Aurora's eyes widened in shock. She touched the blood on her face and looked over at Alicia on the bed, who was coughing up blood.Kenan and Brian were equally shocked by the sudden turn of events. No one anticipated that after drinking the Enigma Mist, Alicia's condition would deteriorate."Dr. Quake! What… What's going on?" Brian asked anxiously."Dr. Quake! You assured us that the Enigma Mist would bring my sister back from the brink. Why is she coughing up blood now?" Aurora was frantic."Don't worry. It's just a minor setback. Let me check her again," Kenan reassured them.He quickly approached Alicia to take her pulse and frowned. "This is unexpected. Her pulse is weak, and her blood circulation is poor. "These symptoms suggest poisoning. The Enigma Mist should have detoxified her. But why isn't it working?"The Enigma Mist was supposed to cure any poison and extend life. Just a sip should have stabilized Alicia's condition. But this unforeseen reaction left him perplexed
"Of course, we trusted you. We believe you," Brian said with an apologetic smile. He went on, "If it weren't for you, Alicia would probably be dead by now.""It's just a small effort on my part. So, it's nothing to fuss over," Kenan said while stroking his beard.He added, "Sanny, feed her a bit more of that Enigma Mist and let Ms. Marshall witness my capability.""Yes, sir!" Sanny replied. He then carefully fed Alicia a couple more sips of the Enigma Mist.After swallowing the tonic, Alicia's legs twitched, and then she went still.Sanny was stunned upon seeing that. Then, he cautiously checked Alicia's breathing. In an instant, he jerked back as if electrocuted, and his face contorted in fear. He stammered, "Dr. Quake! The… the patient has stopped breathing.""What?"The revelation sent shockwaves through the room. Even the self-assured Kenan looked shaken."Stopped breathing? How is that even possible?" Kenan pushed his disciple aside and checked Alicia's pulse. It had
The Revivex dissolved in Alicia's mouth. Its golden liquid smoothly slid down her throat. A surge of vitality coursed through her body and reached every cell. Her heart, which had stopped, gradually resumed beating.With each heartbeat, Alicia's chest rose and fell gently as her breathing returned to normal."She's breathing! Alicia's breathing!" Brian exclaimed happily."This is amazing! My sister is alive again!" Tears of happiness streamed down Aurora's cheek.Kenan breathed a sigh of relief. He was grateful for the miraculous effect of the legendary Revivex tablet that revived Alicia. Without it, his reputation would have been at risk. Though using such a precious tablet caused him some discomfort, the outcome justified it."No wonder they call it Revivex," Brian marveled.The ability to revive someone from the brink of death indeed demonstrated Revivex's extraordinary nature."Though it was a bit of a rollercoaster, thankfully, everything turned out okay." Kenan forced
As dusk fell, Dustin stood before the alchemy furnace in the tavern's kitchen. With mystical pure energy, he meticulously controlled the fire's temperature.Grace worked efficiently and gathered all the precious herbs within just an hour. She even arranged for a top-quality alchemy furnace to be delivered.Following ancient methods, he began crafting the tablet to dispel Alicia's witchcraft.Witchcraft was similar to parasitic poison, but it was even more mysterious and unpredictable. Fortunately, Dustin had considerable knowledge of witchcraft and an extensive understanding of secret techniques. So, concocting the antidote presented no challenge for him.Suddenly, Grace entered the kitchen and said solemnly, "We have a crisis. I've received word that Alicia's condition has suddenly worsened, and she's on the brink of death. We must leave now.""Her condition has worsened? How did this happen?" He frowned and continued, "I'd already contained the voodoo in Alicia's body with the
At the Celestial Alliance's Lakeshore Villa, Alicia lay unconscious on the bed. Her breathing was growing weaker by the minute. Aurora and Brian were pacing anxiously by her side while Kenan, drenched in sweat, worked frantically.Kenan was using his Styx Passage technique to prolong Alicia's life, but it was barely making a difference. It could only delay her death, but it couldn't improve her condition. If Alicia died, he knew his own life might be forfeit as well."How is she, Dr. Quake? How is Alicia doing?" Brian couldn't hold back his worry as he saw Kenan struggling."I'm doing my best… I'm still trying…" Kenan replied, wiping his brow. He was so nervous that his hands trembled.If the patient were from an ordinary household, he could just say he did his best and move on. But Aurora had made it clear that if Alicia didn't survive, neither would he. The pressure was intense, and fear was a constant companion. All he could do was try his hardest to keep Alicia alive a l
After Brian stepped back, Dustin stepped forward to start treating Alicia. Because of Kenan's misdiagnosis and treatment, the voodoo had spread throughout her body.The tablet Dustin had just crafted wasn't enough to remove the voodoo. He also needed to use silver needles to draw it out first.However, the voodoo was like a spirit and would evade detection, making it challenging to extract with needles alone.The best plan was for Dustin to use himself as bait. He had to absorb the voodoo from Alicia's body into his own. It was risky, but there was no other choice. To save her, he had to give it a shot.He told Grace, "I'll use silver needles to gather the voodoo energy in one spot on Alicia's body later. "Then, I'll use my hands to draw most of it into my own body. The whole process has to go perfectly, so I need you to watch over me and make sure nobody interrupts."He looked back at Grace to stress how serious he was. Among everyone there, she was the only one he truly truste
Aurora paced anxiously while Brian and Kenan whispered to each other. She wanted to ask questions but held back, worried it might distract Dustin and interfere with Alicia's treatment.At that moment, Grace stood silently by Dustin's side and acted as his guardian.As time passed, Alicia looked visibly uncomfortable and began sweating profusely. The black mist gradually surrounded her, and it soon enveloped Dustin.Time dragged on until he finally opened his eyes and took a deep breath. A vortex of true energy swirled in his mouth as he absorbed the surrounding black mist. His complexion shifted from pale to flushed, and he frowned deeply.Dustin absorbed most of the voodoo from Alicia's body. Despite his strong cultivation and incredible resilience, he still felt the strain. Afterward, he placed his palms on her back.She suddenly raised her head and spat out a mouthful of black blood before collapsing onto the bed."Alicia!" Brian's expression changed as he rushed to check on h
As the two poisons battled fiercely within Alicia, blood trickled from her nose, and her body convulsed slightly.Dustin kept his hand on her back as he continuously channeled mystical pure energy into her. Her circulatory pathways were damaged and repaired repeatedly in this process, which lasted about half an hour.Eventually, the poisons were neutralized. Her body calmed, her expression relaxed, and the nosebleed stopped.Though still pale, her steady pulse and smooth breathing indicated she was out of danger. Only then did Dustin slowly remove his hand and end the treatment."The voodoo in Alicia's body has been cleared. She's stable now, but she needs to rest and avoid strenuous activity," Dustin said as he rose to his feet. He looked tired, drenched in sweat."Alicia… Is she really okay?" Aurora's eyes widened with a mix of nervousness and hope."Why don't you check for yourself?" he said, his words brief. Dustin slumped onto a chair and gulped down the tea. No matter how
The next morning, Nathaniel was inside a lavish mansion. He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manuscript. One of his most trusted aides hurried in and lowered his voice, "Your Royal Highness, word just came in. Another trace of Dracan essence has been found."Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and closed the manuscript. "Where?""Our investigation shows it ended up in the hands of Logan Rhys," the aide replied."Logan Rhys?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly and was surprised by the name.He had tried to win Logan over before and spared no expense, but never received a response. Later, he discovered that Tristan and Matthias had done the same.Fortunately, Logan still hadn't picked a side. He might be holding out for the best offer, but at least he hadn't shut the door on Nathaniel.With the Dracan essence in his hands, Logan had become an even more valuable target. In addition to the West Lucozian monarchy, Logan was an ultimate grandmaster, which made him worth recrui
"Give me a moment to think," Dustin said.Grace's words sent him into deep thought.After all, carrying the fate of Dragonmarsh was no small burden. First, he had to be tough enough to handle it. Then, he needed the resolve to accept what came with it. Once he carried that burden, it meant taking on a heavyweight.He used to act on his own terms and do things as he pleased without worrying too much about the consequences. But once the nation's fate was involved, everything changed.Not that he had many options.Dustin could either hide in Sacred Wrym Summit and hope Arion would protect him, or take a risk and absorb the Dragonmarsh's fate to push through his cultivation's bottleneck. Between the two, he was leaning toward the latter."I can give your plan a shot," Dustin said suddenly. "But we're still missing a piece of the Dracan essence. If we're doing this, we need to find that last one first."Only once all five pieces of Dracan essence were united could he truly wield the
"Royal gods? And two of them?" Dustin frowned at the news.His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had shown him firsthand that the Hall of Gods didn't send weaklings into the field.One royal god had already pushed him to his limit. If two came at him together, winning wasn't even the question. He'd be lucky just to make it out alive."That's right," Grace said solemnly. "The royal gods, Zeus and Hera, have crossed the border. They're even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are slim."She knew Dustin was strong, but he was still young. Moreover, Zeus and Hera weren't just anyone. They were world-class powerhouses. Surviving a fight with them would be next to impossible.The Hall of Gods had probably figured out how dangerous Dustin could become. If they had given him a few more years to grow, they might not have been able to stop him."Well, that complicates things." Dustin rested his chin in one hand with a thoughtful expression.Two royal god
Soluna Hall had one rule—they wouldn't accept unfamiliar customers. They only served those they knew well or people introduced by someone they trusted. Every transaction required an appointment. Exceptions were made for urgent matters, but those came with an additional fee.When Dustin reached the entrance, two security guards stopped him. After stating his name and being verified by the guards, they let him through.Inside, a female attendant with a pleasant smile greeted him and led him across the main hall straight into the back garden. They passed a small fish pond and stopped in front of a secluded private room."This is Ms. Linsor's private reception area. Mr. Rhys, please come in," the female attendant said with a smile."She's not here?" Dustin asked curiously."She had something come up, but she'll be here soon. Please make yourself comfortable," the attendant said, still smiling."Alright then." He nodded and walked into the room.The room was spacious, with a vintag
"You're wrong, Tristan," Matthias said with a meaningful look.He continued, "Sure, I've got the Moseys to back me, but I'm still far from securing the throne. Nathaniel's got strong backing too, and this won't be an easy win. But if you were to support me, I'd say my chances shoot up to 80%."In his eyes, Tristan's support was worth more than the Ballard family.If he could win Tristan over, his odds would jump from 60% to nearly 80%. The only question now was whether Tristan would be willing to shelve his own ambitions and place his bet on Matthias."You know me, Matthias. I've never been one for ambition or glory. This kind of power struggle just isn't for me. I hope you can understand that," Tristan said.After thinking about it thoroughly, he finally turned his brother down. He knew his chances of winning were slim, yet he couldn't let go.Tristan was the eldest legitimate son, the rightful and undisputed heir to the throne. Aside from his poor health, he had no real shortco
Tristan, Matthias, and Nathaniel weren't fools. They understood the unspoken message loud and clear.Their purpose for this trip was to take advantage of the opportunity to offer their condolences and win the Ballard family's support. Should it work, all the better. If not, they'd at least make a good impression. The key was that as long as the Ballard family didn't pick a side or turn against them, there was still room to make things work. No need to rush into anything.Tristan spoke first. "You're being too kind, Duke of Lachshire. We've always admired Mr. Jovian's loyalty and courage. We're simply here to pay our respects—nothing more."Matthias added, "That's right. Your family has a lot to deal with right now. Plus, you're not as young as you used to be, so don't wear yourself out over this. We won't take up more of your time today."He gave a respectful nod, then turned to leave."Duke—"Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak, but Tristan interrupted. "That's enough, Nathani
"Oh? I didn't expect both of you to be here," Nathaniel said.He was just about to pay his respects when he spotted Tristan and Matthias inside the mourning hall. He gave a respectful nod and said, "Hello, Tristan, Matthias."Truthfully, he wasn't surprised. He had already guessed they would show up.The four ancient houses and the eight great families were all key players he needed on his side. And with the Ballard family still undecided, he wasn't about to miss the chance to make an impression."I heard you left Oakvale on official business. Funny how quickly you came back," Tristan said, his tone laced with meaning."It wasn't anything important. When I heard about Mr. Jovian's passing, I returned immediately. I wanted to pay my respects in person," Nathaniel answered smoothly, without missing a beat.He brushed off Tristan's subtle jab and used the moment to show the Ballard family he was genuinely there to pay his respects."Don't just stand there, Nathaniel. Go pay your re
"Your Royal Highness, it's an honor to have you here," Jonathan said.Upon seeing the distinguished guest arrive, he quickly pulled himself together and aside his grief. He led his family to greet Tristan, and they bowed in respect.Before they could finish the gesture, Tristan raised a hand to stop them. "No need for such formalities," he said. "The deceased deserves our respect."He turned to Jovian's portrait, which was displayed in the mourning hall, and sighed deeply.Tristan continued, "Mr. Jovian's untimely passing is truly a great loss to Dragonmarsh. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to your family during this difficult time."Jonathan's eyes were filled with tears as he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kind words. My family is heartbroken over my brother's tragic death."Tristan nodded slightly. His gaze quickly swept across the hall before asking, "I've heard that Duke Lachshire fainted from grief. How is he doing now?"Jonathan
The unrest in West Lucozia finally ended with the capture of Warrick.Every official who was his accomplice was thoroughly investigated. Those who needed to be arrested were taken into custody, and those who deserved to be punished were executed.After the purge, more than 300 officials in West Lucozia were removed from their posts. Those guilty were arrested, and those whose crimes were severe were executed.Under Austin's iron-fisted reforms, West Lucozia's government underwent a complete overhaul. Corruption, bribery, and the tangled web of illegal deals were swept away like dust in the wind.The citizens quickly noticed the difference. When they visited government offices, they no longer faced delays, refusals, or demands for bribes.Long-neglected public issues began to move forward, thanks to the organized efforts of newly appointed officials. Things were improving across the board.Instead of fearing the crackdown, the citizens welcomed it. The corrupt officials who had dr