Chapter 166: Evolution

"Entertaining battle; you've finally gotten your revenge from the last match, Marley." Remarked Elif with a slight smirk while snacking on lightning cherries as the two slowly neared him.

"Y-Yeah, though it wasn't easy; if my final attack didn't defeat her, I would've lost." Replied Marley with a light smile as she and Idonea caught a pill Elif tossed on them before consuming it without hesitating.

Directly after they consumed the rejuvenation pill I tossed to them, they sat down a few meters before me and started guiding the energy the pill contained to their more serious injuries so that they may heal quicker, though they didn't stay like this for a long time, merely thirty or so minutes, which is usually the amount of time it takes until the energy contained the pill is used-up.

"Thank you, your Highness." Said Idonea and Marley as they stood up in newfound vigor, though they weren't fully healed yet.

"So, what were you doing, your Highness?" Asked Marley curiously as she sat down opposite Elif, Idonea doing the same.

"Just what you'd expect: exploring the manor, engaging in conversation with the Patriarch, and participating in a banquet, which I had just returned from, as a matter of fact. Though I will say, I might've just gained access to a unique and mighty treasure." Replied Elif calmly with a light smile while glancing at Idonea and Marley, his words arousing the interest of the two.

"Knowing how difficult it is for something to be labeled a unique and powerful treasure by you, it must be one-of-a-kind. Mind telling us?" Remarked Marley curiously as she leaned forward, seemingly ready to listen, while Idonea stayed the same.

Since the information about the flame of rebirth isn't really a big deal, at least in my opinion, I had no qualms about informing them about it, so for the next half-hour, I explained to them my knowledge about the flame of rebirth. However, while she didn't move a single muscle, I could tell even Illumia was listening to me.

"So essentially, because that stupid Phoenix attacked you with the intent to kill, you've managed to coerce the Patriarch into possibly allowing you to bathe in the Flames of Rebirth, which should, in theory, vastly improve your strength!?" Asked Idonea in astonishment while Marley just blankly sat there with widened eyes as she stared at Elif.

"Yes, though apparently no outsider, or more accurately, no non-Phoenix, has ever been allowed to bathe in the Flames Rebirth, so they have no idea whether it's actually possible; also, if it is feasible, given my already impressive strength, I highly doubt my strength would vastly improve, a slight improvement, maybe, but not vastly." Replied Elif, still snacking on lightning cherries.

"Still, even so, your Highness, just a slight improvement in your strength could be considered massive for someone as talented and powerful as you; bathing in the Flames of Rebirth will only further cement your position as the strongest in this generation!" Stated Marley as she finally snapped out of her little daze.

"You think I don't already know that, Marley? I know my strength better than anyone present, well, maybe except for Illumia, but only I know how difficult it is to improve my natural strength. The only way for me to improve my natural strength would be for my Physique to evolve to a high-Immortal tier; however, I'm sure everyone here knows how insanely difficult such a thing would be to accomplish, not to mention if it's even possible." Remarked Elif while eyeing Marley before shaking his head.

After my remark, we three went silent; I was thinking about returning home, while Idonea also seemed to be pondering something, and Marley, well, Marley was doing Marley things.

"Have there ever been any records of someone with an Immortal Physique or Immortal spirit root evolving theirs to a higher degree, no matter the method?" Asked Idonea curiously while glancing at Elif, who had just returned his bowl of lightning cherries to his dimension ring.

"Haa, although I probably shouldn't be divulging this, though yes, there have been a few rare cases of people evolving their spirit root or physique to an Immortal tier; however, it isn't as you think, none of the people in question had started with an Immortal tier physique or spirit root." Replied Elif rather seriously with a thoughtful expression, though his words shocked the three women to their core.

"Y-You're not lying, your Highness!?" Asked Illumia with widened eyes while intently eyeing Elif, Idonea, and Marley doing the same.

"No, of course, I'm not lying; besides, you should know I've never been a good liar; you three are almost always able to tell whenever I lie." Said Elif with emphasis while glancing at Idonea and Marley, causing the two to hang their head down in shame.

"Anyways, while such information probably sounds revolutionary, the act of evolving your aptitude to that of Immortal tier isn't as feasible as I made it seem; if it were, at least every Immortal Hegemony would have one or two descendants with an Immortal aptitude." Added Elif lightly while looking at Illumia.

"Even if you say that, your Highness, if news about that were to be released to the public, it would cause mass hysteria. It might even usher in a new Epoch!" Stated Illumia seriously, though Elif merely chuckled at her comment.

"I understand your concern, Illumia, but trust me, it won't. in fact, even if the method of evolving your aptitude to an Immortal tier were released to the public, it would hardly change anything, simply because of how ridiculously steep the requirements are." Said Elif with a shake of his head.

"So, since you said it wouldn't really matter if the information was released to the public, can you tell us about the method?" Asked Marley with a mischievous smirk while eyeing Elif, who clicked his tongue in response.

"I won't tell you all of them; I'll only say one, not like there are many options to choose from." Muttered Elif before explaining the process to the three, though Illumia isolated the area around them before he did to prevent any possible leaks.

"Anyways, one of the methods, probably the simplest and easiest method, would be to gather roughly ten or so thousand beings with a high-God tier aptitude, whether it's a spirit root or physique only depends on what you're trying to evolve. After that, you must create a powerful Immortal-tier formation that'll allow you to combine all ten thousand beings into one; once that is done, you must then combine the essence of ten thousand people into yourself, which is very well possibly the hardest part of the whole process." Declared Elif, his words once again shocking the three women.

"T-That was considered simple and easy, your Highness?" Asked Marley hesitantly as she nervously gulped while eyeing the smirking Elif.

"Yes, it is; now then, good luck on successfully carrying the process out. if you manage to succeed, I'll do anything you say for one hundred years." Replied Elif with a sly smirk while chuckling as he glanced at Marley, though believe it or not, his statement actually caused Marley to consider the idea.

'I mean, it's only ten thousand people and an Immortal tier formation; in theory, both are feasible.' Pondered Marley quietly while the three continued conversing.

"If that was merely the simplest and easiest method, then I can't imagine the more difficult and complex methods; I completely understand now, your Highness." Said Illumia with a weary expression as she retracted her Qi back into her body, returning the space around them to normal.

"I can't believe someone actually managed to succeed in such a process; I suppose the OverRealm really is big." Muttered Idonea in astonishment.

"Speaking of big, look what I've got." Stated Elif as he reached underneath the table, his actions causing Marley's eyes to widen while intently eyeing Elif with a hungry gaze.

Summoning the dimension ring the alchemist elder gave me from my own dimension ring, I checked the contents of the ring, only to spot a massive black cauldron; encasing it in my Qi, I willed it to appear, and not even a moment later, it landed in the courtyard before us.

"A cauldron?" Remarked Marley in disappointment while sighing.

"Yes, it's the cauldron you, Idonea, and Mandy will be using tomorrow for the punishment that you've decided on your own accord, so when it's over, don't come complaining to me, in fact, you'll most likely thank me, considering I halved your original punishment." Said Elif as he neared the cauldron while giving it a short inspection before turning around and eyeing the two.

"If I had known we would be carrying out our punishment tomorrow, I wouldn't have accepted Marley's rematch." Said Idonea while sighing.

"Yes, I suggest the two of you should focus on recovering for the remainder of the day; I'm sure neither of you wants to be in the midst of punishment while still injured." Declared Elif as he waved his quạt tay toward the two, shooing them off, to which they listened.

With Marley and Idonea leaving, I returned to my seat and gazed upon the cauldron while frowning, knowing tomorrow most likely wouldn't be a pleasant day.

'Haa, it's their decision; I'm just honoring it.' Thought Elif while sighing before glancing at Illumia.

"Since there isn't much to do, let's practice our seduction skills." Said Elif with a light smile as he grabbed Illumia's hand and winked at her while leading her into the house.

'I need to be careful; His Highness is getting very skillful in the art of seducing.' Thought Illumia calmly as she followed Elif, though his little antics caused her heart to increase in pace subtly.

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Elven Legacy (Chapter 181: Problems Arise) || Hero of Harmony (Chapter 62: Talis's Present!) || One Piece: Chaos Kong (Chapter 99: Seven Routes) at [patreon.com/Ozonelayer691]