Chapter 168: Five Gemstones

"All in all, you’ve earned this Gemstone." The Golden Dragon seemed to have finally made up his mind, reluctantly tearing his gaze away from it. "So now, you should have four Gemstones, right?"

"Five," Ron corrected, studying the pink Gemstone. "Before we faced Sera Lane, he summoned a few Water Elements, and one of them was also holding one."

"The one from the Elemental Plane," the Golden Dragon nodded. "In that case, there are only two Gemstones left."

"Speaking of which, why did the Hailan Empire make these in the first place?" The five Gemstones rolled around in Ron’s palm. "It’s obvious these Gemstones and the items stored within are priceless treasures..."

"For collecting, of course," the Golden Dragon replied, seeming rather unconcerned. "Over the long course of their empire, countless legendary figures emerged. Some were talents who gave their all for the empire, like their Chief Mage. Others were righteous heroes who led rebellions and even came close to overthrowing imperial rule."

"The Laine Clan held both groups in nearly equal esteem. So, they forged that amethyst slab and chose seven of the most iconic figures, sealing their relics within to commemorate them."

"As for how Baron Green Swamp obtained it, we no longer know. But I imagine his justification was something along the lines of not wanting to see a great treasure collect dust."

"Forget their history, let’s check out their powers!" Delaford was getting impatient. "Can I have another one?"

"Don’t be so greedy," Silvia said, tapping the goblin on his big head. "Victoria and Aive haven’t gotten anything yet."

"The power in these Gemstones corresponds to their color." Ron opened his *Weaving Introduction*. Although he could now cast Identification Magic without the Spellbook’s inherent abilities, it would be a waste not to use a spell that consumed no materials. "This Flame Gemstone lets the holder cast Scorching Beam a full twelve times per day, and renders both them and their worn items fireproof."

"If that Luo Wei had been wearing this, we wouldn’t have been in such a miserable state," Aive remarked, still feeling a trace of fear as she recalled the walking human Fireball from the cave.

’It wasn’t that she was all that powerful. It was just that they were at their absolute weakest at the time. The appearance of that crazed Sorcerer was basically a death sentence.’

"Luckily that big fish-head showed up!" Delaford waved his arms and legs excitedly. "SPLASH! Just like that, he blocked her!"

"What does you being in a sorry state have to do with that Sorcerer?" Yelena, tied up on the ground, piped up, displeased. "That was obviously because—"

"Just shut up!" Ron kicked the Shadow Spirit in the ribs. ’Can we please not bring that up again? A Mage injuring everyone, including himself, with a blast? That incident is the absolute worst part of my past!’

’If I were a Sorcerer, I could at least blame it on Wild Magic. But what’s the excuse for a Mage?’

"You should keep an item for offensive Casting for yourself," Victoria said, glancing at the Flame Gemstone before looking away. "We don’t have a free hand to cast."

Using Magic Items like Scrolls for Casting certainly allows one to skip the tedious steps of incantations, gestures, and materials. However, the Caster still needs at least one free hand. Alternatively, they could do what Aive used to, and embed the item into a piece of equipment on their hand—but then she couldn’t unleash its full power.

"This one," Ron said, picking up the ice-blue Gemstone, "allows for Water Manipulation three times a day, and the holder is immune to frostbite. Saran Laine didn’t use either of these two Gemstones back then, probably because this one was also depleted."

"Otherwise, Devin Booker probably would have struggled to fight to the very end," Silvia added. "This Gemstone must have helped him quite a bit."

"And then there’s the one I brought," the Golden Dragon spoke up. "This Mind Gem allows the holder to use Fear Slash, just like a Paladin. I’m sure someone here will be able to use it."

"As for the slab... I wanted to bring it over along with the gem, but Aiksuuri actually snarled at me over it! He said his hoard belongs only to him and to you, and no other creature is allowed to set foot inside."

"Oh, except for those two Personification Monsters."

The Young Black Dragon’s dedication was very moving to Ron, but the thought of having to trudge through the swamp for several more days for this left him at a loss for words.

"Alright, then. I guess we’ll just have to make another trip for it."

After an evening feast, the Golden Dragon rose to take his leave. Given his appetite, it would have been impolite to stay any longer. It was then that the Shadow Spirit prisoner called out to him.

"You’re not just a Dragon Descendant, are you?" Yelena stared at the Golden Dragon, her eyes burning brightly. Her grayish-white skin looked almost translucent in the firelight. "Can you do me a favor?"

"I can tell there’s something extraordinary about you."

"Are you asking me to let you go? I’m afraid that’s impossible." The Golden Dragon shook his head and began to walk away again. "You are Ron’s prisoner. I don’t have the authority."

"No, you don’t have to free me. Just put in a good word for me with him," Yelena said quickly. "I want to go see Green Swamp Town, but Ron won’t let me... Do you know of the place?"

"I do. I just came from there." The Golden Dragon opened his mouth, then closed it, ultimately deciding not to deceive the Shadow Spirit. "Why do you want to go there? To pay your respects? Or do you have a more radical goal in mind?"

’Shadow Spirits were once Elves, but the Golden Dragon doubted she’d feel much kinship with a group of them—unless her family name was Von Richthofen.’

The motto of this impossibly ancient Elven family was "Knowledge, Power, Bloodline." To pursue the first two, the Von Richthofen Elves would stop at nothing, even willingly altering their own life forms. The third, however, ensured they would always identify as members of the family, no matter how diluted their bloodline had actually become.

"I am a Von Richthofen."

The Golden Dragon heard the words he’d least wanted to hear. His Dragon Descendant face fell. "I’m sorry, I can’t help you. Goodbye."

The family’s reputation on the continent was neither good nor bad. This wasn’t because they were obscure; rather, it was because they had been involved in so many major events that it was impossible for others to pass judgment on them—not even a Giant Dragon like himself could do it!

"Wait," Ron, who was still at the feast, called out. He’d caught a glimpse of the Golden Dragon’s conversation with Yelena and suddenly remembered something. "Hey, you’ve been to the Nine Floors of Hell, haven’t you?"