Ethan's intention to venture beyond the barrier into the depths of the Red Jade Valley was not primarily to pursue Luke.
That might be part of the reason, but not the main one.
Currently, within the team, the power of Sherry, Mia, and Pale Wolf had all seen significant enhancements.
Even Ethan himself had experienced a substantial boost in his capabilities.
One could argue that the red jades no longer had any effect on Ethan and his team.
But these jades merely flew out from the deeper parts of the valley.
This could very well mean that there were even more potent treasures hidden within, capable of amplifying their strengths further.
Furthermore, the device that could create the Blood Source was something Ethan had no intention of leaving behind.
"Sherry, how are you all holding up?" Ethan cast his gaze towards Sherry and the others.
The faces of Sherry, Mia, and Pale Wolf were slightly pale.
"We might need some rest. It's primarily Luke's Gravity Field that's a major nuisance. Utterly detestable," Sherry spat angrily.
If it weren't for that Gravity Field, Luke wouldn't have stood a chance against her.
"Gravity Field?" Ethan queried, his curiosity piqued.
Earlier, when he had confronted Luke, he had utilized his dragon form.
Under the influence of this form, his resistances surged, rendering Luke's Gravity Field almost ineffective against him.
After all, dragons epitomized immense strength.
After Sherry's explanation, Ethan came to understand.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. "Hold on, let me try something."
He recalled that after absorbing the red jades and elevating his Bloodline, upon gaining the Holy Light-Language of Nature, he also received a hint about some realm – seemingly the Holy Light realm.
With this in mind, Ethan activated the Holy Light realm.
Instantaneously, a golden luminescent shield materialized around him.
"What is this?"
"My lord, this is miraculous! I feel much rejuvenated!"
"It's not just a feeling. My wounds are healing rapidly, and I feel better than ever."
Pale Wolf, Sherry, and Mia each voiced their astonishment in turn.
Ethan explained, "This is an ability I gained after my Bloodline enhancement, called the Holy Light realm. It seems to possess potent healing properties."
"It's more than just 'good'. Healing abilities are rare, especially those that cater to a group like this," Sherry retorted, shaking her head in disagreement with Ethan's understatement.
Everyone is vulnerable to injury, especially in the heat of outdoor battles.
An injury often translates to heightened danger, not only from the beasts and monsters lurking in the wilderness but also from fellow beings watching in the shadows.
Thus, unless one possesses a self-healing Bloodline, swift recovery generally hinges on healing powers.
Yet, whether among Heroes or Dark Lords, such healing abilities are exceptionally scarce.
A hint of envy flashed in Sherry's eyes.
If she had possessed such an ability, perhaps her past wouldn't have been marred with tragedy.
Of course, Ethan was oblivious to Sherry's thoughts.
Under the auspices of the Holy Light realm, the group quickly regained their strength, with a slight enhancement in their physical condition.
After a brief respite, the team of four set off towards the depths of the Red Jade Valley under the cloak of night.
Inside the Red Jade Valley, after more than ten days of fierce battles, the remaining Heroes were the cream of the crop.
Most of them had absorbed the red jade, substantially augmenting their powers.
At least along the way, Ethan felt the gaze of several Rank S Heroes upon him.
Yet, he chose not to engage, continuing deeper into the Red Jade Valley instead.
"Let's move forward," he said.
Before long, the quartet arrived at the barrier entrance to the deepest parts of the valley.
Not too far away, several Heroes were watching them covertly from the shadows.
"Should we stop them?" one of the Heroes, a towering figure comparable in stature to Pale Wolf and with a long scar slashing across his face that made him look particularly menacing, inquired.
"Stop them? How?" another Hero responded disdainfully, adding, "Those few managed to handle Luke. If you think you can stop them, by all means, try."
"Luke? He just got lucky this time. Next time we meet, I'll show him just how hard my fist can be," the tall Hero huffed.
After he spoke, no one else responded or attempted to hinder Ethan and his companions.
They entered the depths of the Red Jade Valley without incident.
As they delved deeper, other surviving Heroes followed suit, though some opted to leave rather than venture further into the heart of the valley.
...
Within the deeper regions of the Red Jade Valley.
"So, this is what's inside the barrier? Doesn't look much different from the outside, does it?" Mia observed, her eyes scanning the surroundings with curiosity.
Since their entry, the group had been walking for hours, encountering only various hillocks and not a single soul.
Something seemed amiss.
"Ah, are we within an illusion?"
A startled exclamation came from Mia. At her chest, Little Fairy Baal stirred, stretching as if waking from a deep slumber.
"Baal, you're awake! I thought you might sleep indefinitely," Ethan remarked with a smile, his surprise evident.
After returning to the Temple Dungeon, Baal had been tempted by Victor and tried some of the wine brewed within their domain, quickly developing a fondness for it.
However, Baal's tolerance for alcohol was low, often resulting in drunken stupors.
Since arriving at the Red Jade Valley, Baal had mostly been asleep.
After a brief interjection upon their initial encounter with the barrier, Baal had retreated into a deep slumber.
It wasn't just any regular sleep; while Baal's petite form appeared to dangle from Mia, its true body was in an ethereal space, completely insulated from the outside world.
That's why none of the subsequent battles had disturbed Baal's rest.
"Ethan, I had such a restful sleep!" Baal exclaimed, clarity returning to its voice.
Floating mid-air, Baal declared, "What you're seeing is merely an illusion, not the reality."
"Watch this!"
Dark mists swirled around Baal.
Radiating from Baal's form were ripples, and where they touched, something seemed to shatter.
Before the eyes of Ethan and his companions, the entire vista before them transformed dramatically.
"This is..."
Upon witnessing the true appearance deep within the valley, Ethan and the others were utterly astounded.
What lay before them were vast ruins, their decaying remnants heavy with the weight of history.
Especially striking were four immense stone pillars at the center of the ruins, each entwined with massive chains that led to the skeletal remains of a dragon.
A true dragon!
At a cursory glance, its body spanned tens of thousands of meters, nearly eclipsing the sky itself.
Ethan compared the dragon form he had once assumed to this skeletal behemoth and realized he would be no more than an insect in its presence.
"Such a massive dragon, reduced to mere bones and bound..."
"What on earth is this place?" Sherry exclaimed in awe.
Ethan shook his head, directing his gaze towards another part of the ruins.
There lay the remnants of a colossal statue.
Its vastness was beyond imagination, with just a fallen arm resembling the size of a hill.
"Could this have been the realm of giants?" Pale Wolf mused aloud.
The giants, a race often spoken of alongside dragons.
But while dragons remained active in the present day, giants seemed exceedingly rare.
At least, Ethan hadn't encountered any in his territories.
"Master Ethan, where should we go next?" Mia posed the crucial question.
Ethan looked around, finding no immediate answers. After all, it was his first venture into the depths of the Red Jade Valley.
"Wait a moment."
With that, Ethan closed his eyes slightly, attuning his senses.
Within his perception, he felt three faint resonances.
The first was from the mark he had left on Luke, who seemed to be nearby and rapidly moving away.
The second and third resonances were from distant locations.
"Eluna and Komait indeed entered," Ethan whispered, sensing the presence of the Treant elder Eluna and the black dragon Komait.
Locking onto the direction where the two were located, Ethan pointed outwards and declared, "Let's head in that direction. We should find Eluna and Komait first; perhaps they can shed light on the mysteries of this place."
The group unanimously agreed with Ethan's decision.
Subsequently, they ventured forth, guided by Ethan's determination.
However, not long after their departure, a new team of Heroes arrived on the scene.
Distinct from ordinary Heroes, these individuals bore a flaming emblem on their foreheads and unique scales on their arms.
"Lord Savi, the individual sought by the Flame Witch is here," a member of the squad reported to Savi.
Savi nodded in acknowledgment.
"I've sensed the vile aura of that Hero. He's the one who tainted the pristine consciousness of our Flame Witch and obliterated the scout team we dispatched last time. "
"This time, however, he won't escape! We'll capture him and present him to the Flame Witch herself, so she can end his life and purge the filth from her mind."
Having said that, Savi fervently cried out, "For the Flame Witch!"
The rest of the team echoed with equal passion, "For the Flame Witch!"
And with that rallying call, the squad set out in pursuit of Ethan and his party.
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