The old Liam would have failed to notice many of the situation's details, but the humiliation ritual Maxwell had performed with the neighboring Sects added valuable examples to his now-broader knowledge.
The Alchemy Elder might have used his status as an excuse, but his first demand saw the probable Sect behind the collusion against Liam to sponsor his growth.
There was some hilarity to that outcome, but Liam didn't laugh. He couldn't even try that in the face of the red Sect Leader, but his mind churned realizations nonetheless.
Maxwell's superior strength had enabled him to employ the humiliation ritual, but things were different now, albeit only slightly.
The Alchemy Elder felt far smaller than the red Sect Leader, but the former possessed a kind of strength unique to him. He was a peerless alchemist, wielding methods only he could control.
