The cave was marked as one of the most dangerous locations within the secret realm. Graknar’s map came with a grim warning—many participants had lost their lives here, and extreme caution was advised. A specific note mentioned preparing poison-resistance pills.
Rather than a deterrent, this only fueled Emery’s determination. If so many had failed, then perhaps rare alchemical materials still remained, waiting to be discovered. More importantly, with Chuutlu by his side, he had little fear of poison. And, of course, there was another reason—Kaelyn Silverleaf.
He had to know more about her.
Just as he was about to step inside, his instincts flared. A group was approaching. He turned and saw nine figures moving with confidence. These were elite alchemists—three participants, each accompanied by two assistants. All were Cosmic Realm experts, with the strongest among them at Stage 5. Among them, he recognized one immediately: Ivaris, Baldoni’s brother—the same man who had threatened him days prior.
Emery halted and observed from the shadows. The group reached the entrance, where Kaelyn was waiting. To his surprise, they all treated her with deference—an absolute contrast to how Kukujin and Graknar had been received.
"Mistress Silverleaf, thank you for agreeing to join us," said a handsome alchemist, his tone filled with respect.
Kaelyn’s expression remained indifferent, if not slightly irritated. "You brought more people…"
"Yes, I hope you don’t mind. They’re here to assist… But don’t worry, you’ll get the first pick of anything we find down there."
"I don’t care how many you bring," she replied flatly, "as long as you assure me there’s a Seven Rainbow Flower down there."
The alchemist nodded. "My family has participated in this event for generations. One of my ancestors recorded harvesting a Seven Rainbow Flower inside this cave."
"Then let’s go." Without another word, Kaelyn stepped into the cave, leading the way.
Their conversation told Emery all he needed to know. But their true intentions remained unclear, and something about their interaction made him uneasy. Was she truly leading them? Or was she being used?
Soltz rubbed his chin. "The three in front are famous alchemists, all Grade-7. —Horus Kreed—is the one you should watch closely. He’s a young master of the Kreed faction, one of the ten most powerful families in Pardera. They control multiple alchemy shops, rare resource mines, and have deep connections with the Skyroot faction."
Considering the situation, Emery believed following them openly would lead to unnecessary conflict, so he chose a different approach—he would sneak in.
Livi was confident in her stealth, but Soltz was another matter. The elderly alchemist scowled at the idea of venturing into a poison-filled cavern and quickly volunteered to stay behind. "I’ll keep an eye on the entrance," he muttered, not wanting any more uninvited guests trailing behind.
Emery handed Livi a high-grade poison-resistance pill. "Stay close," he instructed before they slipped inside.
The moment they stepped inside, the air changed. The temperature dropped, and the thick scent of decay clung to the walls. The cave was mesmerizing yet deadly. Bioluminescent plants cast an eerie glow across the walls, their soft blue and green hues illuminating the dark passage. But most of these plants were far from harmless—many secreted toxic spores into the air, filling the cavern with an invisible, lethal haze.
Only a few minutes in, Livi was already struggling. "Master… this is too much," she said weakly, clutching her throat.
Recognizing the danger, Emery swiftly pulled her into his domain. However, Livi’s recent breakthrough made her presence increasingly difficult to contain. Unlike before, she couldn’t remain inside indefinitely without strict restraints.
"Master… let me out the moment there’s trouble," she pleaded before disappearing into the domain’s safety.
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With Livi secured, Emery summoned Chuutlu. The Khaos Guardian’s dark aura spread around him like a living cloak, not only resisting but devouring the poisonous miasma in the air.
<Let’s remain here as long as possible…> the beast’s deep voice echoed in his mind, clearly intrigued by the toxic environment.
With Chuutlu’s protection, Emery moved effortlessly through the cave, following the path of the group ahead.
His divine sense soon picked up something remarkable. A powerful spell radiated through the cave—a pulse of pure nature energy. It came from Kaelyn. Even from a distance, Emery could see it surrounding the entire group, forming an invisible barrier that completely nullified the poison. Find more chapters on freewebnovel
Fascinated, he kept his distance and continued his silent pursuit.
For nearly an hour, they navigated deeper into the cavern until they arrived at a vast chamber. Emery immediately sensed the lingering presence of death—scattered across the ground were the skeletal remains of past participants, a grim reminder of the cave’s deadly reputation.
Before he could analyze the situation further, a sudden surge of energy sent a tremor through the cavern. From the depths of the chamber, something stirred.
A monstrous creature emerged—a towering spider-like beast, its glossy carapace glistening like obsidian. Its multiple eyes gleamed with malevolent intelligence, and the moment it spotted the intruders, it unleashed a piercing screech.
The air grew thick with a palpable sense of dread. The creature was massive, its legs extending outward like the gnarled roots of an ancient tree, each movement sending shudders through the ground. Its fangs dripped with a dark, viscous venom that sizzled upon contact with the stone floor, releasing wisps of acrid smoke.
A Godly-ranked beast.
The alchemists immediately fell into a defensive formation. Horus Kreed shouted, "Prepare the seals!" His assistants unfurled glowing parchments inscribed with intricate runes, forming a barrier to contain the monster.
Kaelyn remained eerily calm, her silver eyes narrowing as she raised her hands. A shimmering vine of golden energy unfurled from her fingertips, coiling around her like a living entity. She uttered an incantation, and the vines shot forward, attempting to ensnare the beast.
But then the spider shrieked again—this time, the sound was followed by a horrifying wave of movement. From the depths of the cavern, hundreds of smaller spiders came skittering forward.
Chaos erupted.