The overlord of the gods is interrogating the alien female spy.

　Is it that the Sarkaz in front of us has high talent, or... are all Sarkaz born magic masters?

　"..."

　The thought in the eyes of the Qilin Overlord vanished in an instant.

　It turns out that the little slave in front of me is just ridiculously talented.

　He had killed countless 'pure-blooded' Tikaz. Just as the people of the gods valued bloodlines, the Tikaz were even more constrained by their bloodlines. Pure-blooded Tikaz were simply more gifted in witchcraft than their mixed-blood counterparts. The little slave before him was merely a mixed-blood among the Sarkaz, and apart from his extraordinary talent, there was really no other explanation.

　But no problem.

　Just as he said at the beginning.

　Theresa did not cultivate, and seeing him was like a frog in a well looking at the moon in the sky. She only knew that he was strong, but did not know why he was strong.

　If Theresa were to cultivate herself, she would see him as a mayfly gazing at the blue sky, and she would know that the gap between them was as vast as an insurmountable chasm. Chen Lingxu's sweat and effort were something she could never catch up to even in ten lifetimes.

　He was only slightly better than Tracy.

　"You mean warlocks all use staves these days?"

　While the little slave was experiencing the magic, Chen Lingxu resumed the previous conversation with the little she-wolf beside him.

　"Yes, Your Majesty. It is said that modern magic staffs can compensate for some of the differences in bloodlines, allowing even a child to unleash powerful spells."

　Spells.

　"Where can I find it?"

　"There are shops selling them in the cities of Letania, but the staffs are generally very expensive."

　After all, becoming a warlock creates a qualitative difference between one and an ordinary person, and the price to pay for this is naturally high.

　Do you know how the staff works?

　If he had the relevant knowledge, Chen Lingxu could easily conjure a magic staff by hand.

　“…Agnese doesn’t know.”

　The little she-wolf wagged her tail. She was just a harmless wolf lord who liked to play cricket fighting, not a scholar who studied this subject.

　"Okay. Let's explore the next city then."

　Chen Lingxu wasn't angry. He rubbed the puppy's head and then got up to walk towards Theresa, who was already a little unsteady on her feet.

　"Humph."

　A soft hum startled Theresa from her immersive experience.

　"Master...ah..."

　The water ball in her hand slipped out of her control, spilling all over her hand. Looking at the water jug ​​again, she saw it was empty. But Little Peach had no time to focus on the water in the jug. She stared at Qilin with her big, watery eyes, eagerly demanding an explanation for her actions.

　"Master. I... I did it! I can use magic!"

　She successfully cast the spell! She, Theresia, is now considered a legendary sorcerer!

　"Barely."

　Chen Lingxu reached out and grabbed the peach. The restorative divine power circulated within her body, and Theresa, who had just become somewhat listless, regained her energy.

　"But... you've used up this whole jar of water, what am I supposed to drink? Hmm?"

　Chen Lingxu grabbed her small face and stared at her fiercely, asking her a question.

　"Waaah... I, I will go and fetch water for my master."

　She just learned some magic... Even if I don't scold her... at least... I should praise her.

　When Theresa thought about how her sister praised her for a long time when she made her first dress, Theresa would have taken the dress and told everyone she met, "My sister can make clothes now."

　"Heh. Watch closely, Theresa. This is what water magic looks like."

　The Qilin Overlord raised its left claw and aimed it at a tree. The next moment, Theresa's eyes involuntarily widened to their maximum size.

　A lush tree was drained of its moisture in the blink of an eye, becoming withered and rotten. The moisture drew an arc in the air and landed precisely in the water jar, filling the empty jar once again.

　"Do you think, based on your performance just now, you deserve my praise? Hmm?"

　"...No, I don't deserve it... Waaah..."

　Yes. As a beginner, she couldn't even put the drained water back safely. How could she be proud and ask for credit? Besides, she wasn't facing her doting older sister, but a cruel and heartless master who treated her like a slave.

　Thinking about it, Theresa compared the differences between the two again, and her shoulders slumped down in disappointment.

　"However, you useless little slave have actually shown some decent performance for once."

　Qilin's words made her raise her head again.

　Does this mean...we're going to give her a reward? Really? This monster...isn't so bad after all...

　"Therefore, I have decided..."

　What is it? What is it? It would be great if we could let her go... If not, at least... please don't treat her like a slave anymore!

　As Theresa thought about it, a light gradually rose in her eyes.

　"I'll reward you with this red-hot iron rod of mine."

　"Huh?! Huh?! Huh?!?!"

　Theresa was supported against a tree, her two small fists helplessly pounding on the Qilin's shoulders.

　She doesn't want that kind of reward!

　Chapter Twenty-Four: Peeking into the Secrets of the Source Stone

　Theresa followed carefully behind the Qilin.

　It seemed that this great monster did not like to linger in the wilderness, so after Theresa learned basic magic, it carried her and traveled thousands of miles a day, arriving at another city in just one day.

　Theresa thus understood why, despite leading him into the wilderness for several days, he was able to reach the settlement in just one night.

　That's a truly powerful and terrifying ability.

　But can she learn such incredible speed?

　If you could learn that skill, you could make a lot of money just by delivering things for people.

　Theresa thought about it, but didn't dare to ask.

　If Chen Lingxu knew that his little slave, after mastering the divine power of the rabbit, only wanted to make money by delivering takeout, he would probably criticize her for being no different from his fellow disciples who, upon seeing a monkey that could somersault, would make him a takeout deliveryman.

　"This is the shop that sells 'equipment'?"

　Under Agnese's guidance, Chen Lingxu had now left the Syracuse region and entered the Letania region, known as the Vassehr territory.

　He was currently strolling through the streets with his little she-wolf and slave. After spending some time, they found a shop that looked more like a witch's gathering than a blacksmith's shop.

　"This should be the place, Your Majesty."

　Anese had never been here before, but looking at the staff sign hanging at the door, anyone who wasn't a fool could tell what this shop mainly sold.

　"Go in and have a look."

　A staff?

　Theresa stood silently behind the Qilin, her large eyes scanning the room.

　Perhaps due to the popularity of Letanian pop music, magic is integrated into the music here, and the person who is both a musician and a...

　The Lytanians, who were sorcerers, often used various musical instruments as magic staffs.

　Right now, Theresa can only whistle; as for other musical instruments... she doesn't know anything about them.

　"I see. Let's go."

　Chen Lingxu only glanced at the staffs displayed on the walls or in the counters, and he already knew their raw materials and production process by heart.

　Anese did not cause any trouble, because in her view, all of the words and actions of the Primordial Celestial Venerable had their own purpose.

　But Theresa couldn't directly understand his feelings.

　Why did they leave without even asking the waiter? She could see the puzzled look on the Bucks employee's face.

　"Master? Why don't we ask about the staff's effects?"

　After following him away from the shop, Theresa finally mustered the courage to ask him why.

　"Hmph. I thought the staffs here were some kind of high-tech products, but it turns out they're just sticks with a piece of Originium tied to them. Anyone who didn't know better would think that the civilization on this land is still in the Stone Age."

　The Qilin Overlord's eyes were full of disdain.

　"Originium..."

　“That’s right. Your Majesty. Nowadays, people here refer to magic as Originium Arts, and there are hardly any pure spells left to be passed down and mastered.”

　"Originium Arts... Master, Ms. Anesse, may I ask, what is the difference between Originium Arts and magic...?"

　Chen Lingxu glanced at Anesse, and the little she-wolf, understanding the Emperor's heart perfectly, began to explain the process of Terra's primitive magic transforming into Originium Arts.

　Over tens of thousands of years, as Originium began to proliferate on this land, the Terrans gradually began to mine it for their own use. At one point, the people of the gods, whose primal magic was weakening due to bloodline issues, discovered a tool that could effectively replace the enhancements of their bloodline: an Originium. Simply by holding an Originium, they could utilize the energy stored within it to amplify the power and strength of their magic.

　As the war escalated, Originium began to be abused spontaneously by both the Beastmen and the Demons, and a technology line that depended on Originium was naturally born.

　"I see."

　Theresa seemed to understand something.

　Primal magic, like the Qilin before them, can be used without any medium, relying solely on one's powerful and pure bloodline. However, a half-Sarkaz like Theresa needs a medium such as a staff containing Originium to use magic more easily.

　Originium Arts is another name for primitive magic that relies on Originium as a medium. With the development of the times, the modern Originium Arts system has become far more sophisticated than the primitive magic that relied almost entirely on the instincts of the gods and people ten thousand years ago.

　A warlock who has received the relevant training can use various forms of Originium Arts, instead of the past when only noble citizens of the gods could use powerful spells, while the primates who served as servants could only watch from the sidelines.

　"This is the process of transforming from a low-magic world to a high-magic world."

　Qilin made a rant that neither Anesse nor Theresa could understand, and then shared his thoughts.

　“Since Originium has been turned into ore, and there are staffs being bought and sold here, it means that there are Originium mines in the vicinity or in this country.”

　Rather than buying those poorly made, low-quality products, Chen Lingxu felt it was better to mine and craft an excellent staff himself.

　“Agnese, do you know where there are Originium veins around here?”

　"Yes, yes. Your Majesty. A natural disaster occurred two days ago, a thousand miles away, and now, the source stones have almost started growing from there."

　"Grow?"

　Chen Lingxu narrowed his eyes slightly.

　"Alright. In that case, let's go take a look there."

　Natural disasters... Theresa had no clear impression of natural disasters.

　She had only heard about it from the idle chatter of Sarkaz mercenaries resting in the village.

　That was countless times greater than the heaviest rainstorm she had ever seen or the biggest blizzard she had ever experienced...

　"Act of God."

　The distant sky was covered by dark, catastrophic clouds—for tens of miles? Or hundreds of miles?

　From a distance, it looks like a space that has been forcibly cut open from all sides and placed separately, and then randomly filled with countless black waters.

　"Wow. That's quite a sight."

　Chen Lingxu released the little slave who was tucked under his arm and stood on the hilltop, gazing at the sky not far away.

　"All the Originium particles have drifted here."

　Compared to Theresa, who was in a state of shock, or Anesse, who was wagging her tail beside him, Chen Lingxu could more clearly sense the numerous Originium particles, like dust, that existed in the space they were in.

　Qilin opened his palm, clenched it tightly after a few breaths, and when he opened his hand again, a piece of Originium the size of a fingernail was lying quietly in his hand.

　"As expected, since Originium can automatically store the information it consumes, it can also artificially interfere with its storage progress."

　After a simple trial, Chen Lingxu stored 'A Wisp of Wind' into the Origin Stone fragment in his hand.

　"Your Majesty the Celestial Venerable."

　Anese had witnessed everything Chen Lingxu had done. She had a vague premonition that her Celestial Emperor was investigating some forbidden matter.

　“Agnese, you said that after you woke up, you found yourselves and the wolf pack gathered together by a force.”

　"Yes, Your Majesty. Just like..."

　It's like... piling up lots of clay together and shaping it into a complete piece of pottery.