Chapter 540: Super Evolution Elixir
Chapter 540: Super Evolution Elixir
Soon, Everton found himself standing in a massive, sealed chamber at the back of the hall.
He finally understood why his chief alchemist had looked so hesitant earlier.
Before him stood a monstrous, deformed creature that, from any angle, bore little resemblance to the once-elegant and slender dragon.
The creature had five heads, but only one was normal. The other four were either deformed or shriveled, hanging around the main head like grotesque ornaments.
Five heads, each in a different state of deformity.
But they were nothing like the well-developed heads of a multi-headed dragon.
The creature's scales were a chaotic mix of colors, with patches of red and green scattered haphazardly across its body, lacking any sense of beauty.
The only redeeming quality was that, despite being at the level of a young dragon, its energy fluctuation was comparable to that of an adult dragon.
No, it was even stronger than an adult five-colored dragon.
Moreover, Everton noticed keenly that as the creature devoured the unknown, ferocious beast meat, its energy fluctuation was increasing rapidly.
This observation made Everton pause in thought. After a moment, he turned his head and asked, "Lefrill, why did this happen?"
"Well, I believe it's due to the side effects of the newly developed Super Evolution Elixir being too strong", Lefrill stammered.
"Even a dragon can't withstand it? What's the point of this elixir then? Do you think I can handle it?" Everton narrowed his eyes, looking at his chief alchemist with a hint of displeasure.
"Your Highness, the development of new potions is a process of constant experimentation. At least, we are very close to success, aren't we?"
"Look at how beautiful it is!" Lefrill's face turned red as he defended himself with enthusiasm.
Beautiful?
Everton glanced at the deformed monster before him and then at Lefrill, who was equally deformed and ugly, feeling a sense of speechlessness.
Despite Lefrill's hunched back, twisted neck, squinted eyes, and severe halitosis, there was no denying that he was a top-tier alchemist. In fact, no one in the entire empire possessed such a talent for alchemy.
This was why Everton continued to employ him.
"Alright, what is the purpose of bringing me here?" Everton pointed at the deformed monster and asked.
"Your Highness, despite its ugliness, I can assure you that with its current rapid growth rate, if given enough food, it will reach the level of a late-epic ancient dragon within a week."
"Of course, the cost is significant. I estimate its lifespan to be only a few decades, or perhaps just a few years."
"Perhaps you could consider enslaving it?" Lefrill suggested.
"Enslave it? Are you an idiot?"
"When would I ever use it?" Everton looked at Lefrill as if he were a fool.
"But look at its beauty and power. It would be a shame to destroy it", Lefrill said with a regretful expression.
"Since you want to keep it, do so. Consider it an observation of the elixir's effects. It will only waste some food. However, you need to speed up your research. I can't wait much longer!" After some thought, Everton decided to encourage his subordinate's enthusiasm and agreed.
"Rest assured, Your Highness. I will soon present an improved version of the Super Evolution Elixir." Lefrill, deeply moved, patted his emaciated chest firmly.
"I already have some ideas. I plan to increase the proportion of Elven Blood Essence in the next batch."
"Excellent. I look forward to your good news." Everton nodded in approval.
Two days passed.
Viscount Hamadi's investigation was in full swing. As soon as he returned, he secured the full support of his superior, Lord Roys, and mobilized all the federation's spies in the Imperial Capital Temeril.
Unfortunately, no concrete information had been obtained yet.
With only one day left of the three days he had promised, Viscount Hamadi's mood grew increasingly grim.
After all, he had given his word to Lord Rayne. If he failed, how would Lord Rayne view him and the federation's credibility?
"Still no news?" Hamadi asked a spy beside him, his tone irritable.
"My lord, we have no news yet."
"Neither Prince Everton nor his butler Buchanan has left the palace in the past few days. The only time Prince Everton left was two days ago, to attend a meeting at the palace."
"According to your previous instructions, if the secret base is in a specific location, we can only find it by tracking their movements", the spy reported.
"Only went to the palace once?" Hamadi furrowed his brow, deep in thought.
"The palace? Unlikely. Making potions requires ingredients, and transporting them would be too troublesome."
"The palace, then?"
"Right, didn't you have the important royal members under surveillance before? Are the surveillance reports still available?" Hamadi asked.
"Yes, my lord."
"Bring me the surveillance reports on the Crown Prince."
"Yes, my lord."
Soon, Hamadi received a stack of documents nearly half a meter high.
"My lord, these are the Crown Prince's travel records and some lifestyle habits over the past three years."
"So many?"
"Separate the Crown Prince's travel records from the past two months. I'll take a look", Hamadi decided after some thought. He believed that if the base was truly important, the Crown Prince would have visited it at least once in the past two months.
Half an hour later
"Royal Academy, visited five times in the past three months, highly suspicious."
"Headquarters of the Royal Alchemists Association, visited twice in the past three months, somewhat suspicious."
"Finally, it must be somewhere within the palace."
After thorough investigation, Hamadi was almost certain that the possible mythical realm node was in one of these three places. Just as he was about to contact the spies stationed at the other two locations, he received new intelligence.
"My lord, we have determined that the mythical realm node is most likely somewhere within the palace."
"Hmm?" Hamadi's face showed surprise.
"We discovered that the palace's procurement of ferocious beast meat has increased several times over the past two days, but the kitchen staff reported receiving no such meat. Clearly, the meat was sent to an unknown location."
"Excellent! This time, you and your team will be highly commended", Hamadi nodded, praising the spy.
Meanwhile.
At the Bishu Construct Guild.
Audrey and Alicia were busy working and chatting.
With the core members of the school suddenly dispatched to the Cyrodiil Plateau, the guild's workload had become overwhelming, and the two had to pitch in.
"Audrey, can you believe it? Since yesterday, the number of wizard apprentices and wizards wanting to join our school has increased by seven or eight times."
"The personnel review is giving me a headache, and most of these applicants are from the empire's nobility."
"Given such good conditions, why are they all applying to join our school?" Alicia asked, organizing the application files with a mix of frustration and amusement.
"Isn't it because of Lord Rayne?" Audrey smiled gently.
"Alright... but even if Lord Rayne is powerful, why choose our school?"
"Though our school has just been promoted to a Grand Wizard School, the nobility's heirs have many large schools to choose from", Alicia countered.
"Perhaps it's because Lord Rayne's potential is so great. He defeated a seasoned imperial guardian at such a young age", Audrey's eyes sparkled with admiration, and she stopped organizing the files.
"Tsk tsk~" Alicia waved her hand in front of Audrey's face, teasing, "Are you already fantasizing about him?"
"Alicia, don't say such things. What if Lord Rayne hears us?" Audrey blushed, embarrassed.
"Don't worry, Lord Rayne is in seclusion and won't hear us."
With that, the two lovely but distinct girls started playfully bickering.
In a nearby secret room.
Over the past three days, despite increasing the number to 392, the rate of improvement had slowed significantly. Rayne knew that this level was approaching his current limit.
Although the 26 willpower runes represented a significant advancement, it could largely be attributed to his familiarity with the fifth-layer model.
Any further progress would be minimal.
To make substantial improvements, he needed to either increase his total psi energy or enhance the quality of his psi energy.
"However, at the peak of a Dawn Wizard, neither of these is easy to achieve", Rayne sighed.
Like the ancient Dragon Soul Elixir, at his current level, its effects were minimal.
"Perhaps, once I become an imperial guardian, I will find something that can help me improve."
At that moment, the mark on his wizard robe began to glow.
Hmm?
Rayne immediately knew who was contacting him.
He quickly waved his finger, and a familiar complex symbol appeared in the air before him. A familiar and slightly weary female voice emerged:
"Rayne, am I interrupting you?"
"Of course not, Menya. You sound a bit tired."
"Yes, there have been a lot of recent developments. However, I wanted to tell you something important. Your Multi-Headed Dragon Bloodline has been exposed. I think... you should be prepared."
"Multi-Headed Dragon Bloodline?" Rayne's expression was peculiar.
Although he had never clarified this, he was not a Multi-Headed Dragon Bloodline.
"Menya, actually, I am not a Multi-Headed Dragon Bloodline."
"Hmm?" Menya on the other end sounded skeptical, but she also realized that Rayne had no reason to lie to her.
"Really?"
"Really."
"But what about that time in Ferdinand Forest?"
"You can consider it the use of a high-level wizard artifact, but it is now integrated into my body and cannot be removed as proof", Rayne explained.
"Alright, that's hard to believe! However, you should be careful. Everton has already questioned you about this at the new guardian meeting."
"Alright, not becoming an imperial guardian is indeed a bit disappointing", Rayne said, slightly disheartened.
"Disappointing?" Menya's voice carried a light laugh.
"No, I think you misunderstood. I have already forced the issue through. You are now a guardian of the Dragon Empire."
"What?" Rayne was taken aback.
"Really, get ready. You should receive the official notification soon."
"Thank you, Menya. I appreciate your efforts", Rayne said sincerely, understanding the immense pressure Menya had faced, not from Prince Everton, but from all the other royal members.
With the communication with Menya concluded, Rayne, filled with joy, left the secret room.
After greeting Audrey and Alicia, Rayne returned to his palace by carriage.
Upon arrival, the small-statured Matteo reported that Viscount Hamadi had come to visit.
Hamadi?
Could it be that the Brotherhood of Dragonhide's secret base has been discovered?
Well, it's a good time to wrap things up here.
"Please bring him in", Rayne told Matteo.
"Yes, Lord Rayne."
Soon, Viscount Hamadi, wearing a black hood and cloak, was led into the study by Matteo.
"Oh, so the mythical realm node is most likely within the Crown Prince's palace?"
"Yes, Lord Rayne, we are 90% certain."
"We considered infiltrating and investigating further, but to avoid tipping them off, we have not done so. I came to seek your advice on whether it's necessary."
"No need. The scope is already narrow. Thank you, Viscount Hamadi, for your assistance. I will remember it", Rayne nodded.
Seeing Rayne's serious expression, Hamadi was taken aback. He realized that this matter was even more important to Lord Rayne than he had imagined.
A promise from a top-tier powerhouse was invaluable!
"It is my honor to serve you!" Hamadi, inwardly excited, his face flushed, quickly stood up.
"By the way, we have an informant within the Crown Prince's palace. Do you need to monitor his movements?"
"That's a good idea. Notify me immediately if he leaves the palace", Rayne nodded after some thought.
Rayne considered that if he directly invaded the small mythical realm, Crown Prince Everton might quickly realize something was amiss. Therefore, it would be best to invade when Everton was not near the node.
At least, he could make full use of the time before Everton returned to find Anna's mother, Dareen Hawkmoon.
"Very well, Lord Rayne."
"I will notify you as soon as I have news."
"Here is a communication rune stone. Press it once if he leaves", Rayne handed Hamadi a glowing communication rune.
(End of Chapter)
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