Gravity Mage with Level-Up System Chapter 1923: Part 2: Treasury!

Patrick Estate

I followed him, and we arrived at another hidden chamber. Before it stood a formidable metal door, guarded by an elder seated in a meditative posture.

Sam Patrick halted my advance, and I, following his gesture, noticed the aged man. He appeared unassuming, yet my intuition screamed otherwise. I initiated the system’s probe function.

The system’s analysis left me astonished. The elder’s mastery lay in concealment and restriction magic, capable of rendering his enchantments utterly invisible.

A network of magical restraints encircled him and the doorway. Had I blundered in unaware, these traps would have sprung to life, posing a significant threat.

A cold bead of sweat trickled down my temple. These restrictions possessed the potency to inflict harm, particularly against powerful cultivators like a Magic Lord or a Forbidden Wizard.

Besides such formidable figures, who else would dare to pilfer from a wizarding lineage? These defenses were clearly engineered to thwart intruders of that caliber.

Sam Patrick, too, exhaled a wave of relief, evidently concerned that the elder might inadvertently trigger the very wards he was meant to oversee.

At that moment, the elder, who had been meditating, opened his eyes. His gaze fell upon the two figures before him, and surprise flickered across his face.

He recognized Sam Patrick, but the masked man remained an unknown entity. When he attempted to scan him, his senses were met with an impenetrable barrier.

Before he could utter a word, Sam Patrick intervened.

"Elder," he began, "the masked individual is our esteemed guest. My father has decreed a reward for saving my life on two occasions and has granted him access to the treasury."

"He is permitted to select a single treasure," Sam added.

The elder showed a flicker of surprise. Trusting Sam Patrick’s word, he posed no further questions.

Rising to his feet, he first deactivated his wards. Then, he proceeded to input the access code to unlock the heavy door.

Meanwhile, I observed that once the magical seals were lifted, the door presented itself as a modern, electronically secured portal. A wry smile touched my lips.

I had genuinely assumed it to be an enchanted barrier.

Creak!

The door swung open. The elder immediately motioned for me to enter. Nodding in acknowledgment, I stepped inside, with Sam Patrick lingering behind, his mind perhaps preoccupied with the possibility of any treasure catching the attention of the enigmatic masked guest.

Inside, I found myself surrounded by antique finery, glittering jewels, and precious stones. Priceless magical artifacts lay carefully arranged within ornate boxes.

I began to perambulate, maintaining a facade of casual observation to avoid arousing suspicion. My true intention was to employ the system’s probe function to identify an exceptional item.

"System, locate a valuable treasure for me," I commanded internally.

[Ding! A partially damaged magic artifact of unknown grade has been detected.]

[Ding! It is a blue pearl. The artifact is in a state of disrepair, but its remaining functions are both significant and useful.]

[Ding! The host can utilize the blue pearl to breathe underwater for a duration of one hour.]

The system’s pronouncements echoed in my mind, sending a jolt of excitement through me. I had never anticipated discovering such a unique magical artifact within these confines.

Maintaining a neutral expression, I continued my survey of the chamber’s contents. The elder remained stationed at the entrance, while Sam Patrick waited outside. They felt no apprehension, as internal wards protected the valuables, necessitating permission to retrieve any item.

Time elapsed.

My gaze swept over several other magical artifacts, primarily weapon-based relics. While potent, I possessed an abundance of similar items. Among them, I noted a few 'living artifacts'.

Speaking of living artifacts, I queried the system to ascertain if any were present in the inventory. The results were definitive: no such items were available here.

Finally, I paused before the blue pearl, my attention intently fixed upon the exquisite object.

The elder noticed my focus and conveyed a look of surprise. He was aware of the pearl’s capabilities – its limited capacity enabling wizards to breathe beneath the waves. However, for most cultivators, especially those adept in water magic, it offered little practical benefit as they could conjure such abilities through their own spells.

After conveying my appreciation for the blue pearl, I turned towards the elder.

"I shall take this one," I declared.

The elder expressed surprise at my choice. He then entered the treasure room, deactivated the internal wards, and carefully retrieved the blue pearl from its protective glass casing.

Sam Patrick, witnessing this, entered the chamber. Opportunities to visit this treasury were rare; his last visit had been a decade prior.

At that time, he had emerged victorious from the wizarding competition, earning his father’s permission to select a single treasure.

Unforeseen circumstances brought him back to this hallowed place. He approached us, his eyes landing on the blue pearl. Recognition dawned, and a subtle gleam appeared in his eyes.

"Why did you select that particular item?" the elder inquired.

His question stemmed not from malice, but from genuine curiosity.

"I am planning an extensive sea voyage. I believe the blue pearl will prove invaluable for my journey," I responded truthfully.

The elder appeared momentarily stunned. He glanced at Sam Patrick, who offered a confirming nod.

"It is indeed true; he intends to travel aboard a vessel from the Montex Shipping Company," Sam affirmed.

The elder let out a soft sigh. "Then you are quite fortunate. The blue pearl will indeed aid you in breathing underwater."Sam Patrick declared, "My Lord, you have indeed selected the most valuable treasure. Year after year, these traveling vessels are frequently ambushed by monstrous sea creatures." "Numerous unfortunate ships have met their doom, sinking into the abyssal depths. Only a select few manage to complete their voyages. This precariousness is precisely why they exact such exorbitant fees. However, your situation was an exception." "They required your assistance, which led them to offer you passage at no cost," Sam elaborated. "In that case, my gratitude for this generous reward," I responded. The elder ceremoniously presented the azure pearl. I promptly secured it within my spatial storage bracelet. Following this, I expressed my thanks to the elder and departed alongside Sam Patrick. The elder remained, dumbfounded. He once more attempted to ascertain the masked individual's true power, yet his efforts proved futile. He surmised that this masked visitor was far from an ordinary person. A peculiar intuition struck him, suggesting the masked man already possessed knowledge of the blue pearl's significance before any explanation was given. Though the notion seemed preposterous, he could not dismiss the feeling. He resolved to instruct the family patriarch to avoid any actions that might offend this enigmatic figure.