Sovereign of the Ashes

Chapter 143: Fundamental Knowledge on the Otherworldly Planes

“Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Here’s the well-earned reward for your efforts,” Lance said with a smile as he handed Sein a goblet filled with a peculiar blue liquid after Sein completed the dissection task.

The blue was a concoction from Lance’s research that could slightly boost focus level. It was made by grinding the roots of a plant collected in an otherworldly plane known as the Inferno World.

While it was merely a refreshing drink that offered a pleasant taste for someone of Lance’s caliber, it held a notable effect on senior initiates like Sein.

Although Sein could not precisely quantify the boost in his focus, he felt a significant surge in energy.

After expressing his gratitude, Sein also received the promised payment from Lance—five magicoins and five academy merit points. However, he politely declined the magicoins.

When a curious and puzzled look appeared on Lance’s face, Sein explained, “I’m deeply intrigued by your advanced knowledge of extraplanar creatures, Master Lance. I hope to use this opportunity to acquire relevant insights about the otherworldly planes from you.”

The pursuit of knowledge always came at a cost.

Although Lance’s expertise was niche, it was not something to be shared for free.

A realization dawned upon Lance upon hearing Sein’s explanation. “I see, you’re a curious one. My advanced knowledge on extraplanar creatures is priced at ten magicoins.”

With a smile, he generously suggested, “How about this... You can keep the five academy merit points. No need to pay the extra magicoins either, consider it a fifty percent discount for the lessons!”

“Thank you, Master Lance!” Sein promptly expressed his gratitude once again.

Having spent over a month at the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring Academy, Sein had a rough understanding of how things worked in the academy.

Advanced knowledge shared by full-fledged mages typically started at a minimum price of three magicoins, with one-on-one tutoring going up to five magicoins.

Specialized areas like alchemy, apothecary, summoning, and astrology demanded even higher payments in magicoins.

Without a sufficient balance of magicoins and academy merit points, navigating the academy would become challenging.

It was no surprise that initiates in the academy often led hectic lives and consistently undertook academy quests.

The five academy merit points were seamlessly transferred into Sein’s verdant green badge by Master Lance.

The badge was a magic item of rather decent quality representing one’s identity as an initiate from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Storing academy merit points was only one of its many functions.

Sein, with a significant background in the field of alchemy, was able to discover the additional functions of the badge such as short-distance communication, image recording, and coordinate positioning.

When he first received this verdant green badge, he was tempted to dismantle it for a thorough examination.

Unfortunately, he had to defer the idea due to his busy schedule of attending public courses and his plans to delve into various branches of magic knowledge and research, reserving it for a time when he was less occupied.

While he was intrigued by the mysteries hidden within the badge, he could not help but wonder whether dismantling it might trigger a response from the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring or lead to unforeseen consequences.

Lance’s residence was situated on the 45th floor of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring.

Sein had the opportunity to enter the tower to assist Master Lance in dissecting an extraplanar creature resembling a drake.

Although he knew that Master Eileen and Master Jovian stayed on the 76th and 278th floors respectively, he refrained from bothering them.

Over the next two weeks, he only visited Lance’s residence to acquire knowledge about otherworldly planes over the course of twelve lessons.

While twelve lessons could not cover everything about the otherworldly planes, they elevated Sein’s understanding of otherworldly planes to a higher level compared to other initiates.

According to Lance, the primary disparity between the other planes and the Magus World lay in the suppression effect of the planar will experienced by Magus World native creatures upon descending to the Otherworld.

Some knights and mages took this suppression effect as a form of training for personal improvement, while others despised it for its adverse impact on strength.

In interplanar conflicts, the Magus Civilization Army faced an intensified suppression effect due to malicious planar will of the hostile planes. With their strength drastically reduced, it became much more challenging to conquer native creatures on those otherworldly planes.

Under the influence of suppressed strength, recklessness could easily lead to their demise in the otherworldly plane.

In contrast, conquered planes exhibited a weakened planar will due to the substantial loss of its native inhabitants.

Despite a lingering planar suppression effect, it was comparatively weaker, making it more suitable for experts in the Magus World to traverse and explore.

To Sein’s inquiry about the nature of planar suppression effect, Lance offered only a vague response, suggesting it could be perceived as an “environmental difference or a special force field”.

“Planar wills are more advanced topics and related to the fundamental truths of the world. Figures of greater authority like the deans and the master of the Divine Tower of Verdant Spring may possess more knowledge on this topic. In addition to the points I have shared, planar wills only manifest in complete planes governed by its own set of well-established laws.

“Demiplanes and broken planes possessed no planar will. Upon entering those planes, you’ll only perceive environmental differences without experiencing any planar suppression effect,” Lance explained.

Sein, drawing from his experience in the Sand World, nodded in comprehension as he absorbed the knowledge Lance shared.

Afterward, Sein posed another question to Lance, asking, “Do planar will and planar suppression effects exist in the Magus World too?”

In response to Sein’s query, Lance smiled and said, “Certainly, they do exist in the Magus World. Not only that, our planar will and suppression effects are more powerful!”

“Have you ever wondered why many low-level extraplanar creatures, theoretically with longer lifespans, see their lifespans drastically reduced upon entering the Magus World?” Lance asked.

Before Sein could respond, Lance continued with a profound look on his face, “That’s because the environment of our Magus World is too ‘harsh’ for them!”

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