The Mortal Vein-Repairing Liquid recipe cost 4,800 credits.
He had the funds to buy the knowledge right now, but he hesitated to confirm the purchase.
However, buying a digital recipe was only the very first step of the problem.
A recipe was just a piece of paper in his mind. To actually brew the medicine and fix the Reborn Empress’s shattered veins, he needed the ingredients.
He needed spirit grass, clean water, maybe some low-grade bone powder, and a safe place to mix it all together without an overseer whipping him for stealing sect supplies.
He glanced over his shoulder. Liana was fast asleep on the thin mat, her breathing finally deep.
Even so, the recipe wasn’t the only thing taking up space in his thoughts.
Parasite. The ability to absorb the physical traits, skills, and bloodlines of any non-human entity he defeated.
It was useless if he was stuck grinding dry herbs in a safe, guarded courtyard.
"Alright, listen up, you miserable lot!" a loud voice boomed from the barracks entrance.
Theo snapped his attention to the front. Three guards strolled into the room, slapping their batons against their palms.
"Rest time is over! The afternoon shift starts now!"
"If you were assigned to the grinding wheels, get your boots on and line up outside!"
"If you’re on furnace duty, move to the upper courtyard!"
Theo stood up quietly, making sure his own uniform was secure.
He joined the flow of slaves shuffling out of the barracks and into the light of the three suns.
As they marched toward the courtyard, Theo narrowed his eyes and activated Destiny’s Eye.
[Name: Varis]
[Realm: Body Cleansing (2nd Stage)]
[Destiny: White]
[Name: Toris]
[Realm: Body Cleansing (3rd Stage)]
[Destiny: White]
Thanks to his Minor Purity Water Body, his foundation had changed.
Though, he was still incredibly realistic about his chances.
If he fought the guard named Varis in an unarmed one-on-one duel, Theo was fairly confident he could dodge a heavy swing, step inside his guard, and snap the man’s neck.
The water affinity made him fast and fluid... but this wasn’t a duel.
There were over twenty guards patrolling just this single courtyard, all armed with halberds.
If he started a fight, he might kill one, but the other nineteen would instantly turn him into a human pincushion.
Furthermore, looking around the yard, it was obvious that all the other slaves were ordinary mortals.
If a riot broke out, the slaves would just scatter in terror, leaving him to fight a private army alone.
"Grab a beam and start pushing!" an overseer barked, cracking a long whip against the dirt. "If the wheels stop turning, you stop eating!"
Theo stepped up to one of the troughs, placing his hands on the wooden beam.
A second slave hurried over to grab the other side of the same beam.
"On three..." the other slave muttered.
"One... two... push!"
Theo leaned forward, applying pressure to the wood.
To his surprise, the wheel easily rolled forward, crushing the dried herbs beneath it.
It barely felt heavy at all...
He kept a steady, even pace, pushing the wheel in a wide circle.
The slave on the other side of the beam, however, was already struggling.
"Hey..."
"Slow down a bit, man... you’re going to kill us both with this pace..."