Chapter 18

• "It seems that both Piko and Valerie are exercising caution,"
• "They've activated a protective barrier while discussing the inheritance of the alchemy manual."
• "When the topic of inheritance comes up, they'll undoubtedly reveal their own backgrounds."
• "This likely involves multiple original plotlines that hold great significance for me."
• Elder Bowen muttered to himself, "It seems crucial to take a glimpse..."
• With his decision made,
• He promptly began devising a solution.
• Piko had chosen an effective but not overly advanced protective formation method.
• Otherwise, the formation method alone might raise suspicion and invite trouble.
• Therefore,
• With Elder Bowen's divine sense at the Middle-stage Spiritual Awakening Realm, he could potentially forcibly breach the formation if he got close enough.
• However, doing so would inevitably create a disturbance and reveal his presence.
• Enlisting the help of his uncle, Bowen Marshal, would undoubtedly allow him to easily bypass the formation.
• Nonetheless, as the head of the Bowen Clan, Bowen Marshal was a busy man, and it was too late to summon him with the conversation in the room about to begin.
• Moreover, Elder Bowen preferred to minimize his involvement to avoid unexpected variables.
• "I need to enhance my divine sense."
• Elder Bowen immediately issued an internal command, "Open the System Mall!"
• In an instant,
• A window panel appeared.
• Elder Bowen quickly accessed the "Artifacts" and "Others" categories, searching for the treasure he needed.
• Before long,
• He found an auxiliary treasure that could amplify his divine sense: the Spirit Condensation Bianstone Jade.
• The Spirit Condensation Bianstone Jade was priced at 600 Villain Value points!
• This was more expensive than an ordinary secret technique for the Spiritual Awakening Realm.
• However, it could significantly boost divine sense to the level of a half-step Mysterious Platform Realm and could be used repeatedly.
• In terms of cost-effectiveness, it was highly favorable!
• "System,"
• Elder Bowen gave the command without hesitation, "Redeem the 'Spirit Condensation Bianstone Jade'!"
• [Ding! Deducting 600 Villain Value points, the 'Spirit Condensation Bianstone Jade' has been successfully redeemed!]
• Immediately,
• A small, flame-shaped, flat black jade stone materialized in Elder Bowen's hand, emitting a faint glow.
• Without any hesitation, Elder Bowen pressed the Spirit Condensation Bianstone Jade against his forehead.
• In an instant, the Spirit Condensation Bianstone Jade merged with his skin, creating a black flame-like pattern.
• "Activate divine sense!"
• Elder Bowen inhaled deeply and channeled all his divine sense into the Spirit Condensation Bianstone Jade.
• Immediately.
• The divine sense grew much denser; while the total amount diminished considerably, the quality vastly improved.
• In no time.
• It attained the level of half-step Mysterious Platform.
• It is worth noting that the highest realm cultivator in Autumn Glory City merely reached the Mysterious Platform Realm.
• Subsequently.
• With a mere thought, Elder Bowen's divine sense stealthily permeated the formation of the room in Vast Spirit Residence.
• Within the room.
• Piko and Tim sat facing each other.
• Valerie, on the other hand, sat to the side, maintaining a composed expression.
• "Tim."
• Piko began as she produced an alchemy manual, "Valerie and I hail from the neighboring Bright Cloud Continent, the Purple Bamboo Spirit Mountain..."
• Tim listened attentively.
• As it turned out.
• The Varki Clan was once one of the major families from the Purple Bamboo Spirit Mountain in the Bright Cloud Continent. However, due to a book called 'Thousand Green Pill Heart Records', they endured a tremendous catastrophe.
• Consequently, the Varki Clan was decimated.
• Only Valerie, with the assistance of Piko, managed to escape. They fled to the Mysterious Truth Continent and sought refuge in Autumn Glory City.
• They have been in hiding for fifteen years!
• "This Thousand Green Pill Heart Records is now entrusted to you."
• "With it comes the inherited karma, so never forget the enmity of the Varki Clan!"
• Piko pushed the alchemy manual toward Tim and spoke gravely.
• "Rest assured, Master, and rest assured, Valerie!"
• "Those who have wronged you shall suffer a fate worse than death!"
• Tim appeared resolute. His temperament had been fiery lately, and his words carried a slight chill.
• "Good."
• "I have faith in you!"
• PIko nodded, and a smile emerged on her aged face.
• With Tim's Medicinal Spirit Body and the 'Thousand Green Pill Heart Records,' the likelihood of exacting revenge was significantly high!
• Subsequently.
• Tim took the alchemy manual in hand.
• Alongside it was a secret key, specifically designed for accessing the manual's content.
• Without the secret key, merely possessing the alchemy manual would not unlock its knowledge.
• Instantly.
• With the secret key in hand, Tim commenced reading the alchemy manual!
• He channeled his modest divine sense, activated the secret key, and then probed the alchemy manual, immediately uncovering a wealth of alchemy knowledge!
• The alchemy manual cataloged tens of thousands of spiritual plants and various materials for medicinal use.
• Additionally, it contained a vast number of alchemy formulas.
• There were formulas for cultivation, healing, body forging... all sorts of formulas.
• Furthermore, the knowledge within the alchemy manual transcended the Heavenly Origin Realm, reaching the Inquiring Journey Realm!
• With Tim's possession of the Burning World Red Lotus, his alchemy talent was already unparalleled.
• A cursory glance, and he had already absorbed numerous formulas!
• "Fantastic!"
• "With my alchemy talent, I can definitely become an alchemy grandmaster!"
• "Alchemy grandmasters are always esteemed guests wherever they go, never lacking in cultivation resources!"
• "As a result, I can advance to higher realms more rapidly!"
• "..."
• Tim was overjoyed and continued to absorb the knowledge in the alchemy manual like a parched sponge soaking up water.
• In a nearby courtyard.
• Elder Bowen found himself deep in thought.
• "Thousand Green Pill Heart Records!"
• "The Varki Clan was originally a major clan in the Bright Cloud Continent, surely not weaker than my Bowen Clan."
• "For such a force to collapse, it seems that this alchemy manual is truly extraordinary."
• "Regrettably, the knowledge within the alchemy manual can only be accessed with a secret key, rendering theft impossible."
• Elder Bowen rubbed his chin, lost in contemplation.
• Tim's acquisition of the alchemy manual would undoubtedly bring him immense benefits.
• However, he didn't regret refraining from preventing Tim from apprenticing under Piko initially.
• Valerie was clearly a crucial part of Tim's main storyline.
• Could the main storyline be altered so easily?
• By thwarting Tim's apprenticeship, his protagonist status might likely trigger other variables, causing the main storyline to persist.
• Furthermore, such actions could potentially antagonize Valerie and Piko, significantly escalating the challenge of winning Valerie over.
• It simply wasn't worth the risk.
• Thus, Elder Bowen did not intervene when Tim sought apprenticeship under Piko.
• If Tim acquired the alchemy manual, so be it.
• Transforming knowledge into combat prowess required time and resources, enough to keep him preoccupied.
• "In the upcoming period."
• "Tim will surely dedicate his time to studying and cultivating."
• "I too need to focus on my own cultivation and improvement. Strength is the foundation, even compared to schemes!"
• Elder Bowen's eyes sparkled, and he retracted his divine sense.
• Utilizing the Spirit Condensation Bianstone Jade to amplify his divine sense and continuously observing the scene beyond the formation for an extended period placed a substantial strain on him.
• However.
• Though he had temporarily halted his all-encompassing surveillance of Vast Spirit Residence, it did not imply that he would overlook everything.
• Near Vast Spirit Residence, the eyes of Bowen Clan cultivators covertly monitored the area.
• As for Valerie, Elder Bowen would not let his guard down.
• He took out his transmission jade token.
• Elder Bowen instructed the Bowen Clan cultivators to search for patients to be sent to Vast Spirit Residence for treatment, under the pretense of attending to the business of Vast Spirit Residence.
• In reality, this was to keep Valerie occupied and minimize her time spent with Tim.
• Furthermore.
• These patients presented rather challenging ailments.
• Tim, having only just embarked on the path of alchemy, could not partake in treatments at such a level, thus preventing any opportunity to collaborate with Valerie.
• With this double safeguard.
• Tim would certainly be unable to establish closer contact with Valerie.
• Elder Bowen was aware that Tim's growth would be rapid, and this method wouldn't hinder him for long.
• However.
• His own rate of development was not to be underestimated either!
• Exiting the courtyard and entering a secluded chamber.
• Elder Bowen sat down and retrieved eight pills from the Moondust Ring, all of which were of Top Grade quality.
• These were Clearing Mind Awakening Spirit Pills!
• It should be noted that each refined pill had four quality grades: Low, Middle, Upper, and Top Grade.
• The higher the quality grade, the more potent the medicinal power, with a vast difference between each grade.
• Top Grade quality was the finest!
• Without hesitation, Elder Bowen picked up a Clearing Mind Awakening Spirit Pill and popped it into his mouth.