The Strongest Businessman

Two days later...

In a forest several kilometers away from the Thunder Clouds City, three figures were seen standing in a wide clearing in the middle of the forest. In th middle of that clearing, a man sat crosslegged as he was surrounded by a dozen eight inches small pots emitting herbal fragrance. This person was none other than Barry who was currently preparing to initiate the evolution of his Avatar and cross his Heavenly Tribulation.

Several meters away from him, a man and a dog stood side by side. Evidently, they were the acting guards of Barry who was currently meditating and regulating his body condition to it's utmost peak. These two were none other than Dylan and Rian who promised to stand guard while Barry takes his Heavenly Tribulation.

"Hey, Dylan, why is Barry not starting yet? He's been sitting like that for almost an hour now." Rian impatiently said. When he heard that Barry was most likely to face a Heavenly Tribulation, he was elated. He could not wait to eat more of the nourishing lightning that is released during the tribulation.

"He needs more time in order to prepare himself. We are not like you who is an indescribable freak of nature who could eat heavenly lightining and withstand 12 rounds of lightning. Without ample preparation, we, humans could not hope to cross this calamity of ours. So, learn to wait." Dylan reprimanded Rian who was getting increasingly impatient.

"Fine. Since there's nothing happening yet, I am going around and stroll." Rian snorted and displayed his unruly attitude. After he spoke those words, he quickly disappeared into the woods that not even his shadow was seen. But, the direction he went to was obvious because of the path he made from carelessly using his power.

'While you're at it, survey the forest if there is any hosyile coming towards us. Okay?' Dylan communicated with Rian via their life connection. Although he did not hear Rian respond, he was sure that the puppy got his message because of their life bond. He also understood that he could not keep Rian to stay here and boringly watched over Barry so he just let him do as he pleased.

"Do your best, Barry..." Dylan stood there unmoving as he carefully monitored what was going on. He calmly observed his brother several meters away. After another half an hour of eerie silence passed before, Barry suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Dylan. "I'm going to start.'

Without even waiting for Dylan to react, Barry quickly grabbed a small pot and drank the medicinal liquid from within. After drinking the entire pot, he quickly placed it on the ground and refined the medicine. There was a small green droplet that slid over the surface the improperly closed pot and fell on the ground.

That one droplet fell on a leaf of a patch grass yet nothing happened immediately. It was only after three seconds that passed when the patch of grass lost color and dried up. At the same moment, sweat started to rain down from Barry's face as his face alternated from being pale white and bright red. Amidst the pain, Barry groaned, "Urgh!"

"He's starting with the Clear Jade Poison like he said." Dylan nodded. He recalled the conversation that he and Barry had as they journeyed to this particular forest.

...

Two hours ealier...

Dylan and Barry were within a steel carriage. The carriage seemed to be moving in fast speeds from all the rumbling sounds outside. They sat across each other and was currently having a dialogue.

Barry took out a small pot from the storage ring that Dylan gifted him. He looked at Dylan and chortled happily, " Dylan, I did not expect that you would actually help me find a poison that was perfect for the refinement of the Tri-fire Corrosive Venom! This is defintely a heaven sent opportunity."

Dylan who was sitting across him had a different expression compared to Barry. He had a concerned face as he uttered, "Are you really sure you are using that poison? If you use such a poison as a catalyst for the Tri-fire Corrosive Venom, won't the two poison wreak havoc inside you?"

"I know that there are hazards for doing this, but if the poison I use is only a common poison, the effects would be weak. However, with this Clear Jade Poison, it will try to clog up my already clogged up spirit veins and cause the poison within me to awaken. Not to mention the fact that this is a Tier 4 Great Poison which has disastrous effects that is enough to push the Tier 1 Grand Poison like the Tri-fire Corrosive Venom to fully awaken!" Barry stated solemnly.

"Once the poison awakens and the two poison tussles, I will eat the Spirit Awakening Pill and call forth my Avatar. After which, I can finally use the medicines I prepared to convert the Tri-fire Corrosive Venom's composition and integrate it with my Avatar." Barry said with unshakeable determination as he clenched his fists with fervor.

"Still, there's a large chance you might die..." Dylan worriedly said. Sadness covered Dylan's face. He really did not want Barry to die because he has already truly became part of his family. But, he could not object in this matter because like his employees, Barry is doing his best to become stronger.

"The truth is, I don't care if I die anymore. The only thing in my mind right now is revenge! If this succeeds, I will be able to take my revenge and personally slay those old greedy bastards! If I die... no, I can't die! I definitely won't die! Like what I vowed, I shall personally slaughter them!" Barry's face contained both madness and killing intent as he uttered those words.

"Hahaha, that's the spirit! I know I can't stop you so I will be waiting for your success." Dylan said smilingly. However, his face suddenly changed into a weird look and said, "Setting aside the fact that it is hazardous, it was vomitted by Yander and the others as impurities when they drank your medicine. Don't you feel slightly grossed out?"

"You... you just have to remind that to me, didn't you? Haaayst... Well, the Capturing Venom Oil I made primarily functions to entrap any Great Poison which is Tier 5 and lower and expel it out of the victim's body through vomitting so I had no choice. But I did refine it thrice in order to be sure that it is fully sanitized and pure." Barry sighed with an awkard expression.

"Hahahaha!" Dylan laughed merrily. Then, the steel carriage suddenly stopped which made the two brothers head butt each other from resultant force. A childish voice from the outside was heard, "We're here."

"Rian, you could have stopped smoothly, you know." Dylan still felt the searing pain from that headbutt just now.

Rian suddenly growled, "Well, you shouldn't have made me a horse! I'm clearly a dog, you know!"

...

"Arrrghhh!!" Barry roared in pain as his face no longer alternated in color but remained bright red in color. He could no longer remain seated in a crosslegged position as he started curl up due to the pain. He even coughed blood after he fell on the ground.

Odd flames started to burn on top of his skin. The fire had three odd colors which were violet, dark blue and dark red as it started to turn his skin into black and slowly corrode his whole body. He no longer sweat because as soon as it was perspired, they were quickly turned into vapor.

"So, this is the Tri-fire Corrosive Poison?!" Dylan had a horrified look when he saw the effects of the poison to a person! It was actually no dofferent than the description that Barry described when his clan was all burnt death with no one left alive except for him.

"Barry!" Dylan was alarmed and rushed in to help but Barry seemed to have noticed his action and stopped him midway. He screamed in a hoarse voice, "No! Don't help me! I... I can do this on my own! Just stand there and watch!"

Feeling the determination in his words, Dylan stopped and said, "I understand. I won't interefere no matter how battered up you get but you have to keep the end of your deal! Don't fucking die!" After saying those words, he turned around and went back to his original position.

During that torturous pain which made one's senses numb, Barry heard Dylan's words and smirked. Somehow, he managed to sit once again and crossed his legs. He thought to himself at that time, ' You bet I will! I will definitely won't die here!!'

With unwavering resolution on his eyes, Barry disregarded the pain to take another pot and crushed it. A jade vial appeared after crushing the pot which Barry opened. He lifted the vial to his mouth as a pill rolled out of the vial. The pill that he just ate was none other than the Spirit Awakening Pill.

The pill quickly dissolved while it's effects quickly took effect! Barry's spirit core and spirit veins system was once again reconnected with each other and from the spirit core a unique force of energy was illuminating. Barry also felt the presence of his soul at this instant and could feel the connection between it and the light.

After which, the white light started to brighten as it made it's way out of the body! The white light started to depict the silhouette of a lotus with multiple leaves! A few seconds after, the light dimmed down and fully displayed the majesty of a vibrant green Twelve-leafed lotus. In its presence, it seemed as if all plants have to bow and pay their respects. It was a true monarch of nature!

"The legendary Heavenly Twelve-leafed Lotus of the Vernon Clan!" Dylan gasped in disbelief. He started to remember everything that Barry told him about the Twelve-leafed Lotus during their trip.

...

At the carriage, two hours earlier...

Barry told Dylan the origins of their clan's Avatar, "The Heavenly Lotus is the hereditary Avatar of the Vernon Clan and considered to be the strongest plant-type Avatar in the history of the Mystical Clouds Country. It's origin is the mythical plant-type spirit beast, Heavely Twelve leafed Lotus that are also considered as emperors in the Beast World and its clan, the Heavenly Lotus Clan, is hailed to be one of the strongest plant-type spirit beasts to have ever existed!"

Barry explained, "A plant unlike humans and beasts, cultivates with age. The older it gets, the stronger it becomes and the stronger it becomes, the likeliness of it gaining intelligence is also bigger. But, most of them fail to cultivate to the point where they could have their own intelligence because they are the primary prey of the natural ecosystem. But those who could reach that point, all became terrifying existences."

Barry continued, "One of it's common descendants are the Heavenly Six-leafed Lotus popularly known for its ability to quickly heal different sorts of external wounds and the Heavenly Eight-leafed Lotues whose healing capabilities outstrip because it could even regrow an already severed limb. Each leaf represent five thousand years of cultivation for the Heavenly Lotus Clan. And once it reaches the fifty thousand years old, the tenth leaf gives the Heavenly lotus consciousness and the ability to attack and control it's surrounding plants!"

Barry proceeded, "After the 10th leaf, the next leaf requires fifty thousand years to appear At the 11th leaf, it obtains the ability to borrow power from its surroundings and create overwhleming attacks in rapid succession. While the 12th leaf needs one hundred thousand, it allows the lotus gain the ability to devour the vitality of any living organsim and become stronger indefinitely!"

"Normally, humans are not permitted to have such a overpowered avatar, but with the blessing of the Six Clouds Convergence, Charles Vernon was bestowed the Twelve-Leafed Lotus as his Avatar which allowed him to dominate and unify the entire country!" Barry told with excitedment and admiration!