Chapter 457: The Storm That Keeps On Shaking

"What do we do now, father?" a person asked. 

"Don't worry, child. My time will come. Be like me, look how many years I've waited for my chance."

"It was taken away from me, yes, but I still have a chance. Especially now that I've realized where the sect treasure is," an old man said. 

The two father-child were inside a cave in the Southern Forest. All around them were dead bodies of what seemed like bandits. 

The younger person was wearing a hooded figure while the father was out in the open seemingly unworried about people recognizing him. 

"Sigh, if only you have figured it out earlier, I could have helped you. Then, you wouldn't have to have your clone die to that bitch's disciple's hand. How did he even do that? Weren't you guys' cultivation base suppressed there?" the hooded figure asked. 

"Yes, it was. But that kid was also a body cultivator. If I had a few more Yang Jade, then I would have won against him. Unfortunately, most of the yang jade on this side of the river was gone," the old man said.

"So, what will we do now? How will you sneak there this time?" the hooded figure asked. 

"I'm… still thinking. I'm thinking of finding the boy while he is alone and taking his body to use as a clone. But I can't harm him that much. It's such a strong body, it will definitely help me in my ambition," the old man said. 

"Just kill him. We can find another," the hooded figure said. 

"No!" the old man shouted. "I told you. You need to learn patience. As I said, I will do something. You don't need to worry about anything."

"Sigh, I understand, father," the hooded figure said. 

"We might need some help. You got information about those ban—"

Suddenly, the old man stopped speaking. His body convulsed a little and his eyes went wide. The hooded figure showed no response and was instead confused by their father's unusual behavior. 

"Father?" the hooded figure asked.

"It's matured," the old man said. 

"What? What are you talking about father?" the figure asked. 

"It's… it's matured."

Horror filled the old man's face as he spoke softly. "I wasn't expecting that. This is… sooner than I thought. My calculations were wrong?" the old man contemplated for a second. 

"Father? What matured?" the hooded figure asked.

"No, no. It hasn't matured… yet. There's still time, but just a few months of it. Maybe 2, maybe 4. Definitely not more than a year though," the old man said. 

"Father, please explain what is happening," the hooded figure asked. 

"Didn't you listen to me?" the old man said as he whipped his face towards the hooded figure, with his eyes shining brightly. 

"It matured."

"What did?" the hooded figure asked.

"The Sect Treasure."

* * * * * 

"Is he dead yet?" a voice asked. 

"No, he's holding by a thread. But I don't think he can stay for much longer," another voice said. 

"Sigh, another failure," the voice said. 

"We might have found him already if you came with me, instead of going out searching on your own," the second voice said loudly. Its voice shook the very white marble they were standing around.

"Stop shouting," the first voice said. 

"Oh? And what will you do?" the second voice said again. The both of them started snarling at each other. 

Suddenly, something else ran into the hall the two of them were in. The two of them stopped bickering and turned to look at the newcomer.

"What?" the angry voice asked. 

"Senior, the child is dead," the newcomer said. 

Both of the two of them suddenly grew quiet. "You made sure?" the first voice asked. 

"Yes, senior," the newcomer said. 

"Sigh, another dead," the second voice said. 

"How many is that now? 9?" the first voice asked. 

"Yes, just over the course of 4 different instances too," the second voice said. 

"Sigh, I should have not doubted the feeling at that time and immediately ran. We were searching for so long, and the first hope we see, I screwed it all up," the first voice said. 

"Just forget about that backwater empire, and come follow me next time. The Luminance empire has weaker blood there, but it's a lot of it. We will surely find some for sure," the second voice said. 

"No, this one is the one we need. I can promise you. I've never felt someone feel the bloodline this clearly before," the first voice said.

"Urghhh! Fine, do what you want. Hey, you," the second voice shouted. 

"Yes, senior," the newcomer spoke. 

"How many more drops of blood can the fountain make, go find out," the second voice shouted. 

"Yes, senior," the newcomer left. 

"You're worried?" the first voice asked. 

"Yes, I don't think we have that many left. Maybe 4 at best," the second voice said. 

"I'm sure this on from the Crimson Empire will be successful," the first voice spoke. 

"As I said, do what yo—"

Suddenly, both of their faces changed. 

"What was that?" the first voice asked. 

"It came from the north," the second voice said.

"That… that aura reminded me of master's majesty, it's… what is that?" the first voice said. 

"Whatever it is. It doesn't belong here," the second voice said. 

Both of them showed slight fearful expressions as they kept staring towards the north to feel more.

"Senior, I've come with bad news," the newcomer had come once again. Only this time, he was huffing like he had sprinted at the top of his lungs to reach here.

The two of them finally got out of their stupor and looked at the newcomer. 

"Bad news?" the first voice was surprised.

"What's wrong?" the second voice asked. 

"It's… its the fountain. Lady… Lady Ren checked the fountain again, and she doesn't know if its because of the excessive use lately or not, but… but it- it seems to be not working as well," the newcomer said. 

"Boy speak more clearly. What's wrong?" the first voice said. 

"Get to the point," the second voice ordered. 

"Yes," the newcomer gulped and said. "The fountain can only produce a single more drop of blood. Any more, and the fountain will turn useless."

"What?" the both of them were surprised this time. 

"A single more use?" the first voice said in shock. 

"Brother, I see that we may not have as many chances as I had first thought of.  Are you really sure the one you found is the one?" the second voice asked.

"Yes, absolutely," the first voice said. 

"Very well," the second voice said with determination in its voice. "I will help you out this time. We'll go together."

* * * * * 

An old man was in closed cultivation, fully focused on improving his cultivation. Suddenly, his eyes opened and he turned around to look at the wall behind him. 

However, he was seeing much further than that. He took out a talisman and called someone. Soon, he got an answer back and started contemplating. 

"Is it opening up again?" the old man thought. He still remembered the last time the secret realm opened up, nearly 1200 years ago. 

He had lost his elder brother that day, along with all the talented kids that had entered the secret realm that time. 

Ever since then, all the seven families of the Luminance Empire had stopped sending their kids to the secret realm. 

"However, is it time again? Has enough time passed such that it's desperately calling us back again?" the old man thought. "It must be the secret realm too that is sending these monster hoards at us. We must answer back."

He then took out the talisman and contacted someone. Soon, he would contact every one and would get the youngsters to go back to the secret realm once more. 

* * * * *

Alex skidded along the shore of the river and was thrown into the grasses. However, he didn't spend a single moment in the grass and immediately stood up. 

Without a single hesitation, he threw away the sword in his hand and picked up his storage bag to bring out the Steel sword. 

Just as the Steel Sword left his bag, he dashed backward and rolled under a giant scorpion. His sword suddenly glowed white and he slashed its belly from underneath. 

Both and guts fell from the scorpion which he quickly dodged. He jumped out of the way of a snake's tail and landed on top of the scorpion's tail.

He immediately cut the tail of the scorpion corpse and jammed it onto the snake just as it attacked him. The snake fell to the ground in pain and Alex cut its head off to relieve it. 

He caught the snake's giant head and opened its lower jaw. He then stabbed his sword through its mouth right where the venom sack would be. 

Purple venom flew down the sword until it was completely coated in it. Alex finally pulled out the sword and looked all around him. 

Alex could clearly feel all of the many Yang Jades that were on the ground near him. His body was getting overwhelmed with happiness, but he calmed himself down. He had one more problem to deal with.

Dozens of snakes, scorpions, centipedes, worms, and lizards were starting to surround him. However, Alex showed no fear. He held his sword tight and carefully scouted out the strong beasts.

His eyes skitted around looking for any sudden movements from the many beasts. These were all beasts thrown away by storm from way far away. 

So, there was no way any of these were weak by any extent of the imagination. Still, Alex took one final breath and went into battle.