Ron nodded thoughtfully, already starting to calculate the risk and reward ratio of this activity in his mind.
Three months is enough time for him to complete the preliminary bloodline modulation experiment, but to cultivate a mature combat creature, special means may be needed.
"Moreover," the Merchant continued, his tone even more mysterious, with an excited gleam in his eye:
"I heard this period’s special reward is an ’Abyssal Treasure’—the Death Replacement Puppet."
"Abyssal Treasure?"
Ron inquired, the term sparking his strong curiosity.
In the numerous tomes he had read, records about the Great Abyss were extremely limited, and the term "Abyssal Treasure" was something he had heard for the first time.
The Merchant nodded proudly, obviously enjoying the sensation of sharing these secretive insights, his face revealing an almost fanatical expression:
"The Great Abyss is not a place common people can merely discuss."
He deliberately paused for a moment, elongating his tone, savoring the eagerness for knowledge from the other party:
"It’s a terrifying place entangled with curses, vast and deep, boundless. It’s said that the deeper you go, the higher the intensity of curses you endure, and ordinary people can’t even safely get through the first layer."
Ron’s expression remained unchanged, but his heart was already stirred with waves.
This sounded like some sort of Otherworld Space or a special magic-concentration area, very likely containing powerful extraordinary powers.
"Even with such danger, people still dare venture there?" he asked probingly.
"Of course!" The Merchant seemed to have been triggered by some switch, speaking incessantly:
"Precisely because of its danger, the Great Abyss hides numerous rare ’Secret Treasures’: items that alchemists and enchanters are unable to replicate despite racking their brains, effects they cannot construct throughout their lives."
He rubbed his hands together, a look of near-obsession appearing on his face:
"Each Abyssal Treasure from the Great Abyss is unique, imbued with powers beyond logic. Some can transport the user hundreds of miles instantly; others can briefly predict the future; still others can even alter cause and effect..."
A trace of caution flickered through Ron’s eyes; these descriptions were quite similar to his understanding of ’exquisite rare items.’
Could these Abyssal Treasures from the ’Great Abyss’ be the native ’exquisite rare items’ of this world?
This speculation made his heart unconsciously race.
"Perhaps, you are unaware, the entire Ring Abyss Continent Group is so named precisely because they all gather around the Great Abyss."
He gestured with his hands, attempting to describe the vast scale, his eyes flashing with a glow of awe:
"The Great Abyss is an enormous fissure cutting through the entire world, bottomless, and in some places, its width can even reach tens of thousands of miles. The Abyss is not just synonymous with darkness and chaos; it is also a source of magic power. Large transcendent gathering places like the Crystal Tower are all invariably built near the Abyss, drawing endless magic power from it."
The Merchant’s voice became increasingly excited:
"It is said that the deepest part of the Abyss leads to some unknown dimension, and the energy flowing from there has altered the world’s fundamental rules, creating the possibility of extraordinary abilities. Without the Abyss, there would be no extraordinary races, no magical creatures as we currently know them!"
Ron vaguely understood something, his eyes flashing with a thoughtful look:
"So, the magic power concentration near the Abyss is higher, more suitable for the cultivation of Wizards? That’s why the Crystal Tower’s magic power concentration is five times that of the Black Mist Jungle, because it is closer to the Abyss’s center?"
Of course, he did not voice this thought openly.
But the Merchant caught the flash in Ron’s eyes, secretly pleased, knowing he had found the right entry point. Young Apprentices are always the weakest against such mysterious matters.
He retrieved a neatly folded flyer from a canvas wrap at his waist, printed with various quirky items and brief descriptions.
"This is specially used for promotion within the School. I got an early sample through special channels, and in two months, it should be plastered all over the School."
Lowering his voice as he unfolded the paper:
"One of next year’s Gladiatorial Games’ top rewards is this ’Stand-In Puppet’."
Ron’s gaze fell on the paper:
A bizarrely shaped humanoid puppet, entirely covered in twisted, complex runes, overall presenting an unnatural blue-grey color, as if soaked for too long in some special liquid, changing color.
The puppet’s eyes held two dark red gems, exuding a strange and mystical sense on the drawing.
"Reportedly, this puppet originates from the Great Abyss Fourth Layer and contains a soul stone capable of carrying consciousness, but the wood composing its structure has yet to be analyzed."
The Merchant’s eyes were fixed on Ron’s reaction:
"The user can transfer their consciousness into it, creating a one-to-one replica of another ’body’ that inherits all magical power and extraordinary abilities, physical attributes, and so on. The most wondrous aspect is, this body remains unaffected by the original body’s injuries, and can even survive after the original dies."
Upon hearing this, Ron felt a strange unease.
If such a puppet indeed had these capabilities, for someone with a [Dual Soul] talent like him, it would be a treasure custom-made for him.
He already possessed a dual soul; if he could use external objects to enhance this trait, he might achieve instant double cultivation effects and combat power.
"It indeed sounds remarkable."
Ron casually remarked, though his gaze couldn’t shift away from the puppet’s image.
The Merchant noticed the lingering gaze and revealed a satisfied smile.
The young Apprentice was clearly interested in the Abyssal Treasure, precisely the reaction he hoped for.
"So, you see, this is why Apprentices are so enthusiastic about cultivating combat slaves..."
Intentionally raising his voice, shifting the topic to his intended purpose:
"An excellent combat slave is not just daily protection but a stepping stone to higher levels! If you perform well in the ’Bloody Gladiatorial Games’ and earn a reward like the ’Stand-In Puppet,’ your status within the School will naturally rise."
His eyes twinkled, seemingly casually adding:
"Of course, provided you have exceptionally talented combat slaves. The high-quality goods from our exchange have been specially selected; whether for melee, ranged, or talent-enhanced magic-like technique support, we can tailor them to your needs..."
The Merchant spoke eloquently for a while, all to market his ’products.’
At this moment, he could not care less about exposing the other party’s intentions; his mind was already deeply enticed by that ’Stand-In Puppet.’
"If this Secret Treasure truly is some sort of ’exquisite rare item,’ then obtaining it should become one of my core goals. Judging from recent soul urgings, estimating the breakthrough in spiritual power to Advanced Apprentice level, this ’Double Casting’ effect could unlock, followed by using the ’Stand-In Puppet’ to form a duplicate body..."
Ron quickly calculated in his mind, already beginning to conceive plans for Gladiatorial Games preparation.