Aimless Ascension

"The fate lock of that kind was extremely uncommon, although we have some plant types that can help in growing herbs, there are none that can augment the quality of wine brewing."

Hope had just kindled in Wang Li's spirit, but it was watered immediately by Guo Zong.

According to him, they didn't have a single fate lock that had both of the functions Gale mentioned. It would either boost spirit herb cultivation or help in concocting stuff. However, they didn't have the ones with the concocting function available in his branch.

"Wine, potion, pill, all of these were big house business," Guo Zong told them. "They are the fuel to the economy. You can't imagine how much in high demand they are. If you like, I can request it from our other branches, though I can't give you any false hopes. It may take months to even years."

Wang Li knew alcohol was in high demand, but she wasn't aware it would be like this. She guessed she would have to be happy with the plant-type one. It was better than the combat types, she supposed.

"For the plant type, we have a few variants," Guo Zong continued. "First, those that could be implemented in battle. We have those in high numbers. But since you aren't interested in them, come this way. . ."

Guo Zong brought them to the sides where a few green gems were displayed. Wang Li read the description to find out they were displayed corresponding to their quality. The common grade, then rare, and lastly, the unique one. There were other grades like the legendary and mythic, though something of such caliber couldn't be stored here.

They would be robbed no matter how extreme defence they implement. Besides, fate locks weren't common cabbages. At least she had only seen a handful of unique fate locks on display. As for those above, they were legends, like their grades.

"We only have one of the unique grades," Guo Zong said and pointed at the emerald gem, titled Greenbringer. "It assists in herb cultivation and also has some qualities that can help in battle. As for the auxiliary function, it can generate Qi 50% faster, meaning it can boost your cycling speed."

Wang Li nodded and found Xiaolin's eyes sparking at the mention of a boost in cycling speed. Whereas Gale stood as unimpressed as always.

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"Most plant types that can boost a plant's growth can boost the practitioner's growth too," he added simply.

"That's true." Guo Zong nodded as his eyes grew serious. "However, there's one catch in this fate lock in particular."

"There are restrictions on its power?"

Guo Zong nodded. "It has two. First, the practitioner needs to drink water in high quantities every day until they reach gold," he said. "That's only a mild detriment. The other one is more serious. Greenbringer conflicts with other elements save for Life, light, water, and earth. Fusing with other fate-locks of other elements than the ones mentioned is highly inadvisable."

"I guessed as much," Gale added. "How much water do you need to drink regularly, though?"

"Depends on how much you use Greenbringer," Guo Zong said quietly, finding Gale with a funny expression. "For normal work, twenty litres, more if you're in a fight. Thankfully, the amount would decrease as the practitioner ranks up."

"The detriments don't seem too bad for you," Gale told Wang Li. "What do you say?"

Wang Li considered. True, she didn't have any preference in elements, nor would she see herself reaching a high rank. Life, light, water, and earth–they seemed preferable to her.

Silver rank was her limit, and it would take her decades at this rate. She simply couldn't hope for more.

"All this seems great," she said truthfully. "But I need to consider the budget as well."

"Since Greenbringer has such detriments, its price is a bit lower than the other fate lock of this caliber," Guo Zong said with a smile. "Greenbringer is priced at sixteen thousand gold spirit marks."

Wang Li's eyes went wide at hearing the price. Again, she understood why her family cut off her resources.

There was no way her grandmother could afford this. Grandma probably needed to sell her property to get this kind of wealth, as she never kept wealth in hard coins. She would have a couple of thousand in gold marks at best.

True, she had the wealth stored up in the bank, but Wang Li just couldn't ask her to waste such wealth on her. Grandma had already helped Wang Li and her family too much.

Even Wang Qi's resources in earlier years were given by her indirectly. She still sends money to her family every year. Who knew this better than her? Wang Li mostly handled most of the accounting of her grandma's property, after all.

Wang Li said and moved. "What are the prices of the common and uncommon ones?"

"The uncommon ones are priced between one and two thousand gold marks," Guo Zong said, much to her relief. "As for the common ones, around fifty to five hundred gold coins, though they can be exchanged with silver marks as well."

Relief washed over her as Wang Li learned that the common fate locks could be exchanged with just fifty gold coins. This was way cheaper than she assumed. Even with her saved-up money, she could afford them.

"It's rather easy to mass produce common artificial fate locks," Guo Zong explained. "That's why they were cheaper."

Wang Li wondered if she should make the purchase right now, writing a bank statement. She refrained in the end, wanting to get advice from Grandma. "Well, I'm fine with it as long as it's not faulty."

"They aren't faulty," Gale said in place of the manager. "Just second-rate product. I can easily make better than that."

"WHAT?!" all three of them shouted in unison.

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Would you guys like some flashback chapters involving Gale's earlier days?

I want to do them slowly at a later date, but if you guys like, I can make them happen sooner. Like in the next few days sooner.