The air became heavy as the Basilisk gathered its power, accumulating all the black mist in its lethal jaws. A disturbing silence filled the cave, only to be broken by the deafening roar of the monster.
Suddenly, the Basilisk lunges forward, its mouth opening into a black rift. An infernal blast has unleashed a beam of corrosive and toxic energy that cuts through space with terrifying speed. The air distorts around the beam and intense heat spreads throughout the surroundings.
*BOOM!*
The cave trembled as if the world was crumbling around them. Every member of the group felt the tremendous force of this clash echoing in their souls. Despite maintaining a steady stance, internally, their vital energies churned uncontrollably, almost causing them to vomit blood.
The dust settled, and everyone could see clearly. A red flame burnt intensely, illuminating the cave entirely. Surprisingly, this flame emits no heat. Above it, four lotus petals gracefully span, forming a mesmerizing cyclone.
Lian remained motionless, firmly holding the jaws of the Demonic Basilisk. A frenzied and furious aura emanates from his body, causing the debris and bodies around him to turn to dust. His dense red Qi possessed power capable of directly affecting the physical world.
Lian maximized the earth energy granted by the gnome, not wasting the opportunity to enhance his skills and battle synchronization with the spirit of the earth. His understanding and synergy were reaching almost perfect levels.
Meanwhile, the demonic beast, a figure of high hierarchy and power among the demons, faced a delicate challenge. The demonic Qi stored in its meridians was a double-edged weapon, requiring caution to avoid self-inflicted damage at any moment.
In a moment of danger and fury, the demon succumbed to a frenzy, releasing all of his Qi without caring about the consequences. Injuries and damages became insignificant in the face of the imminent threat to his life. Lian, on the other hand, waited patiently, strategically cornering his opponent.
The Basilisk managed to break free from Lian's fists as blood gushed frantically from its fangs. However, Lian's fist was also completely shattered, with his bones exposed.
The Seven Cyclone Gates Soul Art was essentially a soul cultivation technique. Opening the first gate caused a transformation in Qi, blood energy, and mind.
His Qi gained unique properties such as extreme regenerative power and vitality. His blood energy became so dense and powerful that common techniques would be tens or even a hundred times stronger than normal, being extraordinarily potent with increased speed and weight.
Consequently, his mind burned in flames, consumed by burning rage and unrestrained fury. All rational thoughts were set aside, giving way to a primal instinct for survival. An intense craving to kill overtook him.
However, he recognized that opening the gate casually could result in rivers of blood. He preferred to rely on the techniques of the spirit of the earth and seek to understand how he could create others. It was a more reliable and controlled approach.
The red Qi accumulated in his arm, instantly regenerating the gruesome wound. Lian then picked up a metal sword and held it carelessly. The sword had no runes and emitted no aura, which left the group watching him somewhat perplexed, thinking he was acting recklessly.
"Wei, watch closely. This is the true dao of assassination." Lian then pushed the simple sword forward at a strange angle.
All five of them felt a chill run down their spines, the sensation of blood splattering after a beheading.
This strike was simple and seemed to have nothing to do with the assassination, but Wei understood that the strike itself didn't matter, only the intent to kill. It was incomparably sharp and overwhelming... capable of piercing through time and space...
The demon squeezed out all of his demonic Qi frantically with the intention of surviving. His wings stretched and rose in an instinctive act of defense. His black scales gleamed with a malignant intensity, forming an impenetrable barrier with all his Qi and life concentrated there.
That would have been enough to survive any attack from a cultivator in this mortal world, but unfortunately, Lian's killing intent didn't care about any of that.
*Swish!*
The sword pierced through his defensive lines and reached him. Blood spilled onto the ground, and the jaws of the young ones almost dropped. Could an ordinary and simple sword kill this terrifying demon?
None of them could speak at the moment because they felt a sharp pain in their throats. How could such a simple strike be so effective?
"The true dao of assassination..." Wei whispered, astonished.
The group witnessed the simplicity of the strike, but only Wei immediately realized that the impulse reflected a part of Lian's dao heart. He had taught her about it before, and now, with the results in sight, she understood how frightening it was.
With their newly developed battle instincts, they all internally questioned how they could stop that attack. It seemed like an impossible task, as Lian's dao of assassination had reached an indescribable state. Of course, that was just an imitation since Lian's Dao Heart lay somewhere else. Nonetheless, it was truly amazing in Wei's eyes.
Wei looked at Lian as if trying to comprehend something unknown and, at the same time, fearful. He didn't seem like a practitioner of the Dao of Assassination. His gaze shimmered with admiration, reflecting in dilated pupils the enchantment and affection she felt.
---
A few days passed inside the cave, which was now empty, with no traces of corpses, blood, or Mithril. Lian carefully stored everything away. He remained in a state of concentration, meditating and observing the transformations that took place within him in the small world inside his meridians.
The gnome absorbed half of all the Mithril when it entered a state of hibernation. With each passing moment, a powerful earth dao pulsed within it, becoming increasingly imposing.
The gains obtained by Lian were invaluable. Although he felt some pain in his heart for having lost half of that divine metal, he recognized that without the gnome's help, he would never have found it so easily. It was only fair that he kept the half.
The small plant absorbed the black Qi and hundreds of demons, along with a powerful demonic leader. It grew rapidly before Lian's attentive eyes, now standing at his height with grace. Its slender branches delicately extended, displaying a limited number of leaves as if they were precious green jewels. Despite its simple appearance, it emitted an aura of magic and mystery, as if it held ancient secrets within its small divine being.
After some time, Lian saw something among the leaves of the small divine tree, droplets of a translucent and radiant liquid delicately forming. Like morning dew, they exuded a pulsating energy of life. The liquid conveyed a refreshing and rejuvenating sensation, as if the very essence of life was contained within its sparkling drops.
Lian had witnessed something similar in the past when Laswen had given him a sip of the sacred tears that flowed from the Tree of Life. However, this radiant liquid was incredibly denser and possessed staggering energy.
Feeling excited, he realized that with that liquid, it was possible to instantly heal wounds in someone's physical body. If his mother were still in distress, he could quickly heal her as her life force had been restored.
---
Everyone had fully recovered and gathered inside the cave, enjoying a comforting meal. Their faces were lit up with radiant smiles, expressing joy and gratitude. The four women shared laughter and lively conversations.
The four young fighters exuded an aura of bravery and confidence, their gazes reflecting daring and courage. Their eyes sparkled with an inner flame, conveying unwavering determination. Their beauty was enhanced by the smiles that illuminated their faces and by the physical and mental strength they had gained throughout their journeys.
Lian watched with satisfaction as Rumi, at the age of 12, exuded an aura of confidence and determination. His piercing gaze revealed an unyielding will. His eyes reflected inner strength, and his posture was upright and secure, demonstrating remarkable self-assurance.
They had all become brave warriors capable of walking alongside him.
Lian, with a serious expression and wise eyes, extended a cup to Rumi. A sweet and comforting aroma emanates from the cup.
In a calm voice, Lian explains, "The Elves, to confirm and build a brotherhood between themselves and worthy strangers, created this ritual."
"By accepting the drink, you will become like a brother and a trusted ally."
Upon hearing Lian's words, Rumi feels a mix of surprise and honor flood his heart. His eyes widened in admiration and gratitude while surprise took hold of his face.
With a humble smile, he took the cup from Lian's hands, accepting the gesture and promising loyalty and companionship in return. The sense of honor burns in his chest, driving him to become the best ally he can be.
Lian turned to the four girls and offered them the drink without hesitation. The four girls, having heard his words before, understood the meaning of the ritual. They all decline the drink without hesitation.
They don't want to be just sisters or allies. With shy smiles, they refused the drink, expressing their feelings clearly.
Lian smiled awkwardly as his gaze drifted into emptiness. The memory of his beloved Lyn hit him hard while a deep pain pierced his chest. There wasn't a single day he didn't think of her. Each day was a battle against the helplessness and guilt that haunted him constantly. Although he understood the four girls' intentions, his heart wasn't there to answer them.
Riria, immediately sensing the change in Lian, remembered the whole truth about his past. She shared the pain and trauma of losing their loved ones. She wished she could somehow heal his internal wounds.