Legacy of Hatred-Chapter 148: Broader

Sleep finally arrived once Liam was done sorting through the shocking discoveries. He never had issues resting in unlikely locations, and his exhausted body even helped that night.

Waking up revealed the full extent of the healing pill’s effects. Liam didn’t know how long he had slept, but his many bruises and soreness were gone, as if they had never existed.

The same went for Liam’s foundation. His core and roots had basically fully recovered, probably being the pill’s main target.

Yet, for that very reason, Liam’s right elbow and fingers hadn’t healed. They looked better and hurt less, but it would take them more time to regain their former strength and functions.

It seemed Liam’s condition had been too poor for a single rank 1 pill to fix completely. Still, the event was no less miraculous, reinforcing his decision to learn to concoct those.

Liam drew his pipe and started smoking at that point. His foundation was fine, but abusing it right after that sudden recovery couldn’t be wise, so he planned to lie low and nourish it until it felt as firm and quivering as before.

So, since the mission was virtually over from Liam’s perspective, his mind did a quick review of his gains.

The rank 2 elixirs, pill, and, probably, magical beasts’ cores theoretically were the greatest gains, even if they would show their value only once Liam traded them.

The same went for Cecilia’s magical item. It was decent, but Liam would prefer to trade it for something more suitable for him.

Yet, Liam knew that the theory didn’t match reality. Those more tangible findings paled before everything else he had obtained, despite being intangible in nature.

Knowledge was its own reward, and it was priceless in Liam’s case. It not only tackled his greatest weakness as a cultivator. What he had learned in the mission was also so beneficial that he felt his efforts had been worth it.

The rooting experts’ battle prowess, the magical items’ diversity, the Qi’s mastery levels, and testing the preparations in real-life situations had greatly expanded Liam’s mindset and understanding of that world.

Each of Liam’s following steps would be far more precise now, leading to more efficient growth. He knew where he stood, what he lacked, and what he had to achieve, almost urging him to seclude himself to focus on his training.

The new knowledge also involved topics Liam didn’t need to face now, but that weren’t completely unrelated. Finding the Church of the Man’s secret lab had deepened his understanding of the Kingdom, creating a clearer picture of the very world.

Priest Eustace’s cultivation level suddenly didn’t feel surprising anymore. That doubt was no more, replaced by a far bigger conspiracy Liam would have to take into account while pursuing his main goal.

Then, there was a side of Liam’s gains that was both tangible and intangible. Many of those who wanted him dead were no more. His fame was also bound to increase since Mitchell was the perfect witness for his feats.

’I really killed a rooting expert,’ Liam nodded to himself, Mitchell’s reaction to the achievement giving him an idea of how the world would take the news. ’Either everyone will leave me alone for a while, or it will embolden the Sects to do even worse.’

It couldn’t be stressed how beneficial the additional knowledge was for Liam. He was growing, both in body and, especially, in mind. He was becoming a cultivator and a man, leaving the clueless monkey-boy behind.

Things Liam couldn’t have even named, let alone considered, became part of his normal thinking process. He still had a lot to learn, but he could start to see the bigger picture now.

’I shouldn’t do anything risky until I become a rooting expert,’ Liam concluded. ’I don’t think the Sects will send branching experts next, but they won’t see me as a mere foundation expert anymore, either.’

Thinking about branching experts reminded Liam about Senior Brother Simon, who was currently attempting the breakthrough for that very stage.

Liam now knew that even the Pale Moon Sect could be dangerous. It wasn’t only about personal gains. Leaks and traitors could exist, so Liam had to remain wary all the time. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Still, thinking about Simon reminded Liam about Melissa, and a specific picture flashed in his vision, snapping him completely awake, startling him to the point that his head bumped on the wall behind him.

’What sort of illness have I even caught?’ Liam cursed, caressing the spot that he had bumped into the wall.

To avoid indulging in more of that confusingly magnetic picture, Liam crossed his legs, bringing the entirety of his awareness to the circulation technique.

As always, that training turned entire hours into mere seconds in Liam’s perception, which was ideal in his situation and condition.

Without the glass shard, Liam was virtually safe from unwanted invasions. Some perception techniques might still find him, but the odds were low since the team that had reached such deep areas only had two foundation experts left.

Truth be told, Maxwell was the only one who could track Liam since he had claimed as much, and his words turned out to be true on the morning of the seventh day.

Clear knocks resounded from Liam’s ceiling, snapping him out of his meditation. Nothing violent unfolded, but he remained alert until a familiar voice echoed inside the rectangular chamber.

"Brother Liam, it’s safe to come out," Maxwell’s voice said.

That could still be a trick. Liam’s broader perspective now made him consider the voice-altering items. Yet, the event was incredibly unlikely, so he got on his feet, retrieving all his belongings and activating the stone tablet.

Reddish morning light filled Liam’s vision as soon as he jumped out of the chamber, but a far more welcome sight soon claimed his attention. He saw Mitchell, the two green rooting experts from his team, as well as Maxwell and Joel.

At once, Liam knew that the mission was over. Despite the Sects’ collusion, he had survived that deadly test, and his eyes couldn’t help but brighten in excitement at the thought of the rewards he might get.