Adrian walked alone through the UNI-Market, weaving between clusters of cultivators browsing stores and centers. The others were resting at the UNI-Residence, whilst he had chosen to come out by himself.
Earlier, he had already divided the UNI-Coins among everyone. The reserves brought by the other rulers belonged to them, and Adrian had no intention of keeping what was not his. Once everything was calculated, the Origin Empire's share amounted to one million UNI-Coins, whilst each of the five other rulers received half a million each. The split was arranged this way because the Origin Empire's low-tier mana crystal reserves had been significantly larger than what the others had brought.
In the end, Adrian was left with one million UNI-Coins.
This was not an amount he could afford to spend carelessly. It was effectively his budget for the entire journey, and he needed to be cautious with every decision. He had already given some coins to his people so they could explore freely and enjoy the universe in their own way.
Some immediately found their interests. Especially the celestials, Max, Draven, and Gary, had spotted a cluster of shops advertising drinks similar to alcohol, claiming they could even make stellar cultivators intoxicated. As cultivation rose, sensations like drunkenness slowly disappeared, so the idea of something capable of bypassing that resistance intrigued them greatly.
Others, like Selena and Mira, were drawn toward the formation centres. However, since they could not yet perceive rule symbols, there was little they could do for the time being. Adrian had already promised that he would find a way to help them ascend to the Rule Stage, which would naturally strengthen them and allow them to see the deeper layers of reality.
As Adrian walked, his thoughts turned towards his other plans.
His first priority was to acquire a divine concept of his own.
Without actively using his Source, any device detected him as a mortal. When he did use it, the readings immediately classified it as an ultimate-tier divine concept, which attracted far too much attention. If he possessed a separate divine concept, this problem would disappear. He could present himself as a reasonably powerful cultivator without drawing unnecessary scrutiny toward himself or his people.
His second goal was to help his people ascend to Rule Stage.
In theory, both problems could be solved easily by joining a sect. A sect could grant him access to divine concept inheritances, and his people could ascend alongside him. Minor sects often used divine concepts that did not rely on overly complex arcane foundations, making them suitable even for those without exceptional comprehension speed.
However, Adrian knew too little about the sects within the Andromeda Galaxy. Even the forums only provided surface-level information, such as names and divine concepts. Without truly understanding their nature, ideals, or internal structure, he was unwilling to commit himself and his people blindly.
For now, he had settled on a simpler solution.
He would purchase a relatively inexpensive divine formation built from arcane concepts he had already mastered, then reverse-engineer it. By studying it, he could analyse how that divine concept was constructed and attempt to replicate the process himself.
He had no intention of touching high-level arcane concepts such as Space, Void, or Time, and especially not the concepts associated with the Void Sect that the Guardian Spirit had warned him about. Whether he chose to accept the Void Sect's test or not, he understood that experimenting with those concepts now would be reckless.
Reverse-engineering a modest divine formation was the safest approach, and that was why Adrian had come out to purchase.
As he walked through the market, he eventually arrived at a formation centre and stepped inside. The interior stretched wide, aisles upon aisles of display cases housing glowing formation tokens.
An attendant greeted him promptly, a slender, silver-skinned being with three eyes arranged vertically across their forehead. He wore robes marked with geometric patterns.
"Welcome to Axis Formation Centre. Please let me know what type of formation you are looking for."
"I want a formation that uses a divine concept formed from Corrosion, Poison, Metal, and Decay," Adrian replied calmly.
These were arcane concepts he had already mastered to advanced galactic level back in the Milky Way, and he believed their combination would produce a worthwhile divine concept.
The attendant blinked, their three eyes closing and opening in sequence. Most customers described desired effects or applications, not arcane concept compositions. He hesitated, tilting his head slightly.
"That is... an unusual request. Most clients specify function, defensive barriers, offensive arrays, containment fields. You're asking for something based purely on conceptual structure."
"I have specific research needs," Adrian said.
The attendant nodded slowly, seeming to accept this explanation. Scholars and rune masters occasionally made such requests when studying divine concept construction.
"Very well, follow me."
He guided Adrian deeper into the centre, past rows of sleek displays showcasing tokens suspended behind transparent barriers. Holographic labels floated beside each one, listing specifications, effects, and prices.
Adrian could see formations like spatial anchors, temporal wards, gravity wells. The further they walked, the more esoteric the offerings became.
One display caught his eye.
It described a Micro-Dimension Formation priced at one million UNI-Coins. The formation used a divine concept called Interdiction Boundary, formed from Space, Boundary, Isolation, and Stability. When deployed, it created a temporary sealed pocket capable of containing even divine-level combat, and no one could detect it from outside.
Adrian paused, studying the hologram. The description detailed how this formation could trap and withstand continuous assault from Peak Rule Stage cultivators stuck inside for up to six hours before collapsing.
Adrian could replicate a sealed pocket using his arcane Space concept alone, but that would eventually collapse under the power of divine beings. These divine formations clearly surpassed that limitation.
He attempted to examine the formation with his Source Eyes, only to realize that what he was seeing was a demonstration token. The core rule symbols were incomplete, deliberately fragmented in ways that made comprehension impossible.
He immediately understood why. The centre clearly had measures to prevent customers from copying formations without purchasing them.
Suppressing a sigh, Adrian continued forward. The attendant glanced back, three eyes blinking in sequence, but said nothing.
Eventually, the attendant stopped before a display containing a dark green token.
"This is an Environmental Degradation-type formation," the attendant explained, gesturing toward the hologram. "It uses a divine concept called Ruination, formed from the arcane concepts you requested. Once deployed, it creates a domain within the bounded area. Materials, energy constructs, defensive layers, and even living flesh will gradually degrade."
The attendant's tone remained professional, though Adrian noticed the faint interest in their posture. Cultivators who understood specific arcane compositions were rare outside of established sects.
Adrian examined the holographic label carefully.
Formation Name: Ruin-Engraving Formation
Formation Type: Environmental Degradation
Divine Concept: Ruination (Mid-Tier)
Arcane Concepts: Corrosion · Poison · Metal · Decay
Cost: 200,000 UNI-Coins
A mid-tier divine concept was sufficient for his current needs. Most minor sects in Andromeda operated at this level.
"How powerful are its effects?" Adrian asked.
"The degradation rate scales with the target's cultivation stage. Stellars can endure for minutes. Rule Stage beings will feel noticeable resistance but can operate within the domain for extended periods," the attendant replied.
Adrian nodded. The formation wasn't designed for direct combat against peers, but rather for environmental control and weakening opponents over time. It didn't matter since he needed this for the divine concept.
"I'll take it."
The attendant's eyes brightened slightly, "Excellent choice. Please transfer the UNI-Coins to this account."
A holographic string of numbers appeared. Adrian accessed his UNI-OS, confirmed the transaction, and watched his balance drop.
The attendant bowed, "One moment, please."
He departed through a side door, leaving Adrian alone before the display. He studied the demonstration token again, noting how the incomplete symbols still conveyed partial meaning. Whoever designed these demonstrations possessed mastery over the language of mana.
The attendant returned shortly with a dark green rectangular token made from an unfamiliar material. Unlike the display version, this one radiated faint pressure. The complete formation etched into it was dense, layered with divine symbols that his Source Eyes could finally perceive in full. Studying it would also allow Adrian to understand how the universe achieved portable formations.
"Here you are."
Adrian accepted the token, feeling its weight settle into his palm. The material was smooth, almost glass-like, yet far more durable.
Next, the attendant presented a small crystal. Green light pulsed within its facets. "This is a Ruination divine essence crystal required to activate the formation."
Adrian accepted it, immediately recognizing it as a mana crystal infused with Ruination Concept's divine essence.
"This first crystal is included with the purchase and will power the formation for approximately ten hours," the attendant continued. "Additional Ruination divine essence crystals cost eight hundred UNI-Coins each."
Adrian nodded, slipping both items into his spatial ring.
"Will there be anything else?"
"No. That's all."
The attendant bowed, three eyes closing in sequence, a gesture of respect. "Thank you for your patronage. May your research prove fruitful."
Adrian inclined his head and left the formation centre.
As he stepped back into the crowded avenue, he took out and examined the small crystal before storing it away. Eight hundred UNI-Coins for something that could be produced in minutes by a cultivator wielding the Ruination concept felt excessive. A high-tier mana crystal was worth only one UNI-Coin by comparison. The pricing was undeniably steep, and the universe seemed to price things not by effort, but by monopoly and access.
His thought didn't linger on this too long. He moved on quickly and entered a Body Arts Centre, where towering shelves displayed manuals organized by cultivation stage and body art category.
An attendant approached, a muscular four-armed being with bronze skin.
"Looking for something specific?"
"Boundless Mana Body Art, Tier One."
The attendant's expression shifted to something resembling approval. "Solid foundation choice, follow me."
He led Adrian to a restricted section behind reinforced glass, where higher-value manuals were stored. The attendant retrieved a thick tome bound in deep blue leather, its cover etched with flowing patterns resembling ocean currents.
"One hundred thousand UNI-Coins."
Adrian transferred the payment without hesitation. His balance dropped again.
The body art was delivered in book form, similar to a skill manual, with knowledge runes etched into its surface. Adrian could feel the compressed information within, ready to unfold once he channelled mana through the symbols.
Adrian slipped the manual into his spatial ring and turned toward the exit.
With both purchases complete, Adrian wasted no time. He turned and headed back toward the UNI-Residence, eager to begin his research.