The Rise of the Black Plain

As they were greeted by one of the store attendants they had entered, Minos' group soon declared their interest there.

"So you are here to order spiritual techniques..." She repeated what she had heard from them, something quite common there, even considering that such a store also sold copies of techniques.

She then asked Minos. "What kind of techniques are you in search of? And what grade are they?"

Minos ignored the surroundings of the entrance of this store, a place with several glass shelves, which arranged the best-selling techniques there, to observe this young attendant. "I am searching for a complete set of Black-grade techniques for spiritual judges. But I don't have anything specific in mind, so I will rely on the guidance of whoever is responsible for producing the techniques."

Black-grade techniques were very relevant to the Black Plain. After all, most people with the best techniques in that state or the northern region used techniques like that.

But not only that, even the Flaming Empire and the four enemy states of this place that Minos was in depended significantly on techniques of that quality.

Silver-grade techniques were not common, even considering those being sold in places like this store. They were difficult to produce even copies of, and the originals were not sold by common means as they were only produced by high-level people who did not even exist in this state.

As for one of these copies, a single one could cost more than 60,000 medium-grade crystals, a very high amount for people who were not members of large organizations, like most in this world.

Not everyone was like Minos, who had an entire state to support him!

And even if someone had those coins, it was not every kind of Silver-grade technique that was sold!

Only those of spiritual professions, not very useful in battles, were sold easily, as in the case of those for spiritual judges, like those in this store.

Those applicable to alchemists, array masters, blacksmiths, and poison masters were only traded between their owners and interested parties. But rarely would anyone see a store selling them.

They had too great a potential to strengthen possible enemies, so their owners were cautious with whom they traded their copies.

Because of this, Minos wanted to go to the Gray Clouds Sect since this would be the only way for him to get all the copies of techniques of that quality on this trip.

Thus, having the original scrolls of Black-grade techniques was essential to the Black Plain, especially considering that such a state had almost no original techniques.

"Original Black-grade techniques... Complete set..." She wrote this down on a piece of paper and then asked Minos. "Is there anything else you are in search of?"

Abby then answered in her husband's place. "We want a set of copies of Silver-grade techniques for spiritual judges."

"A set?" That attendant opened her eyes in surprise.

As much as orders for original techniques were common, an original scroll of a Black-grade technique cost only 3,000 medium-grade crystals.

The difference in price from a Silver-grade copy to the original Black-grade was colossal!

So, upon hearing the interest of these people, something that would generate tens of thousands of crystals as a commission, this attendant could not help but think that she had misunderstood.

How many techniques did a complete set have? Well, since this was the Flaming Empire, a place where the strongest were only at the 8th stage, that meant eight techniques.

That was 480 thousand medium-grade crystals!

Gulp!

'If that's true, I'll earn 48,000 low-grade crystals just by attending to them!' She watched Abby, hoping this was not a joke.

"Hmmm, that's right. We'll take a full set of 10 techniques." Minos nodded, as he would not limit himself to just the 8th stage.

He did not think a spiritual judge could reach the cultivation peak since that was the most challenging spiritual profession. But someone like that could become a Spiritual Demigod. So, he already wanted to solve the problem of Black-grade techniques immediately!

Maybe his state would not need those techniques that much in the future, but there would always be young people in his ranks who would have to prove themselves before getting more valuable techniques.

On the other hand, he wanted to release Black-grade techniques to his population, so buying those would not be a waste, no matter how far the Black Plain would go in the future.

And with that, the young attendant was even more surprised, seeing that she had the possibility of earning 12,000 more crystals than she had thought!

"Please, come with me." She led the way for them, making polite gestures while maintaining her composure.

At the same time, she looked at Gloria and noticed that this gorgeous redhead's mouth seemed to be dry. "Would you like something to drink? Water, or perhaps a cup of tea? We have a room for clients, so you can relax while I bring the techniques for you in a few moments."

"Oh? This place is truly nice..." Minos commented as his wives showed interest in the proposal.

"Well, I'll have some tea." Gloria smiled as she played with her dress at the height of her belly.

After that, they were quickly placed in a VIP room on the second floor of the store building they were in.

That was a store owned by one of the elders of this sect, a place that sold the techniques produced there and taught the art of this profession to his disciples and his disciples' disciples.

With that, after showing a bunch of Silver-grade techniques for Minos and his wives to choose from, the young attendant went to one of the upper floors to find someone to talk to them.

The production of an original Black-grade technique would require a Spiritual Saint, so only someone like that could talk to Minos' group about what they were in search of.

Therefore, it did not take long, and soon one of the disciples of the spiritual judge behind this store came over to Minos' group, who were quietly drinking tea in the VIP room.

...

While Minos' group was doing business, Troy finally caught up with Ford when this man was already following the leads of his target after he had left the cafeteria that Diana had talked about.

Since Minos had not bothered to keep his identity secret or hide his tracks, Ford soon found his way to that store for spiritual judges.

But as he walked hurriedly to face his nightmare, this fellow listened to Troy's advice.

"Ford, I think you should let it go, man. Kara is just your sister! What difference does it make if she had sex with Minos? She must do it with a bunch of idiots back at the Gray Clouds Sect!"

"Minos, at least, is a talented and well-known guy... It's not as bad as you make it sound." He said, not understanding what his friend's problem was.

Ford did not like hearing that, but he would not admit to anyone that he loved his sister in a not-so-fraternal way...

"You don't understand me. I have to say some things to that fellow!"

...