Kaizen imagined an army of puppets and his other creations, overwhelming a single opponent, or fighting multiple at once.
And when they tried the tactic of beheading the leader to crush the army? They wouldn't find a helpless craftsman who only walked the path of Artifact Refining.
Instead it would be someone who was also a cultivator, one with a draconic lineage. How surprising would that be? It would serve as a wonderful trump card.
In cultivation, he didn't plan to go down the route of his past life, even if it would give him more advantages due to already having experience in it.
When the Tier Advancement for the Cultivator class came, he planned to choose a defensive route instead, leaving offense to his Artifact Refiner class.
Lost in thought, he did not notice someone in front of him until he bumped straight into them.
"Oye, oye, can you not see me?"
Kaizen raised his head forty five degrees to the sky, speaking with his nose in the air.
"No, you're too short."
The not-actually-that-short guy practically exploded, his voice jumping an octave. His other hand held a wooden case almost as big as he was, which he waved around erratically while speaking.
"Aye, I am not that short."
"Shorter than me."
"I am taller than the average—"
"Shorter than me."
"I'm five—"
"Shorter than me."
"I'll blast your head off."
"Your hand won't reach. You're shorter than me."
His thoughts seemed to have gone haywire for a longer period this time, such that when he realised what had happened, he could only try to rectify the problem since it couldn't be ignored any longer.
"Where are you headed to by the way?"
Apparently, his memory was the same as his height, short, as he quickly forgot about the earlier incident, and answered his question.
"Oh, I'm just looking around for cool stuff before I go enroll into the Cosmic University. I heard once you join, life becomes nonstop chaos."
"I see. I am Kaizen, by the way. An Artifact Refiner, but unemployed as of yet. I have some interest in joining the Cosmic University as well. Do you happen to know the procedures?"
"I am Steve, without any job as well.
"As for the admission process, nothing difficult. They admit every six months, which is twice a year, with an age limit of forty.
"The recent one was just a month ago, so the next time they'll open their gates would be five months later."
So I gotta spend five months anyhow then I can join the Cosmic University.
Till then I'll have to strengthen myself as much as I can so I can immediately use the teleportation formation without dying.
Hmmm, by the way, I don't know much about how the Cosmic University helps the people who walk the five domains. Might as well ask Steve, he is going there to get stronger as well after all.
"Say, do you know any information on the Cosmic University? Like how do they help the domain practitioners?"
This time Steve lifted his chin forty five degrees to the sky as he answered.
"Why would I know such information?"
Kaizen blinked, confused.
"Aren't you going there to get stronger as well?"
Steve raised his head even higher, trying to look noble, though the effect was questionable at best.
"My goal for enrolling into the university isn't as low as yours. I have a noble pursuit."
By now, Kaizen was utterly baffled.
"What is it? Is the Cosmic University also good at something else?"
"Didn't I say that the Cosmic University enrolls people less than 40 years of age?
"That means there would be plenty of powerful people in the age range of 30s studying in the same group as me. I am going there to find myself a sugar mommy."
"..."
There was a period of silence as Kaizen stood speechless.
Eventually he could only place a hand on Steve's shoulder like a man consoling another on a battlefield.
"Let's work towards our goals. That's all I can say."
Replying as if he found nothing wrong with himself, Steve nodded seriously.
"Yes, even small steps in the right direction can help us achieve our goals."
Kaizen smirked.
"Small steps would be for me. For you, it would be giant leaps.
"You know what they say? A small step for mankind, a giant leap for Steve."
"Now now, how come I never heard of it? Don't go for low blows, okay? We're friends now."
"All blows against you would be low haha."
Kaizen cackled, drawing stares from the others.
Steve pointed his index finger at him.
"Don't bully me, I'll suicide and write your name as the reason behind it."
Kaizen's laughter halted, but he only patted his shoulder and left while leaving behind a sentence.
"I'm the mighty fifth prince of this empire, I can get away with it."
Steve's eyebrows shot up as he watched the receding figure.
The fifth prince? The one known as the sleeping prince? Which beauty kissed him to wake him up?
Indeed, it was difficult to say who was more wrong in the head, Steve or Kaizen.
After arriving at a secluded place, Kaizen let out a long breath, and called out to the system in his mind.
Can you tell me what is the price of the blueprint of the simple arm brace?
[70000 experience points.]
So expensive? I got 20000 experience for a rank one ghost, and that too after the 100x multiplier. Are you perhaps multiplying the cost by 100x as well?
[Your 100x multiplier is in effect due to the efforts of the system. It's only natural that the functions of the system will require similar dedication from the host.]
…
I may not be extremely smart, but what you're technically saying is that this is not the real price but you're taxing me for the efforts you're making, which inflates the price.
Is that it?
[The host is indeed not dumb.]
Kaizen's eyebrow twitched. However, even after the price increase, this way of procuring the blueprint was more efficient than doing it himself.
Given that this was the early age of five domains, who knew how long it would take for him to search for a proper blueprint. He had no intention of asking others for help unless he absolutely had to.
Well, I clearly don't have enough experience points. I guess it's time to go hunting again.