Currently, Nusi’s cultivation far exceeded expectations. As she ingested the pills, her cultivation years surged rapidly, seemingly unstoppable. In no time, effortlessly, she surpassed a hundred cultivation years, bridging the gap between the Condensation level and Foundation establishment level.
For the common person, seeking cultivation through other means wasn’t easy; it was fraught with obstacles and challenges before even nearing a hundred cultivation years. Around 90% found themselves stuck at 99 cultivation years, unable to progress further due to various reasons, including lack of endurance or insufficient skills.
Some individuals harbored impurities in their veins, hindering them from reaching a hundred cultivation years. However, this wasn’t the case for Nusi, who scarcely noticed when she surpassed the 99th year or crossed the threshold of the 100th.
Soon, her cultivation soared to 200, 300, 800, and eventually 999, marking her arrival at another significant barrier, distinguishing foundation level establishment from Core formation level.
Each step between Foundation establishment and Condensation comprised around ten stages, with each stage in Foundation establishment differing by ten years from the next. Stage one ranged from 1 to 9 cultivation years, while stage two spanned from 10 to 19, continuing until the ninth stage, culminating at 100 to 900 cultivation years.
Upon reaching the 1000th cultivation year, one ascended to the Core formation level, characterized by ten stages. Unlike Foundation establishment, the intervals between the stages in Core formation were each a thousand years apart.
As one ascended higher, gaining cultivation became increasingly challenging. Nusi herself had become acutely aware of this barrier, wondering if she would ever surpass it. However, to her surprise, as she neared the end of her pills, her cultivation years exceeded 999, reaching the milestone of 1000 cultivation years.
With this achievement came a surge of uncanny strength coursing through her veins, gradually transforming into Negrinki, a potent energy. Despite its potency, it remained confined within her body, unable to manifest outwardly. Consuming the remaining pills further boosted her cultivation, albeit at a slower pace than before, as the ascent became more gradual.
Nusi marveled at how swiftly her cultivation had escalated from that of a minor cultivator, a mere servant, to such heights in such a brief period. This solidified her belief that the prince she had sought was indeed the one she should follow, as she was now confident in his ability to vanquish Ururu, who would soon appear.
As Nusi attempted to rise to salute him, she was suddenly overwhelmed by dizziness, threatening to throw her off balance. Armad swiftly intervened, supporting her before gently guiding her back into her chair.
Over the past few days, Nusi had been gradually absorbing cultivation, becoming semi-conscious since she began taking the pills. Immersed in a deep state of meditation, she was only partially aware of her surroundings. It was her fourth day, and Armad could do nothing but observe. The meat they had consumed earlier provided them with skin-like pills.
Having already used his pills, Armad noticed a fading of his skin’s fairness, although it was not as tough as it should have been. His features were now discernible at close range, unlike before when the brightness sometimes bothered him. He speculated that he could return to his normal hue if he hunted for a month. The heat signature from the pills no longer bothered him, indicating his growing acclimation to it.
Armad observed Nusi closely to see how her body would react to the pills. Unlike others, he could utilize the nutrients from her body, thanks to the System’s approval. By simply touching her, he could extract nutrients from her bloodstream, rendering her no liability. This set her apart from others who, when invited, would rely on him for pills without contributing anything to their production.
This dynamic only served to stagnate Armad’s cultivation while allowing others to steadily rise. However, with Nusi, their cultivation would advance hand in hand.
This is why Armad held her in high regard and chose to use only half of the skin toughness pills for himself, reserving the rest for her. He planned to provide her with the pills derived from her body—part of which she contributed while they ate together—along with half of his reserve. While his skin had already toughened by 30%, hers showed no enhancement yet, prompting his curiosity about its potential resilience upon ingestion.
Arranging the food and water he had prepared before her, she began to eat. Neither of them could be contained in dishes, trays, or even bowls. Bringing a pot to the table had become futile, as they preferred a cauldron capable of satisfying the hunger of a legion of men.
At that moment, Nusi abandoned her concerns about propriety, consumed by her intense hunger. She paid no heed to the fact that it was unbecoming for a young maiden to indulge in such gluttony in front of a gentleman—or anyone, for that matter. The hunger gnawing at her stomach prevented her from discerning the identity or age of the individual before her. She ate voraciously, even entertaining the notion of having a second mouth.
Armad paid little mind to her manner of eating, knowing well that he had behaved similarly in the past. Thus, he allowed her to dine as she pleased.
Soon, five cauldrons of food lay empty between them, and once again, the duo faced each other. Throughout their time together, not a single moment had passed without the System working on them. It had diligently converted the nutrients from both of them into pills, evident from the heaps scattered at their feet. They could continue meditating for a month if they wished to maintain their pace.
However, Armad knew such an extended meditation was not feasible, as he had guests awaiting his return. The judge had been standing in for him during his absence, and he couldn’t keep them waiting any longer. The four days he had already delayed were sufficient, and now he would have to leave Nusi alone to meet them.
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“Do you see this?” he asked, holding up a pill for her inspection. She gazed at him intently but remained silent. “It will enhance the toughness of your skin. And this,” he continued, picking up another pill, “will lighten your skin tone, just like mine. If it becomes too much for you, you can try the toughness pill again, and your skin will become darker and tougher.”
Nusi eagerly snatched the pills from him before he could finish explaining, grasping them with both hands. Armad smiled at her enthusiasm, pleased to see such zeal, which he hoped to instill in his men as well. However, as she prepared to consume the pills, he attempted to offer a word of caution.
“The pill is hot,” he warned her. “Hotter than the ones you took earlier. The cultivation booster may have dulled your senses temporarily, but this one will make you feel as if you’re being boiled alive. Are you sure you’re up for it?”
“I can handle it, Your Highness,” Nusi declared, tapping her chest confidently. “A little pain and heat are nothing to me.”
With determination, she swallowed the pills. However, she soon realized her mistake, for before she could finish expressing her resolve, an intense heat engulfed her. It felt like a live coal pressed against her skin, causing Nusi to cry out in agony as she collapsed, her body trembling with pain.
Armad sighed, shaking his head. Haste had proven to be a foolish choice. He had tried to warn her that the pain would be severe—he had suffered despite his higher cultivation—but Nusi had been too impatient to listen. Now, it might take her the entire day to recover once the pill had dissolved. The initial dose was always the most painful, and it was uncertain whether she would muster the courage to take another after this ordeal.
Nevertheless, he placed the remaining pills beside her, knowing she would find them when she regained consciousness. Finally, he left the courtyard and locked the door, posting guards, all Deva from among his men, to ensure no one entered or exited until his return.
He bathed, changed into fresh attire, and then set out to meet his guests. For the past four days, a delegation of about a hundred men had awaited the king’s arrival in the city. They had been informed that he was a son of Arion, and in the interim, they had conducted research on him.
However, the leader of the delegation, Alabuda, was growing increasingly impatient. Waiting for days without encountering the king had left him irritable. He found it disrespectful to be kept waiting for so long, especially considering the diplomatic and business nature of their mission.
Yet, returning home wasn’t a feasible option; it would entail a journey of at least two months, not to mention the uncertainty regarding their cargo’s fate. So, he remained reclined on a pillow, feet tucked beneath him on the soft carpet, while his attendant stood before him, sensing his restlessness.
“My lord,” the attendant began cautiously, “Our inquiries within the city uncovered rumors about the prince and a particular pill he possesses. If these rumors hold any truth, then it seems this pill is of immense value, unlike anything found in our homeland.”
“It is claimed to be capable of empowering the cultivation-less to rival cultivators and even lethally overpower them. If this is true, then I suggest we wait. There may be benefits to be gained from him,” the servant advised cautiously.
“For how long?” Alabuda asked, his tone unchanged as he remained focused elsewhere.
“My lord...” the servant hesitated, unsure of what to say. Eventually, he opted for silence, realizing the risk of saying the wrong thing.
Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. A courtier from the palace arrived, summoning them to meet with the prince. Alabuda wasted no time, rising to his feet and draping his cloak around himself. The awaited moment had arrived, and he exited with his servant, boarding a waiting carriage. They arrived swiftly at the palace, not far from their lodging.
However, it wasn’t the main palace where the prince resided, a detail that pricked at Alabuda’s sense of honor. He pondered whether this was a designated guest palace or if their status wasn’t esteemed enough to warrant entry to the true palace. Regardless, Alabuda resolved to suppress his irritation until he encountered the prince.
As they walked, they eventually reached the throne room. From a distance, Alabuda spotted a young man seated on the throne, with a table arranged before him. Two chairs were set opposite him, clearly meant for them, and the table was adorned with a variety of food awaiting their arrival.
Alabuda’s attention wasn’t on the food but rather on the young man seated before him. Unspoken, he couldn’t be older than seventeen, yet Alabuda sensed a peculiar aura of cultivation surrounding him. Despite reading his modest 7,000 cultivation years, there was an elusive quality about the prince that Alabuda couldn’t quite discern.
Realizing his prolonged stare, Alabuda quickly averted his gaze to avoid appearing rude; it was considered impolite to fixate on aristocrats in such a manner. With a polite smile, he approached the throne and bowed deeply. “Good day, Your Highness,” he greeted respectfully.
Armad reciprocated the smile and gestured for him to take a seat. Alabuda graciously accepted while Armad resumed his position on the throne. Despite his earlier complaints about the wait, Alabuda’s demeanor now exuded charm and diplomacy, characteristic of a seasoned merchant adept at masking his true emotions to achieve his goals.
“Now, what is your mission here?” Armad inquired once they were settled. “I ensured you were provided with proper rest, considering the long journey to our continent. Our guests can attest to the excellent treatment and accommodations we offer.”
Alabuda paused, considering Armad’s words before responding. “I appreciate your hospitality, Your Highness. We are indeed well-rested now, thanks to your arrangements.”
Alabuda nodded eagerly. “Certainly, Your Highness, we received the much-needed rest,” he assured. “Your men took excellent care of us, and we are thoroughly relaxed. Any necessity was promptly provided without any trouble.”
Armad nodded in agreement, his smile lopsided. He was well aware of the discontent among his guests, and aside from Nusi’s meditation, he had another motive for making them wait. Deliberately allowing them to investigate the fate of the wild people could potentially enhance their perception of his kingdom and himself.
Indeed, it was a strategic move to ensure that one’s adversaries or potential allies recognized one’s worth and honor. This would foster respect and cooperation when negotiations arose. This was his little secret, and now that they had finally met, Armad was confident they had already heard of the recent events, including his display of formidable cultivation.
With this knowledge, they would think twice before bringing forth any derogatory claims or mischief against their city.
“Your Highness,” the man began respectfully, “We have traded with this city before, primarily dealing in weapons and related items, which we exchanged for food. We rarely accept any other form of payment.”
“However, recent years have posed challenges due to food shortages, making it difficult for us to undertake the journey. Additionally, our proximity to the sea has rendered our land saline and infertile. Nevertheless, we possess excellent weapons that are not readily available here, which is why we have come.”
Pausing briefly, he continued, “Our weapons are currently aboard our ship, and if it isn’t too much trouble, we welcome you to come and select your desired items. However, please keep in mind that our preferred payment is food.”