The Shattered Pagoda was a ruin of black stone and rotting wood, built directly over a Yin-Spring—a natural vent of cold, necrotic energy that would wither the meridians of any normal cultivator.
"It's perfect," Aris whispered, feeling the "poisonous" air enter his lungs and be instantly converted into dense, violet Qi by his Abyssal Sovereign Body.
He ignored the dust and the cobwebs, heading straight for the basement.
"System, open the Creation Forge. Crafting: The Mask of the Faceless."
[Requirements for 'Mask of the Faceless':]
150 AP (Deducted).1x Fragment of a Mirror (Found in the ruins).1x Drop of Host's Blood.1x Soul of a 'Deceived' Enemy (The fear harvested from Kael earlier satisfies this).
[Crafting... 10%... 50%... 100%]
[Item Created: Mask of the Faceless (Rank: Growth-Type Growth Artifact)]
Aris held a mask that looked like a smooth piece of white porcelain with no features—no eyes, no mouth. But when he pressed it to his face, it felt like cold liquid.
[Feature: Identity Synthesis]
Current Form:"The Pale Alchemist"
Effect: Changes height, voice, and aura. Level 60 or below cannot see through the disguise.
Passive:Merchant's Eye (Appraises the market value of any item instantly).
The First Venture
That night, Aris used Ghost-Step and Nox's Shadow-Walk to slip past the estate guards. For the first time in five years, he stood in the capital city of the Great Qin Empire.
It was a neon-lit fantasy world of floating jade carriages and bustling night markets. Aris, now appearing as a slender, mysterious man in high-collared black robes, walked toward the Black Market District.
He needed capital. And the fastest way to get it was to exploit the "trash" others threw away.
He stopped at a stall selling "failed" medicinal herbs—plants that were too bitter or slightly wilted.
[Abyssal Eye: Active]
[Merchant's Eye: Scanning...]
[Item: Wilted Dragon-Tongue Grass.]
[Market Price: 2 Copper.]
[True Value: 50 Gold.]
Note: The "wilt" is actually a concentrated layer of Yin-Essence. To a normal Alchemist, it's poison. To you, it's a high-grade catalyst.
"I'll take the whole pile," Aris said, his voice now a deep, smooth baritone thanks to the mask.
The stall owner laughed. "Sure, stranger. If you want to brew a pot of death, be my guest."
The Secret Laboratory
Back in the Pagoda, Aris didn't use a cauldron. He used the Creation Forge.
He threw the "trash" herbs into the air, and his violet Qi suspended them in a swirling vortex.
[Processing: Pure Essence Extraction...]
[Adding: Abyssal Catalyst...]
A few minutes later, three pills floated in front of him. They were jet black with a single violet stripe.
[Item: Abyssal Foundation Pill (Rank: Earth)]
Effect: Instantly clears 20% of impurities from a cultivator's body.
Side Effect: Causes a "shadow-addiction." The user will crave more, making them a loyal customer to the "Pale Alchemist."
"With these," Aris smirked, his violet eye reflecting the glow of the pills, "I don't just get rich. I get leverage."
[Abyssal Nexus: Wealth & Progress]
[New Quest: The Hidden Monopoly]
Goal: Sell your pills at the Golden Phoenix Auction House and earn 500 Gold.
Reward: 300 AP + Unlock 'Abyssal Forging: Weapon Soul'.