100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full? Chapter 531 - Fun Day

The following day, Eirene sought him out.

Lucien perceived her joyful demeanor before she uttered a single word.

A wide smile graced her features.

Eirene tilted her head slightly.

"I bring excellent news."

This announcement brought a smile to Lucien’s face as well.

Without further preamble, she raised her hand and placed three crystal fragments upon the table separating them.

Lucien froze in place.

Fragments of an Origin Core.

For a moment, he simply gazed at the exquisite pieces.

Then, his gaze lifted to meet hers once more.

Eirene maintained her serene composure.

"The Lunarians safeguarded these remnants from the Millennia War," she explained. "They have graciously decided to bestow them upon you."

Lucien’s attention returned to the fragments before him.

Three more pieces.

He refrained from inquiring about the specific nature of her conversation with the Lunarians that led to such a generous offering. By now, he understood Eirene well enough to know that if she wished to share details, she would do so in her own time.

Instead, he offered a warm smile and replied, "Thank you, Sister Eirene. Please extend my gratitude to our Lunarian friends as well."

She offered a subtle nod in acknowledgment.

Lucien carefully picked up one of the fragments, feeling its faint pulse.

"With additional fragments like these," he mused aloud, "the signal’s reach might extend beyond the Western territories and properly connect with the adjacent continent."

Eirene’s smile widened just a touch more.

•••

Shortly thereafter, Lucien entered the hallowed grounds of the Origin Core Shrine.

He then proceeded to add the three fragments acquired from the Lunarians, along with the Origin Core fragment discovered within the Covenant-Breaker's artifact.

A total of four new fragments were now combined.

The impact was instantaneous.

The ancient, unified structure of the Origin Core opened itself, drawing the fragments inward, and the resonant, lawful pulse within the shrine intensified.

Across the vast network, distant devices and nodes seemed to collectively inhale in response.

Lucien closed his eyes, immersing himself in the sensation.

His connection immediately grew stronger.

It became clearer, more expansive, and wonderfully distinct.

Following this, a new sensation began to surface beneath his heightened awareness.

Something more subtle, yet profoundly significant.

He slowly opened his eyes.

A distinct connection had now been established between the Origin Core and the young Tree of Creation, which was rooted above his Divine Energy Core.

The Origin Core represented beginnings, the genesis of all. And the Tree of Creation... it symbolized the very first living permission, the primal spark of life itself.

Lucien could not yet fathom the consequences of gathering the complete Origin Core and all the barks of the Tree of Creation.

However, he possessed an unwavering certainty that when this culmination occurred, the resulting event would be monumental in scale.

It would be an occurrence capable of fundamentally reshaping lives from within.

A faint smile touched his lips.

He then departed from the shrine’s sacred confines.

•••

For the remainder of the day, Lucien decided to postpone his work.

His immediate desire was to reconnect with his old companions.

It didn’t take long to locate them.

Their boisterous sounds reached him before he physically saw them.

The rhythmic clang of weapons against weapons. Peals of laughter. The unmistakable symphony of camaraderie, interwoven with lighthearted deception and bolstered by public confidence.

As Lucien rounded a corner, he discovered Aldren, Roneth, Caelum, and Lioren engaged in sparring within one of the designated practice courtyards.

More accurately, they were sparring against external challengers.

And, in a sense, politely extorting them.

He paused, observing the scene unfold.

They had clearly matured, their strength augmented, their composure and bearing refined.

Yet, remarkably, not a single one of them had altered in the ways that truly mattered.

Aldren fought with the conviction that raw power and unyielding momentum were the ultimate forms of persuasion. Roneth moved with an infuriating, fluid grace. Caelum maintained an unnerving calmness even while skillfully parrying relentless attacks. And Lioren—

Lucien smiled.

Lioren had blossomed into a young woman of striking beauty, and the past affliction caused by her Euphoric Vein no longer seemed to dictate her every movement.

She now carried herself with a newfound poise, fully in command of her own physicality. The days of becoming inebriated from simple water were gone. Her constitution had matured, and her cultivation path had specifically sharpened around this newfound resilience.

Now, through the application of the Law of Absorption, she could more readily assimilate memories and essence from her sustenance, transforming them directly into formidable strength.

The four friends noticed his presence almost simultaneously.

To Lucien’s considerable relief, not one of them exclaimed “young lord” like a foolish oaf in the presence of outsiders.

Lioren simply offered a friendly wave.

"Brother!"

Lucien approached them, returning their warm greetings.

It was only then that he truly comprehended the nature of their current activity.

They were engaged in gambling.

On a professional level.

The stakes were clear: if an outsider managed to defeat one of them in a legitimate bout, they would be awarded certain privileges. These included discounted access to shops, reduced market tariffs, a complimentary entry into a lower-level dungeon, and even a chance at selecting a discounted skill door.

Lucien couldn’t help but chuckle.

They had ingeniously transformed public training sessions into a lucrative enterprise.

This was precisely the kind of innovative, profit-generating behavior he envisioned spreading naturally throughout Lootwell.

"Try not to bully the visitors too excessively," he advised with a grin.

Aldren responded with a broad smile.

"We merely exploit ambition with utmost fairness."

This witty remark elicited a genuine laugh from Lucien.

He then looked directly at the four of them and added, "Perhaps you could demonstrate your progress to me instead?"

The effect was immediate and palpable.

All four visibly paled upon hearing his request.

Lioren pointed a finger at herself, her eyes wide.

"You mean us?"

Lucien folded his arms, a playful glint in his eyes.

"No, I was referring to the decorative sand scattered near your feet."

Caelum closed his eyes briefly and muttered under his breath, "We should have fled the moment he arrived."

Roneth readily agreed, nodding in affirmation.

"That,” she stated, “was our critical tactical miscalculation."

The outsiders appeared bewildered.

Although the four of them wished to decline, they also understood that receiving direct tutelage from him was an opportunity too valuable to refuse, regardless of their survival instincts.

Thus, the training commenced.

And quite rapidly, the situation devolved into absurdity.

Lucien rectified their stances, corrected their mistimed movements, and shattered their preconceived notions. He halted one attack midway through its execution, posing with a chilling calmness, "Why do you rely on your opponent respecting your rhythm?" He then compelled them to repeat the exchange until their pride was completely eroded by their inability to answer.

Within mere moments, the four individuals transitioned from confident playfulness to shared agony.

At one juncture, Lioren glanced towards the astonished onlookers observing from the periphery and called out, "If any of you desire discounts, now is your chance to earn them! Lend us your assistance!"

The outsiders exchanged glances.

Then, driven by a greed and curiosity stronger than caution—a common trait among those drawn to Lootwell for self-improvement—several of them stepped forward to join.

The allure of discounts proved effective.

What ensued was undoubtedly one of the day's more peculiar spectacles.

A growing assembly of individuals, encompassing both local residents and transient visitors, were subjected to training, correction, dismantling, humiliation, and improvement by a single man who exuded an unnerving calmness given the social and spiritual damage he was inflicting.

By the session's conclusion, numerous outsiders had absorbed more knowledge in an hour than they had anticipated learning over a three-month period.

They were, however, decidedly exhausted.

Lucien deemed this outcome acceptable.

•••

After leaving them in various states of gratitude and physical depletion, Lucien continued his journey through Lootwell.

His subsequent destination was Aerolith's domain.

Upon arrival, the atmosphere underwent a complete transformation.

An aura of profound peace permeated that section of the territory as if it were an intrinsic law.

Expansive fields stretched out beneath a warm sky bathed in gentle light.

At the heart of this tranquil scene, Aerolith reclined languidly on the ground, appearing as though the very act of agriculture had finally led her to a state of enlightened exhaustion. She was leisurely consuming ripe fruits and herbs.

Her Law of Continuance emanated from her in subtle, silent threads, nourishing growth without exertion and fostering a quiet harmony between every living entity and its optimal state.

Green and several workers moved with purpose nearby, diligently ensuring the fields maintained their superior quality and that no valuable resource went to waste.

There were no hurried commands in this place. Instead, a deep and consistent rhythm governed the processes of cultivation, upkeep, harvesting, and care.

Lucien paused at the field's edge, observing the scene for a considerable time.

This particular area had evolved into one of Lootwell's most discreetly lucrative enterprises.

The produce cultivated here was in constant high demand within the marketplace.

This was especially true for the "miracle" crops.

Once Lootwell began openly marketing the specialized crops that possessed the ability to bestow attributes, the outsiders had nearly forfeited their collective composure.

Patrons clamored for them.

Although items that granted attributes had always existed, they were exceedingly rare, subject to stringent control, often concealed, and typically monopolized by dominant factions who preferred to restrict the circulation of such opportunities among those of lesser standing.

Lootwell, in stark contrast, made them accessible.

This singular action had fueled more personal aspirations than numerous sect doctrines combined.

Lucien found this development highly satisfactory.

And Aerolith, remaining true to her nature, served as the serene focal point of the entire domain.

•••

Later, Lucien made his way to the desert sector.

Here, the wind still carried echoes of its former ways.

The sands stretched across designated expanses. This was no longer the Karesh Desert of antiquity. However, Lucien had ensured that a vestige of its original essence persisted.

He stood at the boundary of an open stretch and emitted a single whistle into the heat.

The sands began to shift and part.

From beneath the surface, colossal forms emerged.

Soilwyrms.

They ascended like rippling dunes reawakening to their hunger and purpose. These creatures were now grander in scale than before. Their dominion had expanded along with the rest of Lootwell; their strength directly correlated with their size.

Lucien offered a nod of acknowledgment as they inclined their massive heads in deference.

Several had attained Ascendance, earning them the privilege of articulate speech.

One of the larger wyrms lowered its form slightly and addressed him, saying, "Master."

Lucien responded with a smile.

"Continue to safeguard the desert regions and those who reside within them. Become attuned to the subterranean movements of all things beneath the sands. And when I require an area to be rapidly rendered desolate..." He allowed the implication to linger.

The Soilwyrm's presence intensified with an instinctive affirmation.

"It shall be done."

Excellent.

Lucien harbored no inclination to abandon the deserts simply because lusher territories offered greater profitability.

A desert, when properly managed, also served as a formidable weapon.

And the Soilwyrms would function as its concealed, lethal exponents.

•••

The entire day unfolded in a similar fashion.

Lucien traversed Lootwell, blending in as any ordinary citizen might.

He observed. He listened. He shared laughter. He paused wherever his interest was piqued.

For this occasion, no immediate demands were placed upon him.

And this brought him a sense of profound ease.

Work and personal life are not adversaries unless one negligently permits the other to consume it. A dominion established solely through arduous effort would inevitably embed that strain into its very foundation. Lucien harbored no desire for Lootwell to evolve into such a place.

Thus, he drew breath.

He observed his populace achieving a superior quality of life. He witnessed old companions mature. He watched individuals from outside ascend toward comprehension. He perceived abundance, governance, peril, nonsensical happenings, and ease existing side-by-side, without inherent conflict.

And at some point amidst that tranquil existence—

a tension within him began to dissipate.

Lucien halted his pace.

The surrounding world sharpened into focus.

He grasped it instantly.

The Tree of Creation had imparted an overwhelming amount of information too rapidly. The acquired knowledge had integrated into him, but not yet settled comfortably. A portion of his inner being had remained persistently tense since his return, as if his own essence had exerted excessive effort to maintain the revelation in a rigid, ordered state.

Now, it yielded.

The day had achieved this. The vibrant metropolis had achieved this. The simple contentment of witnessing his creation persist independently of chaos's decree had achieved this.

His aura surged.

With a single, fluid internal progression, Lucien fully entered the Seventh Stage of the Celestial Realm.

He shut his eyes momentarily and offered a smile.

This time, the advancement had not been forged in conflict.

It had arisen from the contemplation of that which merited continuation.

Which, Lucien mused, felt remarkably akin to the act of Creation itself.