Chapter 396 - 315: Path to Level Three (3)
"It’s good that it’s sealed."
Ian let out a long sigh, his face relaxing.
"We won’t have to worry about it for at least fifty years."
He picked up his teacup and took a sip. The tea was slightly bitter, with a faint, sweet aftertaste.
He had already made a silent decision.
He would not take a single step near the Burning Canyon until he reached Level Four Morning Star.
’The waters there... run too deep.’
A brief silence fell over the reception hall.
The only sounds were the occasional birdsong from outside the window and the faint footsteps of servants moving in the distance.
Aidele looked at Ian, her gaze softer than ever before.
Like thawing ice, with a gentle current flowing beneath.
"About my father..." she began, her voice even softer now.
"I never got to thank you properly."
Ian waved his hand. "It’s just part of my duty as an Honored Guest Elder."
"As long as I can help, I won’t just stand by and watch."
He paused, then added,
"Besides, there’s no need for such formalities between us."
Aidele’s heart skipped a beat, and the corners of her lips curved up slightly.
"You’re right... There’s no need for formalities between us."
She looked at Ian, the warmth in her eyes intensifying.
"Ian, you are... the person I trust most."
She said this very slowly.
Each word was enunciated clearly, carrying a... nearly solemn weight.
Ian nodded. "Mm, thank you for your trust."
Gaga, perched on his shoulder, shifted its small body uncomfortably.
The little creature’s silver-gray eyes darted from Aidele to Ian.
It tilted its little head, muttering to itself.
’I don’t think... that’s what Aidele meant...’
But Ian had already turned his head to look out the window.
His gaze fell on the lush, green ornamental trees in the courtyard.
He seemed to be lost in thought.
Gaga sighed silently and scratched its feathers with a small claw.
’Forget it. Ian’s so dense, just let him be...’
When it came to matters of the heart, the guy was as dense as a stone.
The door to the reception hall was gently pushed open, and Delia walked in, holding three parchment scrolls.
They were dark brown leather scrolls, tied at the edges with silver thread.
"My Lady, Honored Guest Elder Marcus."
She bowed slightly and placed the scrolls on the long table.
"These are three Tier Two formulas from the Secret Vault. Your access has been recorded, and they are due back in one month."
Aidele nodded and waved her hand dismissively.
A flicker of something crossed Delia’s eyes, but her face showed no change as she silently withdrew.
Ian reached out and untied the thread of the first scroll.
The parchment unrolled. The ink was still fresh, as if it had been reorganized and re-archived in recent years.
[Balancing Potion]
[Tier Two, stabilizes imbalances in the body’s energy]
[Commonly used for recovering from severe injuries, balances chaotic energy flows within the body]
[Main Ingredient: Golden Tree Sap Essence...]
He scanned it quickly, a judgment already forming in his mind.
It was the most basic type of Balance Potion, its methodology simple and crude.
It relied on Life Energy to forcefully "suppress" the Chaos.
Unsuitable for a delicate operation like Elementalization synchronization.
The second one.
[Water of Harmony]
[Tier Two, neutralizes conflicts between Magic Potion Materials of different attributes]
[Main Ingredients: Attributeless Magic Crystal, Pure Natural Element Essence...]
This one was more for Alchemy, used for processing materials.
Its effect on balancing the body... was limited.
The third one.
As Ian untied the thread, his fingertips paused for a moment.
This parchment was older, its edges yellowed and frayed.
[Seven-Colored Heart]
[Balances the differences in elemental density between the seven elements]
[The Meaning of the Seven Colors, representing the primordial colors of the seven elements]
[Main Ingredients: One portion of the Essence of the Seven Elemental Spirits each, requires purity of 90% or higher]
[Auxiliary Materials: Space Stabilizing Powder, Time Delay Potion...]
Reading this, Ian’s eyes lit up.
Balancing the density difference of seven elements...
Although he had a Star Attribute, not a conventional element, the principle was the same.
More importantly, this formula mentioned "Space Stabilizing Powder."
Its effect was remarkably similar to that of the Void Crystal.
And the "Time Delay Potion"...
Although it was only the most basic version, the concept was worth studying.
"This one..." Ian looked up at Aidele.
"What’s the longest I can borrow it for?"
"If you need an extension, I can apply for three months."
Aidele paused, a little worried.
"Are these formulas enough? If not... I can go ask my fifth sister, Ashia."
"She might have some older formulas, but it will take time. She’s been researching some kind of potion recently, so she should be home."
Ian shook his head. "These are enough, thank you."
He carefully rerolled the three scrolls and tied them neatly with the thread.
Then he stood up, his dark gray sleeves hanging down and shimmering faintly in the morning light.
"I’ll be heading back now."
Aidele also stood and walked Ian to the door.
The two walked through the long corridor, their footsteps echoing softly on the stone slabs.
When they reached the main entrance of the manor, Aidele stopped.
She looked at Ian, her lips moving.
It seemed she wanted to say something, but in the end, the words didn’t come out.
She just murmured, "If you need anything... come find me anytime."
Ian nodded. "Mm, I will."
With that, he turned and walked in the direction of Wisteria Lane.
Gaga, on his shoulder, could finally bear it no longer.
The little creature clung to his collar, its silver-gray eyes fixed on his profile.
"Ian..."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Did you notice that the way Aidele looks at you... is a little different?"
Ian didn’t break his stride or turn his head.
"Mm, I know. She’s grateful that I saved her father."
"And... that I helped her train some of her core subordinates."
Gaga: "...GAH!"
The little creature opened its mouth, about to say something.
But looking at Ian’s calm profile, it swallowed its words and just rolled its eyes silently.
With a flap of its wings, it flew up to the top of his head and stomped its little claws.
"GAH! You’re so stupid!"
Ian reached up, plucked it off his head, and pressed it back onto his shoulder.
"Stop messing around. We need to get back and study the formulas."
He quickened his pace, his mind completely preoccupied with how to complete the formulas and how to integrate all his Witchcraft.
The man and the bird receded into the distance, their dark gray silhouettes stretching long in the morning light.
Their shadows, cast upon the stone slab road, swayed gently with each step.