Andre

Karik Tavern.

In the small courtyard, Andre was somewhat nervous. He had not expected to receive an opportunity to meet Lord Ailin so soon.

"The Petrov Family?"

Ailin looked at Andre, whom Ek had brought over. Seeing that he seemed somewhat nervous, he spoke casually. "You needn't worry. I won't do anything to you. I called you here merely because there are some matters in which I need your help."

"It is Andre's honor to serve you, my lord."

Though Andre was nervous, he reacted quickly and answered at once.

Ek also knew that he might not be needed for what came next, so he took the initiative to say, "If you have no further instructions, my lord, Ek shall take his leave."

Bringing Andre over could only be considered something he had done along the way. Lord Ailin had also instructed him to purchase information on the Prefect of Blood Phantom Prefecture. Although information on the Prefect could be bought at the Sovereign's Castle, the price was extremely steep. To obtain cheaper information, he still needed to seek out those people who specialized in privately selling intelligence. Glass had already gone to contact them, and he was preparing to head over as well.

But what did Lord Ailin want the Prefect's information for?

Ek secretly speculated about it, suspecting that Lord Ailin might perhaps have a battle with the Prefect.

At the thought of that possibility, Ek could not help but feel shocked.

"Mm, go."

Ailin did not keep Ek any longer.

Ek then left directly, leaving only Ailin and Andre in the small courtyard.

After Ek left, Ailin looked at Andre and asked directly, "Can you make Soul Poison?"

Cultivating the Death Law was different from cultivating the seven elemental laws. Or rather, cultivation of the four edicts had never had much of a fixed basis. How one cultivated and comprehended them depended almost entirely on oneself.

Ailin's cultivation of the Death Law did not consist solely of secluded meditation, comprehension, and battle. At first, he had entered the Death Law through Undead Summoning. Afterward, he began refining all kinds of soul-related items. As his successes increased, his comprehension of the Death Law deepened continuously.

This method of "cultivation" was somewhat similar to, yet different from, the cultivation methods of "alchemy" and "Magic Arrays" that Ailin understood.

At present, Ailin was stuck at the step of refining Soul Poison. He had never managed to create Soul Poison, and his cultivation of the Death Law had therefore fallen into a "bottleneck."

Battle might give him a chance at sudden enlightenment, but battle was not the only option. Moreover, sudden enlightenment depended too much on an "opportunity." Naturally, he could not place all his hopes on it.

Observing and learning from other cultivators of the Death Law as they made Soul Poison was also an excellent method for him.

Soul Poison?

Andre had not expected that this was what Ailin had called him here to ask about, but he still answered seriously, "In reply to you, my lord, Andre can make Soul Poison. However, the poison I concoct does not have much killing power against High-Gods. Only in sufficient quantities can it have some effect."

Naturally, the effects of Soul Poison were not all the same. The deeper one's comprehension of the laws, the more powerful the Soul Poison one created would be.

Andre assumed that Ailin wanted to use Soul Poison against certain enemies. If that were the case, those enemies would certainly not be weaker than Ailin. He knew his own limits; the Soul Poison he concocted would be of little use against such beings.

Even if it did have some effect, no one knew how much Soul Poison would be needed. Even if he exhausted all his soul force, or even all the soul force of every member of his family, they might not be able to concoct enough.

"As long as you can concoct it."

Ailin revealed a faint smile. Not every High-God who cultivated the Death Law could make Soul Poison. This was also dependent on the type of comprehension one possessed. His luck was quite good. Since Andre could refine Soul Poison, that could not have been better.

"Does my lord require Soul Poison?"

Andre asked cautiously.

Ailin glanced at Andre without explaining. He merely said, "Just concoct it."

Seeing that Ailin did not say more, Andre naturally did not dare ask further. He could only answer respectfully, "Yes."

"Make it here in this small courtyard. No one will disturb you."

Ailin added, "Tell me whatever materials you need, and I will arrange for someone to prepare them."

"Make it here with you, my lord?"

Andre truly had not expected this, and surprise entered his voice.

"What? Is there a problem?"

Ailin cast Andre a glance.

"No, no."

Andre came back to his senses and hurriedly shook his head. "Of course not. I am only worried that my concocting speed will be too slow and delay your use of it, my lord. If you require a large amount, Andre can notify the family. There are still some members of the family who can make Soul Poison."

Concocting Soul Poison was not particularly fast. For some powerful kinds of Soul Poison, even with sufficient materials, taking hundreds or thousands of years to concoct them was commonplace. This was precisely why Soul Poison was so valuable.

Likewise, for God-level cultivators of the Death Law, refining Soul Poison also consumed soul force. Thus, few people specialized in this to earn Nether Stones.

"It is fine. Speed is not important. Do not overexert yourself; take it slowly."

Ailin was actually hoping this fellow would be slower, as that would make it easier for him to observe. "If necessary, I will have you notify the others."

Observing these people making Soul Poison was not a case of having more people at once being better. But if he could not find a breakthrough with Andre, he would inevitably need other God-level cultivators of the Death Law.

Seeing that Ailin had no demands regarding speed, Andre relaxed somewhat. If speed were required, he would still do it, but it would indeed place enormous pressure on him. "Everything shall be arranged according to your wishes, my lord."

"Then make your preparations and begin concocting it."

Ailin was already somewhat impatient. After all, this concerned whether he could comprehend something from it.

Andre paused, then seized the opportunity. He hesitated before speaking. "In reply to you, my lord, Andre can concoct Soul Poison for you at any time, but..."

Ailin narrowed his eyes, understanding inwardly. This Andre was probably trying to raise some condition. His expression unchanged, Ailin said directly, "But what?"

If his Death God Avatar could truly break through to the High-God realm because of this, it would not be impossible to grant Andre a stroke of fortune.

Andre immediately dropped to his knees, his tone extremely respectful. "Andre, as well as the Petrov Family to which Andre belongs, has offended the Four Divine Beast Family because of certain matters. If we remain in Blood Nether City, I fear we will... will bring trouble upon you, my lord. If not for your summons, Andre and the other family members would already be arranging to leave Blood Nether City."

What he said was not false. Without a chance to preserve their foundation, leaving Blood Nether City was their only path.

"You offended the Four Divine Beast Family?"

Ailin frowned, finding it somewhat strange. Could a small family in Blood Nether City have offended the Four Divine Beast Family? Could it be that they had offended Bensgodo? It did not seem impossible. Otherwise, why had Bensgodo come to Blood Nether City and even challenged the Blood Battle Stage?

Thinking about it carefully now, Bensgodo's actions truly had been somewhat inexplicable.

But if the Petrov Family had really offended Bensgodo, could the Petrov Family have survived until now?

Ailin grew curious as well, feeling that the matter did not seem as simple as it had before. "Tell me in detail."