Sothing else took over; the lingering taste and the overwhelming sensation of Mana coursing through him.
Lucian found himself utterly entranced, watching the old man cook. The simple yet profound movents of his hands as he worked ordinary ingredients to create sothing extraordinary was like watching Magic without Skills and incantations.
He was a Master in his craft — soone who had reached the pinnacle.
Ever since that day, Lucian began following the chef around the city, watching as the man cooked with a strange obsession. The old man, who had a head full of white hair, a white beard, and white eyebrows that reached below his chin, for so reason, never asked why Lucian trailed behind him, nor did he shoo him away.
Day after day, Lucian returned, consud by the desire to understand the magic behind his food.
The Elders and Disciples of the Sect thought nothing of it, it was common knowledge Lucian liked visiting and strolling around the Illusory Butterfly City.
Lucian had always been free and unfettered. As long as he remained diligent in absorbing Mana, the Elders did not want to interfere. And from the beginning, he had never once disappointed them.
One day, after a week of silently observing the chef like a shadow, Lucian decided to finally ask, "Can you teach ?"
The old man had smiled knowingly, seemingly already expecting the question.
But the answer that followed was not what Lucian had expected, "No."
"Why?" Lucian had asked, stunned by his refusal.
"I'll only accept you as my disciple if you pass my tests." The old man had replied, smilingly.
Tests?
Lucian was stunned. What kind of tests…? He was the prodigy of the Illusory Butterfly Sect, destined to beco Sect Master. Yet, he had to pass his tests?
Even so, Lucian had agreed.
From that day forth, found himself subjected to the most grueling, and often ridiculous, tasks. The tests were unlike anything he had ever encountered during his training in the Sect. He was not asked to duel or comprehend powerful Skills.
Instead, the old man had him fetch ingredients from across the city, clean the humble food stall until it glead, and even serve the custors who ca to the stall.
It was on the third day since Lucian began the old man's so-called tests that news of his weird antics spread from the mouths of the custors to throughout the city and naturally reached the ears of the Elders and the Disciples of the Illusory Butterfly Sect.
The Elders were surprised and confused by his interest in sothing as mundane as cooking, so they naturally tried to reason with him, reminding him of his responsibilities, but Lucian said not to worry, he would not disappoint them.
Alas, that was not what they wanted.
Soon, in the eyes of the other Disciples, Lucian was no longer the shining star. He had fallen from grace. So even began mocking him.
Even the Elders grew concerned. They still loved him, but their disappointnt was evident. They could not understand why he had abandoned his bright future for sothing as trivial as cooking.
Left with no other choice, the Elders approached the old man to convince him to persuade Lucian to quit his foolishness.
The old man had agreed. He spoke to Lucian, telling him exactly what the Elders wanted to hear — that he should return to his training, and that he should not waste his ti on sothing as trivial as cooking.
But to their shock, Lucian refused.
The old man and even the Elders did not push the issue further, but the tests continued, becoming more challenging and more absurd with each passing day.
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This morning, the test given to him was by far the worst. His Mage Rank was sealed, and he was ordered to collect Phosphorus Glow Berries from Tianshan Mountain.
This information was what Lucian found from the mories that had flowed into his Soul.
At that mont, a familiar System Notification appeared in his mind.
Lucian read the System Notification, realizing the so-called Trial had sothing to do with his break through to the Blood Tempering Realm. It was the only logical explanation as to why he was here.
But just as much as it made sense… it did not. This was the first ti Lucian experienced a Trial upon breaking through to the next Mage Rank. He had never heard of a similar case happening to soone either.
It was strange.
Moreover, what was the Trial? What did he have to do? Would he be able to return after he completed the Trial?
Lucian had many questions.
'Hopefully, the System can answer my questions.'
[System, I need answers.] Lucian said simply.
After a mont, the System responded, [Host, this is your first Trial. Completing it will allow you to ascend to the Blood Tempering Realm and unlock a Bloodline Skill.]
[I thought as much.] Lucian nodded and continued questioning, [Is the flow of ti in Chaos Haven World one-to-one with Arcadia, or is there a difference?]
The System took a mont to respond as if it was calculating the answer.
[Host, the ti flow on Chaos Haven World is a thousand tis faster than on Arcadia. One thousand days in Chaos Haven World equates to approximately one day in Arcadia. However, the flow of ti can be disrupted if the Ti Laws are damaged. Though I doubt any Mortal is capable of such damage.]
Lucian breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that if he was gone for too long, Lily might beco anxious, fearing sothing had happened to him, and barge into his room only to find his unresponsive body.
The poor girl would be horrified and traumatized.
But now, he could continue the Trial with peace of mind.
Lucian continued asking, [And how do I complete the Trial? What do I have to do?]
[Host, to view the requirents to pass the Trial, please open the Status Screen and locate the newly added Feature, Trial.]
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