"Ahem, would you care to explain what this is all about?" Elizabeth finally couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up, "It’s obvious from each of your expressions that this is something important, but from what I’ve heard so far, it almost sounds like you want me to become some kind of test subject."
Hearing this, both Lucas and Celestina wore awkward looks and scratched their cheeks, as that was pretty much what they were thinking.
Seeing this, Elizabeth’s frown deepened considerably.
She was the Supreme Elder of a respectable noble family, as well as an old veteran who had fought in more than one great war for the Rockwell Kingdom. The idea that these two, one of them her friend, the other a mere boy, wanted to use her as some kind of beast to experiment with was off-putting, to say the least.
Before she could say anything further, though, Celestina turned to her and asked point blank, "You never managed to completely unlearn the circulation path from your Carlson Family’s Stormcaller Art, did you?"
"Are you trying to be insulting, Celestina?" Elizabeth snarled, her brow twitching visibly at what she could only think of as an insult.
Although the two of them were roughly the same age, Celestina was a Complete High-Rank Adept, while Elizabeth was a Complete Peak-Rank Initiate.
Celestina still retained both her beauty and vitality, appearing no older than her early 30’s with hundreds more years to live.
On the other hand, Elizabeth looked like she was in her 70’s and at best had a couple dozen years of life remaining in her.
Elizabeth would freely admit that Celestina had superior Innate Talent, but the difference wasn’t that significant.
So why was one of them so much stronger and full of life?
There were two reasons.
The Flowing Flame Art was a High-Rank Spirit Grade Tier Two Cultivation Technique, allowing one to reach the very peak of the High-Rank Adept Realm, while the Carlson Family’s Stormcaller Art was only a Peak-Rank Spirit Grade Tier One Technique.
By cultivating an inferior Art, Elizabeth’s potential had been severely stunted compared to Celestina’s.
However, there was a way to overcome this limitation; all Elizabeth had to do was re-set her circulation path, then practice a superior technique, one that would allow to her to continue her cultivation path.
Unfortunately, this was far, far easier said than done.
After undergoing Awakening and reaching the Grand Spirit Realm, one’s circulation path basically became autonomic, an involuntary process akin to one’s blood circulation.
Trying to unlearn that was like trying to unlearn how to breath.
Accomplishing this feat was seen by most as a matter of intelligence, perseverance, and talent, with those unable to do so often derided as inferior, hence why Elizabeth felt like Celestina was slighting her, even if there was no malicious intent behind her words.
Why Elizabeth wasn’t able to unlearn her Cultivation Technique didn’t really matter in the end. The simple truth was she had failed at this process, and now was stuck at her current Realm, unable to advance again.
Unbothered by her old friend’s harsh accusation, Celestina simply looked her in the eye and asked, "If I told you I might have a way for you to break through again and reach the Adept Realm, but it would require handing over all of your family’s Cultivation Techniques, including the Stormcaller Art, for Lucas and myself to study, what would you say?"
"Wha..." Elizabeth gawked, her usual noble demeanor instantly collapsing as her jaw dropped and hung there dumbly.
A million thoughts flashed across the old woman’s head in that moment.
Why would Celestina make such an outrageous offer?
How was Lucas involved?
What did her family’s Cultivation Techniques have to do with any of this?
Was she serious?
Was this some kind of cruel joke?
Was it a trap?
Was it a test?
However, all of those questions, all of her doubts, her worries, her suspicions, and her fears were soon drowned out by a single overwhelming emotion.
Hope!
Hope for the future!
Hope for her future!
Hope that she would have a future!
Now, sharing one’s family’s Cultivation Technique with an outsider was one of the most serious crimes imaginable, one that if she had learned one of her descendants had committed, she would not hesitate to execute them for, but for a brief, fleeting moment, Elizabeth seriously considered doing just that!
That was how tempting the offer Celestina was making was.
Just before she broke the taboo, however, Elizabeth managed to snap out of her daze and compose herself, forcing her face back into her usual neutral expression.
There was still a faint blush on her cheeks, and her breathing was a bit hurried, but she was at least back in control of her emotions enough to ask a few important questions, such as, "Why me?"
"Two reasons," Celestina declared, "First, I trust you. Second, your situation is ideal for this experiment."
"You’ve reached the absolute peak your Cultivation Technique can take you to, you’ve partially unlearned its circulation pattern but are now stuck, and... you don’t have immediate responsibilities, so you have enough free time."
"Hmph, that’s a very polite way of saying I’m idling my last remaining days away," Elizabeth snorted, not that she disagreed with Celestina’s assessment.
As a Supreme Elder of the Carlson Family, Elizabeth normally spent her time in quiet meditation, reading, traveling, or simply enjoying life, not concerning herself with the going-ons of the kingdom or her family. It was only this past half-year or so that she had become quite active again.
With most of the fallout from the disaster in the Great Western Forest now having been settled, however, it probably wouldn’t be long before Elizabeth resumed her carefree retired life.
It seemed now, though, that the Heavens had other plans for her.
Adjusting her mindset, Elizabeth wore a stern expression and declared, "It’s not impossible for me to agree to your terms, but I’d like some more information first. For instance, what possible use could you have for my family’s Stormcaller Art?"
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