"So the people who kidnapped me were quite the experts in kidnapping." Ebony listened to the puny amount of information that they had on his captors.
"That party that destroyed Na twice got in my way. We couldn't find much about them either." Ning Xin had informed Kong Jing a little after she woke up but the people that they coerced into helping them weren't much help. This group she coerced were the party that tried to kidnap him first and almost succeeded by draining his mana dry instantly with some ampules.
Ning Xin blamed herself for losing control of herself, if she hadn't Kong Jing wouldn't have been distracted and let not just the Grandmaster fire warrior escape but even all the men involved.
That had made Kong Jing bitter and why she started to steer her focus from her craft to shore up on magic training. Of course, she never stopped crafting and just started putting effort into improving her spatial awareness.
Ebony didn't even know what had happened but he was disappointed he didn't even put up a fight. He was so useless once he didn't have much mana?
'There are many methods to deprive me of my magical capabilities. I should dedicate more of my stats to my unenhanced body. I mean…I can't even swing Icicle around without enhancement, that's fatal.'
He also found out the fire warrior seemed suspiciously there to counter Ning Xin. Slapping aside her heated blade with his bare hands and even destroying her longsword while controlling his strength.
"That unnamed man isn't your average Imperial Grandmaster who evolved with a 25 or 50% fortification after one's about to run out of lifespan or just isn't willing to risk their life getting natural potential. He should have pretty decent skills to not just survive but fight the Trolls. Don't worry about it. You have been facing so many Masters who have poor Fortification that you're forgetting the normal. You did well to make him draw his weapon."
Those words weren't comforting at all.
"I'll do the dishes. You have things to talk about right?" Ning Xin stacked the empty dishes.
"I can still hel…" He was pushed out of the small dining area that Mark expanded his workshop into.
"You wanted to know why I don't advise you to carve that runic formula into your body?"
"Mmm. Actually, I wanted to know if it was feasible. Would it limit me in future when I manage to work out a stronger version? Would my body just heal anything I'm forcibly carving into my very bones, muscles and tissues? After thinking about how my body would heal and how Mark's potion works temporarily, I have got a new idea which is to try to make something like that of an enhancement spell. By 'engraving' them in my body and activating it I would get a boost in constitution and when my body acts to regenerate, it would disappear once I let mental control of the spell go."
"That's…actually not a bad idea. So you can regenerate every little physical injury…I guess if it's a spell version I don't see any problem. You're right about the runes limiting you if a normal person were to somehow engrave it into their body. It's true that for a normal person, there's no real downside if that person is out of potential. The resulting physique would indeed give a tougher body than a human's."
"Did you plan to tell me some old story or legend about why I shouldn't do so or how a person or group of people practised that but things didn't turn out well for them."
"...Cocky brat. Indeed, there used to be a clan amongst the Xeng who practised that. I wouldn't say you're completely right about things not turning out well. I mean, it did turn out horribly." Kong Jing pondered whether she should be telling him.
Ebony's silent stare got a little uncomfortable for her so she continued.
"This was obviously before young me was born. I doubt you know much about our social structure." She gave a questioning glance. She was pretty sure Ning Xin wasn't 100% clear of their history either since her grandma hid quite a lot of things to keep her in the dark.
He nodded in reply.
"There are 3 'great' clans. The Ning, Wen and Shi clan. Most of us are based elsewhere and no longer on Elcra, Xienor is a tiny place that's mostly deserted now. That's beside the point." She rolled her eyes as she emphasised 'great' and quickly got back on track to what she wanted to say.
"This method was used by the Wen clan's family head. He was all sorts of crazy in terms of research of any form of unknown. Stumbling upon the study of runes. From his success on himself, making himself to have one of the strongest bodies both physical and magical he spread the knowledge with his clan. The practice was a little cruel but all's well as they were indeed ahead of the other families in terms of power. As for why it's cruel, it's because it's done pretty 'mechanically'. Once the next generation turned 15 and had their mask made, they would visit their clan head to be cut up and carved into. Their masks are specially made not to revert those runes back and only heal the flesh and bones but not regenerate." She continued with the little story about operating on children.
"And it didn't turn out well?" Ebony cocked his head. An attempt to show others he was confused since his facial expressions weren't so pronounced.
"Oh. No. It turned out swell. Since they had the same amount of time for training, the next generation had the advantage of a much stronger physique. No, they got the approving nod from… yeah, someone revered and feared by us." Sister Jing wasn't comfortable with telling him who they got an approving nod from.
'Someone they revere and fear? So they aren't completely fearless?'
"You are aware of how fertility drastically drops after every evolution? Well, their clan was affected by it the most. Possibly due to their physique. With an already tiny population, they barely had a third generation. But that's not my point. The Wen clan currently consists of one man."
"...The clan head?" Ebony made a random guess.
"As expected of a mad man absorbed in their research am I right?" He could tell she was grinning even though she was hiding it under her mask with Mark around.
"Who would've known? The Wen clan head used his entire clan as experimental trial and error. Perfecting himself with their souls and lifeforce so that his physique is capable of growth. Unless you're telling me you want to find a group of people whose lifeforce, soul and mind are similar to yours and sacrifice them. At least, I'm personally unaware of any other method because it would be permanent. But to you…you might really just heal it back unless the runes could constantly consume you in some manner."
"I see. Is he the strongest Xeng?"
"Eh, those alive? Probably second or third. The other 'great' clans aren't too shabby but most of the potential strong young ones just disappear, either dead or in constant training in some dungeon, I'd say 50/50 chance."
"You're just proving that there is indeed potential in this path. You're already thinking of ways that would make it permanent on my regenerative body aren't you?"
"My little brother knows me so well. I'm certainly very intrigued in this research but no, this thing that came from the dungeon must come from somewhere it formed. I'll need to find the source." She was more on skinship and forced him under her arms in a stranglehold.
"About that." Mark interrupted.
Kong Jing would be lying if she said she wasn't surprised to see a wizard instead of a mage around. She already noticed it the first time she saw him but didn't really care at that time.
She didn't stop messing his hair up as they waited for Mark to speak his piece.
"I heard of multiple expeditions being formed to go beneath Bubble Hills. Haven't really caught wind of what's there since I wasn't that interested. I've been keeping an ear open for news. Apparently, a huge stretch of tunnels underground had been found. Supposedly unnatural."
"Maybe the influx of people that overhunted when they were waiting for Plainston to open found it. No one found what or where it leads to yet?"
"Not that we know of, none of those that set off came back yet. Large expeditions take a long time and even if they got results they would keep it under wraps."
"Hmm…" Although it would be a time-consuming activity, the prospects seemed good to Kong Jing.
"We can check it out some other time. You aren't done with your research, we are still puny Journeymen." With that, Ebony went to stretch his body and exercise.
They left on the 'Jing express' the next morning. To Xienor.
❅❅❅
Xienor was on the other side of Elva in comparison to Plainston.
A round lake that one wouldn't be able to see the end from ground level that was situated behind a small village greeted their eyes. 'Small' village was an understatement because there were only about a couple dozen wooden buildings that were slightly oriental in design. Many even appeared worn down and dilapidated.
It took more than a week of non-stop spatial travel by their amazing ride. Kong Jing had to rest once due to the mental exhaustion of bringing along two people. They also made stops to have meals.
Ebony saw quite a few dungeon portals that were not black or grey but green in colour, Ordina's portal also got greyer as it aged. Those Uncommon ranked dungeons wouldn't have a single creature unevolved at level 100.
The mana density and even gravity fluctuated. Mana density mostly increased as they got closer to central Elva. To a degree that he didn't expect. They passed by Tidal, and he was able to see how massive it was. It took more than a couple of teleports before it was out of sight.
It was…intense.
He couldn't imagine anything or anyone attacking a 'city' that huge. It was definitely larger than Russia but compact with buildings, farms, lands and all that. The population density didn't appear low either. The reason he didn't think anything would attack wasn't its size, the impressive walls, the similarly impressive-looking guards or the numerous towers with massive spheres choke full of dense mana lining up the walls. It was from the aura the city was exuding on him.
Although he heard that city barriers made by the Royal family absorb excess Vitality and Wisdom if anyone forgets to drain their own mana and use it as a ward to persuade monsters not to attack. Tidal was the only one he sensed the outrageous pressure from.
He would've loved to make a stop but it wasn't their priority.
Xienor on the other hand, had no walls, no guards, no magical towers and he would bet, no barriers.
One thing they didn't lack was aura.
He was sure those Grandmaster Frost Elves that he walked passed from time to time in Arcta would gulp and stay away.
Grandmasters weren't rare in Tidal but no one here appeared to be under Grandmaster. With his senses and the small size of the village, a quick walk around counted him less than a hundred people.
From what Ning Xin told him, they usually leave once or before they evolve to King Class because their progress would be faster elsewhere.
They were not greeted or addressed. People avoided the group of three as they made their way to a building that was situated further away from the cluster. The lake could be seen not far away, he was pretty sure he saw a figure relaxing on a chair with a fishing rod by the figure's side.
They had a no shoe policy as well, something he was very familiar with. The wooden buildings looked normal but the quality of the materials were clearly not normal even to the untrained eyes.
Ning Xin gave him a tour of the small living room which would be where he was going to sleep. There was a coffee table and a flat disk with a gem embedded. She turned it on when he asked what it was.
It was a television.
She already watched all the series that she had. He didn't think he would find a kindred spirit in watching movies or just entertainment in general. None of them were educational or about skills and magic which was a little odd when they were so crazy about getting stronger.
"Not that odd. The Xengs don't share their 'legacy' or 'lineage' amongst the clans and well, the Nings don't consider little Xin or even grandaunt as one of their own anymore. Since many of us like to pave our own path, create and refine our own skills, it's only a minor setback." Sister Jing whispered in his ears.
He was pretty sure Ning Xin could hear it.
'I would think she wouldn't like to be called a Ning but maybe not.' Ebony wasn't sure about what Ning Xin herself knew about her own circumstances. He was under the impression that many things were hidden from her. Just like how he knew there should be a problem with his memories.
She stopped to take a deep breath and asked him to wait outside where he assumed was her room. Letting him in a moment later.
'I expected more red.'
The room was nothing special. A bed, wardrobe, chest, table with a couple of books, a lamp. The colour scheme is lighter red to pink and brown furniture.
"Give me half a day, I have the fire, wind, lightning mana ore ready together with those Rare Blood moss you brought back. Get yourself ready and you can evolve tonight." Sister Jing didn't let him watch her work but she going to raise the surrounding elemental density to match and support Ning Xin's evolution.
The surrounding mana density here was already a few times higher than Ordina which was supposedly one of the main reasons they came here. It was no wonder Hector and Ning Xin were not very affected by high mana density, they were already exposed to them since they were young.
'Was I also less affected because of this and not just because of my own high Wisdom?' He wasn't sure but it might have been part of it.
He helped prepare a huge feast for her to stock up for however long she was going to be undergoing her evolution. Their average for a complete one was at least a week and she would need all the nutrients and energy she could get.
"No, I'm not going to make ice cream." He didn't want ice cream to fill up her belly when she needed more nutritious dishes.
"Not even a little?" She looked at him with those burning eyes that turned gentle in his direction.
It didn't take very long for him to back down a little and make her a small serving of ice cream. They didn't have cocoa trees or beans, at least, he didn't even see them even in those books he had scoured through. For a sweet tooth, he imagined she would've loved chocolate.
She asked for his flavour.
"Would there be a problem if you consumed too much of my blood?"
"I don't know?" She cocked her head at the question.
"I'm not turning fiendish if that's what you're asking. You can eat my mana too. Once I evolve, I'm going to try imbuing mana into my ingredients. Would you eat it? With the risk of poisoning…"
"I would eat anything you make for me."
It was a delightful evening for both of them.
Cooking was a time consuming activity. She told him about how high level cooking with mana could strengthen one, similar to sound enhancement magic. He could enhance others by sending his mana into others as long as they accept his mana. Although this technique was not new, there weren't too many chefs who managed to learn it. There is a pretty good chance that other people's bodies cannot adapt to a vastly different mana signature and get poisoned in some form.
It's even more pronounced for a chef that constantly uses magic and has mana that already differs a lot from pure mana. Not to mention her mana and his own were pretty much opposites.
Just like his sound magic, the temporary buff from those meals wouldn't have a strong effect at low levels and with the chance of poisoning considered, it wasn't very popular when one could die in battle due to a single meal.
She got the chance to try some high level chef's cooking in a restaurant in Tidal. The Imperial army had been trying to train such chefs since diet was an essential part of their strength as well. She had been joining the chef's of the imperial army during the time of her recuperation and when she had a lot of time on her hands since she couldn't overdo it.
She only ate her own tries so far and made her own tummy ache which was a terrible sign. Fortunately, she didn't feed anyone else those experiments. Her body turned numb and was burning for a bit after that.
"Then I have to be your first and only test subject okay?"
"And I'm the only one who can have your blood?"
"I'll have to try very hard to make that possible."
At the dining table, they stuffed her full before he took a short walk with her to the giant lake.
'This lake must have been the one the Spear Saint poked into Elva when he stabbed the phoenix.' The beautiful lake had a history that made it a little harder to appreciate for a moment before he acknowledged that its history didn't take away the beauty of the scenery.
Their quiet walk ended quickly.
She closed the door to her room on him.
He shouldn't go in and disrupt the process. Neither could he let anyone or thing disrupt her.
10 days later.
It was closer to 11 days but that didn't matter much. He had been spending his time getting his body back in shape and watching television for an admittedly unhealthy amount of time. His Conditioning levels were regained at a pretty fast speed. Like they were recovering to his original instead of gaining new levels.
The 'actors' or 'memory lighters' were good at their job, some stories about freelancers going to fight a strong foe were a little boring but the others were pretty good. He would admit that Earth's work was more imaginative and the works here were slightly lower in quality but they didn't need computer effects since they really used magic to replicate the special effects.
His favourite was a touching story about a shoemaker repairing her son's worn-out boots over and over again till her son never came back from the battlefield. Although the drama was a little heavy when she could somehow trace shoes or boots that she made and magically struggle her way to get his body in the middle of a battlefield. It was really worth the time to watch.
Glued to his seat on the soft sofa when both him and Kong Jing felt the sleeping beauty rouse up. The whole building's temperature rose over this period of time but spiked up for a fraction of a second, alerting them.
They climbed up to the second floor only to see that her door was broken apart on the floor, they were on fire and so was the room. He was pushed aside as the faster and stronger lady rushed in.
When he got to see the room, the fire was put out and she was wrapped up in a thick blanket. The burnt mattress was a sign that more than just her bed was burned so he wasn't able to catch an eyeful due to his slow speed.
The first thing he noticed was nothing else but her mask.
It wasn't pure white anymore, it had a light red tone with the feather turning darker in colour. He was very curious why her mask would change in colour but not for long as the colour turned back to pure white except the feather.
They didn't rush her or ask her any questions because she needed to gather her bearings herself, unaware of most of the changes that she underwent. She wasn't that embarrassed by her nakedness with the blanket on her nor the thick stench of sweat and many unknown compounds released from her body but embarrassed by the loud grumble that echoed from her belly.
She radiated.
[Master Flame Swordswoman Lvl 100]
Identify wasn't that great. He believed she managed to pull blood magic into her class but he couldn't see it.
The tiny bit of skin of her neck exposed was even paler and fairer than he remembered. Her hair and irises turned a darker shade of red.
She recovered strength in her body quickly and he was kicked out so that she could put some clothes on in private.
When they were cooking with ingredients she had prepared before she evolved, he was surprised by the sudden aura of Vitality from her. Clearly, she had lost a lot of health during her evolution and was still recovering till it started leaking.
'It's warm,' he felt his lungs burn up a little and the amount leaking was unnaturally high. She definitely has a strengthened Vitality in some form.
"Are you okay?" She was moving awkwardly as if her body didn't belong to her.
"My body's sore all over. Is-is your massage up for offer?" Ning Xin was feeling tired from both lying down for days and the evolution.
'Something different…she's more. Confident?' He wasn't sure if confidence was the right word but she wasn't as drawback as he remembered when interacting with him.
"Of course."
"N.no funny business." She quickly stuffed herself with a soup dumpling.
He cocked his head in confusion.
"I'm really good at it. At least my parents agree."