Realm of Infinity-Chapter 111: Obtaining his first subordinate

Noah opened his eyes, the sensation of a thousand needles pricking his brain slowly subsiding. His head was still throbbing with a dull, rhythmic pain.

"Did the reincarnation happen successfully, Lumina?" he asked instinctively, his voice raspy.

[It did.]

Lumina's voice resonated from within his soul.

In an instant, a flood of memories surged through him. He processed eight years of this body's life, the decline of the Aurelion family, and the current state of affairs.

"So I will have to climb from the lowest level to the highest? A typical cultivation trope, but honestly, those are the most satisfying. Let us begin. Lumina, explain the functions of the System," Noah commanded.

[You must choose a subordinate whose loyalty exceeds 80 points. Once bound, if you bestow an item upon them, you will receive a 10,000x return. Alternatively, you may choose to receive a higher grade of that item. The number of grades increased depends on the initial quality of the item. Even if you gift a god-level artifact, you are guaranteed at least one level above it. For lower-level items, there is a significant chance of jumping multiple grades.]

Noah listened intently, his mind calculating the possibilities.

"Why are there so many restrictions?"

[Because creation demands balance. To grant a 10,000x return or superior quality, specific conditions must be met to prevent the collapse of worldly laws. Additionally, you cannot trigger a return on items already generated by the System.]

"Damn, I thought I would be able to exploit that loophole," Noah muttered.

[Hmph!] Lumina snorted, her tone laced with a touch of divine sass.

Noah pushed himself off the bed.

He needed to move. His primary goal was securing his first subordinate. His current spirit vein was absolute trash; at this rate, it would take trillions of years to regain his former peak, even if he possessed the longevity to see it through.

Suddenly, the door creaked open.

His mother, Elina, entered. Seeing Noah awake, she rushed forward and pulled him into a suffocatingly tight hug.

"Son, are you alright? What happened? Does it hurt anywhere?"

Noah smiled at her. She felt as real to him as Martha had in his past life. He now had two sets of parents to protect, and he vowed he wouldn't fail them.

"Yes mother, I am fine. I just had a nasty headache, that is all. I am sorry for worrying you," Noah said, his tone soft and apologetic.

"Rest well, son. I will let your father and grandpa know. They have been so worried."

Elina smoothed his hair one last time before leaving.

Noah had no intention of resting.

He needed to familiarize himself with this vessel. Since this wasn't a soul-swap but a true reincarnation, the body felt natural, if weak.

He began a regimen of light exercises: push-ups, sit-ups, and squats.

Moments later, his father, Alen, entered and stopped dead in his tracks.

"What are you doing, son?"

"I am just doing some exercise, father."

"Shouldn't you be resting?" Alen asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

"No, I feel much better. Actually, father, I want to go out. I have been cooped up for eight years. Take me to the market where our shop is located," Noah requested.

Alen hesitated, then sighed.

"Alright, but do not wander off. Stick close to me."

As they stepped out, Elina watched with a worried expression, but she knew she couldn't keep him a prisoner forever.

Noah focused, trying to sense the ambient energy of this world.

Even here, in this "lowest" place, the spiritual density was at least ten times higher than in his previous universe.

The kingdom was traditional: horse-drawn carriages shared the roads with cultivators soaring on flying swords.

Noah memorized every detail; information was the currency of survival.

Fifteen minutes later, they reached the market.

It was a chaotic sea of people.

However, as they walked, a visible bubble formed around them.

People recoiled as if Alen carried a plague.

Alen was a Nascent Soul expert of the once-mighty Aurelion family, which had formerly controlled a tenth of this market's commerce.

Now, even commoners looked upon them with disdain.

Alen's shoulders slumped, embarrassed to be seen this way by his son.

Noah gripped his father's hand firmly and looked up with a sharp, confident smile.

"Father, do not look at them. They are idiots. One day very soon, they will come and grovel at your feet again."

Alen stared at his son.

A solitary tear pricked his eye, but he wiped it away quickly.

This child was far more mature than his years suggested.

"Thank you, son. Look, we have arrived."

He pointed toward a small, weathered storefront.

There were no customers.

A twelve-year-old boy was sweeping the front while a middle-aged man sat behind a dusty counter.

The faint, bitter scent of herbs wafted through the air.

"Father, be honest. Does this shop make any money?" Noah asked.

Alen looked sheepish.

"It does, in its own way. Herbs are always in high demand. When other shops run out, people come to us as a last resort. We survive on emergency sales."

They entered the shop.

The boy, Ron, bowed low.

"Hello, Master."

"How have you been, Ron? Is everything okay?" Alen asked kindly.

"Yes, Master. Is this the young master?" Ron looked at Noah with curiosity.

Noah stepped forward, meeting the boy's gaze.

"Hello, I am Noah. It is nice to meet you, Ron. Thank you for your hard work."

Ron scratched the back of his head, blushing slightly.

"It is just my job, Young Master."

The man at the counter, Liam, approached and bowed.

"This is Liam," Alen explained, his voice turning somber.

"He and his son are the only ones who stayed loyal to our family. His wife is currently bedridden."

The atmosphere grew heavy.

Liam tried to force a smile.

"Do not speak of such sad things to the Young Master on his first visit."

Suddenly, Noah's entire presence shifted.

He stood straight, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze turning cold and authoritative.

The air seemed to vibrate with a sudden, invisible pressure.

"I, Noah Aurelion, promise you today: I will find a cure for your wife. You have shown loyalty to my family in our darkest hour; this family will not abandon you."

The sheer weight of Noah's emperor-like demeanor stunned them.

Alen stared at his son, wondering when the boy had developed such an aura.

Liam's eyes filled with tears.

He knew the family was a shadow of its former self, yet looking at Noah, he felt a strange, inexplicable surge of hope.

"Thank you, Young Master," Liam whispered, bowing deeply.

"Ron, will you become my follower?" Noah asked directly.

"Young Master, if you truly treat my mother, I will follow you until the end of my life!" Ron declared.

"Lumina, as the Spirit of the Throne, you possess knowledge of all medicines, correct?" Noah thought.

[I know every disease and every concoction in existence.]

"Will you take me to your mother?" Noah asked Ron.

"Noah, what has gotten into you?" Alen asked, bewildered.

"Father, I will explain everything later. For now, please, come with us," Noah insisted.

Against their better judgment, the two men followed the eight-year-old.

Thirty minutes later, they arrived at a dilapidated shack on the outskirts of the market district.

Inside, a woman lay on a thin mattress, her skin the color of parchment.

She looked like a ghost.

"Lumina, scan her."

[Severe anemia and spiritual depletion. Nothing terminal. A simple tonic of common herbs will stabilize her.]

Lumina provided a list.

Noah turned to his father.

"Bloodleaf, Ironroot, Rednettle, Heart Clover, and Sunthorn Berry. Do we have these?"

Liam spoke up.

"Yes, Young Master. Those are common grade. I actually have them in my storage ring right now."

He produced the herbs immediately.

"Ron, boil some fresh water. Now."

Ron moved with lightning speed.

Under Lumina's mental guidance, Noah added the herbs in a specific sequence.

The water simmered and transformed into a deep, vibrant crimson liquid.

"Let her drink this every twelve hours for three days," Noah instructed.

Ron gently lifted his mother's head and helped her sip the tonic.

Within seconds, a faint flush returned to her cheeks.

Her eyes fluttered open, focusing on her son.

"Son? Why are you home? Your father needs help at the shop," she whispered weakly.

Ron burst into tears.

"Do not worry, Mother. Just rest."

He turned to Noah and fell to his knees.

"Young Master... thank you. My mother has spoken after 5 days. I thought I would never here her voice again. From today onward, I'll be your loyal follower."

[Ding! Ron Lewis wishes to become your subordinate. Loyalty Level: 85. Do you wish to accept?]

A small, triumphant smile played on Noah's lips.

"Yes"

[Ding! Ron Lewis has become your first subordinate. As his loyalty exceeds 80 points, the cashback system is now active for him.]

"Lumina, tell me. What kind of pill or herb can neutralize my grandfather's poison?"

[Your grandfather is a Void Realm cultivator. Only a seventh-rank all-poison antidote can save him.]

"And to obtain a seventh-rank pill, what rank pill do I need to give Ron?"

[A third-rank pill will suffice.]

Noah turned to his father.

"Father, do we have any way to obtain a third-rank antidote pill?"