Unholy Player-Chapter 168: Legacy Domain

As Adyr beat his wings and descended near Colossith’s enormous form, his eyes passed over the practitioners seated on the leather chairs scattered across the broad rug. They hadn’t moved since morning, locked in the same hushed conversations as if time had slowed around them.

For people who’d aged far past their youth, the days seemed to pass like hours.

"Adyr, my brother," Malrik called, rising as soon as he saw him. He embraced him warmly.

"Hey," Adyr replied, returning the hug. "How’s everything going?"

"Well..." Malrik stepped back and sank into his chair again. "Why don’t you sit? There’s something we need to tell you."

Adyr nodded, greeted the others, pulled on his jacket, and took a seat. Almost immediately, he felt an odd undercurrent around him. It wasn’t fear or anxiety, but something tense and unspoken. Even with his high [Sense] and observation talent, he couldn’t quite identify it.

Thankfully, Liora broke the silence. "Plans have changed with Sevrak."

Adyr’s brow furrowed. Dragon Rider Sevrak didn’t seem like someone who stuck to his plans or could be trusted. Combined with the tense atmosphere, Adyr couldn’t help but suspect bad news.

"Don’t worry," Liora continued, catching his wary expression. "It’s not necessarily bad news. In fact, if we handle this properly, we could gain a considerable advantage." She paused as if choosing her words carefully. "You’ve heard of the Wandering Merchant, right? The one who owns the largest Spark marketplace in the region?"

Adyr gave a short nod.

"Well," she went on, "he’s coming back."

Liora’s voice wavered for a moment, then she cleared her throat and continued. "It’s been more than 100 years since he left the region with his merchant convoy. You know he is a Rank 5 Adept. Now, after such a long absence, his return has naturally drawn the full attention of all practitioners. Because of this, Sevrak canceled the tournament he had proposed. But that’s not the real reason—there’s a bigger one."

Adyr asked, curious. "What is it?"

The thought of seeing a Rank 5 Adept stirred a faint excitement in him. He genuinely wondered how powerful the man was. Especially since the massive Rank 5 Spark skeleton inside the merchant’s huge tent had left a strong impression on him. Seeing someone who once controlled such a creature was thrilling, even for Adyr.

Liora noticed his interest and chuckled before continuing. "Rumor has it the Wandering Merchant is returning to finish a task he left behind." She paused, her expression turning serious. The others straightened in their seats, clearly sensing the importance of what she was about to say.

After a brief pause that heightened the tension, Liora finally spoke. "He is coming here to open a Legacy Domain."

"Legacy Domain?" Adyr questioned, a surge of interest stirring in him.

Deep down, he could feel it was going to be something very fun.

—

While Adyr was hearing an intriguing secret from the elders of Astra Path, another youth was receiving the same news from his Nether Path Elder.

Dragon Rider Sevrak sat on his throne, an unsettling seat constructed from bones and metal. The pieces had been arranged with a strange sense of style, lending the throne a cold, deliberate beauty. Resting his chin on one hand, he looked as if he were bored, yet his gaze was sharp and unwavering.

Before him, his grandson knelt with his head lowered, waiting. Sevrak’s eyes stayed on him for a long moment before he finally exhaled, the sound quiet in the otherwise still hall.

"More than 100 years ago, the Wandering Merchant fought another Rank 5 Adept in this region," Sevrak began. His voice was smooth and measured, but beneath it ran a current of subdued longing. "No one witnessed the fight itself. The only thing we know is that his opponent fell in the end—and the Merchant’s most valued and powerful possession, a Rank 5 Spark, perished with him."

As he spoke, it was as if he could see the clash unfolding before him, his tone betraying a sense of awe at the power both sides must have wielded.

Kharom lifted his head slightly, still kneeling with both knees pressed to the floor. His skin was as white as Sevrak’s—a mark of their lineage—with dark scales tracing up from his chest to his ears.

Despite his youthful appearance, one would never guess that he was nearing his forties. It was one of the perks of being a Rank 2 practitioner. His deep black eyes met his grandfather’s, his voice respectful and steady as he spoke.

"You mean the Spark, Lord Grandfather? The skeleton I’ve seen in the massive tent at the marketplace all this time?" From the sound of his question, it was clear he had never known the true history behind those bones.

Sevrak gave a slow, deliberate nod. "Yes. The Wandering Merchant had to sacrifice it to kill a Rank 5 Adept."

After watching the astonishment on his grandson’s face with quiet satisfaction, Sevrak continued. "But that’s not all the Wandering Merchant left behind. That skeleton hasn’t been sitting there all this time just as a trophy or a guardian for the marketplace."

Sevrak paused. The torchlight on the walls caught his pale skin like moonlight as his brow furrowed. "It’s a key to a Legacy Domain."

Kharom hesitated before asking, "Lord Grandfather, forgive my ignorance, but... what exactly is a Legacy Domain?"

Sevrak chuckled, as if he’d expected the question. "Have you ever wondered what happens to a practitioner’s Sanctuary when they die?"

Kharom thought for a moment. It wasn’t something most people talked about. "It disappears?"

"Not exactly," Sevrak replied. "When an ordinary practitioner dies, yes, their Sanctuary collapses and eventually scatters into the void. But for a Rank 5 Adept, it’s different. Once they reach that level, their Sanctuary undergoes a transformation. It becomes stable enough to anchor itself between worlds. Even if their body dies, their Sanctuary remains as its own pocket dimension. That’s what we call a Legacy Domain."

Sevrak studied his grandson’s shocked expression before going on. "When an Adept dies, their Sanctuary doesn’t vanish. It stays hidden, preserved. When the Wandering Merchant killed that Adept all those years ago, their Legacy Domain remained right where we are—hidden. Specifically, its entrance lies beneath the feet of that very skeleton you see displayed in the marketplace tent."

Kharom swallowed hard. The news was staggering. The thought that a true Rank 5 Adept’s entire life—his treasures, his wealth, the secrets of his power—had been sitting there this whole time was almost impossible to grasp.

Every practitioner knew a Sanctuary was priceless. Even more so for an Adept. Within it could be the sum of their entire existence.

"So," Kharom finally asked, "the Merchant is back after all this time to open the Legacy Domain and take everything inside. But what does this have to do with us?"

Sevrak smiled and leaned forward on his throne. "More than you’d think. That Domain is stable, but not indestructible. It belonged to a Rank 5 Adept, so it can’t hold someone at the Merchant’s level. That’s why he didn’t simply take it all long ago—if someone as powerful as him steps inside, the entire Domain would collapse and drag him into the void."

He sat back and laughed, his voice low and amused. "That’s where we come in. Over the past hundred years, it’s weakened enough that Rank 2 and even Rank 1 practitioners can enter safely. It’s the perfect chance for someone like you."

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