novelraw Chapter 18: Pill
Chapter 18: Pill
Emma immediately took Victor away, but even after flying for quite some time, his vision was still flooded with blinding light.
The attack had been focused on a single point, yet its effects spread everywhere.
The night became brighter than day, and it took more than ten minutes before the light finally faded.
Victor shook his head repeatedly, trying to stabilize his blurred vision.
"Young Master, are you hurt?" Emma asked with concern.
"It’s nothing serious," Victor replied.
When his vision finally cleared, he realized they were near a massive city, surrounded by towering walls over a hundred meters high.
The city was far larger than Russell City.
Victor could sense many powerful auras within it.
"What city is this?" he asked.
"Young Master, this is called Bloodline City. It is ruled by the Bloodline Master, an Ancient Cultivator of our continent."
"Is he very strong?"
"Yes—extremely strong. He possesses many powerful bloodlines. Before your mother rose to power, he was recognized as the strongest on the Ancient Blood Continent. Now... it’s hard to say who is stronger. While he controls many bloodlines, your mother possesses ten Will Power."
"Did he ever try to become a World Monarch?"
"Yes, he did. But his opponent was overwhelmingly powerful. It’s said he was utterly defeated. His clan was wiped out... yet he survived, continuing to temper his cultivation foundation to the point that he can still live until now without sealing his body."
"He’s not one of my mother’s subordinates, right?"
"Eh... Young Master, that shouldn’t be said lightly. The Bloodline Master is a proud figure. He would never bow to anyone. Even if your mother is stronger, offending him would still be dangerous."
"I know. Let’s leave. This place doesn’t suit me."
"Yes... would you like to return home?"
"Mm. Let’s go back first."
Emma nodded and carried him through the sky, heading toward the Russell Clan.
Victor was quite stunned as he looked down at the land below, illuminated clearly by the bright moonlight.
It wasn’t just vast—it was terrifying.
Countless massive mountains stretched endlessly, some completely destroyed.
There were even gigantic mountains still floating in the air, sustained by lingering wind forces.
Elsewhere, vast barren lands were scorched black, with dried rivers and smoke rising everywhere, as if burned by an unimaginable fire.
Compared to this continent...
He felt smaller than an ant on Earth.
When they arrived at the Russell Clan, Victor immediately noticed the many gazes directed at him.
News traveled fast.
The clan members clearly already knew what had happened at the Heavenly Lightning Sect.
Normally, those sent there would stay for one or two years.
Victor had only gone for a single day—yet what he gained surpassed others’ achievements in years.
"Victor..."
He turned to see his grandfather calling him.
The old man approached with a faint smile, leaving Victor slightly puzzled.
Their relationship had always been somewhat awkward—especially due to his strained relationship with Victor’s mother.
"What is it, Grandfather?" Victor asked politely.
"Is it true that you now possess the Heavenly Destruction Lightning? Can I see it?" the old man asked.
It was clearly something everyone wanted to confirm.
But Victor felt his grandfather had a deeper reason.
Still, he revealed it.
Violent black lightning gathered above his palm.
Even the Lords—far above the Xiantian Realm—felt a dangerous pressure from it.
Paul Russell took a deep breath, then smiled.
"Excellent..." he said, patting Victor’s shoulder.
"Is there something you need?" Victor asked.
"I need the power of this lightning to destroy a pill ingredient. If successful, I’ll give you a portion of the pill later."
As he spoke, Paul took something out.
It was a brown mushroom, shaped exactly like an umbrella, emitting a thick, bitter scent.
Victor’s nose twitched.
But he couldn’t understand why something like this required Heavenly Destruction Lightning to destroy.
He was fairly sure even a kitchen knife could cut it.
"This needs to be reduced to atomic fragments. Only high-level destructive power like Heavenly Destruction Lightning can achieve that," Paul explained.
"Wrap it with your lightning."
Victor showed a strange expression—but complied.
He sent several bolts of black lightning toward the mushroom, engulfing it completely.
The mushroom remained in Paul’s palm.
The lightning couldn’t even scratch his hand—his cultivation level was far too high.
Crack!
Victor heard something like glass shattering.
Tiny fragments scattered—but were immediately drawn into a bottle that appeared in Paul’s other hand.
Within moments, the bottle was full.
Paul looked overjoyed.
"Wait for it. At the latest, by tomorrow, you’ll receive your share."
With that, he hurried away.
Victor glanced at Emma, knowing she was the only one who could explain.
Even other clan members looked confused.
"Young Master, that was likely the Mushroom of Misery—the main ingredient for the Misery Pill. But for its effects to reach their peak, it must be reduced to atomic fragments."
"Sounds unpleasant. What does it do?"
"You know... suffering breeds determination. That pill is the opposite of wines that induce happiness. It forces feelings of sadness, hatred, frustration, and discomfort without end. By resisting those emotions, one forges an unyielding will. With enough will, one can form Will Power."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"As far as I know, your mother has used this pill many times. Of course, many have attempted it throughout history... but most failed—and ended up taking their own lives because they couldn’t endure the emotions."
Victor frowned.
Why would he need suffering...
When his System could grant him Will Power directly?
He shook his head.
There was no need for that.
"That’s valuable, right? If sold?" he asked.
"Yes—very valuable. It’s rare, and many seek it to temper their will. Still... it wouldn’t be bad if you used it yourself. Forming the first Will Power is much easier than the second and beyond. I don’t think you would fail—but there’s no need to rush. At the very least, wait until you reach the Lord Realm."
Victor didn’t respond.
Instead, he walked toward his mother’s castle—which was currently empty.
Leaving the Heavenly Lightning Sect so soon was a bit unfortunate.
But this place was also an excellent training ground.
He entered his room and began meditating.
Improving comprehension was difficult—but absorbing Spiritual Energy felt easy.
It flowed continuously, filling him with a comfortable sensation.
This time, he could absorb one unit every five minutes.
Five hours later, he fell asleep.
[Realm: Xiantian]
[Spiritual Energy: 60/10,000]
[Spiritual Energy Accumulation: 4,060]
He only checked his stats again the next morning.
Five hours of training...
And that was all he gained.
Yet reaching the Lord Realm required ten thousand Spiritual Energy.