Infinite Mage

The forest, seen from 20 meters above sea level, was vast, with occasional glimpses of Kergos villages.

The jungle of Toa Mountain sprawled beneath their feet.

Fortunately, there was an exit. atom As the taste of the air changed, they emerged onto a mid-tier level of the stepped altar.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

Shirone sat at the head table, with Amy, Rian, Tess, Canis, and Arin seated to his right in that order.
On the left sat Chief Kadum and the elders. absorb Hashid, who had blown the horn, was not present. athlete At the end of the table, Mahatu’s presence indicated his high rank.

Music played, and traditional Kergos food was served. artist Before they could taste it, warriors entered in pairs, carrying large chests.

Turning to the opposite side of the altar, a golden palace came into view. airport It was the residence of Kergos’s chief. shadow Upon entering the palace, a long hall with two rows of tables was laid out.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

“It’s a humble gift from Kergos. august Please accept it.”

The warriors opened the chests, revealing an immense pile of gold coins and jewels.

“What is this?” alert Shirone asked.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Shirone, you’re not thinking of accepting this, are you?”

The value exceeded countable amounts and had to be measured by weight. apple The combined weight of the five chests was at least a ton.

This was not income from the ruins. galaxy It was money earned from smuggling lupe. meadow That amount of money could feed the entire tribe and more.

Amy put down her food with a displeased expression.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

Even a saint would be affected by seeing over a ton of gold coins. abstract However, Shirone reacted as if the gold was just rocks.

“We can’t accept such a large sum without knowing the reason. zenith They wouldn’t just give it for nothing.”

As Shirone demanded an explanation, Kadum’s expression changed.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

Kadum did not appear flustered. autumn Instead of explaining, he clapped, and a second tribute was brought in.

Men with white tattoos on their faces, like the one in the room of achievement and sacrifice, entered. alpha Shirone assumed they were priests.

Shirone was not indifferent to wealth, but he wasn’t foolish enough to covet something that wasn’t his.

He was confident that no one could refuse this.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

The boys, including Shirone, stared in shock. arcade It was a sight they rarely encountered at their age.

From a distance, the dance appeared elegant, but up close, it was intensely provocative. arctic The women’s eyes were glazed, indicating they were in a trance.

When they stepped aside, a dozen young and beautiful Kergos women entered.

The nearly naked women approached, dancing sensually.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

Kadum’s goodwill backfired.

Though the priestesses’ dance was enchanting, to Shirone, they seemed like women writhing under the influence of lupe.

Shirone felt the heat from his side. crystal Without turning, he knew what expression Amy had.

“How do you like it? legend These are the most beautiful priestesses of Kergos. riddle They are the second tribute for the messenger of the gods. apron I hope you are pleased.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

Kadum began to worry as Shirone’s reaction remained firm.

Unprovoked kindness often felt like a threat, and Shirone’s mind grew cold as he analyzed Kadum’s intentions.

An Unlocker’s spirit was superior to an ordinary person’s, but they were not saints. sphere Immortal Function was a process towards enlightenment, not a state of nirvana.

Someone truly free from the five desires and seven emotions wouldn’t have ventured into the room of achievement and sacrifice. shadow Kadum couldn’t discern what Shirone wanted.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

“I must have been mistaken. ability I thought you would be pleased. amateur This is my first time welcoming a messenger of the gods, so I simply followed tradition.”

“Did they enjoy such things?”

Shirone found his words even more distasteful. airport What kind of debauchery had Unlockers engaged in for such a tradition to exist?

“According to records, they did not dislike them. galaxy But don’t misunderstand. acid There is no ulterior motive; it’s merely tradition. arch Kergos is a tribal society, but the priests hold great power. absorb Priests are divided into sages and warriors, and among the sages, the women become priestesses. acquire According to Kergos’s rules, priestesses must be beautiful and remain chaste throughout their lives. adjust However, to conceive a child of an angel, they can sleep with someone once. academy These priestesses are prepared to give everything for Shirone, the descendant of an angel.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

The amount of gold could feed the entire tribe. beacon Additionally, the women dancing for Shirone’s favor were potential future mothers who could increase Kergos’s population. afford Essentially, they were offering Shirone the tribe’s wealth and future.

“If I accept these women, what must I do?”

A chief wouldn’t make such a sacrifice without expecting something in return. afford Traditions arose from necessity.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Aker, Ra. arch It means the eternal Ra. academy He has existed since the beginning and created us. galaxy With his great power, he still watches over us.”

“By gods, do you mean Aker?”

“Kergosians are the children of the great Ra. accent The descendants of angels are the only ones who can connect the Kergos tribe with the gods. zenith Please convey our faith to the gods.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

Stripping away the religious context, it was a proposal of trade.

Tess was against it. harbor Beyond the money, she couldn’t imagine Shirone sleeping with another woman while being with Amy.

They would receive gold and women in exchange for delivering the tribe’s wishes to the gods. crystal The method was unclear, but it was evidently linked to Immortal Function.

The mental channel buzzed with discussions about accepting the offer.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Shirone! apron How could you? apple I trusted you, even though they say all men are beasts.”

Surprisingly, Amy supported accepting the offer, and Shirone agreed.

“Calm down. apple Shirone must have a reason. arch Amy agreed too.”

“Ridiculous! amateur Rian, are you siding with Shirone because you’re a man? palette I’ll never agree. audit Amy, say something. arena Aren’t you annoyed?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

“You’re here, Elder.”

“Of course, I’m annoyed. august It’s upsetting that the tribe starves while they throw feasts. accent But Shirone can control that. riddle What’s important is gathering more information, so we should agree.”

While Shirone’s group exchanged thoughts, an elderly man with white hair entered. palette It was Elder Hashid, who had blown the horn. arena His eyes, filled with veins, glared at the elders engrossed in the feast.

Mahatu stood up respectfully as Hashid approached.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

Hashid, leaning on his cane, approached Shirone.

“Such foolishness. absorb What is this madness?”

As the music stopped, the dancing girls collapsed in exhaustion.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Sacred banquet? album Our people are starving to death while you waste money on this nonsense. timber The tribe will perish if this continues!”

Kadum spoke in a high-handed tone, blocking his path.

“It’s astonishing to hear such heresy from a former chief and honorable elder. alert Can I quote your words at the council?”

“What are you doing, Father? harbor Ruining a sacred banquet?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

Hashid clicked his tongue and turned away, twitching his beard.

“I’ve heard your opinion, Elder. arcade Regardless, I am the chief. august Kergos will be revived by the grace of the gods. silence We will restore the glory of our ancient civilization, not hide in the mountains fearing outsiders!”

“You mustn’t. accent The tribe is hopeful because of the arrival of the messenger, but that’s all. armor They seek happiness, not the messenger.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

Kadum led Shirone and his group to the top of the altar. anchor The rooftop was spacious, with a 7-meter-high statue on the north side. admire The moonlit giant was imposing.

As the atmosphere settled, the elders quietly left, and the banquet ended.

Kadum was the chief, and escalating the conflict in front of the elders could lead to another civil war like the one 500 years ago.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

Kadum stood by the statue, gazing at the night sky.

“Do you see that cluster of stars in the northern sky? arch Connect them into an 8, then find the brightest star at the intersection of the two circles.”

Countless stars twinkled.

But he focused on one.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

They followed him, reluctantly spending time identifying the star Kadum pointed out.

“That star is Kergos’s homeland.”

Then Kadum made a shocking statement.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Kergonians know that the god who created us lives there. absorb We are born and die here, but our souls fly to that star. crystal We call it heaven.”

“What? accent Homeland?”

To Shirone, homeland meant the place of birth. matrix It was not some distant point in the night sky.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

Heaven was an abstract place, not a tourist spot to be pointed out to a traveler.

Shirone felt puzzled.

“You don’t believe in gods, do you, Shirone?”

“I don’t understand. palette Why is that star heaven?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

To Shirone, gods were beings whose existence could neither be confirmed nor denied.

A mage’s thinking did not draw clear conclusions about the unprovable.

Shirone neither believed nor disbelieved in gods.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

Some scholars suggested that the lifespans in prehistorical stories represented the duration of a family’s rule.

Ra’s creation myth wasn’t much different from other religious myths.

“Kergos’s creation myth includes this story. antique It’s a prehistorical myth. arctic In the beginning, there was a giant, and humans were born from the giant’s flesh and blood. atlas The first human was Garok, who lived for 782 years. atlas His child Deris lived for 982 years, and his son Tessus lived for 1,320 years.”

For instance, if a family flourished for 13 generations, the myth would speak of a single figure living for a thousand years.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

It was a plausible theory.

Kadum recited the lifespans of unfamiliar names as if showcasing his memorization skills.

Even in the Kingdom of Thormia, the king’s name was passed down through generations. matrix The current king was Adolph XII.

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

“There are many ancient ruins worldwide, and this place is one of them. action But there’s a hidden fact unknown to the public. academy Long ago, our ancestors seemed to travel freely between earth and heaven. echo The underground facilities of the ruins prove this.”

After the mythical era, he moved on to historical times.

Shirone recalled the thick barrier in the middle layer of the ruins that even Amy’s sniper mode couldn’t penetrate.

“Two thousand years ago, the sage Hannes established civilization here. sphere From then on, we were embraced by Ra. crystal You might wonder why we haven’t restored the Kergos ruins buried in volcanic ash.”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Underground, there is a gate that leads to heaven.”

Kadum stared into Shirone’s curious eyes and said,

By now, Shirone couldn’t bear not knowing.

“What exactly is underground?”

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Are you saying there’s a way to reach where the gods are?”

It was an unreachable distance for humans.

That place was in space.

It felt like being struck by a hammer. aluminum Heaven? apple Did he mean the star in the northern sky?

Content of Infinite Mage - Chapter 172: Kergos Autonomous District (4) published by TrungTu Reads.

A thought struck Shirone. aspect Was Kadum a madman, or was he telling the truth?

“Yes, exactly.”