Chapter 5: Recovery

After all, this was just a simulation, so no matter how disastrous the outcome, it had no real impact.

After swallowing the mysterious liquid, Rhett sat down with his eyes closed. Inside his body, however, a drastic transformation was taking place.

This intense change was invisibly reshaping his body. Although his structure appeared unchanged, the very essence of his life was gradually being elevated.

However, the process was anything but easy.

From Rhett's tightly furrowed brows, it was clear that he was enduring excruciating pain, as if tens of thousands of iron-footed ants were crawling and biting all over him. It felt like being pricked by needles and burned by flames, with waves of agony crashing into his mind.

He gritted his teeth and bore the pain, silently thinking to himself, "It really is a bloodline potion—something that only a legendary Saint Alchemist could create."

As the name suggests, a bloodline potion can alter a person's bloodline, potentially affecting their future talents, physique, and more.

But according to legend, crafting a bloodline potion was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Creating a high-quality bloodline potion was even more challenging.

Moreover, the process of absorbing a bloodline potion was fraught with danger. Depending on the level of craftsmanship, the experience could vary greatly in terms of effect, pain, and, most importantly—the success rate of absorption!

At this moment, Rhett couldn't gauge the quality of this bloodline potion, but he was already struggling with the absorption.

The violent nature of the potion, the conflict with his bloodline, and a series of mysterious forces were relentlessly wreaking havoc on his body.

Blood trickled from the corner of Rhett's mouth, and his face turned pale. At this rate, he wouldn't last much longer before death claimed him.

Time passed slowly, and half an hour went by.

Though Rhett's eyes remained closed, his skin had turned a deep red, like molten lava.

As Rhett continued to endure the pain, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

"It's working, but I've reached my limit."

But then, his eyes snapped open, and he roared, "No!"

Immediately, a faint explosion seemed to resonate within his body, and with a bang, his body shattered into several pieces.

Before he could even take in the sight of his gruesome demise, Rhett felt a moment of dizziness. The next thing he knew, he was once again surrounded by the warm light of the room.

Rhett lay back in his chair, slowly regaining his composure.

The fireplace behind him crackled, radiating warmth.

Since this was his first time experiencing a [Real Simulation], even though his body had returned to normal, it still took Rhett some time to adjust.

The experience had been so vivid, so lifelike, that it was almost indistinguishable from reality.

After recovering, Rhett reflected on the fact that he had indeed returned to Deep Rock Fortress, and was in the exact position he had been in before starting the [Real Simulation].

"It's a shame, though. I had already finished absorbing it," Rhett muttered to himself with a sigh.

[Real Simulation has ended. Please select one attribute to retain.]

[1. Physique]

[2. Fighting Spirit]

[3. Mental Power]

Seeing this message, Rhett was momentarily stunned, followed by a surge of joy!

So this was the secret of the [Real Simulation]!

Not only could he fully immerse himself in the simulation, but he could also retain one attribute—either his physique, fighting spirit, or mental power—after the simulation ended.

"In that case, I won't be polite!" Rhett eagerly chose the first option: [Physique].

At the end of the simulation, he had fully absorbed the bloodline potion.

However, the remnants of the potion continued to wreak havoc in his already battered body, ultimately proving to be the final straw that led to his demise.

Recalling his state in those final moments, Rhett pondered.

In the last few seconds before his death, he had sensed a powerful force deep within his bloodline, similar to the abilities of a sixth-tier magical beast—the Spirit Rock Lizard.

This bloodline, besides significantly enhancing his affinity with earth elements, would gradually allow him to master a few innate spells as his power grew.

Most importantly, his resistance to poisons would greatly increase—one of the Spirit Rock Lizard's most notable traits.

Just what he needed to solve his immediate problem!

At that moment, a surge of warmth coursed through his body. This time, there was no discomfort; instead, it felt incredibly soothing.

In just a few seconds, Rhett sensed an overwhelming transformation within his body.

It worked!

A strange gleam flashed in Rhett's eyes as he once again felt the wondrous power of his new bloodline.

The most noticeable change was in his innate talent.

With just a thought, Rhett could feel his affinity with earth elements had increased dramatically—by at least threefold!

Once, he had only a low-level talent, but now, he estimated he possessed a mid-level magician's aptitude!

Of course, this enhancement didn't mean he had become a Spirit Rock Lizard—there were still differences between the two.

For instance, magical beasts didn't need to cultivate deliberately; they would naturally reach their designated rank upon maturity.

However, the bloodline potion, crafted by a Saint-tier expert, had still improved his talent to a considerable degree.

Moreover, Rhett had inherited the Spirit Rock Lizard's spells. When he sensed the earth elements around him, he instinctively detected a mysterious and complex trajectory.

By following this trajectory with his mental power, he could cast a new spell.

This intrigued him, but inside the castle wasn't the ideal place to experiment. Even innate spells wouldn't be instantaneous or cost-free to cast.

The most delightful change, however, was that the White-Headed Eagle Poison's influence on him was gradually diminishing. As time passed, the poison seemed to be weakening.

As a result, Rhett's overall spirit improved. While the Spirit Rock Lizard's bloodline didn't significantly enhance his physical body, the relief from the poison's burden left him feeling rejuvenated, as if he had grown a few years younger.

Looking in the mirror, Rhett noticed that much of the white in his hair had faded. A smile curled at his lips.

After a moment's thought, however, he decided to trim off the remaining white strands on his forehead, to avoid revealing that he was nearly cured.

Moreover, the prospect of returning to the cave in reality and retrieving the Grand Magus's relics filled Rhett with a deep sense of satisfaction.

After all, the bloodline potion could still be used again.

It might no longer be useful to him, but that didn't mean it wouldn't benefit someone else.

However, until he found a way to manage its side effects, he wouldn't risk letting one of his sons try it.

With his body restored and his safe retirement from the front lines, it seemed that a bright future was once again within reach.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, a woman's image suddenly flashed in Rhett's memory, causing him to pause.

He raised his teacup and drained it in one gulp.