The World Tree mission on the third level of the Heaven-Reaching Tower was not simple.
Eddie recalled from the diary that it was an extensive thirty-six-part task, with the final stage on the sixth floor. In the past century, only Rue's father had completed it.
The World Tree mission was as challenging as clearing the twelve Zodiac Chambers on the first level or the Heaven, Earth, and Man Shrines on the second level.
"Getting a Wisdom Fruit really isn't easy," Eddie thought as he left, realizing the value and rarity of such an item.
Jean sighed after Eddie's departure, "Rue, do the elders in your family really think your brother is useless? They must be really out of touch."
Rue shook her head gently, "I don't know. Little Three seems different now. He used to be quiet and unassuming, but now he's confident and lively. If I hadn't met him here, I wouldn't have believed he could change so much."
" Maybe it's because he finally contracted a summoning grimoire. He's shed his useless reputation and become more active. I'm just happy for him, I don't need to worry about him attempting suicide anymore."
Jean furrowed her brows in thought, "How could someone like him cancel his engagement with the Snow family girl?"
Rue was equally puzzled, "I don't understand either. What's strangest is that he attempted suicide shortly after the engagement was called off."
Jean felt something was amiss, "There's definitely more to this than meets the eye. I sense many secrets around him. Maybe there's an innate powerhouse guiding him in martial arts, like in my case."
Rue was astonished, "Really? But how could Little Three be like you?" She knew Jean was a rare martial arts prodigy awaited for centuries in the Jun family.
If Jean were male, she would undoubtedly be the next emperor.
Even in the male-dominated society of Longteng Continent, and particularly within the highly traditional Jun family of the Great Dynasty, discussions had been ongoing about amending the ancestral laws to allow a woman to ascend as Regent or Protector of the Realm.
This was all for Jean, the 18th daughter of Emperor Jun Wu You, in hopes of paving the way for her to become the first Empress in a millennium.
If not for the opposition from many ministers, coupled with the fact that Emperor Jun Wu You was in his prime with more than twenty princes to choose from, Jean's path to the throne as Empress might have already been on the national agenda.
Jean, since her childhood, not only received guidance from two Protector War Gods but also had a highly mysterious mentor.
She was the only princess in history who could dine next to the Emperor. Even crown princes and favored concubines could only envy and be jealous of her position.
Being a genius who surpassed the three great Killing Stars and reached the initial stage of a level six Minor Lord at the age of twenty, Jean's speculation about Eddie, a boy ridiculed and seen as useless by the world and his family, was astonishing.
Rue couldn't believe her ears, "Really? Little Three is like you?" She knew Jean was a rare martial arts prodigy, and if she were male, she would undoubtedly be the next emperor.
Jean continued, "I suspect your Uncle didn't die in battle. Perhaps he was injured and has been secretly guiding his son all these years. "
"How could a genius warrior like him, the brightest talent of the four major families, die in one battle? My grandfather always believed your Uncle was still alive. He's mentioned it many times and even analyzed the battle records repeatedly. "
"Although the situation was extremely dire, your Uncle was not an ordinary warrior. He must have found a way to escape at the last moment! Rue, your brother is definitely not useless. He's just not as famous as your Uncle. I think he's a sly kid who's been training quietly behind the scenes!"
Rue sighed, "I also hope my Uncle is still alive. His death aged my grandfather and left Little Three orphaned. If not for my Uncle and Aunt's protection, he might have been in danger long ago. "
"Sometimes, I wish Little Three were really useless so he could live a good life, marry, have children, and lead a normal life. "
"My Uncle was always burdened with the family's expectations, fighting tirelessly to uplift the Yue family, essentially working himself to death. "
"If Little Three is capable, I'd rather he stay low-key like now. I don't want him to be famous and envied by millions, only to be destroyed halfway through his life."
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," Jean assured with a smile, then furrowed her brows, "However, I think we should check on the Snow family girl and find out what really happened with the engagement cancellation. Something about this doesn't feel right."
"Thank you, Jean. I was actually planning to talk to the Snow family girl," Rue said, looking in the direction Eddie had disappeared. "I hope it's just a misunderstanding."
Eddie had intended to teleport to the ancient oak tree where he was supposed to meet Inan and Sophia, but realized his teleportation scroll was used up.
He only had one left for teleporting to Grey Wolf's side, a scroll he didn't want to use unless absolutely necessary.
Setting up a distant teleportation array on a living being was both simple and complex.
The primary requirement was that the target being must resonate with the teleporter's aura and spirit.
When the array is activated, the target must guide the teleporter through spiritual connection.
The setup required a high level of spiritual power. Even with Eddie's innate spiritual power, setting up one array left him feeling dizzy and disoriented.
The further the teleportation distance, the more barriers and spaces crossed, and the stronger the teleportation object, the more energy the guiding being consumed.
Eddie guessed that if he had used the scroll to escape back to Grey Wolf in the Abyss of Demon King, it would have left Grey Wolf fainting or even vomiting blood.
Teleporting a Demon King might have caused Grey Wolf to explode!
However, Eddie was still unclear about the profound principles of this spatial law and could only grasp a bit of it.
Without the teleportation scroll, Eddie checked his belongings and found his coin purse as empty as if it had been washed clean. His previous savings and the hundred gold coins he had received as a reward were all spent on buying beast eggs and teleportation scrolls.
Without money, he couldn't make a move, so Eddie decided to make some cash, but not through theft, as the mercenaries were mostly poor and only had enough for cheap liquor.
These mercenaries typically lived a cycle of drinking, sleeping, and then drinking again. They only took on the simplest tasks to earn money for more alcohol.
Eddie pondered for a moment and headed straight to the third floor of the Warrior's Guild, a place almost forbidden to mercenaries, as it was reserved for those who had made special contributions to the nation or had earned distinguished honors.
"Welcome, young hero. Are you here to accept a quest or to record your achievements after completing one?" The greeters here were not the armored rough warriors from the first and second floors, but two delicate beauties in tight, sexy long dresses, revealing a generous amount of cleavage.
They were respectful and submissive, speaking in a soft, cooing tone that made one feel like a triumphant hero returning from battle.
"Can I exchange battle merits for gold coins here?" Eddie asked, posing a question that probably hadn't been asked in decades.
"Ah, you want to exchange battle merits for gold coins?" The two beauties were shocked, and they felt an almost overwhelming urge to strangle this masked thief.
"I believe I read that killing a Demon General is rewarded with one hundred gold coins. Is that correct?" Eddie inquired further.
"Yes, that's correct," the beauties responded, feeling faint. A powerful warrior capable of slaying a Demon General would hardly be in need of money. Who would exchange such an honorable feat for gold coins, an act devoid of any glory and usually done only by rough mercenaries? Finally defeating a Demon General was an act that brought great honor, and yet this man wanted to trade that for money. Was there something wrong with his brain?
"Then, please exchange five hundred gold coins for me," Eddie requested, handing them a crystal card.
"Oh my goodness!" The two beauties were astounded when they saw the card, immediately fainting. Who in the world used a crystal card if they were poor? Did this guy steal it?