Ghost Exorciser: The Oust Fake Heiress Strikes

Chapter 577: Breakthrough-2

Long before this day had arrived, Axel had already requested the breakthrough resources required for the Celestial Core Rank from the academy.Fortunately, the academy had delivered everything two days earlier. Upon hearing that Lana was finally about to advance, Axel immediately began making preparations.

Soon afterward... Lana entered the specially designed cultivation room within Lucian’s mansion.

The room was completely silent. Complex mystical formations glowed faintly across the polished stone floor, while pure spiritual energy slowly drifted through the air.

Everything had already been prepared. Lana first consumed the cultivation herbs

However, unlike her previous breakthroughs... this time, the herbs alone weren’t enough.

Her eyes shifted toward a dark green medicinal paste resting inside a crystal bowl. The strong herbal fragrance mixed with a slightly poisonous scent immediately reached her nose.

She looked toward Axel with visible confusion. Axel quickly understood what she wanted to ask.

"That paste contains Poison Fruits."

He calmly continued, "You cannot consume them directly. So I crushed them into a medicinal paste instead to prevent any of their essence from being wasted."

He pointed toward the bowl. "You’ll need to spread it across your body. Absorbing it through your skin is the second most effective method after direct consumption."

Hearing his explanation, Lana let out a helpless sigh. "I understand."

Without arguing further, she began applying the medicinal paste across her body.

At first... nothing happened. Five minutes quietly passed.

Then... her expression suddenly changed. A strange numbness spread throughout her limbs.

Within only a few breaths, she completely lost control of her body. She couldn’t even lift a single finger.

Her entire body had become completely paralyzed. Meanwhile, Mr. Crow immediately sensed the abnormality through their contract.

Without delay, he looked toward Axel. Axel instantly understood. "Increase the room temperature."

The nearby maids immediately adjusted the cultivation room. A few minutes later... the numbness slowly disappeared.

Instead... a scorching heat erupted throughout Lana’s body.

It felt as though rivers of molten lava were flowing inside every vein. She couldn’t help opening her eyes slightly before gratefully looking toward Axel.

Axel simply nodded before returning his attention to Mr. Crow. He silently waited for every signal.

This breakthrough... was extremely important. Until now, merely reaching her current cultivation level had already been considered astonishing.

However... if Lana successfully entered the Celestial Core Rank...

Her chances of placing among the strongest participants in the International Mystic Cultivation Competition would increase dramatically.

Even if she failed to enter the top three... reaching the top ten would no longer be impossible.

Meanwhile, Lana continued absorbing the energy from the cultivation orbs.

Her eyes remained tightly shut. The unbearable heat continued growing stronger.

It felt as though countless streams of lava were repeatedly burning every inch of her body from within.

The intense heat eventually became so overwhelming that she unconsciously began tearing at her own clothing in an attempt to cool herself down.

The sound of ripping fabric echoed throughout the cultivation room. Seeing this, Axel immediately closed his eyes.

Without hesitation, he ordered, "All male servants, leave immediately."

The servants bowed before quickly leaving the room. At the same time, Axel gave another order. "Confiscate every communication device."

The trusted maids immediately collected everyone’s phones.

However... Axel still wasn’t completely reassured.

"Search everyone once again." His tone left absolutely no room for negotiation.

To everyone’s surprise... One of the maids, Xiaomi, had secretly hidden another phone beneath her clothing.

Even worse... the recording function was already turned on.

Axel’s expression darkened. His eyes were filled with cold fury.

Without another word, he looked toward one of his trusted subordinates. "Drag her away."

Xiaomi’s face immediately turned deathly pale. She desperately struggled while shouting, "It was a mistake! I won’t do it again! Please forgive me!"

However... Axel didn’t even bother looking at her.

’A mistake? If it truly was a mistake, then why was the recording already running just as Lana started to tear apart her clothes?’

There was only one possible explanation. Someone had ordered her to secretly record Lana during her breakthrough.

His eyes became even colder. Soon... Xiaomi’s desperate cries gradually disappeared outside the cultivation room.

Inside... Lana remained completely unaware of everything happening around her.

She could only feel endless agony. Her body alternated between unbearable heat and excruciating pain.

One piece of clothing after another continued tearing apart beneath the overwhelming pressure.

Axel never opened his eyes. Instead, he calmly spoke,

"Mr. Crow. If anything changes, tell me immediately."

Mr. Crow nodded. "I understand."

Time slowly passed. Following Axel’s instructions, the maids gradually lowered the room’s temperature.

Each of them carefully avoided looking directly toward Lana, respectfully keeping their gazes lowered.

Several hours later... Lana suddenly began shivering violently. The burning heat had completely vanished.

Instead... Bone-chilling cold invaded every inch of her body.

Mr. Crow immediately gave Axel a signal. Without opening his eyes, Axel calmly ordered, "Bring her blankets and fresh clothes."

The maids hurried over. The moment the soft blankets touched Lana, she instinctively wrapped herself tightly inside them.

She curled into a tiny ball. "So cold..."

Her trembling voice sounded incredibly pitiful.

Watching everything unfold... Axel’s heart quietly ached. For a brief moment... he genuinely wanted to walk over, hug her tightly, and reassure her that everything would be alright.

Unfortunately... he couldn’t interfere.

This was a breakthrough that only Lana herself could overcome.

All he could do... was silently watch. The suffering continued for three entire days.

To Lana... every single second felt like living inside hell itself. One moment, it felt as though someone was roasting her alive within molten lava.

The next... it felt as though she had been thrown naked into the freezing northern winds.

Her body endlessly alternated between fire and ice. As time passed... her consciousness gradually became blurrier.

’I... can’t... I really can’t endure this anymore...’

Eventually... everything turned black.

....................................

When Lana slowly opened her eyes again, she found herself lying inside a large bathtub filled with warm water.

She frowned slightly. The moment she took a breath... a strange, unpleasant smell immediately assaulted her nose.

She instinctively wrinkled her face. "What is going on?"