Chapter 320: Escaping
Chapter 320: Escaping
[Remark: Addictive in nature (Regenerate: 25,000 EXP)]
"Yeah, something like this is bound to be addictive..." Yi Chen nodded, thinking back on the emperor’s disposition in front of Cao Li.
’It was most probably because of his desire to get his hands on the powder that he was willing to be humiliated by her...’ Yi Chen thought while confirming how intensely addictive this Grey Spring powder was.
Subconsciously, he pulled his body away a little, not wanting to accidentally take a whiff of particles that were still present in the air, realising a second later that even if there were, they would have long settled by now.
Smiling bitterly, he immediately generated the final remark, not wanting to waste any more time.
[Remark: One of the products created using the Talantuala Powder]
"It’s made from those nuts?" Yi Chen widened his eyes in understanding.
As someone from the modern world, how could he not know just how crazy people could be for drugs and just how profitable the business can be?
"With just this Grey Spring powder alone, they would be making mountains of wealth on a regular basis..." he muttered, a bitter sensation welling up in his heart.
’Yet they continued to exploit these people to fulfil their endless greed...’ Yi Chen snorted, thinking about the daily plight of the citizens.
"Living for 900+ years only to become a slave to something like this...how pitiable," Yi Chen muttered while glancing at the emperor’s disgusting expression.
A part of him wanted to kill him, but he knew that if he were to do so, then the entire Kingdom would turn chaotic, for there would be no one to lead.
Even though he was just a figurehead, for the citizens that wasn’t the case. He was their only emperor, someone who they believed had positively changed the entire landscape of their Kingdom for the better.
Letting out a light breath, Yi Chen turned his head towards the door and, without wasting another breath, started walking towards the exit.
While at it, he conjured a flame and launched it towards a small piece of flesh that was lying on the floor not far away.
Engulfed in flames, it soon turned to ashes, not leaving even a tiny trace of what it originally was.
"My ear..."
He muttered with clenched jaws while feeling the dried blood on the side of his face, which felt a little lighter than usual.
Before attempting this risky task, he had already made himself aware of the dangers.
It was obvious that if things were to go wrong, then the only fate that awaited him was his death.
Therefore, he was prepared to lose some blood if the need be.
However, while he had been able to imagine a possibility of getting caught and dying at their hands thereafter, he had never imagined one where he would end up permanently losing his ear.
It was something that had taken him both by surprise and regret. If not for his carelessness earlier, he wouldn’t have lost it.
’...it’s a cultivation world, so hopefully I’ll be able to get a fake ear made somewhere,’ he consoled himself while making his way through the corridor.
He was currently making his way toward the toilet to wash the blood off his face and also take a look at the injury he had suffered.
A part of him was a little apprehensive about looking at his reflection, in which he wouldn’t have one ear, but he still steeled himself and kept walking.
A while later, after carefully avoiding the few guards that were on patrol, he finally entered the toilet and glanced at himself in the mirror.
His gaze slowly went over his neck before finally stopping at his ear, which was a bloody mess. Just the sight made him want to close his eyes and look away.
However, he didn’t because something unexpected forced him to focus on it instead.
’Wait...why is there a green liquid mixed with my blood?’ he thought in confusion while touching the dried-up fluid that was mixed with his blood.
Its texture was similar to his blood, which made him even more confused. Opening the faucet, he carefully started cleaning the blood off the side of his head and saw the green and red droplets falling into the sink.
’Is this some kind of pus?’ he thought in confusion before finally cleaning the surrounding area and focusing on the area where his ear used to be.
Gritting his teeth, he gently rubbed his dampened finger over the wound, but just then, his hand paused.
’What the...’
Disbelief slowly took over his face, and still unable to fully believe it, he cupped his hand to collect water and, the next second, threw it over his wound and started rubbing it away immediately.
A sharp pain ran through his body, but he kept on going, only for his eyes to widen a few moments later as he glanced at the cleaned spot.
"T-this...just how..."
He muttered while seeing the circular flesh, which shouldn’t be there, protruding from the torn-out region.
No matter how many times he tried to recall it, he couldn’t wrap his head around the sight in front of him.
He clearly remembered the sensation of his ear completely being torn away from top to bottom.
Cao Li had been extremely decisive and had ensured that it was clean-cut back then. Moreover, Yi Chen had also seen the separated piece that was spat out by her. It was a complete portion.
Therefore, no matter how hard he thought, it didn’t make sense.
"...Was I mistaken?" he muttered in confusion, but just then he felt a subtle throb near his ear, and the next second, the protruding flesh lengthened by a few millimetres.
’!!!’
Immense shock took over him the moment he witnessed this.
"I-It’s regenerating..." Yi Chen muttered in awe and disbelief.
Something like this wasn’t something that should be possible at the Meridian Refinement Stage.
Therefore, it only led him to one conclusion.
"...the True Demon Physique...it’s definitely because of it."
When he had acquired the physique, his strength had increased considerably and later he also found that it allowed him to see clearly in the dark.
At that time, he had thought that these were the only benefits this physique presented since he had only acquired one of its total nine parts.
Therefore, to realise now that the physique also gave him such incredible regenerative abilities, he couldn’t help but be on cloud nine.
"A-Amazing..." he muttered while trying hard to suppress his urge to shout out loud.
Breathing heavily, excitement was evident on his face as he could clearly imagine the possibilities this new discovery had opened up for him.
’...although it’s slow now, just how fast would this regeneration become after I had acquired the remaining eight parts?!’ Yi Chen’s eyes beamed in anticipation.
However, he soon shook these thoughts away, realising that this was not the right spot to daydream.
Cleaning up the leftover bloodstains, he soon left the toilet, but instead of turning left and moving towards the exit, he went the other way, the direction from which he had come.
Walking through the familiar corridor, Yi Chen soon entered the storage room he had been hiding in before he had started to tail Cao Li.
There were a lot of toiletries and rags collected at this place, something which met Yi Chen’s requirements and was the very reason he had chosen to come here.
He was about to take action, but suddenly paused.
’Now that I think of it... I might as well change into a darker set of robes,’ he thought while glancing down at his white robes with a bitter smile.
The silver embroidery on it was glimmering even in the storage room’s dim light, so it was obvious that it would be extremely easy to spot when he was sneaking out of the palace.
Earlier, because of how involved he was in keeping track of Cao Li, he hadn’t thought about this matter and lucked out in the end.
However, now that he was aware of it, he didn’t want to leave it to chance again.
Taking out a black set of robes from his storage ring, Yi Chen soon changed into them, which made his figure blend with the dark surroundings.
"That’s better..." he nodded to himself and muttered while scanning the room, "Then let’s get started."
As he said those words, he confirmed with his spiritual energy that the outside area was free of patrolling guards.
It was only then that he launched a sphere of fire towards a pile of rags before doing the same for the wooden shelves and other flammable items that were present in the room.
With this done, he hurriedly left the storage room and, rushing through the corridor, he soon leapt out of a window before making his way to the nearest tree.
Climbing to the top, he hid himself well under the foliage while patiently waiting for the inevitable to happen.
Just like he anticipated, a few minutes later, the entire palace was alarmed as by the time it was discovered, it was no longer limited to just the storage room but had engulfed a large part of the building.
"FIRE! FIRE!"
"Where’s the Emperor?!"
"FIRE! FIRE!"
"Where’s Madam Cao?!"
The fire bells rang as the entire palace turned chaotic that very moment. Seeing his actions provide the desired fruits, a grin formed on Yi Chen’s face as his figure silently rushed towards the exit.