Chapter 261 Noah Gets Expelled

The expulsion from the Mystic Ice Sect hit Noah like a physical blow. One moment he was envisioning a future where his alchemical prowess subtly controlled an entire sect of icy beauties, Professor Maelis by his side; the next, he was being frogmarched towards the Citadel gates by stern-faced Ice Sect disciples, Professor Maelis offering only a look of resigned pity.

‘That bitch Meng Yao!’ Noah seethed internally as the massive ice gates slammed shut behind him and his small, terrified group of male alchemists and artificers. The biting northern wind felt like a personal insult.

‘And those ungrateful Ice Sect sluts! After all the potions I brewed for them, the elixirs I gifted! This is how they repay me?’ His mind conveniently glossed over the fact that his “gifts” were calculated moves in his own game of influence.

His gaze, filled with venomous resentment, flickered towards the distant Western Guest Palace where Maelis and her female students remained. ‘And Maelis… she didn’t even fight for us! Just stood there and let them throw us to the demons! After I saved her life countless times with my healing draughts! Hypocrite! They’re all the same, these women! Ungrateful! Treacherous!’

He conveniently forgot Maelis’s countless acts of protection, her Archmage power being the only reason his group had survived the journey north in the first place. His wounded pride, amplified by his System’s innate ambition, twisted his perception, painting him as the victim, the betrayed hero.

“Master Noah… what do we do?” whimpered young Titus, an apprentice artificer barely old enough to grow stubble, his teeth chattering from cold and fear. The dozen or so men with Noah were a sorry lot – scholars, not fighters, their faces pale with terror as they stared out at the demon-infested wilderness.

Noah took a deep breath, forcing down the bitter bile of resentment. Panic was a luxury he couldn’t afford. His Ultimate Alchemist System, though silent on the matter of his expulsion, still pulsed with potential. He had resources. He had knowledge. And he had a burning desire for revenge.

[System Analysis: Current Threat Level – High. Survival Probability – Low without immediate strategic intervention.]

[Recommendation: Utilize accrued Alchemy Points to craft localized defensive perimeters and offensive alchemical traps. Identify optimal escape route.]

‘Right. Traps. Defense.’ Noah’s mind sharpened. He wasn’t just an alchemist; he was the Ultimate Alchemist. He could turn this desolate landscape into a death trap for any demon foolish enough to pursue them.

“Listen up!” Noah barked, his voice surprisingly firm, cutting through the whimpers of his companions. “We’re not going to die out here! We’re alchemists! We’re artificers! We turn base elements into power! Now, we turn this cursed ice into our shield, and their demonic fire into their funeral pyre!” His words, though perhaps overly dramatic, ignited a faint spark of hope in the terrified men.

He immediately accessed his System’s crafting interface. He had accumulated a decent stockpile of Alchemy Points from his ‘helpful’ activities within the Sect and his previous demon-slaying efforts.

[System Prompt: Designate resources for ‘Rapid Deployment Defensive Array: Frost-Ward Labyrinth’. Cost: 1500 Alchemy Points. Effect: Creates a temporary, localized maze of ice walls infused with alchemical reagents that confuse demonic senses and weaken fire-based attacks.]

‘Do it!’ Noah mentally commanded.

He directed his companions, their fear momentarily forgotten in the face of decisive action. “Titus, you and Jorvan, gather those shattered ice shards! Grind them fine! We need powder! Silas, Bendix, start mixing these reagents!” He produced vials of glowing liquids and metallic powders from his alchemical pouches.

Under Noah’s System-guided direction, they worked with frantic efficiency. The Frost-Ward Labyrinth array began to take shape around their small, desperate group, a shimmering, confusing network of ice walls that seemed to shift and distort in the pale light.

“Now for the welcoming party,” Noah muttered, a grim smile on his lips. He began crafting a series of ‘Infernal Detonation Glyphs’ (Cost: 500 AP each), designed to react explosively to demonic heat signatures, and ‘Corrosive Mist Emitters’ (Cost: 300 AP each), which would release clouds of flesh-eating acid when triggered. He strategically placed these within the labyrinth, creating deadly kill zones.

He didn’t have to wait long. The demons, sensing the weakening of the Citadel’s main barrier (as Alaric’s initial temporary array began to stabilize at a slightly lower, sustainable output after his departure) and drawn by the scent of vulnerable humans, began to converge on their position. Mostly lesser flame imps and shadow hounds initially, but their numbers were growing.

“They’re coming!” Titus shrieked, pointing towards the first wave of screeching demons entering the Frost-Ward Labyrinth.

“Let them,” Noah said calmly, his hand hovering over a trigger rune he had etched into the ice. “Welcome to my laboratory, you bastards.”

The first demons stumbled into the labyrinth, their movements confused by the shifting ice walls and the disorienting reagents. They blundered into the Infernal Detonation Glyphs. Explosions of frost and fire ripped through their ranks. They staggered into the Corrosive Mist Emitters, their demonic flesh sizzling and dissolving as they shrieked in agony.

Noah fought with a cold, calculated fury. He wasn’t a martial artist, but his System provided him with optimal strategies. He directed his companions to hurl alchemically enhanced ice shards, to trigger pre-placed traps, to maintain the integrity of the labyrinth walls with quick-freezing solutions.

He himself moved through the labyrinth like a vengeful ghost, his Grand Mage aura now fully unleashed, supplementing his alchemical traps with blasts of focused arcane energy and precisely aimed ‘Acidic Orb’ projectiles.

[Demon Kill: Flame Imp. +50 Experience Points. +5 Alchemy Points.]

[Demon Kill: Shadow Hound. +75 Experience Points. +7 Alchemy Points.]

[System Quest Completed: Survive the Initial Onslaught. Reward: +5000 Experience Points, Recipe Unlock: ‘Demonic Nerve Toxin Grenade’.]

The battle raged for three grueling days and nights. Wave after wave of demons, drawn by the sounds of combat and the scent of death, threw themselves against Noah’s alchemical fortress. He rarely slept, fueled by potency draughts and his burning hatred. He pushed his companions to their limits, their initial terror giving way to a grim, desperate efficiency.

The cost in Alchemy Points was immense, but the rewards were equally significant. With each demon slain, his experience points climbed. He felt his Grand Mage power solidifying, growing, his control over his mana becoming more refined. His System constantly analyzed the battlefield, suggesting new trap combinations, optimizing elixir formulas, guiding his every tactical decision.

He slaughtered hundreds, then thousands of demons. He reached the peak of Grand Mage rank, his mana core thrumming with power, his alchemical knowledge expanding exponentially. He unlocked new recipes – self-repairing ice golems, proximity-triggered necrotic energy fields, even a particularly nasty concoction called ‘Soul-Leeching Spores’.

The men with him, though not System users, found their own skills pushed to new heights. They learned to fight, to kill, to survive, their loyalty to Noah, the brilliant alchemist who was keeping them alive against impossible odds, becoming absolute.

On the third night, as the last wave of demons, a particularly nasty pack of Master-level Flame Maulers, was finally incinerated by a chain reaction of Infernal Detonation Glyphs and Soul-Leeching Spores, an exhausted silence fell over the blood-soaked, ichor-stained ice labyrinth.

Noah stood amidst the carnage, panting, his robes torn, his face grimy, but his eyes blazing with a triumphant, almost manic light. He had done it. He had survived. He had slaughtered his way to new heights of power.

[Congratulations! Host has reached Peak Grand Mage Rank!]

[Skill Unlocked: Alchemical Transmutation (Minor) – Ability to transmute base materials into common alchemical reagents.]

[Skill Upgrade: Explosive Alchemy proficiency increased to Master Level. Trap Crafting proficiency increased to Grandmaster Level.]

‘Peak Grand Mage…’ Noah thought, a humorless smile twisting his lips. ‘Still far behind that bastard Steele. But I’m closing the gap. And these new skills… transmutation… master explosives… this changes things.’

He looked at his exhausted but alive companions. “We did it,” he said, his voice hoarse. “We survived.”

A ragged cheer went up from the men. They looked at Noah with awe and unwavering devotion. He was their savior, their leader.

Noah’s gaze, however, turned north, towards the distant Dragon’s Spine Peaks, towards the Mystic Ice Sect. His expression hardened.

“Those bitches in the Ice Sect,” he spat, his voice filled with cold fury. “They threw us out like trash. They left us to die.” He conveniently ignored the fact that Meng Yao had allowed Maelis and the female students to stay. In his mind, the entire Sect, including Maelis, was complicit. “They will pay for that. Every single one of them. I swear it. I will return. And I will make them understand the price of betraying Noah, the Ultimate Alchemist.”

His hypocrisy was profound. He, who had planned to subtly manipulate and control the Sect’s disciples for his own gain, now seethed with righteous indignation at their perceived betrayal. He, who had been protected by Maelis for months, now felt only resentment for her perceived abandonment.

“But first,” Noah declared, turning his attention to the most immediate, most infuriating obstacle to his ambitions – Alaric Steele’s impenetrable barrier around the Ice Heart Citadel. “We need to send a message. Show them that their precious savior isn’t as infallible as they think.”

He accessed his System again, his mind racing. He had a new understanding of alchemical reactions, of energy destabilization, thanks to his recent power-up and unlocked knowledge.

[System Analysis: Steele Family Barrier – ‘Arctic Warden’ Array. Primary Energy Signature: Extreme Cold, Arcane Resonance. Probable Power Source: Integrated Ice-Aspected Beast Cores, supplemented by ambient cryo-energy.]

[Vulnerability Detected: Susceptible to sustained, focused application of counter-frequency harmonic resonance, particularly if combined with rapid thermal shock.]

Noah’s eyes lit up with a manic gleam. ‘Counter-frequency resonance… thermal shock… I can do that!’

He began to gather his remaining resources, directing his exhausted but loyal followers. “We’re not done yet, lads! We have one more experiment to conduct before we head towards Jorailia and… safer havens.” He would use the chaos of the demonic invasion to mask his actions. If the barrier weakened, it would be blamed on the demons, not him.

He spent the next few hours meticulously crafting a series of alchemical devices – focused sonic emitters designed to generate specific disruptive frequencies, and thermal charges packed with unstable, heat-generating reagents. It took almost all his remaining refined materials and Alchemy Points, but the potential payoff was worth it.

Under the cover of a brewing snowstorm (a natural occurrence, but one Noah’s System predicted and advised him to use for cover), he and his most trusted men stealthily approached the perimeter of Alaric’s ‘Arctic Warden’ barrier, far from the main Citadel gates.

“Set the emitters,” Noah whispered, his breath misting in the frigid air. “Target the weakest energy confluence point the System identified. On my mark…”

The sonic emitters whined to life, their almost inaudible frequencies designed to clash with the barrier’s resonant harmonics. Then, Noah hurled the thermal charges. They impacted the shimmering blue shield, not with explosions, but with sudden, intense bursts of localized heat.

The effect wasn’t immediate destruction, but a noticeable, worrying shimmer. The ‘Arctic Warden’ array, robust as it was, flickered. Cracks, like fissures in glacial ice, spiderwebbed briefly across its surface before the self-repair enchantments kicked in, but they were slower now, stressed. The barrier’s overall energy output dipped perceptibly.

Noah watched, a grim smile of satisfaction on his face. “It’s working. It’s weakening.” He didn’t expect to bring it down entirely – not yet. But he had proven a point. He had damaged it. He had shown that even Alaric Steele’s creations were not inviolable. ‘This is just a taste, Steele,’ Noah thought, his eyes burning with cold fury. ‘A taste of what’s to come.’

He and his men retreated quickly, melting back into the snowstorm, heading east towards the relative chaos and potential anonymity of the Jorailian borderlands. He had left his mark. And he had a new, burning resolve. He would find a way to surpass Alaric Steele. He would make everyone who had wronged him pay. And he would build his alchemical empire, one explosive trap, one manipulative elixir, one conquered beauty at a time.

Meanwhile, back in his luxurious, private chambers within the Ice Heart Citadel, Alaric Steele was thoroughly enjoying the… fruits of his diplomatic efforts.

The room was warm, filled with the soft glow of mana lamps and the intoxicating scent of expensive incense and aroused female flesh. He lounged on a massive bed piled high with plush furs, completely naked, his magnificent physique relaxed but radiating a potent, predatory energy.

Surrounding him, also naked, their bodies glistening with a fine sheen of sweat, were three of the Mystic Ice Sect’s most captivating beauties.

Disciple Lingfeng, her usually fiery eyes now glazed with pleasure, her athletic body pliant beneath his touch, knelt beside the bed, her mouth expertly working his already impressive erection.

Elder Suyin, the stern, silver-haired peak Grandmaster Martialist, lay sprawled across his lap, her usually composed features flushed, her surprisingly full breasts pressed against his chest as he idly fondled them, her own hands exploring his muscular thighs with a newfound, desperate eagerness.

And Disciple Liyue, the wide-eyed, innocent-looking beauty, was curled at his side, her head resting on his shoulder, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest, her soft moans mingling with Lingfeng’s more guttural sounds of appreciation.

The illusionary robes, and the enchanted bikinis beneath, had been discarded hours ago. Alaric had “requested” a private demonstration of their “unimpeded Battle Aura flow” after a particularly… stimulating… discussion about advanced ice cultivation techniques. One thing had led to another, as it so often did when Alaric Steele was involved.

Their initial shyness, their ingrained modesty, had melted away under the combined assault of his [Emperor’s Presence!], his [Captivating Gaze!], his [Resonant Heart!] subtly weaving thoughts of desire and submission, and his skilled, demanding hands.

He had taken them one by one, then together, exploring every curve, every sensitive spot, pushing them to heights of pleasure they had never imagined. Their warrior’s stamina, usually reserved for battle, was now entirely dedicated to enduring his relentless, exquisite attentions.

“Mmm, Lingfeng,” Alaric murmured, his hand stroking her dark hair as she continued her ministrations. “Your… dedication to your Lord… is truly commendable.”

Lingfeng moaned around his cock, her eyes fluttering shut, lost in the act of worship.

Elder Suyin pressed herself closer, rubbing her surprisingly soft cheek against Alaric’s chest. “Lord Alaric… your… pointers… have been most… enlightening,” she purred, her voice husky, utterly unlike her usual stern tone. Her hand slid lower, boldly cupping his balls.

Liyue giggled softly, nipping at his shoulder. “More… more enlightenment, please, Lord Alaric…”

Alaric chuckled, a low, satisfied sound. He was about to suggest a change of positions, perhaps involving Liyue’s eager mouth and Elder Suyin’s surprisingly flexible hips, when he felt it.

A subtle tremor in the magical energies of the ‘Arctic Warden’ barrier. A flicker. A dip.

His ruby eyes narrowed for a fraction of a second, the predatory amusement momentarily replaced by a cold, analytical glint. ‘The barrier? Weakening? How?’

He focused his senses, extending his perception outwards. He felt the subtle counter-frequency vibrations, the lingering traces of thermal shock. ‘Alchemical destabilization? And sonic resonance? Clever. Crude, but clever.’

He knew, instantly, who was responsible. Noah. That insignificant little alchemist he had arranged to be expelled. The timing, the methodology… it all pointed to him.

‘So, the worm has fangs after all,’ Alaric thought, a flicker of annoyance quickly replaced by a cold amusement. ‘Trying to damage my property? To send a message? How… pathetic. And predictable.’

A part of him was tempted to reinforce the barrier immediately, to perhaps even hunt Noah down and deliver a more… permanent… lesson in etiquette. But then, a more strategic, more… Alaric-like… thought occurred to him.

‘Let it weaken slightly,’ he mused, a slow, cruel smile spreading across his face. ‘A slightly compromised barrier makes the Mystic Ice Sect even more reliant on my continued presence, my continued aid. It reminds them of their vulnerability. It makes them more… grateful. More… eager to please.’

His gaze swept over the three naked, beautiful women currently vying for his attention in his bedchamber. Lingfeng’s mouth still worked diligently. Elder Suyin was now rubbing her surprisingly large, firm breasts against his arm. Liyue was trailing kisses down his stomach.

‘Yes,’ Alaric decided, his attention returning fully to the pleasures at hand. ‘Noah’s little tantrum can wait. It might even prove… beneficial… in the long run.’

He reached down, pulling Lingfeng’s head up, replacing her mouth with Liyue’s eager one. He then grabbed Elder Suyin, flipping her onto her stomach across his lap, her magnificent, mature backside presented perfectly.

“Elder Suyin,” Alaric purred, his hand delivering a sharp, stinging slap to her pale cheek. “I believe it’s time for your… advanced cultivation lesson.”

Suyin cried out, a mixture of pain and ecstatic anticipation. “Yes, Lord Alaric! Please! Enlighten me!”

Alaric ignored the distant, subtle weakening of his grand defensive array. He had far more pressing, far more enjoyable, matters to attend to. The beauties of the Mystic Ice Sect were proving to be excellent students, indeed. And their gratitude, he suspected, would be very, very thorough.