Ch103: Invading the Evergreen Mountains

Rein spent the next few days nursing his sore body while preparing to defend against the demon beast wave, as ordered by the Hall of Heroes' leadership.

The hustle and bustle in the labyrinth was accompanied by the shocking news of what had befallen Lyne of the Xuere Clan in the Western Wilderness. She had returned and was determined to be pregnant with a child!

Many saw it to be a loss, for such a talented advancer to have her future path likely cut off, a dead end of an originally golden path. All who had spent enough time in the advancer world would, sooner or later, come across the knowledge that it was best for women to maintain their purity if they desired the chance to climb above the telekinetic realm.

Many of the male nobles in the Green Trout City who had pursued Lyne prior to the Second Prince making his intentions known, felt all sorts of emotions. Some pity, others disgust, mixed with envy or jealousy.

They soon received another shock to their minds, news that could be said to have flipped their earlier emotions a hundred eighty degrees. After another few days, news arrived from the capital. The Seventh Prince declared that it was him who had secretly approached Lyne in the Western Wilderness, to bypass others' detection in order to snatch a bride.

Many sensed that the succession battle for the Minhr Nation's throne could now be said to have truly begun! Most automatically believed the news from the capital to be true-- in their minds, it simply would not make sense for the Seventh Prince to marry a woman who carried another man's child in their womb.

Rein initially raised an eyebrow upon hearing of this, feeling somewhat baffled even though Zyne had already informed him of the deal. Once he spent some time thinking about it, he could only acknowledge that this Seventh Prince had made a bold move. In fact, he was almost impressed that the Seventh Prince dared to make such a move.

He felt mixed feelings regarding the fact that his child was to be a son of Dingien Clan. He was not at all concerned with the child's safety-- the child, too, is a descendant of the Xuere Clan. Rein was certain Lyne and her grandfather, Zyne, would not allow the supposed said-to-be of 'weak' influence, the Seventh Prince, to harm the child.

This was not the only astonishing news that reverberated through the Halls.

Less mind-shaking but still rather bewildering news was announced by a servant of House Larne. Apparently, House Larne discovered that Beincen, the scion of the family, had returned from the Western Wilderness possessed by a devil!

Upon discovery, House Larne waged a battle against the devil within their estate. The battle destroyed sections of House Larne's extensive property, and finally, the devil-possessed Beincen was struck down.

As Beincen's soul had already been lost, House Larne's Patriarch used a secret art to transfer the remaining vitality of Beincen's body to heal Rekcen's right arm. As the two are brothers and share a high compatibility, Rekcen would soon fully recover with two functional arms. At least, that was the announcement that came out of the servant's mouth.

When this piece of news passed into Rein's ears, his instincts felt something to be off. In fact, Rein himself originally intended to inform the Halls of Beincen being possessed, after he settled his own affairs.

Yet before he had the opportunity, the possessed Beincen was already dead. Rein was no fool. That devil-possessed Beincen seemed rather unique and powerful-- surely he would not fall so easily.

Rein, of course, also recalled that he had very nearly been possessed in that chasm under the ancient dwarven ruins. Putting two-and-two together, Rein was certain that Hahrn, with the moniker of the Blood Devil, must have taken over Beincen's body.

Would anyone believe this conclusion of his now that Beincen had passed? Probably not. House Larne has much influence in the Green Trout City. They might not be considered an advancer clan, but they are still of nobility, to be treated with respect in the eyes of the mostly mortal citizens in Green Trout City.

Perhaps Baejenh, an elder of Fusion Sect, could act. Yet, contacting her so soon wasn't a good idea. After all, Rein had leaked information to Baejenh regarding the ongoing events within the Halls. Moreover, the Fusion Sect supposedly avoided sticking their noses into the internal affairs of the Minhr Nation…

Rein suspected that the Blood Devil Hahrn must have hidden himself in House Larne. It was possible that the Hahrn had taken over the Larne Patriarch's body.

The very next day, House Larne announced their intention to leave Green Trout City within the next week. Supposedly, someone in the Dingien Clan had reallocated their position elsewhere!

Thus, Rein came to believe that there was no point to him communicating his suspicions any longer. He might even be seen as a lunatic, since he held no evidence.

As he meditated within his assigned cave within the Halls' labyrinth, he suddenly recalled that he had obtained a ring belonging to this devil.

He was filled with curiosity as he withdrew this ring from his spatial pouch. The bronze ring was of an indistinct appearance-- worn and scratched with a carved spatial pocket inscription. If one saw this ring on the side of the road, the only reason they might pick it up would be to examine the contents inside.

Rein traced the spatial inscription over the ring with the fingertip of his index. The ring is, of course, a spatial ring, and Rein soon identified the opening of the inscription that allowed him to withdraw the contents within. Spatial pouches are much simpler-- the inscription on a spatial pouch is designed such that the opening of the pouch is the opening of the spatial enchantment.

The contents within were sparse-- Rein only withdrew two scrolls. He unfurled the two scrolls and began to examine their contents.

Rein was amazed by the contents of the two scrolls. One contained details on various methods to awaken one's bloodline powers. It described how some tribes and races, in ancient times, were gifted unique powers by the fallen gods. This power melded into their blood, and can be awakened under certain conditions.

Of course, many do not descend from these beings favored by those fallen gods, and no bloodline power would awaken in such descendents. Rein couldn't help but wonder if such bloodline might be hidden within his veins-- after all, he could not even recall his origins. After entering the advancer world, he began to suspect that his father and mother's exile had more to it than he initially thought.

The second scroll was an advancer art named 'Eternal Blood' that described a method to further enrich one's vitality, one's life force through blood. The peak of this advancer art allows an advancer to split their blood into a hundred concentrated drops, each infused with the soul and mind of the advancer.

As long as one drop out of these hundred drops can find a source of power to reconstruct a body, or possess a target, one would survive then revive.

Rein continued to examine this 'Eternal Blood' art, and his face became increasingly ugly. What an incredibly devilish art! It requires the consumption of fresh blood. The volume of blood consumption wasn't measured in stones, or boulders, but in cities, nations, and a whole realm.

This 'Eternal Blood' art was further complicated by the concept of 'willing' and 'unwilling' blood. The writings explained it as thus: All advancers have an instinctual control over their own aurae, to protect their own bodies and expel invaders. The aurae within the blood is the same, and as such, blood consumed from a willing victim who actively disabled this protective mechanism allows the practitioner of this art to better absorb and progress the art. The writings estimated the effectiveness to be five times.

Rein rolled his eyes at this information. To complete the art required one to basically annihilate a whole realm. Even if it was five times the efficacy, that might require probably a few nation's worth of willing participants. Unless one was willing to be a devil, this art could only be partially completed, only functioning as supplementary power-- a slight increase in life force, and perhaps, a single drop of eternal blood after thousands of years if one performed duties such as hunting demon beasts or devil bounties.

There was a section on using the strengthened blood as a type of blood weapon, or to invade another's body. However, that carries the risk of potentially losing control of said blood, and the risk of allowing others with certain powers to infect the advancer's own blood.

Once Rein finished examining this scroll, he understood that Blood Devil Hahrn must have practiced this art, and had likely successfully created at least a few drops of concentrated blood. It also explained why the possessed Beincen had sneaked into the Harvest Devil Sect that controlled the supply of blood energy from the surrounding ghostly ancient battlefield.

He then began to meticulously examine the internal pocket of the spatial ring. He recalled that the draconic might of his absorbed metamorphose bead had stamped out a piece of Hahrn's soul. Based on Rein's understanding of Blood Devil Hahrn's survival method, that meant a concentrated drop of blood must be in this ring!

As Rein was no outer or telekinetic advancer, he could not easily examine the space within the spatial ring, and could only repeatedly probe the inside with his finger jabbing through the opening of spatial inscription. 

When he couldn't find anything after a few breaths, he began to feel frustrated, and thus decided to shake the worn bronze ring back and forth as if he was mixing a cocktail at a tavern.

With a plop, a droplet of concentrated blood slipped out of the space within the ring! Some magic at work kept the blood in one concentrated drop, as it rolled across the cave floor like a soft spherical jelly.

Rein picked up this concentrated drop of vibrant blood that was no larger than his fingertip. When the droplet of blood touched his finger, he sensed the roiling and dense energy within.

He glanced at the scroll denoting the 'Eternal Blood' art once again as he considered his options.

Rein knew that he would never be capable of the mindless slaughter necessary for practicing this art to its completion, and he was determined to keep it that way. He recalled how he had lost control of himself in the Wolf Syrup Town. He preferred not to cross over said line ever again.

Not that it meant he would never take a life if it was determined to be necessary-- he had long stepped across that line. However, he wished to avoid indulging in the bloodlust sensation, as he did when he massacred those mortals in Wolf Syrup Town.

Beyond that, Rein had also come to realize that many mortals and advancers are just pawns of higher powers. No matter how many pawns he slayed, little would change.

He now also knew much more of the advancer world, having seen Gent's visions, and encountered much within the Western Wilderness. And of course, the origin of the Xunians, Suey's people.

Rein's resolve and will hardened. He needed strength. Would practicing the 'Eternal Blood' Art raise his powers? The answer was yes. Yet if he became overdependent on this art, seeking power through its completion, a devil he will become.

A fine line he would be treading upon, but a path he must walk upon. Unknown to him, he now shared a common belief that many rogue advancers-- those who weren't aligned to any faction-- had. A weapon is but a tool-- it is the wielder who decides whether the weapon does good or evil. He recalled the devour ability that was innate to many ancient demon beasts. As his body had been transformed by the draconic metamorphose bead, he, too, was capable of it. This ability raised the rate and efficiency with which he could consume aurae rich 'food'.

Rein had yet to employ this ability, for he feared revealing the secret of his unique body. His tempered body should be able to absorb the dense energy within a single drop of eternal blood from a weakened outer realm ranked devil, he reasoned.

As for the Halls? He honestly was not sure why Master Yirn had returned him to the Halls. After gaining knowledge of the Xunians' origins, Rein suspected that much of the world would not welcome the Xunians, including the Allfather. As a result, he felt increasingly disillusioned with the state of the current world, especially with what had happened to himself. His will now stood only for his own vision. A blurry, uncertain path, but one that he was determined to walk upon.

Rein took a deep breath. The Halls and its higher ups, including the watcher, should be preoccupied. An ant like him should not be under observation under the current circumstances.

He jabbed the finger carrying the drop of Blood Devil Hahrn's eternal blood into his mouth and swallowed it. For the first time, he activated the devour ability innate to ancient demon beast lineages.

A heat began to spread through his veins. At first, it was manageable. Yet that energy continued to rise, and Rein shockingly gained a few fleeting memories as he revolved the flow of aurae in his body as per that 'Eternal Blood Art'.

Those memories contained images of a magical realm! These are the memories of the partial soul of Hahrn within the blood that had been crushed by the remnant will of Gent from the draconic metamorphose bead!

The memories were only flashes of images, but Rein was certain that it came from an upper realm. After all, one image was a city where all advancers flew to and fro like a locust swarm in harvest season! Such cities do not exist in the Fusion Realm!

Rein suspected that he had bitten off more than he could chew. These memories revealed that the so-called Blood Devil Hahrn must have originally been even more powerful! Somehow he had fallen to the Fusion Realm, weakened, only to be struck down once again by the existence known as the Endflower at the dwarven ancient ruin's entrance.

These thoughts were dispelled when the storm of energy continued to rise within Rein's veins. As much as he tried, he could not suppress the vast volume of aurae entering his body! The orange-hued draconic lightning in his veins desperately surrounded this external energy, yet Rein's body could only absorb parts of the vigorous blood.

Rein accelerated the flow of aurae circulation as per the instructions on the 'Eternal Blood Art' scroll. The activated devour ability, a whirlpool in his belly, accelerated its spin in an attempt to further assist him in rapidly and effectively absorbing the aurae.

Yet it was not enough. The concentration of aurae rose exponentially and Rein felt his veins beginning to crack. His body became a full container, on the verge of exploding! For a split moment, Rein was prepared to beseech the Halls' watcher for assistance, even should it reveal his hidden draconic body!

As luck would have it, the spatial aurae of his origin ability suddenly activated. The spatial aurae wrapped itself around the remaining half-drop of eternal blood, and the energy was completely severed from the devouring cyclone within Rein's belly.

Beads of sweat rolled down Rein's temples. Once again, his half-senior's words were proven correct. He was far too reckless.

Once again, he had been saved by luck. Unknown to him, his spatial origin ability could isolate space around a singular object within his body. With his life on the line, that origin ability had sprung into action as a reflex, isolating the remaining half-drop of eternal blood in… Rein examined himself and could not sense where that half-drop of eternal blood had disappeared off to.

An idea occurred to him-- perhaps he could use his spatial origin ability to trace the location of that half-drop of eternal blood.

He formed a circle with his two hands and activated his spatial ability with a sizzle. By relying on the matching aurae, he discovered a sort of invisible channel within his body, positioned right below his lungs, centerline of his body.

When his mind probed that invisible channel, Rein was shocked to find his senses wrapped in a concentration of aurae, its composition emitting an aura that was his own! Far within this invisible channel, he could sense the half-drop was isolated in a sort of spatial pocket, a dark cocoon. However, he could not enter this invisible channel.

Rein's mind spun as he withdrew his internal examination. He soon concluded that he must have accidentally proved his astral space, occasionally spoken of in text, but never explained in any detail.

The astral space is a sort of personal 'container' of aurae that every being had, existing in a different dimension that overlayed one's body. Supposedly, one is only able to sense it upon reaching the outer realm.

Naturally, Rein understood little of it. Frankly, the whole advancer world lacked any detailed understanding of it. Somehow, the connection of Rein's spatial origin ability had allowed Rein to indirectly detect the channel to his astral space, as a result of that half-drop of eternal blood being sent to the astral space while wrapped in Rein's spatial aurae.

As for why so little is understood regarding this astral space that carries one's aurae? Well as it carries one's aurae, it is determined to be the primary source of one's magical abilities. Beyond that? The astral space of an advancer would automatically vanish upon death. As for attempting to invade another's astral space? The advancer being invaded would simply… explode with destructive power.

If one attempted to enter one's own astral space, they would initially feel their senses surrounded by their own aura. If one delved too deeply, one's mind would enter a state of mindless euphoria.

An advancer once attempted to explore his own astral space, only to enter a state of hibernation for centuries. Many thought he had passed, only to discover the advancer's body in between life and death. Centuries later, his consciousness somehow reawakened. Many were excited, thinking that the secrets of the astral space would finally be revealed.

The next words of said advancer nearly scared all present to death. He thought that only a day had passed, and reported only feeling a sense of heavenly joy. His smile that day was rumored to have raised goosebumps even on the rotting skin of corpses within graves.

As such, scholars soon concluded that the astral space must be a personal dimension of magical aurae that cannot be consciously understood by the limits of the mind. That astral space is generated by the physical body, and also 'dies' when one's lifeforce is spent.

However, that did not mean advancers avoided making use of what little understanding they had. After all, the orthodox path of an advancer is precisely designed to generate more power using connecting channels to one's astral space.

Take the outer realm. Their elevated abilities are generated from creating a revolving power core around invisible channels to the astral space.

As Rein finished recalling the extent of his knowledge, he felt confused, curious, but also relieved that his body was still in one piece. Rein returned his attention to stabilizing the volcanic aurae that still resided in his body. Rein still felt as if his body could explode at any time. He would need to slowly absorb the blood aurae as per the scroll, and steady his body state overtime.

As for his actual physical or magical strength? Rein currently felt no difference. He examined the scroll again. It seems the 'Eternal Blood Art' would only show its benefits if he reached a point of exhaustion. A genuine 'second wind', one might say. Rein discarded any ideas of using his blood as a weapon. He needed to be less reckless, as his half-senior Chenhr had admonished him countless times before.

Rein washed the grime from his body. Once his mind calmed from his nearly disastrous actions, he examined the bloodline awakening scroll in more detail.

Again, there were many devilish methods, such as collecting the blood of your closest family and relatives to concentrate the bloodline within one's body, to activate any hidden bloodline.

At least, this time, there were less distasteful methods recorded. The least revolting method was to collect a variety of clashing poisons, and when combined with a collection of conflicting elementally-aspected demon beast bloodlines, would force the body into a state of chaos. Through dancing between life and death in this infused bloodline tug-o-war, one would forcefully ignite the bloodline within the body as a protection mechanism. Not something Rein could afford to test anytime soon.

Rein meditated for the rest of the night, and somehow managed to stabilize his body. He still felt rather full, but he was no longer on the cusp of an aurae explosion.

The watcher's voice suddenly sounded through the walls of the labyrinth, in the early morning. Exactly how early? Rein would not know until he exited the labyrinth.

"Heroes of the Halls. It is time to gather in the tavern."

__________________________________________________________

In House Larne estate's main hall.

The main hall was where the Larne Patriarch would welcome guests, as well as hold meetings with his underlings. If one had a birdeye's view of the whole estate, they would see many servants hurrying about, arranging House Larne's migration.

Yet two figures remained within the main hall leisurely, one sipping a cup of wine while another kneeled.

The interior of the main hall had a red carpet that led to the patriarch's seat, with three thick pillars lining each side of this red carpet.

The six pillars are made of lignum vitae wood, carved with depictions of man versus demon beast, as is common across the many human realms.

Upon the ebony patriarch seat sat Rekcen. He was the figure that sipped wine, while the Larne Patriarch was the one who kneeled before him!

"As promised, I will bring House Larne to a new age of prosperity," Rekcen said to the man kneeling in front of him. "Your blood carries an ancient bloodline forgotten in these middling realms."

"The price will be your extended family. Their deaths will allow both me and you to fully awaken the ancient Larne bloodline, and we will rise to become a major power in the Fusion Realm. Perhaps even higher." Rekcen nonchalantly took another sip of his wine.

"Great… immortal god. I…" the Larne Patriarch raised his head then gathered his courage. "I do not mean to doubt your intentions, but will you truly…"

His words only made Rekcen chortle, bemused.

"Do you truly think I am interested in standing as Patriarch? My time is far better spent elsewhere. You will, of course, be my executioner. And should you betray my trust… well, that would be incredibly foolish. After all, if the world comes to know of your actions towards your extended family… Remember-- we're in this together."

The Larne Patriarch took a deep breath. It was always his dream to turn House Larne into a proper advancer clan. He had bet on his two sons, but that did not turn out all that well. He was determined to grab hold of this opportunity.

To the Larne Patriarch's shock, out of the blue, the possessed Rekcen hollered in pain! The cup of wine slipped from his fingers and clattered onto the ground.

The Larne Patriarch instantly sprang into action, using the sleeves of his own robes to clean the spilled wine.

"O Blood God!" he stammered, assuming the worst. "It was not I who poisoned the wine!" His heart was pounding with fear. After all, it was him who had taken this precious wine out of House Larne's private storage.

"Shut up!" Rekcen swung his arm, striking the Larne Patriarch's cheek, sending the man sprawling away. 

Rekcen was internally fuming. That sudden pain was him losing a small part of himself. When he possessed Beincen's body, he had regathered all of the eternal blood drops, but was missing a single drop.

The remnant will of Gent had destroyed Blood Devil Hahrn's piece of soul within that drop of blood. As such, the devil, now in Rekcen's body, was never fully certain where that drop had vanished off to.

He partly feared that it was Bienze of the Uni Sect, or that dark dragon who had taken that drop of eternal blood. Yet, what if it was the young man named Rein? From Beincen's memory, Hahrn knew of Rein's presence within the chasm.

The possessed Rekcen grinded his teeth. If he was as powerful as he was originally, he would have been able to easily sense the events in that sunless chasm in full. In theory, the parts of the soul should be able to communicate information to one another. However, his connection to that piece of his soul had been severed before it could communicate any information.

As for Rekcen? His soul, though pressured under Hahrn, also similarly demanded that to achieve full and complete possession, Hahrn must take the life of Rein.

Hahrn, as Rekcen, had chosen to put this off for a future time. Rein resides in the Halls' labyrinth, which Hahrn determined to be impossible to breach with his current powers.

Still, Hahrn was beginning to develop concrete resentment towards the youngster named Rein. He rolled his right shoulder to test Beincen's arm, which had been severed from its original body then connected to Rekcen's right shoulder. It still didn't feel right. And for some crazy reason, both Beincen and Rekcen demanded Rein's death as the price for complete possession.

"You had best lose your life against the demon beast wave, child," Hahrn muttered as if Rein was standing in front of him. In the past, many of his foes would die in random disasters. That would certainly make his life easier.

Hahrn was in no hurry to complete the possession of Rekcen's body. He only needed to do so before his re-ascension. He had much that needed to be done first. After all, his primary goal was to seek revenge against the one who had crippled his original powers, forcing him to hide in the Fusion Realm!

____________________________________________________

Back in the Halls' labyrinth.

Rein arrived in the tavern. The space within the tavern had magically expanded to accommodate most of the Halls' members.

Rein took his place beside his depleting number of companions-- Wilo, Dahk, and Chirh. Wilo simply greeted him with a silent nod. Dahk grunted with his hand clenched around his spear. Chirh shivered with fear.

"Oi you!"

Rein widened his eyes as he turned to find a grey-robed man chucking a holster towards him. Rein caught the holster and examined its contents-- three Spears of Heaven. 

"Hey!"

Rein looked up again and barely caught a bottle that carried a few pills. These pills would allow him the ability to temporarily guide these three Spears of Heaven from a distance.

A fluctuating wave of spiritual pressure soon vibrated Rein's flesh and bones, causing his teeth to chatter as if it was freezing cold. A figure dressed in regal purple robes decorated with zigzagging jet-black lines appeared. These robes caused the Halls' members to split apart, creating space for the man. Rein recognized this man as Supreme Huhrz, who had easily dealt with the outer realm advancer that was on his heels when he escaped the ancient dwarven ruins.

"Many of you came here today, believing the fight to be against the demon beast wave. It is time that you be informed we aim to deal a blow on the Great Sects of the Evergreen Mountains instead!" Supreme Huhrz's words shocked the crowd into silence.

"Worry not," Supreme Huhrz added. "The Dingien Clan will arrange forces to defend the Xuere Gap. You only need to fight for your lives until the sun rises twenty degrees above the horizon. A signal for retreat will sound."

"Supreme," a man stepped forth, doubt upon his face. "How are we to reach--"

A snap of Huhrz's fingers and this man discovered that though his mouth moved, no voice came out.

The labyrinth then rumbled, as its many walls and tunnels shifted under the hidden controller's hands. Once the rumbling settled, the door of the tavern was now attached to a never-seen-before tunnel of black marble stone.

"Go. The order is simple. Defend the dark dome. Those ranked top hundred in contributions will be given the necessary assistance, however many resources are necessary, to raise a minor realm in power. The ten with greatest contributions will be given assistance to raise one major realm in power! Others will still be rewarded as per the normal distribution system."

These words set the crowd's eyes aflame. For many of the inner advancers present, already close to the shell realm, performing well during this mission guarantees their advancement! As for the longstanding Halls' members, such a guarantee of resources was rare!

However, none could enter the portal yet, for a procession of silver-plated and white-robed guards was to lead the way. Rein recalled that these are advancers who had reached the limit of their talents, and thus chose to have their powers forcibly raised, the price being that they would make no further advancement in the future.

Rein was perplexed to find these guards carrying the ancient relic chest that the Halls had retrieved from the west, towards the portal. He could clearly remember that when he had first joined the Halls, a member of the Halls that controlled an army of puppets had retrieved this chest from the Western Wilderness. It was also because of this ancient relic that Rein had discovered Gent's knowledge of ancient language within his own mind.

The procession of the Halls' members followed into the black marble stone tunnel, and at the end of this short tunnel was a spherical spatial portal. A grey-robed woman stood beside this portal, and as each Halls' member approached, she handed out two small dark beads.

All advancers knew what these were for-- to protect the body against the chaotic energy of a spatial tunnel.

Rein similarly crushed one of his two dark beads, and his body was wrapped in a protective purplish-black layer.

He entered the portal, and for a breath of time, his surroundings transformed into a ring of blinding light. Then, he found his feet on warmly-lit dirt ground dotted with jade gemstones!

Rein was naturally astonished.

"Quickly! Or you'll be squashed by the others!" These words of a grey-robed Halls member on this side of the portal awakened Rein from his stupor. He hurried forward, just in time to avoid a figure spinning out of the portal, landing on his previous spot.

Rein continued moving forwards and held the Soak Staff in his hands, with the three Spears of Heaven strapped to his back. Every Halls member had already unsheathed their preferred weapons.

As he did so, he examined his surroundings. They were in a tunnel of a jade mine! Metallic orbs, submerged in the walls of the wide, well-excavated tunnel, emitted a warm glow, illuminating the orange-brown dirt that hid glimpses of jade specks within.

Rein himself was baffled. He wasn't sure as to the exact position of this jade mine, but seeing as this was an attack on the Great Sects, it should be somewhere in the Evergreen Mountains. It simply felt like a bad idea to jump into something of an underground trap. However, the Halls soon demonstrated that they had thought this through.

A number of bulky grey-robed Halls members soon spun out of the portal, and they carried uncountable spatial pouches at their waist.

They began to withdraw many stone beams and blocks with detailed powerful inscriptions from these spatial pouches, taking deep breaths as they began to set up stone arches to support this tunnel. These inscriptions were unrecognizable to Rein, proof of their high-realmed power.

Rein followed the others. They ignored quite a few other pathways to reach a large open underground zone that had many minecarts and tracks. Many paths connecting to this area descended steeply into the darkness.

A number of corpses in rags with pools of blood decorated the ground. These miners, probably here to excavate jade as punishment under the Great Sects, had already been slain immediately by the earliest-to-arrive Halls' members, to prevent news being leaked.

Meanwhile, behind Rein, the bulky grey-robed figures continued to construct their archways to reinforce the tunnel from the large underground base to the portal. Their movements were smooth, precise and quick.

The chest that is the ancient relic was placed in the center of the underground base. The five Supremes of the Halls stood in a circle around it, and they each stabbed a heavily inscribed pillar into the ground, forming a star around the ancient relic.

The five began to chant as they repeatedly slammed their palms against those inscribed pillars, then the ancient relic.

At the same time, the silver-clad white-robed guards placed various stakes and blocks of stones, as well as various magical items that Rein could not recognize over the ground. These magical items surrounded those five pillars in a distinct pattern.

Though Rein failed to recognize many of these magical items, he could tell that a defensive formation was being set up.

Some of those guards also now flew about, assisting the bulky grey-robed figures to reinforce the wide underground area that functioned as a mining base for the Great Sects. This was to ensure that the cavern would not collapse onto the centered ancient relic and defensive formation.

An ancient shrieking filled Rein's ears as the ancient relic chest lid opened, dark wisps spilling out. These dark wisps were attracted by the five pillars like bees to honey, and followed the five pillars to swirl downwards, poison injecting into the underground.

Soon, the formation was complete as a dome of concentrated dark aurae cloud obscured the ancient relic and the five pillars from external sight.

A sudden boom resounded through the underground mining cavern.

"By Xune's spear," Supreme Jensure muttered. "How did they detect us so quickly?" It needed to be said that their extensive preparations were lightning quick, only taking the time of a hungry pig consuming a meal.

"Do not look down on the Great Sects of the Evergreen Mountains," Supreme Huhrz monotonously replied, causing Jensure to snort in dissatisfaction.

"Members of the Halls," Huhrz floated above the dark cloudy defensive formation. "Hear my words. The Great Sects will attempt to drill tunnels to reach us. They will attempt to collapse tunnels to kill us. Worry not for the escape route, for it is reinforced with upper realm inscriptions, and the great Overseer Jeahz guards that path."

"That should be enough information for you to battle our foes appropriately. If you fail to heed and make use of such information to your own advantage, then that can only mean your path is at an end!"

A female initiate who stuck her head into some random tunnel quickly retracted her neck and backed away. She was just in time as another resounding boom caused that tunnel to collapse.

"Remember. Your contribution today may very well determine your future!"

All present understood the task before them. As long as they lasted long enough for the magic of that ancient relic to take hold, and they killed enough foes, then their futures in the advancer world would be guaranteed!