24. Docile Rabbits II
When Clay opened his eyes, his mind was blank but upon remembering the enraged horned rabbits that intruded when he was refining pills, his heart raced as crawled towards wall.
Ignoring the drool on his face, his eyes were wide open as he perceived the slightest sign of threat.
He wanted to call for help but fearing that those horned rabbits are lurking and waiting for a chance to attack, he remained motionless on corner but for every second that passed, he realized that he is alone in the room.
With his mind gotten clearer, the silence became less eerie and after ten minutes, Clay dropped on one knee and almost wanted to cry and at that moment, he noticed dismembered rabbit skin covered in greenish blood scattered across the room. Even his cauldron is lying near the window like a tin can kicked on the side of the road.
Slowly, Clay moved towards the door without making a sound and at this point, he was reminded of his Godly Eyes.
Clay immediately activated his ability and scanned the house. Regardless if there is an obstacle blocking his view, his Godly sight can penetrate any walls and allows him to see the flow of Qi including souls.
In an instant, the images revealed on his magical sight changed and it was then he confirmed there is really no one in the house except him. In front of the house though, he saw traces of familiar Qi circulation.
For a moment, he felt relieved but seeing that there are still horned alive, Clay panicked again and this time, he rushed towards his room and locked himself into the closet near his bed.
Unaware, his mind was consumed by fear. Every thought is magnified he felt like there are gigantic predators waiting to gnaw his inside if he set a foot outside.
Like a mad man, his teeth trembled and unable to handle the intensity of mental pressure, he passed out.
After a few hours, Clay was woken up by a strange smell and when he tried to move his body, he realized he pissed himself while inside the closet. He did not hastily move out as he assessed his situation one more time.
Recalling what transpired and how is still unharmed even after passing out two times, he is beginning to ponder whether there really is a threat or not. Within the cramp space, he managed to move around with his Godly Eyes activated and unlike the image reflected on his eyes earlier, he can no longer see any traces of Qi circulation.
Clay endured his own smell but after a few minutes, he finally gained the courage to open the closet.
Slowly, he moved towards the door and held the knob.
“There’s no one around.”
“There’s no one around.”
Clay mumbled to himself the slowly opened the door. Unknowingly, his heart started to pound again so he clenched his teeth to compose himself.
As he approached the stairs, Clay saw trails of greenish blood and when he had a view of the living room, he saw three lifeless horned rabbits.
Clay stopped his tracks and activated his Godly Eyes to reconfirmed they really are dead.
“Please don’t move.”
Clay maintained a distance and approached the door and when he finally managed to step outside, he madly rushed towards the gate and did not look back. He only had one thing in mind which is to seek help from the guild.
Meanwhile, at least a kilometer away from Clay’s residence, a brawny man in his mid-thirties is peacefully drinking tea on a balcony of a simple restaurant.
The man’s name is Armaa and on a normal day, he looks like a random customer but he is actually one of Sar Aran men and the restaurant is operated by the guild. He still does not understand why a Peak Late Qi Condensation cultivator like him would be assigned a menial job when many of the low rank members can arguably do better.
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To him, it is ridiculously mundane that he has to spend a whole day waiting for kid to pass by and all that he needed to do is send a message via their short distance messaging Array. He still don’t know why he is needed for this task and would decline it if possible but that fact that it was approved by their Core Formation Elder, he can only obediently follow.
As someone who had already sent a few messages to the guild, he already has a general clue what time does Clay usually visits the office so this morning, he wanted to enjoy a casual sip of tea and bask on the sunlight when its mildly warm however, as he took a sip, he spotted his target from a distance but this time, it did not look normal.
Looking at Clay’s movements, he saw the same familiar image of an innocent villager fleeing from danger.
“Goodness!” Armaa cursed as he jumped from the balcony. He wanted to wait for proper instructions but his judgment is telling him it might be too late if does not take actions now.
With his body boosted with Qi, he sprinted and dashed through the empty road to intercept Clay.
“Young master, I’m a guard from Eagles Guild. Tell me what’s wrong.” Armaa released his aura and assessed the area for any pursuers.
“Thank the heavens. The horned rabbits have gone berserk!”
At the same time, far north from where Clay is busy struggling to overcome his fear, Sar Ula’n had just arrived on the outskirts Amkayan City, the thirteenth municipality of Bang-et Province.
As a Core Formation Expert, he usually is respected wherever he goes but in a place where Power Houses and Royal Military Forces have conglomerated, he looked like a normal cultivator. But thanks to the reputation of their guild, he still receives a level of recognition.
Shortly after arriving, he instructed the lowly deacon who came to receive him to present a bottle of pill to a high ranking Affairs Elder of Lanas Family. Normally, he would have to wait a month to gain proper audience but he is confident those pills will move even a Nascent expert.
“Please, follow me.”
Sar Ula’n smiled as a receptionist immediately came to invite him and after a few minutes, he was brought to an office where middle-aged man is seating on couch while sipping tea.
“Tea?”
“We’ll the skip the pleasantries and I hope this friend won’t take offense.” Sar Ula’n slightly bowed as he greeted with his hand and palm meeting at the center
“Amusing when nameless guilds thinks they have the upper hand. At least tell me who I’m dealing with?”
Sar Ula’n observed the man before him. Like him, he can tell this man is a Core Formation expert and is probably a patriarch candidate. Of all Lanas descendant he has met, this person exudes the strongest bloodline aura. Couple it with luxurious clothes and that cold calm composure, it looks like he is on the presence of a king.
“As you guessed, it is not me and unfortunately, we have no idea who this Alchemist is but regardless, to have the ability to concoct pills with no impurity using Earth Class ingredients is more than enough reason why I’m acting like pet.” Sar Ula’n emphasized on the ingredients used.
“And you expect me to behave like a pet as well?” The middle-aged man was calm but in his mind, he is suppressing his excitement. Having confirmed the quality of pills himself, even he will kneel and beg this Alchemist to concoct him pills. And the reason for this is that pills with superior quality directly affects one’s chance is breaking the barrier of major cultivation levels.
Normally, talented cultivators won’t even need pills to advance from Qi Condensation to Foundation Establishment but when breaking through to Core Formation or Nascent level, one will need a catalyst and relying on quantity will cause too much pill poison which is detrimental and at the same time lead to being crippled.
“We were planning on temporarily ceasing our operations to avoid further negotiations but on the same day, he sent a messenger and relayed he needed some Inscription materials, spatial material to be precise. I think our guy needs to forge a customized spatial ring.” Sar Ula’n didn’t show any reactions as he replied.
“If he is so great, why would you avoid him?”
“This Alchemist is currently residing on a property own by Elves and as to why he is hiding, I’m too old to be sniffing someone else’s affairs. And if you’re wondering if our guy is able to concoct higher tiers of pills, I am expecting six Foundation Establishment Breakthrough pill when I go back. I’ll send you three to make up with the inconvenience.” Sar Ula’n was planning on revealing his thoughts about the case of missing Alchemy apprentices but seeing that the man is about to agree, he changed his mind. He might as well have this Family deal with this mysterious Alchemist.
The middle-aged man placed his cup on the table then took out a spatial ring and wooden token then tossed it towards Sar Ula’n. Just like Sar Ula’n, he nor does his family has no option decline especially for from an Alchemist capable of concocting pills only heard from legends. Since he is being forced to give up one of their treasures, he may as well invest on having this mysterious Alchemist back him up in the future.
“At least relay that if he needed anything else, he can come to me, Lanas Da’am. I’ve included three sets of Tier III breakthrough pill ingredients and I only ask an invitation should he decide to auction them. If you have nothing else, please see yourself out.”
Sar Ula’n stored the items into his storage ring then respectfully bowed before turning to leave.
As a matter fact, he was planning on contacting an actual sect but a few months ago, their intelligence unit gathered information about Lanas Family having discovered a remnant of a Tier IV Beast called Molten Phoenix whose hairy heart is a key component in forging a brush dedicated for spatial item. And after investigating the mine where it was uncovered from, they found out it was recently owned by a bandit called Buaki Gang which he believed was exterminated due to this treasure. And this is what prompted him to visit. After all, the Lanas Family is technically not losing anything if they part with one of the brushes made from a stolen treasure.