Chapter 44: A Bet with the Emperor: The Storm of Tribulation Begins

"Of course it's true, but considering your age, one pill might not be very effective. You can always buy a few more to try, and if they don't work, I'll take you as my disciple," Sylvus said directly.

Lace hesitated for a moment but then nodded.

"Alright, I'll buy three pills for now."

With even a slight chance of becoming a Ninth-Tier Alchemist, Lace wasn't about to pass it up. Even if he failed, he could still become Sylvus' disciple.

"Meylan, fetch the pills," Sylvus said with a smile.

Three Sanqing Pills came to fifteen billion magic crystals.

Compared to the contents of Lace's magic storage ring, it wasn't much.

However, Sylvus was confident that he'd have many more opportunities to extract even more money from Lace.

Someday, he would completely drain all of Lace's wealth.

[System prompt: Congratulations to the host for completing a major transaction. The host has gained a one-time system shop refresh slot. Once used, the next system shop refresh will include one additional random item.]

As soon as the transaction was completed, the system's voice echoed, and Sylvus' eyes lit up.

He hadn't expected to get the chance for an extra shop refresh.

"System, use the refresh slot."

Sylvus said in his mind.

He was already wondering where he could spend all the money he'd just earned.

With an extra refresh slot, the chances of getting a fragment of the Forbidden Codex would increase slightly.

[System prompt: The host successfully used the one-time refresh slot. It will take effect at the next system shop refresh.]

Lace left quickly after that, while Sylvus began tallying up the day's earnings.

He had earned more money in a single day than he had in all his previous earnings combined.

He had made fifteen billion magic crystals from Lace alone.

He had earned another 1.5 billion from Stan.

Altogether, that was 16.5 billion magic crystals.

Including the 700 million magic crystals he already had, his total assets had now reached 17 billion.

That was enough to buy everything in the system shop.

And once Nat repaid the ten billion magic crystals he owed, Sylvus would have 27 billion, making him incredibly wealthy.

"System, buy the two items from the system shop."

[System prompt: The host spent 500 million points to purchase Energy Block—Skyfire. It has been placed in the system space for the host to review.]

[System prompt: The host spent two billion points to purchase the Ruler-Sealing Card. It has been placed in the system space for the host to review.]

The system's voice echoed, and Sylvus' assets were reduced to just over 14 billion. But he was still a wealthy man.

Sylvus didn't rush to inspect the items since Meylan was still nearby.

As he was thinking, he suddenly noticed Meylan walking over, a look of excitement on his face.

"What do you want?" Sylvus asked Meylan.

Why was there a strange eagerness in his eyes? Did this old man have some unusual hobby?

*Bang...*

"Master, please accept my humble respect!"

In the next moment, Meylan knelt before Sylvus, much to his shock. Sёarch* The Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Meylan bowed deeply, leaving Sylvus utterly confused.

What was going on? Was this guy bowing to him?

When had Sylvus ever agreed to be his master?

"What are you doing?" Sylvus asked, puzzled as he looked at the kneeling Meylan.

He still hadn't figured out what was happening.

"Master, I was foolish before. I now realize that you kept me here to pass down your pill-making skills. I have finally understood. Please, Master, teach me!" Meylan said with excitement.

If he learned how to make pills, wouldn't he be as amazing as his master?

Sylvus finally understood.

He realized that his offhand comment about passing down the skills had led to this.

He had to admit, this old man was quite thick-skinned.

He was old enough to be Sylvus' ancestor, yet he knelt without hesitation.

*Smack...*

"Ah...pfft..."

In the next second, Sylvus slapped Meylan across the face.

Meylan hadn't expected Sylvus to strike him.

He let out a cry of pain and was sent flying, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

"Get up and keep an eye on the shop! Who said I was taking you as a disciple?"

Sylvus snorted coldly.

It seemed like Meylan hadn't grasped the situation. He was still just a debt-ridden worker.

Without sparing him another glance, Sylvus turned and walked upstairs.

It was the perfect opportunity to check out the two items he had just bought.

As Sylvus walked away, Meylan sat on the floor, clutching his face, feeling wronged.

The boss was too ruthless. If you don't want to take me as a disciple, fine. But why hit me?

"My teeth are falling out."

...

After returning to his room, Sylvus took out the Ruler-Sealing Card and the energy block.

The Ruler-Sealing Card was entirely purple.

It was about the same size as the public transit cards Sylvus had used back on Earth.

But the material was completely different.

It emanated a strong energy fluctuation.

The energy block was about the size of a battery.

He equipped the energy block to the Skyfire Hand Cannon.

The cannon emitted a faint glow.

All it would take was a thought, and the weapon would unleash a powerful attack.

"These two items could come in handy in a critical moment. For now, I should focus on cultivating."

After toying with the items for a while, Sylvus put them away, took a pill, and resumed his cultivation.

...

Here is the high-quality and accurate translation of the next part of the chapter:

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**At Night, Bork Empire's Palace**

"Father, the pills from that small shop are truly miraculous. They've completely healed my second brother's injuries," Nat said, addressing Emperor Boone. "Now, he's back in his chambers, and with a few more days of rest, he should be fine."

Boone didn't say anything.

Earlier, he had doubted that anything could fully heal Stan's injuries without leaving lasting effects.

But now, it seemed he had underestimated the power of that shop.

"Could it be that the shop owner really is a Ruler of Magic?" Boone couldn't help but wonder.

If not, how could such miraculous things exist?

Even a Mage Emperor couldn't completely heal Stan's injuries and restore his strength.

"Father, there is another matter I need to report," Nat continued.

"Speak!"

*Thud...*

Before Boone could finish, Nat knelt on the ground.

"Father, I beg your forgiveness. In my haste to help my second brother and out of fear that the pills might harm him, I rashly made a bet with the shop owner," Nat said.

"A bet? What kind of bet?" Boone asked.

"I bet that if the shop's pills could truly heal my second brother, I would give the owner ten billion magic crystals. If the pills failed, the owner would submit to our punishment. But in the end, I lost. I ask for your punishment, Father!" Nat said, still kneeling.

Boone frowned. He hadn't expected such a twist.

He stared at Nat for a moment, realizing that this was his son's way of making him pay the debt.

"So, what are you trying to say? You don't want to pay?" Boone asked with a smile.

"Uh... Of course, I don't want to pay. Ten billion magic crystals isn't a small amount. But many people witnessed the bet, and the shop owner made it clear that if I didn't deliver the money in three days, he...he would..." Nat trailed off.

"Speak clearly. What did he say?" Boone asked, his tone sharp.

Nat gritted his teeth and continued, "He said that if the money wasn't delivered in three days, he would make you kneel and apologize."

*Boom...*

"Hmph, how bold! He dares to make me kneel!" Boone's eyes filled with fury.

As the emperor of an entire nation, being insulted in this way made him seethe with anger.

Nat remained silent, bowing on the ground, his heart pounding.

Was his father planning to destroy the shop?

"Leave for now. Your third brother has just been attacked, and your second brother has only just recovered. As the eldest, you should focus on taking care of them," Boone said, waving him away.

"I obey, Father."

Nat didn't dare ask any more questions and quickly left the room.

Once Nat was gone, an old man appeared beside Boone.

...

*Bang, bang, bang...*

"Boss, open the door! Something terrible has happened!"

Sylvus was cultivating in his room when he heard the frantic knocking on his door.

It was Meylan's voice that echoed outside.

Sylvus frowned. Why was the old man banging on his door in the middle of the night?

"What's going on?" Sylvus asked after opening the door and seeing Meylan's panicked face.

"Boss, I'm going to die!" Meylan said with despair.

"You look fine to me. How are you going to die?" Sylvus looked Meylan over and saw no injuries.

"Wait... Your magic power... Are you about to break through?" Sylvus asked, surprised.

Indeed, Meylan's magic power was surging inside him, clearly indicating he was about to ascend to the rank of Mage Emperor.

"Boss, after you slapped me earlier, I lost control of my magic power. Just now, I was meditating, and suddenly, I'm on the verge of breaking through," Meylan explained.

Sylvus blinked in surprise. Had he really slapped Meylan into a breakthrough? He hadn't realized he had such a gift.

"If you're breaking through, that's a good thing. Why do you say you're going to die?" Sylvus asked, puzzled.

"Boss, ever since you saved me, I've known I was close to breaking through. But I've been suppressing it because ascending to the rank of Mage Emperor requires enduring the trials of Heaven's Thunder Tribulation. I'm not ready yet!" Meylan said with a wail.

He had gone to Boone earlier to prepare for his breakthrough, gathering life-saving items to survive the tribulation.

He hadn't expected Sylvus' slap today would trigger the breakthrough. Now, he wasn't sure if he should laugh or cry.

"Heaven's Thunder Tribulation?"

*Boom, boom, boom...*

As soon as Sylvus spoke, a thunderous roar filled the sky over the Holy City.

Countless people woke up, feeling a divine pressure weighing down on them.

Sylvus rushed to the window and saw a dark cloud forming above the shop.

Within the cloud, purple lightning danced wildly.

"Boss, I don't want to drag you down. I'll leave now for a remote location, and the tribulation will follow me," Meylan said as he prepared to tear open a portal to escape.

But just then, the system's voice suddenly echoed in Sylvus' mind.

...