Laura was shocked by the scene in front of her. All those days she was stupid enough to not notice this gap leading straight to a small cave house. Gritting her teeth, she quietly followed Evelyn inside and found a hole dug leading to the underground.

Only after stepping inside the tree she came to realize the horrifying truth. The thing in front of her is the legendary Hollow Spirit tree which she once heard while eavesdropped on one of the nobles of her kingdom. This kind of tree is very rare and totally identical to commonly found redwood trees and hence making very hard to distinguish between them. Only the superpowers of a Mid-tier kingdom have access to such resources but they strictly maintained by the Royal families.

Laura thought Evelyn probably found this tree by a coincidence and her breakthrough made total sense. But if the existence of this tree is slightly revealed it may cause a war between the surrounding kingdoms to occupy this place. And the first one to suffer will be their kingdom. If the Low tier kingdoms wage a war then they might have a chance to defend thanks to its natural barriers surrounding the kingdom, but if Mid-tier kingdoms choose to interfere then it will be a lost cause. Laura was even tempted to kill Evelyn to protect the secret of this place.

Laura jumped inside with an excited face to be the third to witness the legendary Hollow Spirit tree. Despite being an underground cave the air here was crisp and free without any impurities. Laura was obvious to the shock waiting for her.

Laura was stupefied by the scene of Alex laying motionless in a weird pose with pitch black skin. She started at Evelyn for an answer but Evelyn shook her head and explained what happened.

Laura sighed not knowing what to do in the current situation. She cannot afford to waste time since the demonic king beast was on the move.

"Okay, Let's take him to the City Lords mansion first! After that, we can discuss his condition." Laura suggested after contemplating for a bit to Evelyn.

She nodded and accepted her proposal.

When her hands touch him-- a shockwave blasted her to the other side of the wall. Shocked by the new problem Laura got up from the debris and again contemplated for a bit. First, the tree and now the kid, problem after problem kept popping up for her.

She made a choice and asked Evelyn to help her carry Alex via the grass bed he was sleeping on. Like carrying a patient on the ambulance, they used the bed as a strecher and carried Alex by gripping on both ends of the grass bed.

The Universe Spirit wanted to interfere but since it didn't want to reveal its presence to the outside world in fear of finding out by the Universe Spirit of this universe, it remained silent. Also since the universe spirit couldn't understand what's happening to him-- it let the fate take its path. Otherwise, who knows when will he wake up, it may be weeks, months, year or even a decade. She didn't find it safe leaving him alone in the Dark demon forest since the Demonic King has sensed the terrifying pressure released from his body. It would probably think of him as a threat and want to remove the threat from its territory as soon as possible.

Soon they reached the City Lord's Mansion.

"Laura! Where is he? Is he fine? Why did you take 20 days to find him?" Alex's father sent a barrage of questions towards Laura. He was so worried to notice Evelyn who was right behind her.

Laura kept her silence-- she didn't know how to explain the situation.

"Follow me!" she brought him to the nicely lit spacious bedroom where Alex was placed on the center of the bed with his grass bed on top.

He was still in his awkward pose.

James Reforest froze at the spot.

He caught Laura's shoulders and started shaking her in a violent manner, "What happened to him? Why does he look like burnt wood?"

Viens started popping out from Laura's head. She felt her shoulders crushed from the pressure off her husband's hands.

Evelyn noticing the situation, stood out and explained what happened to him. James who listened to her explanation felt something fishy about it, but using his spirit vision he found she was telling the truth. He was shocked to hear such treasure exist near his territory. But it wasn't important now, he was worried since he was clueless about his son's situation.

"Yes! What Evelyn said was true? If you don't believe her try touching Alex's skin you will understand his situation." Laura said with an indifferent expression and flashed a sly smile when he wasn't looking.

Evelyn was surprised by Laura behaviour but before she could warn him, he touched Alex's wrist to check his pulse. But little did he know that he would get shot out from the mansion by breaking the walls and end up into the servants quarters.

James woke up to find himself in a pile of debris and dust. The servants scrambled away as they were escaping for their lives. Thankfully no one noticed his face otherwise he didn't know how he would hold his head high knowing that he got trashed by someone in his own mansion.

He silently escaped before the guards can reach this place. Laura felt satisfied after seeing James flung out of the building. Evelyn didn't know the relation between these two were this close.

James walked towards them and ignored Laura as he planned to punish her in the bed tonight. James didn't know what's happening to Alex so he couldn't ask Alchemist for help since it got to do with the secret of the hollow Spirit tree also. It would be more problematic if he asked for external help, so he chose to wait for a month. If he still won't wake up, then he would have no choice but to contact Alex's mother and face her wrath.

Thankfully next morning Alex's body had some changes. His skin changed into his normal color and regained some blush to his face.

And at the same night, the news of Alex returning to the mansion was also spread to the whole city. His news of bedridden due to the vicious attack of the 1st wife was deliberately spread to stop any rumors about him.

**********************

Inside the servants quarters,

"Ruth! Why are you here? Didn't you know that your father was killed because he betrayed the 9th young master Alex with the 1st wife of City Lord? If anyone finds out your identity, you would also follow him to the afterlife." a young servant in his twenties warned a young lady.

Even after hearing his warnings, her eyes flashed with an evil glint. Her face revealed her eagerness to achieve vengeance. She was the only daughter of the butler who worked under the 1st wife of the city lord. Years ago, she was sent far away by her father to work under a large merchant house in the capital. She got the news of her father's death 10 days ago. She was shocked to find out her only living family member has died under the hands of the man he served.

She loved her father very much hence her desire for revenge made her quit her job and return to the Redforest city. Most of the people here don't recognize her very much except for the guy in front of her. They were childhood friends.

"Ruth! I'm sorry! I can't help you! If the city lord finds about it, surely my head will roll!" he refused Ruth's request.

Ruth hugged him and started crying.

The servant was surprised by the sudden development. Even though they met after a long time, he still had feelings for her. Now she returned as a mature lady with voluptuous front and luscious back which would stir any man's heart, he couldn't control himself. Her sweet fragrance starting to have an effect on him.

Ruth sensing the reaction from him silently unhooked her robe from the back and slid her clothes to the floor.

As a virgin, the servant felt his blood rushing to his head. Seeing her voluptuous bosoms so close to him, made him bleed his nose.

She took the servants hands and started rubbing on her bosoms. Feeling the erection of her nipple and softness of her bosoms, his hands got off his control. Her madly started to grope her bosoms and buried his face to feel the softness of her buns. He kissed her passionately while hands playing down between her legs and chest.

Blinded by lust, she took him to his bedroom and took his virginity. Her luscious body made him took three rounds until he got satisfied.

Ruth slept comfortably on his chest and said, "I know you fear for your life but I promise you no one will ever find out." He was still unsatisfied with doing something which also puts his life on the line.

Before he can reject, she put her finger on his lips and took out an object from her purse.

"Do you know what this is?" she asked with a ruthless expression on her face.

He looks at a vial of blue colored liquid and shook his head denying.

"This is venom from the nine stripped python! The corrosiveness of this poison can instill fear on even peak experts of this country. Just by coming in contact with this poison can corrode your skin in minutes till you turn into a pile of ash. I used my contacts from the capital and bought this venom for a huge price." she said.

He still had a look of unwillingness on his face. She quietly explained to him her plan she about to perform tomorrow.

She asked him to take a sick leave tomorrow and wait for her at the border of the city. She will act as his replacement and enter the main quarters of the city lord's mansion. She planned to throw the corrosive venom at the sick Alex and killing him at the spot. She wanted the City Lord to feel the pain of losing a family member close to him since she found out the city lord has killed his 1st wife for the sake of his son.

"Before even they can notice, we would have left the city and journey towards a Mid-tier kingdom. Even if the city lord comes into action, he cannot find a trace of our disappearance. There we can start a family, have kids and live a happy life!" she said.

He thought for a while and accepted.

A smile blossomed on her and started passionately kissing on his lips. Actually, she didn't have a plan to leave the kingdom or start a life with him. She actually planned to make him a scapegoat for the death of the 9th young master and take a safer way out. That's why she even used her body to seduce him.

The servant asked for sick leave with the head butler and recommended Ruth to fill the gap. He introduced her as his girlfriend. Ruth got the job without any problem.

Before leaving, he marked a map to the 9th young master's room. She took the cleaning chores of the 2nd floor of the mansion. Without making anyone suspicious she entered the room and found Alex sleeping on the bed. She made sure anyone walking towards the room.

Luckily for her, Evelyn who volunteered to look after Alex took some time off to take a bath.

Again making sure nobody was coming, she took the vail containing the nine stipped python's venom and started spraying all over his body.

*Sizzle* *Sizzle*

The venom started working. With a sizzle the cloth on his body started corroding-- revealing his well-built body.

But to her surprise, when the venom touched his skin it slid off like a water drop on a tile floor. There wasn't a mark of single scratch or corrosion on his skin. The slid off venom then corroded the parts of the bed and collapsed with a loud thud.

Ruth was staring at Alex like he was a monster. She still can't believe her plan has failed. The amount of sacrifice she made to take her vengence was too much. She never thought the seeming innocent Alex was a monster hiding in human skin.

The Universe spirit who was watching the scene was having a proud face. She looked like the achievement was all because of her. She doesn't know what happened to his body but she was aware of the changes happening inside his body. Of all her knowledge she never witnesses such changes in a human body like this ever. It's like he's shedding his mortal skin and turning into a real dragon.

Looking at the disturbance created from the collapsed bed, she panicked and knew her life was over. Now no matter how she try to escape, she will ultimately fail. So she steeled her heart and convinced herself to take his life before taking hers.

She took the knife which she brought in case of an emergency.

Now it was the Universe Spirit's turn to panic. No matter how hard his skin was, it still couldn't withstand a full force of a peak Star essence layer expert with a sharp weapon.

She was in a dilemma whether to use her powers to help him. If she did that she will fully expose herself to the Spirit of this Universe otherwise he will die. She watched the knife nearing his throat in slow motion and still haven't made a choice.

She gritted her teeth and choose to gamble her choice and interfere.

But before she could act, the knife nearing Alex's throat stopped in the mid-air.

Ruth felt her whole body froze in the air. She felt her body wasn't in her control anymore.

Before she can fully understand the situation, her body started to disintegrate into ash and blown with the flow of wind just like the Climax from the movie Avengers Infinity war. Even her weapon disappeared into air leaving no proof of her existence.

A crack appeared on the space inside the bedroom forming a void and a little girl seeming the age of 6 or 7 walked out from the void.

"I think you have hidden enough ja and now its time for you to come out nano ja!" the little girl who walked from the void spoke in an arrogant tone.