NOVEL NEXT Chapter 103
Lynn descended the slope with the brute force demon following closely behind, proving to be quite the effective bodyguard. In this bustling market, Lynn witnessed many demons that he had only ever read about in books and scrolls.
A variety of demons could be found in the market, and Lynn was both fascinated and broadened by what he saw.
He also noticed that some demons looked peculiar, evolving in seemingly arbitrary ways. Some high-level demons even had low-level demons following behind them.
In truth, hierarchy was strict in the Abyss, with demons divided into numerous races. Some low-level demons could evolve into high-level ones by devouring enough flesh and blood essence.
This evolution occurred in two ways: some directly evolved into high-level demon species, while others continued to evolve based on their own demon race. For example, a six-armed snake demon could evolve further by growing more arms, and it was said that there was even a twelve-armed snake mother who established a snake demon clan in the Abyss.
However, upon becoming high-level demons, they became more severe towards their former low-level counterparts, creating a strange cycle.
In a conspicuous corner of the market, Lynn saw a signboard bearing the emblem of an academy.
Beside the signboard hung a piece of cloth on which some words were crudely written in red paint in two languages: 《Stall Fee: 10 Magic Stones》 《No Conflict in the Market》 《Auction in the Abyss in Three Days》
A wizard with a magic book covering his face lay sprawled on a chair, snoring softly. A transparent box beside him was filled with magic stones.
After paying the fee, Lynn took a small wooden sign from the table. However, he wasn’t in a hurry to go to his own stall. Instead, he planned to see what was being sold in this market that attracted so many wizards.
It was a rare opportunity, and he intended to broaden his horizons.
As he walked through, Lynn noticed that many demons were selling local specialties, but there were also a few stalls selling items from other planes.
These demons likely invaded other planes, plundered some loot, and brought it back. Since these spoils were useless to demons, they traded them with wizards instead.
Because some demons didn’t know the value of these items, it tested a wizard’s discernment and even had a certain gambling aspect to it. However, this style attracted many wizards to gamble.
For wizards, the concept of value didn’t exist; as long as an item contained energy or possessed certain peculiar abilities, it had research and practical value.
Lynn was also tempted by what he saw, but he knew his priorities. He was here to gather source materials.
Most apprentices followed a similar process when constructing wizard towers.
First, they roughly constructed the framework of the tower they wanted to build. Then, they collected source materials. At this stage, they gathered whatever source materials they could find. Afterwards, they pieced together the collected source materials and determined the specific functions of the wizard tower.
If they had suitable opportunities along the way to exchange with others, they traded for more suitable source materials for their wizard towers.
For apprentices, they first gathered the core source materials for constructing the main sector of the wizard tower. Then, they gradually bought other auxiliary raw materials based on these core source materials. Compared to the rarity of the core source materials, the auxiliary materials were relatively easy to obtain.
Now, Lynn already had the core source materials for constructing his wizard tower: the Soul of the Wind for the floating sector, the Clayheart for the defense sector, the Desert Mirage Sand for the illusion sector, and the Elemental Stone Marrow for the energy sector.
He only needed one more source material for the attack sector and the source material for constructing the body of the wizard tower, and he had almost gathered the minimum standard of source materials needed to build the wizard tower.
However, even if he managed to complete the construction, Lynn estimated that based on the current steps of his own sectors, the strength of the wizard tower would be somewhat lacking.
Firstly, if the Clayheart was used as the source material for the defense sector, the defensive power would be somewhat monotonous, and having only one energy core would make daily supply consumption somewhat strained.
It would probably be considered bottom-tier even among first-level wizard towers, and without living and experimental sectors, living inside would be no different from living in a cold house. There would be no additional benefits for daily life or experiments.
Once constructed, it would be more accurate to say it was a flying fortress rather than a wizard tower.
Nevertheless, Lynn’s visit to the Abyss had broadened his horizons considerably. For instance, he learned about the Abyss Blood Soil, soil soaked in blood all year round in the Abyss Blood Battlefield area, possessing various magical properties.
There were also some unique ores and plants found exclusively in the Abyss. Despite sounding like a gathering place for many demons, the Abyss was far from barren.
In the varying layers of the Abyss, natural environments differed; some were deserts, others swamps, and then there were the endless expanses of an Abyss plane formed by endless oceans.
Lynn even caught sight of demons trading other demons.
Coming to a halt before one of the stalls, Lynn’s gaze fell upon the bound demons being offered for sale. Seated at the stall was a figure shrouded in shadow, resembling a silhouette with two horned protrusions where its head should be.
That had to be a shadow demon, one of the high-level demons. They were born with the ability to manipulate the power of shadows and possess elemental bodies.
The ones being sold by the shadow demon were a group of lemures, including a few spiked demons.
Spiked demons had pallid skin, humanoid bodies, and flesh that seemed to consist of rotting meat. Beneath the putrid skin lay bloated, decaying muscles and sturdy bones.
What made these demons particularly dangerous were the special bone spurs protruding from their skeletons. These sharp protrusions could be launched from their bodies like projectiles, akin to a porcupine’s quills, and they could travel considerable distances. Moreover, these spurs carried a potent poison, though it might not affect demons of the same species significantly, it possessed a high infectivity against other creatures.
As for the lesser lemures, they were the lowest level of demons in the Abyss.
They were frenzied and bloodthirsty, brutal yet cowardly, often preferring to gather in groups to assail their prey. To describe them somewhat disparagingly, they were the goblins of the Abyss.
Upon seeing Lynn standing before the stall, the shadow demon opened its mouth and uttered a string of guttural, arcane Abyss demon language.
Lynn glanced back at the brute force demon behind him, silently signaling for it to translate.
“It’s asking if you want to buy any demons,” the brute force demon relayed.
“I’m not interested. These demons are too low-level,” replied Lynn.
“I agree. They’re nothing but skin and bones, and not even enough to fill me up,” the brute force demon nodded in agreement.
It gestured, indicating that neither the lemures nor the spiked demons on display would satisfy its appetite.
“I see scars on you. You’ve been through quite a few battles, haven’t you?” Lynn remarked.
With demons’ innate healing abilities, recovering from wounds was usually easy. However, some demons would heal their injuries but leave scars untouched, considering them more like badges of honor.
The brute force demon’s body was covered in countless such badges.
At Lynn’s inquiry, the brute force demon’s gaze dimmed, and it absently touched the scars on its body.
Apart from the shadow demon’s stall, there were other demons selling their wares at various stalls.
A few stalls even had succubi, and Lynn had the brute force demon inquire about their prices. However, they were informed that these demons didn’t accept magic stones; they only traded through barter.
They either wanted weapons and armor, powerful creatures’ flesh and blood, or some special potions—all scarce commodities in the Abyss.
Magic stones couldn’t be eaten nor used as weapons, and their energy was absorbed very slowly by these demons. It was more worthwhile to take a dip in the Abyss Mother River than to deal with magic stones.
Suddenly, the market grew lively, and Lynn noticed many wizards hurriedly closing their stalls and rushing towards the commotion.
Stopping a passing apprentice to inquire, Lynn learned that demons were selling large quantities of Sunken River Bloodsand, which is the main source material for crafting Abyss Forges and a sought-after item for the apprentices visiting the Abyss market.
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