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The new day dawned, and Arthur's team continued their exploration of the mountain, now aware of the incredible treasures hidden within its heights.
As they ascended, they discovered higher grade spirit herbs, starting from Tier 5 and climbing all the way up to Tier 9.
Each discovery brought gasps of astonishment from the group, realizing they had stumbled upon a treasure trove of rare and potent resources.
Luke couldn't believe his luck. "These Tier 9 spirit herbs are incredibly valuable! With this haul, we can exchange for a multitude of cultivation resources once we return to the sect."
Arthur nodded, affirming their excitement. "Indeed. I promised everyone a fair share of the profits, and this time, the rewards will be bountiful. Our faction members will benefit greatly from these resources."
Their hearts filled with gratitude and admiration for their leader.
Arthur's fairness, and his expertise in cultivation and alchemy made them proud to be a part of Invincible's Faction.
As they journeyed higher, the landscape transformed, and the air grew thinner.
They could feel the powerful essence energy pulsating through the mountain, resonating with their own cultivation.
Some couldn't help but marvel at the breathtaking scene. The mountain was a place of wonder, filled with life-changing opportunities for those who dared to venture here.
The group's excitement was momentarily overshadowed when they arrived at the summit.
Before them lay a giant dark cave, ominous and foreboding.
The walls surrounding the entrance were adorned with ancient engravings that sent shivers down their spines.
Thalia couldn't help but feel uneasy. "There's something sinister about this place. Should we proceed?"
Kira eyes flashes as she said, "This cave must hold unimaginable secrets and treasures. We've come this far; we cannot turn back now. What do you think?"
"We shall proceed." Arthur said, understanding Kira's hidden intentions as he gave her a look, to which she smile 'innocently'.
Balor nodded in agreement, unsheathing her sword in preparation. "Yes Leader. Let's be on our guard and move as one."
Arthur had assigned Balor some leadership roles in the faction in preparation for when he leaves the sect.
He had plans to make Balor the leader.
As they stepped into the cave, the air grew heavy with a foreboding aura.
The walls seemed to close in around them, amplifying the tension and unease within the group.
Inside the cave, they discovered glowing moss that emitted a soft, eerie light.
This light illuminated the path before them, revealing more Tier 9 spirit herbs along the way.
Arthur with calmness spoke as he identified each herb, explaining their uses to his companions. "This is the Netherwood Root—a potent ingredient for refining high-grade spirit pills. And over there, the Void Blossom—a rare herb known for its ability to enhance one's spiritual perception."
Despite the riches before them, a sense of apprehension remained, fueled by the writing on the walls: "Trespassers will be consumed!"
It was a stark warning that someone or something guarded the depths of the cave.
Ezra, whose curiosity was piqued, asked, "What do you think awaits us in the heart of this cave, Leader?"
Arthur's expression was still calm, which helped the others to let down their cautiousness a bit, "I'm not entirely sure, but whatever it is, we will deal with it as it comes."
They ventured deeper into the cave, their steps echoing in the eerie silence.
The air grew colder, and they felt an invisible pressure bearing down on them.
Gareth muttered, "I have a bad feeling about this."
But Luke held no fear and Sun Wukong was practically nonchalant.
"Meh, this place isn't as cold as where I lived back then. It's pretty average if you ask me."
Balor looked at him and chuckled, "Cave dweller..."
"What did you say?!" Wukong narrowed his eyes.
"Calm down, guys" Luke spok up.
"Tsk!"
Their temporary banter helped lighten the mood and Arthur just shook his head.
Standing within an entrance, the Invincible Sword Faction disciples hesitated whether to proceed further.
The air was heavy with a sense of foreboding, but Arthur assured them that they must venture inside to seek the treasures that awaited them.
With determination in their hearts, they resolved to follow their leader.
As they stepped inside, the darkness engulfed them, and they could barely see their surroundings.
To counter this, Arthur brought out a light stone—a special stone infused with essence energy that emitted a soft glow.
The light illuminated the cave, revealing a grim sight—skeletons of men scattered on the ground, leading deeper into the cave.
"These men were killed by a spirit beast," Arthur analyzed, his voice grave. "We must remain alert and cautious."
The atmosphere grew tense as they ventured further, but Arthur remained calm.
He had already sensed the presence of the creature dwelling within the cave—a powerful spirit beast.
He knew that he could easily subdue it, but he chose not to disclose this information to the others, not wanting to create unnecessary bravado.
The deeper they went, the more the cave expanded, and their light stone revealed a magnificent sight—glowing gold-colored gems, unmistakably Sword Dao Gems.
These gems were of a much higher quality than any they had seen before, and the insights contained within would be profound and life-changing.
The excitement among the group was palpable as they realized the extent of their discovery.
"Look at these gems! They are beyond anything we could have imagined!" Thalia exclaimed, awe-struck by the sight.
Ezra grinned, his eyes shining with ambition. "With these Sword Dao Gems, we'll elevate our sword techniques to a whole new level!"
Gareth couldn't contain his excitement either. "I can't wait to see what insights they hold!"
Their exuberance filled the cave with cheer and laughter, but suddenly, a deafening roar echoed from outside the cave, jolting them back to reality.
The joyous atmosphere turned grave in an instant.
They knew that roar could only belong to the powerful spirit beast guarding the cave. The reality of the danger they faced crashed down on them.
"Everyone, quiet down!" Zara hissed, her eyes darting around, searching for signs of movement.
Arthur raised his hand, signaling for silence. He glanced at his companions, urging them to be calm and composed.
The cave fell silent, and they could hear their own heartbeats as the tension mounted. The spirit beast's footsteps grew louder, approaching the cave entrance.
Arthur's eyes narrowed, his senses sharp. He could feel the beast's energy, and he understood that it was testing them, gauging their strength and determination.
As the steps got closer to the cave, the disciples were greeted by a fearsome sight—a dragon-like spirit beast with golden scales.
It stood an imposing 50 meters tall and stretched an astonishing 150 meters long.
The aura it emanated matched that of a peak Martial Emperor, leaving the disciples in awe and trepidation.
Kira's frown deepened as she analyzed the beast's power. "This spirit beast's strength is incomprehensible. Even a peak Martial Emperor would be no match for it," she warned, her voice tinged with concern.
The dragon spirit beast, with its intelligent eyes, regarded the intruders with contempt. In a deep, mighty voice, it spoke, "You human ants, how dare you trespass."
Kira's analysis was confirmed as everyone knew that all spirit beasts at the Martial Emperor Realm and above possessed the ability to speak.
The power exuding from the creature was suffocating, causing most of the faction members to drop to their knees, overwhelmed with fear and shock.
Only Arthur and Kira managed to hold their ground effortlessly, their gaze still composed which shocked the dragon spirit beast a bit.
Alongside them, Luke, Balor, and Sun Wukong stood firm, displaying remarkable resilience despite their trembling bodies.
To Arthur's surprise, Mark and Thalia also remained standing, their expressions determined and resolute. Arthur mentally commended Thalia for her unyielding spirit.
As the dragon released its powerful aura, the intensity grew, causing the air to tremble and the surroundings to distort.
The sheer force of the beast's presence seemed to assert its dominance over all who stood before it.
In that moment, Kira thought to herself, 'You can't hide your true strength now can you?... Invincible.'
She always had this instinctive feeling that Arthur was more powerful than he let's on.
'My mother's always says that a woman's intuition is never wrong. Especially for those with our physique.'
"It's been long since I had some human treats. You will be my meal today. And I like them roasted." The dragon revealed a human like expression and suddenly roared once more.
"Roar!"
But Arthur's next words shocked everyone in the cave.
"How dare you...with your inferior bloodline stand before me and roar...you little lizard."
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------------End of Chapter------------
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A/N: Getting a Gift today would be nice...
p.s: Tell me what you think about the story so far. thanks for reading!
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