as difficult and draining as using War Regalia in the E-grade .
No more nonsense , - the woman said as the others formed a perimeter around the spectators . - You came here knowing the risks . You had many chances to leave , but you did not . Now , pay the price of Mana or pay a greater one . -
I’ll remember anyone who drags their feet , - the barbarian added with a growl .
Zac wasn’t surprised by their impatience . Three days had already passed , and Zac guessed there would soon be far more people coming this way . They didn’t know Zac could only maintain the Fate Kernel for one hour , so they feared he would drag things out until they’d have to contend with hundreds for a chance to snatch it up . Honestly , Zac would have preferred to do things that way . It was a shame the inheritance space had started to destabilize .
Wait! - one of the spectators said , ignoring the glaring looks as he turned to Zac . - You only told those who haven’t gotten a Fate Kernel to challenge you . This guy and I already got them . -
The man the ratkin pointed to was unsurprisingly Ogras .
Zac looked at the two , seemingly in thought . - Can you prove this? -
I can! - the man said as a projection appeared . - Everyone knows this shadow guy ; he’s been selling the information packets and recordings . He also recorded me absorbing my Fate Kernel . -
A smile tugged at Zac’s lips as he looked back and forth between Ogras and the ratman . Should he extort some Mana from the demon? No , he’d never hear the end of it .
Fine . My word is my bond , - Zac agreed . - But the rest of you better step right up . -
And with that , the second harvest began .
40
A RISING TIDE
MANA : 18 , 953]
Zac looked at the line appreciatively . Less than two months had passed since arriving , yet he was already approaching the third echelon . He was more than a year ahead of schedule , giving him far more leeway . Better yet , the Mana was only a cherry on top of his real gain— Cosmic Forge] . And now , a final windfall waited for him .
Alright , buddy , you’ve squeezed Mana out of all of us . Time to get this show on the road , - the barbarian hollered , not even trying to hide his jealousy over Zac’s good fortune .
Why look so glum? - Zac smiled . - Didn’t most of you discover new directions to improve your blueprints? -
Sublime energy comprehension , - the cold-eyed mage said while looking at Zac speculatively . - I am quite curious how you’ve reached that point as an E-grade cultivator . Especially when you do not follow a path utilizing that knowledge . -
If you want , we can postpone the auction while I regale you about my experiences? - Zac smiled , but he didn’t get so much as a scoff in response .
Guess not . Well , place your bids . Coins are fine , but I am also looking for Supreme Perennial Treasures . -
Perennial Treasures weren’t a true categorization but a local name for treasures found in the Perennial Vastness and useful in Core Formation . He was hoping to find something either for himself or his companions . If that failed , he’d take cash since he suspected he could get a tidy sum for the kernel . A few of the people in the crowd looked quite wealthy .
100 D-grade Nexus Coins , - a beastkin offered , but he didn’t even have time to finish the sentence before being outbid .
300 . -
450 . -
A series of rapid-fire offers pushed the price tag upward , but Zac wasn’t overly enthused . The item had crossed 1 , 000 D-grade Nexus Coins in seconds . It was a fair offer for what was essentially a Pseudo D-grade treasure , but not what Zac hoped to hear when faced with a bunch of scions from the inner regions of the Multiverse .
I have a set of Sundew Drops] found in the Red Zone Umber Steppes . -
I have an unnamed fruit I found in the Blackstar Ruins . It holds immense resentment . -
Pah , what good are those things? Neither are Supreme treasures . Fifty thousand , - the barbarian said , which made Zac look over in surprise .
It wasn’t just that he added a zero to the price in one go . Zac was surprised the man had so much money to throw around . He’d guessed the barbarian was a bit like himself regarding his background . The warrior’s raw power was possibly the highest in the group , but his combat style had some glaring flaws . Furthermore , his blueprint had been so rough that Zac gained 40 Mana from the bounty .
In other words , the barbarian seemed like a talented warrior who’d gotten his hands on the Perennial Vastness Token through a fortuitous encounter rather than his family . Roughly a third of the guests arrived that way , and they generally had weaker backgrounds and smaller purses .
Then again , while many of the scions arrived in the Perennial Vastness with massive fortunes , that money wasn’t for them . It was provided by their families to purchase materials they were lacking or things that could be traded for profit . If they burned that capital on cultivation resources for themselves , they’d get punished upon returning .
50 , 000 D-grade Nexus Coins was a massive price tag for a single item , eclipsing most of his Cosmic Vessels . But it wasn’t enough to make more than half of the guests back down . The price continued to climb toward 100 , 000 until an impatient snort echoed through the valley .
1 C-grade Nexus Coin , - the emerald mage said with not so much as a ripple in her eyes .