It took a long time for Ruri to want to let go of them, but her mind was already exhausted, and she fell asleep holding onto them with a satisfied smile. Alm watched her relieved face and a nostalgic feeling hit him. But it lasted very little until he sealed everything inside him again.
’You could act like this all the time,’ Bruno spoke softly.
Alm retorted sharply. ’I did this in the right and honest way. I opened up to her completely, that’s total disclosure. I didn’t act with the inferior head like you.’
’She seduced me using a sneaky technique back then! Don’t come at me with that, you were also won over by her. My intentions are pure, and I don’t just think of her that way,’ Bruno quickly responded.
Alm didn’t reply, but Bruno was satisfied with the outcome; it was a big breakthrough. It had happened before and didn’t mean as much to Alm, but a deep physical and mental connection was created. Now it was just a matter of Ruri continuing to progress and getting him to accept being in a relationship. Ruri’s life was hard dealing with his stubborn side, so every inch forward should be celebrated.
Bruno tried his best to keep Alm from reading his thoughts and began talking about the next steps. He gave Ruri a "little" push himself; while examining her, he sneakily forced out her old memories while Alm was focused on something else. Thus, knowing how obsessed Alm was, he wouldn’t hesitate to fix it.
It wasn’t something bad or inconsequential. In fact, Ruri wouldn’t be the same if left as she was. Bruno’s method was risky, but if Alm acted perfectly, Ruri would really learn to suppress her old personality. He applied a poison so she could heal herself, gaining resistance.
Alm and Bruno simultaneously thought about the rewards of the optional mission, and a green screen appeared.
[Available Upgrade Points: 60]
[First-level Options: 03]
[Second-level Options: 02]
[Third-level Options: 02]
[Fourth-level Options: 03]
[Fifth-level Options: 01]
The two observed the options; by the numbers, there were no new techniques. It seemed like the system only added or removed things when they advanced in realms. The points were limited and wouldn’t go far, but they didn’t want to save them. The situation of the four who should go to the lair of the four families would be dangerous, they wanted to strengthen them as much as possible.
"Vuard, let’s give you the higher levels of the Dao of the Forge God, and Loeus the higher level of the Tattoo. With that, they’ll be like dragons within the families... Loeus might have some issues, but if he stands out enough, he might even make the family make an exception and allow him to see Langrum frequently," Bruno analyzed seriously.
Alm agreed and thought about the other two. "Corin, once he arrives at the elf family, thanks to his unique physique, he’ll be treated as a mutation from a mix of various lineages. His power covers all the physical weaknesses and lack of Yang talents among the elves. He’ll stand out like a god among mortals, and they’ll hand everything to him. If we give him the physical cultivation, it’ll be easy for him to advance with their resources. They’ll fatten our disciple up for us."
"As for Ruri... I feel like she’ll be considered an abomination," Bruno concluded. "Now we have another technique together with her, the World Exterminating Karmic Lotus. Her mental power is essential, but currently, we can only use it by burning our lives. If she evolves in mental cultivation, it should be possible to remedy that."
They opened the third-level option.
[Level 3] [Transcendent Mental Cultivation Technique: Nine God-Slaying Lotus] [50 Upgrade Points]
[Level 3] [Dao of the Alchemist God] [50 Upgrade Points]
"We have ten points left after buying the mental cultivation; let’s use that lottery like the first time with the rest." (Chapter 18)
[Lottery available: Exchange 5 points for a random chest of variable level between 01/100]
They selected and moved to the castle formation. The entire city was activated at the same time. Currently, there were almost fifty whale statues scattered all over the place. All of them were halfway done, with the lucky charms they used to manipulate their karma. Obviously, they wouldn’t waste that. In their sacred city, they could activate them and use them whenever they pleased. Celestial luck was on their side, but then they would have to survive the wrath of the heavens.
[2x Random Chests] [10 Upgrade Points]
[Level 3] [Transcendent Mental Cultivation Technique: Nine God-Slaying Lotus] [50 Upgrade Points]
[Total: 60 Upgrade Points]
[Accept? Yes / No]
It took a minute for all the dense and infinite mental cultivation information to settle in their minds, but they just stored it without caring much. They soon selected the opening of the chests.
[Generating...]
[Level 75/100]
[Aetherium Chest acquired]
[Level 05/100]
[Lumithril Chest acquired]
Bruno selected. ’First the best, open the chest.’
[Dark Ice Shard acquired]
Alm and Bruno saw something emerge from the void and float in front of them, it was a cylindrical piece about thirty centimeters long. As they held it in their hands and felt its cold rock, the life force of their bodies began to be drawn towards it, making their eyes widen. The information coincided with what they had at the third level of the Forge God Dao.
Dark Ice, formed exclusively in the underworld at the core of a high-level Yin planet. Full of black veins and dense death power, upon contact with a person it can even drain all their life and Yang. Its hardness and capacity are equivalent to how much Yin and life it can absorb, it literally becomes infinitely stronger. It seems alive, but it has no soul, it only acts on instinct... perfect to have an immortal core commanding it.
Not even the pure Yin life forms of the underworld can use this Dark Ice. Despite lacking Yang, their lives are devoured. It is considered a taboo and deadly material, used only by anyone who wants to commit a suicidal act.
Alm reflected on this and felt disappointed. They only had thirty centimeters of it, not enough to make a saber that matched it. At most a spear or...
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freёwebnovel.com.
’Let’s make a dagger for Rehvka, she’s perfect to use this. Her body is already dead and all her life force resides in the soul gem in her heart. She won’t have any side effects and can feed the dagger to become stronger with her Yin,’ Alm said excitedly, arming their assassin was always a good thing. Then, he turned and selected the opening of the low-level chest.
[Dried and lifeless leaves from the Nine Star Tree acquired]
Bruno and Alm froze immediately. ’Nine Star Tree... is that legendary tree real? Does it really exist?’ Bruno said, astonished.
A small handful of completely lifeless leaves appeared in front of them, floating. They felt it without being able to identify any difference from dry leaves of any common tree that existed anywhere. It had no trace of law, energy, or anything else.
The legends surrounding this tree attribute to it a magnitude capable of sheltering an entire city under the protection of its imposing canopy. Its central trunk is like a column of ancestral power, adorned by nine cores that pulse with the intensity of twinkling stars. Each leaf is an alchemical treasure, imbued with the essence of nine primordial elements: besides the five natural elements, there are intertwined Yin and Yang, and even time and space.
It’s as if the very essence of the universe manifests itself in each leaf, emanating an aura of grandeur that transcends the limits of mortal understanding. It can be studied by cultivators, and the secrets of the laws would become simpler to comprehend.
But... they were just dead leaves that would be impossible to use...
’Hahaha, jackpot!’ Bruno exclaimed excitedly.
For anyone else, it would be impossible, but for them, with the life soil they gained in the abyss, everything would be different. That soil was nourished with the purest Yin and Yang, even a divine cultivator would struggle to feed it correctly. But the two of them had the tattoos and two divine souls. They could bring back to life any natural thing, even if it was just a single dead leaf.
’Plus, Almin might have some knowledge in the Alchemist God Dao. Even if he doesn’t, when this tree grows, its elemental power is so pure and dense that he’ll be able to easily make supreme pills,’ Alm analyzed, also excited.
’Everyone who uses the tattoos, like Loeus, Langrum, Rehvka, and Thea, will greatly benefit; but for Corin... it’ll be like ascending to the heavens. It has all seven elements in the purest form to study, multiplying his power. And the people of the city will have another treasure to cultivate.’
Bruno spoke quickly; then they left heading to the alchemy field where the land was. He asked Almin if he knew about this tree, but he didn’t know anything. Since he had no knowledge in the Alchemist God Dao yet; the tree certainly existed in the higher levels, knowledge would come in the future.
They explained the legends, and Almin was astonished. He quickly spoke up.
"There is something! A pill known as the ’Nine Heavens Pill.’ Its difficulty is the most insane of all, and it uses exactly the nine elements of this tree; it must have a connection!"
"What’s its effect?" The whale asked eagerly.
"Hmm... it’s a strange type of cultivation pill. It’s very close to a formation. The elements together can attract celestial runes, making learning easier. There’s a tale that the Laws of the divine world are attracted to the bearer for a short period; until the nine elements lose their energies," Almin said thoughtfully.
At that moment, Alm and Bruno nearly jumped; it was exactly what they needed. Something that could attract the Laws of the divine world? They could use the tattoos and turn everything into Qi for cultivation. With this, they could feed the tree and create more pills in an endless cycle.
The tree would be constantly nurtured, giving more leaves to make more pills. It would quickly grow and multiply its leaves, in no time they could gain a terrifying source of Qi. And at the same time, a legitimate Nine Star Tree.
They looked at Almin ecstatically. He would also be trained like a slave, making this extremely high-level pill day and night. "Prepare everything to make these pills on a large scale. And also... let’s expand this field outside the city. We need an area as large as this city for the tree to grow."