Chapter 22: The Pendant of the Well of Life

The tower's location was truly strategic; every ship sailing from the north to Paradise Port had to pass by here.

Ian stood atop the tower's highest floor, gazing at the endless sea. The wind roared, waves surged, and countless sails dotted the horizon—a magnificent sight that filled him with exhilaration.

From below came the rhythmic sounds of work: "Thud, thud... clink, clink..."

The craftsmen, whom Ian had hired just yesterday, had arrived early. Judging by their enthusiasm, it seemed the generous wages he offered were working wonders.

Yawning, Ian descended to the fifth floor and decided it was time for a nap.

Last night marked Ian's first stay in the tower. Initially, he'd planned to sleep on the ground floor with Wah Wah. However, the howling winds outside were sharp and deafening, making sleep—or even meditation—nearly impossible.

Desperate, he tried each floor, only to discover that the topmost fifth floor was surprisingly the quietest. After enduring the rest of the night there, he awoke to find the wind had shifted, its speed slightly reduced.

It was no surprise. From October to March, the northeast trade winds dominated Paradise Island, with nearly two-thirds of those days being windy. December, January, and February were known for particularly ferocious gales.

And with December fast approaching, tougher times lay ahead.

Ian mulled over the idea of learning some sound-dampening enchantments or protective arrays. Yet again, he found himself wishing Wah Wah could grow up faster.

Speaking of Wah Wah, the little creature's appetite was growing by the day, while its sleeping hours were shrinking. Ian decided to leave it on guard duty while he took a brief nap, meditated to recover his energy, and then got to work on today's alchemy tasks.

No matter how much gold he earned, it never seemed enough. He needed to stockpile plenty of supplies before setting sail.

That evening, Ian skipped his usual meditation.

Instead, he sat with Wah Wah, poring over blueprints and explaining the workings of a steamship propulsion system. As a magical creature, Wah Wah had immense potential. If it could evolve mechanisms like propellers and transmission devices, it might one day power a warship entirely on its own.

Wah Wah's form was also changing. Its head had grown disproportionately large, now nearly as tall as its entire body, which had stretched to an impressive 1.8 meters. When curled up, it resembled a gigantic olive resting on the floor.

Its tiny eyes wandered across its head, though Wah Wah primarily relied on its spiritual senses, which now extended to a hundred meters—far surpassing Ian's range. Its vision was merely supplemental.

At Ian's request, Wah Wah's once-vibrant green skin was transitioning to a sleek silver-gray, gaining a refined, metallic texture while remaining smooth to the touch.

"Wah wah!" it chirped eagerly, signaling its understanding of Ian's explanation.

Though Wah Wah still couldn't speak, it had become adept at conveying information through spiritual resonance, communicating with surprising accuracy.

"Good job, Wah Wah!" Ian exclaimed, hugging its oversized head and planting a kiss on it.

Interacting with Wah Wah was a delight for Ian, especially compared to the locals. After months in this world, he'd learned that most non-extraordinary individuals were poorly educated. Many couldn't even handle basic arithmetic, making communication painfully arduous. The thought of such people as his future crew filled him with dread.

Later that night, Ian entered his spiritual meditation. A familiar pulse beckoned him into the world of spirituality, where a new "star" glimmered on the Veil of Fate.

As the star descended, it transformed into a yellow card adorned with golden patterns. In the center was a teardrop-shaped pendant, seemingly frozen in midair, encased within the card.

[Card: Pendant of the Well of Life]

Pendant of the Well of Life: A mystical artifact. Once unsealed, it cannot be stored within the spiritual realm.

Produces one drop of Lesser Water of Lifeevery three natural days.Produces one drop of Water of Lifeevery 300 natural days.Upon initial contact with a new world, it generates one drop of Water of Life.

Water of Life: A legendary liquid from the Well of Life, a treasure of the vitality domain. It heals illnesses and injuries, dispels curses, enhances potential, and extends lifespans.

Lesser Water of Life: A byproduct of Water of Life's creation. It heals injuries and illnesses and moderately mitigates shadow- and death-based curses or damage.

The pendant's ability to produce life-extending Water of Life, even at such a slow rate, was groundbreaking.

'Extend lifespan?!' Ian's heart skipped a beat.

Human extraordinaries had varying lifespans depending on their sequences, typically ranging from 100 to 300 years—far shorter than many magical beings.

True immortality, however, had eluded all who sought it. Even the greatest recorded lifespan of a human extraordinary in the Fifth Epoch fell just shy of 300 years.

Yet here it was—a tangible possibility for Ian.

Of course, such a treasure would paint a target on his back if anyone found out. Not even the protection of his Deck of Destiny might be enough to keep him safe.

Back on the tower's fifth floor, Ian double-checked the locks on the windows and doors, ensuring everything was secure. With Wah Wah's help, he scanned the room for any hidden threats using their combined spiritual senses. Only then did he unseal the pendant.

A wave of spiritual energy radiated outward as the pendant materialized, its brilliance briefly disrupting the magical energies around it. Within seconds, the turbulence subsided.

Ian carefully lifted the chain, watching the golden-red droplet at the pendant's core ripple gently with his movements. A primal longing surged within him, a deep thirst that seemed to rise from the very depths of his soul.

"Wah wah!"

Wah Wah dashed into the room, staring at the pendant with undisguised yearning. Yet sensing its importance to Ian, it restrained itself, curling up on the floor with its tendrils clutching its head in anguish.

Ian quickly hung the pendant around his neck, suppressing its aura. Wah Wah, thinking the pendant had been consumed, let out a mournful wail.

"Wah Wah, calm down," Ian said, patting its head.

Through their spiritual link, Ian questioned Wah Wah. "If you consumed the pendant's essence, what would happen?"

"Wah wah!" Wah Wah's response was clear: it would drastically enhance its physical potential and accelerate its growth by several times.

Ian frowned, falling into deep thought.