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Days had passed since Kent had claimed the divine throne and embarked on his journey leaning all the spells from Celestial Tower of Arcane Sage.
From two days, he completely immersed in the spells written all over the stone walls of the tower. The bow continued to play like a music instrument in his hands. Instead of learning spells like use and throw mantras, he began practicing each one of them.
Meanwhile, Maya and her group from the Demonic Tree Sect had made significant progress. Maya, with her sharp intellect over the places of storm god inheritance and ruthless action on the subdues beasts, had led her group through the vast expense of inheritance ground.
However, their journey had not been without frustration. As they moved forward, they discovered that all the valuable herbs and spirit fruits along their path had already been harvested.
“Damn it!” Maya spat, her eyes flashing with fury. “Someone’s already been here and taken everything of value.”
One of her subordinates, a tall man with vines entwined around his arms, stepped forward cautiously. “What do we do now, Princess? Should we continue forward our previous plan or change our path?”
Maya clenched her fists, her demonic aura flaring. “We follow the trail where the resources are missing. Whoever has entered the inheritance ground before us is our target. We’ll find them, and we’ll take what’s rightfully ours.”
“Let’s rob those bastards…!” Someone shouted from behind and the entire group began shouting same slogan.
The group continued, driven by Maya’s wrath and determination. Her presence was like a dark storm cloud, oppressive and fierce, as they followed the barren path, seeking the front runners who had dared to claim the treasures before them.
Back at the Celestial Tower of Arcane sage, Kent and Tata Lan were deeply engrossed in their task. The tower’s walls were covered with spells, each one more intricate and powerful than the last.
Kent had completed half of the spells, his progress astonishing even to himself. Every incantation, every rune, seemed to flow into his mind with ease, his understanding growing deeper with each passing moment.
Tata Lan, perched on her wind fox, had managed to complete 30% of the spells. She watched Kent with a mix of awe and frustration. In all her years, she had prided herself on being a prime genius, able to learn spells faster than anyone else. But seeing Kent’s monstrous speed and efficiency crushed her pride into bits.
“How can you do it so fast?” she asked, unable to hide the awe in her voice.
Kent paused, looking at her with a calm intensity. “I don’t know. It just feels… natural. Like these spells are a part of me.”
Tata Lan shook her head, marveling at his ability. “You’re a monster, Big brother. I’ve never seen anyone learn so quickly.”
Kent gave her a small, reassuring smile. “You are not far behind. Just keep going. We’ll make it through.”
After brief talk, both of them turned back their focus onto the spells. Kent who is counting days, felt he need speed up things as there might chance of other groups catching up to them.
–
Following the demonic tree sect’s trail, a large group comprising members of the Celestial Sun Fire Sect and the Ladies of the Ice Castle Sect began their northward journey.
Along the way, the group had already suffered losses: one young man from the Celestial Sun Fire Sect and two girls from the Ice Castle Sect had perished.
Leading this amalgamated group were Bald Lin and Princess Eila. Bald Lin actively commanded the group with his booming voice, ensuring everyone stayed on course. Princess Eila, on the other hand, led her girl gang with a palpable fury.
Her anger was directed towards a disciple from the Celestial Sun Fire Sect who had used the life of an Ice Castle lady as a shield to escape from a wild beast’s attack.
“We need to keep moving,” Bald Lin bellowed, his eyes scanning the dense foliage. “Stay close and stay alert. We can’t afford any more losses.”
Princess Eila, her icy gaze fixed ahead, muttered under her breath, “If that cowardly scum shows his face again, he won’t live to see another day.”
Hearing her tone, the guy in the last row swallowed hard while hiding behind his fellow sect members.
By afternoon, the Demonic Tree Sect and the large group from the two other sects crossed a barren patch of land where the divine throne had once stood.
Maya, with her sharp instincts, sensed that a great treasure had once occupied this now-empty space. The realization that someone had already claimed it fueled her determination to catch up to them.
“This place… It’s been stripped clean,” Maya observed, her eyes narrowing. “We must move faster. Whoever took these treasures is ahead of us. We’ll make them pay.”
She urged her group to increase their pace, her fierce determination driving them onward. The combined force of the Demonic Tree Sect and the two other sects now moved with a singular purpose: to catch up to the mysterious treasure hunter.
Meanwhile, the person responsible for all the missing treasures, Kent, stood before the towering Celestial Tower of Arcane Tempests, engrossed in learning spells inscribed on its outer walls. His focus was unwavering, his mind completely absorbed in the ancient calligraphy. With each spell he mastered, the tower’s secrets unfolded before him.
By the evening, Kent had learned 80% of the spells. The higher he climbed, the more complex the inscriptions became. Now standing at the top of the tower, he faced the remaining 20% of the spells, which were written in an entirely different calligraphy, challenging his understanding and patience.
Tata Lan, having exhausted herself with the intense study, decided to take a break. She mounted her wind fox, her keen eyes scanning the surroundings. Accompanied by Kent’s two pets, the Fire Kirin and Jabil the serpent beast, she set out to explore the area around the tower.
As Tata Lan surveyed the landscape, she couldn’t help but reflect on Kent’s astonishing progress. “He’s a monster,” she muttered to herself, her voice tinged with both awe and frustration. “How does he learn so fast?”
The wind fox, sensing her rider’s thoughts, emitted a soft growl. Tata Lan patted its neck absently. “Don’t worry, we’ll be back soon. We need to ensure no one is approaching while Kent completes his task.”
As she rode along, the serene beauty of the inheritance ground was marred by a growing sense of unease.
Back at the tower, Kent continued his relentless study.
Evening gave way to night, the tower illuminated by the eerie glow of the spell inscriptions. As Kent neared the completion of his task, a sense of anticipation filled his heart.
The combined forces of the Demonic Tree Sect and the two other sects were closing in, driven by a mix of greed, anger, and desperation.
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As the night closing in, two palm sized nocturnal birds reached back to Maya. Those her evolved pets which she got from her father.
The two birds changed their form and hurriedly replied Maya about what they saw. “My lady we saw a lady and three unevolved beasts in the front. They seem to guard the path for someone else.”
Hearing those words, Maya’s immediately got alert. She immediately took out few talismans and asked her two pet birds to set up an array trap for the lady and three unevolved beasts. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire
Taking the talisman, the two birds left in hurry and Maya also improved her pace. The disciples of demonic tree sect hurriedly rushed behind her with excited smiles.
Tata Lan who ignored the presence of two normal looking birds, soon fell victim to the array trap. Even though Kent’s two pets found about the traps beforehand, they couldn’t fight back against the evolved birds.
Soon, Maya and her clan members reached the place where Tata Lan and three beasts were captured forcefully.
The forest echoed with the pained cries of Tata Lan and the feral growls of Kent’s pets. Strapped to a towering tree with enchanted vines, Tata Lan was subjected to a relentless barrage of spells and potions designed to break her spirit and extract information.
“Search her,” Maya commanded, her voice a chilling whisper.
Two disciples stepped forward, their hands aglow with a searching spell. They meticulously checked Tata Lan’s person, from her hair to her boots, probing every pocket and crevice. They forcefully snatched her belongings and storage treasures and conducted a thorough search.
Despite their thorough search, they found nothing of significant value—no treasures, no rare herbs, nothing to explain the depletion of resources they had encountered along their path.
Maya’s expression darkened. She crouched down to Tata Lan’s level, her face inches from the captive’s. “Where are the treasures? The valuable herbs?” she demanded, her tone dripping with malice.
Tata Lan met her gaze with unwavering defiance. “I have nothing,” she said through gritted teeth.
Maya’s eyes narrowed. She gestured to her followers, who began preparing a variety of torturous instruments and potions. “Very well. If you won’t tell me willingly, I’ll make you talk.”
As the first spell hit Tata Lan, her body convulsed in pain, but she refused to cry out. The disciples took turns, casting spells designed to inflict maximum suffering without causing permanent damage. Potions were forced down her throat, each one designed to weaken her resolve and cloud her mind.
“Who are you with?” Maya demanded after each round of torture. “Tell us, and this will end.”
Tata Lan’s silence only seemed to fuel Maya’s anger. The tortures continued, each one more horrific than the last, but still, Tata Lan did not break.
Meanwhile, the pets were not spared. The Fire Kirin, its majestic flames dimmed by the enchanted chains, roared in defiance but was subdued by powerful binding spells. Jabil, the serpent beast, hissed and writhed but was similarly restrained. The sight of her companions suffering only steeled Tata Lan’s resolve.
Suddenly, a brilliant light erupted from the distance, drawing everyone’s attention. The Celestial Tower of Arcane Sage began emanating a radiant glow, its luminosity cutting through the darkness like a beacon.
Maya’s eyes widened with recognition and greed. “What is that?” she muttered to herself, momentarily forgetting her captive. She signalled for her forces to mobilize. “Bring the prisoners. We move towards the light!”