*Steps* *steps* *steps*
Noises of unhurried footsteps could be heard vibrating about within a dark and gloomy cave. The whistle of silence inundated the whole atmosphere within here.
Though you might not be able to see it... but the whole cave is filled with lichen all around the wall. Added with the briny taste within the air.
About another heap of footsteps... finally a dimly lit light emerged at the end of one's sight. Giving in the view a sense of mysteries...
"I'm getting closer to that place... I can feel it."
Suddenly a young man's voice could be heard... throbbing within this space. As he hurriedly hastened his pace towards the light.
*steps* *steps* *steps*
As he was about to reach the end of this path... finally the light swathed his whole entirely... disclosing who this mysterious person could be.
And as to be guessed... it is him, Eli.
"Fuh! what the hell that took so long! just how deep is it already? Probably 7-10km now."
The young man breathed in relief as he had finally arrived at the very end of this path.
But what comes next to greet his view would be a large and wide majestic cavern.
"T-this!"
To his surprise, the whole place is filled with corroded crystals deeply embedded within the cave walls.
"C-corroded crystal! hahaha, and there are so many of them! "
"With this many... I can easily break through the fourth star or even the fifth star!..."
The youth laughed with joy while his face was brimming with happiness.
"Quick... I need to gather all of them first and then return to the group... as for Ren... ugh... I will think of a way to solve it later."
Having said that... the youth immediately pulled out a small bag from his sleeve. The bag is oddly weird as it had been engraved with conspicuous runes and mysterious gems all around it.
And as to be guessed... this is a space bag similar to a space ring but to a bigger extent. A large amount of crystal was instantly sucked in into the bag...
Minutes departed by and soon the whole cavern had been unloaded by him alone.
"Hahaha, that's a lot of yields!"
Eli is currently filled with contentment as his journey had been paid generously.
"Now... should I go deeper?"
He pondered for a moment...
"Maybe I should... the more dangerous it is... the better the reward"
He muttered to himself as in the next second he strode off into the next tunnel with courage.
After a couple more minutes he finally paved his way into an even larger cavern from before. Not only there are a vast amount of corroded crystals but in the middle of this place stood there a large altar with a giant crystal stuck in the middle of it.
"Th-this place is?"
His eyes widened in shock while discerning this newly found area.
"That altar in the middle gives me a very dangerous vibe... "
He slowly whispered his words as his eye wandered about In the middle of this cavern.
The following moment... he unhurriedly made his way closer and closer to the altar.
As he was about to reach within the vicinity of the altar...
suddenly...
*swoosh!* *sizzles* *sizzles!*
A large dark oval-shaped portal emerged right before his very eyes as in the next second a group of people draped in dark cloaks step out from it.
"This? a survivor from the group?"
After getting out of the portal... the cloaked man in the lead immediately discovered Eli's existence as he blurted out in a puzzled manner.
"Captain... I think he is one of the students that went missing way earlier..."
One of the cloaked men next to him whispered to his ears.
"This?... it's him?..."
"Yes senior"
Hearing the cloaked men murmurs... a surge of fear flickered across his face as his footsteps stagnated in one place.
'Shit! who are they!... no wait?... that person seems similar?... '
"E-Elder Li is that you?"
Eli stuttered in his words as he asked towards the group of men.
Hearing the youth words... a flash of killing intent radiated on his face but he quickly concealed it with a kind smile.
"Hahaha yes it's me... you are Eli, was it? if I remember correctly."
"Yes, Senior it's me!"
Eli responded with a sigh of relief...
"I see... "
"Senior where is the other? "
Eli inquired politely...
"This... well they are still outside of the cave. "
"Then senior what are you doing here?"
"..."
A brief silence crammed the whole situation for a couple of seconds...
"Hahaha, we were searching for yo-"
"Don't lie"
"..."
Not being able to finish his words... Eli boldly hindered him.
"Old man, you not very good at lying aren't you?"
Oddly enough the once inexperienced and innocent look on his face had a drastic difference from a cold and emotionless expression.
"It seems you were prolonging your time..."
Hearing the youth's words... he immediately exploded his killing intent into the surrounding with his eyes tightly latched onto the youth.
"What if I am?"
Eli replied while casually glimpsing towards the group of men.
"Then be prepared to die... "
*swoosh!*
Elder Li and his subordinate instantly emerged next to Eli's sides while hacking their swords downwards... but suddenly!
*SHING!*
*Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!*
An unexpected energy shield directly enveloped Eli's entirety while obstructing all of the attacks.
"Who!"
"Shit he has a helper!"
"Not good!"
"Quick! we need to escape!"
Noticing this oddity they quickly whirled their body around and drifted backward...
"Humph, you guys dare to escape!?"
Unexpectedly... a woman's voice quivered next to them mid-air as a large fireball 10m in diameter emerged out of thin air and rapidly blitzed them out towards the wall.
*Boom!*
"Arghh!"
"Urgkk!!"
They shrieked in pain while their bodies were sunk deep into the wall. Forming a web-like tear...
*thud!*
-End of this chapter.