Owen was somewhat looking forward to meeting Elaine.
According to the original story, Elaine had long silver hair that cascaded down her shoulders, looking stunningly beautiful.
As a succubus bloodline holder, Elaine's identity was extremely special.
Owen clearly remembered that the dragon hatched from the most important treasure in the Tower, the dragon egg, was very affectionate with Elaine, as if they were related by blood.
It could be said that only by entrusting this dragon egg to Elaine could its full potential be realized.
According to the original setting, even the dragon egg in the Tower had impure bloodlines, implying that a dragon and a member of the succubus race had offspring.
The blending of both bloodlines further enhanced the dragon's power.
Although Owen felt something was off about this—how could a dragon and a succubus produce an egg?—the setting was the setting.
Regardless of its reasonableness, the dragon egg had to be given to Elaine for her to nurture.
Elaine was so beautiful and constantly thinking about him; it would be a shame not to respond to her. Unfortunately, Fox Academy never admitted male students.
Otherwise, Owen would have gladly transferred to Fox Academy and stayed close to Elaine, which would be far better than staying with the silly Emily.
Thinking of this, Owen let out a long sigh, picked up the fat cat, and turned back into the villa.
In the dining room, Fiona had already prepared dinner and had even thoughtfully opened a bottle of wine for Owen, placing it on the table.
Owen put the fat cat aside, pushed the cat food over, and poured himself a glass of red wine to savor.
...
"Please... I beg you, you must deliver this item to the sacred land of my gnome tribe..."
"Don't talk! I can save you, I swear! Damn it... why can't I stop the bleeding?"
At the northern outskirts of the Forbidden Forest, John knelt on the ground, pressing his hands desperately against the wound of the wandering merchant. But the dark green blood continued to gush out from between his fingers.
"Don't waste your energy... young man, I'm beyond saving..."
"No, there must be a way! Please hold on, I'll go get help!"
"Don't leave! I... I know my own body. I'm at my last breath. I only ask that you deliver this item to the sacred land of the gnome tribe. When the time comes... my gnome people will reward you greatly!"
The merchant tightly grasped John's wrist, forcing a key and a forbidden-tier magic scroll into John's hands. The warmth of his heart finally ceased, and his rough hands slipped from John's grip.
Seeing this, John's eyes reddened, and he gritted his teeth, saying each word with resolve, "Don't worry, sir. I will fulfill your last wish and deliver these items to the sacred land of the gnome tribe! If I break this oath, may I..."
"That's enough. The man's dead already. Why are you still putting on a show?"
A shadowy figure appeared behind John, looking at him with an indifferent expression, as if this situation was all too familiar.
"Mentor, you don't understand. I heard that after a person dies, the last sense to fade is hearing. If you're going to act, you've got to commit to the role."
Just a moment ago, John was impassioned and full of righteous fury. But in the next, he calmed down, wiping the blood from his hands in disgust.
With a smirk, he said, "It proves that my plan was successful, doesn't it? Though the process was a bit lengthy, I still managed to get what I wanted."
"You could have just killed him outright. Why waste so much time?"
"After all, he was a wandering merchant of the gnome tribe. Who knows what kind of hidden cards he might have had? Look, this forbidden-tier magic scroll was one of them. If he'd used it, the surrounding hundred miles would have been leveled."
John brushed the grass off his pants, then stored the scroll in his spatial ring, before examining the key.
He had to admit, the craftsmanship of the key was exquisite, and the materials were carefully selected.
Even after all this time, being carried around by the wandering merchant, it hadn't suffered a single nick or scratch.
"So, this is the key my father left me to open the library? I'm starting to look forward to it, mentor."
"Though the gnome tribe members are generally weak individually, they are scattered all over the world. Moreover, the gnomes have been wandering merchants for thousands of years. Aren't you afraid that your actions will provoke their revenge?"
"What's there to fear from such a lowly race? Born with defects, intellectually inferior, they can only huddle together underground to stay warm. Once I become god-tier, wiping them out would be as easy as a flick of the wrist."
Looking at John's excessively narcissistic expression, Sorvan couldn't help but find it amusing.
Let's not even discuss whether someone like you could ever break through to god-tier in the future.
Even if you did, so what?
How many god-tier powerhouses have come and gone in this world?
Some vanished without a trace, some died heroic deaths, yet the gnome tribe still persists.
There must be a reason for that.
"I heard from my father that when he was at Crossbridge Academy, he caught the eye of Vice Headmaster Duncan and was taken in as one of his students. They conducted some experiments in secret that were strictly forbidden and couldn't see the light of day. Mentor, do you think that once I inherit my father's legacy, I'll become as powerful as he was?"
"Let's talk about it after you inherit the legacy. What's the point of discussing it now?"
"My father's legacy is already mine. No one can open the library doors except with this key. In comparison, what I should be more concerned about is the cauldron my father left me."
As he thought about it, John curled his lips into a lecherous smile.
He once heard his father mention that in his early years, while traveling the world in search of suitable test subjects, he was temporarily taken in by a family.
Initially, John's father only intended to use the family as test subjects for his human transmutation experiments. However, he inadvertently discovered that the family's daughter possessed an extremely rare Primordial Core Physique.
In simple terms, individuals with this physique often have exceptional talent, but their cultivation speed is extremely slow.
The reason lies in the fact that they possess a second, dormant mana core within their body.
This second mana core neither aids in combat nor accelerates cultivation; it only functions for the benefit of others.
After engaging in intercourse with someone possessing the Primordial Core Physique, the mana contained within the second mana core would flood into the other person's body.
So when John referred to it as a "cauldron," he wasn't entirely wrong; both essentially serve the same purpose.
The only difference is that a cauldron can be created through artificial means, whereas the Primordial Core Physique is innate and exceedingly rare.
Typically, among millions of people, there might not even be one person with this physique. Because of this rarity, John's father killed the entire family, sparing only the life of the little girl.
"If I remember correctly... her name was Emily? She's now also a student at Crossbridge Academy. Perfect. Once I inherit my father's legacy and join Crossbridge Academy, I'll take her under my control. How could I not become god-tier? Hahaha! Mentor, it's truly your honor to form a pact with me!
Rest assured, when I ascend to godhood, I won't forget you, my mentor."
"Heh."
Sorvan was speechless.
Where on earth did this delusional creature crawl out from?
He's rotten to the core, just like his father! If Sorvan hadn't been ambushed during his breakthrough, resulting in the destruction of his physical body, he wouldn't even have bothered to look at this scumbag, let alone spared him.
He would have slapped him to death on the spot!
It was sheer bad luck.
If anyone else had passed by when Sorvan was in that state, he would have already taken over their body, and he wouldn't have had to listen to this brat's nonsense. But no, it had to be John.
It was strange—this boy was weak, yet his fate was incredibly strong.
Sorvan had tried multiple times to possess him but failed every time, and instead, it further damaged his already fragile soul.
Left with no other option, Sorvan was forced to sign a pact with John, using his body to slowly heal and warm his own soul.
"If you're done talking, let me remind you that it's about time you set off. Crossbridge Academy is still two days' journey from here."
"We've got time, mentor. But tell me, why was my father expelled from Crossbridge Academy in the first place?"
Sorvan: "?"
Damn it, you seriously have the nerve to ask that question? Is your brain clogged with crap?
Isn't the answer obvious? Your father was caught performing human transmutation. The fact that they didn't kill him on the spot shows just how lenient Crossbridge Academy was.
"I think they must have been jealous of my father's talent. After all, exceptional people are always lonely. My father and I are the same—we're both walking a lonely path. I know that not everyone can understand this loneliness, but it doesn't matter. No matter how rough and thorny the road ahead may be, I will walk it with determination and embrace the experience."
Sorvan: "...So when exactly do you plan to set off?"
"I'm heading out right now."
"Then why are you wasting time talking? Instead of babbling on here, you'd be better off figuring out how to get close to that woman."
"Mentor, you don't understand. I'm sharing my ambitions with you. As for Emily? I already have a plan. Mentor, don't you trust my wisdom?"
Sorvan chose not to respond.
He finally understood—no matter how cold or sarcastic his remarks were, whether he directly insulted or subtly mocked, nothing seemed to affect John. So why waste words?
Let him do as he pleases.
...
Three days later, at the break of dawn.
A rustling sound of footsteps grew closer. Emily cut through the obstructing branches and then sheathed her sword. The **Dragonfire Sword** had already been returned to Owen, and reluctantly, she had to go back to using her previous sword. Even though she once cherished it, using it now felt awkward in every way.
But it's understandable—the Dragonfire Sword was, after all, a precious gift from Owen, perfectly attuned to her mana core's attributes.
Unfortunately...
"Stingy guy! What would it hurt to let me borrow it for a while? It's not like I wouldn't give it back!"
Emily stomped her foot in frustration and continued in the same direction.
After walking for another thirty minutes or so, Emily finally spotted a house at the edge of her vision. The roof was covered in a thick layer of tangled weeds, suggesting that no one had visited the place for a long time.
But if no one had been here, why was the door open?
And...
Emily crouched down and examined a set of clear footprints on the ground. She compared them to her own; they were about the same size, likely belonging to another girl.
"Strange... could John actually be a girl?"
The thought made Emily feel even more disgusted.
But regardless, since she had come all this way, she had to go inside and take a look.
If what Owen said was true, and this place held the truth about her family's death, she had to uncover it, no matter the cost!
With that resolve, Emily drew her sword and slowly entered the library.
After descending a long staircase that led downward, Emily's view suddenly opened up.
Before her, countless bookshelves were arranged neatly, along with many devices that she couldn't even name.
However, the bookshelves were completely empty, as if someone had already cleared the place out before she arrived.