Into the Royal Forest

Royal Forest's inner circle wasn't just a monster nest, but also a treasure trove. The sects were protecting the cities from the forest, but were also using it to mine, and hunt. There were countless beasts, plants, and mining grounds inside the forest.

Only in Three Sect Tournaments would the inner circle be opened. Normally, only the outer circle was accessible. It was to let monsters and plants breed and create a suitable environment where sects could nurture their younglings.

Ezio, not long ago, had discovered a Fire Iron Mine inside a cave, which was valuable to sect beyond measure. If it were to be discovered by another sect at the same time, the two sects would fight over it. The mining was still going on, thus Ezio hasn't received any reward yet. But when the mining was over and the total amount was calculated, Ezio would receive an ample amount of money from the mine. And that was just a mine in the outer circle. Inner circle had much more richness!

Disciples of three sects gathered in front of the forest and waited for Leaders to come to a decision. They would usually fight for entrance orders at the feast, but because of a certain Elven beauty, the fights were canceled. To decide the order, Elders were thinking of several ways, but in the end, they could only randomly select.

Mountain Lynx Sect was decided to go first, Cleansing Buddhist Sect second and Crimson Fire Sect was to enter the last.

There were 100 disciples from each sect. Most of them were in the Qi Force Opening Realm, and only a small amount was in the Qi Vortex Creation Realm. Because The Three Sects Tournament was held every five years, disciples usually only had one chance to enter.

After all, most of the sect disciples would enter the Qi Vortex Creation Realm at the age of 11, and to Qi Solidification Realm at the age of 17. At the time of entrance to the forest, those who were at the peak of the Qi Force Opening Realm would be the lucky ones. But there were some unlucky ones like Ezio, who was in the Qi Vortex Creation Realm.

Ezio entered the forest with three beauties and one teen. The teen was the strongest fighter of the sect in the Qi Force Opening Realm, Xian Zhou.

Xian Zhou was a hunky man. His muscles were refined, and his face was manly. His hair was short and his eyes were sharp. He nodded to Ezio and didn't speak a word. He was here to protect Yang Yu, and her friends were just extras.

A team of five started to run in the forest quickly in a random direction. There was no way of knowing which direction had the best opportunities, so why not choose it randomly? Old-timers would sell or share good spots with youths, but no one could guarantee that the spot was still safe, valuable, or there at all. After all, this place was closed for five years.

Ezio had a creepy feeling of being watched as he was running. As if to confirm his insight, Xian Zhou spoke: "We are being followed."

"They are after me," Ezio said resolutely. He had many ways to ditch his followers if he was alone, so if the party wanted him to leave, he would. "If you guys want, I can leave the party."

"How can this be?" Yang Yu said before Xian Zhou spoke, "How could we leave you alone. Let them come, we will kick their asses."

"I am here to protect Yang Yu." Xian Zhou said, looking at Yang Yu. The sentence made the maiden blush. "But I also got an order from Abbot to protect you." He turned to look at Ezio.

"I thank the Senior Brother in advance," Ezio said, clasping his hand. "But if anything dangerous happens, please leave me behind. I have ways to ditch them but can only use them on myself."

"If it comes to that point, we will see." Xian Zhou said and picked up his speed. The girls waited to see if Ezio could catch up, seeing him catching up without any problem, thus girls also followed behind.

Ezio, after all, had 40 Qi Force. He was able to follow them.

They ran about half an hour to reach the inner part of the Royal Forest, and when they jumped over a cliff, Xian Zhou pulled them all towards the big riff on the ground when they were still in the air.

Ezio was surprised at first, but then noticed, there was a small cave around 5 meters below on one of the walls of the cliff, and they were pulled there. As Lai Shi was about to speak, Ezio and Xian Zhou made a hush sign to silence her. Not long after, three men jumped over the cliff and went away.

"How did you know there was a cliff here? I thought we were going in a random direction." Ezio asked Xian Zhou.

"My Force Signium is Earth Bat." Xian Zhou said and displayed his Signium. It was a stone bat with many cracks all over its body. "It allows me to feel vibrations through the earth. When we were running, I discovered this cave."

Ezio looked at the Signium with amazement. It was from the Third Curtain, Advance Tier. Beast Signiums were rarer than Weapon Signiums. They would give physical strength in addition to proficiencies. This one Signium was giving Xian Zhou, physical strength, the insight in Earth element, and the insight in vibration.

"What are we gonna do now?" asked curvaceous beauty Xun Bai.

"This cave is deep. Even I can't see the end of it." Xian Zhou said with hesitation, then decided; "Let's stay here for the time being and see if there is anything valuable inside the cave. We will also ditch Little Ezio's tails."

"Okay, as you wish." Yang Yu said and started to walk in front. Her Signium appeared on top of her head. It was in the shape of a light bulb.

"Light Element!" Ezio exclaimed. "How rare."

"Well, it is rare and worthless. All Signiums allow their users to comprehend at least two insights, but mine only do for one, and I am only good at illuminating." Yang Yu said self-deprecatingly.

'She is right. Light element is so rare, for a Signium from the Second Curtain, it would only allow a single insight and be used as a lamp. All the Signiums related to Light element and other proficiencies are starting from Third Curtain, Pinnacle Tier.'

Ezio thought to himself, but still, cheered up Yang Yu. "Don't think like that Senior Sister. Light element is so rare, if you gain a little bit of insight, your powers will sky rocket." And it was true. Unlike the simpler elements such as Fire and Water, the Light element was harder to comprehend but was much stronger as well.

"He is right, Yang Yu." Xian Zhou said softly. "How many times I have told you, you should give yourself more credit."

"Hmm. I will stop being depressed and work harder." Yang Yu said, raising her little fist up. "Let the cutest lamp help you discover this cave then."

***

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