GREED: ALL FOR WHAT?

The matter of the Communication and Entertainment Tablet was not as simple as they made it seem. There used to be another device used for communication. It was a tiny device in the form of jewelry called the communication node. It worked together with a larger device called the communication hub. They might have different names in various places but that is what it is generally called. The communication node contains contacts in the form of runes and messages are sent to these contacts when the node works in tandem with the hub. In other words, the node needs a hub. There is also the communication talisman but it could only be used by people with powerful souls. It had the advantage of having near unlimited range, unlike the communication node and hub. The new and better Tablet works as a stand-alone device, it is capable of broadcasting messages straight to other devices without assistance. It is so advanced that it also comes with virtual services such as the storage of data in a cloud and many other features. The Tablet for all its nice features cannot compare to the communication talisman in terms of range. It is bound within the confines of an entire plane, unlike the talisman.

Kayla was gloating earlier because the technology for the tablet is recent and he probably won't know about it, just like Ghaster and Litori. She would have lost the bet if she had the backbone to go through with it because he knew more about the tablet than anyone in this family. He had heard enough praises about it back in the High elf plane.

Only Mihila knew he was the source of the bloodline and didn't have any ancestral memories. She attributed his intelligence to be due to his innate potential. In truth, Mihila ought to receive his memories. The only reason she didn't get it is that she inherited the bloodline through an unorthodox method. She got the bloodline because she was pregnant with him, a common thing that happens when mothers without bloodlines of their own get pregnant with babies with awakened ones. Good thing she didn't receive any of his memories or she would be the first to suspect his identity. The times may be progressive and people may be more accepting, but no one wants an old man for a baby, even if they are much older than him, things will just be awkward.

"Can I get one?" Ghaster asked.

"No." Both Mihila and Ghoto said.

"It is bad for you. It will distract you and make you waste your time. You can have one when you achieve your mana body." Ghoto tried to persuade the disappointed boy.

Mihila turned to Soverick. "If you try to get one yourself I will destroy it when I find it." She warned him. She knew he was headstrong.

What are you looking at me for? Soverick wanted to ask but he kept quiet and didn't flinch under her intense stare. Her threat didn't bother him at all neither did her glare of intimidation. If he wanted to hide something from her he doubted she could find it. He could theoretically overload a formation array from right underneath her divine sense causing the said formation array to be destroyed and cause spiritual damage and she wouldn't know it was him. Plus he had his unsupervised room now.

"Elder Kayla, can you tell me about the realm lord?" Litori asked Kayla. This began a session of praising and admiring the realm lord which was bad enough without Kayla's droning voice making his head hurt. Yes the realm lord is great, and yes the realm lord is a genius. He had heard enough of it has a High Elf. He didn't expect that some random family in a random plane would be praising the realm lord too. The realm lord is just too famous for him to escape his influence.

Unlike his siblings that were excited about the planned events for the day, Soverick was currently in a bad mood. He didn't want to go for the life evaluation. The first thing that peeved him this morning is the fact that Mihila refused to allow anyone to carry him, not even Kayla. And that was after he swallowed his pride and asked for Kayla. If you ask him, Mihila was just out to get him. She was being vengeful for yesterday.

The reason why he didn't want to walk himself is that he was in the process of condensing his vitality core. He had been in this process for more than two months now because he wanted to condense a perfect vitality core. Unlike his siblings who had followed their instincts and condensed their vitality core without delay, he had delayed the process because of his knowledge as a Sovereign of Life. He had even gone on to become an origin with his seed of sovereignty so his knowledge about life and vitality could be said to be without compare in this part of the world.

The body forging stage is considered the foundation of refinement but that opinion is wrong. When body forging reaches a stage where the vitality of the body overflows it forms a core. The more vitality one has, the larger the vitality core. This aspect is ignored because the size of the vitality core doesn't affect strength. Only those that know how to use the vitality core will realize that it is the true foundation. It is the reason why elves possess slim musculature and yet will be able to match those bigger than them in strength. It is also the reason why elves have a larger mana pool, it is not because of their high affinity with mana. These special use of the vitality core may only be relevant in the lower stages but if it is built upon it will affect the strength in the later levels. He had a bigger and better vitality core, and it was not even complete, that is why he is stronger than his siblings. Having a lot of vitality is possessing a lot of potential. It is not a coincidence that dragons and demons have a huge amount of vitality.

Then there is his soul. The effect of his soul had been growing stronger with the growth of his body. This and many other reasons are why he doesn't want to go for the life evaluation. The life evaluation is a process that occurs in major families after a year of the birth of offspring with an awakened bloodline. The process involves the deep scanning of the life signals of a child to determine the law fragments and elemental affinity of the child. It is carried out by a machine at the level of a high-grade origin artifact, which means its scanning power is as accurate as a sovereign's. The process is expensive but it is compulsory and free for all offspring with an awakened bloodline. Parents of offspring without an awakened bloodline can pay for the process to determine the presence or absence of a bloodline, its purity, and if it will be worthwhile to awaken the bloodline.

The process will enlighten the parents and provide information necessary for the planning of the refinement path of their children. They will be able to select appropriate techniques that will suit the elemental affinity and law fragments in the bloodline and most importantly, the techniques will not clash with future growth.

Refinement is not as straightforward as imbibing energy and growing stronger, there are side effects to watch out for, such as emotional imbalance and behavioral changes. Refinement is complicated because the body and mind are complicated, so the life evaluation process was developed. It will increase the speed of development and the chances of breaking through their limits in the future.

"If only we had done this two months ago before I started this process." He lamented inwardly. The evaluation will no doubt be a good thing for him since he didn't know everything about his body his current experience could be said to be unprecedented for him and the entire realm of High Heaven but he had many secrets, some of which would be uncovered during the evaluation. It would lead to unnecessary attention and scrutiny. He didn't want that at all but there is nothing he could do about it. He decided to have some petty fun to alleviate his sour mood.

"Hey Kayla, I heard you were the one that suggested the formation array to the old man. The person responsible for its acquisition is also you. What were you planning with that scheme?"

Kayla shook in fright. She exclaimed quickly. "There was no scheme. It was for your protection."

Soverick shook his head slowly. "I don't think so. Your decision and action harmed us. Plus there's that time you tried to poison me."

"I didn't try to poison you. You just don't like my cooking."

"You can't call that gruel food. It is simply an abomination. I think you are up to something nefarious. Maybe we shouldn't be placed in your care."