Treasure Hunting System： The Ocean Conquerer

Chapter 130: Chapter 129 The Huge Numerical Difference Between Stages

As his strength reached Two Spirals, Alka discovered that not only did his Magic Power recover faster, but it had also grown stronger. An additional Magic Circuit had formed, absorbing and dispersing more Magic Power, which greatly enhanced his body. Alka could clearly feel the improvement in his physique, and with the continuous rotation of the Magic Circuits, his physique kept growing until it reached a temporary limit.

He had to start re-adapting to the rapid growth of his power, prioritizing time to adjust to the changes in his body. Uncontrolled power would put him at a disadvantage and expose flaws in battle.

However, Alka was more concerned with the exclusive Spell [Mirror] he had comprehended when touching the Treasure. I wonder if this breakthrough in strength will bring any changes, making it more powerful, he thought.

To his disappointment, as his strength reached Two Spirals, the [Mirror] Spell did not undergo obvious changes like it had when his strength rose to One Spiral.

Seeing this, Alka couldn’t help asking, ”Chadite, when you reached Two Spirals, did your exclusive Spell change?”

Hearing Alka’s question, Chadite looked up and shook her head. ”No change. Dad used to say that exclusive Spells like these don’t change with every Spiral; each person is different. But strength won’t always increase with every improvement in Spirals.”

At this moment, Lucilia’s voice reached their ears.

”The exclusive Spells comprehended by touching a Treasure are generally divided into Core and non-Core Spells. You both know that, right?”

They both nodded, knowing this. Whether a Spell was core-related depended on thoroughly understanding the Treasure they had touched, specifically its core features and whether they correlated with the Treasure’s main functionalities. Otherwise, they wouldn’t know.

For instance, there were known Treasures like the [Shadow of Darkness] at the [Scepter] Level. After a destructive outburst, it had destroyed two countries and shrouded them in darkness for 400 years. Its abilities related to darkness, with attached capabilities similar to soul mutations, mental invasions, and creating the undead. If the Spell acquired upon touching such a Treasure was related to its essential darkness, it was a Core Spell. If it was related to souls, mental attacks, or creating skeletons, it was a non-Core Spell.

They were unclear about any Treasure’s true power, nor did they know how immense the power a Treasure could radiate might be. So, naturally, they couldn’t know whether the Spells they were aware of were core-related.

You may feel your Spell is powerful, Lucilia’s voice seemed to imply, but it might just be one of the Treasure’s subordinate abilities—a subdivided and weakened Spell.

”According to records, these Spells comprehended by touching a Treasure will undergo stronger changes or acquire accompanying abilities as the user’s strength increases.”

They both continued to nod, as they had already experienced this.

”Depending on the Spell and personal constitution, the points of Spell improvement vary; some change at One Spiral, others at Two Spirals.”

”But you must know, those changes generally occur when crossing a major Stage, not within minor Stage crossings.”

”What do you mean?” Alka couldn’t help asking.

He hadn’t heard this piece of information before. Even Chadite perked up; she also didn’t know about the existence of these major and minor Stages.

”Haven’t I mentioned it before?” Lucilia’s voice sounded somewhat puzzled. With so much knowledge stored in my mind, sometimes I’m not sure what I know and can’t recall or provide answers without an external cue. I merely possess this knowledge but can’t apply it practically.

”No,” they both said, shaking their heads in unison.

”Alright then, it’s not too late to explain it now.”

”So-called major and minor Stages relate to changes in power growth. For example, going from having no complete Spiral Circuit to reaching One Spiral is a major Stage. Breaking through from Three Spirals to Four Spirals is similar.”

”When you reached One Spiral, wasn’t your perception of the changes in strength the clearest?”

They nodded; this was indeed true. Becoming a Toucher merely enabled them to use Magic Power, not making them much stronger than ordinary people. But once their strength reached One Spiral, they truly stepped into the Extraordinary ranks. Their strength created a vast chasm between them and ordinary people. This change had been very evident to Alka at the time, a significant disparity.

The transition from One Spiral to Two Spirals, however, didn’t exhibit such an exaggerated difference. It was just a small-scale improvement. The strength gap between these Spirals could be compensated for in various ways; the same applied between Two and Three Spirals.

”Within this range, the progression through one, two, and three Spirals represents minor Stage transitions. Although strength increases, essential changes do not occur.”

Truthfully, the highest number of Spirals Alka and Chadite knew of was three.

Thinking of this, Alka couldn’t help but look at Chadite beside him and ask, ”Who do you know of that has the most Spirals?”

”The Archbishop. I’ve heard his strength is at Four Spirals, though I’m not sure if it’s true.”

At this time, Lucilia said, ”The number of Spirals required for each major Stage is three times that of the previous Stage.”

”For example, the First Stage is 1-3 Spirals, the Second Stage is 4-9 Spirals, the Third Stage is 10-27 Spirals, and so on.”

Hearing this, Alka couldn’t help but furrow his brow. The stages of strength progression indeed have a pattern, but it seems somewhat strange. With geometric progression, wouldn’t it be hundreds or thousands of Spirals later on? How exaggerated would that be? Wouldn’t the body become a vortex by then? Wouldn’t walking around be like a vortex, constantly absorbing the surrounding Magic Power inward? Could it be too exaggerated? It’s unimaginable, too far away, or perhaps I simply have no concept of it.

As for Chadite, although she was listening, her eyes already showed her bewilderment; this was something entirely new to her.

At this time, Alka couldn’t help but curiously ask, ”Lucilia, what’s the highest number of Spirals you know of?”

”Over 2,000.”

”...”

When Lucilia said this, the two beside her fell silent. They had no concept of this Level of power, but the overwhelming numbers were something they could genuinely feel. It really reached into the thousands.

Alka calculated simply. Over 2,000 Spirals... that means reaching the Seventh Stage? Truly a mobile vortex! Would someone with such power, if they fell into the sea, directly become the eye of a vortex? Or perhaps cause a storm wherever they go?

Of course, this was just his sarcastic musing.

”I only know the magnitude,” Lucilia continued, ”but as for what someone of that Level is capable of, or how powerful they are, I’m uncertain.”

Even though she belonged to such a remarkably powerful family, due to her innate issues, she was merely a marginal figure. No one cared about her, and correspondingly, no one would deliberately humiliate her. She only needed to live peacefully within the family until the end of her life.

Alka shook his head, moving past the topic.

Turning around, he looked at Chadite and asked, ”Is the map drawn?”

Chadite nodded and handed the map to Alka.

The reason Chadite had been asked to draw the map was that all the detailed maps from Jasmine’s gifted collection, those that precisely located Treasures, had already been thoroughly explored by them. As long as there were blue dots, they cleared them one by one, and in doing so, they harvested Treasures worth at least 1,000 Golden Sails. Some blue dots were genuinely hidden, with one or two Magic Items concealed among a pile of Treasures. Since they were Magic Items, the dots appeared blue. However, this didn’t prevent these Magic Items from being the least valuable in that particular pile of Treasure. The most typical example was the drawing pen in Chadite’s hand, which had been buried under a heap of jewels and gold. So when Alka discovered the blue dot represented this item, he was rather speechless comparing it to the surrounding mountain of Treasures.

But this enormous wealth had nothing to do with them now; they lacked the ability and power to transport these Treasures out.

Thinking of this, Alka shook his head, looked at the map in his hand, and blinked.

This Island was right next to the one they currently occupied. It was a large Island, its building ruins visible and marked on the ocean chart. It used to hold an important position within the Meiniche Alliance.

As he blinked, densely packed white dots appeared on the map. There was no need to count; these white dots numbered at least thirty. With so many dazzling points of light suddenly appearing, Alka couldn’t help but blink and rub his eyes.

Being dazzled by the map’s light points for the first time... truly absurd.

Yet even more absurd was that among so many white dots, there were only two blue dots.

Seeing this situation, Alka remained silent. This is somewhat mismatched.

One blue dot was by the coast, marked on the map at the port’s location. The other was at the Island’s center, in the city’s Governor’s Mansion.

He tapped on the blue dot by the coast. Apart from the Difficulty being ’Adult,’ no other information was provided.

The blue dot in the Governor’s Mansion, however, once again revealed a name to Alka.

[Zalcober’s Love]

[Difficulty: Holy Light Knight Squad (Two Spirals)]

[Fame: 0]

[Treasure Information: The deep and secret hideaway of the merchant and Grand Governor Zalcober.]

Looking at this Treasure Information, Alka couldn’t help but squint his eyes. Whether it’s the Difficulty Level name or the information, everything is telling me this Treasure might contain something important.

The gap in value between each light dot could be described as a chasm. Similarly, among the white dots, some might be worth a few Silver Coins, while others could be worth thousands of Golden Sails. The difference between them was utterly absurd. After all, they were just ordinary wealth.

The blue dots were no different. A lantern that could automatically emit light counted as a Magic Item, and so did a Holy Sword powerful enough to become a Treasure through a ritual—both would appear as a blue dot. If one had to find a commonality, they could only be broadly categorized as Magic Items.

Therefore, Alka did his best to clear out all the blue dots on any Island they explored. Who knew if an unknown blue dot might be a Treasure comparable to the legendary Holy Sword?

After reviewing the current map, Alka shifted his gaze back to the Map of the Realm of Pitch Darkness resting on his lap. He focused on the two points radiating golden light on it.

Perhaps it’s time to start exploring for Treasures. If I want to personally defeat Father, these things are indispensable. Although I may not necessarily obtain one, the initial exploration can begin. Our power Level has reached Two Spirals, but if we wish to ascend further, there’s no telling how long it will take. Correspondingly, Father wouldn’t possibly give me that much time to develop. Based on the recent pirate movements, his patience is clearly running thin.