Acquiring Domain Essences

Upon entering the Professional Skills Tower, Hao Tian decisively converted his 270 million gold coins into lord's gold coins, obtaining 27 million in the process. Combined with his existing reserves, his total reached an astounding 29 million lord's gold coins, thanks in part to the plunder from the Grey Dwarf Kingdom.

With such a vast amount, he could afford several top-tier domain essences. Seated on the seemingly endless gray expanse within the tower, he accessed the domain essences price list from the lord system.

Thousands of domain essences appeared before Hao Tian, most of which were ordinary. With limited gold coins, he didn't spare a glance at these, focusing solely on the top-tier domain essences. Ordinary and rare essences were not worth his attention.

The lord system offered six top-tier domain essences: Time, Space, Fate, Causality, Creation, and Destruction. Despite being top-tier, their prices varied. Time, Space, Fate, and Causality each cost 5 million lord's gold coins, while Creation and Destruction were priced at 10 million each.

"Just a bit short!" Hao Tian felt a twinge of frustration. Though unaware of their specific effects, the high price tag of Creation and Destruction made them must-haves. The lord system valued expensive items highly, ensuring their power.

After purchasing these two essences, he would have only 9 million gold coins left, falling short by 1 million for the Time or Space essence. This left him with a tough decision.

"Choosing one will have to do for now. I won't have to wait long; Sophia will soon bring in a significant sum of gold coins. I can exchange for the remaining essence then," he reassured himself.

After deliberating, he opted for the Space essence. Its destructive potential was considerable, and it offered long-distance teleportation—a significant advantage for traveling to places like Dragonfall Canyon or Forest City. With Space essence, flying would be unnecessary; folding space would allow instant travel. The distance he could teleport would depend on his strength—the stronger he became, the farther he could go.

Having made up his mind, Hao Tian didn't hesitate. He spent a total of 25 million gold coins to acquire the essences of Creation, Destruction, and Space.

Instantly, radiant golden light enveloped him, with countless streams of light pouring into his body like data transmission. These streams contained the essences of the three domains. Hao Tian's consciousness quickly immersed in the influx, greedily absorbing the complex and profound knowledge that even the most accomplished saint-level professionals found elusive.

The stronger the domain essence, the harder it was for professionals to grasp. Typically, saint-level professionals might master one or two ordinary domain essences. Exceptionally talented individuals could handle multiple, though still ordinary ones. Mastering rare or top-tier domain essences was a formidable challenge. Even among 100,000 saint-level professionals, finding one who had mastered a top-tier essence was rare.

Hao Tian was fortunate, thanks to the lord system, to acquire three top-tier domain essences at once. If word got out, even the strongest on the Holy Continent and the eternal gods might find it unbelievable and intimidating, especially regarding Creation and Destruction—considered supreme essences.

Ancient gods, despite countless years of cultivation, found these essences challenging to comprehend.

…

While Hao Tian was immersed in the ocean of essences, the three elf leaders had already left the Golden Oasis. At their speed, it wouldn't take long to reach Forest City.

Ella suddenly remarked, "That human lord is incredibly powerful!"

The elven city lord nodded in agreement. "I sensed a violent thunder power within him; clearly, he has mastered the domain essence of Thunder!"

On the Holy Continent, those with an affinity for thunder elements were rare but not unheard of. However, saint-level professionals who mastered the Thunder domain essence were truly scarce. Once Hao Tian advanced to the demigod level, he could likely be titled Thunder God, with formidable combat strength.

Crucially, Hao Tian was still very young, only about twenty. At this age, many human professionals were still studying in magical academies. Those who reached transcendence were deemed prodigies and received special training from their kingdoms. Hao Tian, in contrast, had already reached the peak of saint-level and mastered a powerful Thunder domain. 

Comparatively, the elven city lord felt her centuries of cultivation had been in vain.

"It must be the favor of the Great Elven Goddess!" Ella sighed. "Why didn't you ask about those other elves earlier? Their presence is crucial."

The elven city lord shook her head, glancing at the natural elf wearing a floral crown beside her.

"Does Your Highness know their identities?"

She hadn't inquired because she doubted she'd get an answer, and her highness had privately shared some insights.

The natural elf, crowned with flowers, replied, "They resemble the high elves recorded in ancient texts."

The city lord and Ella trembled, their expressions shocked.

"Aren't high elves extinct? Legends say they collectively ascended to the Elven Goddess's divine kingdom in ancient times, leaving the Holy Continent without high elves. Not only high elves but also sun elves and ancient great elves vanished. After the ancient era ended, natural elves like us were born from the Elf Mother Tree. High bloodlines disappeared, and our race lost its former glory."

Though the natural elf race remained strong, they couldn't compare to the ancient elven empire. The important point was that high elves had reappeared on the Holy Continent and were following a human lord.

This was a significant issue.