Chapter 196: Traveling Through the Center Region's Edges
A week had passed since Elton and company fled far into the distance toward their original destination before their detours. Only this time, the number of people coming along with them had grown exponentially.
"…You guys are really set on coming along with us, huh." Christy said with a frosty glint in her eyes as she looked at the survivors of the four groups whom they had forcefully made their subordinates.
"Hahaha, what are you saying, goddess divine eyes—uh, I mean Lady Heavens Star Eyes?! How could we dare even think to abandon our godde—I mean, our mistress!" The Daemonorc leader of the group gave an ugly smile filled with reverence. His name was Damorca. The various Daemonorcs behind him all passionately cheered in agreement.
"Exactly! I somehow feel a sense of freedom and adventure since being forcefu—no, more like being harshly recruited for our own good!" said the leader of the Red Flounders group, Aka-ko. The other Red Flounder race individuals nodded heavily with slightly pleading eyes.
(Author's note: Aka-ko means Red Child in Japanese.)
"…Yeah, I think it's best that we stick with you all from now on, no matter how I look at our current situation. In the end, you all are so exceptional, so how could we not want to tag along!" Gwarola said with shifty eyes, as if he were just coming up with excuses, but he was determined not to be left behind. The other shark humanoids from the Serpent Shark Nation behind him also nodded fiercely.
"…Gwahaha… no, isn't the true reason that we will pretty much be as good as dead if we are left to our own devices? I hate to say it, but we are definitely wanted fugitives far and wide by now in numerous regions. While we are technically strong overall, I hate to admit it, but it's not a secret that none of our races are exactly the thinking types. The Umankans were always the best in that regard, but I fear that even those guys had a savagery to them that also held them back…" said the Fishman leader, Longar, with a bitter expression. The other Fishmen behind him also smiled bitterly.
Upon hearing this, the mood of the other three groups also soured. It was a truth that they did not want to face, especially in their current situation.
The Umankans nearby were initially annoyed upon hearing themselves being brought up, before they too suddenly smiled bitterly. While their circumstances had a better starting point compared to these groups that were mostly captured and subdued, in the end, they too would likely be hunted down by their own race of Umankans if they were caught at this stage.
Everyone here, even after traveling so far, had heard quite a bit of the horrific news that took place since their departure. Being blamed as the nation's sinners simply for following Daoist Blue Heavens Sword could easily be arranged. The men and women from each of the races here had no choice but to hand their lives to Elton and company in this giant place filled with countless dangers.
"Well, it's alright. At this point we are definitely responsible for their current predicament, so it's only right that we bring them along." Elton said with a wry smile.
"Oh, Gege… of course you'd say that." Christy just sighed helplessly, unable to rebut.
"As expected of Brother Elly. He is certainly such a charming and heroic man worthy of love and adoration. I still think that we should move forward into the deeper layers of synchronized cultivation though." Shayleaf said brightly before she began to murmur certain thoughts that caused Elton's back to shiver.
"A-anyways, it's about time that we pack up and leave this area now before we attract something troublesome." Elton redirected the conversation, making a declaration to leave the resting zone they were in.
Everyone swiftly began leaping onto whatever contracted beasts they had. Atop Elchris were Elton, Christy, Shayleaf, Tongsheng, Cromlin, Corvin, and Prawna. The Umankans, led by Obianuju, climbed onto a four-winged sea beast that resembled a dolphin with scales. Its aura was at the Golden Lord level and it was the strongest of the contracted beasts among their group. The Serpent Sharks, Red Flounders, Daemonorcs, and Fishmen all leapt atop their own giant beasts, and moments later sped off into the skies following Elchris.
Perhaps because they were a larger force with so many Golden Lords among their ranks, they were better able to ward off far more troublesome creatures compared to when it was just Elton's group before. Even a few Early Stage Mortal Lord essence beasts and demonic beasts they maneuvered around were hesitant and wary about attacking such a troublesome force.
After reaching a certain point, the group began to grow extremely cautious with their movements, because signs of Middle Stage Mortal Lord beasts—and perhaps higher—had become evident as they finally reached the area close to this land's central depths. The group was forced to move as stealthily as possible, as fear and caution gripped their hearts.
For three days after reaching this massive yet extremely dangerous area, they moved at a much slower pace. They even had an extremely close call when a giant ape-like beast with an aura almost at the Late Stage of Mortal Lord suddenly appeared with a suffocating pressure. The group all hid while utilizing as much power as they could muster, creating a barrier within the towering trees to hide their appearances, mask their scents, and suppress their auras as much as possible. Even then, it didn't feel like it was enough.
Thankfully, the giant ape did not care enough to search around for any random creatures, or else—even with their attempts at hiding—it was hard to say whether it would have found them or not. Especially since they were such a large group overall, with six very large beasts as mounts.
After such a terrifying close call, the group continued their journey until finally…
"Looks like we've finally managed to get past the most difficult part. Thankfully, our destination wasn't to go into the true depths of that area, otherwise this would be an impossible task… The much higher concentration of essence energy the closer one gets to the center area is truly evident as to why so many terrifying creatures exist here." Christy said with a sigh as she wiped the sweat from her brow, lingering fear in her eyes.
"Yeah, that was scary! The essence energy concentration is the highest natural occurrence I've ever felt—not counting the sects' man-made formations. Just imagine if we were to get a lot closer. It would be far higher than even that! No other place in this… umm… pocket world that I know of is like this." Shayleaf exclaimed in wonder.
"Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to come back here when we become Mortal Lords. Hmm, well, let's not worry about that too much for now. We are still in a dangerous area, so let's continue."
All of those present nodded in agreement as they once more moved according to Christy's directions.
What they didn't know was that a Middle Stage Mortal Lord essence beast resembling a giant flying ant had somehow managed to pick up their scent and had called forth a wave of giant flying ants to head in their direction. Scarily enough, there were seven Early Stage Mortal Lord-ranked giant flying ants within their swarm.
To make matters worse, a bloody and mangled figure flew high in the skies with a storm of wind covering its body, trailing a distance behind the flying ants with an aura almost at Middle Stage Mortal Lord. It was none other than the Winged Serpent Demonic Beast.
Such drastic movements from so many beings heading in one direction quickly alerted other beasts of varying levels, as they too began to move about. Disaster seemed to be on the horizon for Elton and company.