Chapter 521 - Confession (1/2)

**Read authors note first**

Back in the Walking City of the Academy, over an hour had passed as Hao Xuan continued to refine and absorb the potent energy from the Soul Cleansing Rum from that one mouthful, and it wasn't anywhere near finished.

This process would last over six hours as the pure energy continued to drench Hao Xuan's soul in thick spiritual essence, leaving him barely able to hold a conversation.

Ryfon waited beside him for over three hours before he finally ran out of all the booze he had on him.

The night was long and nowhere near its end, only getting colder by the second. Fortis, Zhurong, and Salome had returned to the cabin sometime during that time period and already gone to sleep, leaving only Ryfon and Hao Xuan beside the campfire that burned ceaselessly.

Ryfon's woeful expression only became gloomier as time passed until finally, he looked up at Hao Xuan, at which point the gloom turned into distress.

”I have to come clean about something,” he said after a moment of contemplation.

Hao Xuan was surrounded by a semi-transparent blue wind that revolved around him without making a sound. His eyes were closed, making it look like he was asleep but upon hearing Ryfon's voice, he replied calmly.

”Hmm?”

Ryfon grit his teeth, ”I didn't tell you the whole truth about the rum. It...is true that it heals and is good for you, but it also has a side-effect. During the period you're absorbing it, you cannot lie or hide anything. You are like an open book and will respond to any query asked of you.”

The blue wind that was circulating around Hao Xuan trembled for an instant before returning to normal. He didn't even open his eyes, only letting out a deep sigh. He nodded lightly, still maintaining his posture.

”So that was it, huh? I was wondering what this thing would cost me. You gave me a priceless treasure just so you could ask me a few questions? Why?”

It would be a lie if Hao Xuan said he wasn't worried after hearing Ryfon's confession. The secret about his constitution could not be known by anyone else since he would become public enemy number one. And on this planet, there was nowhere for him to hide.

Hao Xuan had tried to break out of this 'state' he was currently in which was shown by the tremor in the wind earlier but his body wasn't listening to him anymore.

It greedily absorbed the energy without any worry and right now, there was nothing he could do to stop it, not even call out his severs that were locked away in his mind palace.