Chapter 133: Abyssal Treasure

Chapter 133: Abyssal Treasure

Luo En stood before the creaking entrance of Blake Exchange, his gaze fixed on the cracked wooden sign swaying precariously above the door. The humid air of the Black Mist Jungle had fostered patches of emerald moss along its edges, adding an eerie touch to the gloomy establishment.

"Welcome! Welcome, esteemed Luo Ensir!"

The stout Slave Merchant burst from the shop with surprising speed, his round face flushed crimson as sweat streamed down his fleshy cheeks, dampening his collar. His tiny eyes, buried in folds of fat, glittered with shrewd calculation—he’d clearly anticipated the visit from this Potion Master.

"Your presence today truly brightens this humble establishment!" the merchant gushed, bowing so deeply his movements bordered on comical.

Luo En noted the merchant’s markedly more reverent demeanor compared to their last encounter. No doubt the news of his Potion Master status had spread through the School, compounded by his recent transformation into a Backup Mage Sequence practitioner. The shrewd, status-obsessed merchant had clearly recalibrated his priorities.

"I’m here to see the new shipment you mentioned", Luo En said bluntly, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable authority.

"You’ve arrived at the perfect moment! It’s fate itself!" The short, plump man rubbed his hands together, his grin stretching into a crescent. "A fresh batch of treasures arrived yesterday—we haven’t even finished unpacking them yet! I guarantee it’ll be worth your while—top-tier goods, the finest the market has to offer!"

As they passed through the lavishly but cheaply decorated entrance hall, Luo En noticed new additions compared to his last visit—several armed guards now stood watch in the corners, hands resting on sword hilts, their icy gazes tracking every customer. Security had clearly intensified following the recent influx of goods at the start of the month.

The merchant led Luo En down a dim corridor flanked by iron-barred cages. Inside, various supernatural creatures stirred—more formidable and dangerous-looking than before. The air reeked of a noxious blend of blood, beast musk, and something acridly medicinal, making one’s nose wrinkle involuntarily.

"This way, sir", the merchant announced proudly, signaling two burly attendants to swing open a heavy iron door. "Allow me to present our latest flagship product—a selection of elite combat slaves."

The reinforced chamber beyond was markedly more fortified than the earlier sections. Each cage was forged from thick steel plates etched with suppression runes, spaced farther apart to prevent contact between occupants. The temperature here felt several degrees cooler, the atmosphere heavy with an oppressive stillness.

The first cage housed a towering figure nearly two meters tall. Its upper body retained a vaguely humanoid shape, but thick azure scales shimmered like polished steel across its torso. Its head, however, was unmistakably piscine—a monstrous fish’s maw lined with serrated teeth, three rows of blade-like daggers behind its lipless grin. Its tongue, a serpentine crimson whip, darted in and out as its fin-like arms twitched, clawed fingers tipped with bone spurs.

The creature let out a guttural roar upon spotting Luo En, its scales bristling into a thousand tiny spikes.

"Abyssal hybrid, sir", the merchant declared, his voice brimming with boastfulness. "A human-fishman crossbreed—equally deadly on land or in water. Its hide rivals armor, and its Regenerative Capacity is astounding! I’ve seen it lose half its body and regenerate fully within a day!"

He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Most impressive—its innate talent, ‘Scalding Blood.’ During battle, it can ignite an enemy’s blood within their veins, causing unbearable agony. In the arena, it’s practically invincible!"

Luo En studied the creature through his Transcendent Perception. This was indeed a highly refined hybrid—the human and fishman genes integrated more seamlessly than expected, with surprisingly minimal mutations. Yet glaring flaws remained—its spirit core pulsed with unstable energy fluctuations, like a volcano on the verge of eruption. In this state, it could turn feral at any moment, endangering both itself and its master.

"This crude bloodline Chimera creates severe spiritual risks", Luo En remarked coldly, his tone clinical. "Its spirit is already deteriorating. Judging by the energy fluctuation frequency, it won’t last two years. Worse, any intense combat could trigger complete instability."

The merchant’s face twitched, surprise flickering in his eyes before he masked it with his trademark grin. "Sir’s discernment is second to none! Truly worthy of a genius Potion Master. You’re absolutely right—these elite combat slaves do come with certain… instabilities. That’s precisely why they’re priced so reasonably despite their strength."

He leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "But rest assured—we offer a full year’s warranty. Any issues, and you receive an equal-value replacement. We also provide specialized ‘stabilizing elixirs’ to prolong their lifespans."

Luo En nodded absently, his disinterest evident as he moved to the next cage.

The next exhibit was even more grotesque—a werewolf chassis interlaced with insectoid armor. Its hulking frame bristled with coarse black fur, while segmented obsidian carapaces armored its vital zones. Its elongated claws gleamed like polished metal, capable of shredding steel. Most disturbing were the fissures along its spine—squirming tendrils writhed within, protruding and retracting as if possessed of independent will.

The creature lunged at the bars, emitting a hybrid howl-scream that rattled the chamber. Its tendrils lashed wildly against the cage, producing dull thuds.

"Our ‘Composite Warrior’!" the merchant announced, practically vibrating with pride. "A fusion of werewolf strength and speed, beetle resilience, and the Spirit Vitality of a tentacled magical beast. Designed by a modifier from the Crystal Spire—three years of painstaking cultivation to perfect this masterpiece!"

He waxed lyrical. "It wields claws, bites, armored charges, and constricting tendrils—all in close combat! A true apex predator!"

Luo En’s Transcendent Perception swept over the abomination, his mind recoiling. This wasn’t mere bloodline Chimera—it was a reckless multi-species graft, a violation of natural law. Three vastly different genetic blueprints forced into one unstable entity. The chaotic mana flow suggested imminent internal collapse.

"What about its spiritual state?" Luo En asked, noting the creature’s dilated pupils—wild, tormented.

"Ah, our latest control technology!" The merchant produced a small crystal cube etched with intricate runes. "Implanted directly into its brain, this crystal suppresses all free will, rendering it absolutely obedient to its master. With this controller", he brandished the device, "you can command it in battle—even temporarily enhance specific abilities at the cost of lifespan."

He added smugly, "Imported straight from the Crystal Spire—the pinnacle of reliability. They say in the Central Lands, every mage owns three to five such combat slaves for protection."

Luo En’s expression remained impassive, though revulsion stirred within him. This went beyond bloodline formulation—direct cerebral control via crystals, stripping away consciousness. Effective, yes, but such mindless tools held no potential for growth—mere living implements.

The following cages displayed increasingly bizarre combat slaves. Throughout the tour, Luo En methodically analyzed each creature with Transcendent Perception, cataloging their bloodline formulation techniques and flaws—data invaluable to his own research.

At that moment, while deeply focused on recording what he said, the merchant seemed to suddenly remember something and abruptly changed the topic:

“Ah, right! Sir, have you heard of the Bloody Arena?”

“The Bloody Arena?” Luo En raised his eyebrows. This was the first time he’d heard the term.

But from the sudden shift in the merchant’s tone, he sensed this might be important information.

“Exactly!” The merchant lowered his voice mysteriously, glancing left and right as if fearing eavesdroppers.

“It’s a special event held quarterly by the School, usually not publicly advertised. Only apprentices of high status can participate. Competitors pit their trained combat slaves against each other in life-or-death battles, and the winners receive generous rewards.”

His eyes sparkled with excitement, his voice trembling slightly:

“They say the prizes include rare spell models, advanced alchemy items, and secret potion recipes! These are treasures that money can’t buy! Even winning the most ordinary award would significantly boost a common apprentice’s strength!”

Luo En’s curiosity was piqued, though he maintained his calm exterior.

“What are the rules of this arena? And when exactly will it happen?”

“Simple. Competitors must provide a trained combat slave, which will be ranked by size and strength. Then, in a designated arena, the slaves fight to the death.”

The merchant smiled, his eyes gleaming cunningly.

“Slavemasters can use special control crystals to assist command, but direct interference is prohibited. The outcome depends entirely on the slave’s own strength.”

He added, “From what I know, the next event will be held in three months—right at the end of the semester. Each Bloody Arena always draws many High Apprentices, and even Mentors come to watch. For young people eager to stand out, it’s a golden opportunity.”

Luo En nodded thoughtfully, already calculating the risk-to-reward ratio in his mind.

Three months should be enough time to complete his preliminary bloodline formulation experiments, but cultivating a mature combat organism would likely require special methods.

“Also,” the merchant continued, his tone growing more mysterious, eyes shining with excitement, “the special reward this time is an Abyssal Treasure—Replacement Poppet.”

“An Abyssal Treasure?”

Luo En pressed for details. This term had never appeared in any of the archival records he’d studied.

The merchant nodded proudly, clearly enjoying sharing secret knowledge, his face alight with fervor.

“The Abyssal Chasm isn’t a place ordinary people can even discuss.”

He paused deliberately, stretching his words to savor the other’s eagerness.

“It’s a cursed, terrifying place—vast, deep, and endless. The deeper you go, the stronger the curse becomes. Most people can’t even survive the first layer.”

Luo En’s expression remained neutral, though his heart stirred.

This sounded like some otherworldly dimension or a concentrated mana zone, possibly containing powerful transcendent power.

“Despite the danger, people still dare to enter?”

“Of course!” The merchant seemed triggered, his speech flowing rapidly. “Precisely because of its danger, the Abyssal Chasm hides countless rare treasures—magical items that alchemists strain to replicate, and enchantments that masters spend lifetimes trying to construct.”

He rubbed his hands together, his face contorting with obsession.

“Each Abyssal Chasm treasure is unique, possessing supernatural force. Some allow instant teleportation over a hundred miles, others brief future-seeing, and some can even alter cause and effect.”

Luo En’s eyes flickered with caution. These descriptions closely resembled his understanding of Rare Relics.

Could these “Abyssal Chasm treasures” be the world’s native Rare Relics?

This speculation quickened his pulse.

“Perhaps you don’t know, sir, that the entire Abyssal Continent Cluster was named because they cluster around the Abyssal Chasm.”

He gestured with both hands, trying to depict its scale, his eyes shining with reverence.

“The Abyssal Chasm is a world-spanning rift, bottomless and miles wide in places. It’s not just a symbol of darkness and chaos—it’s a mana source. Every major supernatural hub, like the Crystal Spires, is built near the abyss to draw its endless mana.”

The merchant’s voice grew more excited.

“They say the deepest abyss leads to an unknown plane. The mana spilling from it changed the world’s laws, creating the possibility of supernatural abilities. Without the abyss, there would be no supernatural species—no magical creatures as we know them!”

Luo En’s expression darkened with understanding.

“So the mana concentration near the abyss is higher, making it better for mages to cultivate? That’s why the Crystal Spire’s mana concentration is five times that of the Black Mist Jungle—it’s closer to the abyss’s center?”

Of course, he didn’t voice this.

But the merchant caught that fleeting gleam in Luo En’s eyes, secretly delighted. He’d found the right angle. Young apprentices were always weakest against mysterious things.

From an oilcloth bundle at his waist, he pulled out a neatly folded flyer printed with various strange items and brief descriptions.

“This is the School’s official promotional material. I got this sample through special channels. In two months, these will be posted everywhere on campus.”

Leaning closer, he spread the paper:

A grotesque humanoid puppet, its body covered in twisted runes, an unnatural bluish-gray as if soaked in some strange liquid.

Its eyes were two dark red gems, exuding eerie mystery even in the illustration.

“They say this puppet emerged from the fourth layer of the Abyssal Chasm. It contains a soulstone that can hold consciousness, and its wooden structure remains unidentifiable to this day.”

The merchant watched Luo En’s reaction:

“The user can transfer their consciousness into it, creating an exact ‘body’ replica with all mana, supernatural abilities, and physical traits preserved. Most miraculously, this body is unaffected by injuries to the original physical form—even surviving the original’s death.”

Luo En felt a strange thrill at these words.

If the puppet truly had such power, for someone like him with the Dual Soul innate talent, it would be tailor-made.

Already possessing Dual Soul, leveraging an external object to enhance this trait might directly double his cultivation effectiveness and combat strength.

“Sounds extraordinary indeed.”

Luo En casually commented, though his gaze couldn’t leave the puppet’s illustration.

The merchant noticed the lingering eyes, smiling inwardly. The apprentice sir clearly interested in Abyssal Treasures—exactly the reaction he’d hoped for.

“You see now why apprentices are so obsessed with raising combat slaves…”

He deliberately raised his tone, steering toward his purpose.

“A remarkable combat slave isn’t just protection—it’s a ladder to higher realms! If you achieve good results in the Bloody Arena and win a reward like the Replacement Poppet, your status in the School will skyrocket.”

His eyes darted slyly as he added, “Of course, all this depends on having an exceptional combat slave. Our Exchange’s premium goods are specially selected—whether melee, ranged, or spell-supporting innate talents, we can provide perfect customization.”

The merchant had been talking nonstop to sell his ‘products.’

But for now, Luo En had no interest in exposing his schemes. His mind was completely captivated by the Replacement Poppet.

“If this treasure is indeed a Rare Relic, obtaining it should become one of my core objectives. Judging from the recent soul tremors, my spiritual energy breakthrough to High Apprentice level might unlock the Dual Spellcasting effect. Then using the Replacement Poppet to form dual false bodies…”

Luo En quickly calculated in his mind, already envisioning his Bloody Arena preparation plan.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end