Chapter 868

“Before I forget...”

Just as she was leaving. Tobias called out to Maxine, “Wait.”

“Is something the matter, grandpa?”

Tobias turned to her. “You are also someone who is highly proficient in martial arts. Feel free to head to

the basement if you have nothing better to do.Itll be a great learning opportunity for you as well.”

Maxine kneeled on the ground reverently and said, “I'm not worthy.”

Tobias beckoned her to stand. “I’m giving you express permission to do as you see fit.” “But grandpa...

I'm not a real Caden. I don't have Caden blood coursing through my veins The ancestral teachings

were specific about “ Iaxine fiddled with the name of her dress

Tobias raised his hand to interrupt her. “What's the point of following rigid and obsolete ancestral

teachings? Even if you aren't a Caden by heritage. you were practically raised as a

Caden since childhood. I consider you my own granddaughter. All these years, you've stayed by my

side devising plans and strategies for me. Besides, I'm merely allowing you to try your hand at the

enigma. Whether or not you learn anything will depend on your own ability.”

“Understood.”

Maxine slowly stood up

Tobias dismissed her. “You're free to go.”

Maxine quickly left for the basement.

After she had left, Tobias stared into the distance and pondered about what Maxine had said earlier.

Maxine’s speculation was not entirely unfounded.

If Thomas was truly still alive, everything would make perfect sense.

“Let's hope that it really isn’t him.”

Tobias muttered darkly

Then, he stood up and left.

In the underground basement...

After taking some time to rest, James was able to think clearly again.

He scrutinized the diagram once more, but could not glean anything of use from it. Finally, his gaze

moved to the Moonlight Flowers by Cliffside’s Edge on the wall.

The painting's composition was deceptively simple. There was a mountain, a flower, an ordinary-

looking wooden house, and a full moon painted on the sky.

There seemed to be no end to the lush, rolling hills that formed the backdrop.

Asmall, wooden house sat quaintly at the foot of the mountain. Enigma aside, the painting was still a

breathtaking work of art. Millenia had passed, but the details were still immaculate. The intricate flower

patterns on the door were still clearly visible.

All of a sudden, James realized that there was something off about the location of the flower.

It was located on top of the wooden house and right below the full moon.

Its delicate, white petals seemed to have blossomed in the sky itself.

Though it was clearly daytime in the painting, a moon had also been drawn.

All these little oddities defied common sense.

With renewed vigor. James scrutinized each detail on the painting

However, apart from a few bizarre details, he was unable to find any other clues

“There doesn't seem to be anything special about this It's just an ordinary painting How could it

possibly be related to the meridian diagram? It doesn’t have any records of a cultivation method's

mantra.”

James murmured softly.

He was lost in contemplation

After some time. his thought process was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.

“It's time for your meal, James.”

A sweet voice called his name

Snapping back to reality, James turned his wheelchair around and saw Maxine walking toward him with

his meal

Putting the plates on the floor, Maxine asked curiously, “How is it going? Any new discoveries?”

James looked down and smiled bitterly. “I had a feeling this wasn't going to be an easy task. Otherwise,

they'd have figured this out a long time ago.”

“You have a point.”

Maxine nodded thoughtfully and then picked up some utensils. “You must be hungry Here, have some

food. It’s hard to work on an empty stomach.”