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Hobert suddenly recalled that the Tamara family was one of the five great families that supported Tudor in founding his empire, with a long and storied history.
It seemed they possessed the potion formulas for the Lawyer and Arbiter Pathways. Due to a past marriage alliance with the Abraham family, they also held part of the Apprentice Pathway's potion formulas and Beyonder characteristics.
However, after the fall of the Tudor Empire, members of this family rarely appeared in the public eye.
Even Hobert, who had thoroughly studied the original work, only vaguely remembered the general situation of this family and could not recall the specifics.
This indicated that the family had indeed appeared very infrequently.
In Hobert's impression, if one traced the Lawyer Pathway's Beyonder characteristics back to the Fourth Epoch, they were essentially held by three families: the Solomon family, the Tudor family, and the Trunsoest family.
The Tamara family never produced a "Black Emperor" or "Justiciar," suggesting that at most, they only possessed Sequence 2 Beyonder characteristics during the Fourth Epoch.
However, after the fall of the Blood Emperor and the Night Emperor, things became unclear. Most Beyonder families gained Sequence 1 characteristics through the downfall of their former "masters."
For instance, Blood Emperor Tudor and Night Emperor Trunsoest obtained the Sequence 1 characteristics of the "Black Emperor" Pathway after assisting the Seven Gods in defeating Solomon, thus ushering in the era of dual governance.
To Hobert, the Tamara family was shrouded in fog—its strength and stance unknown.
Moreover, had their "High-Sequence" Beyonders been secretly contaminated?
Hobert asked, "What kind of contamination?"
Upton replied, "I don't know. My father didn't tell me. Maybe he didn't know either.
"In any case, my father always said that the Tamara family had become unrecognizable and that I should rather die than return to it."
Hobert's spirituality suddenly issued a warning, indicating that the topic should not be pursued or discussed further.
He quickly changed the subject: "You don't seem to be in great shape." This was apparent from the other's aura.
Upton smiled bitterly: "Yes, ever since I took the Barbarian potion last year, my condition has been poor.
"My mother told me that it's because I hadn't fully controlled the 'Lawyer' Beyonder abilities before forcing my promotion."
He added sorrowfully, "My mother died after failing to forcibly advance to the rank of Astrologer."
Clearly, their family had no understanding of the concepts of "acting" and "digesting." Hobert was puzzled: "You've already left the Tamara family? Why take such a risk to forcibly advance?"
Upton sighed: "My father's plan to leave the family was discovered early. Fortunately, his prior preparations allowed us to escape the pursuit of the family members.
"But my father said that the preparations he made would only hide us for ten years. After that, since we carry the blood of the Tamara family, the family members skilled in divination would immediately find us.
"My father tried to seek refuge with other factions to avoid the family's pursuit, but they were more interested in obtaining the sealed artifact and information about the Tamara family that my father possessed, leading to even greater disasters.
"My father lost the immensely powerful sealed artifact, was gravely injured, and after shaking off the pursuers with my mother and me, he soon passed away.
"My mother and I didn't dare contact any other factions. We could only try to enhance our power through promotion, but it was too late. My father died, my mother died, and I'm barely able to control the 'Barbarian' potion. If I try to advance again, I'll immediately lose control."
As Upton spoke, his eyes reddened: "It's been ten years now. Maybe next week, maybe next month, but family members will certainly come for me."
Having also lost his father at a young age, Xio felt some sympathy for Upton: "Don't think about advancing anymore—just run."
Hobert also said, "My companion is right. Staying here is a dead end."
"I'm unwilling!" Upton's eyes burned with fire: "We only wanted to live a free life. Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a merchant, traveling while doing business and seeing the world.
"Why? Why do I have to live so miserably, like a fugitive?"
Hobert holstered his gun and said, "How many people in this world can truly control their own fate?"
He gestured to Xio, and the two began to retreat toward the window, ready to leave.
Suddenly, Upton called out to them: "Wait! Can you help me escape the family's pursuit?"
Hobert chuckled: "It's just the two of us. Do you really expect us to take on the entire Tamara family?"
"No, no," Upton said. "My father once said that, based on the family's usual methods, the pursuers would likely consist of one Sequence 6, two Sequence 7s, maybe two Sequence 8s, and a sealed artifact.
"If you can defeat them, I can use the method my father taught me to hide myself for another ten years."
Hobert twitched his lips: "Do we look like we can handle a Sequence 6?"
Upton replied, "You both are likely Sequence 9 or Sequence 8, but you have sealed artifacts or magical items on you. I suspect you belong to some organization. I'd like to ask your organization for help!
"I can give you the 'Astrologer's Hair!'"
Hobert shook his head: "Keep it for yourself. I'd like to live a few more years!"
Having learned the source of Upton's potion formulas and the current state of the Tamara family, Hobert's goal had already been achieved. As for the "Astrologer's Hair," carrying such a dangerous sealed artifact was courting death!
"I can also give you the potion formulas for 'Lawyer,' 'Barbarian,' and 'Briber'!" Upton quickly added. "As well as those for 'Apprentice,' 'Trickmaster,' and 'Astrologer'!"
His father's previous experiences had made him extra cautious: "But I've hidden these formulas using a special method. Even if you use spirit channeling on me, you'd only get the formulas for 'Lawyer' and 'Barbarian.'"
Hearing the mention of "Trickmaster," Xio's eyes lit up. This was exactly the potion formula that a friend of hers had been searching for!
Meanwhile, Hobert marveled at how deep the foundations of a Beyonder family ran. Even a down-and-out family member still had a sealed artifact and so many potion formulas.
He calculated in his mind: if he could get Christian to take action, it would be relatively easy to deal with a Sequence 6. That way, he could obtain the potion formula for "Briber" and also likely acquire its Beyonder characteristic.
Thinking of this, Hobert finally said, "If my superior is willing to help you, I'll come back to visit you!"
With that, Hobert and Xio jumped out of the window.
Upton sat weakly on a chair, repeatedly "chewing" on one word: "Superior! Superior?…"