Escaping the wyvern left Somere profoundly relieved. Though she was no weakling, facing such a formidable magical beast had left her utterly helpless.
Once they were safely away, Somere panted, pressing a hand to her chest. **"Thank the stars you warned me in time. Otherwise, I might've ended up as wyvern fodder…"** She sighed, shaken by the encounter. Who'd have thought the underground world housed such terrifying creatures? A wyvern—the apex of lesser dragons!
Indeed, the Blazing King's Palace was fraught with danger at every turn.
Even tenth-tier experts had to tread carefully here.
Somere's admiration for Kael grew another notch. This guy was years younger than her, yet his strength was undeniable—effortlessly evading a wyvern's pursuit, and still seeming like he had energy to spare.
"No wonder Kael's considered the cream of the younger generation. I underestimated him. He and Einar are both freaks of nature, each with their own arsenal of trump cards…" The more she saw of Kael, the more she realized how inscrutable he was. His power likely rivaled even seasoned eleventh-tier veterans.
But for all its perils, the underground world also offered immense rewards.
Somere's excitement bubbled up as she recalled the trove of rare herbs now stashed in her spatial ring. This haul alone made the risk worthwhile.
Kael, of course, had outdone her. His knowledge of herbs far surpassed hers, and he'd targeted only the most valuable specimens—all now secured in his ring, ready to be transplanted into his pocket dimension once they escaped.
"Kael! That Moongaze Leaf…" The kitten stared up at him with pleading eyes, its tail flicking ingratiatingly.
Only then did Somere notice the little creature perched on Kael's shoulder. Its sudden speech startled her, and she gaped at it, fascinated. A talking cat? This was a first.
Kael, however, was unfazed. The kitten's existence was no secret to him.
"Relax, it's all yours." He chuckled, ruffling the kitten's head.
The little furball's craving for the Moongaze Leaf was palpable—and Kael was just as curious. What new power would it awaken after another evolution?
But now wasn't the time for potion-brewing. Every second in the underground world was precious. The Moongaze Leaf would have to wait until their escape.
With Kael's confirmation, the kitten was overjoyed, its eyes sparkling as it purred and mewed cheerfully.
"The greatest treasures in this underground world are likely these rare herbs scattered everywhere. The dense magical elements here have nurtured countless spiritual plants. If we can find a few that enhance our strength, we'll strike gold,"Kael remarked with a faint smile.
Somere nodded in agreement. The underground world stretched endlessly before them, and though the legendary Blazing King's Palace remained elusive, the abundance of spiritual herbs made it a veritable paradise.
The two resumed their search, with Kael pocketing every rare herb they encountered. Somere grew even more impressed as she realized just how knowledgeable Kael was about these mystical plants.
As they foraged, a dazzling emerald pillar of light suddenly erupted in the distance, shooting into the sky. The beam was massive, pulsing with extraordinary energy and brimming with vibrant vitality, as if piercing the heavens themselves.
"Such intense fluctuations…" Kael's eyes narrowed. **"Could it be a treasure manifesting? Let's check it out!"**
"Agreed!" Somere responded instantly.
Both pushed their speed to the limit, racing toward the source of the green radiance.
The pillar was impossible to miss. Along the way, countless other adventurers noticed it as well, all converging in its direction.
Yet Kael and Somere were far swifter, leaving most in the dust within moments as they charged ahead.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Despite their blistering pace, the distance to the light was vast. Though they overtook many, others had already arrived ahead of them.
As they drew closer, Kael finally glimpsed the origin of the emerald pillar from afar.
It was an enormous tree.
A single tree—forming an entire forest.
The tree's branches sprawled in every direction, lush and verdant, forming a spectacle so grand it resembled an entire forest from afar. In this vast expanse, no other plants grew—only this solitary giant stood.
Clearly, this tree had absorbed all the surrounding spiritual energy, leaving no room for other vegetation to thrive.
Upon its massive boughs hung about a dozen pale golden fruits, each roughly the size of a fist, their surfaces shimmering with an alluring glow.
"This is… the Rootless Tree!" Kael's eyes flashed with recognition.
"The Rootless Tree?" Somere gasped, visibly startled. She clearly knew of this legendary spiritual wood.
Legends said the Rootless Tree took millennia to mature. Without roots, it struggled to survive, growing painstakingly slow—requiring thousands of years to reach such colossal size.
Moreover, when it finally bore fruit, it produced the so-called Divine Heart Fruits: pale golden orbs that, while not boosting power directly, could purify and refine one's physique. For mages, they aided elemental fusion; for warriors, they enhanced physical potential.
"These Divine Heart Fruits are the real deal," Kael murmured, his gaze fixed on the prize.
Scanning the tree, he counted over a dozen fruits, a few of which gleamed brighter than the rest—nearing ripeness.
With a flicker of movement, Kael and Somere closed in, halting about a hundred meters from the Rootless Tree.
A crowd of a dozen or so had already gathered around it. Their expressions darkened as more arrivals—including Kael's group—streamed into the area.
"Damn it, more people keep coming!"
"Hell, everyone nearby is swarming in. This is bad—who knows who'll snatch the Divine Heart Fruits now…"
"They're not fully ripe yet. We've got no choice but to wait."
Unripe Divine Heart Fruits were useless. The crowd could only bide their time.
Suddenly, a figure streaked into view, drawing all eyes.
A man with fiery red hair and an icy demeanor cut through the air, his speed lightning-fast. The intense mana fluctuations rolling off him commanded immediate attention.
"Einar!" Many recognized the newcomer—indeed, it was none other than Einar himself!
Kael's brow furrowed slightly. Einar's sharp instincts had led him here as well, to the Rootless Tree.
Einar's gaze sharpened as he noticed Kael in turn. From a distance, he gave a faint nod in acknowledgment, a silent greeting.
"Einar and Kael—both of the younger generation's strongest are here!" Following Einar's line of sight, the crowd soon spotted Kael, who had been deliberately concealing his presence.
Like Kael, Einar stood calmly at a distance, waiting for the Divine Heart Fruits to ripen.
"Damn it all! I refuse to believe these fruits can't be picked unripe!" Someone, driven by greed, scoffed in defiance. With a cold laugh, he lunged forward, intent on seizing a fruit.
But the moment he stepped within the Rootless Tree's domain, streaks of light shot from its branches, piercing his body. In an instant, he was torn apart, dissolving into a mist of blood.
The onlookers shuddered, chilled to the bone by the gruesome spectacle.
Kael remained expressionless. In truth, harvesting the Divine Heart Fruits required more than just courage. For one, unripe fruits were nearly useless, their effects negligible. Secondly, the Rootless Tree itself was a formidable guardian, its defensive prowess rivaling that of a peak tenth-tier expert.
Just then, the glow of one Divine Heart Fruit intensified, its radiance growing brighter. A faint tremor passed through Kael—the first fruit was about to mature!
...