Chapter 153

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....

The advancement of a Magus and the power of their spirit were inseparable. From ranks 1 through 3, one trained in spiritual force. Soul force came into the picture after one entered the Morning Star realm.

Soul force was the most mysterious amongst all. Even though there were many great meditation techniques, they could only result in a strengthening of the soul over a long period of time. One could not be sure of the pattern.

Even those great meditation techniques required at least hundreds of years to improve one's soul force, and it was even worse in Kemoyin's Pupil case since, it ended at rank 4, not giving a single bit of information as to how to increase the soul force. Thus, Leylin could only continuously try his luck to explore this aspects. So, far with his high-grade meditation techniques collection he was much better than others but the bit from the Spirit Mark World was the component he was missing.

The name of the technique that Leylin got from the Spirit Mark Race member is called the 'Celestial Specter Form' which is one of the most advanced techniques among those of it's origin. It is directed towards understanding of the spiritual aspects, and the special train of thought was a breath of fresh air for him.

Leylin has his bloodline path forming from the seven bloodline unifying and merging with his own to create a new one, his knight path originating from the brute strength, ridiculous vitality and impressive power control combined together with an unbelievable physical ability incorporated by secret technique and his magus path concentrated with the immense knowledge he has aggregated so far, all these three path would combine together would form a single form of power — The soul force.

"A.I Chip, collate these three datas together and research on them," Leylin ordered.

[Task established. Proceeding with data enumeration.] The A.I. Chip immediately sent back.

The training method of the Spirit Mark Race, together with their special methods of breaking through, seemed to be valuable for his research into removing his bloodline bottleneck.

Even though he wasn't yet at the bottleneck to the Morning Star realm, the fact that his bloodline could advance to an higher rank if he just put up more concentration now had been weighing heavily on his heart and the regret of not utilizing the most of his potential was a huge pain. But now after seeing his path cleared he was very relieved.

....

"The time for me to advance has come, and I would make my last trip to the Ouroboros Clan as just a Marquis.' Leylin plotted in his mind, and could not help but sigh again. Although Leylin's Magus Tower is capable of concealing the undulation even from a Morning Star Magus, the approximate disturbance produced would still be sensed by different Morning Star Kemoyin Warlocks. More importantly his Magus Tower could also be destroyed and it could results in disastrous casualties in his domain so, to be on the safe side Leylin commanded his servants previously to create an isolated chamber underground for him away from the clan. It took 15 years to be created due to lack of manpower but it's a top notch desolate area in an geographically confined location which would ensure no unwanted attention is attracted.

"There is also the auction hosted by Azure Mountain City! I think I deserve a congratulatory gift after I came out successful and who better than you since, I own your ass or I will when you know your little secret isn't much of a secret." Leylin laughed as he thought of this and returned his attention to his research again.

After Magi entered the Morning Star realm, ordinary materials and resources were already far from sufficient to satisfy them. What Morning Star Magi needed had always been items that were highly cherished in ancient times, and even those that had long since been lost. These treasures were evidently not purchasable by magic crystals. Thus, organising some exchanges in private and barter trade became mainstream.

The founder of Azure Mountain City, the Azure Mountain King, was a neutral Morning Star Magus. His clan controlled of almost half of the auctions that took place in the region.

Every ten or so years, a grand auction would be held in the headquarters of Azure Mountain City. When that time came, many rare treasures would appear, attracting numerous Magi who intended to pursue them.

And behind the auction, the distinguished Azure Mountain King would also organise a small-scaled private exchange meeting.

This secret meeting had a very high bar for attendance. Ordinary rank 3 Magi could not enter, and even Morning Star Magi of all sides snuck in to see if they could get things they needed.

The next Azure Mountain auction is commencing soon and there will be lots of high class items being sold there. The most important being the ancient advanced meditation technique—Wing of the Sun and the little bit of the blood of the ancient Sun Child's bloodline.

With the information about the stardust bugs and it's secret inside Leylin's pocket, once he breaks into the Morning Star Magus he would have the authority to speak on equal terms against the Azure Mountain King, Zack.

...

"Marquis Leylin…"

"Good afternoon, Marquis Leylin!"

On the way to the headquarters, a leisure smile hung on the corner of Leylin's lips as he greeted the surrounding royal warlocks who passed by from time to time. Cole, Roderick and Lita walk behind him as true servants, they all were dressed in full armor and radiated a suffocating pressure from their body. After a 100 Years they all had made amazing progress with both Cole and Roderick at Marshall Stage courtesy of Leylin benevolence as well as his perfect guidance computed by the A. I. Chip.

Lita has also made remarkable progress, she had the multiple rare resources granted by Leylin as well as the radiation of the Lamia Fingerbone which granted her amazing leap in her ability and strength. Her already pure bloodline received the nourishing of the Rank 5 Lamia Fingerbone radiation and this in addition with the 'nourishing' Leylin gave her throughout this century has enabled her to breakthrough to reach Peak Hydro Phase of Rank 3. She is just a bit away from the breakthrough, so far Leylin has afforded all of the resources, potions and spell formation to her so that she can have a smooth ride and now, She would also pick out the necessary things in the journey to the auction to breakthrough again.

Leylin oldest slave, Anna on the other hand has shown her talents in the strengthening techniques mastery once again, reaching Rank 3 Level herself. The Bloodline Serpent path is very much directed than the Magus path as it's path is very bounded it's downfall is the lack of myriad of option and the merit is the extremely fast cultivation speed. After Leylin made the Saint Knights into Bloodline Knights he already cleared up their path to the apex. Breaking through in 100 Years isn't very impressive but almost reaching the peak is very difficult, which Anna accomplished.

This achievement of Anna only caused Ivy to become more training concentrated trying to reach Anna's level. What Ivy doesn't know that Anna doesn't only has her talent but also Leylin 'support' in the form of nightly activities. To be honest Ivy is better than Anna in terms of sheer talent because she has never had any intimate relationship with Leylin and hence never received any 'support'.

"You guys can stay here, I will go meet Mentor." Leylin calmly said and moved forward leaving the trio in front of the gate.

Leylin came before Gilbert's villa and looked at the door with a slightly stoic expression, Gilbert and the others have already been enticed by the bait and they would be more focused on the astral experiment than taking care of the clan hence, it is going to become chaotic. Leylin didn't care much since the moment he returns all three elders would have already been ready to move in and shortly after be confined inside the Lava World.

Leylin went forward and was about to knock when the door suddenly swung opened and a figure walked out of the villa.

"Brother Robin!"

Leylin scrutinized the current Robin carefully. The Hydro Phase energy waves on his body were very obvious. It seemed that he had made some achievement but is still away from a breakthrough. There wasn't any apparent changes to his outer appearance either.

After the team of Robin and Kesha along with their entourage moved in the search of treasures in Quicksand Organization and especially the gluttony imprint which Robin knew about from his ancestors notes and lusted after. They weren't very successful, first of all Leylin subordinates took everything so there wasn't anything much of value except for some stuff which was left behind. Secondly, the battle was audacious but soon it wasn't worth the effort because to Magus, profits means everything.

Demon Hunter Cyril took the situation in his hands and searched for the people who stole his treasure but he was a bit too late. By this time Robin team knew that their search is a failure so they retreated away, thankfully Cyril had no interest in them because all of the Rank 3 Warlock subordinates except for Robin, his nephew Noah and Kesha were dead. Cyril didn't think it was worth it to search for some ants and kill them especially when they were direct disciple of another Morning star. Although Cyril didn't had a good relationship with the Ouroboros Clan, it wasn't bad to the point where he would kill an Elder students without any reason. The ire of crazy warlocks brought upon himself isn't worth the effort, when the people's death in question were without any worth to him.

Hence, the three Warlock returned with great loss and pain in their hearts, Robin could only curse his luck because he didn't have any lead whatsoever. Not even Cyril could find the ones who stole the treasure so how could he? The only one way is to search for a divination Morning Star Magus but then again is this worth the effort?

"Leylin!" Robin smiled. His facial muscles seemed rather stiff, as if he had not smiled for a long time. He was rather jealous of Leylin but he also had a good relationship with Leylin so, it wasn't anything radical. After his loss, Robin could only turn to conventional methods and Leylin was very helpful to him and his clan throughout the century.

"I still have some matters, I'll be leaving first! Mentor is inside!"

Robin exchanged a few words with Leylin and left in a hurry.

As he watched Robin leave, Leylin's entered in a moment.

Leylin entered the villa, and met Duke Gilbert in the study.

Gilbert's face did not change at all, not a strange of facial hair nor visible pores which made him look as smart as ever. With all these combined with his shiny and smooth head, he did look a little sly and terrifying.

Yet to Leylin, Gilbert was a rather good mentor who strived his hardest to teach him. Hence, he bowed to the man respectfully and told him the reason for his arrival.

"It'll be nice to take a trip outside!" Gilbert leaned against the couch, beverage in hand. Leylin could occasionally spot little mermaid-like creatures appearing in the drink.

"But…" Gilbert paused for a while. Gilbert looked at Leylin with a bit of helplessness and also disappointment. Even after a century he could sense that Leylin hasn't made much improvement in purifying his bloodline in fact, it seemed more diverted than before. At first, Gilbert tried to guide him but eventually he let it be, this is Leylin path so he could only sigh. Inwardly he was unhappy with Leylin and his way of conduct, and eventually Gilbert also slowly started to exclude Leylin.

"If mentor needs anything, feel free to ask!" Leylin asked as he knew that Gilbert have some tasks for him to carry out.

"Since you're leaving, why not just take up this task!" Gilbert flung out a scroll, "The Warlocks of the Ouroboros Clan have to periodically finish tasks for the organisation as a form of contribution. Even though you are my disciple, you can't keep idling around. While you're traveling, you should just finish this task."

"Yes, Mentor!" Leylin bowed as he obediently agreed and left.

He unfurled the scroll in his hand after he walked out of the villa.

[Spiritual force data interface detected, accept?] A prompt immediately popped up from the A.I. Chip.

"Yes!" Following Leylin's order, a string of messages immediately entered his brain, and were imprinted directly into his memory so that he wouldn't forget them easily.

"A.I.Chip, transfer the information to Lita's A. I. Chip" Phosphorescent green flames lit up in Leylin's hand, burning the scroll to ashes. Yet, he was expressionless.

The task was actually very simple extermination task. He had to go and exterminate a base of people rebelling against the Ouroboros Clan.

Even though they reigned supreme in this area, they had eliminated many influential clans and even commoners when they first set foot here.

The surviving members of those clans held the desire to conquer. Additionally, as with all regimes, there were also clashes with the interests of the indigenous population, creating friction. All these led to the rise of opposition parties.

Even though such organisations were weak, having not a single Morning Star Magus, they often concealed themselves well and it was difficult to identify their locations.

Yet, once they were found, they couldn't escape their destiny of extermination.

Gilbert's task for Leylin was simply to eliminate the most recently found base. Leylin directly threw this task to his subordinates while he planned to make some preparation back in his isolated underground chambers.

"Lita take care of this task, with your team strength it's a piece of cake. The location of the mission is Doroy Forest, en route to Azure Mountain City. I will go to Mujhe Mountain. Take care of them and, then head to the auction!" Leylin commanded as he head out. His destination is more from away from them so, he had to leave quickly.

...

There limestone pavement was dotted with litter, creating a messy and chaotic environment. From time to time, one would be able to see, on the streets, traces of the domesticated livestock such as cows and horses that had been moving about on the pavement.

A strong odour emanated from the overflowing groundwater which had formed water puddles on the roads.

This was a quite normal scene in a city of commoners.

The advancements of the Magus world did not spill over into the world of mortals. The only improvements on that front were that one could now earn enough food to feed their whole family.

According to the house number, three individual came to a house that looked like a normal bar and knocked on the door.

*Knock! Knock!*

After ten minutes or so, an impatient voice called out.

"Who is it? We don't open in the day!"

"I'm looking for Tamansi." Lita's voice was soft and low.