Damien was inside the imperial palace as Oswin Rong led him down a narrow passage and a huge hall came into sight.
There were slender braziers half encompassing each of the ten huge marble statues, lighting up the hall and allowing shadows to play and dance where light cannot reach. The illustration of the Rong Empire's insignia on the terraced ceiling danced in the flickering light while memorials and carved images looked down upon the floor made from Blue Spirit Stones!
'Wow...Blue Spirit Stones, I guess the Rong Empire must have been really prosperous centuries ago. No wonder the ethereal air in this hall seems more refreshing and vitalizing.'
Damien was impressed with the surroundings of the hall that seemed to have remained untouched for thousands of years giving off an antiquated aura. He speculated that this hall must be where the Ancestor usually cultivated. Even he was tempted to try cultivating a bit with such quality of ethereal air permeating the hall.
As they walked further in, a door came into sight and he could see Lily waiting in front of the door.
Lily smiled seeing the two, "Good afternoon, Alchemist Azrael. I am glad you took time off from your busy schedule to come here in such a short notice. Please do tell us if we can repay you in any way."
Damien waved his hand, "Having an opportunity to meet the revered Ancestor itself is an honor for me. But if Your Highness is insisting to repay me, I suppose you wouldn't mind if I can get a certain Low Level Sky Grade herb?"
Damien didn't want them to get too suspicious of his 'free treatment' so he thought of requesting something which isn't too expensive nor too cheap. After all in this world, it is every man for himself. Especially people who are at the top of the food chain aren't magnanimous enough to offer their services for free.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})Lily didn't even hesitate and said with a hint of excitement in her tone, "Sure, it won't be a problem. Shall we, then?" She gestured to Damien to enter.
But suddenly Luna's voice sounded in his mind, "I will alter your cultivation aura to that of a Heaven Ethereal Realm practitioner because the one called the Ancestor inside that room is at the Profound Ethereal Realm!"
Behind his blurry face, Damien's eye's widened but he didn't give out any other reactions. He knew why Luna masked his cultivation aura to that of a Heaven Ethereal Realm cultivator since it would be extremely suspicious for him to have a cultivation level which even the Ancestor couldn't see through.
He had also previously guessed that Luna must have altered his cultivation level to that of a Heaven Ethereal Realm cultivator when he was standing before Elder Ximir from the Xeton Empire which was the reason why Elder Ximir was a little apprehensive when Reva wanted to talk with Damien alone.
As he walked behind Lily and entered the door, he still couldn't believe there existed a Profound Ethereal Realm cultivator in the Rong Empire. But it all made sense since he thought how the Ancestor was able to keep the other three empires at bay.
As soon as they got inside, Damien saw an elderly man in a gray robe leaning on an imperial bed at first glance. Lily had told him that the Ancestor was born around 400 to 500 years ago and with the cultivation of Profound Ethereal Realm, he could live up to 1000 years! So, seeing the Ancestor look like an old man, with an anaemic complexion and a wan face, he knew it was not a simple injury at all.
He was sure many reputed doctors from the Rong Empire or even doctors from other empires must have tried to treat the Ancestor. But obviously they all failed.
Despite how weak he looked, a warm and affectionate smile appeared on the pale face of the old man as soon as he saw Lily enter.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Grandpa!" Lily's heart ached seeing that her Ancestor's complexion had worsened a bit than before. She hurriedly rushed towards the bed and asked worriedly, "Are you not feeling better?"
The Ancestor chuckled and looked at Lily affectionately, "My child, I am fine trust me." He looked behind Lily and asked, "Is this the person you brought with you?"
The Ancestor was not in fact her grandfather but he had told Lily to call him as one since he doted on her like a loving grandfather.
Damien was not that surprised since he knew the Ancestor was probably fond of Lily seeing how he didn't give her up for marriage.
But he wondered why the Ancestor was not undergoing any medical treatment to prolong his life. Even if one's condition was very serious, one could try to buy a little more time by relying on precious medicine.
Oswin Rong was staying silent behind Damien in a respectful pose. Despite the position he holds, he was always deferential and respected the Ancestor.
Lily took a quick glance at Damien and said, "Yes, grandpa. He is the recently famous Alchemist Azrael who is able to concoct the mythical Supreme Tier Pills. He may be able to help you and it's rumored that his medical skills are unparalleled. So, please let him have a look at you."
Lily knew that her Ancestor had actually refused any kind of treatment for the past few years saying that no medicine can cure him. But this time the Ancestor gave in to Lily since it was the first time he saw her being so insistent and also because he was curious to see the alchemist who could concoct Supreme Tier Pills. After all he had lived for centuries and knew how Supreme Tier Pills were a myth.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})The Ancestor's gaze fell upon Damien and it made Damien feel as if he was laid bare open in front of him and felt a slight invisible pressure. But the faint pressure disappeared as soon as it came, as the Ancestor removed his gaze from Damien with a faint smile on his face.
'Meeting powerhouses ain't simple.' Damien sighed inwardly.
The Ancestor sighed at Lily and said with a gentle smile, "Okay, I will give one last chance to myself."
Lily looked at Damien and gestured to him that he could proceed.
Damien went forward and cupped his hands, "Alchemist Azrael, pays his respects to your esteemed self."
The Ancestor gave a amazed look, "Hmm...so you are the genius alchemist who shook the whole continent recently. I have heard a lot of rumors about you from Lily itself, trying to convince me to let you treat me. I never thought my empire had such a powerful and talented alchemist. I am really surprised I never met such a genius like you during my young days. You were able to concoct the mythical Supreme Tier Pills that no one in the world, not even the Xeton Empire could achieve. Simply astonishing."
Oswin Rong's brows raised momentarily when he heard the Ancestor say that Damien was powerful. After all, even with his fifth level Sky Ethereal Realm cultivation, he was unable to see through Damien. Now he even started to speculate that Damien must be at least at the Heaven Ethereal Realm for even the Ancestor to hold him in such high regard.
Damien replied in a respectful tone, "Your Highness flatters me too much. I am where I am now only because of fortuitous encounters and my hardened will."
Lily was a bit surprised hearing Damien being so self-effacing since she heard rumors about how Alchemist Azrael was a proud and aloof person who wasn't that keen in exchanging pleasantries.
Damien had a favorable opinion of the Ancestor so far and truly respected him seeing how much he cared about Lily. He was now more determined to somehow heal the Ancestor.
The Ancestor's expression didn't change as he said, "Still, to achieve your current prowess is not something anyone can do especially without having the right backing and resources."
He looked at Lily and said with a soft smile, "Why don't you and Oswin Rong wait outside while I let Alchemist Azrael treat me?"
Lily was surprised and wondered why the Ancestor wanted to be left alone with Alchemist Azrael. She hesitated and was about to say something but stopped herself when she saw how the Ancestor was adamant about what he said.
Lily nodded and slowly walked past Damien towards the door and Oswin Rong also didn't say anything since he knew the Ancestor won't do or say anything without reason.
Damien was a bit surprised at the turn of events. He was thinking whether they were confident of leaving the Ancestor alone with him because of how powerful he is.
As the doors closed behind him, the Ancestor's gaze focused on Damien as an inscrutable smile emerged on his face.
'Oh shit…'
