System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

Chapter 705: Chapter 705: The Water of the Dead

I will explain the exact nature of this compound and precisely why its value is unmatched,” Ethan said, his gravelly voice instantly drawing every eye in the high-security war room.

He smoothly reached into his spatial ring and retrieved a small crystal vial containing a vibrant, translucent fluid, placing it firmly onto the center of the obsidian table.

”This is my personal formula for a standard high-grade healing potion,” Ethan stated. ”The pavilion possesses its own specific version, the sovereign kingdom utilizes theirs, and the central empire manufactures theirs. However, what every single one of those standard formulations has in common is a hard structural limit. They are all strictly categorized based on the specific severity of the wounds they can patch up, correct?”

”That is correct,” the Sect Master replied through the blue projection, her dual-pupiled eyes locked onto the vial. ”That is the foundational rule of all alchemical restoration.”

”Indeed. But what they also have in common is an absolute boundary,” Ethan continued, a cold, knowing smile playing on his lips. ”None of those standard formulas can regenerate a severed limb. They can reattach an existing arm if it is retrieved in time, but they possess zero capability to grow a new one from raw bone. That is common knowledge among practitioners.”

Ethan paused, his amethyst eyes shifting slowly between the three high-ranking commanders and the two projection screens. ”However, given your exceptional military ranks, I calculate you must be fully aware of a legendary, mythical potion that can restore lost extremities.”

On the secondary screen, Tarsh’s unperturbed expression violently fractured. His eyes widened, and his wise, weathered posture stiffened instantly. ”The Divine Elixir...!”

”Excellent, General Tarsh,” Ethan murmured, his tone dripping with absolute certainty. ”The Divine Elixir. Tell me... do any of you happen to know the exact formula required to forge it?”

”No,” Annie muttered, her jaw tightening.

”We do not,” the Vice Sect Leader stated, shaking his head.

”The formula was lost to history several millennia ago,” Tarsh said, his voice carrying a sudden, intense gravity.

”Exactly. It was entirely lost to the modern world,” Ethan replied smoothly. ”But fortunately for our current strategic position, I happen to possess a alternative method to successfully synthesize it. My formulation requires several high-tier components, but every single one of them is common and easily sourced across the frontier markets—except for one vital, foundational catalyst.”

Ethan leaned forward, his shadow falling heavily across the map table. ”The Water of the River of the Dead.”

Thud!

The entire war room exploded into a sudden, chaotic movement. The Vice Sect Leader, General Henry, and General Boros violently slammed their hands against the table, throwing themselves out of their chairs in pure, unadulterated shock. Even Annie’s dual-pupiled projection rippled wildly as she stood up in her distant chambers.

”That is impossible!” the Vice Leader gasped, his face +pale. ”Are you telling us that the foul, viscous black oil inside that metal container is the literal Water of the River of the Dead?!”

”Effectively, yes,” Ethan replied unbothered by their explosive reaction. ”I am ninety-nine percent certain of my analysis.”

”Are you implying there is an active, underground river flowing directly beneath this mountain ridge?” General Boros asked, his scholarly smile entirely replaced by a sharp, lethal intensity as his dense aura of blood flared.

”Hehe... No, of course not,” Ethan chuckled, a dark, deeply amused sound that echoed against the reinforced metal walls. ”The designation ’River of the Dead’ or ’Spring of Mortality’ is a literal historical allegory. It is not a geographical reality; no such river system actively exists on this physical plane of existence.

In fact that black fluid is a dense, highly volatile liquid matrix that exclusively synthesizes inside extremely ancient, tightly sealed burial vaults with an immense concentration of decomposing corpse energy. The exact millisecond I harvested that Gravedigger Beetle from the outpost, I became certain of its existence.”

The room fell into a heavy silence.

”If this is true,” Annie said, her dual-pupiled eyes locked onto Ethan through the blue projection, ”then we are looking at a resource that can alter the entire military balance of the continent. A sect that can mass-produce the Divine Elixir cannot be suppressed.”

”Exactly,” Ethan replied, his voice flat and direct. ”But as I stated before, I do not provide my services for free. I want fifty percent of the refined elixir output, absolute administrative control over the excavation site, and your word that the Alchemist Guild Faction will not be permitted to meddle in this sector.”

”Fifty percent is an absurd demand!” General Henry barked, stepping forward. ”The pavilion is providing the entire military fleet, the defensive lockdown, and the labor to secure this frontier!”

”You are providing common steel and guards, General,” Ethan countered coldly, turning his gaze to meet the officer’s eyes. ”I am providing the formula, the refinement technique, and the medical baseline required to handle the fluid without turning your entire army into mummies. Without me, you have nothing but a hole filled with lethal poison.”

Tarsh let out a low, slow chuckle from his screen. ”The boy speaks with logic, Henry. A map to a treasure is worthless if you rot the moment you touch the key.”

The wise general looked toward Annie. ”The War Faction accepts these terms. We will provide the heavy division to garrison this mountain permanently. We care nothing for the gold, but our front-line officers need those regeneration potions to survive the northern line.”

Annie remained silent for several seconds, her unique pupils tracking Ethan’s calm posture. She calculated the strategic reality rapidly.

”Thirty percent,” Annie stated, her tone sharp and unyielding. ”We will grant you thirty percent of the refined output, full autonomy over the medical logistics of the site, and the absolute protection of my personal faction against the Alchemist Guild. If you refuse, we will simply seal this entire mountain in stone and wait until your lifespan expires.”

Ethan maintained his composure, showing zero emotion. He knew thirty percent of a legendary elixir backed by a full military armada was more than enough to fund his own path to power.

”Forty percent,” Ethan countered smoothly, leaning forward. ”And the pavilion will internally fund every single common ingredient required for the mass refinement process. My clinical hands will not waste time negotiating with frontier merchants for basic herbs.”

Annie looked at the Vice Sect Leader, who gave her a slow, affirmative nod.

”Deal,” Annie declared. ”Vice Leader, draft the high-tier soul contract immediately. General Boros, deploy your vanguard into the subterranean cavern network. Let us see what else is hiding inside this imperial tomb.”

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From this moment forward, to avoid confusion regarding cultivation ranks, I will include this footer with the current established levels.

Note: These are only the ranks mentioned so far to avoid spoilers.

Body Refinement Realm

Skin Refinement / Bone Refinement / Organ Refinement

Spiritual Gathering Realm

Spiritual Perception / Spiritual Mist / Spiritual Condensation

Spiritual Core Realm

Core Solidification / Core Awakening / Spiritual Collapse (Half-step Spiritual Core)

Spiritual Soul Realm

Spiritual Soul Awakening / Soul Nourishing / Soul-Core Fusion

Golden Core Realm

Prime Fusion / Core Perfection / Core Destruction

Spiritual Sea Realm

The Melting Tide / The Tidal Horizon / The Sea Mist Ascension

Dao Manifestation Realm

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

Spiritual Transcendence

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

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Sword mastery levels

Sword Intent.

Sword Aura.