"There's a ruined Kingdom nearby?" Once Inala and Virala were escorted to the Noikatol Kingdom, the King, Tssrah Noikatol expressed his confusion upon hearing Inala's story.
"No, your Majesty." Inala performed a mild bow, "The Kingdom we hail from was destroyed eighty years ago by a Mammoth Clans master."
"Eighty years ago…" Tssrah Noikatol frowned as he stared at one of his aides, a Life Stage cultivator who had roamed beyond Petrichor Savannah. If anyone could have an idea about such an event, it should be him.
"I remember hearing about something like that around these parts…" The Life Stage cultivator took out an Information Slip containing all the precious information he had gathered during his years of journey outside. He accessed its contents and stared at Inala to ask, "Are you referring to the Bollutiya Kingdom?"
"Yes, it is that one." Inala nodded as he stared at Virala, "Our parents fled as a group once the Kingdom was destroyed. We couldn't find any other Kingdom to seek refuge nearby and had to live in the wilds. Eventually, we adapted to such a life."
He smiled wryly while eyeing Virala, "Now, the two of us roam the wilds as nomads and sell some produce that we create to any Kingdoms we come across."
"Are these the goods you have on you currently?" Tssrah Noikatol eyed the large crates brought in by his soldiers from the carriage wreckage alongside the corpses of the eight Ptattahs.
"Yes," Inala nodded and opened one of the crates, "We came across the Balghats here and have weaved some clothes using their wool."
"We have plenty of clothes made using Balghat wool…" Tssrah Noikatol stopped speaking as he stared at the block of wool before him and poked at it, seeing no way to wear it, "Is this supposed to be clothes worn in some Kingdom of Sumatra?"
"Ahh, excuse my rudeness." Inala smiled wryly and slapped Virala on the back of the head lightly, chiding the latter, "What are you waiting for, doofus? Demonstrate our suit to his majesty!"
"I am…" Virala silently gritted his teeth and remained in character, making a mental note to beat up Inala later. He made a show of beckoning one of his guards, when in reality, he was controlling the latter's actions through psychokinesis.
"Are they your bodyguards?" Tssrah Noikatol stated in surprise, "They look pretty similar to each other."
"They're brothers," Inala interjected and whispered to the Noikatol King, "Decuplets, in fact."
"In the name of Sumatra…!" Tssrah Noikatol inhaled a sharp breath in shock. He didn't say anything else and watched one of the guards grab a wool suitcase and seep in a unit of Prana, keeping his actions clear for everyone else to witness.
Immediately as he activated, there was a moment of silence as everyone from the Noikatol Kingdom jumped back in reflex upon watching the suitcase of wool act in a form similar to when a Balghat activated its Primary Nature.
However, unlike their expectations, the suitcase of wool wrapped around the bodyguard and transformed into the greatest set of clothes they had ever laid witness to.
"How…did you make something like this?" Tssrah Noikatol had barely finished his sentence when the bodyguard expended another unit of Prana, retracted the suit in its suitcase form, and placed it back in the respective crate.
"It's my family's secret." Inala smiled wryly and bowed in apology, "Please excuse me for being unable to share it with you."
"Were the Bollutiya Kingdom's expertise weaving clothes?" Tssrah Noikatol stared at his aide to ask, still unable to comprehend the scene he had witnessed.
"There's no records about it." The aide shook his head, "The Bollutiya Kingdom was a decently prosperous Kingdom but their collapse was brutal when they became arrogant and offended one of the Mammoth Clan's Lady Mothers."
"Lady Mother 43rd," Inala said with a pondering expression, "I remember my father talking about her with terror. She singlehandedly faced multiple Life Stage cultivators, ripped their bodies apart brutally, and rained the skies with their blood."
"Are…Mammoth Clansmen so powerful?" Tssrah Noikatol sighed as he asked his aide, "Have you seen one before?"
"No," The aide shook his head, "But I have records from people who had fought against Mammoth Clansmen in the past. It's something I purchased from a group of refugees fleeing one of the regions I had been exploring."
"At the same Grade, a Mammoth Clansman can face at least five to six Free Humans." The aide sighed, "Multiple sources claimed the same, so I fear it's the truth."
The Bollutiya Kingdom was located in a nutrient-rich region where crops grew in large numbers. However, there were hardly any decent mineral deposits there, which made it impossible for them to build powerful Human Avatars.
But the place was situated on an elevated platform of earth that reached a height of four hundred metres. The edges were rocky cliffs filled with protruding spikes that made climbing it impossible for the Pranic Beasts in the region.
The only route was a manmade path dug through the rock, wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side. This route led to the top of the elevated platform, which was a lush green patch of earth. One side was slightly more elevated than the other and at its top was a geyser, funnelling water onto the platform.
From the higher end, the water formed multiple streams to reach the lower end, creating a fertile land where crops grew plenty. There was almost no fluctuation in weather, with the same being true for the geyser too, resulting in stable crop yield throughout the year.
This allowed the Bollutiya Kingdom to grow in safety, having more than enough food to consume for their necessity. Countless centuries ago, their ancestors fled to the region out of desperation. Over the years, their population had increased to an extent where they began to nurture the ambition of becoming an Empire.
Whenever they wanted minerals, they had to form expedition teams that left the safety of their home and had to roam large distances, stockpile the necessary resources, and return, hopefully intact. The losses they suffered were immense, but their ambitions were even greater.
It was during one such expedition that they came across majestic Deities whose every step thundered the earth, causing them to gawk in bewildered awe. That was when the leader of the expedition sought a round of discussion with the Mammoth Clan.
Eventually, a trade agreement was created between the Mammoth Clan and the Bollutiya Kingdom. Once a century, the Bollutiya Kingdom would give the Mammoth Clan close to a hundred thousand tonnes of grains.
These grains would be specially cultivated for the Mammoth Clan's needs. With a shelf life exceeding a century, they were perfect for the trade. Since their society was based on agriculture, the Bollutiya Kingdom researched the field extensively during the long time of peace they had.
Creating grains with such a long shelf life was within their capabilities. And every year, a portion of their farmland would be reserved for cultivating this grain. Once harvested, the grains would be packaged and labelled with their harvest year in accordance with the Mammoth Clan's 100-year path.
This way, the Mammoth Clan would consume these grains in order of their shelf life. The ones consuming these grains were predominantly the Empyrean Tusks, which allowed them to conserve more energy than usual, which worked to their benefit.
And in exchange for the grains, the Mammoth Clan traded with the Bollutiya Kingdom dozens of tonnes of minerals, from Iron Grade to even small batches of Silver Grade minerals. The Silver Grade minerals were reserved for the upper class of the Kingdom, which gave them lifespan ranging in the centuries.
Thanks to their superior lifespan, the upper class was alive to witness multiple Mammoth Clan visits. This made their cooperation stable, allowing both sides to prosper in response.
The Bollutiya Kingdom bought as many Storage Lanterns as their finances could handle, storing all their minerals in these lanterns. The expedition teams also carried their goods using the Storage Lanterns, which drastically increased their success rate, allowing them to head deeper, into more dangerous regions.
This was now compatible with the Gold Grade mineral, allowing him to become the first Gold Grade existence of their Kingdom. However, achieving greatness was easier said than done, especially through the Gold Grade.
Eventually, one of the teams encountered a Gold Grade mineral, which sparked the Bollutiya Kingdom's ambition to its zenith. One of their royalty succeeded in modifying an existing cultivation technique from the countless Free Human cultivation techniques they had purchased from the Mammoth Clan.
This was now compatible with the Gold Grade mineral, allowing him to become the first Gold Grade existence of their Kingdom. However, achieving greatness was easier said than done, especially through the Gold Grade.
The cultivation technique was barebones at best and required significant improvement. This royal was unable to build more than twenty percent of his Human Avatar, remaining stuck in the Body Stage.
However, to realise their ambition, he began to have multiple kids and made them practice the cultivation technique too, using their experiences with the same to improve the technique, gradually building more and more of his Human Avatar.
As usual, the Mammoth Clan arrived to trade, with the trade representative designated for this time being Lady Mother 43rd, Zahaella. That's when disaster struck as one of the princes with Gold Grade strength misbehaved with her and was instantly beheaded by her.
He had a Gold Grade Human Avatar but had barely built five percent of it. So, even when he activates his Human Avatar, only a small portion of his body changes into his Human Avatar form. The rest remains human, easy to destroy.
Moreover, he only had one Skill, one that was still in development stages. Even the King had only built thirty percent of his Human Avatar and had two Skills. Conversely, Zahaella practiced Mystic Bone Art, was armed with dozens of Skills, one Prime Skill, had been through battles all her life, possessed Silver Grade strength, and a cultivation of 6-Life Stage.
Once angered, she transformed into the Rockatrice within the royal palace and engaged in a slaughter. When the royals with Gold Grade strength retaliated, Yahard Tusk joined the fight alongside a group of masters with Silver Grade strength.
"The Bollutiya Kingdom was destroyed overnight, because they offended their Lady Mother 43rd." Inala sighed as he explained their background to Tssrah Noikatol, "Zahaella was just one of their 44 Lady Mothers."
"That's how strong they were," Inala concluded.
Virala was silent throughout the process, his thoughts complex. He knew the history Inala was talking about, in equal detail. Inala gained the information from Gannala while he obtained it from Luttrena in the form of a Bone Slip.
Every piece of information that Luttrena could get a hold of using her status, she had given to Virala in the short few months they had interacted. Virala had her completely wrapped within his grasp, making her move as his whims dictated. 'Those were the good old days.'
He sighed while scanning through women from the Noikatol Kingdom and subtly shook his head, 'I just don't feel interested in any of these commoners.'
For a moment, he stared at the sky, 'One of these days, I must obtain Yahira. Only she kindles my interest.'
He hurriedly controlled himself upon realising that he was getting turned on by the thought of Yahira and put on a poker face. Like an obedient friend, he watched Inala weave a tale that cemented their background, past, motives, and everything along the line of thought.
Virala didn't interfere and silently absorbed everything Inala said like a sponge, 'So, that's how this bastard crafted the tale of Loot. The more I hear him, the more I feel he's speaking the truth, even when I am aware that it's all bullshit.'
"My father had a lot to say," Inala sighed and patted his aching body, "But I'm not young these days, so my memory has been failing me. I apologise if I couldn't provide all the details."
"That's alright," Tssrah Noikatol sported a wide smile in response and beckoned Inala and Virala to be seated on a stone table arranged by his soldiers, "Let's talk more while we feast on some delicacies, alright?"
"It has been my pleasure to hear more about things from beyond this place." Tssrah Noikatol stared at Inala and said, "Sir Binala, we're pretty similar in age, so let's address each other without honorifics."
"It's the least amount of respect I can give to an expert craftsman such as your benign self."
"It has been a while since I talked to someone as intelligent as you." Inala made a respectful bow, "There are many things from my journey that I wish to share and if possible…ask for your wisdom in areas I am confused about."
"I'm happy you attach such weight to me, brother Binala." Tssrah Noikatol changed his tone and addressal spontaneously and was all smiles as he began to converse.
"Today's my lucky day, brother Tssrah." Inala laughed alongside Tssrah Noikatol and began to talk about a variety of things as if he had been through them all. Only Virala remained privy to the truth, silently taking notes on the way to bullshit his way through things.
'I am getting inspired.' Virala let out a subtle grin after a while.