As Thorian awoke, he quickly changed his clothes and made his way out. The day before, after conquering the second layer of the Thunderous Citadel, he had retrieved the Thunder’s Boon Elixir recipe and some pulse poppies from the old storage room. He entrusted these to Hamur for practice, hopeful that Hamur had learned from previous trials before beginning mass production of the Elixirs.

Before visiting the Alchemist's lab, Thorian decided to meet with Alacritas, his usual contact. The silver assassin updated him on the progress in clearing Locksley of monsters, noting an accelerated pace thanks to William's advancement in class.

“What about the lady in green?” Thorian inquired abruptly.

“We haven’t found her yet,” Alacritas replied, his tone apologetic. “But we suspect she's connected to the Strongheart family, one of the noble families ruling over the human city.”

“The Stronghearts?” Thorian's eyebrow arched in intrigue. “Go on.”

Thorian was familiar with the Stronghearts' tumultuous past. Since the apocalypse's onset, his knowledge of them was limited, primarily knowing them through Oswald, a friend of Tristan. Having only connected with Locksley in his second year post-apocalypse, Thorian's understanding of their internal dynamics before that time was minimal.

"While conducting espionage within the inner city, we noticed that certain individuals were shadowing us. Given the average level of Locksley's knights and soldiers, these men were clearly not ordinary military. We surmised they were subordinates of the lady in green," Alacritas reported.

Thorian stroked his chin thoughtfully. "How does this implicate the Strongheart family?"

"They only trailed us near the Strongheart mansion, my lord," Alacritas explained, his expression grave. "Each time we attempted to infiltrate the mansion, they were there, shadowing our movements. Beyond these instances, they were nowhere to be seen."

"An astute observation," Thorian acknowledged, falling into deep contemplation. Alacritas’s findings suggest a complex situation in Locksley. If the Stronghearts have shifted their loyalty from William to this mysterious lady, she becomes a central figure in the region's power dynamics.

"Excellent work," Thorian commended, patting Alacritas's shoulder as the latter knelt. "But be extremely cautious. Our adversary is formidable and their full strength remains unknown. Avoid infiltrating the mansion further; focus instead on distant observation and information gathering."

"Understood, my king," Alacritas replied, his voice carrying a note of solemn duty.

After the meeting, Alacritas vanished swiftly, leaving Thorian to proceed alone to the Alchemist's lab. There, he found Hamur already immersed in his work.

"You never seem to take a break," Thorian remarked with a hint of humor as he entered.

Hamur turned, a smile brightening his face. "I'm just eager to work on these elixirs, my lord." He reached for a bottle on a nearby table and presented it to Thorian. "You've arrived at a perfect time. This latest batch has been a success."

Thorian accepted the vial, examining it closely.

"An average quality on your first attempt?" Thorian looked at Hamur, visibly impressed. "That's an exceptional feat for a beginner."

Hamur modestly downplayed his achievement. "It's just average, my lord. I had hoped to present you with a high-quality elixir, considering the opportunities you've given me."

"Talented individuals deserve every chance to excel," Thorian responded, shrugging lightly. "As a leader, it's my responsibility to identify such talent and provide the necessary resources."

"I'm deeply grateful for your high regard, my lord," Hamur said, bowing slightly.

Thorian offered a smile. "I'll leave you to your work then. I plan to use this Elixir for my cultivation practice today. After meditating, I'll bring more materials for you."

"As you command, my lord," Hamur acknowledged.

Thorian then departed from the lab and made his way to the Cultivation Hall. Upon entering his usual room, he noticed a clean wooden tub prepared at the center, ready for his use.

Thorian eyed the day with a determined glint. Today, I'll finally rid myself of that loathsome goo, he mused, skillfully manipulating water into the tub. He then uncorked a vial of elixir, downing its contents in one swift gulp. The liquid left a peculiar, static-like taste in his mouth, flavorless yet tingling on his tongue and throat.

Seconds later, a surge of immense energy cascaded through his veins, racing towards his dantian. It was a searing torrent, making his muscles feel as though they were tearing under its force. Stabilization is crucial, he thought urgently.

Wasting no time, Thorian leaped into the tub, adopting a cross-legged position. His focus sharpened, intent on reigning in the relentless energy storming through him. Methodically, he began channeling it into his dantian, transforming it into condensed Qi droplets.

The effects were immediate. Thorian sensed a significant acceleration in his Qi gathering – the ether flooded into him at a pace double, perhaps even triple his usual rate of cultivation. He seamlessly merged the ether, seeping through his pores, with the internal energy flow, both converging in his dantian.

With each deep, controlled breath, Thorian steadied his meditation. Gradually, the once overwhelming energy became manageable, no longer straining his muscles. The initial turmoil gave way to a serene, smooth flow, marking the rest of his session with a tranquil ease.

For the past several days, Thorian had adhered to a strict regimen, dedicating an hour and a half each day to cultivation, diligently amassing Qi in his dantian. He consciously avoided venturing into uncharted territories within his Vermillion Meridian, aware of his unpreparedness for conquering new gates.

As the session drew to a close, Thorian gradually opened his eyes, returning to the tangible world. The first sight that greeted him was a glowing notification floating ethereally before him.

Rank up!

Intrigued and eager to assess his advancements, Thorian summoned his status window, anticipating the revelations it would bring.

Display Panel.

Ding

Thorian's gaze lingered on his updated statistics, a surge of pride swelling within him. My agility is nearing the 150 mark, he thought. With focused effort, I could elevate it to 200 in just a few levels. However, he was not one to tunnel-vision on a single attribute. His "Jack of All Trades" Skill had taught him the value of maintaining a balanced stat profile. This time, he was determined to strategically distribute his stats, aiming to bring all his main attributes to the 200 threshold simultaneously.

His cultivation session complete, Thorian surveyed his surroundings. The once clear water in the pool had turned into a murky, viscous black, tainted with filth. Though still thick, it was far less adhesive than the undiluted goo he had previously contended with.

Rising, Thorian carried the bathtub outside the hall. He meticulously cleaned the tub, removing any residual goo, then used his Water Manipulation skill for a thorough self-cleaning. This newfound ability was a significant upgrade from the painful waterballs he used before, which often left bruises. Now, he could effortlessly adjust the pressure and flow of water to his liking.

Feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, Thorian donned his robe and set off for the Village Hall. It was time for his daily meeting with the trustees, a routine that grounded his days with a sense of purpose and direction.