Success

"Although it succeeded, I don't know how effective this pill is. Should I try it myself first?" Wharton wondered as he held the Foundation-Building Pill. Since he had succeeded on his very first attempt, he was extremely excited and impatient to see its effects.

He took a pill from the jade bottle and swallowed it without hesitation. Slowly, a wave of heat radiated from his dantian and spread throughout his body. The numb, tingling sensation was somewhat uncomfortable. Gradually, his body's reaction became more intense, and pain like knives cutting through his entire body struck him. Wharton hurriedly circulated his Dragonblood Battle Qi, guiding the airflow within him. Half an incense stick later, Wharton woke up and examined himself. His entire body was coated in a layer of black oil that gave off a foul stench.

Although his strength had not changed much, he had already broken through the Sixth-Level Warrior peak and could break through to become a Seventh-Level Warrior at any time. More importantly, Wharton felt much closer to the magical elements than before, and his mind was clearer as well.

After leaving the secret chamber, he instructed the servants to prepare hot water. He took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and went to the living room.

"Grandpa Hiri, has anyone from my dorm returned?" Wharton asked Hiri.

Wharton had not seen Kane and the others for such a long time that he was somewhat worried something might have happened to them. At this moment, Little Gold also came to the living room. During this period, Wharton had left Little Gold in Hiri's care. Little Gold now possessed the strength of a Seventh-Level Magical Beast. After all, it had eaten a Saint Domain Magic Crystal Core and simply had not digested it yet. Even while sleeping, its strength would slowly grow every day.

Wharton chatted with them for a while before continuing to refine pills. He then refined five more batches of Foundation-Building Pills, though two batches failed. Wharton now had thirty-one Foundation-Building Pills. He decided to leave seclusion for now; it would not be too late to refine more when he needed them in the future.

He went straight to the living room and had someone call Hiri there as well. Little Gold had sensed that Wharton had left seclusion and had arrived earlier. Wharton directly told Hiri what he had in mind.

"Grandpa Hiri, I refined some pills during this time. They can strengthen the body and improve one's talent. I have tried them myself. I want to give you one. That way, your strength should improve as well," Wharton said directly to Hiri.

"Wharton, what did you say? You can refine pills? Are you an alchemist?" Hiri asked excitedly.

"Boss, I want one too," Little Gold said through soul transmission.

"Grandpa Hiri, let's go to your room first."

"Remember, after taking the pill, circulate the Battle Qi in your body. It will hurt badly at first, but you must endure it. Grandpa Hiri, you go first. I'll watch from the side."

Hiri accepted the pill and swallowed it in one gulp. A pained expression slowly appeared on his face. Like Wharton, Hiri's entire body gave off a foul stench. Hiri examined himself and felt that his body was better than before. His strength had also broken through the Fifth-Level Warrior Peak and reached the level of a Sixth-Level Warrior. He seemed more than ten years younger.

"Grandpa Hiri, you should go take a bath," Wharton said, glancing at Hiri's body.

"Hehe, you brat." Hiri laughed and went to wash the grime off his body before returning.

Afterward, Wharton gave Little Gold a Foundation-Building Pill as well. However, it only expelled some black impurities, and nothing unusual happened.

Wharton instructed Hiri to take care of Little Gold before returning directly to O'Brien Warrior Academy. Wharton had been in seclusion for three months this time and had already turned twelve. Now standing at 1.7 meters tall, Wharton sat in Dorm 2008 and decided that if they still did not return, he would go check the back mountain.

At the back mountain of the O'Brien Empire, where Wharton and the others usually trained, Wharton looked at the empty stone platform. He sat cross-legged in his usual spot and circulated his Dragonblood Battle Qi until evening before leaving. Since there was no one in the dorm, he decided to return to the house he had bought. By the time he left O'Brien Warrior Academy, it was already dusk. Just as he stepped out of the academy, he saw three figures walking toward it. The man in the middle carried a heavy sword on his back and stood 1.7 meters tall. Of the two slightly smaller figures beside him, one carried a spear about two meters long, while the other held a folding fan.

At a glance, Wharton recognized Kane and the others.

"Boss!"

Wharton shouted.

"Hey, it's Third Brother!"

The three of them spotted Wharton as well. They pointed at him and burst into laughter, while Kate and Bulen were even more exaggerated, running straight over.

"Hahaha!"

The brothers hugged and laughed at the academy entrance, drawing the attention of many students. However, everyone had clearly seen such scenes often enough, so no one paid them much attention.