Chapter 67: The stone got from black market
Alex snorted.
He only saw this type of people in animation.
Caelum stood rigid.
Ears slightly red.
But said nothing.
Just stared harder at the gauntlet.
Master Feng clapped Alex’s shoulder.
"Good luck, young man. Choose wisely."
Rose leaned close to Alex.
"That’s your competition in the future."
Whispered.
"International champion. ss-rank beast. Top university."
"How do you feel?"
Alex grinned.
"But I still got this chance way earlier than him, with a Slime."
Looked at the rows of treasures.
"I am 100times better."
Rose’s smile widened, touched Alex’s lower back.
"Look at your confidence~"
"Now go. You have thirty minutes."
Alex walked forward.
Into the vault.
Surrounded by power.
Surrounded by possibilities.
Behind him.
Caelum glanced over his shoulder.
Watching.
Eyes narrowed.
Alex walked deeper into the vault.
Eyes scanning everything.
Row after row.
Pedestals everywhere.
On his left—
A crimson egg.
Pulsing with heat.
Waves of warmth radiating.
Next to it—
A collar made of lightning.
Sparks dancing across its surface.
Further down—
A crystal vial.
Liquid inside glowing gold.
Alex’s eyes widened.
Holy shit.
They all look cool as hell!
He kept walking.
Passed a floating sword.
Blade humming with energy.
A shield that rippled like water.
A mask carved from dragon bone.
Then—
Something caught his eye.
A lace mask.
Black. Delicate.
Intricate patterns.
But the shape...
This is honier than the one he wore in the black market!
Man!
He moved on quickly.
Next pedestal—
Leather straps.
Thin. Adjustable.
A collar with a bell.
Cute at first glance.
Then you realize it’s something for adult.
Alex shook his head.
Who puts this stuff in a national treasury?!
He like them all!
He want to try them all!
But sadly, he only get to pick one, and he better pick something that boost his power.
So that he can level up to grade 8 and enjoy mutiple wives~
Suddenly—
Heat.
From his pocket.
No.
From his system bag.
Alex froze.
Reached into the invisible space.
Pulled out the colorful gemstone.
The one he bought at the black market.
Ten spirit stones.
It glowed now.
Bright.
Pulsing.
Colors swirling inside.
Red. Blue. Green. Gold.
All mixing together.
The light grew stronger.
Warmer.
"What the—"
Footsteps.
Fast.
Master Feng rushed over.
"What is that?!"
Rose followed.
Eyes wide.
"I’ve never seen anything like it."
She looked at Alex.
"Where did you get that?"
Caelum appeared.
For the first time.
Actually interested.
His cool facade cracked.
Eyes huge.
Staring at the gem.
"That person..."
His voice shaking.
"They said it was unique!"
Face twisted.
Angry.
"That lying bastard!"
"Dare tricking me! The lord of water!"
He reached into his storage ring and pulled out another gem.
Identical.
Same swirling colors.
Same pulsing light.
Alex and Caelum stared at each other.
Both holding gems.
Both confused.
Master Feng stroked his beard.
"Fascinating. A pair? Or more?"
Rose leaned in.
"Alex, where did you buy this?"
"Black market. Ten spirit stones."
Caelum’s eye twitched.
"I paid ten thousand."
His voice calm.
But his jaw tightened.
Alex’s mouth opened.
Ten thousand?!
TEN THOUSAND?!
That’s the exact price the vendor first quoted!
He didn’t even try to bargain?!
Alex bit his lip.
Hard.
Trying not to laugh.
Dude.
It’s a street stall.
You ALWAYS haggle!
That’s like... basic shopping!
His shoulders shook.
"Pfft—"
Covered his mouth.
"Something funny?"
Caelum’s voice cold.
Alex shook his head.
"Nothing, just my grandma graduated from highschool today."
Turned away.
Shoulders still shaking.
Caelum’s face stayed neutral.
Expressionless.
But his ears went pink.
He adjusted his collar.
Looked away.
"The price was... reasonable."
Voice still smooth.
"For such a unique item."
Cleared his throat.
"I don’t waste time with trivial negotiations."
Head tilted
Chin raised.
"A true master knows value when he sees it."
Silence.
Master Feng coughed.
Rose coughed.
Nobody ruin his believe.
....
Alex’s gem pulsed harder.
Pulling.
Like a compass.
Pointing.
He turned.
Followed the pull.
The others trailed behind.
Past more pedestals.
Past glowing weapons.
Past rare cores.
To the back corner.
Dark.
Dusty.
Forgotten.
There—
A suit of armor.
Old.
Ancient.
Covered in dust and cobwebs.
Dull gray metal.
Dents everywhere.
Rust at the joints.
In the center of the chest piece—
A circular indentation.
Empty.
The gem pulled harder.
Toward that spot.
Alex reached out.
Blew on the armor.
Dust everywhere.
CRACK.
The armor split.
Right down the middle.
CLANG CLANG CLANG.
Pieces fell.
Hit the floor.
Scattered.
The chest piece broke in half.
Arm pieces rolled away.
Alex stood frozen.
Mouth open.
Staring at the pile of scrap.
"...What."
"What just happened."
Rose covered her mouth.
Shoulders shaking.
"I told you not to touch things."
"Now look what you did. Hehe, now you have to bring it home~"
Alex’s eye twitched.
Looked at the broken armor.
At the gem still glowing in his hand.
Back to the armor.
His knees weakened.
Almost dropped.
"This... this counts as my choice?!"
Voice rising.
"WTFF!"
Master Feng walked over.
Examined the pieces.
"Ah, this old thing. It’s been here for centuries. Nobody knows what it does.
We know it’s beast armor—high quality once—but it has no spiritual energy left. The government couldn’t figure out how to restore it."
Rose nodded.
Still smiling.
"It’s basically an antique. A very, very fragile antique."
She looked at Alex.
Eyes twinkling.
"One that breaks when you breathe on it."
Alex stared at the pile.
Then at his gem.
Still glowing.
Still pulling toward the broken pieces.
"Why..."
His voice cracked.
"Why does my gem want this junk?!"
Caelum stepped forward.
Held up his gem.
It glowed too.
Exactly the same.
"Mine as well."
He frowned.
Crouched down.
Examining the pieces.
"There’s definitely a connection."
Alex stared at the broken pile.
At his gem.
Still pulsing.
Still insisting.
An idea hit him.
Stupid idea.
But...
What if?
He crouched.
Picked up the chest piece.
The largest fragment.
Found the circular indentation.
Still there.
Intact despite the cracks.
He held up his gem.
Compared sizes.
Perfect match.
"What are you doing?"
Rose asked.
Alex didn’t answer.
Pressed the gem into the indentation.
Click.
It fit.
Perfectly.
The gem sank in.
Flush with the surface.
For a moment—
Nothing.
Then—
FLASH.