Chapter 135: Unhealthy Region
All the youths waiting there were stunned when they saw that small group leave. Remembering that only newly created sects, with almost nothing to offer their disciples, accepted anyone to register.
All the ancient and good sects created connections with clans they considered to have interesting Bloodlines, and thus accepted them as their disciples. In other words, that group of youths from the Mortal Plane... was ruining their future by leaving.
Well... they still had a little less than seven days to give up and come back.
Priam and his group returned to the same flying boat. At that moment, Priam spoke lightly to Flaris:
"Do we have enough to go to that larger city we saw on the way?"
Flaris remembered the city and quickly nodded.
"It should be enough."
Everyone was strangely calm. That was because they saw in Priam’s gaze that he knew exactly where they were going.
Flaris activated the remaining scraps of energy, and the flying boat took off again.
In a few minutes, they spotted a large city and landed nearby.
There were no barriers or blockades around it. There was no reason for that, since that entire planet was protected by the great sect. No one would dare cause any trouble there.
The group abandoned the flying boat for good. It was completely damaged after the battle to arrive. Besides that, getting resources to move with it wasn’t worth it. It was simply better to pay to use the teleport inscription.
Maybe they could sell it, but they didn’t know where to do that, and they didn’t have that much free time.
The group moved, entering the city.
Priam didn’t waste time, going straight to the center, where the teleport inscription existed.
When they arrived there, there was no line. A tall woman, with long red hair and greenish skin, was nearby, with a bored expression.
"Madam, we’d like to use the inscription," Priam approached politely.
She turned, staring at that young man seriously.
Seeing his clothes made of pathetic materials, along with his level of power... there was no doubt, he was someone from the Mortal Plane.
"Boy, the cost of everything is calculated by distance and number of people. Besides, we use the currency of the Divine Plane..."
"Yes, Red Prisms. I have some of those," Priam interrupted her with a slight wave. "I wish to go to the southern region of the Divine Plane. Would you be able to send all of us to one of the recruitment planets of the Ironweald sect?"
The woman’s eyes changed. Those youths wanted to go to the most terrible and dangerous place in the Divine Plane?
She spoke with genuine concern. "Boy, the southern region isn’t a place to visit. After going there, you probably won’t be able to come back."
"That’s fine, I don’t intend to come back. Thank you for the information," Priam said, indifferent.
She snorted. "The distance is far too long. I can’t charge less than 200 Red Prisms per person."
"Great, 800 Red Prisms. Here." Priam moved everything into a random spatial ring and handed it over.
He was relieved to have enough. Fortunately, he had earned a thousand Red Prisms by saving that bastard Young Master from before. Now, that money saved him.
The woman couldn’t believe it when she saw those Prisms. This wasn’t a small amount at all. She took a deep breath, certain that this young man wasn’t what he appeared to be.
"You can enter the center. I’ll send you to the planet of the outer sect that I have registered in the inscription. Even I don’t know the name of this planet, or any extra details. I’ve never sent anyone to this unhealthy region, and maybe this planet has already been taken by Sorcerers. It’s very normal for that to happen in that place. I’ll ask one last time: are you sure?"
"Yes. Thank you very much," Priam thanked her, and everyone moved.
The woman sighed and activated the inscription.
In a few seconds, the four saw the ground beneath their feet pulse with intense light.
The entire environment around them began to distort, with an intense power covering them.
...
Seconds later, everything returned to normal.
But the environment was definitely very different.
The climate was cold, dry, and dark. The smell was strong... like rust.
Looking around, they found themselves in an almost desert-like region, with half a dozen very simple buildings around them.
They were in the middle of a city... but it looked nothing like the beauty and power of a place in the Divine Plane.
Priam saw an old man outside the great circle of the inscription. That figure was staring fixedly at them, clearly stunned to see them.
Everyone slowly moved toward him.
"Sir, are we on a recruitment planet of the Ironweald sect?" Priam asked politely.
The old man took a deep breath, still speaking a little stunned:
"Indeed, this is the place... sorry, it’s been a very long time since I last saw youths from outside coming here."
Hearing that, the group sighed in relief.
"Why has it been so long? This sect is relatively famous, even living in a place like this. There should be many people coming to try to enter, no?" Flaris asked, curious.
"No, it’s almost impossible. All the youths born in this southern region suffer from a complete lack of resources. They all end up being only a little better than the average of those coming from the Mortal Plane. Besides, 90% of the disciples die within two hundred years."
"As for the resources the sect can give to core disciples, they aren’t much better than what the worst sect in the other regions can give to an outer disciple. In other words, it’s not worth coming to this place. For anyone from the Mortal Plane, it’s better to become a worker in another sect than to be a disciple here. Like that, they don’t earn that much less, and they can still stay alive."
Everyone heard that and grew tense. A 90% death rate within two hundred years was a truly terrifying number.
"Then why doesn’t everyone simply leave?" Shione asked, thoughtful.
The old man smiled awkwardly.
"That’s even more impossible. The prejudice of people from the other regions against us from the South is a bit... terrible. They accuse us of being Sorcerers, even when we haven’t done anything. Besides, without a passage authorization from a great power, even I can’t activate the teleport inscription and send you back to the other regions."
"The only escape route is by using vessels and crossing space. But... not even the leader of the Ironweald sect would dare say he could do that easily. There are Sorcerers and dangers everywhere. Now that you came here of your own will... I’m afraid you can’t go back..."
Those four were even more shocked. The lives of those who lived in this region were quite difficult.
"Thank you for the information. Where is the registration taking place?" Priam asked.
The old man turned and pointed west.
"After that mountain, there’s a large forest. Once you cross it, you’ll find the place."
Priam nodded. He thought of something, then took out 20 Red Prisms and handed them to the old man.
"Sir, I need to get in contact with some Elder or someone of some relevance from the Ironweald sect. Could you help me?"
Seeing the generous tip, the old man smiled.
"Of course I can. I have contact with the sect and can ask someone internal to come here immediately. But... if you don’t have something truly useful to say to that figure... I can’t guarantee your safety afterward. The people from the sect are a little savage sometimes."
"That’s fine. Please, I’d like you to call them," Priam replied, satisfied. This would save him a lot of time.
The old man quickly took out a red emblem and pressed it, activating something.
Shione, Lumiere, and Flaris stayed right behind Priam, all with anxious and thoughtful expressions. They had no idea what Priam was thinking; they only trusted that everything would be fine.
About a minute later...
The old man turned west.
Amid the gloomy clouds, a figure appeared, quickly approaching.
In mere seconds, that figure landed right in front of them. A strong gust of wind was felt.
She was a tall and strong woman, with long elven ears and an enormous scar from a deep slash crossing her face. She had a long sword sheathed on her back, which drew a lot of attention. After all, a Mage could store everything in a spatial ring. So, walking around with their weapons was something very rare and specific.
Her gaze was cold as a blade. The moment she arrived, the entire environment seemed to freeze.
"What happened?" Her voice sounded deep.
The old man swallowed dryly, turning to Priam.
Seeing this, the woman stared at him dryly.
Priam didn’t waste time and nodded, taking something from his spatial ring.
The woman saw that wooden staff...
"WHAT!!!"
Suddenly, her thunderous voice erupted, making everyone jump in fright.
"HOW DO YOU HAVE THIS!?" she roared, and everyone felt their bodies being fiercely pressed down.
Priam took a deep breath.
"Since you recognize it, that makes things much easier. It’s a long story... but I received this from someone who promised me that, if I came back and showed it, its original owner would take me in and help me in her sect."
At that moment, the woman stared fixedly at Priam. Her expression was clearly that of someone stunned.
As for Priam, he remained completely indifferent, holding his wooden staff.
She saw something in his eyes for a few seconds, then sighed heavily. Her aura disappeared completely.
She turned to the four of them and nodded.
"I see... come with me."
She wasn’t one to waste much time with words. And, without any hesitation, she took out a silver crystal and crushed it with her hand.
Immediately, runes appeared, covering the environment.
Priam knew that this was a spatial Talisman, something that only existed in the Divine Plane and, according to the records, was something of high value. But that woman didn’t hesitate to burn it, because this seemed to be a very, very big matter.
Her seriousness was almost suffocating.
But those four didn’t have time for anything before being swallowed by space to a distant place.