While Lee Taeseong was distracted by the elixir, Abeson carefully examined the gold ring.
To him, the hope of communicating with the Flame Emperor was more important.
‘It is an old ring. It looks fine because it is gold, but I do not know how well it will function as a communication device like the bracelet from back then.’
He could not project mana to investigate it because he was a Death Spirit, but he had an intuitive grasp of such things.
As someone who was once one of the continent’s top magicians, Abeson could check the condition of the artifact with just a glance.
It looked fine on the outside, but he had no way of knowing what internal problems it might have.
“Just a moment. I am currently deciding.”
Lee Taeseong furrowed his brows.
A High Grade Elixir, presumably from the Golden Altar of Alchemy.
Should I take it now?
‘I was so short on mana during the last communication.’
Communicating with the Flame Emperor consumed a massive amount of mana in real time.
His skills had improved since then, but now that there was no major change in his total mana capacity, he feared the connection might end quickly again if he tried to reach out.
In that situation, this elixir would be a huge help.
The problem was that this was stolen goods from the Golden Altar of Alchemy.
If he took it back, they would certainly reward him.
Should he secretly consume it now, or receive a reward from the Golden Altar of Alchemy later?
That was the difference.
After agonizing over it for quite a while, Lee Taeseong finally made his decision.
‘Alright. I am just going to eat it!’
He did not know what kind of reward the Golden Altar of Alchemy would give him later, but Taeseong was already treated as half a benefactor by them.
Even though he had received a Lower Grade Alchemical Furnace as a reward last time, he still had a significant amount of Contribution Points left.
Instead of adding more points to that pile, it seemed better to consume the elixir right in front of him.
Furthermore, as Abeson warned, if he dragged it out any longer, there might be issues with the ring’s communication function, so he intended to secure what he could right now.
‘I know nothing about this.’
He performed self-hypnosis.
The potion is stolen goods from the Golden Altar of Alchemy?
What is that supposed to mean?
This is simply a provision left behind by my great master, the Flame Emperor, for his disciple hundreds of years ago.
‘Hmm, yes. That is what it is.’
After convincing himself that he would simply work hard on the Golden Altar of Alchemy’s requests later, Taeseong popped the lid off the potion and downed it in one gulp.
Gulp.
The saying that good medicine tastes bitter was clearly a lie.
It was so delicious that he wondered if there could be a better beverage anywhere in the world!
On top of that, the moment he drank it, a massive surge of mana welled up from deep within his gut.
Until now, Taeseong had only consumed Lowest Grade and Lower Grade Elixirs.
Even a Middle Grade Elixir was sold very strictly by the Golden Altar of Alchemy, and only those with both the qualifications and the money could purchase one.
Of course, Taeseong had gained some leeway through his spending, and he had built a friendship with the Golden Altar of Alchemy.
However, even if he added his previous contributions, he could not be sure if he would be able to afford a High Grade Elixir.
It was a rare item that held that much value.
Whoosh!
A boiling heat rose up around Taeseong.
He constantly operated the Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art, organizing the mana entering his body and tucking it away, layer by layer, into his Dantian and heart.
As a massive amount of mana was added, his body screamed; it was a scream of joy.
*
A moment later.
Lee Taeseong opened his eyes, and a flash of light flickered in his pupils before vanishing.
‘Why does this guy get so many elixirs and martial arts Fortuitous Encounters?’
Abeson muttered from the side, as if he found it absurd.
If one followed him around, Fortuitous Encounters were practically tripping over their feet.
“Hey. What do you mean so many? This is all the result of my hard work.”
‘Don’t make me laugh. Good grief.’
However, Abeson did not say anything more.
He, too, had been born with genius talent and had received all sorts of support from the Red Magic Tower since he was young.
They were not Fortuitous Encounters, but if one considered only the support he received, it would have been far more than Taeseong’s.
He was just amazed that Taeseong kept finding these Fortuitous Encounters buried in the mountains everywhere he went.
Taeseong searched the stone chamber thoroughly to see if there was anything else.
‘Tsk. No personal belongings or anything like that.’
Regrettably, there was nothing else besides the elixir and the ring.
How nice it would have been if there were even one piece of used clothing or an item like the glove from last time.
Then he would not know how much more he could have received from the Golden Altar of Alchemy.
After clicking his tongue, Taeseong turned his gaze to the side and picked up the ring.
“I am doing it now?”
‘Yes! Hurry up and do it!’
Abeson shouted with anticipation.
Taking a deep breath, Taeseong raised his Heavenly Fire Holy Law Art.
Hummm!
Just like the bracelet in the past, the ring began to resonate.
It floated into the air and emitted energy, creating a small passage.
Immediately after.
-Oh!?
You really contacted me again?
Disciple.
Did you go to Jiryong Mountain?
The voice of the Flame Emperor, which he had heard once before, echoed from the passage.
“Yes, Master. I have received the provisions you left behind.”
Taeseong bowed his head with a respectful heart.
Even though he could not see his face due to the nature of the communication, he felt he must pay his respects.
After all, he had just consumed a High Grade Elixir!
-Yes, yes.
Come to think of it, I am sorry I only left you a High Grade Elixir.
I had eaten so many Highest Grade Elixirs that I was full, so I just left it behind.
If I had known this would happen, I would have left a Highest Grade one too.
“…T-this is more than enough.”
Just how many elixirs did the Flame Emperor steal?
He finally understood why the Golden Altar of Alchemy ground their teeth whenever the Flame Emperor was mentioned, even after hundreds of years.
-If you think you are going to be short on mana again, go to the Golden Altar of Alchemy.
That is a method I recommend.
Those guys are a bit arrogant, you know?
If you go wearing old clothes, they act high and mighty and pick a fight, and if you use your hands then, it is self-defense.
You can take some of the elixirs they have, and while you are at it, pack away some items they do not use.
If you look at their warehouse, they just stack up elixirs they do not even use.
They are truly greedy bastards.
“……Haha.”
Lee Taeseong could only offer an awkward laugh.
‘Flame Emperor! Your personality remains the same!’
-That is a voice I heard last time. So, who are you?
‘Grrr…! You do not recognize me? I am Abeson! Abeson! You cannot tell me you do not know me even after saying that!’
-Abeson?
The one from the Red Magic Tower?
‘Yes!’
-My, what a familiar voice.
Have you been alive all this time?
No, that is not right.
Since you became a Death Spirit, it is hard to say you are alive…
Anyway, it is amazing.
To think you became a Death Spirit.
Abeson’s clenched fist trembled.
Who was the one who forced him to preserve his soul as a Death Spirit?
Was it not all out of a desire for revenge against the Flame Emperor!
However, there was something more important to Abeson right now than that emotion.
‘I could not ask because there was no time. Just how do you know my son, Leo?’
-Leo.
It has been quite a long time since I heard that name.
He was my colleague.
We were quite close.
‘…Leo was your colleague?’
-I did not know he was your son.
We did not ask about each other’s family histories.
Anyway, he was a pretty talented Spirit Master.
‘…Fine then. I suppose the boy was an adult, so he must have acted according to his own will. Please tell me about Leo.’
-I do not know much.
He was just a colleague I asked for cooperation when I needed something done.
Even then, we did not really have any personal conversations.
‘That is….’
-Hmm.
Next time, go to the Sky Altar on the Erbes Plateau.
He said he was going there after parting ways with me, so there might be some traces left.
Although, it has been hundreds of years, so I do not know if anything will still be there.
Abeson chewed on the words “Sky Altar” several times, as if to remember them firmly.
-Now.
Disciple.
Since the annoying questions are over, let us talk.
Hehe.
I never took in a single formal disciple, but now one has appeared.
“Master. Where are you right now?”
Taeseong asked his most burning question first.
The Flame Emperor was a figure from hundreds of years ago, so how was he still alive and able to communicate?
-Where do you think?
I am in the sky.
“The sky?”
-Yes.
I ascended and came up here.
‘Ascension!’
Abeson shouted again in shock.
Even though his mind was busy thinking about Leo and the Sky Altar, that word entered his head first.
‘That was actually a possible feat!?’
Anyone who stood in the ranks of the continent’s strongest would have thought about it at least once.
Ascension, immortality, deification, enlightenment…
The names varied, but they all meant the same thing: transcending human limits and entering a realm of transcendence.
It was something everyone dreamed of, but aside from a few legends, there were none who had truly achieved it.
Abeson himself was a top-tier magician of his era, but he had never even come close to the realm of ascension.
-Well, it is natural that mediocre people cannot even dream of it.
It is not an easy feat.
I worked until I was literally coughing up blood to barely pull it off.
These were words that treated Abeson, a man at the level of the continent’s strongest, as a mere mediocre person, but he could say nothing.
-But damn it.
Do not ascend.
It is not fun at all.
There are layers upon layers of annoying obligations, and there is no freedom at all.
I feel like I have been scammed.
“Pardon?”
-It was much more fun to roam around the continent researching ascension.
Ugh.
It is a relief that I finally have a disciple I have a bond with, so I can at least do this much communication.
He could tell just from the sound of his voice that the Flame Emperor was furious.
-So, that is why…
Disciple.
“Yes.”
-Help me out a little.
“Pardon?”
-I am so bored I feel like I might go crazy.
Let me watch the world through you.
“??? How do I do that?”
-It is not difficult.
You are my disciple, and since I left my legacy and you learned the Hybrid, a bond has formed between us.
Hehe.
I can finally go out and play like those other old geezers!
At that moment.
-Ding!
[You have acquired a new skill]
Skill: Summon Ascendant
-Summon an Ascendant with whom you share a bond.
The summoning duration and cooldown are determined by the caster’s ability and mana capacity.