Chapter 30 Martial Blood Clothes, Two Destined Geniuses Find Kindred Spirits!

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Martial Blood Clothes, Two Destined Geniuses Find Kindred Spirits!

As cheers erupted throughout the hall, Julian Mercer turned toward Ethan Mercer.

He casually took out a Marrow Cleansing Pill and handed it to him.

"Take this."

Ethan was momentarily bewildered. However, he trusted that the Patriarch would not harm him, so he reached out, accepted the pill, and swallowed it immediately.

Warmth spread through his lower abdomen.

The medicinal power transformed into streams of warm energy that flowed throughout his body, greatly reducing the weakness he had felt for so long.

Sensing the miraculous changes taking place within him, Ethan hurriedly bowed.

"Thank you for your generosity, Patriarch!"

Julian nodded. He then took out copies of the Pure Yang Technique and Great Sun Body Refining Art and handed them to Ethan.

"I’ve already learned about your circumstances from your grandfather. But the Mercer Family has never abandoned a fallen genius."

He looked at Ethan and continued calmly.

"Take these two cultivation techniques and practice them diligently. Perhaps one day, you’ll find your way back to the path of cultivation."

Hearing Julian’s words of encouragement, Ethan smiled helplessly.

He understood his own physical condition better than anyone else.

Unless a miracle occurred, he believed he would never cultivate again in this lifetime. He would have to accept the fate of living as an ordinary mortal.

Nevertheless, he didn’t want to reject the Patriarch’s kindness. He accepted both cultivation techniques with gratitude.

"Thank you, Patriarch, for bestowing these techniques upon me!"

Holding the two techniques tightly, Ethan didn’t open them immediately. He intended to examine them when he had more time.

Meanwhile, the system notifications sounded in Julian’s mind.

[Ding~ Investment successful! Congratulations to the host for obtaining ten catties of Divine Liquid.]

[Ding~ Investment successful! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Heaven Rank Top Grade Dharma Treasure: Martial Blood Clothes.]

[Martial Blood Clothes: Transformed from a drop of blood belonging to a mysterious existence. It can freely expand and contract, covering the wearer’s entire body like a second skin while concealing their appearance. It enhances physical strength and automatically repairs the wearer’s injuries. Depending on the difference in cultivation realms, it can offset some attacks from cultivators at the Celestial Human Realm and below, and withstand a full-strength attack from a Saint Realm cultivator!]

[Ding~ Investment successful! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Heaven Rank exotic fire: Azure Flame Spiritual Fire.]

[Azure Flame Spiritual Fire: It can transform its owner’s physique into an Azure Flame Treasure Body, granting recovery abilities far beyond those of ordinary people and possessing various profound mysteries.]

Looking at the rewards, Julian’s eyes lit up.

Both Heaven Rank treasures were exceptionally valuable. However, even they weren’t the only rewards worth celebrating.

The ten catties of Divine Liquid alone represented an enormous fortune, something countless cultivators could only dream of obtaining.

Divine Liquid was a precious resource used as currency among high-level cultivators. It contained extremely pure essence energy from heaven and earth, and absorbing it could bring tremendous benefits.

According to market prices, one catty of Divine Liquid could exchange for one thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones.

Yet even at such an extraordinary exchange rate, Divine Liquid remained practically priceless and difficult to obtain.

The value of the ten catties Julian had received was therefore astonishing.

Converted into Spirit Stones, the amount was equivalent to ten thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones, or ten million Low-Grade Spirit Stones!

What an enormous fortune!

With such wealth, purchasing the entire Ravenholt Province would hardly seem impossible.

After a brief moment of astonishment, Julian quickly regained his composure.

He raised his head and addressed the gathered Mercer Family members, instructing everyone to pack their belongings and prepare to travel to Wexford City with him.

Under Julian’s command, the entire branch family became a hive of activity.

Excited voices filled the residence as family members hurried back and forth, gathering their possessions and preparing for the journey.

Watching the busy scene, Ethan stood motionless for a moment, lost in thought.

Adrian Mercer noticed his expression. Holding the treasured sword Julian had given him, he walked over.

"What are you thinking about?"

Ethan was pulled from his thoughts and instinctively raised his head.

When he realized that Adrian was standing before him, he hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Ethan Mercer greets Brother Adrian."

"We’re family. There’s no need to be so formal."

Adrian smiled before studying Ethan’s expression.

"But tell me, what’s troubling you?"

"I..."

Ethan’s expression dimmed, and he lowered his head silently.

Standing before Adrian, a genius of the main Mercer Family, Ethan couldn’t help feeling inferior.

Why had fate given him a glimpse of brilliance, only to snatch it away and lock the door behind it?

He could have accepted an ordinary life from the beginning. Why had he first been allowed to experience the life of a genius, only to have everything taken away?

Only Ethan understood the pain of that contrast. It was something an ordinary person could scarcely imagine.

Looking at Ethan’s dejected appearance, Adrian couldn’t help thinking of his former self.

Before meeting Julian, hadn’t he also been trapped in despair?

But those who had endured the rain themselves were often the first to offer others an umbrella.

Wanting to help his cousin recover his confidence, Adrian gently placed a hand on Ethan’s shoulder.

When Ethan looked up again, Adrian smiled warmly.

"On our journey to Briarford City, I heard your grandfather tell me about your circumstances. I understand how you feel."

He paused before continuing.

"But the Patriarch once told me that as long as the fire in your heart hasn’t gone out, things can change when they reach their lowest point. Sometimes, breaking before rebuilding is the beginning of a new path."

Adrian laughed lightly.

"From your expression, I can tell you don’t really believe me. You probably think I’m just trying to comfort you."

He shook his head.

"Don’t look at me like that. Let me tell you something that isn’t much of a secret anymore. Back then, my situation was much worse than yours."

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly.

"At that time, my Dantian had been shattered, and I was expelled from the Aldercrest Order. Yes, the very same Order that Kieran and Elara belonged to."

Ethan stared at him in disbelief.

"But Brother Adrian, you’re..."

He couldn’t finish the question.

If Adrian’s Dantian had truly been shattered, how had he recovered his cultivation? Ethan had never heard of anyone continuing along the path of cultivation after suffering such a devastating injury.

Adrian smiled.

"It’s exactly what I just told you. Break before rebuilding."

He looked directly into Ethan’s eyes.

"A miracle happened to me, and that’s why I believe in this so firmly. As long as you don’t give up on yourself, you still have a chance to turn your fate around. You may yet encounter your own miracle."

Adrian’s expression became serious.

"I’m simply passing along the words the Patriarch once told me."

He paused, allowing the words to sink in.

"What truly defeats you isn’t the criticism or ridicule of others. It’s your own denial of yourself."

His final words struck Ethan deeply.

It felt as though a beam of warm sunlight had broken through the darkness in his heart, driving away the gloom that had surrounded him for so long.

Adrian’s words echoed repeatedly in Ethan’s mind, and his gaze gradually brightened.

He had always thought of Adrian as the dazzling genius of the main Mercer Family. That was why he had felt inferior standing beside him.

Yet he had never imagined that Adrian had endured such a devastating ordeal himself.

Now Ethan understood why Adrian held such deep resentment toward the Aldercrest Order and why he had shown no mercy to Kieran.

At the same time, Ethan began to feel a genuine connection with this talented cousin.

Even after his Dantian had been shattered, Adrian had refused to give up. He had endured despair, encountered a miracle, and found his way back to cultivation.

And what about Ethan?

His Dantian was still intact.

If Adrian could rise again after losing everything, what reason did Ethan have to surrender?

A new determination began to grow in his heart.

Perhaps his story wasn’t over after all.