Chapter 9 Superior Black Iron <TOC> Chapter 11 The Correct Use of Gold Fingers
Translator: SumTLMan
With his eyes wide open and a mouth full of lies, Rayne knew that it was time for him to ask for the cure to [Zombie Potion].
This was the most important reason he had come back to the base for.
Seeing that the old man was waiting for him to take the bait, he took the initiative to ask: “So… Teacher, the cure for [Zombie Potion], do you have…”
Sure enough, Pythius raised an eyebrow and deliberately showed a hint of embarrassment.
“The cure is a little tricky…”
It was impossible for him to send out the cure without confirming the news’s truth about “88 Maple Street”.
Although he had already decided to kill him off, the only way to ensure that the recruit wouldn’t cause any problems was to have him stay poisoned and under control.
After a pause, he explained: “The cure is rather difficult to configure and preserve. I still lack a key ingredient, so it may be a few days before I can refine the finished product…”
In the meantime, it would be an excellent time to confirm whether “88 Maple Street” indeed had a hidden treasure inside.
Besides, in a few days’ time, the [Hypnotist] should also arrive, so I’ll let this boy keep speaking nonsense for a few for days!
Rayne asked eagerly: “Uhh? Which key ingredient is missing?”
This question was to be expected; even if he really did hand over all his secrets, the suspicious nature of the old man would naturally keep him from giving the cure right away.
Pythius said casually: “[Powdered Skull from a Thousand-Year-Old Mummy].”
This is a relatively rare black magic material.
There were a lot of mummies in the Ice Ridge Wilderness, and although a thousand-year-old ones were hard to find, Rayne didn’t think the old man had a real shortage of them.
This was just an excuse.
When Pythius saw that Rayne gave an odd expression, he reassured him again: “But don’t worry, you can rest assured that in ten days at most, we’ll have collected all the ingredients for the cure, and I’ll just refine one for you by then. This is a minor problem…”
After all, the “Demon Weasel Bandits” would be wiped out in ten days, and there will be no survivors by then.
“Oh… Then I’ll have to trouble you for your help when the materials are ready.”
Rayne didn’t hide his disappointment.
Pythius looked at Rayne with a half-smile and said with emphasis: “Since the toxins aren’t yet cleared from your body, you should rest for the next few days. When you remember something, be sure to tell me…”
“Yes.”
Rayne nodded, but with a sudden twinkle in his eye, he asked: “So, teacher… Can I study with you one of these days?”
“Well… Yes.”
Pythius felt that it wasn’t right for him to refuse this request, so he said: “You can stay with me for a few days while I teach you the basics about doctors and potions…”
Rayne said with a faint smile: “Okay.”
……
After Pythius left, Rayne was again ‘imprisoned’ in the medical room.
The only good news, however, was that he had a wider range of activity. Next to the medical room, Pythius’s laboratory became a permitted area of activity. There was an extensive collection of introductory medical texts and laboratory equipment.
“The old man has probably been trying to put off the whole cure thing… It looks like he’s determined to kill me off.”
Rayne mulled over the conversation in his mind.
Although he didn’t expect Pythius to outright hand over the cure, he still felt that something was amiss.
“Potion masters have a wide network of contacts, and it’s not impossible that Pythius really knows a few spiritual transcendents. I’m afraid this old man has bad intentions while he’s deliberately dragging his feet…”
Thinking of this, Rayne felt that he had to be extra vigilant.
Now that he knew that the man behind the assassination wouldn’t simply give up “Baron Maureen’s Treasure”, he had to escape from the “Demon Weasel Bandits” as soon as possible if he wanted to have the hope of survival.
He absolutely cannot sit back and hope that Pythius will be kind enough to offer him the cure.
He must take the initiative into his own hands!
Under such circumstances, others may be at a loss as to what to do, but Rayne with his “Wisdom Brain”, has a plan that no one could’ve imagined!
Since he couldn’t get the finished cure, he changed his target to the laboratory.
Only by gaining access to the lab can he try another plan to potentially obtain the cure on his own!
……
“The matter regarding the cure still needs to be taken slowly… The first order of business is to become a transcendent and improve my self-preservation ability!”
Rayne had a general layout in mind and wasn’t in too much of a hurry.
It would take time to completely implement his plans.
Looking at the genetic potion Pythius had just left in his hand, he decided to try to break through the first genetic lock and advance to “Awakened” tonight!
Now with two potions, even if he failed to advance once, he would still have a second attempt.
Pythius wasn’t surprised when Rayne mentioned his plans of advancing to transcendence.
After all, the old man thought that anyone who got their hands on such a high-grade potion like [Trickster] would be eager to advance.
The old man had even specifically left Rayne the enclosed chamber in his laboratory so that he wouldn’t be disturbed by any outsiders during his “disciple’s” advancement process.
……
After nightfall, Rayne took the [Corpse Stitcher] genetic potion with a mixed sense of apprehension and anticipation.
Fortunately, because of its purity, the potion was fully absorbed into his body without any problems.
Like taking a sip of strong wine, the liquid was poured down his throat, and the efficacy of the potion gradually heating up his body… It was as if a warm current was rushing through his veins, destroying everything that was in the way.
Rayne felt as if his body was a raging dam, and after a crack had been made, a torrent of water burst through the dam and filled his veins like a gurgling stream, widening them into a river…
It was a process that was excruciatingly painful yet filled with anticipation.
……
It took a full seven or eight hours of torment before most of the medicine was fully absorbed into his body.
Rayne had succeeded in advancing to transcendence, and he had finally become an [Awakened] who had broken through the first genetic lock!
At this moment, he only felt a swelling sensation in the muscles all over his body.
The magic potion had made him more than twice as strong overnight, and he instantly felt like he could leap over walls and tear apart tigers and panthers with just his bare hands!
It wasn’t just physical strength, [Corpse Stitcher] had a massive boost to all of his five senses.
His eyesight has been enhanced; his vision is now much clearer. His hearing has increased, allowing him to even hear the sound of cockroaches crawling in the exhaust ducts. His sense of smell has been enhanced. Now he can easily identify that the lab’s air was no longer singular but a complex mixture of odours from various magical materials. His sense of touch has been further enhanced, allowing him to…
His muscle and skin have become more resilient while his intuition has become as sharp as a fox…
This sensation was incredible and opened his eyes to a whole new world.
“Is this what it feels like to be transcendent…”
Finally, Rayne understood that this was the difference between a transcendent and an ordinary person.
Only at the top of the mountain could he see the landscape above the sea of clouds, where… There’s an even bigger sky that was just out of reach!
Transcendent power is the greatest weapon for human survival in this fog world under its harsh environment with ferocious beasts!
……
Late in the night after Rayne’s ascension, a black bat silently landed at the bedroom window of the “Demon Weasel Bandits” Boss Quinn.
At the sound of the noise, the alert Quinn immediately woke up.
When he saw the palm-sized bat, he trembled like a mouse in front of a cat.
Then, the third-order [Demon Hunter] boss of the bandit group got up in a hurry, bowed respectfully towards the bat and greeted him with a look of apprehension: “Lord William, you… What brings you here?”
A strange scene occurred.
The bat’s eyes were eerily red, with a cold, bloodthirsty glow. It actually spat out human words and said coldly: “Oh… You dare ask this Lord what brought him here?”
Being glared at by this bat, Quinn hastily lowered his head, not realising that a cold sweat had struck his back.
Obviously, he knew what this Lord was up to, so he hurriedly explained: “Lord William, I… I did follow the plan for the mission you gave me. But… Maureen’s means of escape didn’t belong to a second-order [Advanced] at all, and that gas bomb almost caught me…”
“Oh?”
The red-eyed bat’s tone grew colder: “Are you trying to imply that this Lord’s lack of detailed information is to blame for not getting the goods?”
Upon hearing this accusation, Quinn felt as if he was being stared at by a demon from the abyss, and one more step would cause him to plunge into the endless abyss.
He swallowed his saliva hard and objected: “I dare not! It was all my fault… It was my subordinate who was too careless and allowed the target to escape from sight, which led to not finding the ‘goods’ he was holding…”
“Hmph!”
The red-eyed bat seemed to have no intention of pursuing the investigation any further, snorting coldly: “On ‘Blazing Steel Fortress’ side I’ve confirmed that the goods didn’t fall into their hands. This Lord is here on another secret affair, so he cannot show himself for the time being. If the goods are missing, then someone must’ve taken it. Keep an eye on everyone involved in the mission, and then wait for me to send someone over to search their souls…”
Hearing this order, Quinn touched his forehead to the floor in a cold sweat and spoke as if receiving amnesty: “Yes! Lord William!”
Chapter 9 Superior Black Iron <TOC> Chapter 11 The Correct Use of Gold Fingers