Charlie agreed with Maria’s assessment. He sighed, “The Four-sided Treasure Tower must be trying to convey something to me, but my concern is whether its intentions are for my benefit or its own.”
He continued, “It transmitted my hand seals, but the aura from those hand seals is something I can’t utilize, and it even siphoned all my energy away. If this treasure tower has ulterior motives, it could be lying in wait inside me, wanting to turn me Into Its host. If that’s the case, It could lead to serious trouble down the line.”
Maria smiled reassuringly, saying, “Young Master, you are a noble man of Divine Dragon heritage, and fortunate individuals are often protected by fate. I believe the situation may not be fraught with dangers and might evolve into a future opportunity.”
After a brief pause, Maria added, “I understand that Young Master’s energy is hard-earned, but I still recommend that you attempt all the hand seals in the Four-sided Treasure Tower again. What if this becomes a once-in-a-lifetime chance?”
Charlie took a moment to reflect before responding, “I suppose it’s worth a shot. Ultimately, it will depend on how things unfold. Its demeanor suggests it is after my energy but not my life.”
He continued, “The tower needs the energy, and so does the ring. My supply of Cultivation Pills is running low. I plan to gather more materials soon and then use the cauldron from the Mystic Harmony Sect to refine an enhanced version of the Cultivation Pill. When the time comes, I’ll take a risk and consume twenty pills to address both issues at once.”
Maria nodded and said, “Let me know what materials you need, and I’ll do my best to assist you.”
Charlie said, “There are two particularly challenging materials. One is ambergris that is over ten thousand years old, and the other is top-grade snow ginseng that is over a thousand years old.”
Maria expressed favonovel.com surprise: “Does it really need to be that old? I’ve used ambergris in perfume before, but it seems the ambergris I used was only recently separated from the sperm whale, maybe just a few decades ago. A requirement of ten thousand years is unfathomable, far exceeding the timeline of human civilization…”
“Exactly…” Charlie sighed. “Human history spans a little more than five thousand years. That ten-thousand-year-old ambergris could only come from a sperm whale that died naturally ten thousand years ago, or from the decomposition of its body. Most of it has likely deteriorated over time, whether at the bottom of the sea or washed ashore. Even if some survived, it’s probably buried beneath many layers of sand and gravel.”
Maria asked, “How did you manage to acquire ten-thousand-year-old ambergris before?”
Charlie replied, “I eliminated a nefarious character in Aurous Hill who had a penchant for raising Gu Worms, and I stumbled upon the ambergris through that encounter.”
Maria smiled, “That was quite the fortunate accident, but there’s no need to fret. I can brainstorm some ideas on how to locate it.”
When Charlie and Maria returned to Aurous Hill, it was already noon.
Having been away for several days, Maria was eager to check on the Mother of Pu’er tree in the yard, so Charlie accompanied favonovel.com to Zilian Villa first. He also arranged for Don Albert to wait for favonovel.com at Zilian Villa to drive favonovel.com home in the afternoon, allowing favonovel.com to reconnect with his family.
Upon arriving at Zilian Villa, Maria instructed the servant Marius to search for some ten-thousand-year-old ambergris for Charlie.
Over the years, Maria had cultivated considerable influence and connections. Although favonovel.com power wasn‘t in martial arts or spiritual cultivation, favonovel.com had built a reputation across various societal spheres. Then, the two headed to the top-floor courtyard.
The Mother of Pu’er had thrived, exhibiting vibrant growth even in the frigid winter.
At that moment, the leaves of the Mother of Pu‘er Tea were so dense that counting them all at once was nearly impossible. However, for a Pu’er tea tree, it remained rather small at this stage.
An adult Pu’er tea tree could reach heights of several meters or more, boasting tens of thousands of leaves. The Mother of Pu’er Tea, being the ancestor of all Pu’er tea, could potentially grow significantly larger if given ample time to develop.
Maria inspected it closely and remarked to Charlie, “Young Master, look closely at these leaves, they resemble the artificial green plants found in stores. Every single leaf is flawless, without a hint of yellowing or curling.”
Charlie couldn’t help but admire, “It withstands the biting cold and snow of winter, yet remains unfazed by the summer heat. I doubt ordinary pests would be able to harm it. We were initially concerned that the Mother of Pu’er would struggle outside its native environment of Dianchi Lake. Now it seems our worries were unfounded.”
Maria agreed, saying to Charlie, “Once it’s fully grown, by next spring, it will be even more lush.”
Charlie grinned, “Then you’ll be able to pick some leaves and make tea bricks. Not only will they taste exquisite, but they could also infuse some energy. They would undoubtedly be the finest teas.”
Maria recalled something and said to Charlie, “Young Master, consider researching whether the leaves of the Mother of Pu’er Tea could assist in pill refinement. This plant, rich in energy, may be unique in its capacities. lf it enhances the effects of the pills, it would be the best use of our resources, far exceeding just brewing and drinking.”
Charlie responded, “The recipes we are currently using are all documented in the Apocalyptic Book. I’m uncertain if incorporating the tea leaves from the Mother of Pu’er into the recipe might alter its original properties. However, I can start with the Rejuvenation Pill during my next refinement. The material cost for the Rejuvenation Pill is relatively low. If the addition proves beneficial, I can experiment with it further when preparing other pills in the future.”
Maria said, “From my understanding of Chinese herbal prescriptions, they typically fall into two categories. One requires strict adherence to the reclpe’s specifications and dosage for optimal efficacy. The other serves as a foundational recipe that, when enhanced with additional ingredients, can yield surprising benefits. The Mother of Pu’er Tea is a sacred tree that has survived heavenly tribulations, making its leaves a rare treasure of nature.”
Charlie nodded in agreement, saying, “Miss Clark is correct. Many prescriptions are not fixed; they must be continuously adapted. I will make a point to experiment if the opportunity arises.”
At that moment, Charlie’s phone unexpectedly rang.
It was Inspector Jack Lee.
Charlie answered, asking, “Inspector Lee, have there been any new developments?”
Jack spoke urgently, “Mr. Wade, AI has identified three suspected targets believed to be the Three Elders at Porto Novo International Airport in Benin this morning. They took the earliest flight from Benin to South Africa.”
Charlie inquired, “Do you have pictures? Please send them to me.”
“Yes,” Jack quickly sent a high-definition photo to Charlie via WeChat.
In the image, three Asian men in their sixties and seventies were captured at the airport boarding gate. They appeared expressionless and cold, bearing a slight resemblance to one another.
Notably, the three men carried little to no luggage. The boarding gate indicated they were boarding a flight to Cape Town, South Africa, where a queue had already formed.
Charlie asked Jack, “What specific details led AI to deem the three of them suspicious?”
Jack explained, “The analysis indicates that Benin shares a border with Nigeria, and the direct distance from Lagos in Nigeria to Porto Novo In Benin is just over 100 kilometers. It’s highly likely the Three Elders would choose this route. Furthermore, they meet the criterion of being Asian. Most importantly, AI observed remarkable similarities in their facial features, suggesting a possible blood relation and genetic connection.”
Charlie scrutinized the three men in the picture, sensing they distinctly stood apart from the other airport passengers. There was indeed a notable resemblance among the three.
Charlie remarked to Jack, “I also feel something is off about these three individuals. If they truly are the Three Elders, they’ll likely transfer to South America after arriving in Cape Town. Inspector Lee, keep a close watch on their movements. If their next destination is indeed South America, we can confirm they are the Three Elders!”
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