What everyone didn't expect is that they would catch up with the Exploration teams in just a single day!
Krune's Divine Sense is powerful for someone at his level, but he still couldn't beat those at the Late Stages of the Divine Soul Realm. Fortunately, thanks to the Tribulation Lightning Layer, the other side didn't notice them.
Krune stopped and immediately told everyone.
"It seems like the exploration teams are right ahead. But the weird thing is that they are all together."
Tinnian asked.
"Are they fighting each other, perhaps?"
Krune checked with his Divine Sense once more and said.
"No. There are six teams, one for each power. The Elemental Sect team from before the opening included. But they are keeping some distance from each other. There is no battle going on, either."
Marshine then commented.
"That's weird. From what I found during my research, the exploration teams would keep always moving forward. They wouldn't bother with the other powers' team either. Their main objective is to reach as far as possible."
Filio then said.
"I have a few ideas. The reason that they are rushing forward every time is so that they can one day see what is at the end of the Elemental path. Could it be that they finally reached the end? Or maybe something appeared on their way that is making it impossible for them to continue moving forward. There is also the possibility that they aren't moving because they are afraid of being attacked by the other teams. Lastly, it could be that they need help to keep moving, so they are waiting for the other teams."
Filio was just like Feifei mentioned to Krune. He is always thinking about several possibilities, it's just that he usually never shows it on the surface. In fact, he also thought about other circumstances, but he felt that they weren't worth mentioning more than the previous ones.
Krune heard about those options and then focused his Divine Sense once more in the teams ahead. This time, he paid attention to where they were looking at.
"I think that Filio's last idea is probably the right one. All the teams seem to be looking in the direction from where we came from. It is as if they are really waiting for someone to arrive. In that case, it can only be the other teams."
Tinnian then commented.
"We have been here for eleven days now, so we only have one more week before we are teleported outside. Considering that we have been rushing forward all the way, it will take at least three or four more days for the other teams to catch up with us. Of course, with the exception of that group that we were meeting yesterday. They probably only need half a day to arrive here."
Marshine then suggested.
"I don't want to be the first one to arrive. What about we get away from here to collect some more flowers and come back later when there are more groups?"
Rarol laughed, and the said.
"There is no need. Ever since I heard Filio's idea that they were waiting for other teams, I felt like we should meet with then."
Tinnian immediately asked Rarol.
"Is your instinct saying that it is safe."
Rarol pondered a bit and then answered.
"It's not like it is safe, it is just that the danger is not coming from the exploration teams, but somewhere else. Or at least, that's what I feel. I can't tell from where the danger is thought. Of course, this is just what I can feel for the moment. I don't know if they will decide to attack us in the future for some other reason."
Krune then commented.
"Well, there isn't really a need for that. Whatever this danger might be, it is probably coming from the place that the exploration teams want to enter."
Everyone agreed that Krune, or better, Jolk, was probably right.
Filio then asked.
"Should we go forward to check what is happening, then?"
Tinnian immediately replied.
"If Rarol's instinct says that they aren't going to attack us at the moment, then I believe it. Also, what if there is really some kind of treasure there and we are not here when it appears? Wouldn't we regret it for life? We are cultivators and demon beasts. What is the point if we don't fight for the opportunities?"
Everyone agreed with Tinnian, and they decided to go meet the exploration teams.
Krune's Lightning Layer then disappeared and now was only covering himself. He looked at Feifei and said.
"If something goes wrong, I will hold you with my Spiritual Energy. I will then use my Tribulation Lightning movement at full power to take us out of there. You focus on defense and predicting a safe way out."
Feifei nodded and didn't complain. When they are talking about speed, she really can't beat Krune. It is better if he focuses 100% on fleeing while she uses her Destiny Core to predict the best route. Not to mention that probably no one would be able to stop this couple from leaving if they are really joining hands for this objective. They complemented each other just too well.
Once the Tribulation Lightning Layer disappeared, all the members in the explorer teams noticed it.
A member of the Elemental Sect looked at their leader and asked with a surprised face.
"Did those five just appear in the middle of my Divine Sense out of nowhere?"
The leader nodded.
"They really did. But that's okay, they are part of the ones who joined the Elemental Path through our entrance."
Sure enough, some members of their team recognized Filio, Marshine, and the others with their Divine Sense. But when that group finally appeared in their vision, everyone was taken aback. That is because they could see a ball of purple lightning moving together with them. The problem is, that thing is not appearing inside their Divine Sense at all! It is as if it didn't even exist.
"I see, no wonder they appeared so suddenly. They were being covered by whatever that thing is."
The Elemental Sect group leader then came forward to greet them.
"So you are the first group other than the exploration teams to arrive, uh? My name is Hiro Elenk, the exploration group leader."
Tinnian had the highest cultivation in their group, so they decided to let him do the talk.
"We are an on-the-spot made group to collect the Elemental Flowers. We rushed forward so that we could leave the other teams behind. That way, it would be easier to obtain the Elemental Flowers. But we didn't expect to catch up with the exploration teams at all."
Hiro nodded and then explained.
"Normally, that should really be the case. If not because our path is being blocked, you guys would indeed not have caught up to us. After all, we are indeed ignoring all the Elemental Flowers. Come, let me show you."
Krune's group followed Hiro until he stopped in the middle of the air. He then extended his hand forward. It was at this moment that Krune and the others noticed that the area where Hiro was touching shined. It was as if Hiro was pressing his hand against a white wall.
"Do you see it? We have already checked the entire extension of the path. Still, this barrier is covering everything. That isn't all, our Divine Sense also can't pass through. In the end, we got stuck here."
Marshine couldn't help but touch it as well. Sure enough, her hand was also stopped by that barrier.
"So weird. I don't feel any energy at all. If it was a formation, we would at least feel some Spiritual Energy once we touched it."
Feifei, or better, Feier, shook her head.
"That's not correct. I'm a formations master, so I can tell. If a Formation level is too high, it will act just like when you see someone with cultivation much higher than yours. You won't be able to feel anything from that person or demon beast. I believe that this barrier is a perfect example of this ability."
Hiro smiled and nodded.
"That is correct, our group's Formation Master also told us the same thing. He also said that this formation is at least a Five Diamond Stars one. Probably even higher."
Krune also came forward and tried to touch the barrier. But just as he was about to do that, he felt his Elemental Meridians getting excited once more. It was evident that whatever is on the other side is definitely causing them to act like this.
Krune then turned to look at Hiro and asked.
"So, what do you guys plan on doing?"
Hiro still felt somewhat weird to not being able to feel Krune's presence even though he is right in front of him. He knows that this is not a difference in cultivation levels since no one above the Divine Soul Realm can enter. Hiro is already at the 9th Stage, so he had the highest allowed cultivation in this Dimensional Realm.
Just as he was about to talk, someone from another team approached.
"Hey, Hiro. What is it with this friend of yours? Why is he keeping himself hidden from our Divine Senses?"
Hiro narrowed his eyes and said.
"That has nothing to do with your Seasons Sect, Lire."
Lire was the leader of the Seasons Sect exploration group, one of the six powers controlling the six entrances.
"Of course it does. Everyone here is out in the open, all the demon beasts are in their original forms. So why only this guy is keeping himself in the darkness? The fact that he doesn't appear inside of any of our Divine Senses is bothering me a lot."
Lire started to approach Krune while saying.
"You don't mind if I bring him out of his shell, right?"
Just as Hiro was about to intervene, Krune decided to act.
Brummm!
Several arcs of purple lightning started to spin around him. Krune knew that someone would definitely bother him sooner or later, so this was his way of putting a strong front. Lire looked at that and finally could feel the power of Tribulation Lightning coming from it. Not only that, but he could tell that they were extremely strong.
"Hehe. Let's see if you have what it takes to bring me out of my shell."
Feifei saw that and just smiled while shooking her head.