Miko's words echoed throughout the now empty room as they both stood there in silence. First John had been assaulted by a long dead creature, controlled only by its lingering will, and then a hole was torn in space and the mysterious girl taken through it.
Both events were completely unexpected, and showed just how little both of them knew of the cultivation world.
"Well, whatever just happened, it no longer concerns us," John replied as he began to look around the room once more.
His gaze rested on the lone skeleton standing on the platform, its sword still outstretched in the same position as when it had been pierced into the four armed creature.
Other than the sword the man held, John did not see anything else of particular value within the room. The armor worn by the other long dead cultivators had deteriorated with time, and were no longer valuable. Only the sword emanated any aura worth noting.
However, after his experience with the four armed creature, John no longer treated this room lightly. He was not sure if the remaining skeleton had a remnant will controlling it, but it seemed as if its purpose while it had been alive was to defend the transportation formation and prevent the creature from entering.
'If a remnant will still remains for that corpse, I'm sure it would defend the formation, as that was its last purpose in life. I'd rather not risk it, as my power is greatly diminished due to having no more blood essence reserves or body Qi.'
John's gaze continued to sweep over the room for some time before a deep sigh escaped his lips.
"This arch was the final reward of this temple, taking us to the pocket realm we already entered a year ago. With the arch broken, there are no more opportunities that await us within this temple," John said to Miko.
A disappointed look appeared on Miko's face, but he nodded his head in agreement. "That makes sense. What should we do next then?" Miko asked John.
John remained silent for a moment while he thought of what to do next. Based on the information the temple creature had given him, this temple was a trial for ancient youths, and was the main purpose of the city. With him having explored the temple fully, there was no more to be found opportunity wise.
Not only that, but the ancient city was barren of any opportunities, as they had all been swept clean in the past.
"I think our journey into these lands has concluded," John replied to Miko. "These lands will become a great opportunity for the youths of this continent in the future, especially these temple trials, but other than that, I don't see any other purpose. I guess it's best we return to our sects."
While John was hesitant to pass up on potential opportunities that still awaited him in these lands, it was still not worth the time it would take. There were certainly opportunities to be found outside the city, like the spirit crystal mine, or the broken formation disk he had found in the lake.
However, those opportunities were not guaranteed to be found, and would not necessarily be better than what he could obtain in the Heavenly Lighting Sect. With his newfound ascension in power, John was now the strongest first year in the sect, even trumping the strength of the direct disciples.
He was sure that he would obtain great benefits once he returned, not only as the number one first year disciple, but also with the informaiton he had about the lands he had just explored.
"I suppose that makes sense," Miko replied with a slightly sullen tone. Returning to their own sects meant him and John parting once more.
John noticed the change in Miko's demeanor, and patted him on the back.
"Don't worry, we'll definitely meet up again soon. If what that girl said is correct, I'm sure both of us have an adventure coming up soon in our lives," John replied.
Miko's sullen expression instantly brightened, as John reminded him of the Divine Martial Continent.
"You're right. We still have to go to that place and show those 'Divine Youths' that they're not much at all," Miko replied with a confident expression on his face.
John laughed slightly and patted Miko on the back once more. "That's more like it. Now let's head out of here."
The two turned around and ascended the staircase they had come down on. John turned around at the last moment, his gaze lingering on the lone skeleton on the formation platform, as well as the formation itself, before he continued forward once again.
"They're coming out already! They're also alive!" an excited voice suddenly chimed up from the top of the stairwell as one of them noticed John and Miko's arrival.
"What? Seriously?" another youth exclaimed. Heated discussions amongst the youths instantly broke out.
The youths had been standing at the top of the staircase, where the strange formation restricted their movement. After John and Miko had entered, they had heard incredibly loud explosions coming from below, so powerful that the temple itself shook.
Not only that, but they had felt an incredible energy well up for a short while before disappearing. None of them knew what it meant, but many surmised that John and Miko had run into trouble, and may have perished.
However, their appearance squashed that theory. John and Miko stepped out of the staircase, and all eyes were locked onto them.
"Soul Sage, what happened down there?" A Divine Soul Sect youth asked with respect.
Miko looked towards the youth, and replied nonchalantly. "We were attacked by a strange creature but managed to survive. However, there were no opportunities down there, so we returned."
There wasn't anything to keep a secret, and so Miko explained the events that had unfolded. Disappointment appeared on the youths' faces as they heard there were no opportunities down there, but they felt relief at the same time.
They were unable to go down there, and so the did not feel like they had missed out much.
John scanned the area looking for Adam, but did not find him.
'He must still be taking his arch trial.'
John walked over to the arches in the distance, with Miko following closely. All eyes remained on them as they walked away.
"We'll wait here," John stated as he sat down in front of the arches. Miko sat down beside him, and they continued to discuss their lives over the past year.
An hour later…
Flash!
A flash of light on the second trial appeared, revealing Adam. John shook his head in expected disappointment, as Adam had taken the second trial and not the third. However, passing the second trial wasn't bad, and so John was not too upset.
"Hahahahaha," Adam began to laugh wildly to himself. "Such a measly trial truly couldn't hold back a talented genius like me!"
Adam continued to laugh, until his gaze finally noticed John and Miko. His laughter instantly turned into silence as he noticed John's gaze, before he walked over to the two of them.
"You're back already? What happened?" Adam asked.
"I'll explain it to you later, but I think it's time we return to the Heavenly Lightning Sect," John replied.
"We're returning already?" Adam asked in confusion.
"Yes. Do you still have your spatial talisman?" John asked.
"Yep."
John turned to Miko, his expression turning soft. "Well Miko, this is where we part ways for now. I'm sure we'll meet again shortly."
Miko's expression turned sour, but he didn't argue against it. He nodded his head before replying with a smile on his face. "And next time we meet, I'll be sure to be much stronger than you. You caught up to me already, so it seems as if I've been too lazy lately."
"That's more like it," John replied as he gave Miko one last pat on the back.
He turned to Adam and grabbed his arm. "Take us back to the Heavenly Lightning Sect."
Adam nodded his head, and took out his spatial talisman. As long as one was in contact with the one using the talisman, they would be transported as well. Adam crushed the talisman, and all eyes watched the most shocking person of all Four Great Sects finally disappear.
'After months inside this land, I'm finally returning to the sect!'
Spatial energy wrapped around John as he felt his body transported through space. His mind was feeling mixed emotions, thinking about everything that had happened within the lands, from Russell's death, the Bloodfiend Sect, the mysterious girl and the Divine Trials, but he steeled his mind as he knew there would be work to be done soon. He still had loose ends to wrap up.
Flash!
John's and Adam's scenery suddenly changed, revealing them to be back in the courtyard of the Heavenly Lightning Sect. They took a moment to get their bearings, shaking off the lingering affects of the spatial talisman.
"Its him. He's finally returned!" A voice entered John's ears, causing them to perk up.
"I guess we'll finally get to the bottom of this, and see what really happened," another voice exclaimed.
Word quickly spread, and a crowd soon gathered in the courtyard.
John frowned, as he quickly put two and two together. Confirming his suspicions, a powerful voice suddenly echoed throughout the courtyard, and John felt a powerful aura press down on him.
A man suddenly appeared before him, who appeared on the older side. He had a full grey beard and a wrinkled face. However, his aura emanated the power of the Heaven Tribulation Realm. His eyes locked onto Johns.
"You better give me a good explanation for your crimes, or don't blame me for being merciless."