The Universe Spirit looked at the cute little girl who walked out from the void. She had brown eyes, thick eyebrows wearing green clothes matching the color of her hair and radiating the aura of diety accentuated her cuteness to the next level.

Inside his soul, the Universe spirit was in a dilemma, she was choosing whether to stay hidden or show herself. She was afraid because she can be used as a nourishment for the other universe spirit and help them mature at a faster rate with the addition of never-ending knowledge to savor. Most of the Universe Spirit wouldn't be willing to let go of an opportunity like this. She believed her real self also wouldn't be merciful at an opportunity like this.

But ultimately, she chose to believe in herself and was sure her presence was hidden well enough. And there was a chance the other side was testing her existence. Hence she chose to keep herself silent. If it was a newborn universe spirit, it might have fallen for this simple trick but she was a Mature Universe Spirit seen many Eras where Gods like Zeus rule and fall on the earth, she wouldn't be overwhelmed even by the presence of a complete Universe Spirit.

As seconds passed, the arrogant look in her face cramped and then turned to slight panic. Surely, It wasn't gone unnoticed to her eyes.

She tried again.

"I know you're there! Why don't you show yourself? Do you really think you can fool me?" she spoke again but without her arrogant tone.

Still, there wasn't any response.

"I got fooled!" She facepalmed herself with embarrassment.

"How could a mighty Universe spirit like me hide in front of others? And most possibly how could they bear to tear their Spirit apart and attach to a mortal without knowing the actual secrets behind this guy? Looks like believing that jerk was a mistake! Next time I will show him how the real might of a Universe spirit looks like! Humph!" she thought out loud.

The Loli looked at Alex and said, "Don't die brat! If you die, even I can't save you! Your reincarnation here already offended the heavens by breaking its law, it will not give you another chance! Unless you become an Immortal and transform your soul into Immortal spirit, you cannot enter the Six Paths of Reincarnation in any Universe." She said and returned to the void.

*Sigh*

The Universe Spirit let a sigh of relief. Luckily her choice was correct. But her peace didn't last for a minute.

Again a small void opened and her tiny head popped out and said, "Haha...! Did you really think I was gone? I was just playing with you. Now come on out!" unexpectedly she was again testing her luck.

But to her dismay, there wasn't any reply. She gritted her teeth and left.

The Universe Spirit had her mouth open, in her life she never met an immature Universe Spirit like her. Right now she can't test the level of power the little girl has otherwise it will surely alert the little girl. Looking at the little girl, she doubted whether it was a new Born universe spirit.

Even though she can't be called as a true Universe Spirit now but her maturity level was way higher than the girl she met and that she was sure of.

The Universe spirit contemplated looking at the still motionless Alex and the woman who tried to murder Alex. And finally came to a decision. She chose to gamble and reveal herself to the cute little loli. Since she can't make a sense of what's going on with Alex and there's a certain percentage of a chance the loli wasn't corrupted by greed, hence made a choice to rely on her help. And Importantly, she heard the words about not knowing the secrets of Alex which piqued her interest.

*Bam*

The tightly shut door was slammed open by Evelyn with James and Luara following behind.

They looked at the collapsed bed with signs of corrosion at the wood and the floor. But surprisingly, Alex was safe and breathing at a stable rate.

Laura went near Alex and found corroded pieces of cloth. She reached her hands to pick up the cloth but stopped after smelling a familiar pungent smell.

"This..! This smell is from the venom of Nine Stripped python! From the looks of it, someone sprayed it on top of him intending to assassinate him." Laura said after checking his surroundings.

Neither Evelyn and James were ignorant enough to not know what the Nine Stripped Python venom was. Evelyn and Laura were amazed by how Alex came unscathed under an attack of the most powerful venom on the kingdom.

Where James was furious since someone has dared to assassinate his own son under his own roof. If this news reaches outside he will become the laughing stock of the noble families that oppose him. He wasn't surprised at how Alex remained unscathed even in his coma-like state from assassination since he knew where his mother comes from. He looked at Evelyn and didn't say anything. It was obvious that she was out for a bath.

His furious shout echoed the whole mansion. He immediately orders his guards to lock down the whole mansion and perform a full investigation on the attempted assassination. Within a half an hour they rounded off Ruth as the anomaly who was the daughter of deceased Butler came in disguise and last seen on the same floor as Alex.

"Lord, we have caught the servant who recommended Ruth to replace him at his absence." the guard stood straight and said.

"Good! Now squeeze everything from him! I want to know everything in 15 minutes." James replied.

The Guard bowed and returned after 10 minutes with a paper full of his confession regarding the assassination attempt on Alex. The confession correctly matched what happened at the scene.

He tore the paper into pieces and said, "Kill him and find that girl named Ruth! I will kill her with my own hands!"

Hearing his order, the captain of the guards assembled the soldiers and marched in search of the culprit Ruth.

James had already moved Alex bed inside his room. His room was big enough to occupy 10 beds, so having him inside wasn't cramped at all. Since Laura was staying with him, she can protect him in his absence. She wasn't a social person and mostly prefer cultivating inside her room in peace, so it wasn't a problem for her to look after him. The only thing she's going to do is kick out anyone enters her room and she's going to do that either way including the other concubines who are eager to get laid.

*Knock* *Knock*

Evelyn stood outside the room and knocked on the door. She heard from the butler that the City Lord has left the mansion for a political meeting and came to check up on Alex.

"Laura! It's me Evelyn!" shouted Evelyn.

"Come inside!" Laura replied after knowing its Evelyn.

Evelyn came inside and apologized to Laura. "I'm sorry! Because of my carelessness, I brought harm to Alex."

"You don't have to apologize, it's not your mistake! You only volunteered to look after him in case of health issues. No one suspected an assassination attempt and its partially my mistake too. And we couldn't expect you to look after him 24*7." Laura replied.

Evelyn smiled and replied, "Thank you, Laura!"

Laura smiled in return and said, "More Importantly, he wasn't injured and that what matters most!"

"Yeah! You're right! Looking at his face feels that he could overcome all difficulties every time!" Evelyn replied.

Laura smiled and said, "Hmmm... That's a big thing to say! Looks like you have some feeling for him."

Evelyn panicked and replied, "No.. No... It's not like that! I just look at him like a little brother! Nothing more!"

"Little brother! You aren't forgetting that you are a concubine to the City Lord, are you?" Laura replied.

Evelyn looked down with a frown and said nothing. Laura looking at her expression understood most of her feelings.

Laura sighed and replied, "Don't look like that! I can guess what you're thinking. When the City Lord comes home I will speak with him regarding your marriage! Is that Ok!"

Evelyn was surprised by her reply, "What? I.... " she didn't know what to say.

"It's okay! I know you don't have any interest in this marriage! Like who would in your state? And you don't have to worry too much about City Lord. He isn't that bad. If it wasn't for the king, he wouldn't have accepted you." she assured Evelyn.

"Rest assured! I will talk to him and make him give your freedom," she replied again.

Evelyn still looked down with a gratified face. She also remembered the City Lord promised her to write a letter about the release of her father to the king as a way of repaying her. She felt like her life turned into heaven from hell.

She turned and looked at Alex as it was directly or indirectly due to Alex. The more she looked, the more she liked him. Teardrops fell from her eyes. She knew it wasn't a feeling like a man, rather a feeling of a family member. She promised herself that from on now, she will become his big sister and show him how family love feels. She remembers his clear eyes yearning for familiar love when the first time she entered the mansion. Even though now his eyes don't show that feelings, she firmly believes inside him always yearns for love and care.

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The city lord who was supposed to go out for a political matter reached the outskirts of the Dark Demon forest. After hearing from Laura, he was yearning to witness the legendary Hollow Spirit tree.

If the existence of the tree is confirmed then, the growth of his family cannot be stopped. Even the problem of his eldest son not being talented in cultivation can also be solved.

If he pushed him hard at Physique cultivation, then he can retire and leave the city in his hands without worry and journey in search of his wife (Alex's mom).

Her face was as cold as ice and her straight nose rested high on her clear, pale face. Her white, jade-like skin made her look like a deity from heaven. He some times doubted why someone beautiful like her chose him. He was way out of her league in power or background but heavens made their paths cross. He knew at first she didn't have any feelings for him but as time passed, he knew she developed some feelings for him-- even though she never showed outside.

He took out the map drawn by Laura before his journey. The path was full of ups and downs with roots growing up to the height of the knee. But his steps were smooth as he was walking on a plain road. His every step pushed him more than 30 meters. Within a couple of hours, he reached the place marked on the map.

Before him, was a couple of large trees, if it wasn't for Laura's intel he might have assumed the tree like a normal Redwood tree. He searched on the sides as per her information on the map. Soon he found a sizeable gap leading inside the tree. He jumped inside the hole without another thought.

A wave of pure Spirit Qi hit face making him moan in pleasure. His body started to automatically absorb the Spirit Qi inside the cave. Originally he was a mid Refinement stage cultivator. And this matter wasn't disclosed to anyone except the King. He reached the Mid stage with the help of the pills left by his wife. For the last 15 years he was traveling and cultivating, he finally reached the peak of Mid stage but the later stage was so difficult to break through. But now, the opportunity to a breakthrough was presented by his son.

Both Alex and Evelyn only 2% of total spirit Qi inside the cave. The tree already replenished the lost Qi and hence was brimming with vitality.

James sat down and greedily absorbed the Spirit Qi in full force.

While he was greedily absorbing the Spirit Qi, the Demonic King Wolf already sniffed his existence inside its forest. Normally, an expert at his level won't enter the forest easily because the Demonic wolf can easily sense powerful beings in its territory. James wasn't proficient in hiding like Laura or he was weak like Alex or Evelyn. In the face of a treasure like the hollow spirit tree, he forgot the threat of the Demonic King of the forest.