Without proper preparation, it was impossible for Andrew to remove the

    Frostblossom toxinpletely. If it were that easy to deal with, this poison would not be considered such a deadly weapon.

    The ck energy on Jerome''s face began flowing in one direction.

    Andrew brought two fingers together like a de and sliced down swiftly at the point. Immediately, a wound appeared, and ck blood began streaming out steadily.

    Jerome kept his eyes tightly closed and gasped, "Impressive! To be honest, before this, I had several elders from the Advanced Medical Institute help me. But all of them were forced back by the sheer intensity of the Frostblossom''s toxin. None of them could even open a proper channel to drain the poison. They were too terrified to make a cut."

    Andrew''s focus remained sharp, though his tone stayed calm. "It''s not that the Institutecks talent, but those elders are just mediocre."

    Jerome chuckled. "Confident and bold. Dr. Lloyd, your honesty is refreshing."

    Andrew decided to y it humble. "As long as you don''t think I''m full of myself, I''m good."

    Jeromeughed heartily. "Not at all! I''ve long heard about your name, Dr. Lloyd, but seeing you in person, someone so young and already this aplished... Well, it''s really impressive. And honestly, you remind me very much of an old friend of mine."

    Andrew''s eyes flickered, and he casually asked, "Oh? May I ask who this friend of yours is?"

    Jerome smiled faintly. "I won''t share his name since it''s inconvenient to mention. But I can tell you this: hisst name was also Lloyd. Back in the day, whether it was in Goldridge or throughout the entire Southern Martial Union, that friend of mine was just like you. He was a prodigy, famous far and wide."

    Andrew winced internally. Jerome might not have said the name, but Andrew was almost certain that the "friend" had to be none other than his own father, Reginald Lloyd.

    Back then, Reginald had left the royal family of the Lloyds and sworn an oath that he would never return unless he defeated every martial legend in thend.

    Since Jerome was the union''s top leader, it was inevitable that he and Reginald had once crossed paths. However, Andrew had not expected them to be friends.

    Feigning curiosity, Andrew asked casually, "What''s be of this friend of yours? I''d love to visit him someday. Anyone you hold in such high regard must be an extraordinary man."

    Jerome let out a rare sigh, his voice tinged with weariness.

    "His whereabouts are unknown now.

    I don''t even know if he''s still alive. In

    our world, people who walk the

    martial path are often fated this way. We chase the peak of power, thinking we can rise above attws and limits... But in the end, the ones who die the fastest are usually the same people who believe they''re invincible."

    Andrew''s hand trembled slightly. He asked in disbelief, "You mean... he''s dead?"

    Jerome looked surprised at

    Andrew''s reaction, then gave a quiet chuckle. "Not exactly. I''m not saying he''s dead. It''s just that I haven''t heard from him in ten years. For all I know, he could be alive... or gone.

    "Thest time we had any contact was a decade ago. He sent me a message, asking for help. He said he was trapped and needed me to head е

    north and get him out. I was shocked. With his background and strength, I never imagined he''d fall

    into such serious trouble"

    Andrew, for once, was visibly tense. "He was in Chetvine? That ce is a war

    zone. Did you go?"