Aimless Ascension

The Artisans' Guild was probably the most iconic architecture in Wayshire. Even if it weren't the largest currently, it would be in a year or two, as they were still working to expand their reach.

Wayshire and its surroundings were mostly urban and rural regions. The closest guild branch used to be in Azure Park, which was established about a century ago. However, that was still a few thousand li away, highly inefficient for their business to reach the corner of Tianhui.

A few years ago, they eventually established another branch in Wayshire, swallowing almost all the business related to craftsmanship in the surrounding area. Although their business hadn't reached the point where they could pour money unwittingly to found a proper establishment like how it had been in Azure park.

Their business in Wayshire started as highly experimental, which eventually led to establishing the base considering future prospects.

The last time Gale came to the guild, it was quite crowded, and this time was about the same. They never lacked business, just the quality of the business. Most folks of Wayshire seldom spent in silver marks as most of their businesses ended in copper and iron coins.

That's why when the guards of the guild discovered Gale–one of the high spenders–coming to the guild, they sent messages to the ones in charge. Within a couple of minutes, a couple of neatly robbed men led by Guo Zong came to welcome him.

"Ahh Master Gale, welcome," Guo Zong greeted. "I didn't think you'd come so soon getting the news."

Apparently, it didn't take them a month to test the artificial fate-lock he provided them with. Gale got news from Shi Jun, who was in charge of building his mansion currently, that the master artisan of Azure park has appraised and sent detailed notes about the artificial fate lock.

They wanted to deliver the item and test results within this week, but as Gale had some business in town, he decided it would be better for him to come. Besides, he still had to order a lot of stuff to prepare the mansion's defence and script formation.

Guo Zong led him off the crowded counter to the lounge, especially available for VIP customers. They offered him good herbal tea, and cookies first, and eventually handed him the fate-lock core and the result papers.

"Young Master Gale," Shi Fan said as Gale finished the tea. "Your artificial fate-lock is fine, although you should check all the pointers the master artisan gave in the report."

Gale nodded and opened the report. It was a single-page report explaining what works and doesn't in the fate-lock core.

The artificial fate-lock core was fine, as Gale assumed. It was still far from perfect. It was made on the base of an iron-ranked beast core, and that seemed to be at the root of most problems.

Apparently, the core wouldn't be able to accumulate anything above iron rank energy, although, with the cultivation script, it would accumulate more energy and grow to a certain point.

However, even absorbing silver-ranked energy from about ten silver spirit coins would overwhelm the core and a few dozen more, it would create Qi deviation in the practitioner's system. it would eventually shatter if forced through such practise, killing the practitioner.

Meaning, the practitioner who would fuse with this artificial fate-lock won't be able to advance further from iron rank without removing the artificial fate lock.

Good thing artificial fate locks were easier to remove, although it was an excruciating process.

Gale imagined something like this was possible when put in those scripts. Iron-ranked beast cores only amount to this much.

Gale would've liked higher-rank cores, though it was exceptionally hard to get a higher-ranked, non-attributed beast core. The closest Gale could come with was life-attributed, which was the most stable to use.

Anyway, back to the report: It hinted that the beast core could create some minor after-effects after the fusion. Without actual testing, it was too hard to determine what they would be. The master artisan asserted it would be something related to the physical form of the practitioner.

He rated the script work as excellent, a master's work–which brought a thin smile to the corner of Gale's lips. However, as he read the endnote, that smile vanished from Gale's lips.

The master artisan remarked that this fate lock as a waste of time. He couldn't find the necessity for such an item, as it didn't have any remedial ability that could help a practitioner.

Any normal artificial fate-lock of a similar caliber could sell for tens or thousands of silver marks just on the values of the scripts alone, as for this one it won't go above five thousand silver marks.

An iron-ranked non-attributed core cost around a couple of thousand silver marks because of its rarity. So there was still some profit, though a lot lower compared with element type or even the normal ability type fate-lock.

Gale clicked his tongue. It wasn't that he would be selling this core; it was merely an idle experiment inspired by a plan to solve his low Qi issue.

Gale rested the paper and met the old apprentice's eyes.

"Master Gale, do you have any more requests?"

"Yes," Gale said. "I want to purchase a few items, starting with higher ranked best core, non-attributed or life attributed, necessary ingredients for enhancing scripts, circulation scripts, cultivating scripts. . . ."

Guo Zong noted everything. "Are you planning on establishing a script formation on your mansion?" he couldn't contain his curiosity. "Young master Gale, are you a scriber, or do you have someone in mind whom you'd like to commission?"

"All these I can do on my own," Gale told him and stood up. "Deliver the items as quickly as you can. I'll be staying the night in the town. You can save manpower if you can deliver them to the Wang's Inn before the morning."

Gale left the VIP room and was about to leave for the enforcer's office when some familiar voice entered his ears.

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