Artifacts are treasures—they could be life-saving, they could awaken dormant talents, they could increase a person’s potential, and sometimes... even extend one’s lifespan.
They could take the form of rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, belts, anything really. And they were expensive, sold at sky-high prices.
Then there was what they called Spirit Stones.
The lowest grade of Spirit Stone was already worth 1,000 gold coins. In some places, it was also worth ten low-grade beast cores.
Spirit Stones and Beast Cores were always in high demand.
Spirit Stones came from natural mines, formed in places rich with high, pure, and condensed Qi over hundreds of years.
Beast Cores, on the other hand, could only be gotten from killing beasts—and not just any beasts. To get one, you had to be at least in the Qi Solidification Realm.
Because the weakest beast that contained a beast core already had strength above this realm. Proper skills and training were still necessary, but anyone in this realm could take on such beasts.
These beasts were called Four-Star Beasts.
They weren’t just strong. They had begun to master Elemental Attacks, and most had developed intelligence rivaling humans. Some species were even cunning—ferocious, patient, deceptive.
At that point, beasts naturally began learning how to solidify their Qi, forming their Dao Shells, a special evolution that boosted their strength into another dimension entirely.
Spirit Stones and Beast Cores...
These were cultivator currency.
So naturally, the ordinary people couldn’t afford even a sniff of them.
That was why, back then, Leon’s father had bought and stored a few precious things—resources for Body Cultivation and others to help strengthen the Foundation for Qi Cultivation.
All those items were confiscated the day their noble status was stripped away.
Though part of him found the situation amusing, another part—deep inside—felt unease.
Why would the Crystal give him an artifact?
He wasn’t even a cultivator. He couldn’t absorb Qi, much less control or manipulate it.
So... what was the point?
Deep down, he felt like the Crystal was up to something. But he didn’t want to admit it.
Maybe it just wants me to keep it until I can cultivate... but isn’t that a waste?
Shrugging, he decided to ask it directly.
’So where is this spatial artifact you’re talking about?’
He tried to act as calmly as he could, but that answer was so far from what he expected that he froze in place.
He was... wearing it?
Without wasting time, he asked again.
’On the fingers of your right hand. It’s not normal either—it’s even higher than this world’s high-grade spatial artifacts.’
’Holy Molly! A high-grade artifact?! That’s so rare... even rarer are the ones who can create it!’
His eyes darted to his hand—he lifted his right hand and scanned it.
Where did it come from?!
How had he not noticed it until now?
It wasn’t just strange—it was frightening.
He wore something, yet he never even knew? That was unnatural.
Even now... he still couldn’t feel it.
It felt like part of his own skin.
But no matter how he felt, he couldn’t deny it—the ring was beautiful.
It fit perfectly. Elegant, crystalline, faintly glowing.
It had a masculine design, with diamond-like structure and clarity. Transparent, subtle, and dangerous.
But even though it was there on his finger, he still couldn’t feel it.
Sighing, Leon narrowed his eyes.
He had to ask the Crystal.
He was genuinely scared now—had he lost his sense of touch?
What would it feel like to touch someone... and not even know you were touching them?
That thought... that feeling. It sent shivers down his spine.
As far as he knew, the sense of touch was directly related to the sense of pain.
No touch meant... no pain.
Which meant someone could cut his throat—and he wouldn’t even feel it until it was too late.
He didn’t want to believe it.
’So my sense of touch wasn’t affected, right? Wait—did this awakening affect my sense of touch or something?’
’It’s not that,’ the Crystal replied. ’The artifact’s presence is concealed.’
’Yes. Hidden. Its presence is completely masked so it cannot be detected—not by sight, not by sensation.’
So this was what it felt like to wear a concealed artifact.
No wonder high-grade spatial rings were so rare—and so feared.
’So... how does it work?’
Leon asked, brushing past his shock.
Too much had happened today.
And there was still more waiting for him—unfinished business piling up by the second.
He wanted to finish this dungeon and get out.
He had people to face.
Thinking of those people made him smirk.
’I’m sure they’ve searched everywhere for me by now. All methods. All places. Even tearing apart that room.’
They couldn’t reach him now.
They were probably wondering how he used an escape artifact—even though he wasn’t a cultivator.
Well, the answer was simple.
It was thanks to his System.
As annoying as the Crystal was—it had its uses.
’Just sayin’,’ he muttered in his mind. ’As much as you’re annoying, you’ve been useful.’
’Don’t call me it! I’m not a thing!’
"Ordering your master, huh? Quite disrespectful of you," Leon said aloud with the most irritating tone he could conjure.
He had been itching to piss the Crystal off—and now was the perfect chance.
But suddenly, a thought hit him. Something he should’ve asked a long time ago.
Something he should’ve done when they first met.
’Hey... now that I think of it, we’ve known each other for a while now, haven’t we?’
’Why haven’t I asked your name?’
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