《Universe Traveler》


 Prologue

    December 2019, Earth.


    "Huah! Yeaahh! Huu...! A 7-year-old boy was swinging his arms watching the Astro Boy movie. On the opposite side of the shelf was full of Astro boy action figures. And the walls were full of Astro boy stickers and posters.


    A 14-year-old girl watches him from behind with an annoyed face. She took the remote and changed the channel.


    "Hey! What are you doing? I am at the ending!" Alex shouted at his sister.


    "Shut up Alex!" How many times do you watch the same movie?" she spat out angrily.


    He glared at her "Mooomm...!" Alex walks out of the hall with a scream.


    Alex''s mom heard his scream and looked at him with a smile.


    She pinched his fluffy cheeks and said, "What happened honey?"


    "Mom! She stole my remote and doesn''t let me watch the movie!" Alex complained with a puffed cheek.


    "Sweetie! Don''t you think your sister deserves to watch TV for some hours?" She replied.


    "Mom! But I was at the ending. She did it deliberately. I think she hates me!" Alex replied with his head down.


    Alex''s mom smiled and lifted him. Even though he was seven years old, he weighed much less. So lifting him was easy.


    When Alex was three years Old, his parents found out that he wasn''t growing up like an average child. At the age of 3, he only grew like a year old child. When taken to doctors, they found out that he was growing 2x slower. It was bizarre for the doctors because he didn''t look like a dwarf or had any disease/deficiency. It''s like the time ran slower only for him. Due to this Alex became a celebrity overnight. Some called him an Immortal child and the children teased him as a dwarf. In fear of bullies, his mom stopped him from going to school and started teaching him in the home, and so she left her job. His parents earned millions just for selling a drop of his blood on research, so it wasn''t hard economically. So he grew up with the extra love and care of his mother.


    Unlike him, his sister had the worst. Every day she gets bullied by other children calling her as the sister of the dwarf. She started to blame everything on her little brother and hates him.


    Alex''s mother looked at him and said, "Sweetie! Your sister doesn''t hate you! You know when you were little she was the one taking care of you more than me! She was angry only because of some people at school, so you have to learn to understand your sister, OK?"


    He looked up unwillingly and replied with a nod.


    "Okay! Sit on the table! I''m making your favourite sushi." she said.


    "Yay! Mom you are the best!" forgetting about his fight with sister, he started munching on the food.


    *munch* *munch*


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Alex was enjoying the sushi under the smile of his mother.


    *Ding* *Dong*


    "Honey! I am home!" Alex heard his father''s voice from the door.


    Hey jumped off from the table leaving the half-eaten sushi and dashed towards his father.


    "Father!" he shouted happily.


    "Oh! My sweet little hamster! Kiss*Kiss*Kiss!" his father lifted him and rained kisses on his cheeks.


    Opposite to his family, Alex''s father was the only one happy for his child''s condition. He believes that his son was blessed with longevity by the gods and his business was booming with the help of the money from selling his blood sample. A single drop was sold for 12.3 million $$ at the auction center in New York so he took half and invested in his business and another half saved for Alex''s future.


    *giggles*


    "Father, your beard tickles!" Alex''s father didn''t stop from scratching his face with his beard.


    Alex''s mother watched the son and father pair with a smile. Alex''s father then went and kissed his wife on the cheeks.


    "Honey! Did you miss me?" he asked while groping her ass with his left hand.


    "You what are you doing in front of Alex?" she slapped his hands away from her ass and glared at him.


    Alex''s sister watching from behind said, "I''m here too, you know!"


    "Oh, my sweetheart! Come! Give daddy a kiss! Ummm!" he kept his mouth in u shape and ran towards his daughter.


    "No! Get away! No.....*giggles*....! Mom! Help me.....!" Alex''s sister kept running from her dad.


    Alex''s mom laughed at the scene while Alex shouted, "Yay! Get her dad!"


    He finally caught her and rained kisses on her face. She looked angry, but they knew she was happy inside.


    Alex''s father took a ticket from his bag and said, "Honey, Do you know? Because of Alex''s blood, the researchers had a breakthrough and found a way to slow down the cancer cells. The Amusement park owner''s daughter got benefited from the research, so he got us four VIP tickets for the amusement park! Let''s go together as a family!"


    Alex''s mom was always over-reactive to her son''s health so even a cold would cause her a heart attack.


    Knowing what his wife was thinking he stopped her from speaking, "Honey! Stop! You can''t always keep him locked up inside the house. It''s not that bad outside; he might even like to go to school after today." he advised his wife.


    Knowing she can''t change her husband''s choice, She half-heartedly accepted. Alex''s father took out his rarely driven Lamborgini Urus from the garage, and they drove off.


    Alex was so excited; it''s been many months since he''s going for an outing. He opened the glass windows and watched the bustling city.


    "Mom! Mom! I want that Ice cream, Please! Please!" Alex begged his mother to buy ice cream looking at the stall on the opposite side of the road.


    Next, to his seat, his sister glared him with annoyance.


    Alex''s father noticed his daughters look and said, "Sweetie here! Take this ten bucks and your brother with you to the Ice cream stall."


    "What? Why should I do it?" she shouted in annoyance.


    Alex''s mom suggested that she would take him with her, but his father insisted that his sister would take him. Alex''s sister without any choice got off from the vehicle with Alex and glared at her father. Alex''s father turned his head to the other side.


    Looking at her father turning his head away, she humphed and dragged her brother forcefully to cross the road.


    Alex didn''t mind as he was happy about getting the ice cream. She turned once more to look at their parents, but they turned their heads from them.


    ************


    On the alley near the car parking, a guy talked in a walkie-talkie, "Change of plans! Requesting to execute the mission now!"


    "Roger!" was the only sound came from the other end of the walkie-talkie.


    *************


    Alex hummed happily as he crossed the street with his sister. He looked at his right to find a truck rushing towards them; his sister was so angry to notice that.


    He thought the truck might slow down when it''s near him.


    But the truck didn''t, the driver sounded the horn to make it look like an accident. Alex''s sister only noticed after the truck was inches away from them.


    Alex stood terrified and felt his sister hands pressing his hands tighter. He was the fan of Astro Boy, so years of watching the movie left an instinctive reaction on his mind to save someone from danger and so he knew he had to save his sister. He used his full force and pushed his sister away and jumped. He fell on the road after successfully pushing her off.


    *screech* *Boom*


    The truck with a screeching sound crashed into a lot of parked cars.


    Alex felt like he was crushed by something. He felt his whole body weak and dizzy. He weakly raised his head and looked at his sister. Luckily, his sister didn''t get hurt. He smiled at her because he was happy that he saved his sister''s life.


    Alex''s sister pulled her off from the ground and looked towards her brother. She got petrified from the scene in front of her. Her whole body started shaking at the scene of her younger brother. He looked her with a smile on his face showing that he was happy that he saved her life.


    The innocent smile of her younger brother at the moment made her heart wrench in pain.


    Alex felt very weak and couldn''t feel his lower body.


    Then he heard his mom''s screaming voice, "Nooooooooooooo!" she wailed loudly looking at her son. Bystanders looking at her can feel her agony from the heart-wrenching cry.


    His father stood there terrified with his body struggling to stand at the look of his son. Alex''s lower half from his stomach was torn off and a meter away from him. His upper half was near his sister.


    His sister slowly hugged his upper half and started wailing like her mom. Alex felt confused why his sister was crying, but he couldn''t think properly as he was feeling dizzy and his consciousness was fading away. But still, he felt the warmth from his sister hug and remembered his childhoods days with his sister. With the memories of his sister and his parents playing together, his consciousness faded away.

 Universe?

    Deep inside a forest, a 16-year-old boy seen sleeping on the lap of a woman in her late twenties. Both of their clothes seemed to be in tatters and various scratch wounds found on their bodies. Seeing their condition, anyone could guess that they''d been in multiple life and death situation.


    The woman had an expression of guilt on her face looking at the boy on her lap. She felt terrible knowing that she was the reason he was in this condition. Formerly she was one of his father''s concubine and a step-mother for him, but due to some reason, she betrayed him.


    She knew she couldn''t ask for his forgiveness, but the only thing she could do is to protect his life even if it cost hers.


    The place they were in is popularly known as the Dark Demon forest. An area that divides the two continents and acts as a natural barrier. Currently, the woman in the late ''20s is fleeing towards the Greenwood city which has an enmity towards the Redforest city and the only place they can seek Asylum.


    After a day of traveling, she slowly dropped the boy on the floor and collapsed on the ground from tiredness. She ran for a whole day carrying him on her back had put a toll on her body. Her hands reached inside the dress and took out a slice of meat jerky. Both of them didn''t carry a bag, so she didn''t have a choice but to use her clothes as a bag. The meat jerky got sweaty and stinky from her travels, but she didn''t have a choice but to swallow them.


    After finishing the meal, she looked at the boy with worry filled eyes. It''s been a day yet he didn''t wake up. She and the boy got crippled by the hands of his stepmother and sent to the Dark Demon forest as a punishment. The punishment was made to kill them cruelly. It''s nearly impossible for a low-level cultivator to survive inside the woods not to mention someone with a crippled Dantian.


    Suddenly she heard the boy mumbling in a weird language, "Sister! Ice cream! Mom! Noooo.....!" after that he started screaming in pain. The boy was screaming like someone crushing his head.


    The woman was terrified of the current situation. In one side he was screaming in pain and on another hand, his voice could attract demonic creatures. She didn''t know what to do; she pushed her palm inside his mouth to stop him from screaming. In pain, the boy began biting her hands and his teeth dig inside her flesh. The woman felt like passing out in pain, but she resisted to protect him from danger.


    **Next day Morning**


    The woman woke up with pain in her hands. She turned her head to towards the supposedly sleeping boy. She was frightened to see the boy was not there. She was afraid that a demonic beast might have dragged him in her sleep. She quickly got up to search for the boy, but then she heard some one''s footsteps. Within a blink, she unsheathed her dagger and stood in an attacking pose.


    But looking the person in front of her, she was shocked. The boy stood naked in the wild staring with an innocent look.


    **Yesterday night**


    The woman fell asleep after an hour of him screaming in pain.


    The boy woke up, "Ahh!! It hurts! Where am I? Dark Demon forest? Wait? What are those memories in my head? Betrayed by my stepmother? Wait, what''s happening? Mom! Where is my mom! Arghhhh...!" the boy felt like his mind going to explode, but suddenly a gush of coolness spread over his head and calming his mind.


    "halcyon down issue!" Alex felt like someone speaking in a weird language inside his head.


    "Who''s there?" he said in a weak voice.


    "first relaxeth, then I''ll talketh!" replied the voice.


    "What are you saying? I don''t understand!" Alex replied to the voice.


    "I said first relax, then we''ll talk!" replied the female voice again.


    "Ok! But who are you?" he asked again.


    "I am the Universe System!" the voice replied.


    Universe System? So your name is Universe system! Nice to mee¡­hear you! Do you know where I am? I want to go to my mom!" he replied.


    *Sigh!*


    "Brat in your state I cannot explain everything! Let me transfer the information about the situation you''re in." said the voice.


    "Transfer?" Alex was confused and didn''t know what to ask.


    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.Before he can ask, every information regarding his death on earth and the memories from the previous body owner was converted into simple information and was sent into his brain. Alex was shocked by the sudden influx of information inside his head. It took him five minutes to digest the simple pieces of information.


    After learning about what happened to him, tears started to fell from his eyes. He looked lost and sad over the news of his death. He was pained by the thought of not seeing his parents and sister again.


    He felt the memories of his sister crying while holding his body and his mom screaming in agony very painful. He was feeling guilty that his father might blame himself for the accident. In inside he was blaming himself for his actions that put his family in so much pain.


    The Universe System was surprised by his reaction and thought, "I thought the little guy might put a tantrum and make it hard to explain, but it looks like the maturity of the previous body owner is interfering with him."


    The Universe system tried to console him, "Little guy! Look! Don''t cry! I don''t want your hopes up, but there is a way for you to reunite with your family!" to cheer him up she dropped a sweet bomb.


    "What? Really?" he asked in a hopeful voice.


    "Yes! But you have to get stronger! Strong enough to crush the space with bare hands, destroy the mountains with a flick of a finger and evaporate the ocean with a stare. If you can do this then finding your home will be a piece of cake." She replied.


    Hearing her reply his excitement died down. Through the information, Alex gets to know that strong people like superheroes exist in this world, but someone like that was a myth/legend according to the previous body owner''s memories.


    The Universe System laughed knowing the reason for his disappointed face, "Alex! Don''t be sad! With me here I promise that I will reunite you with your family!" She said that with confidence. Alex felt little better hearing that.


    *nod*


    "So who are you? Exactly? And why are you talking in my head?" Alex asked her.


    "Okay let me explain from the start! I am the Universe! The part of one which rules the universe where your previous self-resided in! Not me but a part of me!


    You have been under my radar since you were born! You are the first one in a million years to be born with an Ancestry blood line awaken! I never thought such a minuscule concentration of bloodline would stimulate in your body.


    So the first to be interesting after World War II, I concentrated my attention towards you. Then I found out that when you died, your spirit/soul rather than entering my 6-paths samsara was getting dragged into the farthest universal void.


    The universe was curious where''s your spirit was going, so the Universe Spirit secretly merged 1/1,000,000th segment of its intelligence with you during the transfer. So in a short form, I am nothing but an Intelligence!" the Universe System explained.


    "So that''s why you named yourself as a System! You''re just like the novels my sister used to read and brag to my mother like how interesting the story is!" Alex said.


    Alex was in confusion even after her explanation. He didn''t know why he awaken some bloodline and why someone deliberately killed him. But looking at the scene in front of him, he thought the questions could wait for some other time.


    Alex got up and supported himself against the tree and observed his body. His skin was soft but packed with muscles inside; he felt weird inside a body of double his age.


    But he was happy looking at the six packs and bulging biceps. After observing himself, he felt hungry. He looked around and found the woman from his memories who betrayed the previous body owner. He saw a meat jerky sticking out on her stomach.


    His stomach started growling, he slowly dragged the meat jerky from her clothes and chewed weakly.


    Feeling weak, he fell asleep near her. Without him knowing, the Universe System started absorbing the star essence from the space to replenished his body and curing his crippled Dantian.


    Looking at his dantian, she thought, "Looks like the boy had one hell of a foundation! Luckily he didn''t get fully crippled and thankfully, it saves me time from healing him fully."

 Flashback

    Morning,


    Alex woke up feeling refreshed and healthy; he looked at the woman sleeping beside him, "Her name was Evelyn, right? Why was she protecting me when she was the one responsible for everything?"


    He shook his head as for the current him, the previous body owner''s problems doesn''t mean anything. But he felt an urge to find the main reason behind this and take revenge. He got up and looked up the sky feeling nostalgic as he always had his mother accompany him on the terrace.


    The universe system thought for a while when it noticed a hint of maturity in his eyes and said. "Alex, I advise you to control your emotions for a week. Because the transmigration doesn''t come without a cost. Thankfully you had me. Otherwise, you might have become crazy for a month or even a year. Even with me converting those memory pulses into simple information, they have little side effects and might result in a split personality." she advised.


    Alex acknowledged her advice with a yawn and asked her whether she could find a lake or a pond inside the forest to wipe the stinky sweat off his body.


    "Concentrate your Spirit towards the moisture content in the air then you could locate them easily!" she advises.


    Alex closed his eyes and tried her method. Within a couple of seconds, he could sense miniature bubble like moisture in the air flowing with the wind. Since they were in the forest, the source of finding a water source was way too easy.


    "Follow the place where the moisture content is in excess. And don''t worry about the demonic beasts, most of them take rest during the sunrise," she gave instruction as he walked.


    Alex nodded and followed the path without fear. Within 5 minutes of walking, he found a clear water pond.


    As he had the mentality of seven years old, he got naked without feeling shy and dived into the small pond. After a couple of minute cleaning himself, he washed his clothes and hung them on his shoulders.


    "Fuuuu...That feels good! Now let''s return to Ex-Aunt, she might be awake!" he thought out loud and walked while being naked.


    "Universe System, do you know any method for drying off the water from my body? I don''t find any memories from my previous body owner, regarding this" he asked.


    "Your body is just at the peak of Purification stage. To be precise, 9th star of the Purification stage, so you cannot do that for now!" she replied.


    Not feeling disappointed, he walked back.


    As he came near their temporary camp, he found her staring at him with a dagger in her hands.


    Otherside, Evelyn was surprised at his appearance,


    Her face blushed at the scene, but she quickly turned her head facing opposite direction. Alex smiled knowing his mistake and went behind the tree to get dressed.


    After dressing himself, he walked towards her.


    When he was dressing, Evelyn''s mind was in chaos. She didn''t know how would she face him, her guilt was prickling her heart with a knife. She did what a degenerate scum would do; whom she looked down and hated. At first, she was surprised to see his innocent gaze looking at her without any hatred and then she quickly knelt on the floor and said, "Alex Redforest, I''m sorry... I have wronged you for my selfish reasons! I know I cannot ask for forgiveness, but I promise that I will accept any Punishment you find right! Even if it has to me being a slave for my entire life!"


    With this, Alex could guess that she wasn''t the main preparator behind this plan.


    "Evelyn! Please stand!..... Could you explain why you betrayed me?" Alex asked with an indifferent expression on his face.


    **********************


    Redforest city is one of the bordering cities of Gromor Kingdom. The family Redforest founded and ruled over the city for centuries.


    The current City Lord has 12 concubines including his newly wedded concubine, Evelyn. He has a total of nine sons and seven daughters. Alex Redforest was the son of the 9th concubine who ran away after giving birth to him. Due to this reason, the standings in his family was very low. From the start, he was denied cultivation resources and training manuals by the City Lord''s 1st wife who hated his mother.


    Even after denying his resources, Alex still kept up with his training to the 9th star of purification and got qualified for Star Essence Bonding Ceremony.


    [Cultivation stages


    1) Purification stage (star 1 to 9)


    2) Star Essence Layer (star 1 to 3)


    3) Star Qi Conversion (star 1 to 3)


    4) Core Formation (star 1 to 9)


    5) Planetary Fusion ( low, medium, high and peak)]


    Noticing his extraordinary talent the City Lord''s wife feard that he might take over her son''s chance to become the next City Lord. So she secretly plotted his demise with the hands of Evelyn. The City Lord was a cultivating manic and always runs away for adventures, so the city was mainly ruled by her. Other than the City Lord no one would go against her.


    The Star Essence Bonding Ceremony was like a festival for the whole city. And the City Lord would always return during this time of the year. Every youth under the Age of 16 were allowed to access the Altar to perform the Star Essence Bonding. Star Essence Bonding is a stage for Peak Purification stage cultivators to connect with Heavily bodies on the space. Only by performing the connection with the heavily bodies outside the planet can allow a person to breakthrough to next stage, 1star of Star Essence Layer.


    The Altar in the City Lords mansion allows a better chance to sense distance star thus increasing their chance to connect with Larger stars. The bigger the star, the better the essence one can gather. So people who have broken through to the 9th star of purification will wait for this day to access the Altar.


    *********


    Evelyn was the daughter of a noble from the neighboring Kingdom Astegia. During the war one year ago, the Gromor Kingdom won the battle and took over 1/3 of the land belonging to the Astegia Kingdom. The territory of Evelyn''s father comes under the portion won by the Gromor Kingdom. Evelyn''s father denied the pleas of his family to escape to another territory as he was deeply attached to the territory. Leaving only Evelyn and her father, everyone escaped. Evelyn put a deaf ear when her father asked her to escape with the others.


    When the Gromor kingdom''s troops came to formally acquire the Fief, Evelyn''s father got arrested as a war criminal, and she was sent as a gift to Alex''s father for his contributions on the war. Being under the rule of a nice King, Evelyn''s father underestimated the methods of Gromor''s King.


    *Evelyn''s POV*


    It''s been half a year since I came to this City. But I only saw the City Lord once as he was always away in adventure and yet to return since. And I don''t know how''s my father doing in the dungeon. The only reason I accepted him as my husband was for my father. If I can seduce him then saving my father will be easy, but I have yet to see him. Luckily, I heard the Star Essence Bonding ceremony is coming soon; the city lord must be on his way. It''s my only chance.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    *Knock* *Knock*


    "What is it?" I asked the maid.


    "Lady Evelyn, the 1st Mistress, requires your presence!" said the maid with a bow.


    "Tell her I will be there in a minute!" I replied.


    Why is she calling for me? The only person I hate in the whole mansion is her. She is such a cruel person, and I want to avoid at her all cost. But still, I cannot afford to offend her for now.


    I thought as I went to her courtyard.


    Wow! This place really looks beautiful. It seems like the 1st wife spends most of the city funds on her courtyard. As I walked the surrounding maids bowed towards me, but I can see they have no respect from their eyes.


    I walked straight to her room and knocked on her door.


    "Come in" she replied.


    Wow! This bitch really lives like a queen! I was mesmerized for a second but quickly turned my attention towards her.


    She had an evil smile on her face looking at me. Others might don''t think it that way, but I knew that was a wicked smile and she''s plotting something.


    "Evelyn! Come, sit!" She asked me to sit opposite to her. I was nervous, but I still didn''t show that outside.


    There was a letter on the table, she looked a little sad and passed on the letter to me.


    "Evelyn, this letter came today from the capital. It''s from your father!" she said.


    Since half a year this was the first time I received news about my father. I snatched the letter from her hands and opened it. My hands were shaking as I checked whether it''s my father''s handwriting.


    Yes, it was.


    As I read the letter, tears started to flow from my eyes. In the letter, my father mentioned that he was ill and the doctors think that he won''t make it till the fall. He asked me to take care of myself and run away from the current city and live somewhere safe. He mentioned how he missed me and regretted not seeing a grandchild before his death. And he was sorry that I got to this position because of him. I cried and cried.


    But the one-word 1st wife said made me look up with hope in my eyes.


    "Evelyn, I know what happened to your father is unfortunate! But if you want, I can help you save him!" she said.


    "What? Really, you will?" I asked her.


    "Yes!.....hmm... But I hope for something in exchange!" she asked with a smile.


    I felt something amiss but still for my father I promised her in the name of my family that if she saves my father, then I will agree to do whatever she says.


    But the next thing she said dumbfounded me. She wanted me to lie in front of the whole city that I saw Alex ravaging lives many young girls and even tried to make a move on me. I was shocked when she made her request. He was the only person in the entire estate I have respect for. Thinking of betraying him made my heart bleed, but for my father, I had to do it. After I promised, she sent her butler with a 7-star Mountain Bliss Pill. It is a miraculous pill which aids in healing and breakthrough in cultivators. The cost of the pill was nearly a thousand tales of gold. To keep my side of the promise I steeled my heart.


    A day before the Star Essence Bonding Ceremony. The 1st Mistress ordered everyone in the mansion to assemble before her as she an important matter to announce. Everyone thought it was regarding the ceremony tomorrow. Everyone came one by one until all of them were present including servants.


    I stood at the corner and looked at Alex; he looks so handsome. He is such a hard worker and has a good attitude. I felt guilty knowing the thing I was going to do to him.


    With a shout, the first mistress called me. I hung my head low and walked towards her slowly.


    Then like a drop of a bomb, she accused Alex and


    Then she started acting. She blamed that Alex wasn''t a good child and ruined many young girl''s life.


    Hearing her sentence, the whole crowd was dumbfounded. They knew Alex was a good child, but they didn''t dare voice against their Queen. She brought several young women to blame him. And for the last strike, she brought me.


    I stood there with my head down, not having the courage to look into his eyes. She now blamed him for making a move on me. The whole crowd gasped in shock including his siblings and the other concubines. They were 100% sure that it was a lie but, they didn''t voice it out. She asked me whether it was true in front of the crowd. I nodded making everyone looking at me with disdain. Some even spat out curses to me.


    I looked at Alex; he had a lifeless expression on his face. It felt like a thousand needles pierced my heart looking at his expression.


    The 1st mistress then said that she wouldn''t allow for such trash to live under the same roof as her. So with the authority of acting City Lord, she crippled his dantian and expelled him from the city and never to return again.


    She said that she was showing mercy because of their relationship otherwise she would have executed him. But she did what she said otherwise. She secretly sent Assasins to kidnap and kill Alex inside the Dark Demon Forest.


    I found out her plan and took off to save his life. When I got there I found Alex unconscious on the hands of the Assasin. But during the fight, I got injured and crippled from saving Alex.


    I used my last life-saving artifact left by my father and escaped inside the forest. I swallowed my pain and took the unconscious Alex and walked inside the Dark Demon Forest.


    ***********************


    Alex sighed hearing her side of the story. He felt sorry for her. As a single woman, she even put her life on the life to save her father was worthy of his respect.


    "Miss Evelyn please stand up! I don''t blame you for this!" he lifted her up and hugged her.


    Evelyn was explaining her side of the story. She didn''t even know whether he would forgive her or hate her. But when she heard his voice, she felt like a heavy load lifted off from shoulders.


    Evelyn cried after hearing his words. She was relieved that he forgave her. But still, she was resolute to repay him with her life.


    The Universe System smiled looking at his maturity. She was happy that he was maturing at a faster pace.


    The 1st Mistress was sitting on a couch with a happy smile, but she didn''t know that this was her last smile ever.

 Blood Moon Devil Tree!

    "Alex, could you show me the place where you took bath?" Evelyn felt uncomfortable with her sweaty body and wanted to clean herself as soon as possible.


    "Okay" Alex and Evelyn ran towards the pond. Evelyn suggested rushing because she wanted to leave this damned place as soon as possible.


    Evelyn was surprised by how Alex found this secret place in the forest. The path was covered with lush grass covering half of their bodies. Normally in a forest, everyone would think twice before trading this path. She was surprised to see how he found a path in his condition.


    "Ahmm...Alex could you stay near...I am afraid something might happen to you!" Evelyn suggests as she was shy to ask him to stay near while she was half naked bathing and was also afraid to leave him alone.


    Alex smiled since he knew her concern and revealed his cultivation.


    The Universe System sighed at his smiling face, she knew his cheerful and easy going mood was due to the overlapping of his child version and cold-faced mature version. As a knowledgeable being in the whole universe, she was surprised to discover how two different characters can create a new different character.


    "You...! How?" Evelyn was shocked by his revelation. Didn''t he got crippled by the 1st mistress on the mansion? She knew there are magical treasures in this world which can make a dantian regain its original state or even better. But how did he regain his cultivation? Its literally impossible regain the lost cultivation from broken dantian overnight. It''s like magically filling the air inside a popped out balloon.


    "Evelyn you don''t worry about anything, I will stay nearby! Just shout if you face any danger!" Alex flashed his white teeth showing his innocent smile.


    Evelyn was confused by his behavior, he looked quite different from before. He didn''t have his usual solid demeanor but a soft/kind nature.


    The current Alex didn''t have any thoughts of revenge against Evelyn because she put her life in danger for her father, she even put her life in danger and protected him in the jungle. An evil person won''t do that. He thought while looking at her. He quickly made his way towards a safe area near the pond as suggested by Universe System. He sat near a humungous tree filled with dark red, and purple fruits. The whole tree looked creepy with roots looked like charred on fire and the whole atmosphere near the tree felt eerie and dark. He was surprised to see a tree rearing two fruits at the same time. Even in his previous owner''s memories, there aren''t any memories regarding this tree.


    "So the tree is called as Blood moon devil tree! Do you know why there aren''t any monster near the surrounding area? And why don''t my previous body owner has any information regarding this kind of tree?" he asked the Universe System.


    "First, not only monsters even humans don''t dare to take a 100 meters near this tree because this tree is omnivores and can swallow a 100 Star essence layer expert as a whole. And the fruits are poisonous enough to kill a Star Qi conversion expert in seconds and Core formation expert in minutes and Planetary Fusion expert in days. And there is no antidote for this poison"


    Alex was gobsmacked when he heard that! According to his memories, the Star Qi Conversion expert are the higher officials of the kingdom, whereas the Core formation expert is the things of legend. Only the King of Gromor kingdom is said to be reached that level. He knows that his father had reached the level of peak 9th Star Qi conversion stage and that''s why he was a respectable figure in the entire kingdom next to the king. Whereas the Planetary Fusion is only a myth in the minds of people.


    ******************


    At the City Lords mansion,


    James Redforest, Alex''s father, sat in a table surrounded by his children. The son of the first wife stood with an indifferent expression like the death of his mother doesn''t mean anything to him.


    James looked at his eldest son, Charles and asked, "Charles aren''t you angry at me for killing your mother?"


    James asked while looking at the dead bodies on the ground.


    When James returned for the Star Essence gathering ceremony, he found Alex missing from the group.


    He turned towards her 1st wife and questioned her about his absence. The 1st wife started sweating under his gaze even though she prepared for a proper answer.


    Forcing her courage, she revealed everything. She described how a scum Alex was how she showed mercy by only crippling him not taking his life. She made it look like she was a saint.


    But when she finished, a loud slap rang across her cheek making her fly towards the wall. The slap was strong enough to kill a Star Essence Layer expert, but luckily the 1st wife''s servant was present at the direction where she flew. She crashed into her servant and missed her death by cushioning herself on the servant''s body. The servant was only at 5th stage Purification, so he died from the impact.


    The 1st wife coughed out a large amount of blood and teeth with only a couple of teeth still intact in her mouth. She looked with disbelief at her husband, she never thought her husband would strike against her. She looked at his furious expression and though where did she made a mistake at her plan.


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    At the time the hall was filled with his sons, concubines, and servants. They were dumbfounded to look at the condition of the first wife laying on the ground. Most of her teeth were on the ground, her left cheek was puffed like a balloon, she lost her previous grace and wailed like a pig.


    "Do I look like a fool to you?" James shouted. As an expert nearing the legendary Core Formation stage, he could find out whether one was lying or speaking truth via the flow of Qi inside the heart. As a peak expert in the Star Qi Conversion stage, his Spirit Vision can nearly deduce any secrets.


    But here he didn''t have to use his Spirit Vision because one''s eyes dart towards Upper Right when saying lies and towards the upper left if remembering something. He could guess that she was lying with her eyes and excessive movement of her hands. This is basically known knowledge between the higher officials of the kingdom.


    He ordered the servants to bring the girls who stated that Alex had raped them. After a minute everyone arrived with their leg''s shaking and sweat all over their faces. Looking at their expression, James knew the servant had revealed what happened here and asked them to play alone with the first wife.


    He used his Qi to pressure the girls in front of him and asked whether they said against his son was true. Feeling the pressure of an expert below only to the king, the girl felt their feet give away and fell down. In fear of their lives they spoke the spilled the beans in front of everyone and the promise made by first wife.


    Hearing this James was furious beyond everyone''s imagination. Everyone inside the mansion started feeling the pressure from his wrath.


    *POOF*


    Within a second the bodies of the girl exploded like a water balloon spraying blood over a meter. While only his wife died with her bodies intact. His did this in mind for his first son, he wanted his first son to atleast bury her.


    ************


    Charles looked at his father with a hint of pain and replied, "Sigh! Father, I''m just disappointed, not angry. She loved her wealth more than she loved me and the things she did disgust me. So I am not angry at what father did, but still I feel like you could''ve shown her some mercy." Charles was mature and intilligent compared to his all siblings and hence loved by everyone in the mansion. Where the only one charles loves most is the second wife of his father. She was the one breast fed him instead of his birth mother. He grew and matured with the love of his step mother.


    James sighed in relief that his eldest son didn''t hate him. Even though he didn''t have a talent for cultivation, he had a high mentality and good judgment. That put him in the top on the line for the next City Lord. He still didn''t know why the first wife would do something like this. He even promised  her that the next city lord will only be his first born son.


    James looked at his children and asked, "So why didn''t you all help your little brother when he was in a trouble?"


    Everyone was quite, they looked down not even having the courage to look at their father''s eyes. James sighed in disappointment knowing how cowards his son''s are.


    Charles further explained everything. Charles explained how biased the first wife treated Alex with no cultivation resources, stopped his allocated money, made him live at servants quarters and how she made up everything yesterday. Charles also added how she used Evelyn''s weakness and with the help of butler he presented the proof.


    *Boom*


    The table in front of him exploded into pieces.


    James felt angry knowing how his son got treated on his own house; he shouted, "Why didn''t anyone say anything? You guys let me stand like a fool and played by the bitch''s hand." James never felt so angry in his life.


    Rather than feeling guilty, he felt fear after thinking about his 9th wife. If she ever knows what happened to her son, she would kill me.


    Seeing their father sweating in fear, Charles and others felt confused.


    James then chased everyone out and took a transmission device from his pocket and shouted. Everyone left knowing the ceremony wouldn''t be held today.


    "Laura! Where are you? Laura...Laura..." He was tapping his legs waiting for the other side to reply. He was waiting for ten minutes continuously waiting for a reply. He nearly crushed the costly device in anger.


    "Hey! What''s up!"


    After ten minutes, a lazy and annoyed voice came from the device.


    "Laura! What are you doing there? I''m calling you for ten minutes!" James shouted.


    "What are you shouting for?" the voice still sounded lazy and indifferent.


    "And would you call me afterwards, I am quite busy now?" Before he can reply, she said and cut the device off again.

 Blood Devil Physique or Night Moon Physique? (P1)

    "You...!" Alex shouted when he heard her explanation. He was so near a tree which can kill legendary experts easily.


    "Do you want to kill me?" he asked the System.


    "Cool down! You are at a safe distance, so don''t be afraid!" the Universe System assured him.


    *feew*


    Alex released a mouth full of air and asked, "So, why do you want me here?"


    "I''ll explain that later! First, do you see the white substance oozing out from the pitch black roots?" the universe system asked.


    "Yes! They look disgusting! Why do you need it for?" he asked.


    "Don''t ask questions! Just do what I said! I''ll explain everything later!" she retorted.


    "Ok!" Alex felt surprised by her sudden bossy voice, but still, he agreed knowing she wouldn''t betray him.


    "Search for a broken branch of the Blood moon tree in the surroundings! And even by mistake don''t touch or disturb the tree or even a deity can''t save you!" the universe system said in a serious tone.


    *Gulp*


    He gulped knowing the seriousness of the matter. A single wrong step can take his life away in seconds.


    A cold sweat formed on his face, as he searched for the broken branch with the same pitch black color as the tree.


    Luckily he found it within seconds.


    "So what next?" he asked her.


    "Take the wood and scoop out the white liquid from its roots and for the quantity take enough to spread over your entire body!" the universe spirit replied.


    Alex had a bad feeling over this. He slowly walked towards the branch and kept a safe distance not to touch the tree. He stretched his hands and scooped out the white liquid from the root. He dropped the liquid on the ground with leaves spread over. The white liquid was continuously oozing out as he took the liquid.


    The leaves of the tree danced in a weird motion as showing joy. Alex looked confusedly at the development, but he still scooped need amount and asked Universe spirit about his next move.


    Just as he thought the universe spirit told him to spread the liquid over his entire body, luckily she didn''t ask him to remove his dress and spread over the blindspots. He just spread the liquid over his clothes and regretted his decision for taking a bath first.


    "So what now?" he asked her.


    "Now you don''t worry about the tree attacking you or getting poisoned! Go near the tree and pluck fruits from the tree until I say to stop!" the universe spirit replied.


    "What? That''s it?" he asked surprisedly.


    "Yes! And don''t worry about storing the fruits! I can store it in my inter-dimension space!" she replied.


    *nod*


    He nodded and went towards the tree and tested whether the tree would attack him or not.


    To his surprise, he felt like the tree enjoyed his touching like a parent hugged by their child.


    He got a weird feeling about this. So he chose to pluck the fruits as soon as possible. Using his agile body, he jumped like a monkey on the tree and plucked both dark red and purple fruits. The picked fruits got automatically disappeared into the Universe System''s inter-dimensional space.


    Within a half an hour, he plucked a total of 1000 fruits from the tree and got stopped by the Universe spirit.


    "Is that enough? It looks like I haven''t even pluck more than 10% of the total fruits" he said.


    "It is more than enough for now! We don''t need the tree to get suspicious of our activity! So let''s get out of this place!" she replied.


    Alex didn''t want to stay any further, so he dashed out from the place and reached near the lake.


    "System! Do you know why I got a strange vibe from the tree when I plucked those fruits and why does this liquid prevents the tree from attacking me?" Alex asked as he was suspicious of the way the tree acted. When he was plucking the fruits, it felt like the tree deliberately loosened the grip on its fruits, and if it wasn''t, he was not confident to have the strength to pluck on his own forcefully.


    The universe spirit was silent for a second and said, "I think you won''t like the truth! So for the better don''t ask!"


    Alex wasn''t stupid, he had the memories of the adult Alex and knew stuff.


    *uuuwach....!" he vomited on the scene nearly scaring Evelyn who was nearby dressing.


    She quickly dashed over to see Alex filled with white gooey liquid over his body and vomiting.


    He came near him and asked, "Alex what happened? And what is the liquid you''re covered with?"


    "Oh Evelyn, it''s nothing! Just leave me alone for a minute, I''ll wash over this filth from my body and return," he replied to Evelyn and jumped inside the lake.


    Using the Qi, he washed himself thoroughly and his clothes and returned to the bay. He dried off using the Qi and returned to Evelyn.


    Evelyn looked at him strangely and tried to ask him about it.


    He quickly shut her mouth by saying, "Please don''t ask anything!"


    ********************


    James stood in front of Laura with a stern face. Looking at her nonchalant face made him sigh.


    "Laura didn''t I left you to look over the family when I was not here? What happened? How could you let something like this happen?" he asked.


    "Well, I don''t see anything happen to the family! If it were someone attacking the mansion, I would''ve known it!" she replied in the same nonchalant expression.


    James then explained the situation over to her. He simply explained the overall situation happened here.


    "Laura, I can''t believe you turned your eyes away from the happenings inside the mansion! I am always busy that why I left you to look after the family! Now this much has happened how do you think I would face his mother and I don''t know how she would react after knowing what happened to her son" James said to Laura.


    "Well, you''re in deep shit now!" was the only words came from her mouth.


    James felt his anger boiling from her non-caring expression. He could even remember why he married this lady. If it weren''t for her cultivation level, he would have thrown her out. She was at one stage lower than him the 8th stage of Star Qi conversion and a hidden expert unknown to any. While he was announcing his engagement to her, most of the officials tried to dig her background, but no one found a single clue. It''s like she popped off from the sky.


    When someone tried to talk to her, she had the unapproachable aura which made them back away. People were shocked to know that she had the cultivation of the 8th stage Star Qi conversion layer from the King. People were amazed how James found her with cultivation only a stage below his. All of the officials were filled with envy for him finding a wife only a stage lower than his. But only James knew that she had the upper hand when fighting. She had far more superior techniques than his. Sometimes he felt like her strength might be close to that of the King. He doubts that the king also knows this, that''s why he was in better standing in front of the king than before.


    James, knowing that he can''t get her to feel guilt from her mistakes, "Laura! Could you please help me find Alex who was lastly sighted near the Dark Demon forest? With your expertise in assassins and hunting, I believe you can find him faster than me! Please bring him safely" he requested her.


    Laura sighed and accepted.


    *******************


    "Evelyn! I think we need to camp here in the forest for three days!" Alex suggested to Evelyn.


    "What? What are you saying? The forest is so dangerous! We managed to survive because we walked along the border. We don''t know what might pop up if we stay here for three days. We have to leave this forest as soon as possible!" Evelyn replied.


    "I think we would be fine if we stayed along the edges of the forest! And what would you think will happen if we reached the next city! That bitch probably sent her men to wait for our arrival, and we probably wouldn''t even make to the gates of the city. But if we stayed here for three days, then I think it will make them think that we were dead. I think there is no better option than camping here!" he explained his plan since he didn''t want to be kidnapped or killed. But the other reason for his plan was because the Universe spirit advised him to do so. He didn''t know what her plan was, but he agreed to do so.


    Evelyn thought for a second and agreed. She thought it was a better plan but it was surprising to her that the always silent and hardworking Alex would be a muscle head, but here he seemed quick-witted than her.


    "Okay let''s find a better place to camp!" he said as he took her to place which he already chose.


    It was a huge tree with a small crack enough for a person to slip through. It was perfect to accommodate five-person. She was surprised how he found the tree in a small amount of time. She had heard about these trees from her father. He once said that this kind of trees are loved by the adventurers and would be found by luck.


    She thought Alex was lucky and went inside after him. She smiled feeling the sense of safety after a day of hell.


    But the next thing Alex did make her curious, "Alex what are you doing?" she asked.


    Alex smiled and said nothing. He used a long piece of wood as a shovel and started digging. He dug out soil more than half of his body deep. Evelyn began worrying whether Alex has gone nuts after waking up from his unconsciousness. The soil fillings made only adjustable for two people to squeeze in.


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    Suddenly the soil below sank taking Alex with him.


    Evelyn was shocked. She shouted his name and jumped inside the hole without a second thought.


    To her surprise, the hole was just 7 feet deep and 100 feet wide. It was perfect enough to call it as a home.


    She saw Alex standing there with a smile. She wanted to Alex but stopped as she didn''t want to intrude his secrets.


    Alex saw her silence and explained, "This is a Hollow Spirit tree. It forms a hollow space below the soil to store the surrounding Spirit Qi from Air. The tree saves the purest form of Spirit Qi below which helps the tree to Survive for millenniums. And this is a treasure trove for any Physique cultivator. For now, it will be our hideout." he said what the Universe Spirit told him.


    There are three types of cultivators 1. Essence Cultivator 2. Physique Cultivator 3. Soul Cultivator.


    Essence type is the people who cultivate with Dantian and Meridians.


    Physique type deals with external cultivation like skin, muscles, and organs. They can unlock the full potential of organ likes eyes, brains, limbs with the help of Spirit Qi whereas the Essence cultivators need Star Qi to unlock the potential of their Dantian and Meridian. The Physique cultivation helps unlock the bloodline power which results in an exponential increase in power. But everything comes with a price. Of the three methods, Physique cultivation is the most difficult one. It is only suitable for the rich or lucky because it needs a lot of herbs or naturally found treasures. But a full fledge Physique cultivator can strike fear in those other two methods.


    Coming to the Soul cultivation is for the brave and courageous. A weak-willed person can never become a Soul cultivator. That''s why the soul cultivators are rarely seen. But a full-fledged Soul cultivator can change the nature of the material like turning a rock into gold. The methods of cultivation are kept as a secret, and most of the people don''t know how to step into Soul cultivation.


    Evelyn was secretly surprised because she never heard of such things. If this were common knowledge, then everyone would flock to search for this kind of trees. She looked at Alex strangely because he was acting a bit differently from the moment he woke up from the coma. It''s like he became a different person.


    Alex looked at her and knew what she was thinking. He said, "Evelyn rather looking at me like that you could use this opportunity to become a Physique cultivator."


    Evelyn was worrying about her lack of dantian and her future without cultivation. But now this opportunity came like a stroke of luck. In the cultivation world, Physique cultivators are always seen as the top of the food chain. She can now see the light on her dark future.


    On the dark room, her face lit like a blub, but after a second it returned to normal gloomy face.


    Alex looked at her expression and asked, "What happened? Aren''t you supposed to happy since you could cultivate now?"


    "No! It''s not like that! You found this place, and I think you should use this place to become a Physique cultivator. With that, you should be able to cope with the future troubles from your family." she replied.


    Alex laughed at her reply, "Evelyn the Spirit Qi inside the space is enough for 100 people to breakthrough into the Refinement stage of Physique cultivation. You shouldn''t worry too much!" and replied.


    Evelyn gasped in shocked. Only after hearing from him, she gets to know the real worth of this place. And the other sentence shocked her more. Alex said that the tree could renew it''s lost Qi within a month. If this tree is known by any other, they would probably build a clan around this tree and flourish with a batch of Physique cultivators. But Alex knew that later stages of physique cultivation are way harder than ascending heavens and the tree couldn''t keep supplying enough. It''s probably enough for mass training Refinement stage warriors and anything beyond that is not possible without wealth.


    Hearing this Evenlyn sat down and started cultivating. Entering into Refinement stage was an easy process, but the task was hard. They have to use the purest form of Qi and circle it around your whole body. But that was the hardest part; they have to concentrate and make a full cycle over their body. Most of the people need hours to make a full circle, and the consecutive cycle leads to better results. So according to Alex, she would probably take around a full 48 hours to break into Refinement stage.


    While she was busy cultivating, he was gathering woods to partition his room. They were spending three days inside, and he thought of needing a personal space for himself and didn''t forget to hunt low tier beast for their food supply.


    After partitioning the room, he made a bed full of grasses tied together. He sat on the center and asked about the plan the Universe Spirit had for him.


    "Alex let me explain about the Physique cultivation since you know nothing about it!"


    *nod*


    "There are people in this world born with Special Physique gifted by the heavens. This kind of people doesn''t need herbs or treasures for them to cultivate their Physique. They can follow their specific method to cultivate and have an edge towards normal Physique cultivators. So having a special Physique is an advantage in your cultivation. But there is another method for you to attain a physique it is a self-induced Physique. You can attain a Special physique by artificial means, but the only downside is the pain going through the process. There are cases of people dying while undergoing the process." the universe spirit explained.


    Alex still felt skeptical about the Physique cultivation. He nodded and listened.


    "The reason I am explaining this is that I know a method from which you can attain a special Physique, but the pain from going through the process is far greater than other methods! So the choice is yours? Are you in or out?"


    Within a second he pitched in, "I''m in! Let''s do it!"


    "Are you sure? You can die from the process you know!" she replied.


    "No problem! If I back away from pain now, I believe I would never see my parents again! And I don''t want that to happen!" he replied.


    The Universe Spirit felt proud of his decision.


    "But before that let me explain further about this physique. There are two physiques you can choose from. The Blood devil Physique and the Night Moon Physique!" she said.


    "What''s the difference between the two?" he replied.


    "The Blood devil Physique can improve your power by absorbing the blood of your enemies. For example, it is suitable for general in a kingdom who can grow with every war through blood and massacre and this not even the main part, here your Physique can even help grow your severed limbs by absorbing a certain amount of blood, and you would never get tired if you''re slaughtering a mass of people."


    Alex got goosebumps when he heard her sentence. This physique is suitable for people who like to massacre. He never wanted to become something like that.


    "The next is Night moon physique, the owner of this Physique can cultivate while sleeping. So basically your physique can cultivate 24*7 and hence your speed of cultivation will be two times the normal genius cultivator. But this physique is mostly suitable for Assassins because they are more powerful during the night and their sense are upgraded a tier above your normal cultivation and your vision will be far more powerful in the dark." she explained.


    "And don''t worry about other people finding of your physique since these kinds of Physique are only known during the ancient times. They might assume it as a natural born physique!" she said.


    "So what if they found out that it is an Artificial Physique?" he asked back.


    "Are you stupid? If they found out that you have a method of acquiring a physique, everyone would probably hunt you down to the ends of the world! No one could stop their hands from stealing this method from you!" she replied in mocking voice.


    *Gulp*


    "So what is your choice? And I advise you to not look down on the Blood devil Physique of its nature because a cultivator''s path is filled with bloodshed and cruelty. In the ancient times, even gods would war over to attain this method." she said.


    Alex listened and was curious about whether the gods existed. But since this wasn''t the right time to ask he chose not to. He thought about her sentence and felt it was true. He remembered how the wife of his father betrayed him and nearly killed him while his other family just watched while doing nothing. He can see the cruelty of this world. He thought for a second and finally made his choice.


    After hearing his choice, she smiled and prepared the portion for him to drink. She just squeezes out the juice from the fruits and held it in mid-air.


    "Alex I will transfer the method for you to study. Familiarize it''s content so that you won''t make any mistakes during the process. If you do, then there is no way for you to survive. Keep that in mind!" she said and transferred the method straight into his mind.


    He took an hour for him to familiarize the whole content and signaled that he was ready.


    Suddenly the floating liquid flowed into his chest and drilled itself into his heart. With the sudden influence of pain, he fell unconscious on his bed.

 Blood Devil Physique or Night Moon Physique? (P2)

    Alex was sweating profusely on his self-made bed. He was having a dream in which two demons with the height of a sky scrapper fighting each other. One demon had two giant horns with blood red rune symbols on each horn and the other one had a pitch black eyes with lifeless grey colored body fighting with superior agility.


    No matter how much they battled, they couldn''t get an upper hand on each other. On the other side of the battle, a demon with mixed features of both demons was quietly sitting on a mountain with a worried expression filled its eyes.


    Alex was terrified by the fighting powers of both demons trying to kill each other. He felt lower than an ant or just a speck of dust in front of the two beings.


    Suddenly, the demon sitting on the mountain stopped looking at the two and turned its attention towards him.


    For the first time in his life, Alex felt this much fear. He felt like his whole secrets have been open before the demon and felt naked before the demon. After looking at him, the demon started laughing with its head up and its sound echoed across the whole world.


    His real body started convulsing in a strange manner while strange black colored smoke seeped out of his body. Soon the black smoke began to flood the entire cave. Evelyn who was busy practicing open her eyes with a terrified expression. Looking at the black smoke her primal instincts were screaming to escape from the cave. She steeled her heart and dashed towards Alex''s resting place.


    She was shocked to witness the scene before her. She has never experienced a thing like this. Below her, Alex body was pitch black which strangely convulsing into a weird pose. She couldn''t understand the scene before her, the seemingly terrifying black some is seeping out of his body. She doesn''t know whether it is a good thing or a bad thing. Ultimately, she chose to believe in Alex and sat beside him. But the black smoke started assaulting her senses made her hallucinate in fear, gritting her teeth she quickly escaped from the cave and reached the ground.


    The Universe Spirit was also in shock. She didn''t know why was this happening and couldn''t make her heads off this. She knew if anything happened to Alex, she would be stuck on this place forever. And she didn''t want that to happen. After a minute she noticed a black smoke seeping out from his body.


    She screeched in shock, "Whaaat???? Why is the dark energy seeping out of his body? This is not something a human should possess."


    According to her knowledge, Gods cultivate using divine energy whereas True Demons possess Dark energy. The demons usually refer the dark energy as Eternal essence which is present abundant than divinity. As proud beings, the demons always believed Eternal essence is the greater power and hence as their users they believed themselves as the true rulers of the heavens. Whereas the Gods denied it and portrayed themselves as the true rulers and hence the bad blood between them.


    As a Universe Spirit, she knew neither both sides can be differentiated as Good or Bad. Both sides have differences and can be evil or kind on the same side.


    But the thing happening in front of her should be impossible. How could a mere mortal wield or come in touch with the power of Immortal beings? He should''ve turned into dust the moment he comes in touch but, he strangely quiet.


    Alex was undergoing cruel torture where he felt his soul getting ripped out and joint together endlessly. When he felt like the torture was over, another round of torture starts where he felt his soul getting dipped into magma like a chicken nugget dipped into tomato sauce. Just like that Alex went through a series of torture again and again. What he felt was an eternity but really only a day was passed outside whereas the Universe spirit was obvious to his sufferings.


    At the end of the night, the black smoke got sucked into his body clearing the cave. Evelyn came again to check but he was still in his weird pose, so she chooses to not disturb him. She sat down and started to cultivate her physique to the refinement stage.


    As three days passed, Evelyn finally attained Early Refinement stage. Feeling the brimming energy coursing through her veins, she was ecstatic. She felt itchy after the breakthrough, with a little scratch her skin started to peel off like a snake shedding its skin. Behind those peeled dead cells was beautiful jade-like skin with a healthy glow showing she wasn''t an ordinary mortal.


    To her surprise, she could feel her dantian started to repair itself. Even though the feeling was minute, she could still feel changes happening inside. She assumed her dantain might totally repair itself in a year or two. Here she wasn''t wrong, the good thing with Physique cultivators is that they have a terrifying self-healing ability. With the essence surrounding them, they can boost their healing ability into many folds. The terrifying healing ability is the one thing which makes Physique cultivators into one hell of an opponent during a fight on the same level. The advantage here is obvious, the Essence cultivator would be still bleeding whereas the Physique cultivator would have already healed his wound.


    She was satisfied with her achievement. She should''ve broken through yesterday but she wasted much time worrying about Alex. She still found him doing his weird pose, she hated him for not telling what he was doing and left her in the dark. But looking at his handsome face, she felt she owed him too much.


    As the days passed by, Alex was still in his weird pose not showing any movement. Evelyn was getting worried as the days passed by, but the only things stopped her waking him up was that he still in his optimal condition as day. He didn''t look pale as a guy who hasn''t eaten for more than 20 days but it was the opposite, his skin was getting healthier and had a metallic luster to it expect for its pitch black color. She remembered how he got himself full of white liquid, so she thought it was some kind of medicine and he was undergoing some refinement process.


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    Unlike them having a peaceful life, Laura was starting to getting crazy. It is close to a month and still, she hasn''t found them. Every time she follows a footprint, it magically disappears near a humungous tree. She was fed up, just when she thought of quitting she heard a sound of demonic beast screeching wildly. It sounded like a fight was going on between a cultivator and a demonic beast.


    Evelyn was getting a hang of her new found power. She felt her power higher than the 9th stage of the Star Essence layer. She was confident enough to not lose to an early Star Qi conversion expert.


    On the other side, Laura was gobsmacked by the scene in front of her. Evelyn who was supposed to be in Star essence layer was fighting with a strength comparable to early Star Qi conversion expert. And that wasn''t the reason she was shocked for, in front of her Evelyn was fighting with pure physical power. She could sense that Evelyn''s dantian is broken so that means she is a Physique cultivator.


    Evelyn had an excited face and that was thing pissed laura off. She was here all day searching for her and all sweaty and lack of bath but to her opposite, Evelyn had a happy face and seeing the cleanliness of her body, it looked like they are having a vacation instead of being on the run. Laura searched her surroundings whether Alex was present but to her dismay, he was nowhere to be found.


    The fight between a woman and demonic beast was sending minute shockwaves to the entire area. The disturbance might attract a hell of a demonic to this place whereas the woman was quite obvious to the incoming threat. Laura facepalmed herself doubting how she survived close to a month in this place.


    She jumped off her hiding spot, scaring both woman and the demonic beast. She waved her finger and sending an air bullet through the skull of the demonic beast.


    *thud*


    The demonic beast fell lifeless with blood oozing out from its skull.


    "You! Who are you?" Evelyn was panicking looking at the woman who seemed like a beggar who hadn''t had any bath for more than a month. And the power she displayed wasn''t short of her being the top power of this kingdom.


    "Who am I is not important now! You''re fighting has caused a major disturbance in this area and with a minute a hell load of demonic beasts would be flocking here. Are you sure you want to stay here?" Laura replied.


    "What?" Evelyn was shocked and embarrassed. She was totally immersed in enjoying her new found powers and careless of it attracting other beasts to this area.


    "Follow me," said Laura as she took Evelyn to her hiding place.


    Evelyn wanted to ask about her identity but she was shut off by Laura and asked to keep her silence. Soon a numerous amount of demonic beasts arrived at the place and started sniffing the dead demonic beast while some beast fought each other and other sniffing to search for the assailant who escaped from this place. But Laura has already masked the smell leaving now way for the beast to find them.


    Evelyn gasped in shock at the intelligence of those demonic beasts. She doubted whether she would''ve walked out alive without the help of a seeming beggar woman.


    A demonic wolf sniffed on the ground for a minute and got irritated since it couldn''t sense the presence or smell of the enemy. It let a loud howl and the other demonic would stand straight as they got an order and ran off in every direction. The seemingly intelligent wolf looked around for a bit and took off.


    *sigh*


    "I don''t whether it was a coincidence or your bad luck to attract a Demonic king! Still, I think it is strange for a demonic king to visit for such small reasons. Did you guys steal its pup or did anything to offend it?" Laura questioned Evelyn with a shocked expression.


    "No! I don''t remember doing anything like that!" Evelyn replied. Whereas the person responsible for the demonic king to exit it cave was still in his weird pose obvious to his surroundings.


    Evelyn has heard about the demonic king through her father. She remembered her father mentioning a powerful demonic beast staying inside the dark demon forest. The beast was supposedly powerful enough to go toe to toe with the king.


    She gave a deep bow to Laura for saving her life from the demonic king.


    "It''s okay! So tell me where is that brat hiding? His life might in danger with the demonic beasts searching the whole forest." Laura said.


    Evelyn''s gratitude was replaced with vigilance when she mentioned about Alex.


    She quickly distanced herself from Laura, "Who are you? Did you get sent here by that evil demoness? Just so you know I never going to tell his location even if it kills me!"


    "I think you have mistaken me! That bitch is already dead with the hands of her husband. And now he sent me to find his lost son and I have been living a life worse than beggars just so to find you!" Laura felt her blood boiling as soon she started to explain why she was here.


    Evelyn stared at her blankly not knowing how to react. Her mind was in disarray. The City Lord''s first wife was dead? Her silence was soon broken by Laura.


    "You! Answer me? If you don''t want him to die in this jungle then tell me where he is now?" Laura asked again.


    Evelyn contemplated for a bit but accepted right after Laura explained who she was. The mysterious existence of the city lord''s mansion was here in front of her.


    Soon, she took Laura to their hiding place. On the way, they got surrounding a quite a few times by the demonic beasts but they were silently taken care by Laura.


    When they reached the place, Laura again felt her blood pressure increasing. Isn''t this the place she visited numerous time and left without fruition.

 chapter 7: Venomous plan!

    Laura was shocked by the scene in front of her. All those days she was stupid enough to not notice this gap leading straight to a small cave house. Gritting her teeth, she quietly followed Evelyn inside and found a hole dug leading to the underground.


    Only after stepping inside the tree she came to realize the horrifying truth. The thing in front of her is the legendary Hollow Spirit tree which she once heard while eavesdropped on one of the nobles of her kingdom. This kind of tree is very rare and totally identical to commonly found redwood trees and hence making very hard to distinguish between them. Only the superpowers of a Mid-tier kingdom have access to such resources but they strictly maintained by the Royal families.


    Laura thought Evelyn probably found this tree by a coincidence and her breakthrough made total sense. But if the existence of this tree is slightly revealed it may cause a war between the surrounding kingdoms to occupy this place. And the first one to suffer will be their kingdom. If the Low tier kingdoms wage a war then they might have a chance to defend thanks to its natural barriers surrounding the kingdom, but if Mid-tier kingdoms choose to interfere then it will be a lost cause. Laura was even tempted to kill Evelyn to protect the secret of this place.


    Laura jumped inside with an excited face to be the third to witness the legendary Hollow Spirit tree. Despite being an underground cave the air here was crisp and free without any impurities. Laura was obvious to the shock waiting for her.


    Laura was stupefied by the scene of Alex laying motionless in a weird pose with pitch black skin. She started at Evelyn for an answer but Evelyn shook her head and explained what happened.


    Laura sighed not knowing what to do in the current situation. She cannot afford to waste time since the demonic king beast was on the move.


    "Okay, Let''s take him to the City Lords mansion first! After that, we can discuss his condition." Laura suggested after contemplating for a bit to Evelyn.


    She nodded and accepted her proposal.


    When her hands touch him-- a shockwave blasted her to the other side of the wall. Shocked by the new problem Laura got up from the debris and again contemplated for a bit. First, the tree and now the kid, problem after problem kept popping up for her.


    She made a choice and asked Evelyn to help her carry Alex via the grass bed he was sleeping on. Like carrying a patient on the ambulance, they used the bed as a strecher and carried Alex by gripping on both ends of the grass bed.


    The Universe Spirit wanted to interfere but since it didn''t want to reveal its presence to the outside world in fear of finding out by the Universe Spirit of this universe, it remained silent. Also since the universe spirit couldn''t understand what''s happening to him-- it let the fate take its path. Otherwise, who knows when will he wake up, it may be weeks, months, year or even a decade. She didn''t find it safe leaving him alone in the Dark demon forest since the Demonic King has sensed the terrifying pressure released from his body. It would probably think of him as a threat and want to remove the threat from its territory as soon as possible.


    Soon they reached the City Lord''s Mansion.


    "Laura! Where is he? Is he fine? Why did you take 20 days to find him?" Alex''s father sent a barrage of questions towards Laura. He was so worried to notice Evelyn who was right behind her.


    Laura kept her silence-- she didn''t know how to explain the situation.


    "Follow me!" she brought him to the nicely lit spacious bedroom where Alex was placed on the center of the bed with his grass bed on top.


    He was still in his awkward pose.


    James Reforest froze at the spot.


    He caught Laura''s shoulders and started shaking her in a violent manner, "What happened to him? Why does he look like burnt wood?"


    Viens started popping out from Laura''s head. She felt her shoulders crushed from the pressure off her husband''s hands.


    Evelyn noticing the situation, stood out and explained what happened to him. James who listened to her explanation felt something fishy about it, but using his spirit vision he found she was telling the truth. He was shocked to hear such treasure exist near his territory. But it wasn''t important now, he was worried since he was clueless about his son''s situation.


    "Yes! What Evelyn said was true? If you don''t believe her try touching Alex''s skin you will understand his situation." Laura said with an indifferent expression and flashed a sly smile when he wasn''t looking.


    Evelyn was surprised by Laura behaviour but before she could warn him, he touched Alex''s wrist to check his pulse. But little did he know that he would get shot out from the mansion by breaking the walls and end up into the servants quarters.


    James woke up to find himself in a pile of debris and dust. The servants scrambled away as they were escaping for their lives. Thankfully no one noticed his face otherwise he didn''t know how he would hold his head high knowing that he got trashed by someone in his own mansion.


    He silently escaped before the guards can reach this place. Laura felt satisfied after seeing James flung out of the building. Evelyn didn''t know the relation between these two were this close.


    James walked towards them and ignored Laura as he planned to punish her in the bed tonight. James didn''t know what''s happening to Alex so he couldn''t ask Alchemist for help since it got to do with the secret of the hollow Spirit tree also. It would be more problematic if he asked for external help, so he chose to wait for a month. If he still won''t wake up, then he would have no choice but to contact Alex''s mother and face her wrath.


    Thankfully next morning Alex''s body had some changes. His skin changed into his normal color and regained some blush to his face.


    And at the same night, the news of Alex returning to the mansion was also spread to the whole city. His news of bedridden due to the vicious attack of the 1st wife was deliberately spread to stop any rumors about him.


    **********************


    Inside the servants quarters,


    "Ruth! Why are you here? Didn''t you know that your father was killed because he betrayed the 9th young master Alex with the 1st wife of City Lord? If anyone finds out your identity, you would also follow him to the afterlife." a young servant in his twenties warned a young lady.


    Even after hearing his warnings, her eyes flashed with an evil glint. Her face revealed her eagerness to achieve vengeance. She was the only daughter of the butler who worked under the 1st wife of the city lord. Years ago, she was sent far away by her father to work under a large merchant house in the capital. She got the news of her father''s death 10 days ago. She was shocked to find out her only living family member has died under the hands of the man he served.


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    She loved her father very much hence her desire for revenge made her quit her job and return to the Redforest city. Most of the people here don''t recognize her very much except for the guy in front of her. They were childhood friends.


    "Ruth! I''m sorry! I can''t help you! If the city lord finds about it, surely my head will roll!" he refused Ruth''s request.


    Ruth hugged him and started crying.


    The servant was surprised by the sudden development. Even though they met after a long time, he still had feelings for her. Now she returned as a mature lady with voluptuous front and luscious back which would stir any man''s heart, he couldn''t control himself. Her sweet fragrance starting to have an effect on him.


    Ruth sensing the reaction from him silently unhooked her robe from the back and slid her clothes to the floor.


    As a virgin, the servant felt his blood rushing to his head. Seeing her voluptuous bosoms so close to him, made him bleed his nose.


    She took the servants hands and started rubbing on her bosoms. Feeling the erection of her nipple and softness of her bosoms, his hands got off his control. Her madly started to grope her bosoms and buried his face to feel the softness of her buns. He kissed her passionately while hands playing down between her legs and chest.


    Blinded by lust, she took him to his bedroom and took his virginity. Her luscious body made him took three rounds until he got satisfied.


    Ruth slept comfortably on his chest and said, "I know you fear for your life but I promise you no one will ever find out." He was still unsatisfied with doing something which also puts his life on the line.


    Before he can reject, she put her finger on his lips and took out an object from her purse.


    "Do you know what this is?" she asked with a ruthless expression on her face.


    He looks at a vial of blue colored liquid and shook his head denying.


    "This is venom from the nine stripped python! The corrosiveness of this poison can instill fear on even peak experts of this country. Just by coming in contact with this poison can corrode your skin in minutes till you turn into a pile of ash. I used my contacts from the capital and bought this venom for a huge price." she said.


    He still had a look of unwillingness on his face. She quietly explained to him her plan she about to perform tomorrow.


    She asked him to take a sick leave tomorrow and wait for her at the border of the city. She will act as his replacement and enter the main quarters of the city lord''s mansion. She planned to throw the corrosive venom at the sick Alex and killing him at the spot. She wanted the City Lord to feel the pain of losing a family member close to him since she found out the city lord has killed his 1st wife for the sake of his son.


    "Before even they can notice, we would have left the city and journey towards a Mid-tier kingdom. Even if the city lord comes into action, he cannot find a trace of our disappearance. There we can start a family, have kids and live a happy life!" she said.


    He thought for a while and accepted.


    A smile blossomed on her and started passionately kissing on his lips. Actually, she didn''t have a plan to leave the kingdom or start a life with him. She actually planned to make him a scapegoat for the death of the 9th young master and take a safer way out. That''s why she even used her body to seduce him.


    The servant asked for sick leave with the head butler and recommended Ruth to fill the gap. He introduced her as his girlfriend. Ruth got the job without any problem.


    Before leaving, he marked a map to the 9th young master''s room. She took the cleaning chores of the 2nd floor of the mansion. Without making anyone suspicious she entered the room and found Alex sleeping on the bed. She made sure anyone walking towards the room.


    Luckily for her, Evelyn who volunteered to look after Alex took some time off to take a bath.


    Again making sure nobody was coming, she took the vail containing the nine stipped python''s venom and started spraying all over his body.


    *Sizzle* *Sizzle*


    The venom started working. With a sizzle the cloth on his body started corroding-- revealing his well-built body.


    But to her surprise, when the venom touched his skin it slid off like a water drop on a tile floor. There wasn''t a mark of single scratch or corrosion on his skin. The slid off venom then corroded the parts of the bed and collapsed with a loud thud.


    Ruth was staring at Alex like he was a monster. She still can''t believe her plan has failed. The amount of sacrifice she made to take her vengence was too much. She never thought the seeming innocent Alex was a monster hiding in human skin.


    The Universe spirit who was watching the scene was having a proud face. She looked like the achievement was all because of her. She doesn''t know what happened to his body but she was aware of the changes happening inside his body. Of all her knowledge she never witnesses such changes in a human body like this ever. It''s like he''s shedding his mortal skin and turning into a real dragon.


    Looking at the disturbance created from the collapsed bed, she panicked and knew her life was over. Now no matter how she try to escape, she will ultimately fail. So she steeled her heart and convinced herself to take his life before taking hers.


    She took the knife which she brought in case of an emergency.


    Now it was the Universe Spirit''s turn to panic. No matter how hard his skin was, it still couldn''t withstand a full force of a peak Star essence layer expert with a sharp weapon.


    She was in a dilemma whether to use her powers to help him. If she did that she will fully expose herself to the Spirit of this Universe otherwise he will die. She watched the knife nearing his throat in slow motion and still haven''t made a choice.


    She gritted her teeth and choose to gamble her choice and interfere.


    But before she could act, the knife nearing Alex''s throat stopped in the mid-air.


    Ruth felt her whole body froze in the air. She felt her body wasn''t in her control anymore.


    Before she can fully understand the situation, her body started to disintegrate into ash and blown with the flow of wind just like the Climax from the movie Avengers Infinity war. Even her weapon disappeared into air leaving no proof of her existence.


    A crack appeared on the space inside the bedroom forming a void and a little girl seeming the age of 6 or 7 walked out from the void.


    "I think you have hidden enough ja and now its time for you to come out nano ja!" the little girl who walked from the void spoke in an arrogant tone.

 Exposed?

    The Universe Spirit looked at the cute little girl who walked out from the void. She had brown eyes, thick eyebrows wearing green clothes matching the color of her hair and radiating the aura of diety accentuated her cuteness to the next level.


    Inside his soul, the Universe spirit was in a dilemma, she was choosing whether to stay hidden or show herself. She was afraid because she can be used as a nourishment for the other universe spirit and help them mature at a faster rate with the addition of never-ending knowledge to savor. Most of the Universe Spirit wouldn''t be willing to let go of an opportunity like this. She believed her real self also wouldn''t be merciful at an opportunity like this.


    But ultimately, she chose to believe in herself and was sure her presence was hidden well enough. And there was a chance the other side was testing her existence. Hence she chose to keep herself silent. If it was a newborn universe spirit, it might have fallen for this simple trick but she was a Mature Universe Spirit seen many Eras where Gods like Zeus rule and fall on the earth, she wouldn''t be overwhelmed even by the presence of a complete Universe Spirit.


    As seconds passed, the arrogant look in her face cramped and then turned to slight panic. Surely, It wasn''t gone unnoticed to her eyes.


    She tried again.


    "I know you''re there! Why don''t you show yourself? Do you really think you can fool me?" she spoke again but without her arrogant tone.


    Still, there wasn''t any response.


    "I got fooled!" She facepalmed herself with embarrassment.


    "How could a mighty Universe spirit like me hide in front of others? And most possibly how could they bear to tear their Spirit apart and attach to a mortal without knowing the actual secrets behind this guy? Looks like believing that jerk was a mistake! Next time I will show him how the real might of a Universe spirit looks like! Humph!" she thought out loud.


    The Loli looked at Alex and said, "Don''t die brat! If you die, even I can''t save you! Your reincarnation here already offended the heavens by breaking its law, it will not give you another chance! Unless you become an Immortal and transform your soul into Immortal spirit, you cannot enter the Six Paths of Reincarnation in any Universe." She said and returned to the void.


    *Sigh*


    The Universe Spirit let a sigh of relief. Luckily her choice was correct. But her peace didn''t last for a minute.


    Again a small void opened and her tiny head popped out and said, "Haha...! Did you really think I was gone? I was just playing with you. Now come on out!" unexpectedly she was again testing her luck.


    But to her dismay, there wasn''t any reply. She gritted her teeth and left.


    The Universe Spirit had her mouth open, in her life she never met an immature Universe Spirit like her. Right now she can''t test the level of power the little girl has otherwise it will surely alert the little girl. Looking at the little girl, she doubted whether it was a new Born universe spirit.


    Even though she can''t be called as a true Universe Spirit now but her maturity level was way higher than the girl she met and that she was sure of.


    The Universe spirit contemplated looking at the still motionless Alex and the woman who tried to murder Alex. And finally came to a decision. She chose to gamble and reveal herself to the cute little loli. Since she can''t make a sense of what''s going on with Alex and there''s a certain percentage of a chance the loli wasn''t corrupted by greed, hence made a choice to rely on her help. And Importantly, she heard the words about not knowing the secrets of Alex which piqued her interest.


    *Bam*


    The tightly shut door was slammed open by Evelyn with James and Luara following behind.


    They looked at the collapsed bed with signs of corrosion at the wood and the floor. But surprisingly, Alex was safe and breathing at a stable rate.


    Laura went near Alex and found corroded pieces of cloth. She reached her hands to pick up the cloth but stopped after smelling a familiar pungent smell.


    "This..! This smell is from the venom of Nine Stripped python! From the looks of it, someone sprayed it on top of him intending to assassinate him." Laura said after checking his surroundings.


    Neither Evelyn and James were ignorant enough to not know what the Nine Stripped Python venom was. Evelyn and Laura were amazed by how Alex came unscathed under an attack of the most powerful venom on the kingdom.


    Where James was furious since someone has dared to assassinate his own son under his own roof. If this news reaches outside he will become the laughing stock of the noble families that oppose him. He wasn''t surprised at how Alex remained unscathed even in his coma-like state from assassination since he knew where his mother comes from. He looked at Evelyn and didn''t say anything. It was obvious that she was out for a bath.


    His furious shout echoed the whole mansion. He immediately orders his guards to lock down the whole mansion and perform a full investigation on the attempted assassination. Within a half an hour they rounded off Ruth as the anomaly who was the daughter of deceased Butler came in disguise and last seen on the same floor as Alex.


    "Lord, we have caught the servant who recommended Ruth to replace him at his absence." the guard stood straight and said.


    "Good! Now squeeze everything from him! I want to know everything in 15 minutes." James replied.


    The Guard bowed and returned after 10 minutes with a paper full of his confession regarding the assassination attempt on Alex. The confession correctly matched what happened at the scene.


    He tore the paper into pieces and said, "Kill him and find that girl named Ruth! I will kill her with my own hands!"


    Hearing his order, the captain of the guards assembled the soldiers and marched in search of the culprit Ruth.


    James had already moved Alex bed inside his room. His room was big enough to occupy 10 beds, so having him inside wasn''t cramped at all. Since Laura was staying with him, she can protect him in his absence. She wasn''t a social person and mostly prefer cultivating inside her room in peace, so it wasn''t a problem for her to look after him. The only thing she''s going to do is kick out anyone enters her room and she''s going to do that either way including the other concubines who are eager to get laid.


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    *Knock* *Knock*


    Evelyn stood outside the room and knocked on the door. She heard from the butler that the City Lord has left the mansion for a political meeting and came to check up on Alex.


    "Laura! It''s me Evelyn!" shouted Evelyn.


    "Come inside!" Laura replied after knowing its Evelyn.


    Evelyn came inside and apologized to Laura. "I''m sorry! Because of my carelessness, I brought harm to Alex."


    "You don''t have to apologize, it''s not your mistake! You only volunteered to look after him in case of health issues. No one suspected an assassination attempt and its partially my mistake too. And we couldn''t expect you to look after him 24*7." Laura replied.


    Evelyn smiled and replied, "Thank you, Laura!"


    Laura smiled in return and said, "More Importantly, he wasn''t injured and that what matters most!"


    "Yeah! You''re right! Looking at his face feels that he could overcome all difficulties every time!" Evelyn replied.


    Laura smiled and said, "Hmmm... That''s a big thing to say! Looks like you have some feeling for him."


    Evelyn panicked and replied, "No.. No... It''s not like that! I just look at him like a little brother! Nothing more!"


    "Little brother! You aren''t forgetting that you are a concubine to the City Lord, are you?" Laura replied.


    Evelyn looked down with a frown and said nothing. Laura looking at her expression understood most of her feelings.


    Laura sighed and replied, "Don''t look like that! I can guess what you''re thinking. When the City Lord comes home I will speak with him regarding your marriage! Is that Ok!"


    Evelyn was surprised by her reply, "What? I.... " she didn''t know what to say.


    "It''s okay! I know you don''t have any interest in this marriage! Like who would in your state? And you don''t have to worry too much about City Lord. He isn''t that bad. If it wasn''t for the king, he wouldn''t have accepted you." she assured Evelyn.


    "Rest assured! I will talk to him and make him give your freedom," she replied again.


    Evelyn still looked down with a gratified face. She also remembered the City Lord promised her to write a letter about the release of her father to the king as a way of repaying her. She felt like her life turned into heaven from hell.


    She turned and looked at Alex as it was directly or indirectly due to Alex. The more she looked, the more she liked him. Teardrops fell from her eyes. She knew it wasn''t a feeling like a man, rather a feeling of a family member. She promised herself that from on now, she will become his big sister and show him how family love feels. She remembers his clear eyes yearning for familiar love when the first time she entered the mansion. Even though now his eyes don''t show that feelings, she firmly believes inside him always yearns for love and care.


    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    The city lord who was supposed to go out for a political matter reached the outskirts of the Dark Demon forest. After hearing from Laura, he was yearning to witness the legendary Hollow Spirit tree.


    If the existence of the tree is confirmed then, the growth of his family cannot be stopped. Even the problem of his eldest son not being talented in cultivation can also be solved.


    If he pushed him hard at Physique cultivation, then he can retire and leave the city in his hands without worry and journey in search of his wife (Alex''s mom).


    Her face was as cold as ice and her straight nose rested high on her clear, pale face. Her white, jade-like skin made her look like a deity from heaven. He some times doubted why someone beautiful like her chose him. He was way out of her league in power or background but heavens made their paths cross. He knew at first she didn''t have any feelings for him but as time passed, he knew she developed some feelings for him-- even though she never showed outside.


    He took out the map drawn by Laura before his journey. The path was full of ups and downs with roots growing up to the height of the knee. But his steps were smooth as he was walking on a plain road. His every step pushed him more than 30 meters. Within a couple of hours, he reached the place marked on the map.


    Before him, was a couple of large trees, if it wasn''t for Laura''s intel he might have assumed the tree like a normal Redwood tree. He searched on the sides as per her information on the map. Soon he found a sizeable gap leading inside the tree. He jumped inside the hole without another thought.


    A wave of pure Spirit Qi hit face making him moan in pleasure. His body started to automatically absorb the Spirit Qi inside the cave. Originally he was a mid Refinement stage cultivator. And this matter wasn''t disclosed to anyone except the King. He reached the Mid stage with the help of the pills left by his wife. For the last 15 years he was traveling and cultivating, he finally reached the peak of Mid stage but the later stage was so difficult to break through. But now, the opportunity to a breakthrough was presented by his son.


    Both Alex and Evelyn only 2% of total spirit Qi inside the cave. The tree already replenished the lost Qi and hence was brimming with vitality.


    James sat down and greedily absorbed the Spirit Qi in full force.


    While he was greedily absorbing the Spirit Qi, the Demonic King Wolf already sniffed his existence inside its forest. Normally, an expert at his level won''t enter the forest easily because the Demonic wolf can easily sense powerful beings in its territory. James wasn''t proficient in hiding like Laura or he was weak like Alex or Evelyn. In the face of a treasure like the hollow spirit tree, he forgot the threat of the Demonic King of the forest.