Eternal Thief

The moment Jake activated the formation, runes suddenly appeared in front of them like miniature stars. They pulsed in sync with the unseen formation, slowly aligning in a rhythm. A moment later, the air trembled as unseen inscriptions flickered into existence.

The first layer melted away, revealing a translucent wall of shifting symbols. The second layer resisted, crackling with faint bursts of light as Jake performed a hand sign, his fingers weaving intricate gestures through the air.

Minutes stretched on, each second thick with anticipation, and then, with a sharp hum, the final layer of the formation unraveled. The air distorted, and the world beyond the veil revealed itself.

It was a narrow pathway carved into the valley itself, descended into an unknown hidden domain. Unlike the bleak and twisted terrain outside, this passage exuded a sense of stillness, untouched for a long time. Luminescent moss clung to the walls, casting a soft silver glow. The temperature dropped noticeably, and a faint, almost imperceptible fragrance drifted deep within.

Jake took a slow breath, his expression unreadable.

”This is it,” he murmured. Without another word, he led the group inside while Helmir started to set up formations to conceal this place because they couldn’t put up that formation again; it would take too long.

As the group entered, the deeper they traveled, the more the surroundings changed. The walls of the pathway gradually expanded, revealing a cavernous interior illuminated by floating crystalline formations. Strange, ancient murals decorated the rock, depicting scenes of withered lands, monstrous beasts, and a radiant figure that shone like a miniature sun.

”T-this is an ancient remnant of the past!” Helmir exclaimed as he observed the murals on the walls, and his eyes were filled with excitement.

”Heh, I told you, you won’t be disappointed by coming with me.” Killian chuckled at his friend’s reaction. He was secretly shocked as he closely observed this place.

Ancient Remnants were as rare as the secret realms. But unlike secret realms that were hidden in the chaotic space, ancient remnants were hidden in the lands. They can be anywhere, whether deep underground or concealed in ancient formations.

The ancient remnant would surface when these formations lost their functions or weakened. Ancient Remnants were filled with either lost knowledge or treasures; in rare cases, they have both. But most of the time, they were empty.

In this ancient remnant case within the Vindictive Ridged Valley, a Star Encompassing Fruit seedling was discovered by the Runic Flame Duke hundreds of years ago. Ravencrown was also observing this Ancient Remnant, and while everyone’s focus was on their surroundings, they didn’t notice a hidden eye mark on her chin flash. At this moment, Jake’s steps slowed as his gaze lingered on one particular mural. It depicted a lone figure standing before the glowing figure, arms raised, as tendrils of golden energy seeped into their body.

”Whatever this ancient remnant was part of… it’s not ordinary,” Helmir murmured, tracing a hand over the carvings.

Killian or Jake didn’t respond. Instead, their gazes flicked ahead—to where the cavern’s natural passage widened into an open chamber and, at its center, bathed in an ethereal glow!

”It’s up ahead!” Jake stated, hinting at greed and impatience.

As they passed the passage, the entire space suddenly changed as they appeared in front of a large pond filled with beautiful white lotuses seemingly arranged in an array pattern.

In the center of this lotus pond was a small patch of land, and on this small patch of land was growing a seedling pulsing with light while surrounded by an ethereal mist-like stardust.

This was the same place Jake had been observing with the mirror given to him by his father, and this was arranged when the Duke discovered this place so he could observe the growth of the fruit.

However, only after entering this place did Jake discover a peculiar spirit Qi, in the air and a sweet, intoxicating scent that stirred everyone’s hearts as desire surfaced in their hearts.

One of the Ascension Masters blankly stared at the fruit as he moved on his own, almost bewitched, and by the time others noticed, one of his feet was already about to step on the water.

”Do you have a death wish!” Killian finally snapped out of his stupor and released his spiritual pressure to stop that ascension master in its tracks while the others suddenly snapped out of their daze.

The Ascension Master also regained his wits and paled as he quickly looked at Killian and explained, ”I-I… please forgive me… I don’t know what happened!”

Killian coldly glared at him, and Helmir spoke at this moment, ”It wasn’t your fault. This scent is extremely bewitching, and it can directly entice your greed. This means that a seedling is a top-tier natural treasure.

”But this also means that it has an equally terrifying natural defense, and that pond is this seedling’s natural defense. If Marquise hadn’t stopped you, the moment you would’ve touched that water, your final outcome would be death.”

Killian nodded in agreement, making the Ascension Master and the others pale with fright as they took a step back, and they no longer looked at the otherworldly pond as a wonder of nature but a death trap.

”His Excellency Helmir is right.” Jake nodded, ”Every immature treasure has either a natural defense or a guardian, and the stronger the treasure, the more powerful the defense, and unless your cultivation is extremely high from the treasure, you will end up either dead or wounded. But if you break it while the treasure is still immature, it might no longer grow any further.

”The only time a natural treasure’s defense is at its weakest is when the natural treasure is about to be complete or evolved. So, right now, our only purpose is to set up a defensive formation around here, and we’ll wait until the fruit is ripped.

”Before that, I want everyone to be on your toes, and if anyone other than us step foot anywhere near this place…” Jake’s expression turns ruthless, ”Kill them on sight!”