Chapter 98: The Small World Inside the Ring

Kei put the silver ring on his finger.

The ring was a bit loose compared to his finger, its cold surface pressing against his skin. There were no patterns whatsoever, nor did it emit any special light. If seen from the outside, it was no different from an ordinary silver ring.

However, Kei knew well that a world was truly hidden inside it.

He closed his eyes and slowly channeled mana into the ring. Immediately, Kei’s consciousness seemed to be pulled up very high.

From an invisible vantage point, he looked down at the entire space inside the ring. This feeling was very different from using spiritual sense to probe. Kei could see everything at once, with no blind spots, no hidden corners.

It was as if he were standing in the sky, observing a land that belonged to him alone.

This was the vision of a god.

The space inside the ring currently consisted of only a patch of black soil and a small lake situated right in the center. The total area of the land was only about one hectare, incomparable to the enormous space that once existed in the SSS-rank spatial ring.

However, Kei quickly noticed something unusual.

Mana was flowing through the air.

The flow of mana was so faint that ordinary people could not sense it, but to Kei, it was as clear as streams of water flowing underground. Mana seeped into every inch of soil, making the black earth astonishingly loose and fertile.

"As expected..."

Kei looked down at the empty black land, his eyes gradually lighting up.

If herbs were planted here, their growth rate would certainly be much faster than outside.

He tried moving his vision farther away.

The patch of black land gradually receded, and the lake also became tiny. Ahead was a vast darkness, with no land, no sky, and not even clear air.

Kei continued moving forward.

But after crossing a certain distance, his consciousness suddenly hit an invisible wall.

Boom!

Though no actual sound rang out, Kei still felt a powerful resistance surging back. His vision immediately stopped, unable to advance even a single bit further.

Kei frowned.

He tried using a bit of mana to probe that wall, but the result remained unchanged. It was not like a defensive layer, nor like a barrier created to block intruders.

It was like a limit.

A limit that could only be opened when certain conditions were met.

"To expand the space, I have to complete some requirements?"

Kei murmured.

He looked back at the patch of black land and the small lake in the distance. He still did not know what the condition to expand this place was, but at least he had seen hope that he could solve his immediate needs.

This was a garden that, if things went well, would provide materials for his shop in the future.

Kei opened his eyes.

The fatigue from having to think about potions all day today had disappeared without a trace. He immediately stood up, put the ring on his finger, and walked out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Kim Sora was wiping the counter and raised her head upon hearing the movement.

"To the wholesale market."

"For what?"

"To buy seeds."

Sora blanked for a moment.

"Seeds?"

Kei nodded.

"Cheap herbs first. I want to try growing them."

Sora looked at the silver ring on Kei’s hand, then at his serious expression. She did not understand why Kei suddenly wanted to buy seeds and how he planned to grow them, but she did not ask further.

Because no matter what Kei did, Sora would always support him unconditionally.

"Then be careful on your way."

Kei went into the storeroom to prepare some things for going out. Just as he stepped out of the shop’s storeroom, he saw a familiar face standing nearby.

Kang Ian was chatting with Kim Sora.

The Guild Master of Crying Ghost still wore the same tired expression as always. His black hair was slightly messy, and his platinum eyes were drowsy, as if he had not slept all night.

When he saw Kei, Kang Ian immediately turned his head.

"Kei-ssi, long time no see."

"Yeah."

Kei gave a slight nod, replied perfunctorily, then turned to Sora.

"I’m heading out."

"Okay,"Go quickly and come back soon!

Kei walked quickly toward the wholesale market.

Just a few seconds later, the sound of footsteps echoed right behind him. Kei turned his head and saw Kang Ian strolling along.

"Why are you following me?"

Kang Ian smiled.

"Actually, it’s because I’m free."

Kei sighed.

"Then go somewhere else, there’s nothing for you to do following me!"

"But I want to go with you."

Kei looked at him with unwavering eyes. Kang Ian kept his faint smile, his steps not stopping at all.

"What are you planning to buy at the wholesale market?"

"Herb seeds."

"Seeds?"

"Yeah."

Kang Ian was silent for a few seconds, then tilted his head slightly.

From Kim Sora, he had heard about Kei becoming an E-rank Craftsman. If it were anyone else, having successfully crafted an E-rank item in such a short time, he would certainly be surprised.

But with Kei, Kang Ian didn’t find it surprising at all.

Kei was too mysterious.

From the first day they met, Kang Ian had felt that this man was not like an ordinary F-rank Craftsman. There was no evidence, but it was intuition, and a strong person always trusts their own intuition.

Someone like Kei, even suddenly crafting an E-rank item, was not strange at all.

"Do you want to grow herbs?" Kang Ian asked.

"Maybe."

Kang Ian tilted his head in confusion.

"Maybe?"

"It depends on whether the seeds can grow. I’m not very sure I can succeed."

Kang Ian looked at Kei’s back, growing more curious.

Kei always spoke very little. Every answer was brief, as if he didn’t want to reveal any information about himself. Yet this time, why did he suddenly want to buy seeds?

Could it be that Kei had found a way to solve the potion problem?

If that were really the case, his rate of growth was far too fast.

Kang Ian glanced at the silver ring on Kei’s hand.

That item didn’t look special, but somehow he felt a very faint energy fluctuation from inside it.

Kang Ian narrowed his eyes.

Perhaps today’s trip to the wholesale market would not be as simple as he thought.

Ahead, Kei had no idea what the person behind him was thinking. He only focused on buying the cheapest kinds of seeds, while constantly imagining the patch of black soil inside the ring.

If those seeds could really grow in an environment containing mana...

Then the shop’s problem of lacking materials could be solved. And if he could expand the area of mana-filled land even more...

The future of this divine artifact ring was very promising!