The little gnome had shown great dissatisfaction ever since they entered the forest, his Qi was increasing very slowly. However, when the small plant absorbed that demon, the world inside Lian seemed to become denser and more alive.
The spirit in the Earth naturally fed on energies that followed the same laws, allowing for rapid growth in understanding and Qi. Lian held the hope of finding nourishing elements for it, but the gnome never reacted or showed any interest.
After encountering that demon, Lian remembered a natural divine mineral from the Divine Plane. Its formation occurred only under extremely specific conditions, one of them being the presence of exceptionally strong death Qi. Using his knowledge and the natural sensitivity of the gnome, he managed to find that mineral, to his surprise and astonishment.
Lian clearly showed his enthusiasm, so much so that the group around him could perceive this rare display of emotion. He felt an immediate urgency to dig under that mountain, but as soon as that intention arose in his mind, a cold sweat quickly ran down his forehead. A shiver ran down his spine, followed by the certainty that death was lurking, awakening a primal instinct for survival. His instincts, honed over thousands of years, alerted him clearly. Descending would mean certain death.
Lian was fully aware of what awaited him there and knew he needed to make the necessary preparations. With agility, he began inscribing runes and erected an illusory barrier over a wide area. The group was a little confused, but Lian led them to a region far from the center of the barrier.
He then took out the bones of the demonic giant, which evidently had already lost its black QI. However, an instinctive fear permeated the minds of the five young ones. Lian ignored that as he used several cores of beasts to create extremely dark runes, which promptly flew toward the pile of bones. A dark aura emerged from the massive skeleton right after. The wind howled around it as the bones fused and strengthened, forming an imposing and terrifying figure. Its eyes glowed with supernatural fire, revealing the presence of an awakened malevolent force.
By using the cores of demonic beasts on the bones of a true demon, the death energy contained within them would be amplified. Although it didn't come close to the original's aura and strength, it would be useful in strengthening these young ones. Despite the terror they felt, they did not step back. Lian nodded satisfactorily at the result.
"We will stay in this area for a few days. From today onwards, you will fight him one-on-one," said Lian.
"What?!" They all jumped. They were all in the Bone Forging Realm. The power of those bones clearly belonged to the middle of the Meridian Transformation Realm. A whole realm difference was an insurmountable abyss. In a one-on-one, the slightest mistake would result in death.
"You are already capable of killing him alone, but you don't know how strong you have become. What you need to do is recognize your own power in order to make the right judgments when fighting your enemies. You must seize the opportunity within the danger," said Lian calmly.
"Riria, you go first," Lian said.
"Yes!" Riria didn't show any fear. Instead, she was eager to try, as she had improved the fastest during this time.
The clash echoed, creating a tense atmosphere. The sound of bones creaking and cracking accompanied every movement of the massive demonic giant skeleton as it attacked with supernatural fury.
Despite the intensity of the confrontation, Riria managed to remain calm from start to finish. This fight served to familiarize them with the black Qi and not be affected by the threat of death.
After an opening, Riria concentrated the profound natural Qi around herself. This was the fourth stage of the Forest of No Return Divine Arts, causing a terrible burden on her meridians and having a limited activation time. In return, her physical power multiplied.
With a fluid and agile movement, Riria unleashed a powerful strike. The air seemed to vibrate as the sharp blade cut through space, as if the air itself was being split by the strike, leaving a trail of intense and crimson energy in its wake.
The bones separated and flew in all directions. Within seconds, they reassembled, and the creature stood motionless, awaiting the next confrontation.
"Not bad. Although you missed some chances to kill him, wasting some energy, overall, it wasn't bad," praised Lian.
The face of the young half-elf lit up with a radiant smile, conveying an irresistible sense of satisfaction.
The motivation of everyone rose as they fought repeatedly. Rumi, even though not skilled in combat, made an effort to dodge for a specific period of time determined by Lian. With each confrontation, the fear of the demons gradually diminished.
Meanwhile, Lian spent most of his time away from the group, creating strategically planned runes and pills. After a week, everyone gathered, and Lian used the Laws of the Earth to start digging a tunnel beneath the mountain.
---
Several days had passed since the group emerged into the dark depths of the Earth.
They then found an underground cave. Within it, there was an immense abyss. It extended with a vast subterranean domain with grand dimensions that defied comprehension. Its open space was so vast that it seemed to swallow light and life, creating a dark and mysterious environment.
As they descended into the darkness, a divine and silver glow appeared in the deep distance. Beauty and terror seemed to perform a sinister dance there.
The silver glow came from mithril, a precious and coveted ore. It filled the environment with its resplendent brilliance. Its crystalline formations gleamed, casting iridescent reflections on the walls and floor, creating a dazzling spectacle for the eyes of the brave who dared to venture in.
However, this beauty is treacherous, for along with the mithril resides a demonic presence, a dark and powerful entity. Its malevolent aura intertwines with the treasure's radiance, turning mithril into a dangerous curse.
In the Divine Plane, mithril was a rarity used only by the most powerful sects. Zeke possessed only a single sword made of this precious ore.
Mithril had the unique ability to absorb Qi and the Laws of the cosmos, converting them for themselves. This special metal was known to absorb large amounts of energy, making it highly sensitive to any disturbance in its energy flow, facilitating the manifestation of a spirit within the weapon.
Mithril is the ideal metal for the embedding of various high-level runes or elemental laws. Its energetic affinity makes it highly desirable for objects used by soul cultivators, warriors, or assassins. However, the process of applying attributes or spells to this metal is extremely complex and dangerous.
This divine mineral is found only in the deepest regions of the Earth, where beauty and terror coexist. The few locations where this metal has been excavated are situated at the heart of the dark realm. Exploring these areas is a challenging and perilous task, requiring courage and exceptional skills.
Mining mithril required facing endless hordes of demons. As one approached the ore, a demon powerful enough to pose a challenge even to Zeke in his prime would manifest.
This mineral had the ability to compensate for the imbalances in the bodies of demons and significantly elevate their cultivation. Thus, mithril was considered both a treasure and a curse, as it stirred the covetousness of any cultivator, leading to intense and dangerous battles for its possession.
Amidst that divine glow and everyone present, hundreds of red and shining eyes begin to emerge from the shadows. An army of demons began to come out from the darkness, their distorted and grotesque forms filling the space with a glimpse of hell.
Howls and grunts echo through the rocky walls, creating a terrifying cacophony that resonates in the minds of all those present. The cave transforms into a living nightmare as the demonic creatures prepare for battle, revealing their sharp fangs and threatening claws.
However, Lian's group had determined looks on their faces as they tensed their muscles, denoting the seriousness of the imminent moment. The energy of battle intensified in the air. Hearts raced, and breaths were controlled. The group was ready to face the danger with courage and resolution.
Lian raised his battle spirit to the maximum, positioning himself at the forefront. The immense army of demons instantly fell silent, ceasing to emit any sound. Only a spirit forged through countless battles and lived in a war of bloodshed, with corpses piled like mountains and battlefields soaked in blood, could intimidate these creatures.
His black hair and garments waved in the wind. His steadfast face remained completely calm while his starry eyes shimmered with a reserved light.