Elizabeth wore a proud look and was brimming with energy as she started introducing the various types of metals to him. The room was littered with a range of both processed metals and raw ores. It was strange that there were no forged products like weapons and armor among these minerals. Leon wore a wry smile as he did not share her enthusiasm for metal. Herbs were the reason he came to the treasury.
"Mother, is there any herbs in the treasury?"
"Yes, all the herbs are stored on the second floor, but you should really listen to what your mother is saying. It's important to learn about these alloys as it will be useful for your metal-manipulation." Elizabeth educated her son. "With that said, look at this block of magisteel. Magisteel is a type of steel that has been fully tempered by essence energy and become energized. This greatly enhances its properties and have greater conductivity for our abilities."
Elizabeth continue to introduce other types of special metal such as black iron, pure silver, purple tungsten, gold essence, star meteorites and so on. Leon was forced to listen through his mother's enthusiastic introduction as she did not give him the opportunity to speak up.
It was no surprise that Elizabeth was able to awaken as a metal-user, despite hailing from a family of fire-user. She had such great passion for metal, and it was quite easy to judge as such, based on her appearance alone.
Elizabeth's body was decked out in metallic accessories of various colors . From top to bottom, she wore a crown, a pendant, pair of earrings, armlets, bracelets, rings, leglets and numerous ankle bracelets. She was further equipped with light armor pieces such as arm guards and shin guards. She was basically glittering in
Leon didn't doubt that these accessories worn by his mother served more purposes than just mere decoration from how she was describing the usage of metals.
"Yes, yes mother, I understand… then I will take some of these black irons and magisteel… but they still needed be crafted to become useful, no?" Leon wore a helpless expression. Although he wasn't interested, he still listened to his mother's words seriously.
He was rather surprised that his mother mentioned metal-manipulation. Although he believes he can achieve it in the future, but his mother shouldn't know about it. Perhaps, his mother knew something else he didn't that made her certain he could achieve metal-manipulation.
"Mm, what kind of weapons do you like? Mother will have someone forge it for you." Elizabeth nodded said excitedly.
His mother's fervor was like that of a salesperson about to make a successful sale, except everything was free. But he knew better than to take more than what was needed. If he did not need it, there was no reason to take it.
His status was no longer the same as before. He was now the prince of Crawford Kingdom. It would be no different to robbing his own house, if he were to take everything just for the sake of their high value.
"Your child would like a set of 36 traditional acupuncture needles and… a heavy spear." Leon decided on his weapon after much consideration.
He did not specialized in any particular weapon. This could be seen from his past battles, where he fought with swords, but would eventually condense it into something else with his ability. However, there was one thing in common from the times he had reshaped his weapon and that is they were longer weapons. Thus, he had deemed that a spear-type weapon would best choice for him.
Indeed, a doctor would need acupuncture needles for treatment but…
"You don't want to use a sword like your mother? Swords are the kings of weapons. Mother would also be able to teach you the way of the sword." Elizabeth tried to change his choice of weapon.
"The sword does not suit me, mother. I wish to find one that does, and I feel that the spear is the one." Leon shook his head. He had decided firmly on the spear.
He had used swords as his main weapon back in his past life, but it never did felt like the right weapon for him. Rather than forcing himself to use a weapon that didn't suit him, it was time to find one that did.
"That's fine. Swords are the king of weapons, but spears are the emperor of weapons. Since you have decided, mother will not continue to dissuade you. But with this type of weapon, mother will not be able to teach you anything. You will have to master the way of the spear on your own" Elizabeth said sternly, but there was no disappointment in her eyes.
She could see the budding warrior spirit in her son's eyes and a firm conviction to become strong. People with these traits will likely succeed if they remain unwavering and no mishaps befall them.
Elizabeth summoned her maid, Celia and instructed her to bring the materials to the best blacksmith in the kingdom and have him forge the needles and heavy spear for Leon. As the matters on the first floor concluded, Leon heaved a sigh of relief.
"Can we head up to the second floor now, mother?" He asked.
"Hahaha… my son is so impatient. Alright, let's head up." Elizabeth smiled. She was also curious to see what her son will do with all the herbs.
Leon would naturally be impatient. There was no way he could keep still after seeing the king's face. Although he knew it was impossible for his late father to have transmigrated with him, he still held onto this faint glimmer of hope that his father from both past and present life were one and the same. Thus, he wished to awaken the king as soon as possible to find his answer.
…
Before the cataclysm struck and brought forward an era of awakeners, there was no cultivation and people relied on honing skills with their weapon to become powerful. The most commonly use weapon was the sword, which they worshipped as the king of weapons due to its versatility. Even to the present era that allowed for awakening cultivation, awakeners continue to hone their sword by incorporating their abilities into their sword arts.
The world became increasing sophisticated in sword arts and techniques, but as for the development of awakening cultivation, not so much. This was like putting the cart before the horse, but it is what it is.
To begin with, awakening cultivation techniques weren't something easy to develop when awakening was something still new to the people and with all the awakeners keeping their techniques secret, it slows it will take thousands of years before the era of awakeners experience a boom.
…
Leon was surprised when he entered the second floor. With how messy the first floor was, he assumed the second floor would be no better. Contrary to his expectations, the second floor was very neat and organized. The herbs were all stored in drawers and cabinets, while the rarer and most precious ones were sealed in special rosewood and jade boxes.
The entire floor was filled with a heavy herbal fragrance that induces temporary dizziness in those unfamiliar with the smell of herbs and medicine. Elizabeth with her high cultivation and heighten senses, was particularly sensitivity to the smell when she first entered this floor in the past. Even now, the heavy herbal fragrance made her feel uncomfortable as her brows creased unnaturally. Glancing at her son, she was surprised that he was able to retain his composure, while he was examining the place.
Even though his senses weren't as sharp as her, it should still cause him some discomfort, right? Elizabeth thought but Leon gave her a greater sense of surprise in the next moment. Not only was Leon not fazed by the fragrance, he even took a big whiff of it!
Leon's eyes were closed as he took in the different herbal fragrances intermixed with each other in the air. A capable doctor or alchemist could easily rely on their sense of smell alone to discern the herbs, so much so that people began to refer to it as god's nose back in the Divine Realm. But of course, there are also others that call it dog's nose.
Leon's eyes snapped open with pleasant surprise after discerning all the herbal fragrance flooding the place. He didn't expect for there to be spirit herbs present. Normally, if a harvested spirit herb wasn't preserved well, their spirit energy would dissipate, losing all their magical properties and be reduced to ordinary herbs.
Unexpectedly, the royal family knew how to preserve spirit herbs well. He should stop looking down on the mortal world just because he hailed from the Divine Realm.
These spirit herbs were filled with spirit energy and would naturally boost a divine practitioner's cultivation if it were absorbed, but unfortunately he was no longer practicing the [Fiery God Manual] that require spirit energy but the [Hegemony of Primal Chaos] that required energy of the 5 elements instead.
"How come you aren't bothered by the herbal fragrance, my son?" Elizabeth asked curiously. She was puzzled by his lack of discomfort towards the heavy smell.
Even if he was a self-proclaimed doctor, he shouldn't have had the opportunity to be in contact with so many herbs before, right?
"I'm also an alchemist, mother. I am no stranger to the plethora of herbs."
Leon answered, but his answer only made Elizabeth even more puzzled.