Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

“I also have a similar talent to the Manu people, sir. I think gemstones are one of the ancient products of this culture.”

The crawling process is still ongoing.

"Can't Klosis sense you? After all, that dragon priest is also one of your people."

“No, Lyle, a dragon priest is a dragon priest,” the scholar said, maintaining his hunched posture like Marcelo, without using magic. “After becoming a dragon priest, your body will undergo some changes. You will separate from your original race and become the dragon priest species. You will lose some of the abilities of your original race and possess the soul of a dragon. Just as mermaids no longer depend on the ocean, and Manu no longer depends on gems. Although this transformation is an optimization, optimization can sometimes become a weakness. Krossis doesn't need gems, but he can't sense his people either. However, his ability to detect magic remains sensitive.”

Marcelo's light suddenly brightened, but it was actually an illusion caused by the expansion of the illuminated space. They had reached the main ridge. The main ridge of the cave was even more spacious, the rock layers here were hard and damp, and the moisture made the cave icy cold. The height here was enough for everyone to stand, and Mr. Dragon could barely touch the top.

Marcelo didn't move forward; he had already sensed it. Standing rooted to the spot, he spread his arms, conveying the brilliance of his jewels into the darkness before him with his elegant posture. At that moment, the light was like an echo; tiny points of light lit up in the darkness, undulating in waves, but their radiance was faint, like stars compared to the moon compared to Marcelo.

"I'm back, my fellow countrymen."

One by one, hunched and emaciated figures crawled on all fours, retreating behind Marcelo's light, as if unwilling to expose their ugly forms to the beautiful glow. Soon, the first to try stepped into the light. Its form was more like a beast than a dwarf, slowly raising its arms to face the downcast light, lifting its head, and a small stone in the groove between its brows faintly gleamed under the gem's light.

"Marcelo?"

“It’s me, Kate.” Marcelo didn’t mind the dust on Kate’s hands at all, and hugged the bewildered Kate in his arms like he was holding a baby. “I did it, Kate, I found the Dragon Summoning Flute, I found reinforcements.”

“Well done, you did very well.” As if the roles had been reversed, Kate, who was being held in his arms, patted Marcelo’s back, while the tall Manu nestled against the little man in his arms.

The sickly Manu kept appearing in the light, guarding Marcelo and their light, and then turning their attention to Lyle and the others.

“I’m sorry, sir, I was too excited.” Marcelo turned and apologized, his palms outstretched. At Marcelo’s gesture, the Manu made way for him. “The sage awaits you all. Please allow me to express my gratitude once again.”

The scholar nodded and handed Lyle a small cloth bag containing the gems from his collection.

“Send it to them, my students.” The scholar followed Marcelo.

Mr. Dragon handed Lyle a leather bag; the dragon also had a collection of gems.

"It's up to you, my student." The dragon followed Marcelo's steps.

Mr. Zhiyan approached Lyle with a cloth bag in his hand. As an "archaeologist," he also had some collections.

"Thank you for your help, my..."

"Hmm?" Lyle, carrying a jeweled bag in one hand, glanced at Zhiyan and let out a meaningful hum.

"Hahaha, thank you for your trouble, my friend. It must be too hard for you to distribute the gems all by yourself. Let me help you out." With that, Mr. Zhiyan began distributing the gems, watching the dragon and the scholar walk further and further away without any hesitation, until they disappeared behind the Manu people.

When Lyle opened his pocket, the dazzling light of the gemstone gradually warmed the cold cave. The Manu woman named Kate came to Lyle's side. Lyle took a ruby ​​from his pocket and handed it to her.

Kate did not accept it; she bent down, her head almost touching the ground.

“Thank you, generous sir. I am Kate Red Rock. I am one of the guardians of Manu. If you would allow, I can offer some humble advice. I know my people well, and I can help you distribute those gems that are in harmony with them.”

Lyle smiled.

“I am Lyle, Kate, and I accept your offer. So, would this ruby ​​suit you?”

Kate's gaze lingered on the jewels for a moment, and Lyle could see the longing in her eyes.

“Meris is more suitable than me. She was born from a ruby ​​vein, Lord Lyle, the one standing in the corner with her shoulders askew, Manu.”

Lyle and Kate's teamwork made the work progress quickly, but Mr. Rock, who worked alone, was not to be outdone. His talent allowed him to analyze gems and manu as easily as distinguishing two identical leaves.

The radiant light of the gemstones shone continuously in the quiet cave, and the hunched and deformed Manu grew tall and straight, their gaze shifting from looking up at Lyle to looking down at him. "Thank you, Lord Lyle," was the most pleasant sound Lyle had ever heard, especially when it was spoken by the ethereal, melodious gemstone Manu.

The brilliance of the gemstones illuminated the cavern, shining upon the heads of the Manu people, and also into Lyle's heart.

Chapter 554 Nia's Gem

“That emerald is perfect for Piltover; he used to be a botanist who planted a large redwood forest…”

“This… sapphire is very beautiful. Its sharp edges suit Migiti, who is an architect; but the deep sea blue is more like Oligo. It’s hard to say. Mages are always suited to many colors. Let’s give it to Migiti first, Lord Lyle. His choices are rather limited.”

Somehow, Lyle saw in Kate's slender figure a capable and strong woman who could confidently name every Manu person, their identity, hobbies, and that she was kind and responsible.

Manu, whose gem had regained its full growth, yielded its place, using its slender yet strong arms to lift its outer companions and place them before Lyle and Kate. Under Kate's methodical direction, Lyle only needed to rummage through the bag for gems. If Kate hadn't maintained humility to accommodate Lyle's status, she could have easily and more efficiently selected the gems herself, instead of patiently and gently pointing out the gems Lyle had mistakenly taken out. Kate's identification speed was increasing, and Lyle could only call on Nia to help him. In the midst of the frantic activity, Nia's gurgling sounds could be heard, like a small kettle boiling. Although it wasn't her gem, Nia still felt a chill in her heart when she saw the gem leave her tentacles, and her large yellow eyes on her chest became watery.

Soon, all the Manus in his line of sight were taller than him, illuminating the dark underground passage.

Lyle gazed at the beautiful scene before him. The Manu, radiating various lights, stood together like a jeweled forest. Sparkling dust fell from their bodies, a phenomenon of excess magic being expelled, like a colorful rain of light.

At Lyle's feet, Kate also gazed up at the scene, as if time had reversed, returning to the era of the Manu. The supreme glory brought by the high and mighty dragon Kolanak was replaced by a human boy.

“It’s finally your turn, Kate. You’re the last one.” Lyle smiled as he looked at the sickly Manu at his feet. Her body was hunched and ugly. Lyle began to imagine how stunning she would be after her transformation. It must be as dazzling as her radiance.

"One more is needed, Lord Lyle. Please follow me."

Kate led Lyle through the "forest" of gems and manu to a corner of the passage where there was a cave about half a person's height. Kate crouched down and peered inside.

"Chacha, come out quickly." At Kate's call, a slight noise came from the cave, but no one crawled out.

Kate turned and extended her hand to Lyle. "Lord Lyle, please grant me the ruby ​​you have kept."

The first ruby, egg-shaped, was crystal clear, without a single impurity or crack. That was probably the perfect gem for Kate. Anticipating that Kate might give away a gem that suited her, Lyle secretly hid it. The scholars and dragons had ample gem reserves; there was no need for pretense.

Lyle placed the ruby ​​in Kate's palm.

"So you saw it..."

Kate placed the ruby ​​into her groove, and her body began to grow, emitting a red light like flames.

"I am a person who pays attention to details. If I do some small tricks in front of the Manu administrator, Lord Lyle, you are still a rough gem."

Kate's body transformed into a tall, slender form, like that of the gem Manu. Red veins, like blood vessels, appeared on her translucent body, and where the ruby ​​was inlaid, two crystal horns, resembling a crown, sprouted. The aura of a superior being blended with Kate's gentleness into compassion. She crouched down and stretched her hands out of the cave.

Sparks of light emerged from Kate's palm, turning magic into bait to lure the little creature inside.

The gem-like scent of high-ranking Manu is a fragrance that all Manu love.

Kate fished out the little creature, which nestled comfortably in her long, slender hand, its back stretched out. It was a much smaller manu than the sickly manu, resembling a little monkey; its tiny size made it all the more adorable.

“Little Chacha is the youngest newborn. She was born in this shelter and survives on scraps. She has never touched any gems, Lord Lyle.”

Upon hearing someone call her name, Little Chacha first looked around. Despite the drastic change in appearance, the familiar scent allowed it to recognize Kate, but Lyle and Nia seemed like strangers.

"Chacha!" She patted Kate's wrist with her little paws, pulled her other hand up to cover her face, and looked through her fingers at the huge yellow eyes with the same curiosity and innocence.

"They are friends, Lord Lyle and..."

"Chacha!" the little one uttered again, seemingly the only word she knew.

"It's Nia! Nia!" Nia had already extended her tentacles, slowly approaching the little black creature. The bone blades at the tips of the tentacles disappeared, the suckers with hooks vanished, and they turned back into the weakest little fleshy tentacles, which were slowly, slowly, grasped by Little Chacha's fingers.

A connection is formed between Nia and Chacha.

"Find out what kind of gemstones you need, Kate?"

“Little Chacha is a rough gem, Lord Lyle. Her future is yet to be decided. You can bestow any jewel upon her.”

"Her future is in your hands," Lyle received this feedback, and this casualness caused the greatest inconvenience. Looking at a bag of dazzling gems, he couldn't find the most suitable one. Where was the best gem? This one, or that one? Gem Manu's smile only made Lyle more nervous.

“This belongs to Nia. Nia needs to have this checked.”

Just as Lyle was lost in thought, Nia's tentacles opened Lyle's pocket and pulled out a beautiful cat's-eye gem from her treasured possessions. It was Nia's favorite gem, because the cat's-eye's color mirrored her own: a purplish-black gem with a bright yellow spot in its center, just like Nia's eye. Nia didn't even want Lyle to touch it; she named the cat's-eye "Little Nia."

The cat's eye stone was pushed next to Chacha, its central yellow spot resembling an eye staring at her. This was an exceptional cat's eye stone, possessing a fatal attraction for the Manu tribe. Little Chacha grabbed the cat's eye stone; its head was almost half the size of her own. Then, she grabbed Nia's tentacles holding the cat's eye stone and pressed them together against her forehead.

Nia helped Chacha put the gem on, and her action conveyed this meaning.

Lyle felt Nia's body tremble slightly, but she still carefully placed her beloved cat's eye stone into Chacha's groove.

"Can we take care of her?" Nia nestled on Lyle's head, gazing at Chacha, whose entire body was glowing.

“We can’t, Nia, Chacha has her own home. But Nia did a great job today, and we can come and see Chacha often in the future, or invite her to visit Naslan.”

The tentacles clung tightly to Lyle's face, and he could feel Nia returning to his shadow, accompanied by her whimpering.

“It’s alright, ‘Little Nia’ will take care of Chacha.”

Chapter 555 The Eldest Son of the Dragon

Manu's light gradually illuminated the dark cave, but the scholar and the dragon, led by Marcelo, did not appreciate the sight. They had not witnessed the nascent brilliance, but the ancient afterglow still flickered. At the end of the winding passage, the light tinged the cave's outline purple, the alternation of light and shadow like breathing.

That purple light was the glow of a gemstone, so intense that it illuminated the depths of the cave.

“The elder is inside, Lord Moroki.” Marcelo lowered his head as he passed the circular outline. Inside was a small room where the sickly Manu had his bloated form enshrined in the center, bathed in its light. He sat in the crystalline cradle, his bloated oval body like a giant gemstone, limbs gone, leaving only four protrusions on his body. The piece above the crystalline body was presumably his head, as if it were an accompanying mineral fused with the crystalline body, its features blurred. Light emanated from his body, like a heartbeat, like breath, like whispers.

"My people are being illuminated. Welcome, my esteemed guests." The crystal's voice was deep and resonant, and the stone chamber trembled slightly as he spoke.

"Long time no see, Gem Sage Destan." The scholar touched the ground with his staff, and magic condensed into runes that shone brightly at the top of the staff.

Giscard d'Estaing let out a pleasant groan, which to onlookers looked like a small earthquake.

“Your voice is still so comforting, Lord Morokui. It is a great pity that I can no longer witness your heroic figure, nor am I able to express my reverence for you. As you can see, I can't even 'roll'…” A humorous Manu joke, in which they compare their newborns to uncut gems, and in their infancy, 'rolling' is their innate way of moving. Although no one responded with laughter.

“You are dying, Destan… Your body has already crystallized more than halfway, irreversibly…” The scholar’s ​​voice sounded forlorn as he looked at the dazzling light on the Gem Sage’s remains, the brilliance squeezed out by his life in its final moments. Destan was a Gem Sage of the Manu tribe, one of the three Sages. His lifespan was as long as the existence of the Manu tribe; he had once been eternal. “You have given up your eternity.”

“Eternal time has left its mark on my body, and I am glad that this legacy can still generate some value. I have not given up; I have merely passed on eternity. This is the wisdom and… decision of the sage.” Destan’s light brightened, and his voice became lighter. “I am glad to hear your voice. You, in your wisdom, will surely find a better path for my people, a better one than mine. I originally intended for my people to share my crystallization, but now it seems unnecessary. Lord Morokui, please allow me to offer myself as a humble gift.”

The scholar decided to skip this unpleasant topic.

“Gestan, tell me what you know about what Kolosis did to his people.”

The purple light gradually dimmed, maintaining a very low flickering frequency.

"He was filled with remorse and guilt over the self-sacrifice of the dragon Kolanak. At that moment of great change, the mighty dragon foresaw the future before all of us. He lowered his head, looked at us, and chose to crystallize. The shattered dragon scales turned into gems, and the dragon's blessing ignited all of Manu's mines. On that day, our people were half again as numerous."

The scholar sighed. The dragons knew their end was near and had already made their choice. The choice of these dragons who accompanied the dragon priests was remarkably consistent, just as they had betrayed their race to protect the dragon's chosen ones.

"Klosis witnessed his teacher's collapse. He was in immense pain, a pain that we three sages could not empathize with. We could not comfort him, but could only take over the management of the tribe and hope that he could adjust himself in self-isolation."

"He went mad as a result."

"When he emerged from the chamber, we were greeted with a warm welcome and faced with his madness. The first to be killed was the Gem Sage Ilvesden, whose remains were then refined into a gem. From his ravings, we learned of his plan. Kroxis believed that we had shared the power of the dragon Kolanak, and he wanted to refine us, his own people, into gems to reshape his dragons and even restore the Age of Dragons."

"And the three Gem Sages are his main targets. He wants to use the gems crystallized from the three of us to forge a dragon crown, so that the resurrected Kolanak can become the new Dragon King."

“Iveden died first, and Mirta chose to stand alone against Krossis to cover his people. I led my people to escape Ashplink, but Krossis's pursuit continued, and our gems were running low. Krossis had already obtained most of the gems, except for me, but it was only a matter of time before he discovered this place. So I sent Marcelo to find the Dragon Summoning Flute, to find the artifact that Krossis had abandoned. I am glad that he has truly brought back hope.”

Destan had just finished his story when the shimmering gem Manu entered the cave with him, bringing new light. Sensing the new gem aura of the Manu, Destan let out an excited tremor. Kate picked up little Chacha, letting the newborn touch the crystalline surface of the gem sage. One by one, the gem Manu reached out to touch their gem sage, and light flowed through their bodies.

“Mr. Lyle, could you come a little closer?” Lyle was actually a little flustered when a large purple rock spoke to him. But with the two teachers nodding, he obeyed Giscard d'Estaing.

"Please give me your hand, child." Lyle touched Destan's crystalline body, and purple light gathered in his palm. A novel sensation flowed into his body like a clear stream, a mesmerizing spiritual cleansing that brought clarity to his mind.

“I am the Gem Sage Destan. I can unite people’s hearts and give them an indomitable will. If you wish, I can also manipulate people’s hearts. This is my gem ability.”