Chapter 393

Chapter 393: Priestess Zaride

First place.

This outcome left Midi satisfied.

Making the top five mattered most—the exact ranking itself meant little.

Through this competition, he’d eliminated multiple hidden threats in one sweep.

First, Mason, an old acquaintance. Not only had they reconciled, but Mason even extended goodwill—an unexpected bonus.

His cooperation with Zaknavan was now finalized and ready to begin.

With steady streams of contribution points, shedding his slave status seemed imminent.

Zaknavan also assured him Galantis wasn’t a concern. Though unsure why the dark elf claimed this, Midi trusted Zaknavan’s judgment.

The last lingering worry dissolved.

No grudges remained from the fierce competition—only resolved conflicts. Enemies had been dealt with immediately, leaving all parties content.

Beyond these preparations, Midi gained something tangible—the Mirage Grass poison.

When the competition ended, slave warriors celebrated with feasts and wine provided by the Wolfspider tribe. But Midi declined Zaknavan’s invitation, retreating to his room to refine the poison.

The toxin’s lethality came from excessive Radiance of Darkness. In the Shaded Realm, this plant glowed faintly due to ambient Dark Magic, luring creatures. Upon contact, the concentrated Radiance killed them, nourishing the Mirage Grass.

Since Dark Magic saturated the air, Radiance evaporation from victims’ bodies left no trace. This made it ideal for undetected killings—why Blood Hand risked using it publicly during the championship.

Now it belonged to Midi.

He carefully poured out the poison. Having refined vast amounts of Radiance of Light before, plus his superior Dragon’s Blood physique, this toxin became pure fuel. Within hours, he fully absorbed it.

The process mirrored refining a Radiance of Light crystal—his inner power thickened, his level loosening. He estimated progressing from early to advanced Level 60. One more session might push him to Level 60’s peak, nearing Level 61.

But how to obtain more resources?

Time to consult Zaknavan.

Midi made his decision.

After refining the Mirage Grass, extracting Radiance of Darkness from the air became too slow for Midi. He needed more resources – not necessarily Mirage Grass, but something to boost his leveling speed drastically.

At dawn, Midi went to find his partner. When he raised the issue, Zaknavan looked utterly astonished.

"My friend," Zaknavan clapped Midi’s shoulder, "why do you think we fought so hard in rankings? Completing Wolfspider tribe missions doesn’t just give contribution points!"

The dark elf Demon Swordman launched into explanations. Dark elf tribes had various commissions – some from individuals, others from the elder council. Personal commissions rarely offered contribution points unless the issuer held high status. Tribe warriors usually handled council missions for solid rewards, while slave warriors earned both rewards and contribution points.

High-risk missions tribe warriors avoided carried massive contribution points. Zaknavan had wanted to take these before but lacked allies. With Midi, success became feasible.

These high-reward missions often involved exploring the Shaded Realm’s uncharted territories. The vast darkness between tribal settlements hid untapped resources. To elites like Zaknavan, this was better than scavenging picked-over lands.

Though skeptical, Midi agreed. Their top-five rankings granted swift access to the elder council’s cavern headquarters. Guards treated Midi respectfully, even seeking sword advice.

Zaknavan chose a southern exploration mission. As they finished paperwork, he reminded Midi about the magical iron chain.

Wolfspider tribe’s slave warriors wore explosive neck rings controlled by priests. The Black Dragon Priestess handling this wasn’t Galantis, but her rival Zaride – a tall, mature man exuding charm.

"Off to battle again so soon?" Zaride smiled. "The tribe still buzzes about yesterday’s fight."

"New rankings approach," Zaknavan deflected.

Midi stayed silent as instructed. When Zaride fastened the chain, his fingers brushed Midi’s chest before whispering:

"Surface dweller, when will you tell me tales of Arad continent?"