NOVEL NEXT Chapter 432: Moving Forward
The days passed quietly, nature slowly beginning its long healing process as grass sprouted from scorched earth and new life tentatively returned to the once-ravaged forest due to the high mana density in the forest.
Three days slipped away peacefully under Eldric and Selene's watchful guardianship from the shadows above.
Orion lay undisturbed in restful unconsciousness, his body rapidly recovering from the catastrophic battle, the powerful healing elixir and his innate draconic vitality mending his injuries.
Finally, on the morning of the third day, Orion stirred gently, a faint groan escaping his lips as he slowly regained consciousness.
His eyelids fluttered open slowly, sunlight hitting his face like a slap. For a long moment, Orion stared quietly at the clear blue sky above, his thoughts gradually organizing themselves.
He felt soreness throughout his body, yet it wasn't that bad, the severe pain of his injuries was largely subsided now.
Orion slowly moved his limbs, relieved to find nothing permanently damaged or missing. A wave of gratitude swept through him toward Selene.
Slowly rising into a seated position, Orion scanned his surroundings, eyes narrowing in contemplation as fragmented memories of the battle resurfaced.
The image of the Realm Destroyer Sword's spectacular transformation and subsequent self-destruction flashed vividly in his mind, causing him to exhale softly in awe.
"Realm Destroyer…" Orion murmured again softly, echoing his own words from before, a faintly amused smile touching his lips. "Hahaha truly my Grandma. Such an epic name."
Within his Sea of Consciousness, Lumi's relieved and cheerful voice gently resonated,
[Master, you're finally awake! You truly worried me to death. I thought you were done for this time.]
Orion's lips curled upward into a tired yet confident smile, a touch of his usual charm returning despite his battered body.
He chuckled softly, wincing slightly from the lingering ache in his ribs, and reassured Lumi, "I won't die that easily. But how exactly did I manage to survive after falling unconscious? I honestly thought I'd become some beast's meal by now."
Lumi paused for a fleeting moment, millions of thoughts racing rapidly through her mind. Her tiny avatar inside Orion's Sea of Consciousness put on a straight, serious face and confidently explained,
[Due to your fierce battle with that beast, the surrounding creatures have been completely terrified and scattered. Moreover, the lingering aura of the Wind Law is deterring them from stepping foot into this area for now.]
Her explanation flowed so naturally and effortlessly that Orion found no loopholes to question further.
And he trusted Lumi completely so there was no need to doubt here, he nodded thoughtfully, his expression relaxing slightly, "Ah, I see. That does make sense. Given the scale of destruction and the terrifying aura left behind, I doubt any beast below Exalted Grade would dare approach this place for quite some time."
Feeling somewhat reassured, Orion slowly rose to his feet, still slightly unsteady but slowly getting better. Carefully, he began to gather the scattered fragments of the Realm Destroyer Sword from the scorched earth, a sense of melancholy and regret flickering in his eyes.
As he held the broken shards tenderly in his hands, Orion exhaled a sad sigh, "Sigh, Grandma personally forged this sword just for me…and yet, I've managed to destroy it in battle. I wonder, will she scold me for this?"
Lumi's translucent screen abruptly leaped closer, hovering anxiously beside him as she quickly interjected,
[That's impossible, Master! Before ever worrying about a mere sword, she would be worrying herself to death about your safety and well-being. Besides, this sword managed to save your life in the end, it fulfilled its purpose perfectly. And it's clear she imprinted that runic formation on the sword to save your life at a critical time.]
Hearing Lumi's response, Orion's smile brightened slightly, the little bit of guilt in his heart lifting completely.
He stored the shattered fragments of the Realm Destroyer into his spatial ring with care, intending to either repair it himself or ask Grandma to repair it. 'You're right, Lumi. Grandma wouldn't blame me, but still, I should try to fix it myself first. After all, she also taught me Runesmithing.'
Lumi quickly agreed, her voice brightening playfully,
[Exactly, Master! Now, we should leave this place quickly. Even though beasts might have been scared off initially, who knows how long the effect will last. We don't want another surprise visit from some Exalted Grade monster.]
Orion chuckled softly, shaking his head slightly at Lumi's playful teasing, yet understanding her words with a serious nod. Slowly, he began walking forward, moving cautiously while closely observing his surroundings.
After a few steps, Lumi thoughtfully suggested again, her voice slightly hesitant yet earnest,
[Master, perhaps now would be a good time to use your concealment treasure? You could quickly and safely reach Thunderpeak Kingdom.]
Orion's lips twitched involuntarily, feeling a slight ache in his chest unrelated to his physical injuries. He sighed deeply, his tone filled with melancholy, 'Lumi, do you think I don't want to? It's an Uncommon Grade concealment treasure. Activating it requires burning a shit ton of High-Grade Mana Crystals. At this rate, I'll soon become poorer than a common street beggar. If not for that, I would've activated it long ago and flown straight home without delay.'
Lumi fell silent at his lament, knowing Orion was truly concerned about his dwindling resources.
It wasn't that Orion valued treasures excessively, but even someone of his status understood the importance of resources. No cultivator willingly squandered precious mana crystals unnecessarily since they also need them for cultivation. And Orion had way too many places where Mana Crystals could be used.
Saying so, Orion began to cautiously walk forward, eyes sharply scanning his surroundings. Though his body had largely recovered from the earlier trouble, caution was deeply engraved into his mind now.
The gentle rustling of leaves, the distant calls of beasts, and the occasional snap of branches beneath his feet blended into a strangely calming rhythm, allowing him to think clearly and methodically about his next steps.
'I should definitely learn the Shadow Element the moment I reach the next city,' Orion mused inwardly, his mind racing with plans.
'Relying on an expensive concealment treasure isn't feasible long-term. Mastering Shadow Element techniques would provide me a more sustainable and cost-effective stealth method. And since I've already awakened multiple affinities, adding one more won't be a problem.'
Lumi's voice sounded cheerfully supportive inside Orion's Sea of Consciousness, sensing his thoughts and excitement clearly,
[Master, that's a great idea! Shadow techniques are incredibly versatile and perfect for hiding. With your understanding and talent, I'm sure you'll quickly master it.]
Orion smiled slightly. He continued forward, calmly traversing through the dense forest with steady, cautious movements.
Several hours passed safely without encountering any significant threats. Eventually, Orion's senses alerted him to the distinct aura of a powerful beast nearby.
Instantly becoming more cautious, Orion slowed his steps, quietly moving closer and carefully hiding behind a large tree.
His sharp eyes gazed through the dense leaves and branches ahead, quickly identifying the source of the strong presence, a massive Tier 8 Four-Armed Monkey lying soundly asleep in the clearing ahead, its powerful body relaxed but clearly intimidating even in slumber.