A Man Like None Other (Jared Chance) novel Chapter 6458

At the bottom of the phial, Aldric's remnant soul lay curled within a faint cloud of black mist.

"Over these five days, he too had borrowed the Aureate Codex's golden radiance and the essence of the soul-restorative draught to recover a small measure of vitality.

The black mist that had once hovered on the edge of dispersal had become a little more solid."

"He was still too weak to act, and even forcing out words looked difficult.

But at the very least, he no longer seemed as though he might be wiped out completely at any moment."

Now and then, he released the faintest thread of aura, as if passing his thanks to Jared.

"Jared sensed it and only gave the slightest nod, saying nothing more.

At this moment, every bit of his strength was fixed on restoring his spirit."

"He understood that only by recovering his strength as quickly as possible would he have a chance to remake his body.

Only then would he have a chance to return to the Sixteenth Firmament and settle the blood debt."

"At dusk on the fifth day, the last glow of sunset slipped through the hidden chamber's vent and spilled a thin wash of gold onto the stone dais.

It fell across the phial and wove together with the light inside."

Just then, the stone door of the hidden chamber gave a soft creak.

Master Wellspring had returned.

"When he pushed the door open and stepped in, he carried the dust and chill of the outside with him.

His dark Daoist robe was smeared with mud and bits of grass, and several places had even been torn in fine, narrow rips. These five days of searching had clearly not gone smoothly."

"The lines of travel had sunk deep into him.

His eye sockets looked hollow, red threads covered the corners of his eyes, and even the white at his temples seemed to have gained a few more strands. Compared with the last time he had gone out to investigate, he looked even more worn down."

"Even so, a faint spark flickered in his eyes, so slight it was almost hidden.

It was the light that came after a clue had finally surfaced, after the road ahead had cracked open by even a hair."

"Master Wellspring did not stop to rest.

He went straight to the stone dais and carefully took the Storage Ring from his waist. Spiritual power stirred at his fingertips, and the weathered holding ring instantly lit with a faint spiritual glow."

"From the ring, he took out a yellowed hide map.

The material was unusual, warm to the touch. Black sigils traced the shapes of mountains, rivers, and waterways across its surface. Though it was old, and some of the sigils had already blurred, the map's craftsmanship was still clearly meticulous."

"He gently spread the hide map across the stone dais.

Once unfolded, it took up a full half of the dais."

"The map clearly marked the major mountain ranges, cities, and secret realms of the northern region.

One place, marked in red sigils, was Beastmoor Ridge at the uttermost edge of the North."

"Aureate Heir, your servant has found some clues."

"Master Wellspring's voice came out hoarse.

Days of rushing from place to place and searching without letup had worn hard on his throat, and when he spoke, a strain lay beneath the words that was almost too faint to catch."

"He bowed slightly, his gaze falling on Jared's soul inside the phial.

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