Chapter 118: Chapter 118

Sokram nodded and, with a thought, cast the cleaning spell; a water sphere appeared meters away from her.

Kasine raised a brow, a suspicious glint in her eyes. “Isn’t it a little too transparent? I know I’m looking younger, but really… do you want to see your Grandmaster’s wife like that? Tsk, tsk. So unfilial.”

Sokram chuckled at her jest, then explained, “Just walk through it, clothes and all. The spell will do the rest.”

“Oh…” Kasine pouted in mock disappointment.

“So you think I’m too old, then? No interest at all?”

Her ears flattened, her tail deflated, and her shoulders slumped.

Acting like an abandoned puppy, she walked to the water.

Passing through it took only a couple of steps, and Kasine came out from the other side of the water sphere dry and clean.

“Wow…” Kasine examined herself and her clothes, clearly impressed. “That’s the fastest bath I’ve ever taken. Not even Neloph had a cleaning spell of this level back in the day. And back then, only the best of the best was allowed to go out hunting.”

Leona looked at Sokram, cringing, “Is this euphoric state going to end soon?”

Sokram scratched the back of his head, a complicated expression, “I think it’s because she’s biologically younger. It must be some hormonal overflow; it should subside in a few days, but I also read sometimes it takes weeks.”

Thoughtfulness flickered across Leona’s face, then she shrugged.

It was something to celebrate after all.

Eversnow and Norwinter finally had a true powerhouse.

Even if she weren’t a Tier 10 like those from the other empires, they would still be counted as a powerhouse among the northern countries.

After Kasine calmed down, Sokram started aiding Kamus’s advancement.

There weren’t any complications during the digestion of the pill.

Though when the time came to absorb the liquid mana, the fact that Kamus had crystallized his mana heart made things tricky to deal with, but Sokram’s expertise wasn’t shallow.

Sokram decided to spread the liquid mana through the walls of Kamus’s heart, then used his own mana to force the liquid mana onto them, making the mana infiltrate his heart muscles through its blood vessels, thus connecting it with the crystalized part of his mana heart.

Once he succeeded, Sokram’s clothes clung to his back, soaked through like he’d plunged into a lake.

Beyond that, he also had to endure the pungent smell of Kamus’s impurities being expelled through every pore of his body.

When Kamus reached the advancement point, Sokram barely had time to get enough distance before the shockwave hit him, sending him rolling through the arena.

Still, the scene was quite comic, and Leona and Kasine couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Even Lymus chuckled, seeing Sokram struggle like a leaf in the wind.

When Kamus opened his eyes, the cleaning spell was already there, and so was Kasine, who jumped at him, wrapping her legs around his waist. Her laughter rang out, warm and familiar, as she cupped his face, locking her gaze on his.

“Hi, honey, it’s been so long since I saw this face that always makes my leg grow weak, looking so… youthful.”

Between kisses and giggles, she held his face, and looking deep into his eyes, Kasine asked, “How about we give Karini and Kesia a new sibling? Maybe I can finally give you a son this time?”

Kamus stood up with Kasine joyfully clinging to his waist, and flashed her a naughty grin that promised endless nights of passion.

Without breaking eye contact, he walked through the shimmering water sphere, pulling her deeper into a kiss that burned with renewed youthful desire.

After they broke their kiss, Kamus looked back at Sokram, who had just restabilized himself, and with a broad, grateful smile, he told him, “Kid, go rest now. I’m indebted to you, and we’ll never forget this favor.”

And before Sokram could reply, they disappeared in a rush of wind.

“Damn, they are young again; things are going to be quite chaotic for a while.” Leona mused absentmindedly until she sensed Lymus standing up.

For the first time, Lymus approached Sokram voluntarily.

His movements unhesitant, a quiet resolve hardening his features.

Both Sokram and Leona stared, surprised, as Lymus bowed low, his fist pressed tight over his heart.

His voice, usually calm, was rough with emotion. “This debt… My grandparents’ happiness. I’ll repay it! Even if it costs my life. Thank you, Sokram.”

“There’s no such thing as a debt between family; your second mother is my master. So we are brothers. You’re also my sword uncle, so our bond is doubled.”

Sokram’s words took Lymus aback, but he nodded, agreeing.

But Sokram wasn’t finished, “And one day I might marry your sisters. So you better start calling me Big Brother!”

Lymus and Leona burst out laughing while Sokram grinned shamelessly.

Nonetheless, it was true, they were family.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

This was a resolve Leona already held firm, and Lymus also firmed in his heart: if there came a day when Sokram needed them, they would be there.

After talking and joking around, trying to guess what level of chaos Kamus and Kasine would cause once the news spread, Sokram went back home satisfied.

Sokram’s routine returned to normal for the next week, with a few signs of progress.

Kiana finally managed to create a Spirit Magic Core, while Kan, Lara, and Nora also formed their Titan Force Cores.

Savannah and Lucy also came back, but to Sokram and their teammates' surprise, they were now Tier 5, one Tier below Amber, who was now Tier 6.

The hunting teams his family employed also started making progress, but since most of them cultivated only a single energy, they still had a long way before being able to create a fused energy Core.

Some of the Androny Guards also managed to fuse their cores and achieve a Chaos Heart Core.

But Sokram’s biggest surprise came from his family, who asked him for another family meeting before the meeting with the family heads, and Moira and Leona were also asked to join.

The first to speak was Margiory, who had just returned from a meeting with Lucille.

“Kamus and Kasine reaching the Semi-perfect level is still being kept a secret; the Pavilion managed to stop the news from spreading outside of the city despite those two not making an effort to hide it.”

“It’s important to keep the element of surprise. Please, Leona, ask them to be more discreet from now on.”

Margiory’s tone was businesslike and polite, despite it being a family meeting, but Leona’s expression only showed helplessness.

Brunhild then turned to Sokram, “You can safely create more of that pill that aided in their breakthrough, right?”

“Yes, Nana. Now I’m confident I can concoct at least four a day.”

Sokram replied, surprised that Hilda wasn’t fretting about it.

But Brunhild had other ambitions and smiled after hearing his reply, looking at Miralyn and Alain.

Understanding her meaning, Miralyn shook her head, “If Sokram managed to find a way for us above Exalted to cultivate Chaos Energy, I imagine that the higher an Existence we are, the more difficult it can be to cultivate it safely. So I don’t want to increase my cultivation until then, sorry for being selfish, but I can’t risk losing this chance.”

Astrid then raised her hand and asked Sokram. “Are you planning to sell it to the other family heads?”

“Not selling exactly,” Sokram shook his head, but then explained, “I’m planning to trade the Primary Energy Fusion techniques, and these pills for other things that can help our family grow stronger.”

Hilda, for the first time, talked, asking him, “Yet, you won’t trust us with your plans?”

“They’re just ideas for now, glimpses of things I discovered while reading in the Arch-Mage’s Tower or concocting these pills.”

Sokram’s expression changed from thoughtful to a more pleased one as he continued, “My mind has been working differently since I lifted this first Lock. It has been a true blessing.”

Hilda nodded but then suggested, “Then what can we do to expedite your progress?”

“You all have been working hard on your own cultivations. To me, you getting stronger is what matters the most,” Sokram replied honestly.

And they knew these were his real feelings, as everything he did was for the sake of his family.

But Hilda frowned, “Dear…” she began in a paused tone, her tone nearly apologetic. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novèlfire.net

“You always say that holding back your progress was the same as leading you to stagnation. And when your cultivation spiked that day, I wanted to stop you. But when I saw that, because of your fast progress, you were able to survive that assassination attempt, I understood what you meant.”

Hilda met his gaze firmly, “So I want you to keep evolving and I… No, we! We will keep evolving alongside you. So please, trust us."

Margiory smiled at him brightly, "A bond forged out of trust is a two-way road, right? So let us help alleviate your burdens…”

Hilda extended her two hands over the table, her palms facing upward, “Since that day, I’ve been working hard. Studying the techniques you created and reading through everything you’ve been sharing with us. But in our last meeting, you gave the push I needed to stop holding back."

In her right palm, a sphere of pure mana shining with a blueish light, and in the left, a sphere of Spirit Essence shining crimson.

“I know I’ve not been the most reliable these last few years, too afraid of what might happen if the world finds out how much of a genius my son is,”

Hilda brought her hands together, much like Sokram had done in front of Lucy and Lucille.

Like a reflex, he was about to reach for her to stop, but Loena, sitting beside him, held him back.

Once he saw the energies fusing perfectly, his eyes widened.

“So we have to do our best to be able to walk alongside you, so you won’t carry too heavy a burden.”

When Hilda told him that, Astrid, Moira, and all the others started showing him that they could help.

Moira, with a sphere of Titan Force in one hand and a sphere of Vital Magic in the other, “Your auntie is quite the genius, too, so lean on me a little bit more, alright?”

“And I’m your big sister, how can I be left behind?” Astrid winked at him, also with a sphere in each hand.

Sokram looked around, seeing that they all had, out of their own volition, mastered the knowledge he shared.

Once his gaze returned to Hilda, she spoke with a firm resolve, “Let us help you, dear.”

Just as Hilda spoke, Alain surprised Sokram even more.

Allowing his energy to leak out and showing him that he was using Titan Force.

“After seeing you teaching the young ones, I decided it would be best if I learned too. Your teammates and your mother helped me convert my own Core.” Sokram looked at Miralyn, surprised, as Alain continued, “You can count on us, young master.”

Miralyn nodded, “I didn’t break any Oath to the empire by teaching him your technique, which I must say, is a lot better than theirs.”

Sokram’s gaze swept the room.

This was the outcome he’d dreamed of, yet never dared to expect so soon.

His eyes turned moist, and as tears rolled down his face, a bright smile also spread over his lips.

“I was afraid of asking, but thank you for giving me this.”

The reason he was crying wasn’t because they were willing to help, but because this proved to him that their fates had truly changed.

Leona’s fingers, cold and gentle, wove through his ashen-white hair, a grounding touch that steadied him as he swallowed hard, wrestling back the burning surge of tears.

He looked around once more and nodded, his gaze resolute as he started, “I was hoping for this day to come for a long time. I wouldn’t ask because of the words of Paragon Ariana: The will to evolve must come from within.”

They all looked at him, full of curiosity, thinking he was about to share his grand plan, but instead, Sokram summoned eight spatial rings from his Void Glove.

“The books inside these rings contain all that you need to know to be able to help me. My spells, my techniques, as well as how to master everything in a way that you will be able to teach even the Androny guards how to cultivate Chaos Energy.”

Sokram met each gaze; his silvery-gray eyes shone like polished diamonds, burning with an unyielding purpose that radiated palpable intent across the table.

“This is my trust in you. Inside those books is the only knowledge I’ll ask you not to share, because it’s the true foundation of our family. From today onward, to me, as the patriarch of this family, you are the inner circle of our Evolution.”

He pointed at the Dracnakrid's family sigil on the wall to make the meaning of his words clear.

Brunhild smiled proudly, “We won’t let you down, son. But you should know that once a circle is formed, it can’t be undone, only increased.”

“I know, Nana.” Sokram nodded, and the firmness in his gaze showed that this was all he had been waiting for to make this decision.

Miralyn raised her hand; her expression showed that she was struggling with what she was about to ask, “Can I send your technique scroll to my mother? She could use it to help our Imperial family. I’m sure she will compensate you well.”

The whole room became silent instantly, but Sokram only smiled greedily, “Sure, ask her to send me some material on Biomancy in return if it’s not too much to ask.”

“Thank you, my love. I’m sure she will agree.” Miralyn smiled brightly, but what she was truly planning was to gain Sokram some standing within the Imperial family, just in case they ever needed help from the empire.

From that day forward, whenever Sokram would be guiding either the hunting teams or the Androny guards, his family would be there, learning from him how to teach the others.

But thanks to the material he had prepared for them, it was easy for them to take over and give Sokram more time to move his plans forward.