Chapter 269: Reunion
Chapter 269: Reunion
Barrow Bakery.
It was an ordinary bakery, specializing in a few common types of bread that were frequently consumed by the locals.
The owner, Tess, was a woman in her fifties, plump, with a round face that always carried a hint of a smile.
"Ding-a-ling..."
The door, pushed open from the outside, collided with the hanging bell, producing a crisp and pleasant sound.
"Welcome!"
Tess paused her work and nodded at the customer, "How can I help you?"
The customer who entered had graying temples, wrinkles on his face, and it was evident that he was of old age. However, he lacked the air of despondency or the typical 'elderly smell' often associated with the elderly.
Instead, he seemed remarkably clean, almost like a teenager.
His attire was simple, without any flashy or decorative elements, but the material clearly indicated high quality.
His movements and gestures exuded an air of nobility.
Tess looked at him with a hint of confusion. Her bakery usually served regular customers, and it was rare to encounter someone like this.
"I'm Jenny's friend."
Karl glanced around the bakery and spoke in a soft voice, a barely noticeable tremor in his tone, "Is she here?"
A small business.
The sales were average, likely just enough to sustain a basic living for the family.
"Aunt Jenny?" Tess's face lit up with surprise, "You know Aunt Jenny? Her health isn't great, and she's resting in the backyard. I'll take you to her."
Saying this, Tess wiped the flour from her hands, slid open the wooden panel on the counter, and led Karl towards the backyard.
The backyard was, in fact, a cramped courtyard with faint light filtering down from above.
"..." Aunt Jenny opened her eyes, her gaze cloudy and vacant. Following Tess's guidance, she lifted her head to look at Karl.
For a fleeting moment, her eyes seemed to change, as if filled with confusion.
Or perhaps hesitation.
"Umm... Umm..."
"Jenny, it's me." Karl took a step closer, squatted next to the wooden chair, and carefully examined his old friend, "Your voice..."
"Aunt Jenny fell ill when she was younger, and since then, she hasn't been able to speak." Tess sighed, "For the past two years, her memory has been deteriorating, and sometimes she doesn't even recognize me."
"But she recognized you!"
The change in Jenny's expression was subtle, but to Tess, who was used to her, it was evident.
"Falling ill and losing her voice..." Karl's eyes held a complex emotion, "How could this have happened?"
Jenny's voice was incredibly unique, and it was this talent that allowed her to join the National Opera despite having no musical background.
Losing her voice meant losing everything.
This must have happened soon after she arrived in the Royal City, but she never mentioned it in her letters, only sharing happy news.
"My mother said someone did this to her." Tess spoke softly, "But I don't know who it was, after all, it happened decades ago, and Aunt Jenny never talks about it."
"Your mother?"
"My mother, Percy, and Aunt Jenny both came from the Barrow Opera House."
Karl nodded.
"Did Jenny teach you the art of baking?"
"Yes."
No wonder! The taste was so familiar.
Karl's expression was complex, as if fate had given him a sign, and he should have guessed it long ago.
"Since losing her voice, Aunt Jenny has never smiled again. Later, with the help of my parents, she opened this bakery."
Tess explained, "A few years ago, my parents passed away one after another, and my family encountered some issues. So, I came to help with the business and take care of Aunt Jenny."
"Hmm." Karl straightened up, "I'd like to take Jenny to stay with me."
"This..." Tess was taken aback. She hadn't thought that Karl had any ill intentions. After all, an elderly woman with dementia would be a burden to anyone, and even she sometimes complained about it.
"Not so good, huh?"
"I have a large place that can accommodate many people," Karl spoke up, "I'm looking for a kitchen steward, and you're welcome to come along if you're willing."
"Forgot to introduce myself."
"I'm Karl, a count, and I own an estate in the suburbs."
Time passed by unnoticed.
In the blink of an eye, three years had gone by.
Divine Realm Fragment.
"Done!"
Karl grunted, his eyes widening as they glowed with intense light, like a bottomless abyss.
Within his inner sea of consciousness, a complex and profound magical circuit took shape, rapidly devouring the stray stardust energy around it and transforming it into pure life force, which surged through his entire body.
Third Circle Spell—Life Source! With the nourishment of this life force, the Holy Demonic Transformation, which had reached its limit, regained vitality.
'This Holy Technique of Life Sharing is too dependent on support. No wonder the ancient gods could only cultivate a few. This is just the Silver Body; at this rate, the resources needed to achieve the Golden Body would be astronomical.'
6◇9◇Book◇Bar
'But as long as there are sufficient resources to supplement it, the realm of this Holy Technique can be improved at an astonishing speed, which is something other techniques can't match.'
"Ugh..."
Karl's eyes narrowed.
"It's time to begin!"
Over the past three years, he had not only practiced meditation techniques and constructed the Third Circle Life Source Spell, but he had also been testing the Soul Centipede's reactions.
The Soul Centipede, which was attached to his body, constantly sought his life.
Because of their life-sharing connection, both had gained a profound understanding of each other.
Karl was confident.
Even if the Green Family's expert came, they wouldn't know more about the Soul Centipede than he did.
And now,
it was time to deal with the problem!
Ten Thousand Buddha Temple—Vajra Seal!
He formed hand seals, and from the outside in, the power erupted within his own flesh, merging with the Soul Centipede.
"Bang!"
The Soul Centipede trembled violently.
Karl's face paled, a thread of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth, and his Life Source immediately replenished the lost energy.
"Sizzle..."
The Soul Centipede, with its Third Rank strength, also understood that this was a critical moment and began to struggle frantically.
Even in death,
it wanted to take its owner with it!
"You beast!"
Karl's eyes widened, and he roared, as dozens of tentacles sprouted from his back and transformed into hand seals, rushing towards him.
Ten Thousand Buddha Palm—Twelve Strikes! "Bang!"
"Bang! Bang!"
"..."
"Pffft!"
Karl coughed up blood, his spirit instantly weakening, and the Soul Centipede within him stiffened.
"Again!"
Ten Thousand Buddha Palm—Thirty-Six Strikes!
Countless palm shadows descended from above, completely engulfing Karl in an instant, as an incredibly powerful force surged into his body.
This strike landed on a body without resistance.
If it weren't for the Life Source he had cultivated, even with the Silver Body, he would have been crippled.
But now...
Karl collapsed to the ground, his eyes dazed, his body twitching slightly, but still retaining a hint of life force.
At his side, a red centipede the size of a finger curled up, its body trembling.
"Heh..."
Karl struggled to get up and found a container to hold the Soul Centipede.
"After more than three years, I've finally dealt with you."
"I thought it would take a decade or so, but it's faster than I expected. It seems that pressure can indeed be a driving force."
If the Soul Centipede hadn't been constantly threatening his life, Karl wouldn't have been able to cultivate the Third Circle Life Source Spell so quickly.
Moreover, not only had he cultivated the spell, but with a bit of refinement, he could also turn the Soul Centipede into his signature move.
It was truly a blessing in disguise.
"Next..."
"The Seventh Layer of the Holy Demonic Transformation!"
(End of Chapter)
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