SSS Class Infinite Regression: Ascension of the Mad Dragon Prince Chapter 30: The War Priest’s Legacy [2]

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"That’s right! This alliance between Yggdrasil and Zipangu stretches back thousands of years!" Kenzaki laughed heartily while devouring atloaf and mashed potatoes. "Oho! This food is most exquisite, your majesty."

"I’m glad you liked what my chefs prepared," Louis smiled. "That atloaf was my mother’s recipe."

"Indeed, it is as delicious as ever... though the one she made was even more delicious," Gustaf nodded, finally speaking after listening quietly for most of the al.

"And what happened later, Kenzaki?" Louis asked, eager for more.

"When the boundaries of space and ti shattered after the Dragon King defeated Pandemonium and Chaos," Kenzaki explained, "Zipangu, Earth, and Yggdrasil began to rge during the early stages of the Dinsional Convergence. At that ti, Lady Yuki—Amaterasu-sama reincarnated—was able to fight the invading forces of Oda Nobunaga, the aberrant Emperor and Tyrant of Zipangu, vessel of the root of all evil, Ha-jun!"

"...!"

"With the Dragon King’s aid, the traitorous and wicked Susanoo was slain by Amaterasu-sama’s reincarnation. Then, with the combined forces of Yggdrasil and Zipangu, Oda Nobunaga, his powerful retainers, Ha-jun, and his army of Akuma were ultimately defeated!" Kenzaki declared. "This happened thousands of years ago and is recorded in ancient scrolls. I can sell you one later, your majesty, they have beautiful paintings!"

"I see. Consider it sold," Louis nodded.

"Well, once peace was restored, the Dragon King and Amaterasu-sama wished to rule Zipangu together but could not. The Dragon King was bound to Yggdrasil, and Amaterasu-sama—or rather Yuki-sama—was no longer who she once was," Kenzaki continued. "In the tales, the two combined their strength to create the Seven Auspicious Heavenly Dragons, the current guardians of Zipangu. The Dragon King and Yuki-sama still oversee Zipangu even now, though they mostly reside in Yggdrasil. Their beloved first daughter, Yudra-sama, governs Zipangu as the Divine Empress and has spread and revived her mother’s religion over the last five thousand years."

"Wait, did you say Yudra?!" Louis asked, shocked. "That’s my aunt..."

"Indeed! One of the reasons we care so deeply about the prince in Yamato and Zipangu is because you are Yudra-sama’s beloved nephew," Kenzaki said. "Within you flows the divine bloodline of the Dragon King himself. There is no greater honor than to carry it in your veins."

"I... well, thank you," Louis replied with a light smile. "Auntie Yudra..."

"Do you rember her?" Gustaf asked. "From what I recall, she was the most talkative of them all, very friendly, always grabbing you and hugging you."

"Ah, her..." Louis groaned, facepalming. "Yes, I rember now... She was... uh, an excellent aunt."

"It is such an incredible experience to speak with a direct family mber of the Empress of Zipangu, to hear such things as though you were just any other family. Truly moving," Kenzaki said sincerely.

"I wish she could visit more. After my Dragon Awakening Ceremony, she vanished and has never co to see again," Louis said. "That... I guess it applies to all my family mbers."

"I’ve heard that Empress Yudra is busy dealing with the Dinsional Labyrinth’s expansion, so please be patient, Prince Louis," Kenzaki replied.

"Well, it’s not like I would ever try to bother soone as busy as her. I cannot even fathom what it would be like to govern an entire world," Louis sighed. "Whatever the case, there was a reason I called you here, Kenzaki. I am about to reach Grand Perfection in the Heaven and Earth Essence Gathering thod, and I want other thods to grow stronger, especially those that strengthen the body. That’s why I invited you. I’m honestly not much interested in anything else you might sell, except perhaps the scrolls retelling Zipangu’s history."

"Ah, a direct soul! Very well, allow to speak plainly, de gosaru!" Kenzaki said joyfully. He set down his crate and opened it with a flourish. Inside lay scrolls, jade tablets, and glowing crystals. He retrieved several large scrolls made of red, black, or yellow paper. "Unlike what you have learned so far, these are not re exercises or breathing tricks. These are the Heaven-Earth Harmonization Sutras, refined over centuries by the monks of Mount Tsukikage. They teach the body to beco a vessel of balance between Yin and Yang, the Five Elents, and the mortal and divine."

Louis’ eyes glead with greed. His hands nearly reached out, but he held back and glanced at the rchant. "What are they good for?"

"The Heaven-Earth Harmonization Sutras are five distinct sutras that allow those who read and comprehend them to accept the Five Elents upon their bodies," Kenzaki explained. "To learn them requires a basic yet fundantal understanding of internal energies and lifeforce as a whole. The sutras emphasize dynamic equilibrium between opposing forces. Light and dark, motion and stillness, expansion and contraction. Those who fully commit learn to circulate these energies through their ridians, stabilizing the internal Heaven and Earth Essence flow. As a result, they improve their ability to wield Ki, Fantasium, and perhaps even Mana."

"So it increases flow, hastening natural recovery of internal energy and amplifying its power, right?" Louis asked. "I see. Then it’s certainly a must-have."

"Yes, yes! Practitioners harmonize with the Five Elents—Wood, Fire, Earth, tal, and Water—each representing a facet of physical and taphysical existence. By cultivating each in turn, the body becos a vessel capable of channeling Heaven-Earth Essence without corruption. It can even cleanse impurities from the body, granting a stronger, more refined version of oneself," Kenzaki continued. "Each elent must be attuned separately through special rituals, so it requires considerable ti. So dedicate their entire lives to these sutras and still have not mastered all five."

"So when I master these elents, will I be able to wield them? Gain their Elental Affinity?" Louis asked. "Like what appears in the Status?"

"Yes, you will obtain a Natural Elental Root for each elent," Kenzaki confird. "It will grant you Elental Affinity to Wood, Fire, Earth, tal, and Water!"

"Incredible...!" Louis was captivated. Everything he had learned from William’s mories about these sutras proved true, and thanks to that knowledge, he already knew the most effective and efficient ways to learn and master them all.

"The sutras include diagrams and breathing techniques that map the Heavenly Channels, linked to celestial energy, and Earthly Channels, linked to terrestrial vitality. These channels form a dual circuit. When activated, the practitioner can absorb ambient Essence from the surroundings," Kenzaki explained. "Activating these channels is essential to begin learning the Five Elents. If you master them all, you will obtain a Five Elental Spirit Root, which could even allow you to start cultivating the Path to Immortality, sothing widely practiced among Zipangu’s greatest Daoist Masters."

"Hoh..." Louis rubbed his chin, deeply intrigued. "Immortality...?"

In the world of Sinners Academy, countless paths to power existed. Many systems clashed and converged within the ga-like frawork, from leveling and learning techniques to training, exercise, weapon arts, magic, elental affinities, and above all, the Spirals, the supre power system only a few could ever awaken.

Yet that did not an other paths could not be used or stacked together. The ga imposed strict ti limits, preventing players from acquiring everything in a single run unless they completed multiple New Ga cycles, as William had done.

Though his primary goal remained advancing his Spiral, Louis refused to pass up any opportunity to grow stronger. Cultivating immortality still felt distant, it was the mortal path to godhood in Zipangu, much like refining Mana Cores, expanding Mana Circuits, and many other practices in Yggdrasil.

"Well, I will consider it. For now, that remains beyond my reach," Louis said. "But I will take all five sutras. Do you have anything else that might interest , Kenzaki? Lately I’ve struggled to find a way to grow my unique Spiral. It’s... rather strange, to say the least. Do you have a thod that could work?"

"Indeed. I heard from Sir Robert that the prince has awakened as a Spiralwalker—congratulations. He also ntioned your Spiral is unique. That is why I brought this." The rchant drew a scroll bound in obsidian silk and sealed with five elental talismans from his crate. "This is the Void ridian Sutra. It was designed for those whose Essence flows against the current of Heaven and Earth. It teaches cultivation not by absorbing Elental Essence, but by Refining Emptiness. By aligning your Internal Void with External Chaos, I believe you can stabilize your Spiral’s hunger. This thod is rarely practiced. It was created by the Great Void Immortal Venerable of Zipangu, an ancient figure now lost to ti. As you can guess, it is incredibly precious. Though it has weakened to the level of a Mortal thod, it is said to be capable of evolving into an Immortal Art once you reach Grand Perfection!"

"Oh...!" Louis nearly drooled at the sight of the obsidian scroll. "If it’s so precious, how did you obtain it?"

"The Empress permitted to take one from the treasury because she knew it could benefit you—soone who had been crippled in gaining his dragon powers," Kenzaki explained. "In Zipangu, those unable to cultivate Heaven and Earth often practice this thod, though such individuals are exceedingly rare. Even when they acquire a scroll, most cannot progress beyond the Beginning Stage due to its complexity. It is an unusual technique, but undeniably powerful."

"Is it possible to combine it with the Five Elents thod?" Louis asked.

"Yes. I’ve heard that so Quasi-Immortals with close ties to Yamato cultivate both," Kenzaki replied. "But it demands incredible discipline and a level of clear-mindedness few can achieve. Still... it is possible."

"Hmm. Na your price," Louis said.

"I am aware that in Frostbane your currency is Gold, Silver, and Bronze coins, correct?" Kenzaki asked. "Though I could accept that and exchange it for Refined Fantasium Crystals, I would prefer to receive them directly as paynt."

"Hmm... What do you think, Louis?" his father asked. "These thods seem excellent for you. As your father, I am willing to buy them."

"...? Really?" Louis was genuinely surprised.

"As a way to apologize for putting you through that pain in the Spiral Scanning Device yesterday," Gustaf said with a faint smile. "How much is everything together, Kenzaki?"

"Well, if you let calculate... Hmm, roughly 1200 Refined Fantasium Crystals! And just because it is you, King Gustaf, I am willing to throw in a bonus: the Five Elental Harmonization Array—a cultivation formation that can be inscribed into your training grounds. It will allow you to cycle Elental Essence safely, tempering your body while your Spiral feeds on the residual Fantasium!"

"Huh, that could help not just but everyone else..." Louis said. "And we could study it and create our own arrays and formations, father."

"That’s right... 1200 is quite a lot," Gustaf acknowledged. "However, as the number one producer of Refined Fantasium Crystals on the Arican Continent, it’s nothing our funds cannot afford. Robert, bring in the crystals."

"Yes, your majesty," Robert replied, departing.

"Thank you for your patronage, King of Frostbane," Kenzaki said with a gentle smile.

Their al continued as they discussed food, the histories of their countries, and how each had adapted to the new world over the decades.

When Robert returned, he brought three carrying-type androids, each transporting 400 Refined Fantasium Crystals.

"Oh, thank you so much! I know you were only interested in cultivation thods, but I cannot help showing you so other trinkets," Kenzaki said. "How about this Magic Lamp that releases a Fog weakening enemies’ perception? Or this special Elixir synthesized using an Ancient Ginseng that has lived for one thousand years! Or perhaps this, the dehydrated head of a vicious Asura, said to curse the soul of anything its eyes fall upon."

"Hm..." Louis considered the items carefully. He knew he could not buy too much, so were outrageously expensive, and he refused to waste money on uncertain tools against Soma. "I doubt the one we’re going after will be affected by any of these trinkets. He is incredibly strong. That Ginseng Elixir seems tempting; it might aid my body cultivation and it’s not that expensive... The other items? Not really interested."

In the end, Louis purchased the thousand-year-old ginseng potion—which Kenzaki said was ideal for cultivating the Five Elents—for another 90 Refined Fantasium Crystals. The rchant offered a 10% discount.

"Thank you so much for your great hospitality. The al was delicious, and you have shown the kindness of the people of the Frostbane Kingdom," Kenzaki said. "I shall inform the Empress how much you loved her gift, Prince Louis. The Young Empress is rather new to the throne, you see. She has lately been seeking a consort. I am not implying anything, but... if you were ever interested in further strengthening ties with Yamato, I would gladly help you contact her."

"...Ah, well, thank you," Louis replied. He understood Kenzaki’s aning but had no interest at the mont. "Have a safe journey."

Once the rchant departed, construction of the Five Elental Harmonization Array began with the help of various workers from the VPI. They decided to place it in an adjacent area next to the training grounds behind the Frostbane castle.

anwhile, Louis sat in lotus position inside his room. After drinking a tenth of the ginseng potion, his Aura surged trendously. Seizing the opportunity, he finally reached Grand Perfection in the Heaven and Earth Essence Gathering thod.

"It’s done...!"

Every fiber of his muscles, the calcium in his bones, the elasticity of his tendons, the toughness of his skin, everything within Louis had been amplified by a staggering 200%. Stacked with the Mana Body Reinforcent thod, this could reach up to 400% physical enhancent, making him four tis stronger.

Knock, knock!

"Master Louis, the Array Formation is completed. Would you like to try it?" Catrise called from the door.

"Yes, start it up. I will be the first to test how effective it is," Louis replied, clutching the Heaven-Earth Harmonization Sutras.

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