Chapter 887: Millions

887 Millions

Unleashing the full force of True Extraction - augmented by Soul Tear - on more than 500,000 Summons, of which most were only at the 1st Tier, with only 50,000 Tier-2 Summons and 5,439 Awakened generated generous loot to plunder.

First of all, Michael was surprised that there were almost a dozen Tier-5 powerhouses, including the Blaze Lord, with fragile foundations, while 25% of the remaining Awakened were Higher Lifeforms at the 4th Tier. The rest were Tier-3 Awakened, who had been trained very well by the Blaze household. For the Tritan Alliance's standards of Subordinates, they weren't weak. However, it was unfortunate that they weren't strong enough to fight Michael's Untamed Awakened and his Untamed Army. Well, it was only unfortunate for them. Michael was glad.

The 500,000 Summon bodies were looted, generating 16,500,000 Summoning Scroll Fragments, 38,500 Summoning Scrolls, 32,000 blueprints, and more than 4,000 Artifacts. Michael had forgotten for how long Summons had dropped Scroll Fragments and complete Scrolls, but he knew True Extraction with Soul Tear increased the drop rate quite a bit.

The loot acquired from the Summons was great. If he sold everything on the market, he would procure a decent fortune, especially for the Artifacts. By combining them, Michael could transform the piles of useless Artifacts into Tierless and Tier-1 Legendary Artifacts. Legendary Artifacts, whether natural or crafted, were valuable even in the Cosmic Shop, Michael could use the high demand to increase his shop's reputation and level quickly - even faster than he was already doing.

His Cosmic Shop was already doing well enough with the Soultrait Symbols he had sold. The Legendary Artifacts and some other loot, potentially Legendary Scrolls, Mythical Scrolls, and Named Scrolls of high star-rating, were only an appetizer, as well as the biggest margin of profit because it would be a rare occasion for him to sell Soultrait Symbols in the Cosmic Shop. Michael wasn't going to transform his Soultrait Symbols into a piggy bank. He didn't have enough to do so. His territories and people would profit more by acquiring the Soultrait Symbols and Soultrait Upgrades instead of giving them to others.

Whereas the pile of loot from the Summons was simple and straightforward, the gains made from 5,439 Awakened were a little bit more complex. First and foremost, Michael procured more than 10,000 Memory Orbs. He wouldn't consume all of them. In fact, only the memories of the Tier-5 powerhouses and the members of the Blaze household were valuable to Michael at this point. He could sell the rest in the Jungle Shop alongside the open opportunity to use the Needle of the Lost Memories if they were unwilling to keep all memories within the Memory Orb in their minds. The only memories they truly needed were about the Awakened's martial arts experience, his combat experience, tips, and tricks related to fighting, meditating, refining the body, mind, and soul to accelerate their progress, and so forth. Michael decided to experiment with the Memory Orbs, hoping his subjects would be able to use them to their advantage.

Besides the Memory Orbs, Michael procured blueprints and similar common loot from the Will. Instead, he dismissed them and focused on the portions of the deceased Awakened's War Rune storages. Most didn't have many valuable things other than some energy stones and ordinary techniques, but even those things were better than nothing. Michael procured everything and hoarded it to offer them for sale in the Jungle Shop. He didn't need most things from the Blaze household's Lords and settlements. That excluded the most important pieces of loot, of course.

Michael acquired 601 Soultrait Symbols and 2,978,000 SoulStar Fragments.

He couldn't believe it when he realized how many SoulStar Fragments he'd procured, but it was a fact. The dozen Tier-5 powerhouses created only a small portion of 50,000 SoulStar Fragments, whereas the remaining 1,600 Higher Lifeforms amassed a small fortune of close to 1.7 million SoulStar Fragments. Since the remaining Awakened had either been at the Late ranks or Peak of the 3rd Tier, they created the missing portion to amass almost three million Soul Star Fragments.

In fact, combined with the remaining fortune in his War Rune, Michael had accumulated more than three million SoulStar Fragments!

He offered Frederik and the others some Soultrait Upgrades when he realized how many SoulStar Fragments he'd procured, but Tiara and Hiraku stepped in long before Frederik could go into Michael's arms like a young maiden.

"You need as much power as possible to fight the Blaze Patriarch. We know he's weaker than ever, but that man is still a Tier-6 powerhouse who'd turned the Tritan Alliance upside down. Everyone would be happy about procuring and upgrading more Soultrait Symbols, but they will be useless if everyone dies fighting the Blaze Patriarch." Hiraku said, taking Michael by surprise. However, Michael wasn't surprised by the obvious points Hiraku had mentioned. "You're finally accepting my Soultrait Symbols?" He asked Hiraku, whose nose scrunched before his eyes narrowed into tiny slits.

"That is not the point, is it?"

"But you do want my Soultrait Symbols?"

"I have been accumulating Jungle Points to use them at some point. Yes..." Hiraku answered honestly at last.

"Do you want to upgrade your Titan Spirit once we finish the Blaze household?" "Maybe..." Hiraku didn't want to reveal anything anymore, so Michael let him be.

Tiara used the short silence to intervene, "Use your Soultrait Symbols and SoulStar Fragments to prepare for the final battle with the Blaze Patriarch. After he is defeated, we have five more settlements to clear. There should be more than enough leftover Awakened and combat Summons to slay. If we're lucky, you can procure even more Soultrait Symbols and SoulStar Fragments from them!"

She was right. They could likely procure even more Soultrait Symbols and SoulStar Fragments by killing the Blaze Patriarch and conquering the Sacred Desert once and for all.

"I agree...but can I use some of your power to upgrade my Soultrait?" A familiar yet unfamiliar face appeared in Michael's rows. Tiara cursed quietly and was about to say something when Master Tigris restrained her. Master Tigris didn't do much, but it was enough to calm the Silverfang Princess.

The new additions to the ring of command were Daniel Fang and Caesus. They had a great time dealing with the Blaze household and seemed to hit it off fairly well. However, that wasn't why they were allowed to be present at the small-scale council meeting. Michael didn't know when the meeting started, but everyone had already been discussing loudly when he arrived with his great news and the offer to upgrade everyone's Soultraits.

Daniel was present because he had a 9-Star Soultrait. He could fight enemies much stronger than him and easily progressed through the ranks. It was only a matter of time before he ascended to a Higher Lifeform. He already had a perfectly purified body and wouldn't be granted many benefits from the High Ascension. However, at the same time, Daniel didn't require as many resources as others to advance to Tier-4 and higher. Even though he had a 9-Star Soultrait and was supposed to require tremendous energy to advance, Daniel was faster than everyone at advancing.

On the other hand, Caesus wasn't present because of his overwhelming strength. For the records, he killed more Awakened at a high rank than anyone else at or near his rank. Nonetheless, that wasn't enough reason to enter the council meeting. No. Caesus was present because the Silverfangs were split as to whom to follow. Many trusted Tiara and relied on her strength, but a portion - a fairly large part - of the Silverfang Tigerfolk knew that their ruler never abandoned Caesus.

To avoid problems, other than Tiara nearly fighting with Caesus when he first appeared before her eyes, the former crown prince and the princess of the Silverfang Tigerfolk were added to the council. The same former crown prince who was now asking to use up his Jungle Points to upgrade his Soultrait.

"You want to upgrade your Soultrait? Not buy a new one?" Michael asked without a change in his features. He stared straight into Caesus' eyes and waited patiently for a response.

"Yes. I do not wish to purchase a new Soultrait. Maybe in the future, but not for now." Caesus nodded, "Father believed my Soultrait to be powerful. Maybe he was wrong, but I want to believe his judgment."

"Don't you dare to talk about our father? Even a thought of yours is enough to tarnish his eternal rest. You are a vile, disgus-..." Tiara screamed at her brother, who endured his sister's rage and fury with a straight stare. However, she couldn't finish shouting at him until she was out of breath. Michael's curse power exploded and surged through the room.

"Silence." It was merely one word, but it was eerily cold. Michael stared at Tiara, whose lips sealed shut subconsciously. Her eyes widened in shock, and the hair all over her tail stood up to its end. The anger in Michael's eyes and aura surprised Tiara. She wasn't the only one, but Tiara realized that she had gone too far. Her fluffy ears turned down in embarrassment and sadness, yet no word escaped her lips.

Only when Michael's aura receded did she dare to say something.

"I...apologize... I couldn't control my emotions. It wasn't the right time or place to do that..."

Michael nodded curtly and turned away from Tiara. He didn't grace her with another glance. The Silverfang Princess winced while Master Tigris sighed deeply. Even though their Princess had been with Michael Fang from the beginning, it was a fact that Michael gained a lot less from their relationship than Tiara and the Silverfang Tigerfolk. The Lord didn't lose out in their relationship, but the Silverfang Princess gained many benefits compared to her Lord. However, it seemed like Tiara had forgotten about that. She had also forgotten that Michael was their Lord and that he was responsible for his subjects of several races. Tiara was already stirring problems because of the Silverfangs now that her brother had returned. If everyone acted as pompous as the young Silverfang, Michael would have difficulty ruling his territory. He had to intercept her behavior and discipline her.

Master Tigris understood that point, but it was unfortunate. Caesus wasn't as long in Michael's territory as Tiara, yet the princess seemed to lose his favor while Caesus attracted Michael's attention. "You are the Silverfang Princess. Please, Your Worship, act like that!" Master Tigris hissed into her ears.

Michael heard Master Tigris and shrugged. He didn't think much about Tiara's behavior. The sibling problem was something they could solve on their own. The council meeting wasn't intended for such a thing.

He turned to Caesus and nodded, "I'll upgrade your Soultrait to 4-Star. You might not have enough Jungle Points, but that doesn't matter. The remaining Jungle Points can be acquired in the battle against the Blaze Patriarch and his people." "Though, I don't think it will be as difficult as everyone presumed," Michael shrugged, his eyes trailing the Starheaven Pharaoh, who nodded subtly. Everything was going according to plan.

"Still...can you use the SoulStar Fragments on yourself, please? To ensure to everyone that everything will be alright?" Lilica asked.

Michael thought about it for a second. He retrieved 400 SoulStar Fragments and handed them to Caesus before flashing a vibrant smile at the Forest Elf.

"That shouldn't be a problem. I can do that."