The judge, bowing deeply before Nusi and the prince, appeared almost bent in half. Armad’s expression remained serious, indicating his resolve, despite the judge’s demeanor.
“Your Highness,” he began, “I advise against personally welcoming any ship, especially considering the unknown dangers they may pose.”
“It is beyond your station to greet an uninvited vessel. I seek permission to allow Sulaini to accompany me to investigate,” the judge continued.
“We will assess their intentions and, if friendly, offer hospitality before conducting further inquiries,” he added.
Armad’s actions revealed a conflict of two minds: his original, naive disposition from his upbringing and a burgeoning pride typical of aristocrats. Yet, in this instance, his pragmatic side prevailed as he decided to accompany Nusi to assess the situation, believing the ships held something of importance.
As the judge highlighted his error in judgment, Armad begrudgingly acknowledged the wisdom in his advice. Though he appeared outwardly furious, it was a facade to conceal any suspicion from the judge. Despite his ability to act as he pleased, he bit his lip in frustration as he retreated, while the judge called Sulaini and five other Deva to the shore.
Meanwhile, Nusi intended to reassure Armad, but he surprised her by holding her hand, dispelling his earlier annoyance. Unbeknownst to Nusi, Armad received a message from the System regarding the nutrients he extracted from her. Though she never anticipated harm from the prince, her proximity to him heightened her anxiety, causing her to pant and her heartbeat to race.
Suddenly, Nusi felt a searing heat as she struggled to free her hand from Armad’s grip. The intense heat passed from his hand to hers, followed by an overwhelming hunger. It felt as though she had gone millennia without a drop of water. Dizzy and lightheaded, she rested her head on the table, overcome by the sensation.
Armad, having replied to the System and given his approval, awaited its findings. It detected seventeen substances in Nusi’s body, three of which he could utilize at his current level of cultivation. These substances were familiar: energy and cultivation boosters, along with whitening pills. He instructed the System to craft them into pills.
Returning his focus to Nusi, he found her panting and resting her head on the table, appearing utterly depleted. Realizing her exhaustion, he hurried to the kitchen and instructed Musa to bring all the food reserved for him over the past few days.
Upon returning with the food, Musa was surprised to find Nusi in such a state. Suppressing his thoughts, he placed the dishes on the table, unsettled by the shift in their dynamics. Nusi, who once shared this duty with him, now seemed to surpass him in status.
If not, why would she be found alone with the prince? Musa realized he would soon be working for her, just as he did for Armad. As a human, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment. He believed he deserved a promotion above her, considering he started the job before her and was the one who initially invited her. However, he acknowledged that even without formal promotion, the prince ensured his welfare, leaving him with no reason to complain.
As Musa served the food, Nusi wasted no time in devouring it. Armad observed with amusement, reminiscing about his past habits of eating with abandon. His only solace was the lack of an audience during his meals, except for Nusi now. Her uninhibited eating made him feel more at ease and unashamed.
Soon, any thoughts of manners were forgotten as Armad’s hunger intensified. He eagerly grabbed a large bowl and dug in, quickly depleting the table of its offerings. Musa was summoned to bring more food as they continued to eat voraciously, pausing only briefly to let their stomachs settle before indulging anew.
Nusi couldn’t help but wonder where all the food was disappearing, but her ravenous appetite took precedence over seeking an explanation.
That day, their feast extended until midday, finally ceasing when the food supply depleted. Armad retrieved half a demon lion and a demon fox from his bag, which he had brought along. They retreated to an empty corridor behind his rooms, where Armad kindled a fire and proceeded to roast and devour the meat.
Their consumption was vast, enough to satisfy the entire palace, yet their stomachs remained surprisingly flat. Armad speculated that the System began digesting the food before it even reached their stomachs, extracting nutrients efficiently upon his approval.
Despite their insatiable appetites, they knew they couldn’t continue eating indefinitely without rest. Nonetheless, their mouths remained unweary, likely due to the System’s influence. Armad decided to wait for the pills to be made. Currently, the System was processing the first batch from Nusi, preventing him from assigning it additional tasks until completion.
They reclined and rested, and shortly thereafter, the System notified Armad that the pills were ready. It produced 91 cultivation boosters, 40 cultivation boosters, and 33 energy pills from Nusi’s substances. Armad now faced two options for their utilization.
Firstly, he could choose to withhold the pills from her, which he had no intention of doing. His priority was to expedite Nusi’s empowerment so she could represent him in his absence and protect him from any threats. However, before revealing the pills, he needed to clarify the situation to her and confirm if the oath she had taken still held. She also needed guidance on how to keep everything she saw and experienced confidential.
As he turned to address her, the System alerted him once more: “System has detected some nutrients from you. Do you want them to be made into pills by System?” Armad signaled his approval, allowing the System to proceed while he focused on the matter at hand.
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“There is something crucial I need to discuss with you,” he began. “There are certain enigmas surrounding the Wilberforce clan, as the son of Arion, I expect you to comprehend.”
“One such mystery is why you experienced such intense hunger when I held your hand earlier. I didn’t elaborate then, though I assume you have questions. Your discretion was wise; it’s not always prudent to question everything. A discerning individual should focus solely on what’s essential at the moment.”
He gestured, and three sets of pills materialized before them, potentially comprising every pill derived from Nusi’s body.
“These,” he indicated, pointing to one set, “could enhance your cultivation by at least a year. And these,” he continued, indicating another, “could bolster your strength. You may have heard how A’i and other civilians successfully routed bandits. This was their secret,” he explained.
“For civilians without cultivation,” Armad explained, “a cup of it dissolved in water can provide two hours of enhanced strength. For cultivators, it not only enhances strength but also reduces fatigue and accelerates cultivation rejuvenation. However, its effectiveness diminishes with higher levels of cultivation. The third set is for skin whitening, which also explains my changed appearance. You don’t have to use it unless you desire a similar look. Nevertheless, I recommend keeping it for emergencies, as it may have potential applications in curing skin afflictions like leprosy and its variants.”
Pausing to gauge Nusi’s reaction, Armad continued, satisfied by her attentive demeanor. “I advise you to start using the cultivation booster immediately. The skill that enabled its creation remains at my disposal, allowing us to produce additional pills whenever needed from the nutrients still present in your system. We can both benefit from these pills to enhance our cultivation.”
“There’s another pill for strengthening and toughening your body and skin, but we’ll address that later. It will significantly accelerate your cultivation progress.”
Armad’s tone turned serious as he emphasized the importance of secrecy. “Under no circumstances are you to divulge what I’ve told you to anyone. Not siblings, not parents, no one. Keep this knowledge strictly confidential, understood?”
Nusi nodded emphatically, her attention unwavering since Armad began his explanation.
She recalled that a skill for increasing someone’s cultivation was exceedingly rare, even in the world she had left behind. If she had succeeded in her quest back in the Fifth Lower World, she would have likely received such a gift from the great King Micro Abbas himself. This enhancement was granted through the king’s Contract skill, but very few were deemed worthy of it and had to earn it. Those close to the king and his family also reaped generous benefits from it. However, a civilian could never expect such cultivation bestowed upon them from Micro Nomada’s treasury.
Now, witnessing this skill from Armad, she understood the gravity of its secrecy. If it were to be exposed, not only the prince but also herself and anyone associated with them would be in grave danger.
Despite Armad’s emphasis on confidentiality, Nusi felt compelled to convey her awareness of the importance of keeping secrets. Moreover, as someone committed to assembling a special army to confront Ururu, whom she sensed was drawing near, she recognized the significance of these pills. Though her expression remained stoic, internally Nusi pondered whether this skill could be harnessed for an army and if it could also elevate her cultivation. Furthermore, she contemplated how it could aid the prince in forming an army to combat Ururu. Since she arrived in this timeframe, her primary focus has been devising strategies to defeat Ururu.
Acknowledging Armad’s internal struggles, she realized he faced adversaries even within his own family, perpetually plotting to undermine him.
If not for the presence of his father, Ikenga, his half-brother, would have likely conspired against him, plotting his demise. Nusi understood the importance of solidifying their position within the Wilberforce family and gathering allies before confronting Ururu. However, despite this strategic approach, her mind remained fixated on the looming threat of Ururu.
The newfound skill had significantly bolstered Nusi’s confidence, reinforcing her belief that her aspirations would eventually materialize. With deep reverence, she prostrated herself until her face almost touched the ground, pledging her allegiance to Armad once more.
Reflecting on her earlier suspicions about Armad’s intentions when he held her hand, Nusi now felt both annoyed and ashamed. She realized he had no ulterior motives; his actions were solely intended to activate his skill for her benefit. Despite the considerable cultivation required to utilize the skill, he generously provided her with nearly all the pills for her use. Although he could have also benefited, he chose not to.
This act of selfless assistance was a first for Nusi, who had never encountered someone offering help without clear personal gain. As a mere servant, she had nothing tangible to offer him in return. Moreover, she was certain that Armad was unaware of her origins from another time frame or her desire to aid him in combating Ururu. All she knew was that the prince was extending his help purely out of altruism.
She audibly sighed with gratitude and curtsied once more, her eyes brimming with appreciation. Armad’s assistance not only benefitted her siblings but now extended to her as well.
Taking a pill from the set, she placed it in her mouth. As she swallowed the cultivation booster, her entire body warmed, quickly intensifying to a prickling heat that felt like a thousand pins. She gritted her teeth, determined not to show weakness in Armad’s presence. The sensation persisted, growing hotter until she was compelled to bite her lip to stifle any screams, enduring the discomfort for half an hour.
Armad empathized with Nusi’s ordeal, having experienced it himself when he first experimented with the pills. As the heat subsided, Nusi’s cultivation began to surge. Contrary to Armad’s initial estimate of a six-month to one-year increase, her cultivation skyrocketed unexpectedly. Within seconds, it surpassed two years and continued to climb rapidly, reaching an astonishing seven and a half years before gradually slowing down. The acceleration eventually ceased, though her cultivation continued to increase at a slower pace, ultimately reaching ten years and one month.
Throughout the process, Armad patiently awaited her response, allowing her the time to meditate without interruption. When she finally reopened her eyes, they were both in awe. Even Armad sensed the profound rise in her cultivation, from approximately nineteen years to nearly thirty.
They exchanged incredulous glances, both waiting for the other to explain. Armad soon realized why the pills had a different effect on Nusi compared to himself.
Unlike Nusi, whose cultivation was relatively low, Armad’s cultivation was already advanced when he began taking the pills. Being in the second stage of Core formation cultivation nearing the final stage, the pills didn’t add many years to his lifespan. This disparity arose because the pills functioned similarly to energy pills, where the higher one’s cultivation, the slower their effects.
Observing the remaining pills scattered on the floor, Armad couldn’t help but smile at the realization.