Chapter 172 Catalyst

Chapter 172 Catalyst

Valerian immediately put his arms around Adam's neck, hugged him tightly, and started licking all over his face. He was very happy to reunite with Adam after all. He'd been away from the youth for too long.

Toward the beginning of Adam's training retreat, they had been staying together. However, as the days passed by with Adam doing nothing but attacking the hill, Valerian started to get very bored. Very bored.

So Adam told him he could spend time at the banyan tree with the rest of the baboons. The youth figured that little guy wouldn't have to go through any trouble staying with the magical beasts since these guys borderline worshipped him.

And he was right on the mark. Seeing Vaelrian being treated like a king, Adam felt that all his worries had been unfounded.

He looked at Valerian and chuckled, "You seem to be doing quite alright."

Valerian buried his furry head in his paws out of embarrassment. 'I didn't want you to see that...'

"Hehehe, it's alright." Adam patted the little guy's head. "Looks like they've been treating you just fine."

Valerian's eyes lit up. 'Yes, they're all very respectful and friendly. I go out to play with the little baboons every day. They even taught me to climb trees. They're so much fun!'

Listening to him recount all that he had done in the past months, Adam listened patiently with a doting smile.

He was happy knowing that Valerian was spending time playing with other kids—magical beasts, really—around his age.

Suddenly, Valerian rubbed his head against Adam's and said warmly, 'Brother, I missed you!'

Adam's heart melted and he gently stroked the young dragon's back. "I missed you too, Little Val."

Valerian raised his head and gazed at the youth with his topaz eyes. 'Is it time to leave?'

"Well, not yet," Adam replied with a tilt of his head. "I still have one more thing to do."

'What? What?' Valerian asked with shining eyes.

"Hmm, let's go to an enclosed place first. Where have you been staying?" The youth asked, chuckling slightly seeing the little guy so eager.

The young dragon agilely climbed Adam's head and lay down on it. This was his favorite spot in the world. He missed sitting on the youth's head.

Seeing the young dragon's ears drooping as if he were saddened, Adam shook his head with a smile. "Of course, not. If you're not here, then you will protect me?"

'Okay!' Valerian's eyes lit up. He then turned around and left to inform the surrounding baboons.

...

Within a few minutes, Adam had already prepared a temporary laboratory inside the cave.

'Brother!' Valerian ran back inside the cave. 'I've already informed the rest. No one is going to disturb us.'

"Good job!" Adam praised him with a warm smile.

The next moment, Adam took out a small, green bean from his earring and flicked it at the entrance of the cave. Then he made a few hand gestures, following which, a magic circle lit up right under the bean.

Rank 1 Spell: Druidism!

Following that, a small leaf sprouted from the bean, and within the next few moments, the bean matured into a wall of thick vines and vegetation, instantly covering the entrance of the cave.

Adam then took out fresh ingredients from his earring, among which was a blue, heart-shaped crystal.

The core of the Mystic Mangrove Tree!

Adam believed that his foundations, both physical and magical, were very solid to begin with. Now, if he consumed a potion that contained the mystical properties of the mangrove core, it would further reinforce his foundation.

Moreover, the great amount of filtered mana inside the blue core would serve as the perfect catalyst for him to finally advance to an Organ Stage Magus!

He had already satisfied all the criteria to advance to the next stage long back, but Adam wanted everything to be flawless.

The youth may or may not take anything else seriously, but when it came to magic he gave it his all as it was the single most important thing to him in the world.

He looked at all the ingredients he had redied and kept beside the cauldron, excitement etched all over his face.

"Alright, let's do this!"