Chapter 3321 - 3330 Supreme Alchemist
Rumble! Immediately afterward, a blinding bolt of lightning struck, directly hitting the inside of the mountain range through the gap. The sudden turn of events prompted everyone to halt in their tracks.
“I-Is this lightning tribulation?” Milan asked confusedly at the sight of the lightning striking the mountain.
“Indeed. That is undoubtedly lightning tribulation!” Von nodded in astonishment. It was clear to everyone how the lightning tribulation came about. John was the only person cultivating within the mountain range. The pounding of lightning tribulation on the mountain could only mean John had broken through.
Boom! Under everyone’s watchful gaze, another bolt of lightning struck, and only after a round of bombardment did the lightning tribulation cloud gradually disperse. Following the dissipation of the lightning tribulation Polar, John emerged from the cave.
As a result of enduring the lightning tribulation, his clothes were tattered and in pieces, barely covering his body. However, John was unconcerned because his cultivation had advanced by another minor level. It won’t be long before I break through Body Fusion Realm and become a Tribulator!
Despite his pathetic and disheveled appearance, his eyes shone, and his aura grew more formidable.
“Ah!” the two girls, Keira and Mila, suddenly exclaimed and quickly spun around. Their scream pulled John back to his senses, and he hastily covered his private parts with his hand.
Phoenix swiftly took out a new set of clothes and stepped forward to help John put them on. John felt quite embarrassed, showing up in that indecent state in front of everyone, not to mention in the presence of a few girls.
“John, have you broken through?” Milan inquired after the younger man was done changing. The latter nodded.
“Yes. I’ve advanced from the Eighth Level of Body Fusion Realm to the Ninth Level. I reckon it won’t be long before I become a Tribulator too.” John was ecstatic. After all, even advancing a minor cultivation level was exceptionally arduous for him.
“You triggered such a massive lightning tribulation by breaking through a minor cultivation level? This is absurd!” Von remarked in awe. John didn’t know how to explain the phenomenon either. Whenever he experienced an advancement in cultivation level, it would be accompanied by a great commotion.
“All right. We should get going and leave Mount Crimson as soon as possible. We can’t fly here, and this place is infested with demon beasts, so it’s too dangerous.” Sensing John was at a loss for a response, Milan quickly helped him out of the tight spot.
“Okay. Let’s depart. If we move fast, we should be able to exit Mount Crimson in a day and a night,” Von said. Not long after they set off, the group encountered a group of silver tigers blocking their way, with Tiger King leading the beasts. Everyone tensed up, unsure of the silver tigers’ intentions.
John also knitted his brows. “What do you want?”
“Don’t misunderstand. We mean no harm. I led my subordinates here to send you off. Ride on our backs. This way, we can get you out of Mount Crimson faster,” Tiger King explained. Hearing that, John was taken aback. He didn’t anticipate Tiger King would offer to send them out of Mount Crimson.
“Why would you do this?” John was baffled, given his lack of deep connection with Tiger King. Tiger King approached him and whispered, “I just hope you can also enlighten me someday. Although I’m still not sufficiently strong, I’m confident I can also attain Ascendance in the future.”
It turned out Tiger King had learned of the incident where John led the water dragon into the cave and showed the water dragon guidance.
The water dragon ascended to the sky after achieving enlightenment from John, whose cultivation level received a boost as well. That was why Tiger King believed John had a way to help increase someone’s power.
John smiled and replied with a nod, “That’s no problem. I’ll enlighten you once you reach Ascendance.”
Delighted after hearing that, Tiger King immediately lowered its head and allowed John to ride on its back. John then motioned at everyone to ride on the backs of the other silver tigers. As the silver tigers had been living in Mount Crimson all their lives, they were able to traverse the terrain a lot faster than John and his party.
The journey would have originally taken them a whole day and a night, but the silver tigers managed to get them out of Mount Crimson within a day. After saying goodbye to John and the others, Tiger King led its subordinate back into Mount Crimson.
“What did Tiger King tell you, Mr. White? Why were they willing to give us a ride?” Polar asked curiously.
“Nothing much. Hurry up and retrieve the airship so we can get some rest in there. We’ve been travelling all night,” John replied.
Von stepped forward and halted them, stating, “We’re currently in the southern region. Salinsburgh City is approximately a thousand miles away, and Demonia Mountain lies just beyond the city. This area, being the border, tends to be quite tumultuous. Moreover, Salinsburgh City is the final location for resupply before entering Demonia Mountain, making it inevitably crowded. Boarding the airship at this moment would draw excessive attention. I recommend maintaining a low profile since it’s not too far away.”
As Von was the leader of the group, his words carried a lot of authority. John motioned at Polar to stow the airship away, and the group began heading toward Salinsburgh City on foot. Along the way, John noticed that the area was indeed rather chaotic.
Demon beasts were spotted even in towns where cultivators resided. As if that wasn’t bad enough, fights would often break out between the towns as well. In order to ensure their safety during their journey, John and his party picked the routes where they would encounter the least amount of people. Even so, they still saw lots of dead demon beasts and cultivators lying on the roads.
John couldn’t help but feel as though the southern region was no different from a wasteland. They spent a whole night walking and only took a short break halfway through the journey. At sunrise, they finally arrived at Salinsburgh City. Salinsburgh City was not as big as Yellow Blue City, nor was it as luxurious. The moat wasn’t all that big, but the queue at the city gate was incredibly long.
“It seems these people are all headed for Demonia Mountain in search of magical items. They don’t even know if there will be any!” Mila said with a sneer as she stared at the people queuing at the gate. Milan shot her a fierce glare in response.
“Shut your mouth!”
“Come on, let’s go find a place to stay and rest for a day or two. After that, we’ll head straight to Demonia Mountain,” Von said.
Since he was the leader, everyone followed in his lead and entered Salinsburgh City with him. Meanwhile, Brian and George were searching for something on the streets of Salinsburgh City.
“Elder Wells, could it be that Salinsburgh City doesn’t have any Demon Seal Alliance sub-branches?” George asked. We got here yesterday, but we haven’t found any of Demon Seal Alliance’s sub-branches at all. There’s no way the few of us can kill John on our own!
“Logically speaking, that shouldn’t be the case. Demon Seal Alliance has countless sub-branches all over the ethereal realm.”
Having been imprisoned by Demon Seal Alliance for so many years, Brian knew all about its operations and forces.
“Let’s continue searching, then. If we still can’t find any, then we’ll just have to figure something out.” George hated John to the bone after being forced to lose his parasitic silkworm. He was determined to kill John even if the people from Demon Seal Alliance couldn’t do so.
While Brian and George continued to search for the sub-branch, they saw a huge amount of people gathered at the square and headed over out of curiosity.
“What’s going on? Why are so many people gathered here?” Brian asked a cultivator.
The cultivator simply shot Brian an icy-cold glare and ignored his question completely. Brian frowned in anger, but George quickly handed the cultivator a valuable ancient coin. The cultivator’s attitude changed the moment he saw the ancient coin.
“You two must be new here, huh?” he asked with a smile.
“Yes, that’s right. We just got here a while ago!” George replied with a nod.
“It’s no wonder you two don’t know what’s going on. Mr. Hart is seeking medical assistance here. His daughter contracted some kind of illness that no one could cure. Since a lot of cultivators have come to Salinsburgh City after the discovery of the celestial battlefield in Demonia Mountain, Mr. Hart decided to look for alchemists who could cure his daughter. It has been three days now. Although quite a few alchemists have tried to cure his daughter, none of them have succeeded. As if that wasn’t bad enough, they even died in the process. Despite the huge reward, no one else dared risk their life after seeing what happened,” the cultivator explained.
Brian’ eyes lit up immediately after he heard that. He then guided George forward and noticed an advertisement for alchemists on a stone pillar. Not only would Kevin Hart reward the individual who successfully cured his daughter with a substantial sum of spirit coins, but he also pledged to fulfill a single request unconditionally.
“Your chance has come, Mr. Clooney!” Brian said with a faint smile.
“Many alchemists have tried to cure Mr. Hart’s daughter, but to no avail. I don’t think I can do it, Elder Wells. Besides, things could get dangerous if Mr. Hart finds out about our identities,” George said, feeling a little scared. Although Demonic Cultivators could suppress their aura with the help of pills, they would still be in huge danger if they got exposed.
“What are you so afraid of? I could save you even if you fail to cure her! We should split up. I’ll go look for Demon Seal Alliance’s sub-branch while you treat Mr. Hart’s daughter. We’ll be able to kill John no matter which one of us succeeds,” Brian said.
Although reluctant, George nodded in response anyway. After all, Brian held a higher position than he did. Two of Kevin’ men took George away shortly after he accepted the task while Brian headed off in search of the sub-branch.
John and the others arrived shortly after the two had left. “Looks like we’ve got another gutsy one. A few of those alchemists have already been killed, and there are still more who are willing to give it a shot”.
“People are willing to give their lives up for riches. Mr. Hart’s rewards are simply too attractive to resist. I’d try my hand at it too if I were an alchemist. I’ll even have his daughter marry me if I manage to cure her.”
“Oh, dream on!” The crowd slowly dispersed while gossiping about the rewards. Von got curious when he heard what they said, so he stopped one of the cultivators and asked, “Hi, could you tell me what just happened?
The cultivator eyed Von from head to toe in response. Before he could even say anything Von had stuffed a bag off spirit coins in his hand The cultivator then told Von everything that had just happened.
“I can’t believe Mr. Hart’s daughter is sick. She was just fine a while back!” Von exclaimed with a sigh.
“You know Mr. Hart?” Milan asked. Things would be a lot easier for them if Von was acquainted with Kevin as they could all stay over at the latter’s residence for two days. Alas, Von shook his head.
“Of course not! I just happened to run into him a few times in the past, that’s all. While I may not know the mayor, I do have friends here in Salinsburgh City, so you need not worry about our lodging,” he replied as he led the group deeper into the city.
The mayor’s residence was located in the center of the city. It had been renovated and looked a lot more luxurious compared to the somewhat shabby city gate. The mayor had a thing for luxury, so he had a fancy mansion constructed in the center of Salinsburgh City. On one side of the mayor’s residence was a medium-sized courtyard that had somehow withstood the harsh weather fairly well.
Von then led the group straight into the courtyard. However, John frowned slightly the moment they entered the courtyard. Wait a minute… Why am I detecting celestial energy here? We’re no longer in Mount Crimson, so how could there be celestial energy here? It’s faint, but definitely noticeable!
“What’s wrong, Master?” Phoenix asked. John shook his head.
“It’s nothing.”
“Guests have arrived, Hector! Come receive them!” Von shouted the moment he walked through the door. Had they not known any better, they would have assumed they were entering a brothel. A hunchbacked elderly man with a walking stick in hand came out shortly after.
“You’ve certainly brought quite a lot of people over, Von! Unfortunately, you guys arrived a little late today, so you’ll have to make do with the east wing,” Hector Hart said. Von froze when he heard that.
“Huh? You have other guests here?” Hector nodded in response.
“You’re not short on cash or anything, so why would you start accepting guests?” Von asked in confusion.
“What are you talking about? They’re practically family to me, so I can’t just turn them down! Lots of people from the five regions have been coming over asking for lodgings ever since word got out about Demonia Mountain. I knew you’d be coming over, so I reserved the east wing for you. Otherwise, it wouldn’t even be available to you by now! You’d have to sleep on the street, then!” Hector said and went back into the house.
Von quickly led the group inside after hearing that. After the group had chosen their respective rooms, Von sat down in the main hall and chatted with Hector. The two were such close friends that they could talk just about anything.
“I heard Mr. Hart’s daughter is sick. It sounds serious,” Von said.
“It is. He has been seeking the help of alchemists for days, but none of them were of any use. My eldest niece killed them all on the spot. I know the word on the street is that my brother killed those alchemists, but that’s not true.” Hector then glanced about to make sure no one was around before continuing softly, “My niece started having manic episodes lately for some reason. She would kill those alchemists whenever they failed to cure her. My brother may be ruthless, but he’s not so cruel that he would kill those alchemists. Because of those false rumors spreading like wildfire, however, no alchemists dared accept the task anymore. My brother is at a loss right now.”
Von was a little surprised when he heard that. Why does it sound as though Mr. Hart’s daughter is suffering from the effects of the poison veil in Mount Crimson? While the poison veil does cause its victims to lose their minds and become violent, its effects are temporary. They return to normal once the poison veil is gone, and there are no poison veils here in Salinsburgh City, so I can’t really tell if it is the poison veil that’s causing her manic episodes.
“I happen to have an alchemist in my group, Hector. How about I have him treat your niece?” Von suggested.
“Forget it. So many alchemists have tried, and none have succeeded. I doubt that alchemist of yours is any better, so there’s no point in trying,” Hector replied with a dismissive wave. Having known Von for a long time, Hector knew that the alchemists travelling with him were all average at best.
Displeased with Hector’s dismissive attitude, Von exclaimed, “Don’t underestimate him, Hector. The alchemist in my group is a Supreme Alchemist.”
Hector froze. “A Supreme Alchemist? Really?”
“Wait here while I go get him,” Von said as he got up and went looking for John. John was planning on getting some rest so he could cultivate after making a breakthrough, only to have Von come asking him for help.
“Hector, this is Mr. White, the Supreme Alchemist,” Von said, introducing him to Hector
Von then pointed at Hector and said, “Mr. White, this is Hector, Mr. Hart’s sworn brother. He’s older than Mr. Hart, which is why he could have this courtyard built right next to the mansion.”
“Are you kidding me, Von? This guy is the Supreme Alchemist you mentioned?” Hector asked in disbelief as he eyed John from head to toe. This guy looks way too young to be a Supreme Alchemist!
“Do I look like I’m kidding? We encountered a poison veil while we were in Mount Crimson. It was Mr. White who saved our lives back there. He gave me a pill when I got injured at one point, and my wound healed completely the next day. Hurry up and bring us to Mr. Hart’s mansion. Who knows? Mr. White might just be able to cure your niece!”
After seeing how serious Von was, Hector shot John another doubtful glance before replying with a nod, “All right, then. I’ll let you guys give it a shot.”
“Sorry, but I don’t have time for that.” To their surprise, John refused to help. I don’t know the mayor, let alone his daughter, so why should I treat her? Besides, I’m not in desperate need for spirit coins either. I just want to cultivate while we rest to prepare for our trip to Demonia Mountain. There’s no telling what dangers we may come across.
Hector froze in shock as he didn’t think John would refuse to help out. Von, too, was equally surprised.
“Please just take a look at her, Mr. White. You will be rewarded generously if you manage to treat her condition!”
“Young man, you may make any request if you successfully treat my niece!” Hector said.
“All right, then. I’ll try treating your niece, but I don’t want spirit coins as a reward. Instead, I want that trove tree in your backyard,” John replied with a faint smile.
John had detected a faint celestial energy the moment he entered the courtyard. After looking around for a bit, he noticed a trove tree in the backyard. It was enclosed with arcane arrays to keep the celestial energy trapped inside.
Hector froze for a few seconds before casting John a terrifying glare in response. Noticing that something was off about Hector’s expression, Von quickly said, “What’s so great about a tree, Mr. White?”
“I want that tree. I will proceed to treat her as soon as you agree to my request,” John said calmly. Hector’s expression eased up a little as he said, “Fine, you’re quite good if you saw what’s special about that tree. I hope you won’t disappoint me.” He then proceeded to lead John and Von to the mayor’s mansion.
Inside the mayor’s mansion, Kevin looked anxiously at his daughter, his face etched with worry. Before him, his daughter, Erica Hart, was bound in chains and surrounded by an arcane array.
“Don’t blame me, Erica. I have no other choice. This is the only way to prevent you from hurting others, Kevin said, tears in his eyes. He didn’t want to do this, but after Erica killed several alchemists, the entire mayor’s mansion was besieged by rumors and criticism, leaving him with no alternative.
“Dad, don’t be sad. I won’t blame you. If my illness truly has no cure, then it’s better to end my life. I don’t wish to become a murderous lunatic,” Erica comforted her father.
“Rest assured, I’ve issued a notice. If anyone can cure you, I’m willing to agree to any of their demands. Even if it means relinquishing my mayorship, I’m prepared to do it. I just want you safe and sound.” Kevin’ eyes brimmed with love and a readiness to sacrifice everything for his daughter.
Erica, on the other hand, felt a pang of guilt upon hearing her father’s words. She couldn’t comprehend why she had turned into this state.
“Dad, where’s Mom? I haven’t seen her for several days,” Erica asked.
“Your mom…” Kevin hesitated, unsure whether to tell his daughter the truth. His wife had been bedridden for days due to stress from their daughter’s condition, and he had not told Erica to avoid worrying her.
Noticing her father’s hesitation, Erica became anxious and was about to press for more information when the butler came in and reported to Kevin, “Mr. Hart, an alchemist named Mr. Clooney has responded to your notice. He is waiting outside right now.”
“Please, bring him in immediately!” Kevin was overjoyed. No alchemist had been willing to come to the mayor’s mansion due to recent rumors, which had left him apprehensive.
Alchemists were a rare existence in Ethereal Realm. Where cultivators were common, alchemists were not, especially in the southern region. As a result, even a low-level and weak alchemist would garner respect and could lead an honorable life in Ethereal Realm. Shortly, George was ushered in, and Kevin eagerly approached to greet him.
“Mr. Clooney, I hope you can save my daughter. Cure her, and any conditions you may have will be negotiable,” Kevin expressed respectfully. George was somewhat nervous at that moment, fearing that his true identity as a Demonic Cultivator would be revealed.
“Mr. Hart, there’s no need for formalities. Let me see what ails your daughter,” George said and turned to look at Erica, who was still bound in chains.
Kevin led the way, providing an explanation of Erica’s condition. As he listened, a glint of excitement flickered in George’s eyes. From Kevin’ description, it became apparent that Erica wasn’t sick but poisoned, and the symptoms resembled those of poison veil-a poison George himself had crafted. If it was indeed that poison, he would have a method to cure Erica, putting Kevin in his debt.
“Mr. Hart, open up the arcane array. I need to examine your daughter, but during the process, I’ll require the use of an arcane array to shield my aura from detection,” George requested, concerned that his aura might be revealed during the examination.
“You have my full cooperation, Mr. Clooney.” Kevin nodded and deactivated the arcane array to allow George near Erica. George conducted his examination, and at first glance, Erica appeared normal, resembling any other person. However, as George approached, Erica’s eyes suddenly turned bloodred, and she became delirious, glaring and growling at him.
“Don’t be afraid, Mr. Clooney. My daughter is chained up. She won’t be able to hurt you,” Kevin hastily reassured. He feared that George might be frightened away.
“A mere hysteria can’t scare me,” George replied. He immediately took out a packet of white powder and tossed it toward Erica. Erica inhaled the white powder, and immediately, she calmed down, her eyes gradually regaining clarity.
Kevin was thrilled by this unexpected development, not anticipating that George would swiftly subdue his daughter’s condition. With Erica now restored to her normal state, George infused her with a stream of spiritual energy. After a moment, George’s expression turned grave, causing unease to settle in Kevin.
Stepping out of the arcane array, George addressed him, “Mr. Hart, your daughter’s condition is quite serious. If this continues, I fear she won’t have much time left…”
Hearing this, Kevin became panicked. “Mr. Clooney, could you save my daughter? If you could cure her, I’ll do anything you ask. I can even retire from my mayorship and let you succeed me…”
George felt a surge of joy inside. Although he couldn’t be the mayor, he could certainly use Kevin to deal with John.
“Mr. Hart, your daughter’s condition is severe, but it’s not beyond treatment. It’s just that the treatment is somewhat complex, and I need to concoct a pill,” George said with feigned profundity.
“Mr. Clooney, tell me what you need for the pill concoction. I will fulfill any requirement,” Kevin said.
“That won’t be necessary. I have my own mystical herb. However, there is one thing I would ask of you,” George stated as he looked at Kevin.
“Please tell me, Mr. Clooney. I’ll even agree to ten things if you so require,” Kevin said, desperate to save his daughter.
“I have a grudge with a man named John White. He should be arriving in Salinsburgh City within a day or two, so I would like you to capture him and hand him over to me,” George said.
“No problem. I’ll give the orders right away. Anyone named John White who appears in Salinsburgh City will be captured.” Kevin nodded, showing little concern for who John was, as his daughter remained his priority. Upon Kevin’ swift agreement, a smug expression crossed George’s face.
“Mr. Hart, there’s no need to bind your daughter now. The medicine I just administered will ensure she won’t relapse for three days. Within that time, I will concoct the pill to completely cure her,” George confidently declared.
“Thank you, Mr. Clooney! Thank you so much,” Kevin expressed with excitement, repeatedly expressing his gratitude.
Soon after, Kevin personally escorted George out of the mayor’s mansion, then issued the order to capture John. Unaware of the warrant for his arrest, John, accompanied by Hector and Von, entered the mayor’s mansion. Recognizing Hector, the guards didn’t hinder their entry.
For Von, it was his inaugural visit to the mayor’s mansion, and he appeared quite thrilled. Hector, leading John and the others, navigated directly to Erica’s room. His familiarity with the mansion’s layout indicated frequent visits. Upon reaching Erica’s room, however, Hector found it empty. The empty chains and the arcane array put in place were gone.
“Butler, where is Erica?” Hector’s expression turned serious. He was worried that something might have happened to Erica, for he had watched over her since she was little and had grown quite fond of her.
“Hector, when did you get here?” Kevin hurried over upon seeing Hector. The latter’s expression remained stern as he demanded, “Where is Erica? What have you done with her?”
“Erica’s in her mother’s room. Where else could she be?” Kevin asked with a chuckle. Stumped, Hector asked, “Aren’t you afraid Erica will have an episode?
“Don’t worry, Erica’s condition has been stabilized. Mr. Clooney will be coming over today. He’ll be able to treat Erica’s illness. Since her condition has stabilized, she won’t be experiencing any flare-ups for now,” Kevin explained. Upon hearing that Erica’s condition had been stabilized, Hector beamed.
“That’s wonderful! I even brought an alchemist with me, hoping that he’d be able to treat Erica. It looks like he’s no longer needed.” Kevin glanced at Von and John, who were behind Hector, and said, “Well, not exactly. Erica’s mother has fallen ill from worrying about Erica’s condition. You might as well bring your alchemist to check on her.”
“Sure.” Hector nodded before heading toward the bedroom with Von, John, and Kevin. Upon entering the bedroom, John was greeted with the sight of a girl on the bed, her face tearstained. At the same time, there was a woman on the bed with a pale face. Though her eyes were open, they were unfocused.
“Uncle Hector …” Erica greeted when she saw Hector. Hector’s smile widened when he realized that Erica was truly fine. He then turned to John and said, “My niece seems fine now, so please check my sister-in-law instead.”
“Hector, the alchemist you were speaking of was him?” Kevin was taken aback when he saw Hector talking to John. He had thought Von was the alchemist and John was the apprentice! After all, John appeared young, and alchemists his age were a rare sight. Even Erica was baffled.
“Uncle Hector, isn’t this alchemist too young?”
“Just let him try. He’s someone an old friend recommended, so I doubt he’s bad,” Hector explained.
“Mr. Hart, I was the one who recommended Mr. White to Hector. I’m always traveling between the central region and the southern region, but I haven’t seen any alchemist as excellent as Mr. White!” Von said to Kevin.
“You are…?” Kevin asked as he studied Von.
“Kevin, this is Mr. Rambo. He’s often treasure hunting in the southern region,” Hector introduced.
“Oh, I see. I have heard of your name. Since he’s an alchemist that you recommend, Mr. Rambo, we’ll let him try it out.” It was only then Kevin let down his guard and allowed John to treat his wife. Stepping forward, John glanced at Eden, Kevin’ wife, then lifted his hand. A strand of spiritual energy gathered around the tip of his finger before transforming into invisible needles that shot into Eden’s body.
In a mere instance, Eden’s complexion began to improve. Meanwhile, John fished out a pill and said, “Let Mrs. Hart take this, and she’ll be fine. She only fell ill because she was experiencing too strong emotions. It isn’t anything serious.”
Erica took the pill from John, but just as her hand accidentally touched his, he frowned. Nevertheless, Erica did not notice John’s shift of expression. She went on to feed her mother the pill. Eden, who took the pill, soon seemed revitalized, and she grabbed her daughter’s hand tightly. Knowing that his wife’s condition was not severe in the first place, Kevin did not think much of John’s capability. But still, he had to remain polite.
“Thank you very much, Mr. White. I’ll send someone to thank you with ten thousand spirit coins,” he said. But John did not want ten thousand spirit coins; he wanted Hector’s tree.
“Mr. Hart, pardon my rudeness, but may I know which alchemist cured your daughter? Do you know that alchemist well?” John queried.
“No, they came after seeing the notice. Is there a problem?” Kevin queried in bewilderment.
“Of course. When I accidentally touched Ms. Hart earlier, I discovered that there were weak traces of demon aura in her. This must have been left behind by the alchemist when they were giving Ms. Hart a checkup. Also, Ms. Hart isn’t actually ill. She’s in this state because she’s been poisoned, and the toxin has gone into her bloodstream,” John somberly revealed.
“Poisoned? A Demonic Cultivator? What are you talking about?” Kevin looked at John in disbelief. “My daughter hasn’t even left the manor all this while, so how could she have been poisoned? Also, you’re saying that Mr. Clooney is a Demonic Cultivator? I was by his side the entire time, so how can I not tell that he’s a Demonic Cultivator if he’s really one? You’ve cured my wife, and that is something I’m grateful for, but if you’re trying to show off your medical skills, it’s best if you do that after a few years more of training.”
Kevin did not believe John at all. Even Hector was looking at Von with a troubled look. Thus, Von stepped forward to tug John and said, “Mr. White, perhaps you’ve misjudged the situation. Let’s go.”
Von knew that Kevin would certainly not believe John’s words. If John insisted that he was right, then the atmosphere would turn tense. Noting Kevin’ attitude, John could only smile and say, “Maybe I’ve misjudged the situation. I’ll be staying in Salinsburgh City for a few days, and if you have anything you need, feel free to come to me.”
With that, John left. If not for that tree of Hector’s that contained celestial energy, he would not have said anything about Erica at all.
“He may be young, but he’s quite an ill- tempered one,” Kevin remarked with a scoff. Hector, too, had a look of displeasure on his face.
“Von, you’ve brought a rather arrogant alchemist with you this time.” Von could only offer a sheepish smile and nothing else. At a courtyard in Salinsburgh City, George was merrily lying on the reclining chair, sunbathing.
At that moment, Brian returned in a despondent state. Perhaps he was unhappy because he could not find Demon Seal Alliance’s branch. Without Demon Seal Alliance’s branch’s assistance, it would be challenging for them to kill John. Thus, upon seeing the return of Brian, George leaped to his feet. However, with a gloomy look, Brian asked, “How was it? Did you cure Mr. Hart’s daughter?”
“I didn’t…” George shook his head.
“Then wipe that smile off your face. We can’t find anyone from Demon Seal Alliance to help us out, and I’m afraid the few of us won’t be able to kill John.” Brian then fell heavily onto the reclining chair. Nonetheless, George continued to grin.
“Calm down. Although I couldn’t cure Mr. Hart’s daughter, they’ve agreed to put out a bounty for John. As long as John dares to step foot into Salinsburgh City, Mr. Hart will help us capture him.” Brian’ interest was piqued when he heard that.
“What do you mean? Tell me the whole story.”
“Mr. Hart’s daughter isn’t ill. She’s just poisoned, and it’s from the type of poison I create, a poison veil. However, her case is severe, and even if she’s away from the poison veil, she’ll still lose consciousness every once in a while. I’ve used drugs to temporarily suppress her episodes, and I told him that I can concoct the right pill to cure his daughter for good. That’s why Mr. Hart agreed to my terms,” George smugly said.
“Then can you really cure his daughter?” Brian inquired. George shook his head.
“His daughter’s poisoning is severe; I can’t cure her completely. However, I can create the right pill to temporarily suppress her symptoms. Once Mr. Hart helps us capture John, we’ll leave Salinsburgh City right away. By then, his daughter’s condition won’t be an issue to us anymore.” George knew from the start that he could not cure Erica; he was merely lying to Kevin.
“That’s a good plan.” Brian curled his lips.
“You didn’t expose your identity, did you? I hear that Mr. Hart is quite a formidable opponent. If he finds out your true identity, we’re doomed.”
“No, I had them stay far away from me when I was treating her, and I had an arcane array shielding me too. There’s no way they discovered anything,” George answered with a shake of his head.
“Hahaha! In that case, let’s just wait for John to be sent to our doorstep!” By now, Brian’ foul mood was nowhere to be seen as he burst into happy laughter.
John stood silently before the trove tree in Hector’s backyard. It looked very ordinary, and even though people often passed by the yard, no one ever cared to take a second look at the tree. The glint in John’s eyes, however, was of absolute envy. After all, the trove tree had grown while absorbing celestial energy and was now practically bursting with it. Oh, my… If I could absorb every last drop of celestial energy from this tree, I might just be able to break through Body Fusion Realm! There’s spiritual energy everywhere in this Ethereal Realm, but pure celestial energy is as scarce as a hen’s teeth. In any case, using celestial energy for my cultivation would be way faster than using spiritual energy!
With that, John took a deep breath. Ah… The trove tree is surrounded by an arcane array to keep its celestial energy from leaking. That said, an opening must’ve appeared, which allowed me to pick up on the slight energy traces. Otherwise, I’d never have paid any attention to this plain-looking tree! Just then, Von and Hector walked into the yard.
“This tree of mine was transplanted from Mount Crimson. When I first discovered it, a skeleton was buried underneath, and it most likely belonged to an immortal who died during the Celestial Battle. The tree then grew by absorbing the dead immortal’s celestial energy which explains why it’s filled with so much energy now…” the latter explained.
Since John already knew the trove tree’s uniqueness, Hector realized there was no longer a need to hide its origins.
After hearing it, Von turned green with envy. “You have amazing luck, Hector. I’ve walked through Mount Crimson many times, yet I’ve never chanced upon a treasure like this or even a celestial beast.”
“Celestial beast, huh…” Hector muttered with a smile. “You’d better not run into one if you don’t want to be eaten. Given your abilities, you won’t be able to take them on.”
“Mr. Hart, can I use something else in exchange for your tree?” John asked. Oh, I really want the tree… I want to absorb all of its celestial energy! Hector shook his head.
“No. There’s nothing I’ll exchange it for. I’d have given you the tree if you managed to cure my niece. Alas, she has already recovered, so there’s no way you’ll get your hands on it.” A smile tugged at John’s lips.
“Don’t say that. For all you know, I might still have a chanve…”
“I suggest you drop the idea of stealing my tree. You don’t have that capability, nor would you be able to leave Salinsburgh City, Hector snapped, thinking John was planning to abscond with the trove tree.
“I, John White, have never been one to resort to such underhanded means. When the time comes, you’ll be offering me the tree willingly,” John said before returning to his room to rest.
“Hmph. How arrogant…” Hector scoffed, not at all caring about John. This punk is just a Body Fusion Realm cultivator and a junior alchemist. If it weren’t for Von, I’d never have let him stay at my place!
The next day, George concocted a pill and sent it directly to the Hart residence. Filled with utter respect for the man, Kevin personally welcomed him.
“I made this pill overnight, Mr. Hart,” George said as he handed Kevin a black pill.
“You may give it to Ms. Hart. Once she has consumed three of my pills in succession, I guarantee she will be fully cured.” Carefully accepting the pill, Kevin beamed with joy.
“You’re truly impressive, Mr. Clooney. I can’t believe you managed to concoct this pill so quickly,” he praised.
“Sadly, there aren’t many alchemists of your caliber in Ethereal Realm. Most of them are nothing but charlatans! Just yesterday, a young man dropped by and claimed to be an alchemist. However, he kept insisting that Erica was poisoned and that you’re a Demonic Cultivator, Mr. Clooney. He even said there was a demonic aura inside Erica. How ridiculous!”