"How am I blind?" Adrian asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked toward Lysandra.
Lysandra did not answer immediately. Instead, she raised her hand slightly, turning her wrist so that the spatial ring resting on her finger caught the light. The small gesture alone conveyed her point before she even spoke.
"Don't we already have artifacts like this within the universe?" she said calmly. "You do not need a portable formation at all. Simply inscribe the spell onto a piece of wearable equipment, a ring, a pendant, or something similar, and include a slot for a crystal to power it. Once the user inserts the appropriate essence crystal, the spell can activate whenever they choose. Isn't it that simple?"
Adrian fell silent. In that instant, he realized he had overlooked something that had been directly in front of him all along.
Lysandra noticed the shift in his expression and continued speaking, "Back in the Milky Way galaxy, we did not have access to materials capable of supporting such dense inscriptions. But even then, we still had artifacts. Do you remember?"
Adrian nodded slowly. The word 'artifact' had not been used frequently within the Milky Way, yet the concept itself had certainly existed. Any piece of equipment inscribed with runic structures or formation patterns that could function repeatedly over time could technically be classified as an artifact. Under that definition, even a starship qualified as an artifact, since it contained complex formations responsible for propulsion, navigation, shielding, and other functions.
The real limitation in the Milky Way had always been materials. If a material was too weak, then even the most perfectly inscribed rune structure would collapse after a single activation. The inscription would burn through the material and destroy it immediately. That was exactly what skill scrolls were. They were inscribed onto fragile materials that could only survive one activation before disintegrating.
However, if one possessed sufficiently strong materials, the inscription could endure repeated use.
Back in the Milky Way Galaxy, such materials were extremely limited. To compensate for that weakness, inscribers had developed a different method. Instead of concentrating inscriptions within small objects, they spread the rune structures across massive blocks of material. By distributing the energy across a larger surface, the intensity of each individual section decreased, allowing the structure to survive longer.
Even the communication nodes created by Lexaria had been constructed in this way. Those nodes were built from a rare material capable of holding numerous inscriptions related to data storage and communication runes. Yet even that material was not strong enough to sustain more powerful rune structures. It could only safely handle low-intensity inscriptions.
Adrian remembered clearly when he had attempted to create a spatial ring during his earlier research in the Milky Way. His first attempt involved using the same material that had been used for the communication nodes. The result had been immediate failure, the material shattered after a single activation, unable to withstand the density of spatial power contained within the inscription.
The wider universe, however, was entirely different. Countless exotic materials existed here, each possessing unique properties and strengths. During his recent visit to the Thousand Veils Sect, Adrian had even seen their headquarters constructed from a material known as void alloy, a material renowned for its extraordinary durability.
So the concept itself was not new to him. Artifacts had existed in the Milky Way as well, but their use had been severely limited.
And yet Adrian had somehow overlooked this solution, even though he had been wearing and using a spatial ring throughout his entire journey across the universe.
The solution had been in front of him the entire time. Now he understood why Lysandra had said he was blind.
He exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "I should have thought of that immediately."
"You should have," Lysandra agreed.
Adrian accepted the criticism without complaint. She was right.
Lysandra continued, "I do not know what kind of material will be capable of containing the spell you created. But there are countless materials available here. You could simply purchase different types and test them."
She gestured vaguely toward the window, as if the entire universe lay beyond it. "I also looked into this briefly. You do not even need to purchase raw materials yourself. Throughout the universe, there are blacksmith centers that specialize in processing materials and producing base artifacts such as rings, pendants, bracelets, and similar items. Inscribers typically purchase those prepared bases rather than wasting time working with the raw material themselves. If you visit one of those centers, you might find something suitable."
Adrian nodded slowly. He had to admit that he had not researched this area very deeply. Whenever he accessed the forums, he had always been focused on other subjects: arcane concepts, divine spells, authority techniques, and the political landscape of the galaxy. He had never spent time studying artifacts, spatial rings, or blacksmith centers.
His priorities had been elsewhere. But now he recognized the gap in his knowledge.
"Yeah," Adrian said thoughtfully. "You're right. Turning it into an artifact is the best solution. It would allow a cultivator to activate the spell even during combat. Now we only need to find a material capable of holding the inscription."
Lysandra nodded. "Exactly. And the artifact itself is only the beginning," she added. "Since we cannot reveal Origin Ink right now, you will have to inscribe the artifact using ordinary mana ink. That means the artifact will require specific divine essence crystals as its power source."
A faint smile appeared on her face. "That will become a massive source of income."
Adrian already knew this and thought of this before itself.
She continued speaking, her thoughts already moving further ahead. "Do you remember the formations we had back in the Milky Way to convert pure mana crystals into conceptual essence crystals? Back then, it was not very important because we had Origin Ink, but here it could become extremely useful. With those formations, you could automate the conversion of pure mana crystals into the specific divine crystals required to power your artifact."
Lysandra's eyes gleamed with interest now. "If you control both the artifact and the crystal supply, you would essentially monopolize the entire market. Cultivators would be forced to purchase from you repeatedly. Not just once, but continuously, for as long as they use the artifact."
She gestured sharply with one hand, as if sketching invisible diagrams in the air. "And you could structure the pricing strategically. Sell the artifact itself at a reasonable cost to encourage widespread adoption. Then profit from the crystals, which cultivators will need to replenish regularly. Over time, the recurring revenue from crystals will far exceed the initial artifact sales."
Adrian watched her carefully as she spoke. Lysandra's mind was clearly racing ahead, constructing entire economic frameworks in real-time.
She continued explaining various economic strategies with increasing enthusiasm. As Adrian listened, it became increasingly obvious how Lexaria had managed to dominate the economy of the Milky Way Galaxy. Lysandra clearly possessed a mind that naturally gravitated toward systems of wealth generation and monopolization.
She was not merely thinking about the artifact itself; she was already mapping out an entire economic network surrounding it.
"You could also establish tiered pricing," Lysandra added. "Different artifact qualities, different crystal grades, different durations of effect. Offer basic versions for common cultivators and premium versions for wealthier ones. That way, you capture every segment of the market simultaneously."
"And once the market becomes dependent on your crystals," she said, "you could expand into related products. Formations that enhance willforce recovery. Pills that complement the artifact's effects. Entire cultivation chambers designed around sustained willforce training. The artifact itself would simply be the entry point."
Adrian raised a hand slightly to slow her down. "Even if we can automate the production of the divine crystals process, we would need to use Origin Ink for that. We cannot risk exposing it anywhere. If we are going to use the Origin Ink for these automation formations, it needs to be done in a completely private location, somewhere even the Crimson Vital Sect cannot access."
Lysandra paused, her enthusiasm dimming slightly as she considered the constraint. "You're right. The Crimson Vital Sect is trustworthy, but we cannot take unnecessary risks. If anyone discovers Origin Ink's true nature, it would draw catastrophic attention."
She tapped her fingers against her arm thoughtfully, "Wasn't the relic you went to is located in a different galaxy?" she asked suddenly, her focus snapping back to him.
Adrian nodded.
"In that case, you should be able to find an unclaimed planet there," she continued, her voice regaining confidence. "We could establish a workshop on that world. Everything would remain under our direct control, and even the Crimson Vital Sect would not have access to the secrets behind Origin Ink."
Adrian nodded again. It was not that he distrusted the Crimson Vital Sect. However, the importance of Origin Ink was far too great. If its existence became widely known, the consequences would be impossible to predict.
Lysandra continued, her thoughts already racing ahead. "However, if you intend to do all of this, you will need a large amount of money. The wealth we brought from our galaxy is almost insignificant here. You will likely spend most of what we have left simply purchasing different materials to test whether they can withstand the spell's inscription."
She was absolutely correct. Adrian had no idea which material would work. Some materials might shatter under the density of divine rules. Others might reject the inscription entirely. Testing would require buying many different artifact bases and experimenting with them.
Trial and error was expensive.
Lysandra suddenly added another thought, her eyes brightening. "But if you manage to find a suitable material with the money we currently possess, even if it is enough to create only a single artifact, you could place that artifact up for auction."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. He had not considered that approach.
"An artifact capable of accelerating willforce recovery would be considered a priceless treasure," she continued, her voice gaining speed as the strategy unfolded. "Especially within the Andromeda Galaxy. We could earn an enormous amount of money from a single item."
"Think about it. The buyers at the auction will have no idea that this artifact is merely the first prototype. They will assume it is a unique treasure. They will believe only one exists."
"That assumption alone would create tremendous demand," Lysandra said, her tone almost gleeful now. "Sect leaders themselves might compete to obtain it. The final price could reach absurd levels."
She paused, then laughed softly. "Of course, whoever spends a fortune buying it will eventually become the galaxy's biggest joke when the same artifact becomes commercially available later at a much lower price."
Adrian could not help but shake his head. This was exactly the kind of ruthless economic maneuvering that had allowed Lexaria to dominate the Milky Way. Lysandra did not merely think about profit; she thought about control, perception, and long-term market manipulation.
She continued speaking enthusiastically, outlining additional plans and strategies for maximizing profit. Some of her ideas were clever, others borderline ruthless in terms of business tactics.
Adrian barely managed to interrupt her.
"Alright, alright," he said, raising both hands slightly in mock surrender. "Slow down, Lysandra. You are already planning several steps into the future. First, let me see if I can even find a suitable material with the money we have left."
Lysandra finally stopped about the plans and said, "I am simply making sure you do not make any foolish decisions. The Supreme Emperor should not make careless mistakes."
Adrian shook his head, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I am not the Supreme Emperor here, Lysandra. We are simply ordinary cultivators in this galaxy."
"That may be true for now and here," she said, her tone soft but unyielding. "But you are the supreme emperor of the Milky Way Galaxy. No one can change that fact. And once you establish the Origin Sect and become as powerful as the great sects, you can claim that title for the entire universe."
Adrian sighed lightly. "Let's stop talking about the future," he said. "That is far too distant. There is no point wasting time on things that have not happened yet. You should return to cultivation. I already passed you the method for properly forming the Rule Core. With that knowledge, you should be able to ascend to the Rule Stage without difficulty."
He quickly shifted the conversation in another direction, hoping to redirect her focus. "And Lysandra… you should also take a look at the inscription district here. Since the Crimson Vital Sect is primarily an alchemy sect, the inscription department does not have strong leadership. It is essentially neglected. There are only a few essential inscribers maintaining basic operations. Perhaps you could do something about that."
Lysandra's thoughts shifted immediately.
Until now, she had been completely focused on cultivation. Since she had not yet reached the Rule Stage, she assumed she could not influence the sect's inscription systems anyway, so she had prioritized ascending first. This was the first time she had heard about the true state of the inscription district.
Adrian knew these details because he had spent time interacting with the sect's elders and inscribers.
"So the inscribers here are ignored and undervalued?" Lysandra asked, her voice deceptively calm.
A strange spark appeared in her eyes. She was still the ruler of Lexaria, an empire whose entire technological and economic system was built upon inscriptions. Inscription was not merely a skill to her. It was the foundation of her civilization's pride. Hearing that the inscription district lacked leadership ignited something inside her.
To Lysandra, inscribers were far superior to alchemists.
Adrian quickly clarified, sensing the shift in her mood. "It's not that they are intentionally ignored. The Crimson Vital Sect is an alchemy sect. Naturally, they do not possess enough knowledge to properly train inscribers."
Lysandra nodded slowly, but the spark in her eyes had not faded. If anything, it had grown brighter.
"You are right," she said quietly.
She turned and began walking toward the door as she said, "I will ascend to the Rule Stage and show them that inscribers are not to be ignored."
Adrian blinked in confusion. Wait, what now?
What exactly had he just started? He had only mentioned the inscription district to divert the conversation away from business plans, yet now Lysandra seemed determined to ignite an entirely new crusade.
And there were still Selena, Mira, Morvain, and several others. If they all joined together…
Adrian could not even imagine what chaos might follow.
Before he could say anything further, Lysandra had already left the suite. The door slid shut behind her with a soft hiss, leaving Adrian alone in the suddenly quiet room.
Adrian remained seated for a moment, staring at the door. Then he sighed quietly, rubbing his temples.
"Hestia should be able to handle this…"
Lysandra had given him an overwhelming number of ideas and plans to work on. His time would now mostly be consumed by those projects. Finding materials, testing inscriptions, establishing a hidden workshop, automating crystal production, and preparing for an auction.
As for whatever storm Lysandra might unleash within the Crimson Vital Sect's inscription district…
Adrian quietly decided that it would become Hestia's problem.