chapter 39: uncommon seed

To release some of his overwhelming energy, Arya practiced with weapons, though crudely. His once-powerful clan had lost most of its knowledge and possessions, leaving even his father without any weapon-related skills to teach him.

At dawn, Arya, Kane, Bryan, and the great elder—who had helped awaken their elements—set off toward the center of Fallen Leaves City, where its main business district was located. Finding an uncommon-ranked Seed Stone was difficult, as only well-established merchant guilds or business alliances sold them. While mid-sized and large cities had such suppliers, Fallen Leaves City was fortunate to have a branch of the Star Business Alliance, one of the few places where they could purchase an uncommon seed. However, being only a branch, the options would be limited.

After a two-hour carriage ride, they neared their destination, passing through streets lined with various shops. Unlike his previous life, where horses were common, the beasts pulling these carriages were stronger. Though some cultivators used magical beasts for transport, Arya hadn't seen any in Fallen Leaves City.

The marketplace was bustling, offering everything from medicinal herbs to cultivation pills—luxuries only the wealthy could afford. Storage items, such as space bags and space rings, were displayed in different forms, each expensive. Magical beast parts were also available, though Arya had little knowledge of their uses.

Finally, they arrived at an extravagant shop that stood out among the others. Led by Bryan and the great elder, Arya and Kane entered the Star Business Alliance branch. To Arya's surprise, the shop resembled a luxurious hotel, completely different from what he expected. Inside, only a few customers were present, and three attendants stood at the counter.

A well-dressed young man, appearing wealthier than them, greeted them with a professional smile.

"Welcome to the Star Alliance shop. How may I assist you?"

Bryan stepped forward. "This child has reached the peak of Level 20 and requires his second Seed Stone."

The attendant nodded. "We have many excellent common-rank Seed Stones. What is his element?"

Hearing this, neither Bryan nor the great elder took offense. In Fallen Leaves City, most people could only afford common-grade Seed Stones for their second Seed Ring. Only the wealthy or truly exceptional individuals purchased uncommon-ranked seeds at this stage. From their appearance, the group didn't seem affluent.

Kane quickly corrected the attendant. "We are looking for an uncommon-rank Wind Element Seed."

The attendant's expression changed, now more respectful. "My apologies, I assumed otherwise. Wind-element uncommon seeds are quite rare in the Azure Water Continent, especially in a lower-tier city like ours. Even our main branch doesn't invest heavily in this region. That being said, we do have three Wind-element uncommon seeds available."

The great elder nodded. "That's already fortunate. Finding a Wind-element uncommon seed in Fallen Leaves City is as rare as seeing a five-ringed Seed Master."

The attendant introduced the three available seeds:

Swift Air – A support-type skill that doubles movement speed and is stackable with other agility skills. Price: 29 pink-grade coins.

Wind Charge – A skill acquired from a 2nd-rank Wind Beast. Allows the user to dash 10 meters in any direction and crash into enemies with wind force. Price: 33 pink-grade coins.

Air Shot – A naturally formed Seed Stone skill. Creates a wind orb in 2 seconds and shoots it up to 30 meters (can be extended to 50 meters at Level 40). Price: 32 pink-grade coins.

Kane, initially tempted by Wind Charge, reconsidered after hearing about Air Shot. Given his first Seed Skill was agility-based, he believed a ranged attack would complement his combat style better.

"I'll take Air Shot," Kane decided confidently.

The great elder approved. "A wise choice. This skill suits you well."

After paying 32 pink coins, the attendant retrieved the Seed Stone. Bryan opened the small glowing white stone, which emitted an intense light before stabilizing into a half-finger-sized potato-shaped crystal.

Bryan asked, "Do you provide rooms for absorption?"

"Yes, of course. Please follow me." The attendant led Kane to a private chamber to fuse with his new Seed.