At that moment, Mikael passed beneath the east archway, stepping into a corridor that looked nearly identical to the one he had traversed earlier before arriving at the room where the confrontation had taken place.
'Jiang Xuan's fight with the Flame Sovereign Sect doesn't really matter to me. What does matter… is their speed,' he thought as a serious expression crossed his face.
'I struggled to follow them, especially Jiang Xuan's sword strike. All I saw was a flash… I would've needed to be fully covered in my aura cloak just to properly track it. And to actually contend against him, I'd have to use all my techniques. And that's assuming he was even going all out, which he clearly wasn't,' he thought grimly.
The earlier confrontation had painted a grim picture—one that confirmed his fears. In the Akashic Records Universe, for all his strength and power, he was at the bottom of the barrel.
At that moment, Mikael's mindset shifted, growing sharper and more cautious. His thoughts drifted back to the instincts that had once governed him as an orphan on the streets—the wariness that had kept him alive, the ruthless pragmatism that had allowed him to survive and even thrive in a world that cared nothing for the poor and the disadvantaged.
Without realizing it, his power had dulled those very instincts, making him more reckless, more confident—even a hint of arrogance had taken root, convincing him that he should be able to overcome any challenge that came his way.
After all, since joining the Akashic Records, he had rarely faced true setbacks. There had been complications, sure, but each time, he had come out on top. The only real exception had been the Nexoria Invasion, where he had suffered a loss. And while it had affected him, a part of him still believed that things would ultimately work out in his favor.
This thought was only fuelled by the fact that even in romance, things had gone absurdly well. Hell, he even had a harem!
But after witnessing the fight between Jiang Xuan and the Flame Sovereign Sect disciples, he finally grasped the full extent of his own weakness and just how dangerous this new world truly was. The realization crushed whatever remained of his arrogance, forcing him to adopt a more pragmatic outlook.
Even his perspective on romance was affected. Right now, it was the last thing on his mind. Even if an unbelievably beautiful woman crossed his path, he wouldn't spare her a second glance. Of course, things were different with the women he was already involved with—they had long since secured a place in his heart. While he was taking things far more seriously now, that didn't mean he'd suddenly become an asshole toward them.
Outwardly, Mikael's expression remained unchanged—calm, indifferent—but inside, the transformation was profound. As he continued down the corridor, his entire being adjusted, instinctively reverting to the cautious, calculating mindset that had once ensured his survival.
Before long, he emerged into a different section of the building. This area was noticeably less crowded, and unlike the previous halls teeming with cultivators in traditional robes, the people here displayed a striking variety in their attire. Some wore modern outfits, others donned futuristic, sci-fi-inspired designs, while a few blended fantasy and cyberpunk elements into their clothing.
Mikael barely spared their colorful appearances more than a passing glance. His focus remained on analyzing his surroundings, assessing the location's significance, and determining how best he could use it to his advantage.
After a brief reconnaissance, he made his way to a counter, where a man in flowing daoist robes stood behind the desk.
"Sir, I assume you're interested in converting LP into spirit stones. Would that be correct?"
Before Mikael could utter a word, the man behind the counter spoke first. His language was unfamiliar, yet Mikael understood him perfectly, the words seamlessly translating into English within his mind.
Relieved that communication wouldn't be an issue, Mikael responded, "Yes, that's correct. I saw the panel and would like to convert some LP into low-grade spirit stones."
The cultivator gave a slight nod, his expression neutral yet professional. "Of course. Our current exchange rate is one LP per low-grade spirit stone. Higher-grade stones require a different conversion ratio. How many would you like to exchange?"
Mikael took a moment to consider. He had accumulated a significant amount of LP, but recklessly spending it without understanding the local economy could be a grave mistake—especially in a place like this, which, judging by its layout and services, felt like some kind of 'airport.' He strongly suspected that prices here were inflated, possibly even bordering on a scam, much like the overpriced goods sold in airports back on Earth.
Despite knowing this, he still intended to proceed. Losing a little extra LP didn't matter if it meant securing a safer start in this unfamiliar world. His priority was to acquire enough spirit stones to operate comfortably without drawing unnecessary attention.
"500 LP into low-grade spirit stones," he decided after a brief pause.
The cultivator's gaze drifted to Mikael's hands before he asked, "Considering that 500 spirit stones could be inconvenient to transport, would you be interested in purchasing a storage ring?"
"Storage ring?" Mikael echoed, curiosity flashing in his eyes. It was exactly what he thought it might be, but he wanted confirmation.
Seeing his interest—and knowing that the more he sold, the higher his commission—the man behind the counter's tone turned enthusiastic. "Storage rings are wonderful artifacts! They allow you to transport an immense amount of items within an extremely compact space. A storage ring is worn on a finger, and inside, it contains a separate internal space. The size of this space varies depending on the ring's rank, but even a low-rank storage ring offers an impressive 10 cubic meters of storage!"
"The only drawback," he continued, his voice carrying the practiced cadence of a seasoned salesman, "is that accessing the ring requires an external energy source—whether it be Qi or another form of energy from outside the Akashic Records Universe. But for someone like sir, I doubt that would be a problem!"
Mikael ignored the exaggerated sales pitch, focusing on the practical aspects. 'Considering that my inventory doesn't work, this could be useful,' he mused before asking, "What's the price of a low-rank storage ring?"
The man's enthusiasm dimmed slightly. He would have preferred if Mikael had shown interest in something more expensive, as it would have earned him a larger commission. Still, a sale was a sale. "As I mentioned, a low-rank storage ring has a capacity of 10 cubic meters. It costs only 200 low-rank spirit stones, though an equivalent payment of 200 LP is also acceptable."
Mikael nodded. "I'll take one. Exchange 500 LP for low-grade spirit stones as well. Also, if possible, do you have anything that could help me with communication? The language barrier is proving to be an issue."
The man's smile returned, and with a flash of light, a small ring appeared in his palm. "This beauty is an incredibly useful artifact—a translator. Worn like any ordinary ring, it automatically translates all languages into the native tongue of the wearer."
"This function is invaluable," he added, his voice filled with practiced excitement. "It allows the user to understand any spoken language, even ones they've never encountered before. Likewise, when speaking, the artifact ensures that others hear their words in a language they comprehend."
"A truly priceless treasure for any cultivator below the Spiritual Foundation Realm! And all this for the low price of 300 low-rank spirit stones or 300 LP!"
'Spiritual Foundation Realm, huh?' Mikael thought, intrigued. He had no clue how strong this cultivation realm was, but it was worth keeping in mind that it was starting from this cultivation realm that translator artefact became redundant. "I'll take the translator as well."
The merchant's smile widened. "Would that be all?"
Mikael considered for a moment before asking, "Since this is my first time on Diron, would you recommend anything else?"
With a flick of his wrist, the cultivator summoned two books onto the counter in a flash of light. "These contain valuable and practical information about Diron and the Akashic Records Universe," he said, pushing them toward Mikael.
Mikael picked them up, his gaze landing on their titles:
Diron's Landscape
Cultivation Beginning
Seeing the subjects, Mikael immediately recognized their usefulness. "How much?" he asked.
"The two together cost only 50 LP!" the cultivator replied with an eager smile.
Mikael gave a small nod. "That will be all."
The cultivator, satisfied with the transaction, smoothly retrieved a crystalline device and placed it on the counter. "The total comes to 1,050 LP. Please place your hand over the array," he instructed.
Mikael complied, watching as faint golden lines lit up beneath his palm. A moment later, a system notification appeared before him:
[Transaction with Wu Kangzhi for 1,050 LP. Accept? Yes/No]
'They're conducting trade directly through the Records?' Mikael thought, slightly surprised. He accepted the transaction, and a moment later, his balance was 1,050 LP lighter.
As soon as he confirmed, the device beneath his palm pulsed with a bright glow.
"Transaction confirmed. These are your items," the man said, pushing Mikael's purchases toward him.
He added, "For convenience, the spirit stones have already been placed inside the storage ring."
Mikael nodded, sliding the storage ring onto his finger. With a small prod of mana, he peered inside and saw hundreds of small, glowing blue orbs—the low-rank spirit stones the cultivator had mentioned.
Next, he slipped the translator ring onto another finger. With a thought, the two books vanished in a flash of light, reappearing inside the storage ring.
"Looks good," he remarked simply.
The cultivator offered a polite nod. "If you ever need more items or wish to exchange anything, feel free to return. My colleagues or I will always be here to assist you. May fortune favor your path."
Mikael gave a final glance before turning away, his mind already shifting to the knowledge he had just acquired.
As he walked through the room, his thoughts settled on the books. Naturally, Cultivation Beginning intrigued him the most, but he decided to prioritize Diron's Landscape first. Understanding this world was essential before proceeding with reconnaissance.
Seeking a quiet place, he maneuvered through the crowd until he found a relatively isolated spot. He intended to return to the Hub and carefully study both books before continuing his exploration.
However, just as he was about to leave, something unexpected happened—something that made his blood run cold.
Author Note:
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