Chapter 163

Words : 1314 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 163: Chapter 163 Clayton, startled by the tremor, quickly turned around to see what was happening. As he looked back, he noticed that the Everlight group was still trapped in the illusion created by the night-blooming tuberose pollen. From this, Clayton immediately knew they weren’t the source of the disturbance. His curiosity sparked, and he began investigating the cause. It didn’t take long for him to witness the aftermath. In the distance, a massive, towering mushroom cloud loomed in the sky—majestic yet terrifying, pressing down on his chest with an oppressive weight. Clayton’s curiosity deepened, but so did his unease. Something serious had happened. Caught in a dilemma, he hesitated for a moment before deciding to take a closer look. He moved quickly toward the source. When he arrived, the signs of devastation were still fresh and clearly visible. He cautiously scanned the area—and couldn’t hide his shock. A group of people appeared to be surrounding something. "Wait... am I not the only one who can enter the transparent dome?" Clayton wondered uncertainly. "If that’s true, then it’s no longer a safe hiding spot for me..." he thought uneasily. While he was lost in thought, the group suddenly engaged in battle—with a savage-looking monster. Clayton was aware of the clash but chose to remain focused on the pressing questions swirling in his mind. Soon, some of those questions began to find answers. "Maybe someone out there has a special method to enter the dome... or maybe the dome itself has a hidden access point. Otherwise, wouldn’t its very existence be pointless? After all, this dungeon has been around for years. Surely, clever people would have figured out a way in by now..." The thought brought him some relief. Sure, the dome might be accessible, but doing so likely required strict conditions. If it were easy, people like Everlight—or those noble brats he had killed—wouldn’t have struggled so much to get inside. Clayton let out a quiet breath of relief but silently vowed not to rely on the transparent dome for protection anymore. With the matter somewhat resolved in his mind, he finally turned his full attention to the ongoing battle. To his surprise, the creature they were fighting wasn’t a wild beast—but rather a massive, agile lizard with powerful earth-based attributes. It was a summoned beast, a pet belonging to a mage. The opposing group wore high-quality gear and wielded advanced magical tools, which allowed them to hold their ground against the beast’s fierce assault. Watching them fight made Clayton feel deeply uneasy. Almost all of them seemed to be Six-Star Apprentice Mages. He realized that if he became their target, he wouldn’t last more than a few minutes—unless a miracle occurred. With that in mind, he desperately hoped to avoid getting involved. Just as he was about to leave, something caught his eye—a vibrant blue flower, standing out clearly in the middle of the group. Intrigued, Clayton stared at it more intently. After a few moments, his observation skill activated. With his knowledge of alchemy, he instantly recognized the flower. It was the Azure Hibiscus—a rare and beautiful plant, and one of the key ingredients in crafting the True Potion. This potion was essential for top-level apprentices aiming to ascend to the rank of True Mage. It increased the success rate by up to 30%, while also preserving the body, soul, and mana during the breakthrough process. Though it was possible to advance without the potion, the risks were extremely high—making the potion incredibly valuable. Because the ingredients were scarce and slow-growing—and because so many people were desperate to ascend—the price of the potion had skyrocketed. Now Clayton understood the reason behind the fierce battle. Whether they intended to use it for themselves or sell it to their families, that flower was worth a fortune. "If only I could get my hands on that flower..." Clayton muttered in awe. But he quickly snapped out of his daydream, knowing it was nothing more than a fantasy. After observing the flower for a while, he sensibly decided to leave. It wasn’t his business. Then—out of nowhere—something shot through the air and landed right in front of him. Out of reflex, Clayton caught it. In his hand was a brilliant blue flower, speckled with shimmering, glaze-like patterns. It radiated rich, vibrant energy that made Clayton almost want to eat it on the spot. Upon closer inspection, he realized—it was the Azure Hibiscus, the very flower he had just been admiring from afar. But instead of joy, a wave of dread washed over him. He slowly looked up—and saw the entire group that had been fighting now staring at him with cold, suspicious eyes. Goosebumps rose across his skin. For a moment, he had no idea what to do—so he forced a bitter smile. "If I said I wasn’t trying to do anything... would you believe me?" he asked, trying to defuse the tension. But they gave him no chance. Their eyes darkened. Clayton began to panic. He even felt like crying—but he knew emotions wouldn’t help him now. Thinking quickly, he made a split-second decision. Pretending to store the flower, he instead hurled it high into the air, far from himself. Then, without a second thought, he turned and ran. In desperation, he pulled a black marble from his spatial pouch and fired it ahead several times. Riding the waves of energy it created, he surfed through the air, propelling himself forward over and over again. He continued this for a while, until he finally felt he had put enough distance between himself and the danger. After some time, he dared to look back. Seeing no one behind him, he exhaled in relief—but remained alert. He scanned the area, confirmed it was clear, and finally allowed himself to rest. "Huff... This dungeon is insane! I swear I’m never coming back in here again, no matter what the reward is!" he declared with conviction. After catching his breath, he resumed searching for a safe place to hide. He debated whether to stay inside the transparent dome or leave. But after weighing the risks, he realized the dome was still safer—for now. Not just anyone could enter, and the number of bounty hunters inside was far fewer than outside. He summoned his skeletal minions, who had disappeared earlier while he was busy running for his life. Once they regrouped, Clayton set off with his mini-skeletons to explore the area. At first, their journey was peaceful. Although humans could enter the dome, only a few had the ability to do so—making the place relatively quiet and low in conflict. The only real threats came from monsters or native creatures with strong territorial instincts. But Clayton knew that if he simply stayed out of their territory, he’d be fine—they wouldn’t chase him past their domain. Then, just as he was searching for a secure hiding spot, one of the stigma on his body suddenly began to pulse. Clayton clicked his tongue in frustration. "Damn it... Why does this keep happening to me?" he muttered, exasperated. He was sick of it, but he had no one to blame. The marks were the result of his own actions. With no other choice, he returned to escape mode—carefully choosing his path as he fled once more. Thankfully, it seemed only a few people were actively tracking him, allowing him to slip away more easily than expected. He let out a relieved sigh and smiled, feeling a rare moment of freedom. But as he continued running, he suddenly realized something—he had no idea where he was going. He was... lost. To get a better sense of direction, he climbed a nearby tree to scout from higher ground. But as he reached the hollow in the trunk, something inside startled him. "Ahhh! What the hell is that?!" he yelped, leaping away in shock.

Chapter 163

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