Inside the central tent of the Runic Alchemy City's base camp site, a handsome young man with runic markings at the side of his neck in white alchemist robes was sitting around a table-sized mirror that was reflecting different images of the Vindictive Ridged Valley.
But his sharp eyes were locked in the center of the mirror, where a much larger reflection of a peculiar place could be seen.
The reflection was of a large pond filled with beautiful white lotuses; however, if someone looked closely, they could see that those lotuses seemed to be arranged in an array pattern.
In the center of this lotus pond was a small patch of land, and on this small patch of land was growing a seedling pulsing with light while surrounded by an ethereal mist-like stardust around a star. The young man's eyes were fixed on the seedling in the center with a hint of impatience and greed.
At this moment, a tall figure a middle-aged man appeared, he looked like a refine scholar, but his eyes were sharp and profound, he also has the same runic markings on the side of his neck as the young man.
He looked at the young man and smiled, "How's our Young Noble Jake doing? I hope you're not feeling nauseous in this place."
The young man named Jake smirked, "There is no need to tease me, Uncle Killian. I'm not a little kid anymore. If anything that made me feel nauseous, it'll be you calling me 'Young Noble.'"
The middle-aged man, Killian, grinned, "What are you talking about? You're still just a baby in my eyes. Besides, as the only heir of a Runic Duke and youngest 5-Star Spirit Alchemist of the Runic King Palace, you are a Young Noble whether you like it or not."
Jake shook his head as he gave up on debating with his uncle, "Let's not talk about it anymore. How's the situation outside?"
A hint of coldness crept into Killian's eyes as he smirked coldly, "Nothing to worry about. No one from the Runic King Palace will dare to interfere. Only those small fries who want to muddle the waters and via for your fortune. They are nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot."
Jake nodded, but his expression became sharp as he said, "I'm not worried about those fools, I'm worried about the perpetrator who leaked the news of Star Encompassing Fruit about to being born in the Vindictive Ridged Valley.
"After all, this place was discovered a few hundred years ago by Father, and the Star Encompassing Fruit wasn't mature then, so he hid this place in a formation and order secrecy.
"But somehow, the other runic dukes also got the wind of it, and my father had to pay a price to keep them in check. Now, despite all of this, this news still gets out." A hint of killing intent flashed past Jake's eyes, "Something is clearly targeting our Runic Flame Clan and my father, Runic Flame Duke!
"I'm afraid retrieving the Star Encompassing Fruit won't be as simple as we're thinking. Whoever is doing it knew about the Star Encompassing Fruit before Father found it, and they won't sit still and let us take it. After all, we are talking about a natural treasure that can decrease the Intermediate Heavenly Law Tribulation by 40%. It can even reduce the Late Law Tribulation by 5%.
"Furthermore, according to the records of the palace, a Star Encompassing Plant can only give birth to a single Star Encompassing Fruit after 100,000 years before wilting right away, and the fruit will wilt away within an hour after it ripped.
"No one knows how to cultivate it since there are no seeds nor accurate information on the environment in which it grows, and it only grows once in a hundred thousand years and each time in a different location.
"Most importantly, if some below Ascension Guardian Realm consume the Star Encompassing Fruit before their breakthrough, their inner world will mutate; as for how exactly, no record can be found, but it has to be something extraordinary. After all, in ancient times, those ancient people also called the Star Encompassing Fruit an 'Immortal Fruit.'
"So, if the perpetrator knows about the Star Encompassing Fruit, and once he leaked this information, I'm afraid many Quasi-Lord will come in droves, even those Ascension Lords won't sit still.
"Lastly, the Vindictive Ridged Valley is connected to an Evil King Sect, the Bloody Moon King Sect, under the Nether Blood Fiend King Cult. So, we need to take this matter seriously!"
Killian's expression turns somber after hearing his nephew's calculated assessment, and he doesn't have words to retort. He felt slightly ashamed that, as a senior, he was dominated by the younger generation.
'I'm too arrogant…' He sighed, but he also felt gratified since it was his own nephew who was so talented and thoughtful. He felt proud of him and knew the future of the Runic Flame Clan was in good hands.
"Alright, it was Uncle's fault for not seeing things clearly. Just in case, I'll arrange for more people and expand our monitoring range. I'll also send some men to keep an eye on the side of the Bloody Moon King Sect, just in case those cowardly bastards decide to crawl out of their ratholes.
"There are still ten days before the Star Encompassing Fruit will mature. We'll go to the core region where the Star Encompassing Fruit is hidden tomorrow. We'll check if the formation set by your father is fine or has been tempered.
"I'll call in a favor in the Runic Formation City and make sure everything goes smoothly!" Killian declared.
Jake was very stratified with his uncle's arrangement. He knew despite being a Runic Marquise, Killian always listened to his advice and was meticulous.
At this moment, he was about to say something when a guard's voice sounded, "Young Noble Jake, your fiancé is here!" Jake's eyes instantly lit up in a pleasant surprise when he heard 'fiancé' and couldn't help but impatiently say, "Leia is here?! Quickly sent here in!"
However, his expression changed when he finally remembered that his uncle was still present. When he looked at Killian, who had a peculiar smile, a hint of embarrassment crept on Jake's cheeks, and he wanted to explain.
But Killian beat him to it as he instantly pulled a teasing smile, he won't miss such a chance to tease his shrewd nephew who was actually a simpleton when it comes to Leia his fiancé.
"Hehehe, Young Noble, it seems you have a 'lovely appointment' this evening, so I won't bother you anymore. Enjoy~" He winked lewdly.
Jake was speechless and wanted to explain, but Killian had vanished as his sneaking laughter still buzzed in Jake's ears.
Just as Jake was flustered, the tent door was opened, and a woman in flowery robes with an exotic hourglass figure walked in.
Although her face was covered in a veil, her pale beauty couldn't be concealed. Her most sticking features were her bewitching ocean-blue eyes and long, flowing pale gray hair. Her demeanor was noble and gentle as her eyes contained shyness. However, if Zaria or Eleanor were heard, they would've been shocked because this seemingly gentle and shy woman was Ravencrown!