The Innkeeper

Chapter 1285  Whims

Lex and Jotun continued their conversation for a while, but it was more or less evident that Jotun either did not know secrets about the greater universe, and that revealing the secrets would involve Lex in certain matters that were best avoided.

He subtly became aware of Karma, and how even knowledge could bind him to some Karma. He did not understand thoroughly what Karma was yet. Surely it was more complex than the simple explanation for it from back on Earth. Even so, he did not ask Jotun. Who knew if learning a little more might trigger another tribulation? It was best to take things steadily and slowly for now.

Even so, Lex could learn many useful things from the emperor. Even if he did not know the many secrets of the Sephore family, he still knew many things that were considered secrets to others.

”Of course Iʼve heard of the Zarek family,” the emperor said. ”In fact, it is said the Sephore family became vassals of the Zarek family for a time, and even that some from the Sephore family married into theirs. Itʼs a tragedy that anyone with the bloodline of the original kings was hunted down, or by now the Sephore and Zarek family might have merged into one.”

Ah, so his ancestors worked for Zʼs ancestors? How the tables had turned.

Eventually, though, their conversation came to a close. They had nothing left to talk about, so Lex excused himself. He had to go prepare to rescue Liz, which was trickier than he expected. Before he left, though, Lex recalled something important and decided to mention it to the emperor.

”Rafael, you say?” the emperor asked, rubbing his chin. ”I can look into him, but I donʼt see how a mortal can be of any help against the Fuegan.”

”Just like I had my sources, he has his,” Lex said. ”Of course, I could be mistaken. But I have a feeling that he will play a big role in overcoming their threat in the future.”

The emperor nodded, and promised that he would find and talk to him. With that done, he turned his attention to Liz.

Apparently, Liz had some kind of treasure on her that made it very difficult to divine her location, or peer into her secrets. Of course, such a treasure was only effective up to a certain power range, but that definitely included Earth immortals.

According to the information Lex got, it was suspected that she got her hands on that treasure through Ventura.

It was nice to know that Liz had not been subject to Damianʼs many cruelties, but her affiliation with Ventura made him uncomfortable. As the foremost cultivation academy in the universe, it was practically a given that it was the result of a system. Or at least thatʼs what Lex thought.

The owner of Ventura was also probably very strong, and Lex did not want to attract his attention yet. But the Midnight Inn wasnʼt exactly a secret to begin with, and who knew how many Ventura students had already visited it, so there was no point in avoiding Liz because of it.

He sent someone over to the Infinity Emporium with his identity token once more and had a sample requested from the planet she was on. Hopefully he would get it before she moved, since Liz had a tendency to not remain on any one planet too long.

In the meantime, Lex went over to Moon, and after confirming by putting it in the Gift shop, gave her a drop of Mythic Conifer nectar. Anything that nourished the soul would not be harmful to her. In fact, it would empower her.

Over the past few days, Lex had noticed that Moonʼs body had started to give off the aura of a Nascent soul cultivator. She was already gaining strength, but as soon as she had the drop of nectar, her skin began to blush and soon her face became red. Her body temperature rose just a little, and the vitality within her body increased exponentially.

Lexʼs limited understanding of healing and treating illnesses told him that her body had begun to recover rapidly.

Her aura also began to fluctuate rapidly, sometimes seeming like that of Moon herself, while at other times appearing like she herself was Yildrim Utopia.

But for all the positive signs the nectar brought, it did not wake her.

Lex frowned. It could entirely be possible that she would wake up soon, or that she needed more nectar. But Lex dared not give her more, despite how harmless the emperor said it was.

Fortunately, there was one person who he could consult for this. He had avoided talking to her for the past few years because he thought she was in a deep meditative state. It was only after he became an immortal, and sensed his condition, that he realized that she was just cultivating normally.

Lex teleported over to Cassandraʼs clone. She had sent it alongside Lex, so that when the Midnight realm was born she could see it for herself. Apparently, it would help her enter the Dao realm. Indeed, when she had seen the Midnight realm form, she had entered a meditative state and Lex felt like he should not disturb her, and that he would see her next whenever she became a Dao Lord - if she became a Dao Lord.

But when Lex became an immortal, he learned that this teacher of his, who had guided him back in the Temple of Fasting, was just cultivating normally.

Politely, he knocked on the door to her meditation chamber, and then entered when it opened.

Looking at her directly, Lex frowned. Why did it seem like her clone was even weaker than it originally was?

Cassandra opened her eyes and looked at Lex. For a moment she seemed dazed, but then her eyes quickly narrowed as she studied Lex.

”Youʼve been missing sleep and food again,” Cassandra said, immediately judging the state of his body. ”Youʼve also rushed your cultivation. Donʼt you know that, per level, you should spend at least a decade regulating your state before entering the next level? And whatʼs that smell? Donʼt tell me youʼve been absorbing Profane energy! I already told you not to increase your affinities anymore. Isnʼt your tribulation difficult enough? I wouldnʼt be surprised if youʼd be facing a Farham in your lightning tribulations already.”

”Itʼs good to see you too,” Lex said as he recalled this teacher of his, who was much too serious in his opinion. ”My cultivation is a bit of a mess, but it couldnʼt be helped. I triggered five tribulations back to back, and then two more a short while later. Iʼm actually avoiding studying newer laws just so that I donʼt accidentally trigger more tribulations.”

Cassandraʼs expression remained unreadable as always, though she continued to stare at him. She had almost forgotten how absurd this student of hers was. How was he so incredibly powerful even without making the most effective use of her abilities? She lamented that she couldnʼt watch over his training more carefully. But her main body could not spare any attention at all, so she could not control the Temple of Fasting even if she wanted. He was more or less on his own for his training.

”What about you, though?” Lex asked after a few moments when he realized Cassandra wasnʼt speaking. ”Get any insights into the Dao?”

”My main body has, indeed, sensed the Dao. This clone of mine would have actually dispersed at that moment, but then I recalled that the Innkeeper had given me instructions to have a discussion with the human king on the Crystal realm. In pursuit of that, I severed the connection between this clone and my main body temporarily. Once I have a discussion with him, as the Innkeeper requested, I will reinstate that connection, and then disappear. My main body cannot afford even the slightest distraction during this period.”

Ah, Lex remembered. Cassandra had the philosophy of becoming the strongest on her own, to support the human race, while Cornelius, the king of the Crystal realm, wanted to empower the entire race so that it would not need individual heroes, but would be great as a whole.

Their two ideologies were so different, on a whim he suggested that she should meet him. He thought it might bring about interesting results. Who knew that suggestion on a whim would result in Cassandra keeping her clone in the Midnight realm, which now had benefited him.

”Oh, thatʼs convenient. I was actually planning on going to meet Cornelius soon,” Lex said truthfully. ”I can bring you to the Crystal realm when I go, if you wish.”

”Yes, that sounds like a good idea. But you did not come here for this. Tell me, how do you need my help? It does not seem like you need any guidance on studying laws.”

”Actually, itʼs about my sister. She wonʼt wake up…”