Chris decided to retreat after the chaos he had caused. He withdrew the Death Guards from the Essence Stone mine and found a hidden spot nearby to lay low.
Close to the Essence Stone mine was a city called Flameforge, the headquarters of the Flameforge Sect. It was the largest city within a hundred-mile radius and attracted numerous Aetherbinding practitioners.
Cities in Aethelgard were vastly different from those on Earth. There were no bustling streets filled with cars or towering skyscrapers. Instead, most of the structures resembled ancient buildings, and the roads were filled with horse-drawn carriages rather than modern vehicles. In essence, Aethelgard bore a striking resemblance to the ancient world of Amerosia.
In Aethelgard, common currency for ordinary people consisted of gold, silver, and copper coins. However, for Aetherbinding practitioners, Essence Stones served as the primary currency. One Essence Stone was roughly equivalent to one thousand gold pieces, though hardly anyone would exchange such a valuable resource for mere gold. This underscored the immense importance of Essence Stones in Aethelgard.
Oriana had once told Chris that an Aetherbinding practitioner in Aethelgard would struggle to survive without Essence Stones. Fortunately, Chris had extracted over 200, 000 Essence Stones from the mine. He sent 100, 000 back to Amerosia to replenish the national treasury and kept the remaining 100, 000 for his own ventures in Aethelgard. If converted to gold, his wealth could rival that of an entire nation.
This time, Chris and Oriana came to Flameforge with a simple goal: to find Emily. Being the largest city in the area, if Emily wasn’t in Flameforge, they would have no idea where to search.
Upon arriving in the city, Chris and Oriana split up. Oriana began her search for Emily, while Chris wandered the streets.
Flameforge’s streets were lined with countless shops, selling everything from cultivation techniques and elixirs to the inner cores of magical beasts. Magical beasts in Aethelgard were unlike ordinary animals on Earth. They thrived on the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, making them incredibly powerful. Their inner cores, which stored spiritual energy, were highly sought after by Aetherbinding practitioners. As a result, many people made a living hunting these creatures. Such individuals were commonly referred to as Hunters.
As Chris strolled through the city, he curiously purchased several items, marveling at the unique goods of Aethelgard. Before long, he arrived at a shop called Elixir Haven.
Elixir Haven specialized in selling elixirs, which were indispensable for Aetherbinding practitioners seeking to enhance their abilities. Just as there were Hunters in Aethelgard, there were also specialists in crafting elixirs, known as Alchemists. These elixirs varied in purpose-some were for cultivation, others for healing, and some even for harming others.
Alchemists held a prestigious status in Aethelgard. Nearly every Alchemist was wealthy, but becoming one was no easy feat. A prospective Alchemist needed a fire-attribute Soulseed, without which crafting elixirs was impossible. Alchemists were also ranked by the grade of elixirs they could produce, ranging from First Grade to Ninth Grade. Above Ninth Grade were Celestial Grade and Divine Grade Alchemists, though such individuals were largely considered mythical.
Apart from Alchemists and Hunters, Aethelgard had other specialized professions, such as Forgemasters and Array Masters.
When Chris entered Elixir Haven, he found it bustling with people, most of whom were Aetherbinding practitioners. Despite housing countless priceless elixirs, few dared to target Elixir Haven. It was the largest elixir supplier in Aethelgard, with outlets across the entire realm. Robbing it would be tantamount to suicide.
A shop attendant quickly approached Chris with a warm smile. “What can I help you with, sir?”
Chris glanced at the attendant and noted that he was an Aetherbound practitioner of the Aether realm. It was startling to see that even a mere shop attendant here possessed such strength. On Earth, an Aether realm practitioner would be considered a significant figure, but in Aethelgard, they were relegated to serving customers.
“I’m looking for elixirs to strengthen the body,” Chris said.
The attendant nodded eagerly. “Of course, we have a wide variety of body-strengthening elixirs.”
He led Chris deeper into the shop, where rows of counters displayed countless elixirs stored in jade bottles. The jade preserved the medicinal properties of the elixirs, preventing their potency from dissipating. Chris scanned the shelves, amazed by the sheer variety-there were thousands of different elixirs available. Elixir Haven truly lived up to its reputation as the largest elixir shop in Flameforge, offering nearly everything an Aetherbinding practitioner could need.
“These body-strengthening elixirs are called Vitality Essence,” the attendant explained with a smile. “Vitality Essence improves the constitution of Aetherbinding practitioners, making their bodies more durable. It’s one of the most common elixirs in Aethelgard, but the quality of our Vitality Essence is the best in all of Flameforge.”
Chris nodded thoughtfully. He wanted Vitality Essence because he felt his body wasn’t strong enough. Though his physical strength was already exceptional by Earth’s standards, he realized upon arriving in Aethelgard that the physiques of Aetherbinding practitioners were far superior to his own. Improving his constitution was a crucial first step in becoming an Aetherbinding practitioner, and Vitality Essence was essential for that purpose.
“What grades of Vitality Essence do you have here?” Chris asked.
The attendant replied, “We carry Vitality Essence ranging from First Grade to Fifth Grade. However, since Flameforge is considered a small city in Aethelgard, the highest grade we stock is Fifth Grade.”