Chapter 178 - 167 The Secret of Immortality (2/3)

Chapter 178: Chapter 167 The Secret of Immortality (2/3)

Central Avenue, Elder’s Hall.

"Why didn’t you tell the viscount about this news?"

This was Elder Prude’s first reaction upon learning about Patrick’s hostility towards Ian: "Even if the two of them have a good relationship, now that it has come to involve the internal strife of the Ellen Family, it’s time to inform the viscount. We need to disentangle ourselves and then immediately communicate this critical intelligence to the Ellen Family through official channels!"

"I have no evidence."

Ian shook his head, somewhat helplessly: "You know I am a prophet and can believe my words, but do you want me to reveal that I am a prophet? Or do you suggest betting on whom Viscount Grant will trust more?"

"Honestly, I can’t find any clue at the moment... Patrick has no children, and he doesn’t normally favor any particular family heir. He has no reason to side with any party at this time—he is the future patriarch of the Ellen Family and already a very influential industry owner in the Southern Territory."

At this point, Ian also frowned deeply: "What reason does he have to harm Yisen Gard? Although I have seen them interact only a few times, it’s clear from their interactions that the young man respects his uncle greatly. Their relationship is actually quite good!"

This was indeed true—in Ian’s eyes, Patrick actually took great care of Yisen Gard, and their relationship was very close for noble families.

Why? Ian was still searching for the answer to this question.

"That’s true."

Elder Prude also felt a headache, especially since this matter was closely related to Ian: "There is another piece of intelligence I need to tell you, regarding Viscount Grant’s plans..."

He shared with Ian the content of his private conversation with Viscount Grant, which made the young man lift his head in surprise: "He has children already? And is so kind as to offer me credit for achievements and give me a knight’s status, allowing me to leave Harrison Port?"

"Of course."

Elder Prude stroked his beard and sighed deeply: "In the past, he was solely focused on taking control of Harrison Port and then expanding the port’s development—now that both goals have been achieved, Ailes naturally has other plans."

"He needs to think about his future and matters regarding his offspring. The viscount is already seventy years old, and even if he has another fifty good years, surpassing a hundred, his combat ability may still peak, but he surely won’t be able to handle everything personally as he does now... Power will shift to his children, and by then, if you want to develop the White Folks, he won’t have the strength to suppress you."

"In that case."

The old man spoke slowly: "It’s better to let go."

"Hmm... indeed."

Ian nodded slightly; having heard this information, his thoughts shifted: "Now I have another reason not to tell the viscount about this—it’s a bit risky, but I indeed need the credit to connect with Master Gossay."

"Besides, the enemy has exposed their intentions, yet they don’t know that I’m aware of it... They are even more unaware that my true strength is not just the True Form of the Wave Singer."

The enemy is in the light, I am in the dark. For Ian, the risks from Patrick were actually not substantial.

Despite being a Second Energy Level, the Spirit Energy forecast indicated that the threat level was even less than if he were to take a spin in the Native Core Zone. Clearly, this was the kind of civic official who hadn’t engaged much in combat.

As someone who possessed dual First Energy Level abilities, facing such a Second Energy Level individual, even if he could not resist outright with absolute strength, he would certainly not lose if he were on guard.

In contrast, if he could gain commendation for a crucial task and build connections with the Ellen Family and Master Gossay, his gains would be tremendous.

Therefore, he couldn’t share this news with the Imperial Capital and the Ellen Family—if the mission were truly cancelled, then the next person they send would probably be an entire team of professionals from the Imperial Capital, and there would be no need for him, a country appraiser.

"Indeed, your Wavechant Inheritance is just an additional ability of a Sand Armor Apprentice, and your true strength, even against Viscount Grant, should allow you to escape without using Aether Armament, not to mention Patrick."

Elder Prude was unaware of the Silver Chip.

He still believed Ian’s ’weaker’ water control ability was the result of a special construct of the Sand Armor Apprentice.

Having confirmed his approach, the old man nodded and then added a warning: "But, Ian. Unless it is a last resort, you can’t expose the Sand Armor Apprentice—both Master Gossay and Patrick are people who lived through that era, and they are very familiar with the powers of the Sand Armor Apprentice. If you reveal it, it won’t just be your own problem."

"The whole of Harrison Port might be leveled just to find the whereabouts of your mentor!"

Elder Prude also didn’t know about the death of Hiliard; he still thought the mentor had simply left the region and secluded himself elsewhere.

"Also."

As the subject arose, Elder Prude showed a smile: "Haven’t you always said that you wanted to craft an alchemical accessory with fairy materials to reduce weight? The Sand Armor Apprentice is indeed too heavy and not suitable for your performance in some situations."

"Just the other day... I managed to acquire some materials related to the Fae."

"So saying," the old man rose to his feet in front of Ian’s pleasantly surprised gaze and took out a sealed marble box from the secret chamber of the Elder’s Hall, without any attempt to conceal it.

He handed the box to Ian and said with a smile, "I wouldn’t dare misuse your appraisal fee share... Just yesterday Mr. Silver Workshop mentioned that he had a way to purchase Fae materials, so I bought them under the pretext of Alchemy."

"The other party initially didn’t want to take money, but I know you. With your character, you’d rather pay than owe someone a favor."

"This really is... an unexpected delight!"

Ian was naturally surprised and delighted.

Indeed, he was willing to spend money, but he had never expected Elder Prude to remember every single word he had mentioned in the past.

He had kept many things from Elder Prude, largely those secrets he couldn’t reveal even a hint of. In contrast, Elder Prude had always given his utmost effort without holding back anything.

The young man took the stone box and, even before opening it, his Spirit Energy informed him of the contents within.

[Fairy’s Sloughed Feathers]

A rich, deep blue halo was flowing within.

Carefully accepting this material, Ian planned to save it for further appraisal in his workshop later.

Having almost achieved his goal, before leaving, Ian wanted to ask one last question.

"Elder, what exactly was the Bloodline or True Form that our branch of the White Folks practiced back then?"

To ascertain the origin of the ’Iron Bone’ in Elan’s body, Ian asked directly, "Also, why was our family exiled to Harrison Port by the Former Emperor?"

"You finally asked."

To this question, Elder Prude could not help but feel more reflective than surprised, saying, "I thought you would ask four years ago. I didn’t expect you to be so patient, waiting until our family had the chance to regain its glory."

The old man stroked his beard and said slowly, "As for the Inheritance... Our family did not inherit a Bloodline but the True Form ’Silver Peak Emissary.’

As he uttered these words, the Elder’s voice carried a trace of nostalgia.

He stroked his beard, his gaze lowered with a complex expression, "It’s a rather ancient Inheritance."

"In those days, our Cheharlowa family settled at the edge of the Embrace Light Mountains, around ’Silver Peak,’ earning a living by mining high-quality ore from the mountain, and because the terrain was so steep, with the highest quality ore found at higher locations, our ancestors blended the blood of ’Blacksilver Behemoth Eagle’ with ’Skyfeather Bird’ to create the ’Silver Peak Emissary’... A True Form that was both sturdy and incredibly lightweight, wielded steel and fierce winds, and could freely explore the mountains."

"Because it could move freely between the mountains, like an emissary clad in silver feathers from heaven, it was thus named the Silver Peak Emissary."

"At that time, our family could hardly be called a family, but rather a collection of White Folks tribes scattered throughout the mountains, until an ancestor who became a renowned Labyrinth Explorer returned to the ancestral land, and with absolute power and wealth, unified all the tribes, and the Cheharlowa family was truly born."

"During this period..."

Talking about the past could go on endlessly, but Ian listened patiently.

Because this might be the first chance in decades for Elder Prude to speak with such pride... and such solitude about the family’s history.

The past of a family that once rejected him yet was truly where his heart lay.

"...Probably due to that ancestor’s influence, even though the first uprising in the Dark Mountain Range forced our clan to relocate to the north of The Empire, the tradition of labyrinth exploration and research never ceased. For hundreds of years, we have persisted in our endeavors in adventure and exploration and gradually developed influence within the Imperial Capital, becoming a significant Scholar family in this arena."

After outlining the family’s origin, rise, migration, resurgence, and eventual peak, Elder Prude’s excited expression gradually grew somber.

He closed his eyes, fell silent for a while, and then slowly began, "Following that, several decades ago, when the Former Emperor was at his zenith and his power pressed upon the Terra Continent, our family was demoted and exiled because of a significant discovery about the Labyrinth."

"Exactly what discovery?" Having already received information about his family’s lineage, Ian continued to listen patiently, then timed his quip just right, "Could it be that our family came across a key discovery, kept it secret, and thus was punished by the Emperor?"

This was the most logical assumption.

But Elder Prude shook his head, "No—not at all. At that time, our family held great respect... reverence for the Former Emperor. One might even say worship because of his support for scholars like us far exceeded any Emperor before."

"Thus, we even shared the secret of ’eternal life’ with him as soon as we found out."