Chapter 10: Refining the Internal Organs

Although he didn't know the full extent of his elder's confidence, Simon felt a surge of passion and excitement in his heart.

Though he was a mortal, the thought of following the elder, building the De Molinos family's glory, and spreading its renown and influence across the land filled him with ambition.

If they succeeded, centuries later, his name would be written in the De Molinos family's history books and remembered by future generations.

"Rest assured, Elder. I will dedicate myself wholeheartedly to the De Molinos family, sparing no effort or sacrifice!"

Looking at Arius's figure, Simon spoke with great reverence. His voice was filled with ambition and determination.

He was ready to follow the elder and build a prosperous and illustrious De Molinos family.

Satisfied with Simon's attitude, Arius nodded approvingly before riding off on the tiger beast, leaving behind only his aged voice echoing in the air:

"Do not disappoint me."

"Though you lack spiritual roots and cannot walk the path of cultivation, as long as you serve the family well, I promise to grant you the means to extend your lifespan in the future."

"This applies not just to you but to all who contribute to the family, whether they are direct descendants, servants, or guards. The De Molinos family will never let their efforts go unrewarded."

As Arius's words faded, the De Molinos family members, including the servants and guards, were all invigorated.

To the family elders, the promise of life-extending methods was incredibly tempting. They, who held power, wealth, and status, naturally wished to live longer.

For the De Molinos family's servants and guards, the elder's promise was equally enticing. It meant that as long as they worked hard and contributed, they could gradually elevate their status—even to the ranks of the family's elite.

In just a few words, Arius had significantly boosted the De Molinos family's cohesion and morale.

This was the art of leadership.

Of course, Arius wasn't simply making empty promises.

Although he couldn't yet provide mortals with life-extending methods, once he broke through to Level 1 Realm, he would be able to manipulate the world's spiritual energy and begin refining basic medicinal pills.

Crafting pills to extend a mortal's lifespan by a few years—or even a decade—wasn't particularly difficult. The required materials were relatively common and inexpensive.

For the servants, guards, and affiliated families, those deserving of support had to be nurtured. Those who earned respect had to be treated with dignity.

Only by balancing reward and discipline and providing tangible benefits could they foster loyalty and dedication to the De Molinos family.

Returning to his courtyard, Arius casually assigned a room to the tiger beast before retreating to his underground chamber.

During the encounter with the Ashfell family's Third Elder, Arius had faintly sensed signs of breaking through to the mid-stage of the Bone Tempering Realm.

It must be said, the cultivation speed granted by Mystic-grade spiritual roots was incomparable to that of pseudo spiritual roots.

Since acquiring Mystic-grade roots, Arius's progress had been nearly free of bottlenecks.

Sitting cross-legged, Arius cleared his mind of distractions and entered a state of tranquility.

With each breath, faint traces of spiritual energy flowed into his body, tempering every bone within him.

In the world of cultivation, time passed unnoticed. Days flew by as Arius focused on strengthening his abilities and gradually prepared to break through to the Organ Tempering Realm.

Meanwhile, in Purple River City, within the sprawling Ashfell family estate that spanned several dozen miles, the atmosphere in a magnificent golden hall was tense.

The family's First Elder, a late-stage Bone Tempering cultivator and the second most powerful individual in the Ashfell family, was present.

The grand hall was filled with Ashfell family elites, but an oppressive silence hung over them.

At the center, seated in the most distinguished position, was the Ashfell family's patriarch. His luxurious robe and golden scepter symbolized his authority, though his face was clouded with worry.

Surveying the gathered elders, he spoke slowly:

"It has been several days since the Third Elder left for Nezier Town, and he has yet to return."

"Elders, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

As soon as the patriarch finished, a mid-stage Blood Tempering elder rose with a dismissive expression and said:

"Patriarch, you're overthinking this. That so-called De Molinos family elder is nothing more than a mid-stage Blood Tempering failure with pseudo spiritual roots."

"If it weren't for the Ascension Decree that the De Molinos family possessed, he would have never even qualified to join the Albigensians Sect."

"Besides, he's already 110 years old, his vitality is waning… He's no threat to the Third Elder!"

"Even in the worst-case scenario, if he did have some hidden cards, the Third Elder could still retreat safely..."

"In my opinion, the Third Elder has likely already taken control of Nezier Town and is just tying up loose ends, which is why he hasn't returned yet."

Hearing this, several Ashfell family elders nodded in agreement:

"The Seventh Elder speaks sense!"

"Nezier Town is a full seven hundred miles from Purple River City. If the Third Elder were alone, he could make the trip in half a day."

"But since the armored guards are mortals and warriors, traveling back and forth would take them five or six days."

"The Third Elder might even be on his way back as we speak."

"Still, if the Patriarch is concerned, we could send one of the elders to investigate Nezier Town."

Despite the elders' assurances, the Ashfell family patriarch's unease deepened.

He had a strong feeling that something had happened to the Third Elder.

If the mission to take Nezier Town had gone smoothly, even if the Third Elder were busy wrapping up, he would have sent someone back to deliver a message.

But now… there had been no word. No messengers had returned.

"Second Elder, I'm entrusting you to make a trip to Nezier Town."

"If something has indeed happened to the Third Elder… the Ashfell family will utterly annihilate the De Molinos family!"

The patriarch's voice carried a chilling resolve, and a flash of viciousness glinted in his eyes.

"Understood, Patriarch!"

Without hesitation, the Second Elder accepted the order. He immediately left the grand hall, his figure transforming into a streak of light as he departed Purple River City.

The Ashfell family boasted a total of seventeen cultivators:

Ten were at the Skin Tempering Realm (entry-level cultivators).Three were at the Blood Tempering Realm.Three were at the Bone Tempering Realm.One, the Ashfell family's patriarch, was at the Organ Tempering Realm.

The family's First Elder, Second Elder, and the patriarch himself were all Bone Tempering cultivators.

Within a thousand-mile radius of Purple River City, only the Ashfell family had such a large number of cultivators.

The reason was simple: the requirements to become a cultivator were exceedingly stringent.

On average, only one or two individuals per ten thousand mortals were born with spiritual roots.

Moreover, the vast majority of those with spiritual roots had pseudo roots, making it incredibly difficult for them to advance past the Bone Tempering Realm in their lifetimes.

In the thousand-mile region surrounding Purple River City, there was a mortal population of about one million.

Among them, there were at most two to three hundred cultivators.

And the majority of these were at the lowest level, the Skin Tempering Realm.

The path of cultivation was incredibly arduous—far more challenging than ascending the heavens.

Even those who devoted their entire lives to cultivation often struggled to advance even a single step. True prodigies were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

Back at the De Molinos family estate, within the underground chamber, Arius emerged from days of secluded cultivation with yet another breakthrough.

To Arius's surprise, with the support of the century-old Spirit Tempering Herb and his Mystic-grade spiritual roots, he had leaped forward by two minor realms and reached the late stage of the Bone Tempering Realm.

However, upon reaching the late stage of the Bone Tempering Realm, his cultivation speed had clearly slowed.

The energy in the De Molinos family estate was simply too scarce.

After fully absorbing the herb's medicinal power, the estate's environment was no longer sufficient to support Arius's continued advancement.