The martial arts world was in chaos. The appearance of the Flame Dragon Sword was not only known to Ronggo but also to many warriors from various factions. They understood the prophecy—that the sword could grant its wielder dominion over the martial arts world. This knowledge ignited a frenzied race to claim the sacred weapon.
Hundreds of warriors who had witnessed the lightning strikes were now heading toward the same destination—the dense forest surrounding the Panguripan Gorge.
Meanwhile, within the gorge, after completing his energy-enhancing process, Arya felt a profound transformation in his body. His blood flowed effortlessly, and his movements felt significantly lighter than before.
Sarwana deliberately led him back to his hut, encouraging the young man to rest. The great ape king of the Panguripan Gorge also wished to ask Arya in more detail about what he had experienced during the process.
Sarwana was aware of the lightning strikes but dismissed them as a natural phenomenon. He had no knowledge of the dragon swirling in the skies because his position near Arya, combined with the thick clouds of dust, had obscured his view.
"What did you feel during your meditation earlier?" Sarwana asked.
"I don't know how to describe it. It felt like I was taken to another place, though it wasn't much different from Earth," Arya replied, his gaze distant.
"What kind of place?" Sarwana pressed, his curiosity piqued.
"It was a rocky mountain, but there were large, strange creatures flying in the sky. They had four legs, two wings, long tails, and a horn on their heads," Arya explained.
Sarwana furrowed his brow, his mind forming an image of the world Arya described. "Did you see those creatures breathe fire?"
Arya closed his eyes briefly, recalling the vision, then nodded slowly.
"Yes. But how do you know about them?" Arya asked, puzzled.
Sarwana exhaled heavily, his eyes meeting Arya's, which occasionally flickered with a fiery glow.
How could he possess the power of the Flame Dragon? Could he have accidentally… Sarwana halted his thoughts. It seemed impossible for Arya to have absorbed the elemental energy of the Dragon World, especially since he hadn't yet studied the techniques in the King Dragon Manual.
But based on Arya's story, it might indeed be possible. The place Arya had entered during meditation was likely the Dragon World, Sarwana surmised.
"Why are you silent? Do you know the place I'm talking about?" Arya's question snapped Sarwana from his thoughts.
Sarwana shook his head lightly. "No, Arya. I'm only guessing," he replied, feigning ignorance.
"Oh, I thought you knew. When can we start training? I can't wait to master the King Dragon Manual and teach those people a lesson!" Arya clenched his fists tightly. "How about tomorrow?"
"Don't you want to rest for a few days?" Sarwana asked, his brows furrowing.
"I don't feel tired at all. Why should I rest for long?"
Sarwana sighed heavily again, perplexed by the young man before him. It defied logic that Arya's body showed no signs of exhaustion after such an intense process.
"Alright, if you're ready to train, we'll return to the site tomorrow. For now, get some sleep!"
Arya nodded and lay down. Gradually, his eyes closed as he followed the gentle rhythm of his breathing.
Once Arya was sound asleep, Sarwana left the hut, leaping silently from tree to tree. Despite the darkness, the ape king navigated the dense forest with ease, eventually landing on a large branch where he often sought solitude.
Meanwhile, the warriors, driven by their ambitions, began entering the forest. The encroaching night and thick darkness did not deter them. Time was too precious to waste—every second could determine their success in finding the Flame Dragon Sword.
They knew the search wouldn't be easy. At any moment, they might face fierce battles with other warriors equally determined to claim the sword.
In this hunt, there were no factions—no black, neutral, or white sects. Everyone was a rival to be defeated for sole possession of the Flame Dragon Sword.
Among the warriors entering the forest were Ronggo's disciples, divided into small groups of five to seven members each.
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The next morning, Arya awoke to the sounds of chattering monkeys welcoming the dawn. He stretched and yawned widely before stepping to the door to look outside.
A few monkeys leapt nimbly toward him, carrying fruits in their hands. It seemed Sarwana had instructed them to cater to Arya's needs, especially regarding food.
Arya smiled at the cheerful monkeys. After accepting the fruit, he leaped lightly from tree to tree. His agile movements caught the attention of the monkeys, who watched in astonishment.
They let out their characteristic calls, cheering for Arya as if he were one of their own. To them, Arya was family, already considered part of the Panguripan Gorge's inhabitants.
As the monkeys reveled in their joy, Arya felt invigorated. The previous day's grueling process had clearly yielded results—his body felt light and energized.
However, the cheerful moment ended abruptly when Sarwana appeared. The monkeys instantly fell silent and ceased their playful antics.
"Are you planning to keep playing with them, or are we training today?" Sarwana asked coldly, his gaze fixed on Arya.
Arya chuckled softly, scratching his head in a monkey-like manner. "I wanted to clear my mind before training. Seeing them so happy, I wanted to share in their joy! That's why I played with them first," he replied.