Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat!-Chapter 369: The Prankster’s Bargain

Ethan watched as the creature, which had seemed on the verge of collapse, suddenly sprang to its feet with a nimble backflip.

"Eee-ooh-ooh-ooh..."

It began gesturing wildly in a flurry of bizarre movements. Ethan paused, taken aback by both the sudden appearance and the stranger behavior of the animal. It was hard to make sense of any of it, but at least it didn’t seem hostile. He wondered if it might have any companions lurking nearby.

---

"Dot... what’s wrong... Dot..."

As Ethan was lost in thought, Nora’s distressed cry pierced the air. Everyone flinched, startled by the sudden outburst. Dot, nestled in Nora’s arms, had started to convulse, foam bubbling at the corners of her mouth.

’Just my luck,’ Ethan thought grimly. ’What I feared most is happening.’

He stepped forward quickly, gently prying open Dot’s mouth and sliding a spoon crosswise between her teeth to keep her from biting her tongue.

"Ethan... what do we do?" Nora sobbed, her voice thick with tears. She clung to his shirt, her composure unraveling.

’What do I do?’ His mind raced. He had no idea. He couldn’t promise everything would be fine when Dot’s condition clearly said otherwise. But if he admitted how bad it was, Nora would only sink deeper into panic.

"Eee-ooh-ooh..."

The strange monkey chattered again, clapping its hands like it found the whole scene amusing.

"You little beast!" Uncle Jed growled, raising his spear to shoo it away.

"Wait." Ethan quickly stopped him and stood, brow furrowed. A thought struck him. He remembered how the monkey had been on the ground moments ago, convulsing just like Dot was now. Could it be...?

His eyes widened. He crouched down closer to the creature.

"Were you trying to warn us she was about to have a seizure?"

"Eee-ooh-ooh..."

The monkey bounced excitedly, smacking its own head, then pointing at Dot and at Ethan. More precisely, it pointed at the banana in Ethan’s hand.

"You want this?" Ethan held the banana out slowly.

"Ethan, it’s just a begging animal," Uncle Jed said impatiently, eyeing Dot’s limp body. "Focus on the girl. Think of something—anything—to help her."

’I’d use it if I had any plan at all,’ Ethan thought, exasperated. "This monkey isn’t ordinary. You saw it—it predicted Dot’s condition was about to worsen."

He looked up at Uncle Jed, then tossed the banana toward the monkey. It caught it neatly with one hand and bit in. The next second, it shuddered and spat the piece out in a rapid-fire stream, like it had bitten something vile. Ethan almost laughed. Apparently, it had never eaten a banana before.

He took out another and demonstrated how to peel it. The little creature tilted its head, skeptical, and scratched its ear. After a moment’s hesitation, it picked up the discarded banana, copied Ethan’s motions, licked the fruit cautiously, then jumped up with excitement and stuffed it into its mouth. It turned and beckoned to Ethan, clearly wanting more.

Ethan held up the bunch and bounced it in his palm. "Want more? I have plenty. But first—tell me—how did you know she was going to seize?" He pointed at Dot, trying to coax an answer.

"Squeak-squeak... eee-eee..."

The monkey looked stumped. It scratched its head, hopped in a circle, then with a sudden whoosh, darted away and vanished among the withered trees.

Seeing it flee, Ethan’s heart sank.

"I told you... what good is an animal—ow!" Uncle Jed grumbled, turning just in time for a stone to smack him on the back of the head.

"Squeak-squeak..."

The monkey had returned. Uncle Jed cursed and rubbed the sore spot, wincing where the stone had struck an old scar. But the creature ignored him completely. It swaggered up, stopping in front of Nora. She instinctively shielded Dot closer to her chest.

"Squeak-squeak..."

With an irritable chitter, the monkey stretched out its left hand. A small, luminous seed rested in its palm, glowing faintly. Ethan squinted. It looked like the seed of some unknown plant.

"Eee-eee... ooh-ooh..."

The monkey gestured insistently toward Dot’s mouth.

"Are you saying this will cure her?" Ethan asked carefully.

"Eee-eee..."

It actually nodded.

Ethan’s pulse quickened. He reached out to take the seed, but the monkey jerked back, refusing. Ethan blinked, confused, and watched as the creature made an elaborate show of puffing up and scattering a handful of dirt at him. He coughed, brushing grit off his face.

"It says... the Primal Element Seed, if you hold it in your hand, will just turn to useless dirt."

Dot’s voice, thin and shaky, rose between them. Everyone turned, stunned. She had stopped convulsing but looked exhausted and pale.

"Dot... you can understand it?" Uncle Jed asked, eyes wide.

"Yes..." Dot rasped.

Uncle Jed’s expression changed from shock to amazement. He pointed at the monkey. "What did it call that? The Primal Element Seed? Are you serious? That’s a legendary elixir! When I was in the Forgotten City, the City Lord spent a fortune searching the entire Sea of Death for it—and never found even one!"

Ethan knelt beside Dot. "What does it do?"

"It treats soul damage, increases perception," Dot murmured, "and... its most important effect...

"It allows anyone to sense the energy of the world," Nora finished quietly.

Uncle Jed gave her a look of respect. "As expected of someone from the Vance family. You’ve seen this before?"

Nora nodded, her gaze fixed on the shimmering seed. "I’ve seen it in our ancestral records. It really is the Primal Element Seed."

"Then let it give it to Dot," Ethan urged. "Treating nerve damage is exactly what she needs."

"But... this is priceless," Nora whispered, glancing up at him.

"What if it is?" Ethan said firmly. "No treasure is more valuable than a human life."

Uncle Jed swallowed hard. He looked at Ethan with new respect, repeating those words in his mind. He knew well—one seed like this could buy a lifetime of power. To sense the energy of the world was to hold the key to becoming a Priest. And Priests were more sought-after than kings. Yet Ethan had no hint of greed in his voice.

"Thank you," Nora said, her eyes glistening.

"Eee-eee... ooh-ooh..."

The monkey suddenly let out an impatient chatter, waving the seed in the air.

"It says... do you want it or not?" Dot translated weakly. "If you don’t hurry, its energy will fade."

Ethan noticed the glow on the seed already dimming. He nodded quickly. Nora moved Dot forward, supporting her carefully.

But the monkey still didn’t hand it over. It eyed the group shrewdly, then began gesturing again.

Dot hesitated, looking reluctant.

"Dot, what’s it saying?" Ethan asked.

"It... it wants ten bunches of bananas... and five bottles of Uncle Ethan’s peach juice," she mumbled. "But... that’s Dot’s favorite drink. Dot doesn’t want to trade it..."

Ethan let out a startled laugh. Even Uncle Jed chuckled, despite the tension. The monkey tilted its head, puzzled, and looked at Dot expectantly.

"It... doesn’t understand why you’re laughing. Is peach juice not valuable?" Dot translated, blinking tiredly.

"It’s very valuable," Ethan said with a grin. "Don’t worry."

"Then... will you trade?"

"Of course," Ethan replied.

"Then... it wants to see the goods first," Dot translated.

"You clever little bandit," Uncle Jed muttered.

Ethan pulled out a huge bunch of bananas and five bottles of peach juice from his Mindscape. The monkey’s eyes went round. It jumped up, snatched the peach juice, and finally tossed the seed into Ethan’s hands.

He passed it to Nora without delay. She placed it carefully on Dot’s tongue. Dot swallowed, and in seconds her pallor began to fade. Her eyes fluttered open, bright and clear.

"Uncle Ethan, I’m better!" she cried.

"That’s wonderful," Nora gasped, hugging her tight as tears ran down her cheeks. Uncle Jed exhaled a long sigh of relief.

The monkey sat cross-legged, happily chugging peach juice. When it finished, it let out a tiny burp and started waving again.

"It says it wants more bananas and peach juice," Dot reported.

"You’re insatiable, aren’t you?" Uncle Jed laughed.

Ethan obliged, producing another armload. The monkey practically glowed with delight.

Then it gestured again, looking earnest.

"It says... it wants to follow you," Dot said.

"Follow me?" Ethan blinked.

"Yes. It says Uncle Ethan has the best food, and it wants to stay with you," Dot said, her voice finally sounding stronger.

"You little schemer," Uncle Jed chuckled.

"Alright. You can come along," Ethan said with a smile. The monkey squeaked in triumph, hopping in circles around him.

Suddenly, it pointed ahead, chittering excitedly.

"It says it wants to lead the way," Dot translated.

"Lead the way where?" Ethan asked, puzzled.

"It says it knows where there’s more good food... and treasures," Dot said, her eyes wide.

"This monkey really is a treasure hunter," Uncle Jed laughed.

"Then let’s see what it has to show us," Ethan said, feeling a surge of hope.

The monkey bounded ahead, and the group set off again, following it deeper into the wilderness.

---

Three days later, they arrived at a valley filled with the scent of flowers and birdsong. The monkey pointed deeper in, squeaking.

"It says there are many treasures and good food here," Dot translated.

They followed it to a massive cave hidden behind a curtain of vines. Inside, the darkness was so complete they could hardly see their own hands.

Again, the monkey gestured, insistent.

"It says there are many treasures here," Dot said.

They pressed on, reaching a vast underground space lit by shimmering crystal formations. In the center was a clear lake, and on a small island rose an ancient stone altar covered in runes.

The monkey pointed proudly at the altar.

"It says... many treasures," Dot whispered.

Ethan approached the tablet, studying the strange markings. He couldn’t decipher them.

The monkey hopped up beside him and held out its hand again.

"It wants bananas and peach juice," Dot sighed.

"You little glutton," Ethan muttered, smiling despite himself. He pulled out the treats, and the monkey devoured them with obvious satisfaction.

Then it gestured once more.

"It says it still wants to follow you," Dot said.

"You really don’t give up," Ethan murmured.

But when he glanced at the little creature, he couldn’t help smiling.

"Alright. Let’s keep going," he said softly.

The monkey’s delighted chitter echoed off the stone walls as it bounded ahead again, leading them into the unknown.