Chapter 70 The Masked Alchemist

Chapter 70: 70 The Masked Alchemist

70 The Masked Alchemist

There was tension in her eyes, but also a determination that had not been present in the previous meetings.

"Because we need to show you something."

Vaelra narrowed her eyes.

"What do you want to show me that I haven’t already seen?"

Seraphina did not answer.

She simply repeated:

"Bring them now. What are you waiting for?"

The guards hesitated briefly, but the princess’s gaze nearly petrified them, and they quickly obeyed.

The sound of footsteps began approaching from the corridor.

Everyone in the room remained motionless. Yun Che said nothing else and simply watched the doors.

Ariselle realized that something was happening before her that she still did not understand.

The doors began to open, and three warriors entered. Their condition caused the entire hall to fall silent.

The three Medusas slowly entered the hall.

The silence that had taken over the meeting disappeared instantly.

One of them could barely remain standing. Her body was covered in wounds, with a deep cut running across part of her abdomen, while one hand remained pressed against her body to prevent the blood from continuing to flow.

The second had a severely injured shoulder. Part of her scales was broken, and burn marks extended up her neck.

The third was in the worst condition.

She had to be supported by two warriors accompanying her. Her face was pale, her breathing was weak, and part of her clothes was soaked in blood.

Ariselle immediately stood up.

"Daughter, what are you trying to show us? Now is not the time for your games."

Seraphina remained near the three warriors. The Queen, in turn, looked at their wounds and then at her daughter.

"What is happening?"

Vaelra also stood up.

"Why were three seriously wounded warriors brought into a strategic meeting?"

Her voice carried irritation.

"We are discussing how to survive the next few days. We don’t have time for..."

"Please."

Seraphina raised one hand.

Vaelra stopped.

"Trust me."

Those words made Ariselle narrow her eyes.

"Daughter, what are you doing?"

Seraphina took a deep breath.

"I found a way to help our people survive. Just trust me this time."

"How? What nonsense are you talking about?"

"I can’t explain everything yet. Just trust me."

Vaelra let out an irritated sigh.

"That’s not an answer. How are we supposed to trust you when, as always, you keep getting yourself into trouble?"

"We trusted you before, and what happened afterward?"

"You were kidnapped, and you survived by luck. And now you’re causing trouble again?"

Seraphina looked at the elder.

"I know, but this time it’s different. The lives of our people are at stake."

Then she turned her eyes toward Ariselle.

"Mother, I need you to trust me."

Ariselle remained motionless. For several seconds, she simply observed her daughter. Something was different in her expression.

It was not the same hesitation as before. There was simply hope and great determination.

The Queen finally asked:

"Are you certain you aren’t getting yourself into trouble, and that what you want to show us will help our people?"

"Yes, Mother. I am."

"Could this put these three warriors at even greater risk than they already are?"

Seraphina looked at their wounds.

"They are already between life and death. Let me help them."

Ariselle clenched her fingers.

"And you believe you can help them?"

"Yes."

The Queen then looked at Yun Che, who remained standing several steps behind her. The white mask completely concealed his face.

"Necromancer, what do you have to say? What have you put into my daughter’s head?"

Ariselle turned toward Yun Che.

"Necromancer."

"Queen."

"Explain."

Yun Che did not answer yet. His eyes passed over the three warriors before turning toward the cultivators of the Profound Flower Sect.

Chen Ruyue watched everything with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

Su Meilin was far more focused.

Lian Yue simply remained silent.

Yun Che finally spoke:

"I need a few things."

Vaelra frowned.

"Things?"

"Herbs."

"Herbs?"

"Yes."

Yun Che made a discreet movement with his hand, and several containers he had prepared earlier were placed before him.

The first was opened, and an intense fragrance immediately spread throughout the hall. Chen Ruyue instantly raised her head, her eyes widening.

"That..."

She approached several steps.

"A hundred-year-old Moon Dew Flower?"

Yun Che did not answer.

Chen Ruyue moved to the next container.

"Spiritual Jade Root..."

Her voice became quieter.

Su Meilin approached.

"That can’t be."

Chen Ruyue looked at her.

"You recognize it?"

"I only recognize it from the sect’s records."

Su Meilin pointed toward another herb.

"That plant is extremely rare. The Profound Flower Sect possesses a few preserved specimens, but not in sufficient quantities for large-scale production."

Chen Ruyue carefully picked up one of the containers.

"Where did you get this? From the mausoleum, isn’t it?"

Yun Che simply replied:

"It doesn’t matter."

Chen Ruyue raised her eyes.

"It matters to me."

"Why?"

"Because some of these herbs are extremely difficult to find and worth a fortune."

Her voice became lower.

"Even for our sect, obtaining some of them would not be simple."

Zhao Ming watched the scene without fully understanding.

"Are they really that valuable?"

Guo Han replied:

"Judging by their faces, probably."

Zhao Ming looked at Su Meilin and Chen Ruyue.

"You two are looking at these herbs as if they were treasures."

Chen Ruyue answered without taking her eyes off the materials:

"Some are more valuable than treasures."

Zhao Ming fell silent.

Yun Che continued preparing the materials.

More herbs.

More containers.

Some of them looked ordinary, but the concentrated spiritual energy within them was dense enough to make the cultivators realize that they were not ordinary plants.

Nysara watched attentively.

"You were carrying all of this with you?"

Yun Che looked at her.

"I had my ways."

Nysara narrowed her eyes.

She did not ask again.

There were too many questions surrounding that masked man.

And too few answers.

Yun Che placed the final materials on the table.

Then he took out another object. This time, even the cultivators of the Profound Flower Sect froze.

A furnace appeared before him.

It was compact, but its appearance was completely different from the ordinary furnaces used by alchemists.

The structure was covered in deep engraved lines, with small formations incorporated into the metal.

Even without being activated, a faint spiritual pressure spread throughout the surroundings.

Guo Han took a step back.

"That furnace..."

Su Meilin remained staring at Guo Han.

"It’s extremely high-grade."

"How is it different from the furnaces we use?"

Guo Han took several seconds to answer.

"Very."

"How much?"

Guo Han looked at the furnace again.

"I’m not sure."

"You can’t determine it?"

"Not by observation alone."

Zhao Ming frowned.

"Then is it really that good?"

Guo Han replied:

"I said I can’t determine its limit."

The room fell silent. Ariselle also observed the object carefully as Yun Che placed the furnace in the center of the hall.

Seraphina approached her mother.

"Mother."

Ariselle looked at her.

"You need to help him."

The Queen frowned.

"How?"

Yun Che answered before Seraphina could.

"I need your energy. As you can see, my cultivation is far too insignificant to even think about activating this thing."

Ariselle narrowed her eyes.

"How much?"

"It depends."

"On what?"

"On how much you can provide without compromising your own strength."

The Queen became serious.

"Explain."