Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 226

Chapter 226: Black Market II
Aiden bought the jar and made his way to a secluded alley. After ensuring no one was around, he employed restrictive barriers to seal off the area, creating a safe space where he wouldn’t be disturbed.

“Hmm, so this is what I got,” Aiden said as he examined the black ball in his hand. It was roughly the size of a baseball, seemingly ordinary at first glance, but he knew better than to judge by appearances.

“Well, of course, that’s just a cover,” Aiden muttered to himself, recognizing that the true nature of the object was hidden beneath. He summoned his Hellfire, a flame so intense that it could burn through nearly anything, and began to slowly apply it to the black ball.

As the Hellfire did its work, the black covering, which Aiden realized was made of compressed bones and skin, began to bubble and melt away. The smell was horrid, a rancid mix of burnt flesh and decay, forcing Aiden to cover his nose as he continued.

Finally, the last remnants of the black covering dissolved, revealing what lay underneath: a radiant red crystal bead, no larger than a baby’s fist. The bead glowed faintly, its surface smooth and almost mesmerizing.

“Blood Essence Bead,” Aiden murmured, recognizing the rare and powerful object.

Aiden activated his Akashic Insight, a technique that allowed him to glean detailed information about objects and entities.

As the Akashic Insight worked its magic, the details of the bead began to unravel in his mind.

******

Name: Divine Serpent Blood Essence Bead

Description: A rare and ancient artifact, the Divine Serpent Blood Essence Bead contains the concentrated blood essence of the Divine Serpent clan, a powerful and ancient lineage of serpentine beings revered across multiple realms. This bead is formed from the essence of a Divine Serpent, encapsulating not just its raw power, but its very soul and heritage.

Effect:

Inheritance of Sacred Force: Upon absorbing the bead, the user has the potential to inherit the sacred force of the Divine Serpent clan. This includes immense physical strength, enhanced reflexes, and a deep connection to serpentine energy, allowing the user to manipulate and control serpents or serpentine energy with ease.

Racial Abilities: There is also a chance, albeit dependent on the user’s compatibility and luck, to inherit other racial abilities from the Divine Serpent clan. This could include abilities such as Sacred Flame, regenerative capabilities, enhanced senses, or even the ability to transform into a Divine serpentine form.

Legacy of the Divine Serpent: if someone who hasn’t yet awakened their Martial Spirit absorbs the Divine Serpent Blood Essence Bead, they can fully inherit the legacy of the Divine Serpent clan, which includes gaining the Divine Serpent Martial Spirit. This would grant them not only immense physical and Spirit power but also the spiritual and ancestral strength of the Divine Serpent clan.

*****

Aiden, realizing the immense value of the Divine Serpent Blood Essence Bead, decided not to use it himself. Instead, he thought of saving it for his future children or potentially trading it for something more suited to his immediate needs.

As he continued to explore the Black Market, searching for other valuable items, the scene shifted back to the Gacha stall.

Three individuals approached the stall, led by a young man who seemed to command respect. “I want all of them,” the leader ordered, pointing to the jars on display.

The old man behind the stall raised his brows but complied, handing over the entire stall in exchange for a storage ring filled with Immortal Stones. As he walked away, he couldn’t help but think that today was his lucky day.

The trio, having acquired all the jars, continued their spree, purchasing every jar they could find from similar stalls in the market.

One of the followers couldn’t help but ask, “Young master, why are we buying all the jars?”

“You’ll understand soon enough,” the leader replied with a confident smile.

Inwardly, he was thrilled. ‘In this life, I will seize the Divine Serpent’s Sacred Force, and in the upcoming Secret Realm of the Divine Serpent clan, I will emerge as the biggest winner,’ he thought, his mind racing with anticipation.

He silently vowed, ‘With all the knowledge I possess, I will rule in this life. That white-haired cultivator… Aiden, I will trample you in this life.’ His determination was clear as he imagined the bright future ahead of him.

After securing all the jars, the young man and his entourage hastily retreated to their hidden base near the Black Market. There, they eagerly began the task of opening each jar, anticipation growing with every passing moment. But as the minutes dragged on, the young man’s frustration turned into a seething rage.

“WHERE IS IT?” he bellowed, his eyes blazing red with fury as he rummaged through the contents scattered before him.

One of his followers, sensing the rising tension, cautiously pointed to a pristine, high-grade Immortal Sword that had been discovered inside one of the jars. “Young Master, we found this sword. Isn’t that valuable enough? What else could be missing?”

The young man’s face twisted with dissatisfaction as he shook his head, clearly agitated. “What I seek is far more valuable than any sword,” he spat, his voice tinged with bitterness. He meticulously sifted through the remaining items, but the object of his desire was nowhere to be found.

A cold realization washed over him as his mind flashed back to that haunting memory—Aiden, standing over him, forcing him to kneel before ruthlessly ending his life. The humiliation, the helplessness, it all came rushing back. “No, no, no, it’s not here!” he screamed, clutching his head as if trying to keep his sanity intact.

He could feel his control slipping as the memory replayed in his mind. The thought of suffering the same fate, of being defeated and humiliated once more, was unbearable. “No, I won’t let it happen again. This time, I’ll kill him,” he muttered, his voice tinged with madness, as if trying to convince himself that this time would be different.

Desperate and on edge, he barked orders at his entourage. “Search every Black Market, find out where he could be hiding!” His men scattered, carrying out his frantic commands without question.

Over the next several days, he bought up every jar in the region, spending a fortune in Immortal Stones, but the elusive Blood Essence Bead continued to evade him. Each new jar opened only deepened his frustration, and soon, his worst fears were confirmed.

“He must have already gotten it,” he murmured, a cold dread creeping into his voice. His grip tightened around the hilt of the Immortal Sword, the only prize from his desperate search. The blade, gleaming under the dim light, reflected his crazed face, his red eyes burning with a single, all-consuming thought: vengeance. “I will kill him,” he vowed, his voice dripping with venom. Without hesitation, he commanded his men to find any trace of Aiden, the white-haired cultivator who had once crushed him. This time, he was determined to be the one who would emerge victorious, no matter the cost.

Aiden, after successfully gathering a sufficient amount of Death Energy, decided it was time to return to Skyfire Island. Upon arriving, he headed deep into the forest, where he summoned Eeh’liel, the Lifeless Emperor.

With a calm and steady hand, Aiden presented the condensed Death Energy in the form of a dark, swirling bead. Eeh’liel’s hollow, skeletal eyes gleamed with anticipation as he took the bead from Aiden.

“Thank you, Master,” Eeh’liel intoned with a reverent bow, before swallowing the ominous bead down his bony throat. The moment it reached his chest, a surge of power was released, spreading through his skeletal form like wildfire. Dark energy pulsed from the bead, resonating within him as he began his ascension.

The air around them grew heavy with a chilling aura, the very essence of death itself, as Eeh’liel’s form started to glow with an eerie light. His presence became more profound, more intimidating, as the ancient energies within the bead amplified his strength.

Aiden watched silently, knowing that Eeh’liel’s power was about to reach new heights. The Lifeless Emperor was on the verge of a transformation, his ascension to a greater plane of existence inevitable.

As Eeh’liel absorbed the condensed Death Energy, a profound shift began. His skeletal frame, already formidable, started to exude a dark, pulsating aura. The swirling bead’s essence coursed through him, igniting the latent potential within. His form shimmered and fluctuated, becoming more substantial and menacing.

Eeh’liel’s bones, which had once appeared brittle and fragmented, began to consolidate and take on a more solid, crystalline appearance. The deep black of his skeletal structure was now interwoven with streaks of dark, shimmering silver, signifying his progression. Ethereal, shadowy flames flickered around him, illuminating his ascent from Spirit God to Immortal Foundation.

His aura expanded, enveloping the forest in a chilling, deathly mist. The power that surged through him was palpable, causing the surrounding environment to react—trees withered and shadows lengthened. His energy became more refined, showcasing the heightened control and dominance of an Immortal Foundation cultivator. His connection to the essence of death and the afterlife deepened, allowing him to command a broader range of death-related abilities.