Chapter 143: Mutated Silverheart Lotus & Divine Vessel

A few minutes later, Aurelius played with a small green trinket in his hands.

It was an object he had found in Edward’s possessions under his instructions, hidden within many useless treasures.

According to Edward, this item had been given to him by his Teacher while he was preparing for this journey.

Its function was simple: to guide him toward the so-called great opportunity that had been awaiting him.

"It was also because of this that I happened to stumble upon the Silverheart Lotus."

"I originally thought I had obtained a great opportunity. Never would I have ever guessed I would encounter those monsters and then you..."

Edward looked regretful.

It was not a disguise.

He really felt that he had been tricked!

If he managed to get out of his current predicament alive and return to the Thieves’ Order, he would find his Teacher and teach him a lesson!

Old man, are you trying to get me killed?!

Aurelius did not know Edward’s thoughts. Or rather, he did not care enough to try to understand them.

After confirming that most of what this Thief had said was true, he decisively took action.

He didn’t kill him, but merely knocked him unconscious.

As for the reason...

’Perhaps this person will prove useful in the future.’

’His Teacher specifically sent him here. It can’t be without a reason. Who knows? Perhaps the so-called opportunity has certain requirements for one to receive it.’

Either way, Aurelius would not lose anything by keeping him alive for the time being.

Edward had not been his opponent from the start.

Now, being seriously injured and having been branded by him, he would never be able to escape, much less defeat him.

With that thought, Aurelius’ tense mind relaxed.

He looked at the trinket in his hand and poured his Spirit into it.

Immediately, the originally motionless object was activated. Its green color deepened before a light fired at him.

A piece of information entered Aurelius’ mind as it landed on his forehead.

An illusory map materialized in his mind.

Aurelius was familiar with what it depicted.

The Dryad Forest.

Several tiny lights were scattered across it. They varied in brilliance.

The lights on the outer layer were the dimmest, while as one approached the forest’s core, these lights shone brighter and brighter.

From Edward’s words, Aurelius understood these lights represented opportunities.

The Silverheart Lotus was one of the brightest among them.

However, it still paled in comparison to the great opportunity promised by Edward’s Teacher.

Aurelius subconsciously looked toward the forest’s core.

There, a brilliant light shone brightly, like a star trying to bathe everything in its color.

All the other lights together could not be compared to its brilliance, resembling mere fireflies in front of the moon.

’It seems that the opportunity is not simple at all. It’s no wonder Edward was prepared to risk his life and enter the forest’s core.’ Aurelius sighed.

His eyes slowly narrowed.

He wasn’t lost in the excitement, nor did he lose his composure.

He knew one truth very well: the more valuable something was, the more difficult it was to obtain.

The Silverheart Lotus was guarded by dozens of Rank 2 monsters.

It required two freaks, Aurelius and Edward, to finally obtain it, and that was only after playing several tricks.

A treasure more precious than the lotus was bound to be countless times more difficult to get his hands on.

Thinking of this, Aurelius’ urge to rush to the core layer as soon as possible and obtain the treasure slowly receded.

It hadn’t disappeared. It had merely been postponed.

Until he had enough strength and confidence to fight for the opportunity.

’Hopefully, these things can make that time come sooner...’ Aurelius thought, his gaze moving toward the spoils of the earlier battles.

The aura of dozens of Rank 2 monsters and the two Divine Phantoms remained in this clearing. No monster would dare to approach here rashly for the next few hours.

This was enough time for Aurelius to take stock of everything.

He didn’t hesitate.

The first item he picked up was the culprit behind the entire ordeal, a treasure valuable enough to make both Awakeners and monsters greedy.

The Silverheart Lotus.

As Aurelius concentrated on it, its description appeared.

...

[Mutated Silverheart Lotus: A Silverheart Lotus born and nourished from the energy emitted by an unknown seed. Its original effects have been significantly strengthened. Consumption will grant the user two skills or Talents.]

...

Mutated Silverheart Lotus.

This title and the accompanying description caused Aurelius’ expression to change.

Not only because he discovered that its effects had been strengthened and it could now grant him two skills or Talents instead of one, but also because of what this meant.

This precious treasure had mutated due to the influence of the unknown seed.

One had to know that the Silverheart Lotus was so valuable that even Rank 4 or even Rank 5 Awakeners would covet it.

To be able to influence it and cause it to mutate, just what kind of power was needed?

The more he understood, the more Aurelius valued the seed he had obtained.

Especially when he recalled the trinket and Edward’s reaction.

’This treasure could not detect the seed’s existence. Otherwise, Edward wouldn’t have merely grabbed the lotus before. He would have acted more carefully, hoping to obtain the seed.’

In Aurelius’ opinion, this didn’t mean that the seed was more precious than the opportunity at the core of the Dryad Forest.

Rather, it had better concealment capabilities.

Or more likely...

’This trinket is directly related to that opportunity.’

Either way, everything pointed to the unknown seed’s high value.

Aurelius found himself bursting with excitement.

Even so, he did not rush to examine the seed just yet.

His attention first turned toward the System Inventory.

His mind stirred.

A golden cube materialized in his hands.

As it returned to reality, the intense yearning coming from the depths of Aurelius’ body reappeared.

Aurelius had to consciously suppress his urge to throw it into his mouth.

He could only concentrate on it—his eye twitching—hoping to bring up its description.

Several long seconds later, lines of text materialized.

...

[Divine Vessel: ...]