1109 Nooooooo

While the elven elder continued to watch Liam with his mouth agape, Liam focused on the essence of the herb circulating within him.

He tried to comprehend what was happening as there was both the warm nourishing effect of the herb and other than that, there was also a coolness that was spreading in his body.

Soon his doubts were cleared as a few notifications began popping out.

[Ding! Your Ice Element affinity has been upgraded]

…

As the effect of the herb drenched in blood essence slowly seeped into him, unexpectedly his affinity for the element started increasing.

"There is such a benefit to this?" Liam raised his brow.

"What benefit?" The elven elder's curiosity was also piqued. Since Liam was in his own world, unfortunately, the elder did not get any response.

But as time ticked by the change was becoming more and more obvious. The air around Liam became colder and an aura of frost lingered around him.

"This is…" The elven elder found himself again and again lost for words. He silently continued to observe, but the progress did not stop.

Liam's affinity with the ice elemental was still increasing!

And finally…

[Ding! Your Ice Element affinity has been upgraded]

[Ding! Your Ice Element affinity has reached S grade]

[Ding! Your Ice Element attacks have 200% increased damage; Your Ice Element attacks consume 90% less mana]

The elven elder trembled. Without even seeing the system notification, he could tell what was happening. But the problem was that this should not be happening.

Liam's frost aura had grown stronger and more distinct, and where once it had been a mere wisp of chill in the air, now it was a tangible force, wrapping him in a cocoon of shimmering ice crystals that danced around him like stars.

The ground beneath him was glazed over with a thin layer of ice, and frost patterns sprawled out from his feet in intricate designs.

Especially because of the mana-rich nature of the mystic realm, this change was extremely obvious.

Each breath Liam took now left behind a silvery mist, which seemed to hang in the air longer than it should have, before swirling around him.

"Impossible!" The elven elder gasped. Clearly, the human being in front of him was gaining more and more affinity for the Ice Elemental and now it had reached an unbelievable grade.

His own grade! He had an S-grade affinity for the Ice Elemental!

How could this human being also possibly have the same talent? Only the elves were gifted with such heaven-blessed affinities!

Elemental affinities weren't easily influenced. They were foundational to a person's essence, rooted deeply in their core, an elemental inclination that one was usually born with.

But the blood-soaked Verdant Heartroot not only healed and nourished, but it also enhanced the human being's basic ability?

"It can't be..." the elder murmured, wide-eyed. "To think that such a change in elemental affinity could be so... rapid. And just from consuming the herb!"

And then it struck the elder. The herb couldn't possibly be taking the essence of his bloodline and merging with the human being?

Though it seemed extremely unlikely, it seemed to be the only explanation.

He did not know much about the S-Ranked herb but just from its nature, he could see that it had nothing to do with the Ice Elemental.

So the change had unmistakably come from his blood.

The elven elder was an expert at the top of a B-Ranked world and yet he was still learning new things from this fledgling human being. This only goes to show that the heavens were vast.

But how did this human being know of such a thing? This knowledge that the Verdant Heartroot could be used for something like this should not be commonplace?

No, in the first place, just how did this human being even gain an herb like this?

While the elven elder was still wondering about this, Liam calmly stood up.

He felt as if he had gained everything he could for the time being. He wanted to meditate more on the images he had witnessed but for some reason he was unable to recollect them accurately again.

It simply did not give the same feeling. Without that, even if he thought about the same image thousands of times, there wouldn't be too much of a development.

Rather there was something else he wanted to do at the moment.

"Respected Elder, you mentioned that this was your final resting place. The battle from your memories, by chance did it take place here?"

The elven elder looked at him evenly and gave a nod. "Yes. It is our power and demise that broke this part of the world from the rest of it and sealed it for all eternity."

"Then… in that case…" Liam dawdled. "The other inheritances are also here?"

The elven elder's eyes narrowed for a moment as he evaluated the human in front of him once again. But his intentions…

After a long pause, he snorted in contempt, "Yes, the others might also have left something similar here. However, if you think that you can swallow them all, you will only face your downfall!"

"Heed my words, human. You are incredibly lucky to run into an S-Ranked herb and not just obtain my inheritance but also absorb my blood line essence, but don't test your luck. It's best if you leave this place. You are no match for my descendants!"

"The other inheritances are probably not as accessible or as accommodating as mine. They might not even be friendly to a human being. Some may test you, some may reject you, while others may even harm you. Don't push your luck."

Liam nodded thoughtfully, "I understand the risks. But wasn't there someone among the six of you who was fighting with their bare fist?"

The elven elder seemed taken aback for a moment. "I cannot say anything about that." The elder responded.

"What about soul healing medicine? Can the elder provide any information about that?" Liam continued probing him.

"Soul healing medicine? Damaging one's soul is a grave matter and not to be taken lightly. I know of a few methods to heal a soul, but I cannot impart those methods to you."

"Oh?" Liam nodded. He assumed as much.

It looked like there was nothing else for him here. He once again paid respects to the elven elder and prepared to leave but his footsteps suddenly paused.

He had been so focussed on the inheritance and his injury that he almost forgot something obvious.

Liam turned around to look at the elven elder's face that was still lingering around. His gaze met the elder's gaze, both of them immersed in their own thoughts.

Then a smile crept on Liam's face.

For some reason, the elder suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Senior, on my way here, I met an elf who helped me a lot. Is it possible for him also to receive enlightenment from your inheritance?"

"Hmmm?" The elder was confused.

He did not expect the human being to talk in favor of an elf.

After he had watched Liam, the elder wondered if he had made the wrong decision in letting the human being in but now he felt a bit relieved.

"Unfortunately, that is no longer possible." He sighed as he looked at the emptied out blood crystals which were the ones strengthening his lingering soul sliver.

"But if you wish so, you can impart the technique to other elves and spread my glory." The elder magnanimously suggested.

"Hmmm…" Liam smiled cryptically again.

He then stood at the same spot silently for a few minutes before he opened his mouth to respond. "You should perhaps do that yourself."

Huh? The elven elder did not understand.

While he tried to ponder the meaning of Liam's words, all of a sudden the human being in front of him moved. Liam's face contorted and twisted in several angles as if he was focussing on something extremely painful.

"Why do you look constipateddddddd. Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!"

Before he realized what was happening, the elven elder's remains started shrieking loudly. Out of nowhere, the elven elder felt an unbearably strong pull tugging at his soul.

What was happening?

The elder tried to block whatever was happening with the meager power he had left but it was to no avail. His soul was no longer listening to him. It was no longer under his control.

Why? Why was this happening? What could possibly cause something like this?

The elder then looked at the human being in front of him.

"Noooooooooo!"

In a second, everything became clear to him. This person was the one torturing his soul. This human being was the one who was tearing apart whatever was left of him.

No… he was not tearing apart. Rather…

The elven elder trembled as he felt invisible chains all around him or rather his consciousness.