The blood-red clouds swirled above, crackling with crimson lightning, arcs of scarlet energy dancing through the stormy sky. The desert air grew heavy, the pressure building as the tribulation lightning prepared to strike.
Liam's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he watched the storm gather, the power within it resonating with the cauldron before him. A deep rumble echoed through the desert, the sky splitting apart as a massive bolt of lightning crashed down toward him.
Liam didn't move. Instead, he reached out with his aura, his alchemical domain flaring to life, golden wisps swirling around him as he guided the lightning toward the cauldron.
The crimson bolt struck the cauldron with a deafening roar, the ground beneath him trembling from the impact. The cauldron absorbed the lightning, its surface glowing with an eerie red light, the energy swirling within it, merging with the potion inside.
Liam's eyes narrowed, his fingers weaving through the air as he manipulated the alchemical energy, catalyzing the fusion of lightning and potion. The cauldron shook violently, the golden light from his domain flickering as the energy within threatened to explode.
"Not yet…" Liam muttered, his aura flaring as he poured more power into the cauldron, stabilizing the mixture, and binding the chaotic energy with his alchemy domain.
The potion bubbled, the liquid within turning a deep crimson, pulsating with power as the lightning was absorbed into its essence.
A second bolt of lightning was about to descend but Liam immediately blocked it by erecting three dao domains. The cauldron or the potion would not be able to handle a second one of those lightning bolts even after enhancement from his alchemy dao.
Liam gritted his teeth, his aura blazing as he poured every ounce of his alchemy dao seed energy into the cauldron, binding the energy, and stabilizing the mixture as quickly as he possibly could.
Just as the third bolt of lightning prepared to descend, the potion glowed with a radiant crimson light, the energy within swirling, merging into a single cohesive form.
Liam did not waste any time. He knew blocking any more of these lightning bolts would be troublesome so he instantly shot forward after roughly tossing the cauldron back into the system storage pouch.
The next few seconds became hellish as he continued dodging one bolt after another. Just like the first time it was touch and go and he was only able to come out unscathed after going all out.
He could at most repeat this for another four or five times. Afterward, no matter how much he tried, he could only push that exit button and leave this place.
However, Liam wasn't all that worried. He was quite confident he would be able to figure out one thing or the other before that. He moved away from the area once again before coming to a stop at a new dune.
Immediately, he took out the battered and about-to-break cauldron. "This should do the trick." Liam's lips curled upwards as he watched the now pale green potion sloshing in there with sparks of lightning popping out here and there every other second.
The treasure-seeking potion was a success.
With the cauldron and the basic herbs, this potion should have only been a rudimentary potion and as such completely useless here but the last ingredient changed everything.
"This has to be at least a high-grade potion." Liam inspected it. Even as he did, the cauldron burst open. He quickly made sure to grab the potion. The liquid floated up and was protected by Liam's barrier. He then tossed the liquid into a bunch of vials.
"Let's see how effective you are."
Without hesitation, Liam downed the potion, the liquid burning as it slid down his throat. His body tensed as the energy exploded within him, crimson lightning surging through his veins, merging with his mana, amplifying his senses.
Liam had no idea what to expect after this. Here is the deal. Treasure-seeking potions were flaky, finicky potions that pretty much never showed any real results. It was equivalent to buying lottery tickets. One might as well burn the money instead.
As for how they worked, Liam had only read about it. This was the first time he was creating one. If the potion had worked as intended, then he should supposedly see a golden aura if there was a treasure around.
The whole thing was essentially a mix of vague mysterious dao that not many mastered. The dao of luck, the dao of karma, and the dao of destiny
all intertwined and unpredictable, dancing on the edge of possibility and reality.
He waited for a few moments, and nothing happened. Liam stood still, his senses heightened, his aura flaring as he scanned the desert.
The scorching sands stretched endlessly around him, the blood-red sky swirling ominously above. Everything looked the same, unchanged, barren, devoid of life and energy. He frowned. Had he done something wrong? Was the potion just another fluke?
Liam continued roaming around the desert for the next few minutes. He really hoped that something would work out because he had managed to get the tribulation lightning bolt into the potion and that made it special.
However, that did not seem to be the case. Minutes stretched by and soon the next round of lightning descended and then the round after that. Liam was only coming up empty again and again.
Maybe the system event was designed in such a way that one person can obtain only one precious artifact. He briefly contemplated leaving the event when suddenly one of his soul minions tugged at him.
Liam's eyes widened as he channeled his consciousness into that minion. There it was. The golden hue!
Dancing in front of him like a firefly in the darkness, the golden hue flickered playfully, its golden radiance dancing across the sands, shifting and swirling like smoke. Liam's heart raced with excitement.
The treasure-seeking potion had worked. It had actually worked. Without hesitation, he switched places with the minion. It was time for some good old-fashioned treasure hunting.