The System Gets Offended

The System quickly advised in a solemn tone:

[Host, there is no reason for you to worry. The System had run millions of calculations and took safety measures before allowing you to absorb a Fragment of Arcadia's Star Essence. As for why the Host's Celestial Mana Core is not forming, the answer is quite simple. Only after the Host absorbs the entirety of Arcadia's sun's Star Essence will the Celestial Mana Core form.]

Lucian almost opened his eyes wide. He did not expect the System's solution would be that.

Speechlessly, Lucian said:

[... If you want me to wipe out the entire population of Arcadia, just say it. There's no need to take a roundabout method.]

Now it was the System's turn to be speechless. Since when did it say it wanted to wipe out an entire planet's population?

Even so… the System understood its Host's words. If not for the power of the System wrapping the Fragment of Star Essence in Soul Power, Arcadia would have turned into nothing.

Even a Fragment of the sun's Star Essence was hotter than the sun's fire.

The System was silent for a few seconds, and then it said:

[Host, allow me to clarify. To form the Celestial Mana Core, you need to absorb a hundred percent of Yang Star Essence. It can be done in batches or in your case one Fragment at a time. And because all Yang Star Essence is intrinsically the same, you can absorb Fragments of Yang Star Essence from other suns. I hope this has eliminated your worries.]

Lucian took a moment to digest the System's words, and his initial worry greatly lessened.

The System solemnly continued:

[The process will be gradual and will take time, to allow your body enough time to acclimate to the intense Star Essence. The Host does not need to worry. Please allow the System to handle the creation of your Celestial Mana Core.] 

Lucian let out a sigh of relief and replied:

[Alright, wake me up if you see any members from Lion's Liver]

Now that Lucian did not need to worry about ending the life on Arcadia, he focused his Mana Sense on the Star Essence Fragment… just in case something went wrong.

Lucian still did not trust the System. This was his life. Even though there was nothing he could do if the Star Essence Fragment decided to explode. At the very least, he tried…

The System was speechless and slightly offended. 

Why could its Host not believe the System?

Those trashy novels about evil Systems were fake.

They were mere fiction.

The Gourmet Chef System had no evil intentions. At the very least, to its limited knowledge, it thought it did not…

Mana Condensation Mages could stay awake for three days simply by absorbing Mana, and Lucian decided to use that in his favor.

Soon, minutes turned into hours, and the moon above Arcadia radiated moonlight like a blanket across the world.

—-----------

Hours passed as Lucian remained still, never once taking his Mana Sense away from the Star Essence Fragment. Even after many hours. the Star Essence Fragment continued to bubble, without any other changes. 

*Clop*

*Clop*

*Clop*

From the distance, the sound of hooves hitting the cobblestone ground reached Lucian's ears.

Lucian's ears perked up, but he remained focused on the Star Essence Fragment.

*Clop*

*Clop*

*Clop*

The sound of hooves hitting the cobblestone ground grew closer.

Soon, the System saw a caravan approaching through its monitoring ability. The caravan was surrounded by twenty armored guards and five differently clothed men, which the System quickly identified as the members from Lion's Liver.

[Host, it is time for you to leave. There is a caravan approaching.]

While maintaining his Mana Sense on the Star Essence Fragment, Lucian opened his eyes and directed his attention toward the rapidly approaching caravan. 

The caravan that approached was modest in design, with barely any protection. It was a series of five wooden carriages, each linked with metal chains.

Leading the caravan was a large, white wooden carriage, reinforced with three defensive Runic Symbols and being pulled by four, Grade Two Fire Hoof Horses.

Compared to Lucian's standards, it was nothing impressive, but for Mortals, it was something else. Even if a Mana Core Formation Realm Mage were to attack the leading carriage, not even a dent would be made.

The guards that surrounded the caravan were nothing impressive either: ten Mana Condensation Mages, five Blood Tempering Mages, and one Tendon Tempering Mage.

Lucian then shifted his eyes to Garrett, Hervy, Lane, Cody, and Coby, who were surrounding the leading caravan.

After seeing them, Lucian rose to his feet and walked downstairs. Because of his Chef's uniform, any odor or bodily waste his body produced would be eliminated, so he did not need to take a shower. 

After turning on the alarm system, Lucian walked outside his restaurant and locked the door with a key before throwing it into his inventory.

When the caravan was finally about to reach Transcendence, Garrett shouted while pointing at the beautiful building:

"Stop there!" 

Immediately, the horses neighed at Garrett's words and slowed their legs before coming to a stop in front of the restaurant.

When the armored guards saw the restaurant, their mouths opened as wide as possible. Thankfully for them, their faces were hidden by a metal helmet; otherwise, their years of training would have been questioned.

At the same time as the guards were shocked, the leading carriage door was pushed open, and a man who looked to be in his mid-forties, with a pot belly, shady, narrowed black eyes, and black hair, stepped out. He looked at the restaurant and was surprised by its external and internal design. 

In all his years of traveling the Aetheria continent, he had never seen a restaurant as beautiful and elegant as the one in front of his eyes.

'Why is this beautiful restaurant here, of all places?' He curiously wondered as he shifted his shady, narrowed eyes to the owner, who Garrett mentioned was named Lucian. According to the newly ascended Bone Tempering Mage, even he could not see through the owner.