After arranging for Jarvis to retrieve the portrait, Tony didn't make things difficult for Bucky and let him and Steve leave.
Seeing that there was no more show to watch, Lucas and Tony agreed on a delivery time for the equipment, then Lucas also left Tony's mansion.
After the show, it was time to get down to business. After all, he was now poor.
Nepal, Kamar-Taj.
Lucas's timing wasn't ideal. Due to the time difference, it was early morning in Kamar-Taj.
But it didn't matter, there were always people who liked to stay up late.
In the courtyard, Mordo was looking up at the starry sky, gazing foolishly at the full moon.
"Mordo, it's late, why haven't you rested yet?"
Mordo came back to his senses, looked at Lucas walking out of the portal, and smiled. "Lucas, aren't you still awake either?"
Lucas shook his head and explained, "It's different. I just came from New York, and it's still noon in New York."
Mordo shook his head with a wry smile.
For sorcerers who had mastered portal magic, the time zone divisions caused by the planet's rotation were indeed very unfriendly.
After a laugh, Mordo explained why he was still awake late at night, "Recently, two more Apprentice Sorcerers, during their training, ignored warnings and absorbed dark-attribute energy, causing damage to their minds."
As the head instructor of Kamar-Taj, Mordo had encountered such Apprentice Sorcerers more than once. But every time he encountered them, he would feel sorry for them.
"They should recover after some time of rest, right? Why are you so troubled, Mordo?" Lucas asked curiously.
Mordo sighed deeply and explained to Lucas, "Although they can recover after a period of rest, every time they absorb dark energy, their inner demons grow a bit. No one knows when the inner demon will hatch and completely corrupt the sorcerer's mind."
Lucas nodded thoughtfully.
He practiced with points, which was different from ordinary sorcerers. Although he had also suffered from the influence of dark energy, the impact was not significant. As for inner demons, they were completely absent.
"Mordo, do you remember the neutral energy we talked about before?"
Lucas spread his palm, and a cluster of glowing white energy floated above it.
Mordo's gaze was firmly drawn to it. "Lucas, didn't you say before that this kind of energy wasn't enough?"
Lucas said, "If it were supplied for free, then naturally it wouldn't be enough. But if it's a trade, then it's enough."
Mordo asked, puzzled, "Trade? How do we trade?"
Lucas explained, "Usually, when sorcerers absorb energy from the Multiverse, they encounter many different kinds of energy. Among them, a small number of positive light energies that have a positive effect on sorcerers can be absorbed. And dark energies that have a negative effect cannot be absorbed."
"So, let the sorcerers bring these dark energies back as well. Then, according to a certain ratio, exchange them for my neutral energy."
In fact, the quantities of light energy and dark energy are almost equal.
It's just that sorcerers absorb more light energy, making the remaining light energy seem less. And with less light energy, a sorcerer's practice becomes more difficult.
When practice becomes difficult, some sorcerers start to have crooked thoughts and set their sights on dark energy.
Mordo asked worriedly, "Lucas, what do you want these dark energies for? Although your strength is great, don't be careless."
"Mordo, this neutral energy is transformed from dark energy."
"But..."
Mordo was still hesitant.
When he first started training, the Ancient One had warned him not to easily absorb dark energy.
But later, he still made the same mistake as those two Apprentice Sorcerers, unable to resist the temptation and absorbed dark energy. This bred an inner demon, which was only suppressed with the help of the Ancient One.
He didn't want Lucas, also due to carelessness, to make a similar mistake.
"Mordo, you don't need to worry about Lucas. He carries a greater secret, and these dark energies cannot easily affect him."
Just as Lucas and Mordo were talking, the Ancient One arrived in the courtyard.
"Ancient One."
"Master."
After bowing and greeting, Mordo brought up another issue, "But will other sorcerers worry that this energy is unsafe?"
The magic source determines everything.
To avoid being controlled, sorcerers, when practising, absorb scattered energy fragments from the Multiverse stealthily.
A little here, a little there.
Even if there's a problem with the energy source, because they absorb so little, the impact is small.
If the trade begins, Lucas's energy will definitely not be a small proportion in a sorcerer's daily practice. Once Lucas has a problem, the impact on sorcerers will not be small either.
"Let other sorcerers choose freely." Lucas said calmly.
Lucas's rise was too short. Although his battle record was impressive, he hadn't yet established credibility.
If the Ancient One was providing this energy, Mordo would never ask this question.
But for most sorcerers, using dark energy to exchange for side effect-less energy is pure profit. There will definitely be sorcerers who come to exchange.
And when the first sorcerer absorbs the energy and finds that their physique, spirit, and lifespan all increase, even if there might still be hidden dangers with the energy, more and more sorcerers will come to exchange it.
The white magic of Vishanti forbids extending lifespan.
"Mordo, during tomorrow's morning practice, you can mention this to the other sorcerers. If any sorcerers want to trade, let them come see me." Ancient One spoke, confirming that this matter was approved.
"Lucas, give me some of this energy, and I'll vouch for you."
"Okay, thank you, Master."
Lucas thanked her, then took out a cluster of 100,000 points and solemnly handed it to the Ancient One.
The Ancient One: "..."
"That's too little, Lucas."
Lucas took out five more clusters of the same size.
"Still too little, Lucas. Where is your energy? You should have just returned from another dimension, right?" The Ancient One asked, puzzled.
"This is all that's left, I absorbed the rest." Lucas replied.
The Ancient One sighed helplessly, "Lucas, when you do business, don't you keep a bit more capital?"
Lucas said, "Master, I originally didn't intend to do business."
Ancient One asked, "Never mind, let's just go with this for now. What ratio do you plan to sell it at?"
Lucas said casually, "Five times, I guess. We're all from Kamar-Taj, so I won't set it too high."
How many sorcerers are there in Kamar-Taj? This is just a small amount.
The big customers will still be the deities on various planets.
Mordo's words reminded Lucas.
Sorcerers will worry about whether the energy is safe, and so will other customers. For safety, they might not be willing to support his business. At that time, he might have to use other methods.