Chapter 127: The Luminous Region
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Crown Prince Lail raced through the tunnel, his dull footsteps echoing on the stone walls as he pleaded the woman in his arms.
"Laila, don't fall asleep! You will be fine! Just don't close your eyes." He unrestrainedly infused his magic into her body, trying to cool her unbearably hot skin. However, a level 1 magical beast's elemental ability wasn't easy to handle. In both ferocity and destructiveness, it far surpassed the ordinary level 1 magicians.
This was another reason why level 2 magicians were needed to deal with level 1 magical beasts and level 3 magicians to handle level 2 magical beasts. The quality in elemental ability was too great.
Fortunately, Crown Prince Lail and Princess Qamari were no ordinary magicians as the quality of their elemental abilities could rival those of magical beasts.
Moreover, the two were both level 3 magicians.
As Crown Prince Lail worriedly dashed through the endless tunnel, his anxiety increased and sweat started dripping from his forehead. If he was in a good condition, keeping Laila cool wouldn't have been a problem. But as he was still recovering, using his magical abilities placed a strain on his mind and clouded his thoughts.
This made it difficult for him to control his emotions, unveiling the concern, worry, and care in his eyes for the woman.
"Laila, don't close your eyes!"
"Black Serpent, how much longer is it going to take?"
"Master, you still have a while to go. You will have to increase your speed to get her there on time." The Black Serpent floated beside the Crown Prince as the two conversed. Since they got the magical beasts off their back, the spiritual weapon was at ease, recovering its elemental energy as it sensed for the location of the Magical Kilin.
More than its Master, it was afraid of something happening to the little woman. While its master was attracted to the little woman, it felt a strange attraction to the golden sword held in the little woman's hand.
*
On the other side, after the strenuous digging and shoveling, the group of apprentices entered a dark cave with three tunnels before it. In each tunnel, the enraged roars of beasts resounded, making them conflicted on which path to take.
"We should take the right path. There are fewer growls emanating from its depths."
"That's why you are not the leader, Ku Ji. We can't enter a cave based on the sound of a growl. Some magical beasts could have already sensed us. Maybe they are readying themselves to attack as we speak."
Wu Lin snorted and looked expectantly at the other leaders before replying carelessly.
"We need to decide which path we to enter. There are magical beasts at every corner of this place and the slightest mistake on our end can lead to our doom."
"This is very easy. Since Brother Ku suggested we take the right path, we will take the left path. After all, his ability is the weakest, hence, his sense of danger is the lowest. Where ever he suggests is likely to be where the greatest danger lays." Ouyang Gu glanced provocatively at the Mistland Academy Leader as he spoke, unrelenting and fearless under his fierce glare.
"We don't have time to argue over which path to take. Let's just go straight ahead and see what happens." Tired of two's constant arguments, the Eternal Academy Leader swept his sleeves and moved ahead, the apprentices from his academy unquestionably following behind.
The other apprentices felt more at ease with the Janah realm's academy students taking the lead, the ability and honest nature winning the entire group's trust. As such, when they saw them leaving, the others unhesitantly followed.
Before long, only the Blazing Academy students were left behind.
Before they could react, however, deafening roars resonated throughout the tunnel, shattering their indecisiveness and uncertainty. In a flash, they caught up to the other apprentices and blended into the group, apprehensively looking around the cave as they stood back to back.
"What is happening?" A Sealand Academy student cried in fear.
"Are the growls of the beasts drawing near or is it just me?" Another asked.
"I think the magical beasts are gathering here. Listen, the whole cave is shaking." Su Rui gritted through clenched teeth, the fear in her voice un-maskable as she trembled.
The ground vibrated and the stone walls shook, stunning the spectating apprentices into tense silence.
Roar!
Roar!
"The magical beasts, they are really here..."
The shaking whisper was like a trigger, breaking the tense silence as they returned to their senses and realized the reality of their situation. Instantly, their differences vanished into thin air as they hastened their speed and fled in unison.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Rocks fell as the ground cracked apart. The path in front of them suddenly caved in and rubble rained down on their unprepared figures, burying many alive before they could even scream.
"The cave is falling apart! The cave is falling apart!"
Panic screams and shouts rang out, forcing the apprentices to split in different directions to avoid the destruction. The leaders of the seven academies were caught in a situation where they had no way to control the panicked and frightened apprentices, leaving them screaming and shouting to regain their attention.
However, the severity of the situation only escalated when the magical beasts that were roaring in the distance, finally appeared within their sight. At least a hundred in number, the beasts surrounded them from every direction and cut off every path of escape.
"This...these are level 1 magical beasts?" Ouyang Gu stammered as his gaze collided with the cruel, bloodthirsty ones of the beast. Cold sweat slid down his back as he uncontrollably trembled.
"They are level 1 magical beasts. No wonder the entire cave was shaking. Under their oppressive aura and powerful might, I would be more surprised if it didn't." The Janah Leader replied indifferently. But it was obvious that his indifference was feigned from his tightly clenched fists and bleeding lip.
"We have no other way out now. We either kill or be killed!" Wu Lin's powerful voice rang through the ruined cave, rising the fallen morale of the apprentices.
"That's right! We either kill or will be killed!"
"We can only force our way out!"
"Kill!"
The apprentices charged towards the magical beasts, slashing with their magical weapons coated with their elemental abilities. The magical beasts did not back away upon sighting the apprentices' actions.
On the contrary, a hair-rising, excited gleam flashed through their cold pupils, sending their opponents trembling in trepidation.
The magical beasts directly clashed with the attack of the apprentices, not dodging or evading, as the magical weapons and their elemental power skimmed their skin.
"Shiiiiing!"
The sound of metal colliding against metal resounded and in the next moment, the weapons of the apprentices flew out of their hands and disappeared in the chaotic battlefield. By the time the apprentices came to their senses, they were engulfed in fireballs and icy blades, their fragile bodies melting or freezing within the blank of an eye.
"Ahhhhh!"
"Run! Run! Our magical weapons and elemental abilities have no effect on them!"
"Where do we run to? Every path is blocked by magical beasts or rocks!"
"Let's remove the rocks! That's our only way!"
"Da** it!" Wu Lin cursed his luck as he evaded another ice blade and searched for an escape route. His messy hair and shredded robes combined with his bleeding face and burnt thigh created a distinct contrast to his earlier clean, refined, and scholarly appearance.
The level 1 magical beasts proved to be a greater hurdle than any of them had ever expected, leaving them helpless and powerless in the face of their fierce assault. With no chance of successfully confronting the beasts, Wu Lin sought a way to escape and preserve his own life.
But the numerous magical beasts and fleeing apprentices made it difficult to find a way out. Anxious and desperate, Wu Lin grabbed a fleeing Mistland Academy apprentice.
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother, what do we do? The magical beasts are more frightening than we thought!" Seeing the person grabbing his collar was his senior brother, the apprentice relaxed and cried fearfully.
Wu Lin looked contemptuously at the wailing apprentice, his dark eyes flashing with a sinister gleam.
"Not we, only me!"
And in the face of the apprentice's horrorstruck eyes, he slashed his sword across his neck, severing his lifeforce.
'I am doing the academy a favor by riding them of such a vermin.' He thought disgustedly.
Sweeping his sight over the confused and directionless apprentices, he snorted in disdain and used the corpse as a shield as he made his way through the deadly battlefield.
'I will get that baby Kilin!'
Su Rui flashed among the group of attacking apprentices, narrowly escaping the claws of death as a fireball swept past her face. An ice blade sped towards her throat and she reacted by instinct, rolling onto the ground and landing on the other side of the devastating massacre.
Before she could get back on her feet, a giant rock fell from above, burying her figure under the sea of debris and rubble.
Explosions and screams of horror resounded, filling the crumbling cave with an aura of death and destruction. By the time the dust settled, all the apprentices from the Seven Academies were reduced to a pile of melted flesh or frozen statue.
Silence descended and a chilly breeze swept through the grim atmosphere, drifting the scent of blood and gore throughout the enclosed space.
*
In a dark void devoid of life and any semblance of lifeform, the dull thuds of powerful footsteps resounded. A lonely silhouette in black robes and a gruesome mask determinedly raced through the dark tunnel towards a faint glimmer of light in the distance.
After what felt like an eternity, Crown Prince Lail finally saw hope in the dark void of despair. He secured his hold over the writhing woman and rushed towards the faint light. His breath was labored, a result of his still-recovering body and the continued use of his magical ability to keep her cool.
Even though he knew the consequences of overworking his body and overdrawing his magic would be devastatingly severe to the point of turning him into a cripple, he could bring himself to stop. Especially not when he recalled how he was partially responsible for Laila's current plight.
She used her magic to get him out of the fireball's way, but in return, she ended up getting hit by the fireball.
This knowledge both baffled and distressed him.
He was baffled because he couldn't understand why Laila had endangered herself to save him. And he was distressed because he saw her crying in pain and agony. Writhing in an unimaginable pain that pierced his heart and filled him with anguish.
"Black Serpent, are there any dangers ahead?" He anxiously asked.
The numerous encounters with magical beasts had made him tight with tension and apprehension, as he expected their appearance at every turn.
"Not any that I can sense at the moment, Master. But for safety, we should remain on guard." The Black Serpent wrapped its tail around Crown Prince Lail, its blue-black scales gleaming with an icy glare as they became firm and turned metallic.
"Master, I can only maintain this state for thirty breaths of time. The rest will be up to you." A faint sigh proceeded his words and the Black Serpent, as if he asleep, went silent.
"Thank you, Black Serpent."
Crown Prince Lail infused black lightning on his soles and accelerated his speed, arriving before the white glimmer in the blink of an eye. Taking a deep breath, he controlled his breathing and slowly stepped into the light.
His vision went blind, as the piercing glare of the white light obscured his sight. Crown Prince Lail tightened his hold on Laila and concentrated on his surroundings, using his other senses to guard against any sudden attacks.
He remained in the same position for what felt like an eternity before his vision gradually returned. At first, only cascading white trees and mountains entered his sight, before he spotted a body of creamy white water and a bright moon in the center of the lake.
There were no animals or living creatures in sight, which raised his alarm, as he didn't believe magical beasts wouldn't exist in an area suspected to shelter the Magical Kilin. He attempted to communicate with the Black Serpent, but the spiritual beast was in deep slumber, every attempt at communication ending in failure.
"Okay, we are on our own." Drawing Laila closer, he cautiously approached the body of water.
It wasn't that long he entered a pool, carrying what he believed to be her unconscious form. Only it turned out that it wasn't her but the magical foliage he entered the pool with, nearly getting drained to death.
The same scene with the same woman was repeating itself. But this time, it wasn't an illusion or a hallucination.
"Laila, hold on. You will get better soon." Hearing her painful moans, he quickened his steps and arrived before the creamy water. Without hesitation, Crown Prince Lail entered the silver lake with Laila in his arms, her flaming figure and his black-cloaked form seeming out of place in the luminous region.
The moment her figure sunk in the water, sizzling sounds rang out and warm gas rose into the air, shrouding their forms in a hazy fog of mist. The wails of the screaming woman froze as if they were abruptly cut off by an invisible source, causing Crown Prince Lail to worriedly place his finger on her pulse to make sure she was still alive.
His hanging heart settled on confirming her presence. As he wasn't sure about what he was supposed to do to help her recover, Crown Prince Lail placed Laila in the silver lake as fire could be combated by water. The creamy glow and strong elemental energy the lake exuded were a driving force that enforced his thought.
But since it was just a guess, he didn't dare to place her in the water by herself. He was still worried and fearful of the worse happening and entered the lake with her. Aside from monitoring her condition at all times, there was nothing else he could do.
"Laila, hang on for a little longer. You will get better soon."
Sighing tiredly, he sat in the middle of the silver lake with her in his arms.
Thin streams of black and white elemental energy visible to the naked eye, separated from the silver liquid, and naturally flowed into their bodies through their pores and seven orifices.
In the engulfing silence, their figures sank to the bottom of the lake and the silver water excitedly surged up, rising like an awakening silver dragon as it encircled and swirled around them with a brilliant radiance of black-white light.
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Crown Prince Lail raced through the tunnel, his dull footsteps echoing on the stone walls as he pleaded the woman in his arms.
"Laila, don't fall asleep! You will be fine! Just don't close your eyes." He unrestrainedly infused his magic into her body, trying to cool her unbearably hot skin. However, a level 1 magical beast's elemental ability wasn't easy to handle. In both ferocity and destructiveness, it far surpassed the ordinary level 1 magicians.
This was another reason why level 2 magicians were needed to deal with level 1 magical beasts and level 3 magicians to handle level 2 magical beasts. The quality in elemental ability was too great.
Fortunately, Crown Prince Lail and Princess Qamari were no ordinary magicians as the quality of their elemental abilities could rival those of magical beasts.
Moreover, the two were both level 3 magicians.
As Crown Prince Lail worriedly dashed through the endless tunnel, his anxiety increased and sweat started dripping from his forehead. If he was in a good condition, keeping Laila cool wouldn't have been a problem. But as he was still recovering, using his magical abilities placed a strain on his mind and clouded his thoughts.
This made it difficult for him to control his emotions, unveiling the concern, worry, and care in his eyes for the woman.
"Laila, don't close your eyes!"
"Black Serpent, how much longer is it going to take?"
"Master, you still have a while to go. You will have to increase your speed to get her there on time." The Black Serpent floated beside the Crown Prince as the two conversed. Since they got the magical beasts off their back, the spiritual weapon was at ease, recovering its elemental energy as it sensed for the location of the Magical Kilin.
More than its Master, it was afraid of something happening to the little woman. While its master was attracted to the little woman, it felt a strange attraction to the golden sword held in the little woman's hand.
*
On the other side, after the strenuous digging and shoveling, the group of apprentices entered a dark cave with three tunnels before it. In each tunnel, the enraged roars of beasts resounded, making them conflicted on which path to take.
"We should take the right path. There are fewer growls emanating from its depths."
"That's why you are not the leader, Ku Ji. We can't enter a cave based on the sound of a growl. Some magical beasts could have already sensed us. Maybe they are readying themselves to attack as we speak."
Wu Lin snorted and looked expectantly at the other leaders before replying carelessly.
"We need to decide which path we to enter. There are magical beasts at every corner of this place and the slightest mistake on our end can lead to our doom."
"This is very easy. Since Brother Ku suggested we take the right path, we will take the left path. After all, his ability is the weakest, hence, his sense of danger is the lowest. Where ever he suggests is likely to be where the greatest danger lays." Ouyang Gu glanced provocatively at the Mistland Academy Leader as he spoke, unrelenting and fearless under his fierce glare.
"We don't have time to argue over which path to take. Let's just go straight ahead and see what happens." Tired of two's constant arguments, the Eternal Academy Leader swept his sleeves and moved ahead, the apprentices from his academy unquestionably following behind.
The other apprentices felt more at ease with the Janah realm's academy students taking the lead, the ability and honest nature winning the entire group's trust. As such, when they saw them leaving, the others unhesitantly followed.
Before long, only the Blazing Academy students were left behind.
Before they could react, however, deafening roars resonated throughout the tunnel, shattering their indecisiveness and uncertainty. In a flash, they caught up to the other apprentices and blended into the group, apprehensively looking around the cave as they stood back to back.
"What is happening?" A Sealand Academy student cried in fear.
"Are the growls of the beasts drawing near or is it just me?" Another asked.
"I think the magical beasts are gathering here. Listen, the whole cave is shaking." Su Rui gritted through clenched teeth, the fear in her voice un-maskable as she trembled.
The ground vibrated and the stone walls shook, stunning the spectating apprentices into tense silence.
Roar!
Roar!
"The magical beasts, they are really here..."
The shaking whisper was like a trigger, breaking the tense silence as they returned to their senses and realized the reality of their situation. Instantly, their differences vanished into thin air as they hastened their speed and fled in unison.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Rocks fell as the ground cracked apart. The path in front of them suddenly caved in and rubble rained down on their unprepared figures, burying many alive before they could even scream.
"The cave is falling apart! The cave is falling apart!"
Panic screams and shouts rang out, forcing the apprentices to split in different directions to avoid the destruction. The leaders of the seven academies were caught in a situation where they had no way to control the panicked and frightened apprentices, leaving them screaming and shouting to regain their attention.
However, the severity of the situation only escalated when the magical beasts that were roaring in the distance, finally appeared within their sight. At least a hundred in number, the beasts surrounded them from every direction and cut off every path of escape.
"This...these are level 1 magical beasts?" Ouyang Gu stammered as his gaze collided with the cruel, bloodthirsty ones of the beast. Cold sweat slid down his back as he uncontrollably trembled.
"They are level 1 magical beasts. No wonder the entire cave was shaking. Under their oppressive aura and powerful might, I would be more surprised if it didn't." The Janah Leader replied indifferently. But it was obvious that his indifference was feigned from his tightly clenched fists and bleeding lip.
"We have no other way out now. We either kill or be killed!" Wu Lin's powerful voice rang through the ruined cave, rising the fallen morale of the apprentices.
"That's right! We either kill or will be killed!"
"We can only force our way out!"
"Kill!"
The apprentices charged towards the magical beasts, slashing with their magical weapons coated with their elemental abilities. The magical beasts did not back away upon sighting the apprentices' actions.
On the contrary, a hair-rising, excited gleam flashed through their cold pupils, sending their opponents trembling in trepidation.
The magical beasts directly clashed with the attack of the apprentices, not dodging or evading, as the magical weapons and their elemental power skimmed their skin.
"Shiiiiing!"
The sound of metal colliding against metal resounded and in the next moment, the weapons of the apprentices flew out of their hands and disappeared in the chaotic battlefield. By the time the apprentices came to their senses, they were engulfed in fireballs and icy blades, their fragile bodies melting or freezing within the blank of an eye.
"Ahhhhh!"
"Run! Run! Our magical weapons and elemental abilities have no effect on them!"
"Where do we run to? Every path is blocked by magical beasts or rocks!"
"Let's remove the rocks! That's our only way!"
"Da** it!" Wu Lin cursed his luck as he evaded another ice blade and searched for an escape route. His messy hair and shredded robes combined with his bleeding face and burnt thigh created a distinct contrast to his earlier clean, refined, and scholarly appearance.
The level 1 magical beasts proved to be a greater hurdle than any of them had ever expected, leaving them helpless and powerless in the face of their fierce assault. With no chance of successfully confronting the beasts, Wu Lin sought a way to escape and preserve his own life.
But the numerous magical beasts and fleeing apprentices made it difficult to find a way out. Anxious and desperate, Wu Lin grabbed a fleeing Mistland Academy apprentice.
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother, what do we do? The magical beasts are more frightening than we thought!" Seeing the person grabbing his collar was his senior brother, the apprentice relaxed and cried fearfully.
Wu Lin looked contemptuously at the wailing apprentice, his dark eyes flashing with a sinister gleam.
"Not we, only me!"
And in the face of the apprentice's horrorstruck eyes, he slashed his sword across his neck, severing his lifeforce.
'I am doing the academy a favor by riding them of such a vermin.' He thought disgustedly.
Sweeping his sight over the confused and directionless apprentices, he snorted in disdain and used the corpse as a shield as he made his way through the deadly battlefield.
'I will get that baby Kilin!'
Su Rui flashed among the group of attacking apprentices, narrowly escaping the claws of death as a fireball swept past her face. An ice blade sped towards her throat and she reacted by instinct, rolling onto the ground and landing on the other side of the devastating massacre.
Before she could get back on her feet, a giant rock fell from above, burying her figure under the sea of debris and rubble.
Explosions and screams of horror resounded, filling the crumbling cave with an aura of death and destruction. By the time the dust settled, all the apprentices from the Seven Academies were reduced to a pile of melted flesh or frozen statue.
Silence descended and a chilly breeze swept through the grim atmosphere, drifting the scent of blood and gore throughout the enclosed space.
*
In a dark void devoid of life and any semblance of lifeform, the dull thuds of powerful footsteps resounded. A lonely silhouette in black robes and a gruesome mask determinedly raced through the dark tunnel towards a faint glimmer of light in the distance.
After what felt like an eternity, Crown Prince Lail finally saw hope in the dark void of despair. He secured his hold over the writhing woman and rushed towards the faint light. His breath was labored, a result of his still-recovering body and the continued use of his magical ability to keep her cool.
Even though he knew the consequences of overworking his body and overdrawing his magic would be devastatingly severe to the point of turning him into a cripple, he could bring himself to stop. Especially not when he recalled how he was partially responsible for Laila's current plight.
She used her magic to get him out of the fireball's way, but in return, she ended up getting hit by the fireball.
This knowledge both baffled and distressed him.
He was baffled because he couldn't understand why Laila had endangered herself to save him. And he was distressed because he saw her crying in pain and agony. Writhing in an unimaginable pain that pierced his heart and filled him with anguish.
"Black Serpent, are there any dangers ahead?" He anxiously asked.
The numerous encounters with magical beasts had made him tight with tension and apprehension, as he expected their appearance at every turn.
"Not any that I can sense at the moment, Master. But for safety, we should remain on guard." The Black Serpent wrapped its tail around Crown Prince Lail, its blue-black scales gleaming with an icy glare as they became firm and turned metallic.
"Master, I can only maintain this state for thirty breaths of time. The rest will be up to you." A faint sigh proceeded his words and the Black Serpent, as if he asleep, went silent.
"Thank you, Black Serpent."
Crown Prince Lail infused black lightning on his soles and accelerated his speed, arriving before the white glimmer in the blink of an eye. Taking a deep breath, he controlled his breathing and slowly stepped into the light.
His vision went blind, as the piercing glare of the white light obscured his sight. Crown Prince Lail tightened his hold on Laila and concentrated on his surroundings, using his other senses to guard against any sudden attacks.
He remained in the same position for what felt like an eternity before his vision gradually returned. At first, only cascading white trees and mountains entered his sight, before he spotted a body of creamy white water and a bright moon in the center of the lake.
There were no animals or living creatures in sight, which raised his alarm, as he didn't believe magical beasts wouldn't exist in an area suspected to shelter the Magical Kilin. He attempted to communicate with the Black Serpent, but the spiritual beast was in deep slumber, every attempt at communication ending in failure.
"Okay, we are on our own." Drawing Laila closer, he cautiously approached the body of water.
It wasn't that long he entered a pool, carrying what he believed to be her unconscious form. Only it turned out that it wasn't her but the magical foliage he entered the pool with, nearly getting drained to death.
The same scene with the same woman was repeating itself. But this time, it wasn't an illusion or a hallucination.
"Laila, hold on. You will get better soon." Hearing her painful moans, he quickened his steps and arrived before the creamy water. Without hesitation, Crown Prince Lail entered the silver lake with Laila in his arms, her flaming figure and his black-cloaked form seeming out of place in the luminous region.
The moment her figure sunk in the water, sizzling sounds rang out and warm gas rose into the air, shrouding their forms in a hazy fog of mist. The wails of the screaming woman froze as if they were abruptly cut off by an invisible source, causing Crown Prince Lail to worriedly place his finger on her pulse to make sure she was still alive.
His hanging heart settled on confirming her presence. As he wasn't sure about what he was supposed to do to help her recover, Crown Prince Lail placed Laila in the silver lake as fire could be combated by water. The creamy glow and strong elemental energy the lake exuded were a driving force that enforced his thought.
But since it was just a guess, he didn't dare to place her in the water by herself. He was still worried and fearful of the worse happening and entered the lake with her. Aside from monitoring her condition at all times, there was nothing else he could do.
"Laila, hang on for a little longer. You will get better soon."
Sighing tiredly, he sat in the middle of the silver lake with her in his arms.
Thin streams of black and white elemental energy visible to the naked eye, separated from the silver liquid, and naturally flowed into their bodies through their pores and seven orifices.
In the engulfing silence, their figures sank to the bottom of the lake and the silver water excitedly surged up, rising like an awakening silver dragon as it encircled and swirled around them with a brilliant radiance of black-white light.
Crown Prince Lail raced through the tunnel, his dull footsteps echoing on the stone walls as he pleaded the woman in his arms."Laila, don't fall asleep! You will be fine! Just don't close your eyes." He unrestrainedly infused his magic into her body, trying to cool her unbearably hot skin. However, a level 1 magical beast's elemental ability wasn't easy to handle. In both ferocity and destructiveness, it far surpassed the ordinary level 1 magicians.This was another reason why level 2 magicians were needed to deal with level 1 magical beasts and level 3 magicians to handle level 2 magical beasts. The quality in elemental ability was too great.Fortunately, Crown Prince Lail and Princess Qamari were no ordinary magicians as the quality of their elemental abilities could rival those of magical beasts.Moreover, the two were both level 3 magicians.As Crown Prince Lail worriedly dashed through the endless tunnel, his anxiety increased and sweat started dripping from his forehead. If he was in a good condition, keeping Laila cool wouldn't have been a problem. But as he was still recovering, using his magical abilities placed a strain on his mind and clouded his thoughts.This made it difficult for him to control his emotions, unveiling the concern, worry, and care in his eyes for the woman."Laila, don't close your eyes!""Black Serpent, how much longer is it going to take?""Master, you still have a while to go. You will have to increase your speed to get her there on time." The Black Serpent floated beside the Crown Prince as the two conversed. Since they got the magical beasts off their back, the spiritual weapon was at ease, recovering its elemental energy as it sensed for the location of the Magical Kilin.More than its Master, it was afraid of something happening to the little woman. While its master was attracted to the little woman, it felt a strange attraction to the golden sword held in the little woman's hand.*On the other side, after the strenuous digging and shoveling, the group of apprentices entered a dark cave with three tunnels before it. In each tunnel, the enraged roars of beasts resounded, making them conflicted on which path to take."We should take the right path. There are fewer growls emanating from its depths.""That's why you are not the leader, Ku Ji. We can't enter a cave based on the sound of a growl. Some magical beasts could have already sensed us. Maybe they are readying themselves to attack as we speak."Wu Lin snorted and looked expectantly at the other leaders before replying carelessly."We need to decide which path we to enter. There are magical beasts at every corner of this place and the slightest mistake on our end can lead to our doom.""This is very easy. Since Brother Ku suggested we take the right path, we will take the left path. After all, his ability is the weakest, hence, his sense of danger is the lowest. Where ever he suggests is likely to be where the greatest danger lays." Ouyang Gu glanced provocatively at the Mistland Academy Leader as he spoke, unrelenting and fearless under his fierce glare."We don't have time to argue over which path to take. Let's just go straight ahead and see what happens." Tired of two's constant arguments, the Eternal Academy Leader swept his sleeves and moved ahead, the apprentices from his academy unquestionably following behind.The other apprentices felt more at ease with the Janah realm's academy students taking the lead, the ability and honest nature winning the entire group's trust. As such, when they saw them leaving, the others unhesitantly followed.Before long, only the Blazing Academy students were left behind.Before they could react, however, deafening roars resonated throughout the tunnel, shattering their indecisiveness and uncertainty. In a flash, they caught up to the other apprentices and blended into the group, apprehensively looking around the cave as they stood back to back."What is happening?" A Sealand Academy student cried in fear."Are the growls of the beasts drawing near or is it just me?" Another asked."I think the magical beasts are gathering here. Listen, the whole cave is shaking." Su Rui gritted through clenched teeth, the fear in her voice un-maskable as she trembled.The ground vibrated and the stone walls shook, stunning the spectating apprentices into tense silence.Roar!Roar!"The magical beasts, they are really here..."The shaking whisper was like a trigger, breaking the tense silence as they returned to their senses and realized the reality of their situation. Instantly, their differences vanished into thin air as they hastened their speed and fled in unison.Boom!Boom!Boom!Rocks fell as the ground cracked apart. The path in front of them suddenly caved in and rubble rained down on their unprepared figures, burying many alive before they could even scream."The cave is falling apart! The cave is falling apart!"Panic screams and shouts rang out, forcing the apprentices to split in different directions to avoid the destruction. The leaders of the seven academies were caught in a situation where they had no way to control the panicked and frightened apprentices, leaving them screaming and shouting to regain their attention.However, the severity of the situation only escalated when the magical beasts that were roaring in the distance, finally appeared within their sight. At least a hundred in number, the beasts surrounded them from every direction and cut off every path of escape."This...these are level 1 magical beasts?" Ouyang Gu stammered as his gaze collided with the cruel, bloodthirsty ones of the beast. Cold sweat slid down his back as he uncontrollably trembled."They are level 1 magical beasts. No wonder the entire cave was shaking. Under their oppressive aura and powerful might, I would be more surprised if it didn't." The Janah Leader replied indifferently. But it was obvious that his indifference was feigned from his tightly clenched fists and bleeding lip."We have no other way out now. We either kill or be killed!" Wu Lin's powerful voice rang through the ruined cave, rising the fallen morale of the apprentices."That's right! We either kill or will be killed!""We can only force our way out!""Kill!"The apprentices charged towards the magical beasts, slashing with their magical weapons coated with their elemental abilities. The magical beasts did not back away upon sighting the apprentices' actions.On the contrary, a hair-rising, excited gleam flashed through their cold pupils, sending their opponents trembling in trepidation.The magical beasts directly clashed with the attack of the apprentices, not dodging or evading, as the magical weapons and their elemental power skimmed their skin."Shiiiiing!"The sound of metal colliding against metal resounded and in the next moment, the weapons of the apprentices flew out of their hands and disappeared in the chaotic battlefield. By the time the apprentices came to their senses, they were engulfed in fireballs and icy blades, their fragile bodies melting or freezing within the blank of an eye."Ahhhhh!""Run! Run! Our magical weapons and elemental abilities have no effect on them!""Where do we run to? Every path is blocked by magical beasts or rocks!""Let's remove the rocks! That's our only way!""Da** it!" Wu Lin cursed his luck as he evaded another ice blade and searched for an escape route. His messy hair and shredded robes combined with his bleeding face and burnt thigh created a distinct contrast to his earlier clean, refined, and scholarly appearance.The level 1 magical beasts proved to be a greater hurdle than any of them had ever expected, leaving them helpless and powerless in the face of their fierce assault. With no chance of successfully confronting the beasts, Wu Lin sought a way to escape and preserve his own life.But the numerous magical beasts and fleeing apprentices made it difficult to find a way out. Anxious and desperate, Wu Lin grabbed a fleeing Mistland Academy apprentice."Senior Brother, Senior Brother, what do we do? The magical beasts are more frightening than we thought!" Seeing the person grabbing his collar was his senior brother, the apprentice relaxed and cried fearfully.Wu Lin looked contemptuously at the wailing apprentice, his dark eyes flashing with a sinister gleam."Not we, only me!"And in the face of the apprentice's horrorstruck eyes, he slashed his sword across his neck, severing his lifeforce.'I am doing the academy a favor by riding them of such a vermin.' He thought disgustedly.Sweeping his sight over the confused and directionless apprentices, he snorted in disdain and used the corpse as a shield as he made his way through the deadly battlefield.'I will get that baby Kilin!'Su Rui flashed among the group of attacking apprentices, narrowly escaping the claws of death as a fireball swept past her face. An ice blade sped towards her throat and she reacted by instinct, rolling onto the ground and landing on the other side of the devastating massacre.Before she could get back on her feet, a giant rock fell from above, burying her figure under the sea of debris and rubble.Explosions and screams of horror resounded, filling the crumbling cave with an aura of death and destruction. By the time the dust settled, all the apprentices from the Seven Academies were reduced to a pile of melted flesh or frozen statue.Silence descended and a chilly breeze swept through the grim atmosphere, drifting the scent of blood and gore throughout the enclosed space.*In a dark void devoid of life and any semblance of lifeform, the dull thuds of powerful footsteps resounded. A lonely silhouette in black robes and a gruesome mask determinedly raced through the dark tunnel towards a faint glimmer of light in the distance.After what felt like an eternity, Crown Prince Lail finally saw hope in the dark void of despair. He secured his hold over the writhing woman and rushed towards the faint light. His breath was labored, a result of his still-recovering body and the continued use of his magical ability to keep her cool.Even though he knew the consequences of overworking his body and overdrawing his magic would be devastatingly severe to the point of turning him into a cripple, he could bring himself to stop. Especially not when he recalled how he was partially responsible for Laila's current plight.She used her magic to get him out of the fireball's way, but in return, she ended up getting hit by the fireball.This knowledge both baffled and distressed him.He was baffled because he couldn't understand why Laila had endangered herself to save him. And he was distressed because he saw her crying in pain and agony. Writhing in an unimaginable pain that pierced his heart and filled him with anguish."Black Serpent, are there any dangers ahead?" He anxiously asked.The numerous encounters with magical beasts had made him tight with tension and apprehension, as he expected their appearance at every turn."Not any that I can sense at the moment, Master. But for safety, we should remain on guard." The Black Serpent wrapped its tail around Crown Prince Lail, its blue-black scales gleaming with an icy glare as they became firm and turned metallic."Master, I can only maintain this state for thirty breaths of time. The rest will be up to you." A faint sigh proceeded his words and the Black Serpent, as if he asleep, went silent."Thank you, Black Serpent."Crown Prince Lail infused black lightning on his soles and accelerated his speed, arriving before the white glimmer in the blink of an eye. Taking a deep breath, he controlled his breathing and slowly stepped into the light.His vision went blind, as the piercing glare of the white light obscured his sight. Crown Prince Lail tightened his hold on Laila and concentrated on his surroundings, using his other senses to guard against any sudden attacks.He remained in the same position for what felt like an eternity before his vision gradually returned. At first, only cascading white trees and mountains entered his sight, before he spotted a body of creamy white water and a bright moon in the center of the lake.There were no animals or living creatures in sight, which raised his alarm, as he didn't believe magical beasts wouldn't exist in an area suspected to shelter the Magical Kilin. He attempted to communicate with the Black Serpent, but the spiritual beast was in deep slumber, every attempt at communication ending in failure."Okay, we are on our own." Drawing Laila closer, he cautiously approached the body of water.It wasn't that long he entered a pool, carrying what he believed to be her unconscious form. Only it turned out that it wasn't her but the magical foliage he entered the pool with, nearly getting drained to death.The same scene with the same woman was repeating itself. But this time, it wasn't an illusion or a hallucination."Laila, hold on. You will get better soon." Hearing her painful moans, he quickened his steps and arrived before the creamy water. Without hesitation, Crown Prince Lail entered the silver lake with Laila in his arms, her flaming figure and his black-cloaked form seeming out of place in the luminous region.The moment her figure sunk in the water, sizzling sounds rang out and warm gas rose into the air, shrouding their forms in a hazy fog of mist. The wails of the screaming woman froze as if they were abruptly cut off by an invisible source, causing Crown Prince Lail to worriedly place his finger on her pulse to make sure she was still alive.His hanging heart settled on confirming her presence. As he wasn't sure about what he was supposed to do to help her recover, Crown Prince Lail placed Laila in the silver lake as fire could be combated by water. The creamy glow and strong elemental energy the lake exuded were a driving force that enforced his thought.But since it was just a guess, he didn't dare to place her in the water by herself. He was still worried and fearful of the worse happening and entered the lake with her. Aside from monitoring her condition at all times, there was nothing else he could do."Laila, hang on for a little longer. You will get better soon."Sighing tiredly, he sat in the middle of the silver lake with her in his arms.Thin streams of black and white elemental energy visible to the naked eye, separated from the silver liquid, and naturally flowed into their bodies through their pores and seven orifices.In the engulfing silence, their figures sank to the bottom of the lake and the silver water excitedly surged up, rising like an awakening silver dragon as it encircled and swirled around them with a brilliant radiance of black-white light.
