Above The Sky
Chapter 247 - 247 235 Nature 24

247: Chapter 235 Nature (2/4) 247: Chapter 235 Nature (2/4) “Is this the crux of the matter?”

Watching his student become extraordinarily simplistic in his thinking upon this subject, even revealing a confidently resolute expression, the old man couldn’t help but smile helplessly, “Where would I be concerned about his safety?

Have you not noticed that the lad seems to have known about the existence of the Southern Sea Ruins all along?”

“He previously instructed me to dive straight to the bottom, although it was also for the sake of safety, to avoid everyone falling to their death should I lose my strength…

But that excitement, that fervor, that joy as if he became a different person – didn’t you notice any of it?”

“Ah, this…”

Yisen Gard’s face was a picture of bewilderment, but now that his teacher had mentioned it, he also vaguely sensed that something was amiss.

Indeed…

Ian had not been like this before.

In the eyes of the blond youth, this peer from the White Folks he met at Harrison Port, was someone far more composed, mature, and perceptive, and could even be said to completely overshadow him in every aspect.

He was exceptionally intelligent, with incredibly acute perception, and possessed great talent in both Alchemy and Sublimation Skills…

Furthermore, his social skills were extremely comforting.

Ian had his own insights on all topics and could engage in discussions that followed others’ remarks without making it dull or burdensome.

Whether it was chatting or discussing affairs, it all felt very smooth — he must have been that kind of social expert who would never allow a conversation to go stale or make one feel awkward.

But in the eyes of Yisen Gard, Ian also appeared to be a person who was so dispassionately detached as to almost be heartless.

Although not highly emotionally intelligent, the youth’s observational skills were actually quite sharp; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to become an Alchemist.

He could see that Ian didn’t take the majority of things very seriously — he wasn’t very concerned about fame or fortune, and even the high-level Inheritance and Origin Dew promised by the Ellen Family, which could drive ordinary Sublimators mad with desire, only earned a casual nod and a perfunctory expression of surprise from him.

He really didn’t care about these things.

Ian was capable of killing over a dozen Natives and then elegantly wiping the blood from his sword before discussing subsequent mission details with him…

He was also able to dive into the sea with him without so much as a tenth of a second’s hesitation when their exploration ship came under attack.

Could such a person be so passionate, so excited, and so joyful?

Of course, it was possible.

Because Ian needed something from the ruins.

Because Ian needed something from the former era’s civilization.

Or to say…

Ian was someone who simply knew the unknown, someone who felt immense joy and fulfillment from just exploring and pioneering…

He was a Spirit Energy User who had awakened his Spirit Energy due to his desire to know the unknown and to explore the distant.

Spirit Energy Users are just like that.

Seeing Yisen Gard’s expression gradually transitioning to realization, Master Gossay nodded slightly, “This should be a struggle between the Ailes and the Natives, but it is Patrick who has escalated it…

If I’m not mistaken, this place is the ‘Holy Ground’ of the local Redwood Natives.”

“And Ian, his understanding of this place is undoubtedly greater than many.

That little guy who thirsts for knowledge must be very clear about the things he longs for here, hence his excitement.”

“His understanding of this place is certainly deeper than ours.”

“In other words, if we want to leave this place, Ian’s help is indispensable.”

After saying so much in one breath, Master Gossay took a tired breath, and Yisen Gard quickly offered him clean water, but the old man waved his hand slightly, “You drink it, you need to maintain your strength, I don’t have much fighting power left.”

A hint of unease resided in his heart at the moment.

Given Ian’s identity…

he ideally shouldn’t know these things, nor should he long for the Native Holy Land.

—Whether it was Ailes who told him, or he learned through other channels…

Never mind, now is not the time to think about these things.

“Yes, Teacher…

do we need Ian’s help again?”

Yisen Gard felt a bit embarrassed — during their journey to sea, they had received too much help from Ian, so much so that he couldn’t even think of how to repay such kindness.

Luckily the Ellen Family still had their foundations, and as long as he survived, any reward could be discussed.

“Teacher, your condition has stabilized, I’ll go check on the others,”

While Master Gossay was resting his eyes, and Yisen got up, planning to continue checking on the parasitic worm situation of other patients and to analyze the cases to optimize the potion—

The golden-haired youth holding the potion suddenly froze, then furrowed his brows tightly.

“Strange…”

He murmured to himself, looking towards the corridor of the cave on one side: “Why would there be the sound of armored clothing colliding?”

The Origin Quality carried by the wind brought distant faint murmurs, and Yisen heard the vibrations that were light but clear to him: “More than eight people, with the scent of gunpowder and alchemical potions…is it Alchemical Firearms?!

And this alchemical gunpowder mix…”

The youth showed a shocked expression, staring blankly towards the direction of the sound: “Fiery Flame Land?”

Hearing Yisen’s astonished voice, Master Gossay, who was planning to rest for a while, frowned and immediately thought of the incident that Yisen Gard had mentioned before, where Ian was attacked by foreign firearms.

A conjecture surged in his heart.

“Could it be that they helped the Natives just for the Native Holy Land?

At first, they might have only wanted to seek the Key in Ailes’s possession, but the ruins were accidentally opened…”

“By a stroke of luck, it was actually they who took advantage!”

Yisen Gard was quite intelligent in areas not involving interpersonal communication; his mind worked quickly.

He glanced at the ordinary people who were mostly asleep under sedatives, then, gritting his teeth, prepared to carry the elderly man: “Let’s go, Teacher, we must leave quickly!

This cave is deep and secluded, as long as we hide fast enough, and I use the wind to shield our scents, it won’t be easy for them to find us!”

“Although this place has parasitic worms, once dealt with, they can serve as food; we can hold out for a very long time!”

“You go.”

But the old man slapped away the youth’s extended hand, looking solemnly at his student, he said gravely, “Even if it’s the agents from Fiery Flame Land, they won’t kill me immediately upon capturing me.

They’ll have to take care of me, and they might even be more professional than you clumsy lad.”

“And if you carry me, both of us will definitely be caught.

Stop talking, just go!”

Master Gossay noticed that before preparing to leave, his student still hesitated for the South Sea Fishermen they had merely encountered by chance…

If it weren’t because of him, he might have decided to stay.

This foolish child… This temperament, not at all like either of his parents or his maternal grandfather…

But if it weren’t for this temperament, he wouldn’t consider Yisen as his last direct disciple either.

“…Teacher!”

Yisen stood still on the spot for a while, and then, biting his teeth, turned and left.

He was well aware that under normal circumstances, special agents from both countries who capture important individuals would definitely attempt to interrogate them for critical information or seek a ransom…but was the current situation normal?

Dying in a ruin no one knew about, there certainly would be no one to understand the real circumstances.

But he also understood that he absolutely could not let down his teacher’s intentions.

Yisen Gard’s actions were swift, leaving a potion beside each person on his way out to continue calming the parasitic worms.

Though it might be meaningless, his conscience compelled him to do so.

But just when the youth was about to leave through another cave entrance, he stopped in his tracks.

Because from that entrance, there were also sounds.

Da, da, da.

Footsteps echoed within the cave, steady and measured, simply advancing boldly and openly.

It was the march of a military formation, the sound of the most professionally trained soldiers moving.

He was surrounded.