Chapter 117: A Newly Awakened

Chapter 117: Chapter 117: A Newly Awakened

The grounds of Arcadia Academy were bustling with students and staff going about their daily routines.

In a quiet corner away from the crowds, Xavier had finally found the childhood friend he had been looking for.

Marcus Reed stood beside him, looking curiously at the small jade bottle Xavier had just taken out.

The bottle was no larger than his palm, yet Xavier handled it with an unusual degree of care.

"Here, take this," Xavier said.

"I went to considerable trouble to get something good for you. Drink it, and you’ll become a martial artist with a special martial body."

Marcus blinked at him, then scratched his head in confusion.

"Xavier, what exactly is inside this bottle?" he asked.

He understood that Xavier intended to help him awaken his martial talent, but he had never imagined that the process could be as simple as drinking something.

If such a thing existed, would not everyone be scrambling to get their hands on it?

"Constitution Holy Water," Xavier said. "Have you heard of it?"

He asked the question casually. When he had first obtained the treasure, the system had already explained its nature and extraordinary effects.

He had assumed Marcus would know little, if anything, about such a rare resource.

To his surprise, the moment Marcus heard the words Constitution Holy Water, his entire body stiffened.

"Wait! Xavier, are you serious? Is this really holy water?" he asked.

Xavier raised an eyebrow.

"You know what it is?"

"Not until last night!" Marcus said.

He quickly explained himself. He had been so excited about the possibility of becoming a martial artist that he had barely slept.

Unable to contain his anticipation, he had spent hours searching the internet for information and eventually discovered a book titled One Hundred Ways to Become a Martial Artist.

He pulled out his phone, found the relevant passage, and read it aloud.

"According to this book, Constitution Holy Water is an extraordinary substance said to exist only in the deepest regions of the forbidden ocean," he said.

"It’s so rare that ordinary people might go their entire lives without even seeing a trace of it."

Marcus paused to make sure Xavier was listening before continuing.

"One drop of Constitution Holy Water can supposedly be diluted into roughly one hundred portions of Constitution Essence. Each portion of that essence can then be diluted into about one hundred portions of Constitution Holy Water. But if someone consumes the original holy water directly, they can awaken a Sacred Martial Body!"

His voice grew increasingly serious as he reached the next passage.

"The forbidden region in Australia existed even before the Great Destruction Era. Today, it’s recognized as one of the world’s ten most dangerous forbidden zones. Even a martial artist at the Divine Power Realm could face almost certain death by venturing inside!"

After finishing the passage, Marcus slowly lowered his phone and stared at the bottle in his hand.

"Xavier, is this really what I think it is?" he asked, his excitement now replaced by alarm.

"If this is genuine, it’s far too valuable for me to accept. Why don’t you just give me some awakening stones instead? I can try my luck with those."

Marcus had spent the previous day preparing himself to accept Xavier’s help.

He had even imagined the day he would finally become a martial artist and gain the strength to protect his pregnant wife.

But he had never expected Xavier to offer him something of this magnitude.

Even if he ignored the holy water’s ability to awaken a special martial body, its rarity alone was enough to make it comparable in value to an 8th-Grade elixir.

A single drop could be worth more than Marcus could hope to earn in several lifetimes.

How could he casually drink something like that?

Xavier looked at his friend for a moment before breaking into laughter.

"I didn’t expect you to study so hard in advance," he said. "At least you’ve done your homework."

He then patted Marcus on the shoulder.

"Listen carefully," he said.

"Of all the people in this world, you’re probably the one who understands my abilities best. So I’ll tell you something you might find difficult to believe."

Xavier leaned closer and lowered his voice, though there was no one nearby to overhear them.

"I’m already at the 8th-Level of the Spirit Platform Realm," he said.

Marcus froze. For a moment, he wondered whether he had misheard.

Yesterday, he had witnessed enough of Xavier’s strength to understand that his old friend was no ordinary person.

Still, he had assumed Xavier was simply an exceptionally powerful martial artist.

He had never imagined that Xavier had already reached the 8th-Level of the Spirit Platform Realm!

Xavier continued as though he had just revealed something entirely unremarkable.

"So what if the holy water is rare?" he said.

"Getting my hands on something like this isn’t particularly difficult for me."

He gave Marcus a pointed look.

"I’m not going to explain everything to you," he said.

"The less you know about certain things, the safer you’ll be. All I need from you is one promise: keep my secrets to yourself. Now drink it."

Marcus stared at him for several seconds before finally finding his voice.

"Xavier, you still insist you haven’t been cheating?" he asked.

Xavier’s expression changed immediately.

"Cheating? What are you talking about?" he said. "Do you think life is some kind of game? Everything I’ve achieved has come from my own hard work!"

Marcus opened his mouth, clearly preparing another argument, but Xavier’s face darkened before he could speak.

"That’s enough," Xavier said.

"I have better things to do than stand here arguing with you. Drink it now. If you keep refusing, don’t ever call yourself my brother again!"

That threat finally worked. Marcus stopped hesitating and accepted the jade bottle with both hands. His expression turned solemn as he looked at Xavier.

"I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for this," he said.

"But I won’t forget what you’ve done for me." He drew a deep breath before adding, "From now on, if you ever need me, just say the word. Even if I have to walk through fire or face death itself, I’ll do it for you."

With those words, Marcus tilted his head back and swallowed the contents of the bottle.

The reaction was almost immediate.

"Ah!" he gasped.

His face turned bright red, as though someone had painted it from forehead to chin.

The color spread down his neck, and his body began radiating heat as his blood and qi surged.

Xavier watched closely, his expression briefly tightening.

For a moment, Marcus looked as though he might burst from the pressure building inside him.

Fortunately, Constitution Holy Water was different from the violent energy contained in a Primordial Chaos Pill. Its power was remarkably gentle, allowing the body to absorb and adapt to it without the same dangerous strain.

Marcus continued to sweat as the energy circulated through his body.

Nearly ten minutes passed before the most intense reaction began to ease.

Xavier remained nearby, keeping an eye on him until his condition stabilized.

About half an hour later, Marcus finally let out a long breath.

The redness gradually faded from his face, and the heat coursing through his body subsided.

He opened and closed his hands, staring at them in disbelief.

"So this is what it feels like to be a martial artist?" he murmured.

Marcus clenched his right fist. He could feel a new strength flowing through his muscles, and the sensation was so exhilarating that he could barely contain himself.

"Unbelievable! I feel like I could take on the entire world right now!" he exclaimed.

Before he could enjoy the feeling for another second, Xavier rapped him sharply on the head.

"Ouch! Xavier, that hurts!"

"You’ve barely taken your first step into martial arts, and you’re already talking about conquering the world?" Xavier said.

"I could knock you down with one finger, yet you dare call yourself invincible?"

Marcus hurriedly covered his head.

"Fine, fine! I won’t say it again!" he said.

Xavier gave him a final warning look before gesturing for him to follow.

"Come on," he said.

"I’ll take you to Captain Caleb Hart. We’ll have your cultivation tested and arrange accommodation for you at the academy."

Marcus’s situation was quite different from Mira’s.

When Mira awakened her Frost Phoenix Bloodline, Vice Principal Johnny had personally arranged for her to live in a villa.

Her physique was extraordinary, and the academy had every reason to invest heavily in someone with her potential.

The Sacred Martial Body, by comparison, ranked only around the middle among special physiques.

Although it was still an impressive gift, it did not receive the same treatment as a top tier divine body.

Arcadia Academy’s residential area offered several types of accommodation.

There were luxurious standalone villas, two story villas like the one Xavier and Mira shared, and larger residential buildings with multiple floors.

As long as Marcus could demonstrate sufficient potential, he should have no trouble applying for a two bedroom apartment in one of the residential buildings.

As they walked, Marcus glanced sideways at Xavier with a mischievous grin.

"Xavier, are you really in such a hurry to get me a place to live?" he asked.

"Or are you just worried that Clara and I will keep bothering you and Mira?"

Xavier looked at him without the slightest embarrassment.

"So what if I am?" he said. "Is there anything wrong with wanting some peace and quiet?"

Marcus burst out laughing.

"It’s fine! My wife is pregnant, after all. Hehehe!"

Xavier’s expression darkened.

"And what does your wife being pregnant have to do with anything?" he said.

"Do you have to announce it every time you open your mouth?"

"Of course! I’m a married man with a child on the way. I have every reason to be proud!"

"You’re really asking for a beating."

Marcus immediately raised both hands in surrender.

"Xavier! Godfather! Have mercy!" he feigned a cry.

The two continued trading insults as they made their way through the academy, their conversation carrying the same familiar ease they had shared since childhood.

Before long, they arrived at Caleb Hart’s office.

Caleb was handling his work when Xavier brought Marcus inside.

At first, he assumed they had come to discuss an ordinary administrative matter.

However, once Xavier explained that Marcus had awakened a Sacred Martial Body and wanted to have his strength assessed, Caleb stared at them in astonishment.