Chapter 7: Maximo Hermes Garcia

Back on Earth

In his house, Xenos sat in the hall, deep in thought about his conversation with the elders. The plan to evolve Earth into a planet similar to Xander—Sumanth's homeworld—was fascinating.

But as he pondered further, a bold idea struck him.

"Does it have to stop at planetary evolution? Wouldn't it be a waste to use the plane core just for Earth? What if we used it to evolve the entire universe?"

However, after thinking it through, Xenos shook his head. Evolving a universe would require source energy from the universe's shadow negative plane, which was far more difficult than he had initially imagined.

Glancing at his watch, he saw the time: January 8, 5:58 PM.

"It's already evening... Hmm, maybe I should find the Heavenly Incarnate?"

After a brief moment of consideration, he called out to Sumanth.

"What is it?" Sumanth asked.

Xenos replied, "Nothing much, just thinking about meeting the Heavenly Incarnate. Since the planet is in crisis, I'm certain one has been born."

Sumanth nodded in understanding. "Ohh… Heavenly Incarnate—those blessed by the Heavenly Dao with immense providence to overcome a crisis. I'll ask Elder Leo; he's an expert in this matter."

Xenos agreed. "Sure."

Moments later, Elder Leo's voice echoed in their minds. "Kid, I heard you're looking for the Heavenly Incarnate?"

Xenos responded, "Yes, Elder. I'd like to meet them, and if I find them suitable, I'd like to guide them."

Elder Leo nodded approvingly. "Good thinking. Let me look into it."

After a brief pause, his voice returned, sounding slightly surprised. "Hmm… It appears there are five Heavenly Incarnates."

Sumanth's eyes widened. "What?! Elder, how can there be five Heavenly Incarnates at the same time? I can understand multiple Earthly Incarnates, but Heavenly Incarnates?"

Xenos was equally shocked by the revelation.

Elder Leo slowly muttered, "Heavenly Incarnate Restraint..."

Both Xenos and Sumanth were confused. It was the first time they had heard the term.

Noticing their puzzled expressions, Elder Leo explained, "It's natural that you've never heard of it. This is an ancient method—rarely used, as it is forbidden and can lead to the extinction of an entire race."

Xenos and Sumanth gasped. "What?!"

Elder Leo continued, "All beings in this vast universe exist under the 'Tao'—the supreme law of Heaven and Earth. Beneath the Tao is the Heavenly Dao, which provides providence to all races. This providence ensures that each race continues to progress by producing geniuses—beings of extraordinary talent and destiny."

"However, the technique known as 'Heavenly Incarnate Restraint' interferes with this natural process, suppressing the emergence of such talents. That's why no race dares to use it—doing so would lead to stagnation and eventual decline."

Xenos' expression darkened. "Then… could this be the reason why the Martial Realm's cultivation system is flawed? Why it only has a First Realm with so many limitations?"

Elder Leo nodded. "That is highly likely. Someone must have used Heavenly Incarnate Restraint in the past. But, there is always a way to lift the restriction. And now, with the birth of five Heavenly Incarnates in a single generation, the seal must have been broken."

Xenos clenched his fists. "But Elder, who could have done something like this?"

Elder Leo shook his head. "I don't know. I cannot trace the cause and effect… it seems as though everything has been deliberately hidden."

Sumanth's face was filled with disbelief. "Even from you, Elder?"

Elder Leo's expression turned serious. "Hmm… Whoever did this must be at my level or even higher."

He then looked at Xenos. "So, what will you do now?"

Xenos sighed. "I don't know if having five Heavenly Incarnates in this era is a blessing or a curse. I need to meet them myself to find out."

Elder Leo nodded in agreement. "The five Heavenly Incarnates are located in five different regions—North, South, East, West, and Central. I have a Teleportation Chain that will take you near one of them."

Xenos took the chain and placed it around his neck. Then, he pulled out a peculiar dice. Unlike an ordinary die, this one had no numbers on it. When he willed it to activate, five letters appeared—N, S, E, W, and C—representing the five regions.

The dice spun rapidly before finally stopping.

It showed 'W'.

Xenos exhaled. "It looks like I'll be heading west."

Sumanth and Elder Leo nodded in understanding. The Dice of Destiny was a transcendent-level treasure that guided people toward their fated path. If it had chosen the West, there was a reason.

Without hesitation, Xenos touched the chain—and in the blink of an eye, he vanished, teleporting toward the West.

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Xenos arrived just outside the village and took in his surroundings. As he looked at the settlement ahead, he thought to himself, "It seems the teleportation worked correctly… but what is this place again?"

Tapping on his watch, he opened the Map function and checked his current location.

Western Region

Franklin Town – A settlement near Braccia Mountain, under the jurisdiction of the Garcia Family.

"Franklin Town, huh? Well, let's see if I can find him."

With that thought, Xenos stepped forward and entered the town.

As soon as he walked through the streets, he noticed many people staring at him with curiosity. It didn't take him long to realize the reason—his clothing stood out from the local style.

Not wanting to attract unnecessary attention, he casually tapped his watch again, activating its Clothing Adjustment feature. In an instant, his outfit transformed, now matching the typical attire of the Western Region.

Gradually, the gazes of the townspeople shifted away from him, their interest fading.

Xenos made his way to the tavern bar, a place buzzing with people drinking and chatting. He ordered a drink for himself and casually listened to the various conversations around him.

At first, nothing caught his attention—just idle gossip and everyday complaints. But after some time, he overheard something interesting.

Near the window, two men were engaged in a conversation. Their eyes were fixed on a young 15-year-old boy who was walking quietly down the road.

The boy carried a bag filled with herbs and was heading toward Braccia Mountain.

One of the men, still watching the boy, turned to his companion and asked—

"Hey, isn't that kid Maximo Hermes Garcia—the prodigy of the Garcia family? What's he doing here?"

"He was."

"What do you mean?"

"Now, he's just Maximo—no family name. He was abandoned by his family."

"Wait, what?! How did that happen?"

"It's a long story, bro. Forget about it. I'll tell you some other time. Let's just enjoy our drinks."

As the two were about to drop the conversation, Xenos suddenly appeared beside them. Without hesitation, he pulled out a $100 Federal note and placed it on the table.

"Tell me everything you know about that kid, and this money is yours."

The sight of the crisp bill instantly sobered the drunken man. His eyes widened as he snatched the $100 Federal and even pulled out a chair for Xenos to sit.

"Sir, I'll tell you everything I know," he said eagerly.

"The head of the Garcia Family is Edward Hermes Garcia. He has three wives—two from influential families and one who was just a maid of the Garcia household."

"Maximo… he's the youngest son of the family head, born from the maid."

"From a young age, he was the most talented member of the Garcia bloodline. People called him a once-in-a-century genius. But of course, that kind of talent made him a target, especially among his half-brothers and sisters."

"You see, the Garcia family specializes in alchemy. And Maximo? He showed an unparalleled affinity for it. His knowledge of herbs, his ability to handle ingredients, and even his pill-making skills were unmatched."

"When he was just seven years old, he successfully created his first pill. That feat alone shook the entire family. People started speculating that he might one day become the next head of the Garcia Family."

"But… everything changed on his 15th birthday, exactly one month ago."

"His younger sister, a 10-year-old girl, suddenly collapsed. There was no illness, no clear cause—just a mysterious coma."

"The family tried every advanced medical technique available, but nothing worked. She just kept getting weaker and weaker."

"Then, 23 days ago, in a desperate move, Maximo used a forbidden technique."

"I don't know exactly what it was… but people say he sacrificed his own lifespan to stabilize his sister's condition. The result?"

"His cultivation was crippled."

"When the Garcia Ancestor heard about it, he was furious. Losing a genius like Maximo… it was unacceptable."

"And so, as punishment, they exiled him from the family. Not just him—his sister was cast out as well."

"They even stripped him of his surname."

"Now, he's just Maximo. No family. No home. No future."

"That's all I know, sir."

Xenos nodded, processing the information. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the bar.

Behind him, the two men watched him leave.

"Who do you think that guy is?" one of them muttered.

"Who cares? We got our money, that's all that matters. Just forget about it."

"Hmm… Since you got the cash, you're treating me tonight!"

"Yeah, yeah, sure."

Outside, Xenos followed the path Maximo had taken. Within minutes, he spotted the boy walking alone.

Just as he was about to approach, he stopped in his tracks. His sharp senses picked up on something—movement in the shadows.

A dozen figures, clad in black robes, were tailing Maximo from a distance.

Xenos' expression darkened.

"Now I understand why the Dice of Destiny led me to this boy first."