The fifty-member expedition team set off toward the eastern lands, where the Cave Heaven was expected to open in two months.
Leading the royal faction were Prince Desmond, Prince Venice, and Princess Alia, each commanding their respective followers.
The flying ship they boarded was a powerful artifact of the Stoneheart Royal Family, capable of withstanding attacks from even a peak Core Building Realm cultivator.
To ensure the expedition's safety, the royal family had also dispatched two Core Building Realm experts, both in the middle layer of the realm.
Their role was to protect the team from potential threats, be it rival forces, rogue cultivators, or opportunistic assassins seeking to plunder the treasures the expedition members might obtain from the Cave Heaven.
These two powerhouses would escort the team to their destination, stand guard outside the cave heaven, and ensure their safe return.
The difference in strength between the royal faction and the duchy factions was evident.
The royal expedition team mainly consisted of individuals in the 2nd layer of the Energy Accumulation Realm, with a select few reaching the 3rd layer.
In contrast, the duchy factions, despite their noble status, were significantly weaker.
Most of their members were still at the peak of the Mortal Transformation Realm, with only a handful in the 1st layer of Energy Accumulation Realm.
This discrepancy highlighted the vast resources and superior cultivation techniques available to the royal family compared to the duchies.
Lester, whose true strength remained unknown, was the wild card in this expedition.
His battle prowess had not been tested beyond his one overwhelming display during the arena battles, but many suspected that his power far surpassed the 3rd layer of Energy Accumulation Realm.
His presence among the royals only added an air of mystery and caution among the other expedition members.
The voyage on the flying ship was uneventful, largely due to the presence of the Core Building Realm guardians, which deterred potential threats.
The expedition members spent this time meditating, training, and preparing themselves for what awaited them inside the Cave Heaven.
Alistair, having narrowly defended his quota in the challenge battles, focused on stabilizing his Energy Accumulation Realm cultivation.
He practiced integrating his Qi and physical cultivation, aiming to increase his combat efficiency without revealing too much of his hidden strength.
Lester, meanwhile, remained aloof and distant, only occasionally exchanging words with Alia.
He spent most of his time absorbing the natural energy around him, refining his physical cultivation even further.
His mere presence made some of the weaker expedition members uneasy, as they could instinctively sense the danger he posed.
Princess Alia, as one of the expedition leaders, maintained her regal composure, but inwardly, she was still struggling with her growing fascination with Lester.
She often found herself stealing glances at him, only to quickly look away before anyone could notice.
The other royal princes and their followers spent time strategizing, discussing potential alliances and rivalries that might arise inside the Cave Heaven.
It was clear that even among the royal faction, internal conflicts were inevitable, as everyone sought to secure the most valuable resources.
After two months of uneventful travel, the expedition finally arrived at their destination—a vast ancient valley, shrouded in mystical energy.
The sight that greeted them was both awe-inspiring and intimidating.
Towering mountains surrounded the valley, and at its center lay a gigantic circular stone platform, covered in intricate runes that pulsed with ancient energy.
This was the formation that would open the entrance to the Cave Heaven.
However, they were not the first to arrive.
Two other expedition teams had already occupied nearby mountain peaks, each bearing distinct banners.
One banner bore the symbol of the Sun Empire.
The other banner belonged to the Moon Empire.
The history between these two empires was long and complicated.
Once, they had been a single, mighty empire—the Sun-Moon Empire—standing on the verge of becoming a superpower.
However, for reasons lost to time, the empire fractured into two opposing nations, both retaining the strength of a full-fledged empire.
For centuries, the Sun Empire and Moon Empire had been rivals, often engaging in territorial disputes and proxy wars.
Seeing their expedition teams here meant that this Cave Heaven held treasures significant enough to attract the attention of both powerful empires.
The arrival of the Stoneheart Empire's expedition instantly drew the attention of the other two groups.
Scouts from the Sun and Moon Empires carefully observed them, assessing their strength and potential threats.
The atmosphere grew tense as the leaders of each faction exchanged silent glances, measuring each other's power and intentions.
While hostilities were unlikely before the Cave Heaven opened, once inside, all bets were off—alliances would shift, betrayals would occur, and only the strongest would survive.
The Cave Heaven could not be accessed until the final participants arrived—the Three Four-Star Sects.
Unlike the empires, which were bound by political interests, the Four-Star Sects were independent cultivation forces, wielding immense influence across multiple regions.
Their disciples often possessed exceptional talent, as these sects had access to top-tier cultivation techniques and rare resources.
Once the sect representatives arrived, they would activate the ancient formation, opening a temporary spatial rift leading into the Cave Heaven.
While waiting, some members of the Stoneheart Expedition began discussing the potential strength of the Sun and Moon Empire teams.
Prince Desmond analyzed their formations, whispering, "Both factions seem to have at least four to five members in the 3rd layer of Energy Accumulation Realm. We must be cautious."
Prince Venice nodded in agreement. "But they might not be our greatest threat. The disciples from the Four-Star Sects will likely be stronger than all of us."
Alia, however, remained quiet, her thoughts still drifting toward Lester, who stood at the edge of the ship, gazing at the valley below as if he were waiting for something else entirely.
Alistair clenched his fists, preparing himself mentally. He had defied expectations before, and he would do so again.
Lester, however, remained unconcerned about the political tensions.
He had come for something else. Something hidden deep within the Cave Heaven, something far more valuable than simple treasures.
As the sun began to set, the ground beneath them trembled.
In the distance, the faint glow of teleportation arrays appeared, signaling the arrival of the Four-Star Sect disciples.
The real battle for dominance in the Cave Heaven was about to begin.