Chapter 480: New Mission
Chapter 480: New Mission
“Looking for Arcane inheritance? Don’t bother. Basic stuff’s manageable, but advanced knowledge gets hoarded…”
Owl Jones fluttered over as Zuo Meng started checking materials.
He knew exactly how Zuo Meng had earned his previous coins. For a daredevil friend like this, Jones saw value in keeping contact. These types made money fast and blew it faster! Until getting caught, Jones reckoned this guy would stay his most reliable pal!
“I don’t need advanced stuff. Basics’ll do.”
Aige’s body practiced Martial Arts, and he’d already come far on this path. The Morning Star level didn’t exist in this world before – that’s where Zuo Meng stood now. Being first meant no roadmap ahead. Without shortcuts, he’d borrow ideas elsewhere. Arcane inheritance held the highest potential here. Zuo Meng studied Arcane Masters’ knowledge to scavenge useful bits for improving his Martial Arts.
“Basics? Easy. If you’ve got cash.”
Jones instantly brightened.
High-level knowledge? No chance. That stuff’s locked down like military weapons – only top factions get it.
“You’ve got some here?”
Zuo Meng caught his drift, suddenly interested in this Owl Clan. These obvious Arcane-mutants actually held real power? He’d underestimated them.
“Of course!”
Jones puffed up proudly.
“Before the Catastrophe millennium, we Owls were major players! Our ancestor served under Sir Sage himself! Back then we could even score advanced Arcane lore. Shame…” Jones sighed dramatically. He hadn’t lived through those glory days – just heard ancestral tales.
“Sir Sage?”
First time Zuo Meng heard that title.
“The pinnacle of Arcane Masters. Beyond Grand Arcane Masters.”
Jones ducked his head under a wing, producing a ratty booklet. The owl had etched a storage magic circle under his wing – basically a feathered underwear stash!
“Friendship discount! ‘Arcane Master Chronicles’ – free!”
Jones announced grandly.
Gotta spend money to make money! Besides, this “chronicle” skipped details – curious? Pay up! Classic free-sample tactic. Pity this owl missed Earth – he’d have thrived as sleazy mobile-game dev!
Zuo Meng grabbed the book without ceremony.
Way better than shelf-dusted biographies. Clear history of Arcane Masters, plus their hierarchy:
Arcane Apprentice → Arcane Master → Grand Arcane Master → Sir Sage!
Four tiers, each a canyon leap. Cross it? Whole new world.
“Lost Histories?”
Zuo Meng flipped fast. Thin thing – dozen pages max.
Done reading, he shut the book frowning.
Pre-Catastrophe Arcane Masters outclassed current ones. Grands weren’t top dogs then – Sir Sage tier above! Book didn’t explain Sage powers. Maybe author didn’t know. What confused Zuo Meng: How’d such mighty Arcane civilization crash? What wrecked their Sage-level big shots?
Post-Catastrophe, Arcane Masters declined hard. Floating City remained, but core inheritances got severed. Only three Grand Arcane Masters left now – one’s batty.
“Got Catastrophe intel from thousand years back? I’ll pay.”
Zuo Meng needed to know – what happened after Aige died? What enemy broke the Arcane civilization? What killed Sage-level players? Some inner voice insisted this ancient history mattered… big time.
“No!”
Jones said firmly.
Only three survivors remained from the Catastrophe. Aks had gone mad, making communication impossible. The other two weren’t approachable either – extracting information from them might as well be wishful thinking.
“Any other…” Before Zuo Meng finished speaking, a chime rang in his mind.
Ding!
Task: Locate the lost Arcane civilization.
Reward: 100-year lifespan extension.
“Shit!”
Zuo Meng blurted out. Which bastard designed this goddamn system? Why did it keep assigning these trap-filled missions?
“Problem?”
Owl Jones tilted his feathery head. They’d been talking normally seconds ago – since when did cursing enter the conversation?
“Nothing. Remembered something annoying.”
Zuo Meng grimaced. Completing the Floating City mission had granted him 100 extra years. Combined with previous rewards, he now had two centuries left. But then what? He couldn’t just twiddle his thumbs waiting for death! In this Transcendent World where powerful Arcane Masters measured inter-dimensional expeditions in half-century increments, his remaining lifespan barely covered three trips.
“Still want basic Arcane Master materials?”
Owl Jones shrugged, claws clicking against the counter. Profit remained his priority regardless of human mood swings.
“Give me 10k worth.”
Zuo Meng slammed a fistful of currency onto the wooden surface.
“Done!”
Jones’ money-grabbing speed rivaled lightning. The coins vanished, replaced by towering stacks of Arcane primers.
“Come back when you finish these! Basic knowledge? I’ve got warehouses full!”
As they bantered, ominous clouds swallowed the Floating City’s skies. To casual observers, mere weather. To reality itself, another dilution of fundamental laws…
Inside the asylum,
Aks’ matted hair shifted as he lifted his face. His bloodshot eyes saw through stone walls, through dimensional layers, to the shifting chaos beyond.
No asylum could hold a Grand Arcane Master. He stayed because madhouse or metropolis mattered equally – both were cages.
“Beginning at last?”
Cracked lips split in a grin as he rose from his filth-crusted cot. For the first time in twelve centuries, the madman’s shadow fell beyond his cell doorway.