A month later
Inside the big tents outside the Forest of Despair, some of the elf nobles were still monitoring Aldrian's situation. Of course, not all of them stayed there for an entire month just to watch the red dot signifying Aldrian; they had their own duties after all. However, there were always nobles who took turns watching Aldrian and reporting any developments. Emperor Ladwin and the imperial teacher sometimes came to this place, and at this time, they are here to observe as the end of the test approaches.
"I don't know how he did it, but it's an amazing feat. No, it's a miracle he can survive in that place all this time," Emperor Ladwin said.
"Yes, I almost thought I was going crazy when he went to the core section, but how on earth did he do that? The spirits, what about them? And the beasts?" the imperial teacher sighed, but his eyes couldn't hide his amazement.
"Even I have never stepped inside the core section. Sigh, whatever happened inside, he has already won his bet. I can already see their ugly faces from here," Emperor Ladwin said, looking at the nobles from the conservative faction. Their expressions were unsightly, sweat rolling down their foreheads, and one of them, Marquess Andra, gritted his teeth.
"How?! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!" he screamed inside his head. When he saw Aldrian go to the core section, he thought he had already won the bet. Although Aldrian's long survival in the inner section puzzled him, he was sure Aldrian would be dead once he entered the core section. But reality could not be more cruel, the bracelet on Aldrian's hand that detected his vitality still indicated he was alive and staying in the center of the core section.
He couldn't understand it. He was sure that the plan to send the human to his demise through official means was the most effective and appropriate strategy at the time. There was no way a human could survive in that place, he didn't know if Aldrian could do the same thing like he did in Balin, but the number and cultivation stages of those spirits and beasts would surely take care of that human boy.
While the conservative faction restlessly awaited their fate, one of its members looked at the map with undisguised amazement. It was the leader of this faction, Grand Duke Maelis, who for the first time showed a little expression and sighed at Aldrian's survival. He crossed his arms and looked at Grand Duke Sylvaris, who had returned from Balin some time ago. Grand Duke Sylvaris, sensing his stare, looked back at him and smirked before looking at the map again. The test would conclude in a few hours.
----------------------------------
At the core section of the Forest of Despair, Aldrian sat cross-legged on the hilltop where the cave entrance was located. He could see the vastness of the forest and the path he would take back. From here, he couldn't see the outer section, let alone beyond it, but he couldn't wait to return and watch the breakdown of some elves' faces.
The time he spent here was really advantageous and fruitful. At this time, he was reading his own information:
------------------------------
Aldrian Aster
Domain : The secret realm, Balin city, Forest of Despair
Age : 12 years
Cultivation : High Viscount
Current energy : 258,126 (+1.5,5/15m)
Energy needed for the next stage : 270.001
--------------------------------
"Adding the Forest of Despair only gives an increase of 0.5? Well, that's okay, I guess," is what Aldrian had thought at that time after seeing the information following his integration with the Forest of Despair. But an increase is still an increase, so when he saw his information now and realized he was closer to the peak of Viscount faster than he had estimated, he felt thrilled and in a good mood.
He smiled, closed his Eyes of the Heaven, and lay down. Beside him was a lonely lush green tree, though short, which provided perfect shelter from the sunlight. The day was almost noon, but Aldrian was still here, relaxing without a care, letting the wind touch his handsome disguised face, thinking about his stay in this place.
Some of the things he gained over the past month were now clear. He knew how his existence really affected the spirits. Any kind of spirits, even those at the emperor stage, couldn't resist their innate instinct when they met him. It confirmed that he could affect all spirits without exception.
The beasts also had some reverence for him. Their innate instinct kicked in when they met him, but they could restrain themselves from worshipping him and force their bodies to hold back in his presence. However, they would still tremble if he released his energy and aura.
Another discovery was that his golden energy was like a high-level supplement for them. His energy encompassed all things and could be absorbed by all creatures in this forest. After testing it on some creatures, including emperor stage spirits, their cultivation became more robust and their cultivation speed doubled, shocking many spirits and beasts. Making their cultivation foundation stronger and accelerating their cultivation was better than cultivating and eating the spiritual herbs in this forest.
Since then, the creatures of the forest always tried to gain his favor in various ways. Aldrian became an entity they worshipped earnestly and a leader they were willing to follow. Aldrian, of course, accepted all of this happily. At least he could prove one of the benefits of accepting him as their leader, gaining their loyalty and trust.
In conclusion, the spirits were the most affected by him, followed by the beasts. He guessed it had to do with the spirits' connection to nature and its karma. His body, energy, and aura were all strange and mysterious, and that mystery had a connection to nature. Now he could start deducing the reasons.
"The thing tied to nature, the energy that is so good for their cultivation, the spirits feeling like worshipping, and just my presence causing them pressure—what is that?" He felt he was starting to open the door to the mystery of his power's origin, but he couldn't fully open it yet.
"They only worship nature itself or the heavens," he stopped thinking about that and started thinking about something else. "Fortunately, they are already accustomed to my presence. They can already talk without feeling too much pressure."
Aldrian then looked at the birds flying freely. "As for the beasts, they will develop their intelligence since childhood and can start to talk, though not perfectly, when they reach the king stage. There is no emperor stage beast here, but Tukan said the emperor stage can talk like a human and even change its body parts to human shapes."
Tukan is the strongest beast in this forest, a high king stage grey-furred gorilla with sharp bones along its spine. He was also there when they first saw Aldrian, and sometimes he follows Aldrian wherever he goes.
Aldrian watched a bird slowly grow larger and finally land beside him.
"Kwack kwack."
Aldrian smiled, looking at the bird, which stood 2 meters tall and had a wingspan of 4 meters.
--------------------------------------------
Silver Tail Eagle
Age : 4.260 years
Race : Eagle (Beast)
Cultivation : High Earls
Techniques : Fast Speed, Sharp Wings, Sharp and Strong Talon Strike, Wind Outburst
---------------------------------------------
"You really like to stop by here, huh? It's a pity I have to leave now."
"Kwack kwack."
The eagle waved its wings, as if wanting Aldrian to stay. Aldrian responded by stroking the eagle's head and back. A golden aura from his hands made the eagle feel comfortable, so it stayed still and allowed Aldrian to stroke it. A few minutes later, he let the eagle aside and walked to look at the cave entrance.
"It looks like they all have already arrived." He could see many kinds of spirits and beasts gathering in front of the entrance, just like when he first met them a month ago. He jumped in front of them, and when they saw him, they instantly knelt, and some even kowtowed to him.
"Greetings, young master," they said. Aldrian nodded at them.
"Well, I think you know why I called you all here?" Aldrian asked, and they responded with reluctant and sad nods.
"Young master, must you go? You can stay here for a long time, and no one can disturb you," said Farin, the strongest spirit.
"Unfortunately, I have my own business with the elves right now, and I have to go back to finish my business." Aldrian answered, making them really sad about their leader leaving them.
"Don't worry, I will come back here if I have free time and the situation allows. I will not abandon you all, mark my words!"
Hearing that, they felt relieved and looked at him with resolute gazes, bowing to him.
"We are waiting for your return, young master! May glory follow you wherever you go!"
Aldrian smiled at them and walked towards the mist formation, which was deactivated for now to make it easier for them to see him off. They opened a path for their leader and followed him to the edge of the valley, watching his back. Aldrian looked at them, still smiling.
"Goodbye, for now." And with that, Aldrian vanished from there, leaving behind many creatures that now adored him.