Chapter 415


    “Wait up!” Lesley shouted.


    Charlotte cast Lesley a wary nce. “What is it?” Lesley hurriedly answered, “I have no ill intention,


    Ms. Schwein. I''m merely aimless. The mountains here are endless. Would you like to travel together?”


    In his anxiety, he turned red.


    Charlotte had never seen a man blush as easily as he did. She was certain that a man like that


    definitely bore her no ill will. “Sure.”


    Lesley was overjoyed.


    Marlington was a magical, mysterious ce.


    The potency of the parasites in Marlington was unparalleled.


    The ce was also filled with legendary wonders.


    During the war, the arrogant Jetroinians never dared invade Marlington. urately speaking, they had,


    but most of their forces had perished when theynded without even seeing the enemy.


    Situated in Gablurg, Marlington consisted of mountain ranges and green hills as far as the eye could


    see.


    It was like looking out at a limitless sea of green.


    The sun was resplendent at three in the afternoon.


    It was also the end of May. Atop the mountains of Gablurg, the days were not very hot but the nights


    were chilly. Even on the hottest days of summer, the nights were cold.


    Because of this, most of the residents in Gablurg had no need for air conditioning at night.


    Dressed entirely in ck, Simon arrived at the foothills of Gablurg.


    He had attained the cultivation of a level-nine Divine Master, and his progress had been nothing short


    of extraordinary.


    By that point, however, the rate of his cultivation had slowed down. There are limits to everything, and


    speed is not necessarily a good thing.


    Simon realized he had hit a teau. His cultivation level would not increase no matter how much blood


    he consumed.


    His situation was akin to a man who, given a stroke of luck, found his wealth increasing rapidly. At a


    certain point in his progress, however, he would begin to slow down.


    That was an irrefutable fact.


    Being able to sustain growth became a matter of knowing where to invest.


    At that moment, Simon was no longer under the control of the Heavenly Rebirth Alliance. The elders of


    the Heavenly Rebirth Alliance had left a spiritual imprint in his cerebral domain.


    A mark of that nature was not easily dispeble. If Simon decided to refine it, the imprint would self-


    destruct.


    The cultivation of the elders of the Heavenly Rebirth Alliance was at a terrifying level.


    It would be practically impossible for Simon to rid himself of the imprint.


    Coincidentally, however, luck is a wonderful thing indeed.


    Given Simon''s vampiric lineage, his mana could only be turned intobat force at the same time


    strengthen his cerebral domain.


    With such enhancement, his cerebral domain had be invulnerable to spiritual waves and could


    withstand the assault of any imprint.


    Against such fortitude, the threat of the spiritual imprint was negligible.


    If the spiritual imprint was a bullet, Simon had donned several bulletproof vests.


    At that juncture, he was truly free.


    Upon returning to the country, he came to the mysterious Marlington.


    The reason for Simon visiting Marlington was because it was Olive''s hometown.


    He had been seized by a sudden desire to visit where Olive grew up at.


    Then, he ascended the mountain.


    Upon entering Emerald Mountain, he found himself surrounded by lush foliage.


    There was a trail, which Simon thought was too far, so he opted instead to walk through the mountain.


    He traveled all the way forward at a very high speed.


    At noon, Simon arrived before a beautiful stretch containing a waterfall.


    After venturing a little further, he noticed a valley ahead which was just as charming. There was a


    tavern there.


    Feeling a little hungry, Simon headed toward it.


    The tavern was charmingly quaint. It sat on the foothills of Emerald Mountain, with a stream at the


    entrance and a bamboo forest at the back.


    When Simon entered, he noticed a tour group entering at the same time.


    The group consisted of a dozen or so people of young, rowdy people of both genders.


    The one leading the party, however, was an old professor.


    Ignoring them, Simon entered the tavern and found a ce to sit.


    The tavern was run by the Marlingtonian, just the two of them. One woman was the owner, and the


    other the waitress.


    They were dressed in their cultural dresses with scarves on their heads.


    The owner was a forty-year-old woman who was especially ugly.


    The waitress, thirty or so, was also not a looker.


    The owner and waitress identally overlooked the lone customer as they were serving the tour


    group.


    Simon remained cidly in his seat. He was not anxious, nor did he rush them.


    As he was there on a trip to reminisce, he opted to go with the flow.


    The waitress brought the tour group some drinks and snacks.


    In contrast to the lively group, Simon, sitting in solitude, looked as if he had been forgotten by the


    world.


    Nevertheless, Simon did not mind. Awash in memories, he became lost in reverie.


    It was also possible that he was thinking of nothing at all.


    At that moment, a clear, melodious voice sounded.


    “Hey, man. Have some peanuts. Here''s a cup of coffee for you.”


    The voice sounded like a ray of sunshine.


    Its owner sounded as if she would be beautiful and kind.


    Simon looked up and saw a girl in white sportswear and a ponytail.


    The girl was about twenty. She smiled sweetly at him, and he noticed that her face was pretty and


    exquisite.


    Her smile, too, was capable of distracting one from the woes of the world.


    Simon''s eyes traveled to her hands, which were holding a te of peanuts and an untouched cup of


    coffee.


    Seemingly embarrassed as she met his gaze, she flushed slightly. Then, she ced the peanuts on the


    table before him.


    She was about to hand the coffee to Simon when he said coldly, “No, thank you.”


    “Hmm?” The girl froze. She did not expect him to turn her down. Her name was Mauve Lief, a fourth-


    year student at Yaleview University. Their professor had organized a study tour to Marlington to visit a


    subject they were exploring in the ssroom.


    Mauve had noticed how Simon was sitting alone in the corner while she had a lively group she


    belonged to.


    She thought he might be lonely, so she brought some peanuts and coffee as she felt sorry for him. It


    was in that Mauve was a kind-hearted girl.


    At that moment, a senior who had a crush on Mauve walked over. His name was Ethan Pickering. He


    came over and dragged Mauve away. “How many times have I told you not to pay these weirdos any


    mind? Come back and sit with us.”


    Mauve nodded. She was a little hurt.


    Simon''s voice sounded behind her as soon as she turned. It was cold and devoid of emotion. “Take


    your things with you.”


    Mauve felt embarrassed.


    Ethan turned around to take the peanuts and red at Simon. “Your loss.”


    Simon ignored him.


    Mauve and Ethan returned to their seats, and joviality resumed at their table. The incident did not


    dampen their spirits.


    Simon had sharp ears. He heard Mauve telling the waitress, “You have a customer over there. Don''t


    forget to serve him.”


    Only then did the waitress notice Simon. She ran over to Simon, apologizing as she did so.


    Simon did not mind. As odd as he was odd, he was never one to throw his weight around. “Surprise


    me.” Then, he added, “Also, prepare some supplies for the road.”


    The waitress assented.


    Half an hourter, Simon resumed his trip after finishing his meal and picking up his supplies. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    The tour group, however, took their time.


    Marlington was mysterious. Even Simon had only a vague inkling of the region. He did not know


    exactly where it was.


    That was why Simon was still unable to locate any Marlingtonians—the expert cultivators of parasites—


    despite walking until night descended.


    Simon had heard Olive mention that she lived in Heavenly Cave, which was surrounded by Superb


    Ridge, Maleficent Ridge, and As Peak. It was a breathtakingly beautiful and dangerous ce.


    The view every sunrise was of the sea of clouds.


    Olive had once said she thought the immortals lived in the sea of clouds between the peaks. It was


    something she had imagined when she was a girl.


    Simon was intent on finding a tall peak, under the impression that it would be closer to Heavenly Cave.


    The mountains were quiet and eerie at night.


    As night descended, the poisonous insects and fearsome beasts began to stir. Worse still, miasma was


    heavy in the air.


    A ce like Marlington was not somewhere one could simply stride into after watching several survival


    television shows.


    Having travelled the entire day, Simon felt a little tired.


    He found a tree and jumped on it. Then, he produced some food from his spatial ring and drank some


    water. After that, hey across the branches and fell soundly asleep.


    Simon was a simple person. Anypanions he might have would be bored to death.


    Not long after that, Simon opened his eyes suddenly.


    His sharp ears faintly detected the howling of a pack of wolves. At the same time, he heard screams.


    Simon gazed into the distance. Amidst the foliage, he saw the faint flickering of fire.


    Did they run into a pack of wolves? What would that have to do with me, though?


    Simon did not intend to meddle. He thought these people were courting death foring deep into


    Marlington unprepared with the ability to defend themselves.


    There is no hope for escape. I''m talking about them, all right.


    Simony back down.


    Suddenly, he thought of the girl named Mauve. Her smile illuminated his heart.


    Whatever. I''ll just think of it as repaying her kindness.


    Simon leaped down from the tree and ran toward the pack of wolves. Despite being forced to go


    through the dense thicket, he was as quick as lightning.


    Indeed, Mauve and herpanions'' predicament was grave. The group of students, and their elderly


    professor, Matthew Zane, had never encountered a situation as precarious as that. They found


    themselves surrounded by glowing green eyes. The wolves growled.


    Never had they felt death as close as they did.


    Matthew had no other ideas. Bracing himself, he said, “Wolves fear bright lights. Turn on your torches,


    everyone. Your phone screens, too.”


    Everything with a power source was immediately produced and turned on. Sure enough, the dazzling


    lights made the wolves wary.