The Sixteen Guardians were only just finished one of their meetings they have getting very restless over another matter altogether 'Did something really happened to the Lord?' Something like this question was on every one's mind.
During the weeks, another one of the expert managed to breakthrough to the peak realm, and the woman was led in to the secret this time readily unlike what happened with the other four, which she was very glad to learn escape from any humiliation.
The remanent energy and killing intent was finally disperseed from the Misty Mountain and the surrounding area from yesterday morning, Even though they weren't called to come up by the Lord, all of them decide to pay visit to the Lord and explained what has transpired over the tribe if he doesn't already aware of that in the first place.
They didn't receive any welcome or responce like they were hoping to the little hope they were harbouring The few of the newbies were starting to sweat when they rememberd what happened the other day thought the Lord was still angry over them so not even the Old Man tried to talk about the prepard gift he planning to give to the Lord second time and he also felt he was acted recklessly the other day not as he doesn't have the face to bring up the topic to lord.
In a small tent five people gatherd together and discussing something very important almost all of their faces was filled with slight trace of worry as they briefly exchanged words with one another over something.
A Middle aged Man was lying on the ground while eating some small fruits from the wooden bowl near his side he seemed half listening to what the other four has been talking while he leisurely watching out of the small window like an opening on the tent.
The four people at first tried to include him in their conversation and take his opinion on some matters but hearing his lukster response they simply couldn't bother with him, but his eyes had cunning gleam in them as he stared intensely at the sky as he seems thinking about something very deeply.
Aadhi spoke up "Sigh, it's really troublesome to talk to those leaders over regarding forming proper regiments " he looked like he was thwarted by this issue if his frowning on his kind face any indication.
The Old Man nodded in agreement "Aadhi, we still have to patients over this matter it can't be rushed like this" he has solemn expression despite their continuous talk with those experts they never find a middle ground on this issue everyone knows this was a delicate matter to use force on this from the start not everything achieved by force.
"Yes elder Aadhi, master is right this can't be rushed did you notice the wariness on their face when we tried to talk this matter, they are already aggravated by the beating they had taken previously so I think it was understandable " Vandhi interjected in timely manner reassuring elder Aadhi.
"Yes.... I have this feeling if we pressed them on this matter any further, they might even try to start up some rumor and... I wouldn't be so surprised if they planing a mutiny to scare us" Mara spoke up pushing away the grimace of agreeing with his rival whom he, think blockheaded idiot.
A leisure voice spoke turned them to looking at the person lying on the ground "If you guys, have still worried over this issue I, may have something that can help you guys out, want to hear it? " Balli stretched out as he sat up his face look little tired he reached for his wine pot he sighed emotionallyas he shook it, the pot was empty.
"What is it?" Aadhi asked looking at his fellow guardian and friend, whom he might or not have detested for his shamelessness but he still chose to ask as no one coming up with any suitable plan it wouldn't hurt to hear this lazy bones opinion 'At least it would be entertaining what is this jokester thinking'
Balli awkwardly smiled at them as he scratched the stubbles on his chin, "Hmmm, eh.... what was I talking about " he blinked stupidly at the group of people as if he had forget what he was about to talk to them.
Veins started to popping in Aadhi's forehead 'What is this ba***** trying to do, calm down don't fall in to his trick' he took a deep breath as he asked "What were your plans about the forming regiments for our tribe? Don't waste our time"
"Was I? hmm! " Balli asked confusedly but his eyes still locked on to the empty wine pot, the Old Man's eyes twitched but he motioned his student with a gesture Vandhi nodded his head and hurriedly went out and returned few minutes later he, came back with a big enough wine pot.
"Elder Balli here! this wine pot I specifically fetched it from my master's decades of collection don't get drunked immediately" Vandhi gave it to him Balli like an agile leopard snatched it away in the blink of an eye.
The Old Man eyes which were on the pot in vandhi's hand suddenly widened as he heard exactly where it was from before he, could say anything else the lazy person quickly snatched the pot from his student's hand the Old Man's face twitched.
He watched this helplessly he wasn't a drunkard but he was now and then like to enjoy good wine this was his decades of hard work in saving them, 'Why did the brat fetched the pot from my secret stash? how did he know where to find them anyway!'
Balli's face was extremely excited as he laughed heartily "Hahaha, wonderful I don't know that old fellow was this good to me sigh! if I know this I would have visited his tent now and then what a waste " he put on a sad face as he lamented the Old Man let out a cold snort annoyed then he strictly asked him to tell what was his opinion.
Balli took a sip then tightly gripped the wine pot to himself as if the old man wouldn't satisfied with his answer proceed to snatch back this wine pot, everyone's face twitched especially Mara whose face was now flushed red due to his strong embarrassment.
Oblivious to all of this Balli leisurely spoke while he drink, "Why don't we let the new guardian have a try on this matter " his eyes were twinkling but his body seemed alert as he tightly gripping the pot.
"Old Man, was your skin itching for good beating, act accordingly with your age and status, your actions embarrassing me as well" Mara started to scolding him "You were so leisure you cooking up some insidious plans for your entertainment " in the end he nearly shouting at him.
"She was just only breakthrough yet, you immediately throw her to these hyenas, don't you think it was very cruel. I don't think she can handle this " Mara was emotionally seems worked up.
Nobody blamed him for his disrespectful attitude all of them or feed up, with Balli's deception and games, Balli angrily pointed his finger at his Ex-Student and angrily asked "Brat, Who do you think, you are pointing fingers at and stop accusing everything you doubted over what are you my nanny" Balli's face contorted with anger.
With a snort he turned to his old friend explained the matter "What I'm trying to say is don't you guys think with her reputation in the tribe and connection with small tribes leaders she might be the one we are looking for" Balli explained with the confidence look on his face.
Aadhi and Old Man discuss this matter between themselves as the two of them didn't seem against the idea in the first place Aadhi finally said "Well at least the drunkard at least willing to think something for the tribe. Okay this was a very good plan I can tell it was very likely possible if it was Ima, let's trust her on this matter for now"
The Old Man nodded agreeingly Ima has special status amongst the tribe, in her childhood her tribe was invaded by a pack of flying beasts and destroyed almost entirely she was later caught the eyes of one of the guardians back then accepted as a deciple but she pressed enough to let the surviving members of the tribe bring with her.
After her teacher died she acted as a tribe leader never showed her weight as a leader of large tribe show kindness and maintained favorable relationship with many small tribes the tribe leaders thought highly of her.
When she breakthrough to the peak stage few small tribes celliberated on their own as if their leader became new guardian, they calculated that if they have given this matter to such a reputable and likeable person not only they would consider this seriously even she would thing from different angle to explain the leaders effectively enough.
'Well this was a good thing anyway bring this drunkard here is handy but it did cost one of my collection ' thought Old Man but he couldn't help speculate how in the world his student aware of his wine collection 'Why was this fellow rushed over and went to take from my stash? Should not he considirate towards his master's well being and happiness, sigh!'
Then he shook his unnecessary thoughts aside he turned to Aadhi for some important decision "Aadhi we have to utilize our people to build a sturdy place you have to alert the others gather some materials for building arrays"
Aadhi subconsciously nodded then thought of. something asked, " what are those materials for? have I forgotten something again" he looked at them everyone looking at him like they were stunned for some time looking incredulously at Aadhi who was even more wondering as he tried his best to remember what he has forget.
The Old Man patiently explained "Why are you this distracted and careless over such a important matter hmm? " his face had a concerned look as he observed his friend's mannerism.
Seeing his embarrassed look he didn't continue this"As we have, started to excavate the energy stones we have to build a storage to keep the energy stone from dissipate, the low and medium grade energy stone was the one quickly got dissipate in the surrounding"
Mara looked concerned by the weird look on the Aadhi's face could not help but speak up "Elder Aadhi are you alright!? you seems completely forgot about this matter, didn't you taking care of this matter! are you feeling well?"
Aadhi ignore his and asked his doubts to the Old Man "But why does this necessary, I mean why should we waste the this much materials? "
The words or clear enough but why does it didn't make sense, even Balli seemed looking at his friend with solemn look as he sizing him up, Aadhi also didn't seem understand their reactions, wanted to tear his hair in frustration especially seeing Balli unusual serious face he wanted to rush up to him bash his face on the floor.
Vandhi spoke up breaking the unnatural silence, "Elder Aadhi, what happened to you really, we didn't mention this to you as we know you always handle such a matters and you also good at formation as well" he hesitantly looked over his teacher before continuing "We heard as we talked about excavating them you started to gather this material for building formation... " he trailed off as he couldn't understand how this meticulous elder Aadhi who always making arrangements on some important matters and often tied up the loose end become this forgetful.
'Could it be age finally caught up with this shorty ' Balli mockingly thought of this matter, but seeing the bewildered look still on Aadhi's face even Old Man become serious.
Aadhi's confused expression took a peculiar change as he gasped "Oh!" then he looked at them doubtfully before he nodded to himself mumbling incoherently as he sheepishly said "So you guys don't know it then, I thought you guys were aware of it surely... Ahem, I'm sorry I have been under an assumption that the Lord has made things clear to you guys as well"
Balli sat up straight as he stared at him with Brilliant gleam in his eyes "You were saying?" he probed as he thought of something.
"Elder can you explain it already we don't understand! " Vandhi urged him further, Mara nodded from the side seriously.
Aadhi gesture the old man when he noticed the later was about to ask something, he explained "You guys don't have to worry about this anymore " he smilingly said before he turned to Balli and hurramped "You better get out of the way, " Aadhi took out something from his waist bag before throwing it "boooom"
A Pale green rectangular box appeared and started to grow in the blink reach the hight of the tent the rest of them staggered back at the sight 'What was going on?'
Aadhi explained "When we visited the Lord yesterday he gave me this treasure it was a treasure vault or something, despite it's appearance. It has a capability to hold all the energy stones in fact we can store handful of mountains in the remaining space, I guess! " he summarised there was hint of awe in his tone they took a cold breath.
The Old Man nearly fell to the floor, Balli's body was shooking all over the other two seems froze, Aadhi looking over them seems enjoying their reactions quite a bit. It was the same case for him as well his mind was still dazed by the details to be honest so it was kind of eased him.
Aadhi continued not waiting for them to react, Come out of their shock, "it has very sturdy defense, even purple path realm experts couldn't break past it's body.... if I'm not wrong even that unnamed realm experts above purple path couldn't destroy it if they tried their best"
They felt like they were grabbed by their neck ruthlessly flinged into starry sky for no definite reason, they felt all like that, they were feeling all kind of strong emotions due to this and couldn't help but further look into this as they tried to interpret what does that mean.
"Impossible, it's impossible I don't think it was lord, why didn't he speak to us. I was certain he was immersed in something important...." Balli was suddenly started to denied this vehemently and mumbling something to himself incomrehensively.
The monstrous duo turned to look at the Old Man hesitantly as if they weren't sure of what to do, the Old Man took a deep breath and asked "D-did the Lord mentioned anything else... is he upset over something"
Aadhi shook his head "You misunderstood, I didn't given any special treatments here, I also think he was busy with something but paid attention to us now and then" he cleard his throat he didn't expect such a reaction from his two old friends "He send information to my mind directly along with the treasure to my bag"
He could notice the evident relief on their faces, the Old Man seemed little better now he now started to asking about the treasure and it's capability as he doesn't have bothered by the whole event along with everyone.
"We should probably place it in secure place and all sixteen of us have to put a drop of our blood on it, it can only opened when four guardians have infused qi into it, the treasure seemes know from our blood who are alive if by chance only one person survive he can open it" Aadhi elaborate some important details.
"Oh! what if three or two people tried to open it due to some urgent matter "Vandhi asked curiously as he felt things weren't that simple.
Aadhi had a solemn look in his face "I would advise against such a thoughts, however the situation maybe don't go try something like that I insist no one should take this matter lightly, even their body couldn't be found"
Everyone shuddered at his bleak tone, their mind conjured up all sort of gruesome death, Mara spoke up "Elder, I think we should better build the tent for it safely near the area around our tents and beforehand inform this instructions"
Everyone nodded their heads as they talking about everything few guardians seemed rushing towards their tents in hurry, in less then few minutes the five of them heared the sudden commotion outside few figures barged in and rushed over to the five of them.
Mara In a timely manner steadied the one of the new guardian as he almost tripped over his own feet in hurry, "T-thanks brother " the man with the thin mustache awkwardly mumbled.
"What is with you guys, what happened?" Mara asked
"Ima, Why are you guys in such a hurry speak? " the Old Man commanded in assertive tone.
"Elder, we were received a sudden message from one of our patrol teams just now and one of these minor races seems to be sneaking towards our ancestral land-"
There was sudden clamor between the five as they exclaimed about this "They were trespassing into our ancestral land impossible!?" "A minor race actually dared to try this with us" "It's look like we were too soft when dealing with them it seems " "Yeah how dare they sneaking around our land old demon we have to use this chance to teach them good lesson it would detter the other minor races to fear us "
In the tent almost all of them started to raise their opinion due to their anger and agitation not to mention their lord was clearly told them not to leak the changes in the ancestral land for some time, they know it wasn't about overlord races but the minor races in their own region.
Due to some unusualness about their whole region the other regions spies seems unable to invade their territory which all the guardians found quite unusual they guessed it was something to do with the Lord's plan, they all felt they should show their efficiency in keeping up with lord request or they couldn't show their faces in front of the Lord.
Aadhi, Balli and Old Man looked at one another with slight wonder, Balli asked the new guardian "Which race is it? They are actually dare to send scouts to our holyland how bold!?" he also seemed thinking about something.
The short woman face was pale as she speak up correcting him "Elder Balli, you misunderstood, they weren't scouting but quite steadily moving towards our ancestral land-"
She was once again interrupted but this time it was frowning Old Man "You didn't explain who are this reckless bunch, I don't think any minor races would dare to make a move at this particular timing" every one had this doubts if the minor races really wouldn't dare to attack especially at this particular time even if they had ten guts.
So all five of them interested in seeing who they were " Elder it was rock demons, they are coming towards our ancestral land I mean all of them" there was a slight quivering in her voice when she mentioned just who it was.
The Old Man and Aadhi stood up from the stone they were sitting Balli straighten from the pole he was leisurely leaning on as he looking at this conversation, a tense atmosphere descend in the tent making the new comers nervous after the initial shock wore off the Old Man commanded everyone in the tent with solemn voice.
"Get ready we are going to intercept them before they enter the dark forest" everyone answered in affirmation after understanding the situation "The faster the better " then he turned to Aadhi "Did you still have the explosives with you "
___ ___ ___ ___
Several thousand miles away from the border of human region a group of dark humanoid looking lifeforms gathered near a creak all of them have seriousnes in their faces the tall and strong looking one spoke addressing the sullen looking group.
"I'm sure everyone has understand our situation clearly, " hid face was quite severe as he looked at each and everyone of their face "I have this feeling not only our people but all other races spies were dead this time"
A old looking one said "Captain, what are you saying is true then.... "he trailed off all other have solemn look in their faces no one think the humans would be dumb enough to not notice the spies from other races infiltrating their tribes its just that, they can't do anything about it but they were quite confident not every single one of them would be found out.
Including an important heir to an clan eight other spies got killed, which indicating the same should be happened with all other races, if the humans bold enough to do this then it's indicating they were not afraid of anyone and preparing for something.
"Nihen clan going to be furious, they last an heir of main lineage " a female lifeform said not at all seem sad by her voice.
Meanwhile the captain was doing something with the artifact on his hand which flared up shooting towards one side of the lands he ordered everyone "Get ready when I came back we will head back to our territory" with that the captain disappeared in front of them.
In a place hundreds of thousands miles away from this group a large dark canyon exist it was very dark and black aura shrouding the canyon from the day light.
It was probably largest canyon in the Norda the sinister atmosphere here was simply unsettling but this was what the inhabitants needed this was a territory of one of the overlord races have population over A million and few hundred thousands in strength.
The total strength was nothing scoff at after the calamity it was not much lower then human race, this race was living in such condition was acceptable the strong corrosive energy from their body was the cost of all this but the race was living completely fine such a accumulated energy change this place to their liking and helpfull for their cultivation.
In a very bottom of the canyon a cave made by borrowing into the ground, a wretched looking thing sat down in front of what looked like black and yellow fire on the black metal gourd.
The wretched looking thing was humanoid lifeform but the features were horrifying to say the least it has six eyes and has mouths on where the cheeks should have been, with sharp teeths.
It's body has dark smoke clinging to the thing body which was black and green in colour it has no pupils full orange glimmer covering in it's six eyes. it was hard to say whether it was male or female as all the inhabitants almost has no gender difference could be seen at glance if one don't know how to difrentiate them then it would troublesome thing to find out.
The fire suddenly raged a hoarse voice commanded echoed in the caves "Tell me, what is it?" the voice were sinister and chilling the temperature further went down.
The wretched thing bowed down "Chief I found out there is something unusual movements going on with the humans. I received a news from our scouts the spies we were planted were all dead few weeks ago"
"The humans..... didn't you tell me they wouldn't dare to kill these spies we have planted" the voice seems to extremely angry the wretched thing trembled before croaked out "Chief, I don't.... I mean yes that's how everything has been with them but this time this subordinate wasn't so sure of what caused this, so I seek your guidance"
"Stupid thing! is that why you contact me, its just few ants from our subordinate races died why should I care and don't you understand my instructions, I clearly stated you should not call me unless our race is facing dangerous situation and keep the secret you can contact me didn't I? It seems you didn't understand how important the matter I have been working on yet you contact me at this crucial time tell me how should I punish you?"
"The humans are comparable to our dark Nether race in power and strength is that necessary for you disturbing me, considering the situation we were about to face if they also aware of it then it, was likely that they would likely take out the spies beforehand I'm not surprised what are you surprised for? "
" I only dared to disturbed chief because another matter, you left in my care the Otherworldly mountain disappeared from our region with the guards we have been placed there"
"WHAT!?" a strong energy wrecked havoc inside the cave the wretched thing pressed down to the floor as his whole body was pressed down the things face twisted black blood flowing out from all orfieaiors when the pressure retracted without give that thing from even catch his breath a cold voice ordered "Tell me what happened!"
___ End Of The First Volume ___