With so much monster essence, if he didn't take the chance to raise his cultivation as much as possible, he would be the dumbest person alive.
Normally, such thought would not be thought by most human cultivators except for the one practicing Cultivation Art related to the Monster Race or requiring monster essence to cultivate to its full potential.
Any person trying to absorb a large amount of the monster's essence without sufficient strength would either turn berserk, undergo monsterization, or die. However, Ryker has the Celestial Energy Art, an art capable of refining any type of energy to something that can be absorbed by its user.
This means he can absorb a massive amount of monster essence without a care for any danger from the side effects. Combined with the Sacred Beast Art, a Cultivation Art focused on absorbing, refining, and purifying the monster's essence, and his cultivation would rise by keeps and bound, the only thing stopping his rise in cultivation is the amount of the monster's essence in the area.
He continued to drain the monster's essence but never touched the one emitted from the dragon's heart as he planned to store it for later use. As he absorbed it, the red cloud started to lose its color by a small amount.
While this was happening, the dragon spirit, if he was still alive, had his mouth wide open, the sight in front of him too much to believe in. How could a human in the Genesis Condensing realm absorb and refine so much monster's essence without suffering side effects?!
As he continued watching, Ryker felt his cultivation rise, he was able to break through many minor stages. As he absorbed the monster's essence, he could feel his cultivation reaching the 8th Stage of Genesis Condensing realm, a terrifying climb from the peak of Genesis Formation to the 8th Stage of Genesis Condensing.
However, he could feel his cultivation showing signs of being destabilized, the effect of raising one cultivation by too much. He needed to take the time to stabilize his cultivation, refining, and allowing it to take form.
He stopped absorbing the monster's essence, focusing instead on stabilizing his cultivation. As his cultivation stabilized, he thought about absorbing more monster essence but decided against it. Doing it so soon could cause harm to his foundation, he should take it slow after having cultivation rise by a large amount.
He stopped his cultivation, breathing in relief as he felt his cultivation had no sign of earlier instability. He looked at the dragon, who seemed shocked by the turn of events.
"Hey, when are you going to move the princess?" he asked the dragon, who seemed to shock himself awake.
"Now you are already done with your cultivation, I'm going to bring the princess to the surface. Unfortunately, I can't get her to the cave as I don't have the necessary strength to do that and make a large enough distraction to make the lizard beasts stop coming after you.
So you have to wait for the princess here. By the time I create the distraction, I won't be able to conceal your presence. So you have to leave right away when the princess emerges from the ground," the dragon reminded him.
Ryker nodded, no words needed as the two tensed, waiting as the dragon slowly brought his princess to the surface. It took about an entire hour but Ryker could sense a powerful energy, likely the seal placed on the princess.
"When she fully emerges, the seal will be broken but she will remain in a sleeping state for an entire day. After a day passed, she should be awoken by then," the dragon told him one last thing as a large spherical abject with glowing marks rose from the ground.
Realizing this was the seal, he waited for a moment before it fully exited from the earth, the sphere disappearing, revealing a young woman with blue hair and blue horns. The woman fell towards him, his fast reflexes the only reason he was able to catch her.
At that moment, the lizard beasts turned in his direction, but a large fluctuation of energy and several explosions caused them to flee.
"That won't distract them for long. Take all of this, plus this pendant, which can cover the princess's aura, making others think she is a regular human," the dragon said as he shoved a large pearl-like object, a spatial tool most likely, to his arm.
Ryker accepted it, putting it securely inside his clothes before booking it, moving so fast several afterimage was left. He used his movement technique, taking the time the lizard beasts took to run away to put the distance between them.
Unfortunately, as the dragon said, the distraction didn't last long as he heard several large rumbling from behind him. He began to use more of his qi, speeding up as he tried to put some more distance.
The creatures tried to keep up with him but his skill in his movement technique allowed him to have the last laugh, exiting the cave and leaving the lair of the Read Earth Lizard Dragon.
As he makes his way to the other peak, he prays that the lizard beasts won't follow him. Thankfully, his prayer had been answered, the creatures walking several steps away from the cave before going back.
He didn't know the reason but he suspected they didn't want to lose their lair to chase after a bunch of their prey. Not to mention, the monster's essence is still present despite the fact he had taken the dragon's heart.
He put the dragon princess down, before taking the pearl out. He takes a look inside, the size of the space inside is greater than a normal storage ring. He did a quick scan before taking out the pendant the dragon spirit told him about.
He put the pendant on the princess before slumping to the ground next to her. He tried to catch his breath, the fact he was able to survive the ordeal was surprising to him, with how close he was with some of the lizard beasts.
As he slowly recovered, he descended from the range, avoiding the Genesis 4th Stage Beast as he made his way to the foot of the mountain. Thankfully, the Genesis 4th Stage Beast occupies the higher elevation area, the few that took hold at the mountain's foot are not strong enough to pose any danger to him. His cultivation at the 8th Stage Genesis Condensing would allow him to hold his own against up to 2nd Stage Genesis Foundation experts.
Things had been going smoothly when he was spotted by several rough-looking men.
"That's our target. Surround him! Don't let him escape!" the leader exclaimed, the group only taking a few steps when their heads exploded.
Ryker looked at them coldly, remembering about a plan he honestly had forgotten when was gathering resources.
"I have to deal with them soon. Hope he brought some Genesis Condensing experts, I could try to fight them and test my strength,"