CHAPTER 192 - Concentrated Primordial Crystal

On the morning of the second day, Nasus, who had been waiting all night, arrived at the inn managed by the Kiramman family, where Li Lin and Sivir were staying. He woke them up by instructing the innkeeper to knock on their doors.

After the negotiations from the previous evening, Nasus understood that Sabja, the port governor of Nashramae, matched Li Lin's description perfectly—a conservative and traditionalist individual. Despite Nasus's proof of the return of the Emperor Azir and the resurgence of the Sun City from beneath the sands, Sabja refused to allow Nashramae to return to the rule of Shurima.

Sabja recognized only the imperial emblem, disregarding individuals. Even if Emperor Azir personally visited Nashramae, Sabja would only submit if presented with the imperial emblem, even if death were threatened.

However, if Xerath, who had betrayed Azir, obtained the imperial emblem, Sabja wouldn't consider him a legitimate ruler anymore...

Only the royal bloodline holding the imperial emblem was eligible to inherit the throne and rule the Shuriman Empire.

This rule was established by the first Emperor of Shurima, Setaka, to prevent his descendants from fighting over the throne.

However, she never expected that this rule would become one of the obstacles preventing her descendants from reviving Shurima...

Nasus felt helpless towards this stubborn governor, but her actions aligned with Shurima's traditions.

Moreover, Sabja was deeply loved by the people of Nashramae, proving that she was not an incompetent ruler. Nasus had no reason to harm her.

He planned to return to the Nashramae library to await the arrival of elite warriors dispatched by Azir. Once he obtained the imperial emblem, he would negotiate with Sabja .

The purpose of Nasus' visit today, besides bidding farewell to Li Lin and the others, was to take Sivir with him.

However, upon returning to Nashramae and seeing the remaining logistical personnel of her mercenary group, Sivir suddenly hesitated to leave. She intended to rebuild the Siharo Mercenary Corps.

The young man who guided Jayce to her last night at the bar was the first to join Sivir, temporarily promoted to deputy by her.

Helplessly, Nasus engraved a perception spell into the "Emerald Barrier" pendant he gave to Sivir. If she were in mortal danger, he could instantly sense it and rush to Nashramae to rescue her.

...

...

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

During these days, Li Lin tailored a set of powered armor specifically for Sivir, using the three remaining energy crystals from Kassadin's armor, the instruments for constructing the Hextech Gate core, and various leftover materials.

Unlike the heavily defensive and somewhat cumbersome Hextech powered armor he had crafted for Kassadin, Sivir's powered armor greatly reduced excess metal armor, making it fit her like a second skin.

This powered armor was mainly inspired by Azir's Eagle Armor, predominantly golden in color, which suited the style and color preferences of the desert.

Although its defensive capabilities were significantly reduced, it greatly enhanced Sivir's agility.

The "Overload Charge" provided a substantial speed boost, with the duration extended to 30 seconds.

Additionally, Li Lin reinstalled three attack systems that had been removed from the Hextech powered armor: the "High-Frequency Vibration Blade," the "Serrated Wrist Blade," and the "High-Energy Laser Beam."

However, Sivir's main weapon remained Chalicar, with these additional weapons serving as supplements.

After delivering the powered armor to Sivir, she tried it on and was very satisfied. It fit much better than the articulated powered armor she had worn before, and its appearance matched her aesthetic preferences.

Li Lin named this set of powered armor "Project Genesis: Chronicle of War."

As for Kassadin, Li Lin simply spent 200 blue essences to repurchase a set of Hextech powered armor from the Essence Store. He planned to continue inquiring about the whereabouts of the Prophet in Shurima, and defensive armor was essential, albeit lacking the enchantments of healing magic.

In the afternoon, the Kiramman family's exploration team returned as scheduled, bringing not only a whole box of more than ten primordial crystals but also valuable items obtained through trade with nomadic tribes, ready to be sold in Piltover.

At Li Lin's request, the leader of the exploration team, Bruul, reported their work to him and recounted everything they had encountered over the past half year.

Incidents like extreme sandstorms and encounters with powerful bandits were considered minor compared to the challenges they faced—such as the Milos beetle swarms, desert carnivorous lizards, sand crocodiles, and sand tigers, each the size of a domestic dog.

These apex predators in the desert of Shurima would have been impossible to contend with if the exploration team hadn't been equipped with Hextech weapons.

As the report concluded, Li Lin lowered his head in thought. He was about to ask Brule to take him to see the primordial crystals when he dropped a bombshell

Their team encountered Rammus, the Armored Tortoise Dragon! "You wouldn't believe it, that beast was easily four to five meters tall! We were trapped in a cave by a swarm of Milos beetles when a dust cloud rose in the distance."

The round, green-skinned giant, clad in golden spiked armor, rolled over, quite literally, devouring the swarm of insects in no time.

"Blessed Rammus! If only our Hextech camera hadn't been lost, I would have captured his divine presence, making it a family heirloom!" exclaimed Brule.

It seemed Piltovans would have another believer in Rammus from now on.

Li Lin chuckled, refraining from further comment.

Rammus was too enigmatic for him to fully comprehend as a guardian of the desert.

However, his thoughts were now focused on returning home, caring little about this creature.

Immediately, he instructed Brule to take him to the docks, where a large purple Hextech chest lay beside the Kiramman family's ship, guarded by over a dozen enforcers wielding Hextech energy weapons.

Brule produced a Hextech lock key from his pocket and unlocked the chest.

As a faint metallic acidic scent wafted in and out of his mouth, Li Lin saw blue crystals, slightly dull in color but with sharper edges, lying quietly on small metal racks.

"Is this the Primordial Crystal?" Li Lin raised an eyebrow, picked up a crystal, and activated Data Mind to examine its information.

[Primordial Crystal: the source of life for the Brackern people, one of the fragments of ancient consciousness.]

[Note: Only Arcane Masters can fully harness the vast magic within the Primordial Crystal.]

"Yes, indeed. We spent over a month digging in the southern mountains to unearth thirteen Primordial Crystals," explained Brule, crossing his arms.

"Thirteen?"

Li Lin placed the Primordial Crystal back into the box.

Unnoticed by Brule, he spent 925 blue essences to quickly purchase a "Concentrated Unconscious Primordial Crystal" from the Essence Store.

"But isn't there supposed to be fourteen?" Li Lin asked with a slightly puzzled and surprised tone.

He showed Brule the crystal in his hand and gestured to the Hextech chest. "If you don't believe me, count them yourself."

Taken aback, Brule chuckled nervously. "You're quite humorous. We've checked many times before..."

"But is there really a fourteenth?" Li Lin asked deliberately, his tone tinged with doubt and surprise.

He showed Brule the crystal in his hand and then pointed to the Hextech chest. "If you doubt it, count them yourself."

Seeing Li Lin's seriousness, Brule's smile faded, replaced by a hint of suspicion as he bent down to count carefully several times.

"What? How is this possible?!"

Brule rubbed his eyes vigorously, his gaze shifting between the box and Li Lin's hand, a hint of shock flickering in his eyes.

"Are... Are there really fourteen?"

"So, you need to be more meticulous in your work, Brule."

Li Lin looked at Brule, whose face was turning red, and lightly patted his shoulder, sighing deliberately.

"Sorry...I'm really sorry!"

"No need to apologize. Having an extra Primordial Crystal is still good news. The value of this small crystal can't be measured in gold hex."

"However, I'll take this extra Primordial Crystal for research purposes. Do you mind?"

Brule hastily waved his hands. "Of course not!"

"I'm grateful that you're not holding me accountable for my mistake."

Besides, you're the prospective son-in-law of the Kiramman family...

He added silently in his mind.

"Alright, thank you."

Li Lin politely smiled and held the Concentrated Unconscious Primordial Crystal he had purchased from the store in his hand.

However, as he took a few steps, a faint, ethereal song began to resonate in his mind.

This song, with its beautiful melody, presented Li Lin with an epic and grand image of Shurima's ancient history.

But not long after, the song abruptly transitioned into a mournful and sorrowful style...

Li Lin's eyes moistened.

Though he couldn't understand the language of this song, he knew clearly that it was the lament of the Brackern souls.

"Mr. Li Lin... Are you alright?" one of the Kiramman enforcers noticed something amiss and approached with concern.

"I'm fine, just feeling a bit nostalgic for this difficult yet beautiful memory," Li Lin casually wiped the corner of his eye and put on a polite smile.

"Haha, once the Hex Gates are operational, you'll have plenty of opportunities to visit here," the enforcer reassured him.

"Mm."

Ignoring the enforcer, Li Lin walked forward, but the song in his ears continued uninterrupted.

Through Data Mind, he understood the approximate meaning of this Soul Song: the collective consciousness of the Brackern people trapped within the Primordial Crystal longed to return home.

As he reached the corner at the end of the dock, Li Lin glanced back deeply at the closed Hextech chest, silently repeating to himself

"I'm sorry, but I'm not yet qualified to stop Piltover from using you."

"But rest assured, it won't be long. I will liberate you and return your core..."

(End of the Chapter)

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