There was a week left for the Grand Banquet and since Lith didn't want to waste time, he decided to train.

He couldn't cultivate together with Alea right now as dual cultivation demanded quite some time and one week for sure wasn't enough.

He also had spent enough time with his friends and currently everyone in the Royal Castle, including his mother, sister, and maids were busy preparing the banquet that was about to come.

They were all busy and hanging out with them just meant he was disturbing them.

Thus, with nothing on hand for a week, it was best to train and Lith was going to do just that.

He thought it was about time he went to see his Dragon aunt again and see what she had in store for him.

There was a teleportation circle in the castle that led straight to the Empress' Castle in Star Dragon city.

Lith made use of that and when he teleported out, he saw his aunt standing right in front of him and staring at him.

Lith was slightly surprised watching this. He didn't question her about it though as he knew she was someone proficient in Space and wasn't called a Star Dragon for nothing.

"I assume you've found your treasure, yes?" Mayzin went straight to the topic.

Lith nodded. "That's right, aunt. I've found it."

"Good," said Mayzin and started walking away. "I hope it's something precious."

Lith followed her and the two reached an open courtyard which had the vast starry sky above it.

Mayzin tapped on the table and two tea cups appeared right away.

"So tell me. What is it?" Mayzin asked.

Lith showed his hand to Mayzin and then took out a ring from his finger, eventually putting it on the table.

Mayzin stared at it and waited for Lith to explain.

Looking at the ring, Lith said in a gentle tone, "this is my wedding ring. It's a combination of five rings from my loving wives and serves as a reminder"

Lith took the ring back and looking at it with gentleness as it lay on his palm, continued,

"a reminder that there's people whom I love and cherish, and a home I need to come back to, no matter what place I go to."

Such tender words from her nephew surprised Mayzin. She had never heard such a tone from him before and the air of seriousness that he created around them was also fascinating.

Mayzin put her teacup down and looking at Lith, asked in a similar soft tone, "tell me, my nephew, isn't it just a ring? Can't you have your wives give you another if you lost this?"

Lith turned his gaze up to meet his aunt's eye level. He shook his head and said, "No, aunt. These rings were given to me with a certain emotion. I can get a new ring from them, for sure, but I can't get the emotion with which they gave it to me. I really cherish it."

"I see." Mayzin replied and took a sip of tea.

There was silence for a good while and it was Mayzin who broke it by saying, "I am happy that you found a treasure."

Lith nodded his head in response.

Mayzin then asked, "do you know why I love treasures so much, Lith?"

Lith shook his head. He hasn't interacted much with his aunt and his mother also hadn't told him about her, so he didn't know.

Mayzin flashed a small smile and extending her palm out, made a small dagger appear on it.

"A treasure tells you a story, an experience no one else but the wielder has been through. It lets you re-live this experience and opens up doors to a newfound understanding."

Lith nodded in understanding and sipped on tea.

"Anyway, always be on the lookout for treasures and don't sleep on it."

"Yes, aunt." Lith agreed.

Mayzin then said, "since you have a treasure now, we'll start with your training. I'll be teaching you not only crowd control, but also develop your willpower and help raise your attainment in Space and Lighting."

"Before we begin, l need to check a few things. Give me your hand."

Hearing that, Lith put his cup down and asked seriously, "aunt, don't you think this is too early?"

"What?" Mayzin was confused.

Lith smirked. "We haven't even gone on dates, don't you think it's too early to ask for my hand in marriage?"

"" Mayzin was left speechless.

'This flirty kid' Mayzin got annoyed. Here she was having a serious conversation and then there he was, making stupid jokes.

Mayzin got up from her seat without saying a word and going behind Lith, tapped on his shoulders and squeezed them.

She then flashed a scary smile and leaning close, said, "my dear nephew, words once said cannot be taken back and actions have consequences."

"Eh?" Lith had no idea what his aunt was talking about, but he could feel something bad was going to happen soon.

"Since this is the first time you've annoyed me, the punishment is not severe. However"

Mayzin grinned evilly. "mess around more and you'll find out, aunt is not as nice as she seems."

BOOM!

Lith was sent down in the ground and the next thing he knew, he was in a dimly lit chamber of some sort.

[Ding!]

[Mission triggered!]

[Mission: Survive the Onslaught.

Info: Survive through the harshness about to come, get rewarded.

Rewards: x10 mind strengthening potions, x10 body strengthening potions, x1 mystery manual.

Failure: Death.]

'Damn!' Lith thought as he saw the mission info.

'Hey, death penalty from your side or is it something that will happen to me if I don't survive this onslaught?' Lith asked, wanting clarification.

[Answering Host]

[The system holds no power to inflict death upon the Host. The failure category shown is what may be the end result of the mission failure and is not a guarantee.]

'I see.' Lith thought. As long as he was not dying, things should be fine.

Looking around in the dimly lit room, Lith wondered what could threaten him.

His curiosity was soon fulfilled when he heard the hisses of snakes.

What followed with the noise was a flood of bugs, snakes, and other deadly creatures that were charging towards Lith.

Looking at them, Lith's expression turned serious and he took a fighting stance.

'It's time to train again.'