Viola snorted faintly and replied:
"She's a mage from Pallas Floating City, here on a visit. Last year, she came to Longsand with her teacher for a three-year exchange at the Mage Tower. I don't know why, but since our first meeting, she's been constantly picking on me."
Reyn whistled involuntarily upon hearing this:
"From Pallas Floating City? Then what's her connection to the Red Rock Duke?"
"Phyllis's teacher is a disciple of the Red Rock Duke," Viola said, reverence clear in her voice at the mention of the Red Rock Duke.
Reyn shook his head in admiration. Phyllis was a grand-disciple of the Red Rock Duke himself! No wonder she acted so boldly toward Viola—she had solid grounds.
The Red Rock Duke's name was known to everyone in the Empire—and beyond, likely no one among all sentient races in the world of Ellunes hadn't heard tales of this legendary figure.
The Red Rock Duke's full name was Kelston Carter, one of the Empire's Holy Soul Mages and a member of the High Council.
This Holy Soul Mage had set a string of astonishing records.
From birth, by age two he displayed phenomenal innate spiritual power. At ten, he passed the Soul Transformation Ritual with perfect results, becoming a School of Law Seals mage. At twenty-two, he reached Legendary level, founding the "Psionic" profession and adding a new branch to the School of Law Seals, entering history as the youngest Legendary mage. Just over thirty years later, at fifty-eight, he achieved his sixth perfect Soul Transformation, becoming the Empire's youngest Holy Soul Mage ever!
He also became the youngest High Council member, received an imperial duke title, and chose Pasla city in the Great Northern Steppe as his fief. Over the next century, he amassed countless resources and successfully built his own floating city.
Notably, the Empire had twelve Holy Soul Mages, all dukes, but only seven owned floating cities!
The Red Rock Duke was over three hundred years old, and no one had broken his records—not even come close.
The Red Rock Duke might not be the Empire's strongest Superhuman or even mage, but he was rightly considered humanity's greatest genius in history, shaking the foundations of his era without exaggeration.
By comparison, the Silver Star Duke reached Holy Soul Mage level decades earlier, and rumors said he was over two hundred then, yet he still hadn't built a floating city, owning only a Mage Tower.
In both strength and fame, the Red Rock Duke clearly surpassed him.
As a direct grand-disciple of the Red Rock Duke himself, Phyllis had every reason to be proud and act freely in the Empire. Pallas Floating City was always famed for its immense wealth, so her lavish gear surprised no one.
Learning Phyllis's background, Reyn roughly guessed why she disliked Viola. Even high-level mages were women, and what sparked burning female envy usually boiled down to wealth, status, fame, power, and of course, looks.
Especially looks—it topped the list and most fiercely ignited rivalry in women.
Men weren't so different in that regard; they just usually competed not with their own looks, but their women's…
Phyllis's lineage was among the Empire's noblest. She herself was a genius mage, grand-disciple of humanity's greatest genius, attractive, and wanted for nothing. Wherever she went—in Pallas Floating City or elsewhere in the Empire—her name alone inspired awe, trailed by adoring praise.
Few women her generation in the Empire could match her across the board.
Then, arriving in Longsand, Phyllis met Viola.
Viola was the Silver Star Duke's great-granddaughter, a sixth-level All Souls mage. In wealth, status, and fame, she didn't lag far behind Phyllis; each had undeniable edges, making them equal rivals. But in looks, Viola outshone her many times over, immeasurably so.
Moon elves' beauty was renowned, and Viola inherited her mother's finest traits. Even among moon elves, few could rival her.
Phyllis was a rare beauty too, but next to Viola, she paled—they were in different leagues. Any man with unwarped taste would unquestionably prefer Viola.
A woman accustomed to male adoration, hit like that, could easily lose emotional balance and fall into deep envy if she didn't rein it in.
That likely happened to Phyllis, so she tried overshadowing Viola with her wealth.
Such behavior was childish, but it did affect Viola.
At least, today's trade gathering profits would be lower than expected.
Reyn looked at Viola. Clear annoyance showed on her face; she understood perfectly but, given Phyllis's status and background, said nothing openly. Phyllis, bold enough for such rudeness, was clearly someone best not confronted directly.
The trade continued, but many guests kept approaching Phyllis, inquiring about the Frostflame Ring and admiring the rare superior artifact, noticeably reducing deal volume.
Reyn saw Viola's soul tint pale red—she was angry.
But he couldn't think of a solution.
So he joked quietly:
"Shall we kick her out?"
"If you're not afraid of drawing a Legendary mage's wrath or trouble from Pallas Floating City folk, be my guest," Viola shot Reyn such a scorching glare that he felt his soul drop to his heels, lightened by several pounds sterling, ready to float away in terror.
Reyn shrank back. He, a mere first-level mage, wouldn't dare—even after eating demon leopard liver!
A rogue annoyed you, but a rogue woman with powerful backers was a real headache…
They chatted with a few more guests, and Reyn met two Superhumans. Just as he felt a light hunger and eyed the refreshments, lively noise erupted from Phyllis again.
Surrounding guests instantly clustered around her.
Reyn and Viola exchanged glances. No big earnings from this gathering now.
As hostess, Viola had to approach.
As they neared, a confident male voice reached them:
"Lady Phyllis, my Mountain Giant's Demonic Soul matches your Frostflame Ring in value, if not exceeds it. You'll have to add gold shields."
"Mountain Giant's Demonic Soul!"
Reyn and Viola froze in shock. Was someone actually dealing with Phyllis?
They pushed through the crowd with effort. A plain-looking man was speaking quietly to Phyllis. He was slender, with a cold, impassive face, and a faint icy aura emanated from his pale-blue mage robe.
This must be a Blood Sorcerer fused with an ice-type creature's blood—no wonder the Frostflame Ring interested him.
Reyn activated his Soul Eye again to confirm. Indeed, an Ice Sorcerer, and high-level—seventh, ranking with top-tier sorcerers.
But the Soul Stone in his hand drew the most attention.
This Soul Stone differed from ordinary ones: half again larger, seemingly made not from plain white crystal but a more valuable gem that preserved the encased Demonic Soul far longer. It was dull, earthy yellow, and but for its smooth, mirror-polished surface, resembled a river pebble.
Inside glimmered a faintly pulsing, unusual Demonic Soul.
Mountain giants were immensely powerful. Even immature young ones matched high-level Human Superhumans in strength. A giant's Demonic Soul held at least one enhanced "Strength" element. An adult's was valued higher, often with four or five elements, always in huge demand. For close-combat Superhumans, a giant soul was an excellent auxiliary, greatly boosting physical stats.
A high-level giant's Demonic Soul could easily fetch thousands of gold shields.
"My apologies, but this one Mountain Giant's Demonic Soul alone isn't enough. I won't make the deal," Phyllis gave the stone a fleeting glance and pointedly turned away.
This Demonic Soul held no interest for her. As a mage of the School of Seals, she couldn't fuse with Demonic Souls, nor did she intend to sell the Frostflame Ring.
"Is that so?" the Ice Sorcerer wasn't the least bit fazed. He scanned the crowd with his gaze and only then indifferently said: "My Demonic Soul of the mountain giant contains 'Earth Pulse'. Don't you still want to trade?"
"What?"
"Earth Pulse!"
"This Demonic Soul contains a Supremacy element!"
No sooner had the Ice Sorcerer finished speaking than the hall erupted in a buzz of voices. Everyone was stunned and stared fixedly at the Soul Stone in his hand.
Everyone thought that today they had truly been lucky to witness something incredible: first a supremely enchanted ring, and now a giant's Demonic Soul with a Supremacy element!
Even Phyllis changed her expression and, like everyone else, began scrutinizing the Soul Stone in the stranger's hand.
Earth Pulse—this Supremacy element was far too renowned!
One of the Empire's three great divine churches, the Church of the Earth, had a special, revered class of Superhumans known as the "Earth Sisters." The foundation of this unique profession was a series of elements inextricably linked to Earth Pulse.
The Earth Sisters were exclusively human women. Their first key element was "Earth Source"—a rare element from the category of unusual abilities that endowed the Sisters with truly numerous unique gifts. Simply standing with both feet on the ground or touching it with any part of the body immediately boosted their physical strength, banished fatigue, accelerated recovery processes, and toughened their skin. Moreover, it granted a deep affinity with the earth element, providing high resistance to earth magic and significantly enhancing their own spells of that element! A single element offered effects comparable to four or five others simultaneously! Were it not for the limitation requiring constant ground contact, Earth Source alone could rightfully be considered a Supremacy element.
However, after several Soul Transformations, Earth Source in the Sisters could evolve into Earth Pulse.
Earth Pulse was an all-around enhanced version of Earth Source. Merely touching the ground with a foot dramatically increased physical strength, endurance, recovery speed, defense, resistance to various effects, and the power of one's own spells. Additionally, it provided heightened tactile perception, allowing one to track nearby targets' movements through the subtlest ground vibrations.
Sisters possessing Earth Pulse were truly fearless and indomitable warrior maidens!
As a Supremacy element, Earth Pulse ranked alongside Steel Body, and possibly even surpassed it in fame.
But that wasn't all! Earth Pulse could evolve further into its ultimate, supreme form, known as "Earth Heart"!
Earth Heart allowed one to directly draw life force from the earth's very core in an endless, inexhaustible stream, without needing physical contact with the surface. Moreover, it granted complete immunity to all earth element spells. Possessing Earth Heart made one practically immortal, so this element was rightfully deemed Legendary!
What specific Demonic Soul the Earth Sisters fused to obtain Earth Source was the Church of the Earth's most closely guarded secret, unknown to outsiders.
However, for the higher level, Earth Pulse, several known sources existed.
Mountain giants, naturally adept at earth magic, indeed had a certain chance of acquiring Earth Pulse—many had heard of it.
No one had simply expected this Ice Sorcerer to possess such a soul.
If he was telling the truth, this giant's Demonic Soul was indeed worth more than the Frostflame Ring—significantly more.
Viola's eyes gleamed. If this deal went through, today's trading session would yield colossal profits.
She was already about to step forward to oversee the transaction personally when Reyn cautiously touched her hand. Turning, Viola saw Reyn subtly shaking his head, his lips moving soundlessly to form a single word.
"Trap."