Chapter 484 - 318: Essence Bracelet (Part 2)

Chapter 484: Chapter 318: Essence Bracelet (Part 2)

Han Ning raised the Sea-Suppressing Bracelet and examined it carefully.

In the dim sunlight, the bracelet’s silver Runes seemed to glow with layers of light, exuding an air of nobility.

"This must be a fine treasure. Masters, please take a look."

Hom was an expert in Gold and Water Type Elemental Runes. She took the bracelet from Han Ning, observed it carefully in her hand for a moment, and said:

"This is most likely a High-Level Soul Artifact from the Wangchao Family of the Deep Sea Race. It’s used to amplify the power of a Water Type Soul’s Soul Techniques. It was probably once worn by a very important family member."

"The Wangchao Family?" Han Ning asked, confused.

He didn’t know much about the Deep Sea Race, only that this vast race wasn’t actually a single, monolithic people. Strictly speaking, they were an alliance formed by the many powerful families among the intelligent races of the Celestial Sea.

"Look. That merchant over there probably has Wangchao Family blood in him." Hom jerked her chin, her gaze landing on the Octopus Head who had just sold Han Ning the Thunderlight Eel.

"Their unique physiology allows Wangchao Beastmasters to use their many tentacles to inscribe Runes simultaneously. The Wangchao Family controls nearly seventy percent of the Soul Artifact market among the Deep Sea Race. They are a true super-clan, ranking in the top five even among the many powerful Deep Sea Families."

"This bracelet is quite valuable. Keep it safe, and be careful that a passing Wangchao Beastmaster doesn’t see it. That could bring unnecessary trouble."

Hom hid the large bracelet inside her wide sleeve before carefully handing it back to Han Ning.

The discovery of the Essence Bracelet was just a small interlude.

With their hearts set on their homeland, the two felt no attachment to such a treasure. Han Ning quickly put it away and followed them as they continued to wander through Illusion Sea City.

After following them on a tour of nearly half the city, Han Ning finally figured out what the two of them were up to.

They seemed to be looking for something. It didn’t take much to deduce they were probably searching for a mark left behind by the Wind Spirit Race.

The three of them made their way to the west side of Illusion Sea City. As they passed a five-story building made from the bones of some unknown Sea Beast, Hom—whose brow was perpetually furrowed—suddenly stopped in her tracks, her expression shifting.

She raised her head and stared at a dozen seemingly unremarkable scratches on the wall of the small building, saying:

"These are the Marks of the Trade Wind, a common contact sign used within the Storm Division."

With that said, she walked straight to the building’s entrance.

Han Ning and Sage exchanged a look, then hurried to catch up.

This was a shop that sold low-grade Water Type materials.

As soon as Han Ning stepped inside, he saw Hom standing behind a counter, speaking with a humanoid creature whose face was covered in fish scales.

The two were conversing in the language of the Deep Sea Race, which he couldn’t understand.

But as their exchange continued, Hom suddenly raised her hand. With a finger glowing with Spiritual Energy, she traced a dozen paths of light in the air, resembling the trail of a gentle breeze.

Upon seeing this, the Alien Race member behind the counter nodded calmly, pointed toward the back of the shop, and said something to Hom.

"They were using an internal communication method of the Storm Division. Hom confirmed the target’s identity," Sage explained simply.

’This looks like some kind of spy rendezvous.’

Silently, Han Ning followed the other two up a flight of stairs and into a narrow room.

The room was stuffy and airless. Inside sat a slender fish-headed person with a sharp gaze.

The moment he saw the trio’s varied appearances, his expression immediately turned wary.

Hom, however, remained unhurried. She once again displayed the trails of Spiritual Energy for him.

The other party’s expression relaxed slightly. He asked Hom a few more questions before finally seeming to let his guard down. Switching to the language of the Witch Spirit Race, he asked, "Pardon me, Sires, but from which branch of the Witch Spirit Race do you hail?"

"How were you able to confirm our identity?" Hom asked, her expression calm.

The term ’Sire’ comes from the language of the Xia Country. In the tongue of the Witch Spirit Race, it represents the status of a noble or a commander.

The nobles and commanders of the Witch Spirit Race are typically either pure-blooded or high-ranking Witch Spirit People.

The fish-headed man looked at Hom. "Your ’Trade Wind’ secret code is long obsolete within the Storm Division. I’ve only ever seen this code in our clan’s historical archives. Almost no one uses it today. Therefore, I inferred that you must be elders returning from some sealed region or from beyond our realm, or perhaps from a branch that broke away from the main clan long ago."

As he spoke, he raised a hand and passed it over his ugly fish head.

In its place was a face with two cyan markings and pointed ears.

Seeing this, Hom also dropped her own disguise, revealing her true face.

When the Witch Spirit Beast Master saw Hom’s true appearance, his face instantly filled with astonishment. He hastily rose from his seat and dropped to one knee before Hom, saying respectfully:

"My Lady, I never expected you to be a high-ranking Witch Spirit Person."

Hom gave a slight nod. "I am indeed from beyond the realm. What is your name, and what is your post?"

"My name is Hassuning, My Lady. I currently serve as an Intelligence Officer under Marquis Fengling."

"What is the name of the current Marquis Fengling?"

"Hamina Storm," Hassuning replied, his tone reverent.

’A direct descendant of Duke Storm? Why would she have fallen so low?’ Hom murmured, then continued, "Tell me about the current situation in the Southern Four Islands and with the Witch Spirit Race. Has the Elemental Capital truly fallen?"

"Five months ago, the Blood Halberd Prince of the Alatake Clan invaded the Elemental Continent. Through a ritual, he summoned the sixth arm of the Weapon Demon, and its blade shattered the continent into pieces. Casualties were innumerable. The survivors were scattered to other parts of the world by the violent spatial Power."

"So, I’m afraid I don’t know if the Elemental Capital has fallen either," Hassuning said, shaking his head. He continued,

"Four months ago, having been stranded in the Celestial Demon Sea Region outside the Eastern Continent Group, Marquis Fengling began recruiting the scattered remnants of the Witch Spirit in the area. Her Ladyship reached an agreement with the Red Manta Clan, who ceded the Southern Four Islands of the Sunset Islands to us as a temporary refuge. The Marquis paid a tremendous amount of resources for this."

"But for some unknown reason, two months ago the Red Manta Clan suddenly tore up the agreement. They claimed we had interfered in the internal affairs of the Deep Sea Race and now demand the right of residence for the Southern Four Islands back. Her Ladyship the Marquis refused, and that’s how the war started."

"And the reason for not leaving is?" Hom pressed.

Hassuning opened and closed his mouth. "I... My rank is too low. I don’t know."

"It’s possible someone—or a Soul Beast—in their group is severely injured. Or perhaps there’s a spatial rift within the Sunset Islands leading to the Elemental Saint Realm. Otherwise, Marquis Fengling wouldn’t be so determined to hold this position."

"What is this Marquis Fengling’s strength?"

The sudden analysis came from Sage, who had been silent up until now.

Hassuning shot Sage an incredulous look, but answered honestly:

"Spiritual Dark Star Tier Five. Her Main Combat Soul Beast is an Upper Monarch, and she is at the stage of comprehending Soul Force."

"An Upper Monarch? Are you sure?" Sage frowned. "A Marquis, of all people, and her Main Combat Soul Beast isn’t even Emperor Level?"

Han Ning remembered Sage once saying that in the Witch Spirit Race, a Beast Master could only be granted the title of Count if all six of their Main Combat Soul Beasts had reached the Upper Monarch level, their own Spiritual Power was at Tier Five, and they had accomplished outstanding deeds.

’That level of strength only makes one a Count, to say nothing of the higher rank of Marquis.’

"Well..." Hassuning said cautiously, "The current Marquis Fengling is a rare genius among our people. She was only twenty-four when she broke through to Dark Star Tier Five, so His Majesty the King made an exception and granted her the title. She is one of the youngest Marquises in the history of the Elemental Continent."

"That’s strange, then. Rifts to the Saint Realm can only be perceived and opened by Emperor Level beings. Could it be... that kid’s Soul Beast is about to break through to the Emperor level? Or is there some other reason."

Sage murmured his analysis in a low voice.

Hom stared at Hassuning. "Young man, I’ll trouble you to arrange for our entry into the Southern Four Islands. I wish to speak with Marquis Fengling directly."