The Rise of David - 13

The Rise of David

-Book 13-

Chapter 601: Escape

“You’ll never find out whether or not we’ll get annihilated.”

As soon as the words left Typhon’s mouth, he charged toward Cameron. Almost immediately, the others joined the fray. The Five Slayers, too, dashed forward to confront the horde of cultivators.

However, due to the immense strength of the Five Slayers, numerous wandering cultivators met their demise without a chance to retaliate.

In an instant, an array of magical items was brandished, and various types of divine weapons clashed together in an incessant cacophony.

The elderly man savored the sight of the battle while hovering in the air. Whenever a cultivator dropped dead, a streak of white light ascended to the heavens.

Engaged in a duel with Typhon, Cameron understood that he had to unleash his full strength if he intended to survive.

His eyes flashed with determination, and he bit down hard on the tip of his tongue. Then, he spat a mouthful of blood onto the longsword he was wielding. The sword emitted a streak of scarlet light with a slight tremor.

“Celestial Swipe!”

Cameron shouted as he propelled himself toward Typhon, brandishing his longsword.

“Have you forgotten who I am? You’ve got some nerve to brandish a sword before me.”

Typhon scoffed, his eyes brimming with disdain.

His technique revolved around manipulating metal, with a particular talent for countering weapons such as swords and blades.

With a simple palm gesture, Typhon conjured a shimmering golden shield in front of him, effectively blocking Cameron’s strike.

Bang!

After the intense collision, Cameron was pushed back several steps.

Typhon, too, fared no better, only managing to regain his stability after staggering backward several steps.

However, as a consequence of the strike, cracks had appeared on the magic sword in Cameron’s hand.

Under his astonished gaze, the weapon shattered, leaving only the handle in his grasp.

Cameron was thunderstruck.

‘This is the ancient magic sword of the Nesser family, passed down by my ancestors, and it has been destroyed by a single strike!’

One look at the sword was enough to reveal that the Nesser family was not a wealthy clan; their heirloom was so fragile and stood no chance.

“Hah! Since you’re so weak, say hello to hell!”

As Typhon roared with laughter, he dashed toward Cameron.

Just as he was about to strike, the earth rumbled, and suddenly, the scene before his eyes transformed.

Mountains, rivers, lakes, and oceans...

All of these scenes flashed before Typhon’s eyes in an instant, and even the four seasons of a year flew by. Typhon stood there, stunned and confused.

Even the elderly man sensed the change.

David and the cultivators have vanished! The other cultivators also noticed the change in their surroundings, which appeared startlingly real.

They all fell silent, completely immersing themselves in the vivid scene before them, putting an end to their battle.

That was the illusion array that David had conjured.

Its vast illusory nascence made it appear incredibly realistic, even managing to ensnare the Five Slayers and the elderly man.

Unleashing his spiritual sense, David swiftly extracted Cloud, Cameron, and the others from the illusionary array.

When Cameron and the others regained consciousness, they saw the Five Slayers scurrying about and muttering to themselves like fools.

Even the elderly man was looking confused.

“W-What is going on?” Cameron was puzzled.

“You were all ensnared in my illusion spell,” David explained.

“Excellent! Let’s seize the opportunity and slay them all!” Kaison exclaimed with delight.

As he spoke, he prepared to dash forward. David hurriedly stopped Kaison.

“Stay where you are! The illusion array will only hold them temporarily. The moment you make a move, your aura will destabilize the array and break it. I’ve located the arcane array’s core.If we join forces to attack it, we can break the shield.”

Kaison was so frightened upon hearing the warning that he didn’t dare move another muscle.

David halted when he reached a specific point on the shield and gave it a gentle poke. Immediately, the shield started to shake violently.

“Right here. We need to attack the core together for this to work. Hurry, everyone. The illusion array won’t hold them much longer,” David urged them with anxiety in his voice.

The group nodded in unison. David had, at some point, become their leader. David took several steps back, and his body suddenly radiated with a brilliant, golden light.

Wielding the Sacred Light Fist, he mercilessly struck the shield repeatedly.

The others also summoned their full strength and followed suit. None of them used their weapons; they were aware that weapon strikes would only bounce off the shield.

At that moment, the horde of cultivators unleashed a barrage of punches upon the shield, all targeting the same spot.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

None of them dared to slacken their relentless assault, giving it their all without pause.

‘This is a matter of life and death. We’ll be able to escape once we manage to break the shield.’

Not long after, some of the cultivators started collapsing from sheer exhaustion, a result of the earlier battle combined with the relentless onslaught.

Many of them had foreheads drenched with sweat, and their spiritual energy had been completely depleted as well.

However, David remained just the same. He continued to unleash a torrent of punches upon the target without faltering.

“Is the core here, David? Why hasn’t it shattered yet?” Sunny asked, panting as he spoke.

David didn’t respond; instead, he maintained his relentless assault on the target.

Talking was a needless expenditure of energy.

Failing to elicit a response, Sunny had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue attacking.

All of them were nearing their limits, but they persevered due to their unwavering faith in David.

At that moment, David’s illusion array was beginning to weaken, and the elderly man was starting to awaken from the mirage.

“What a potent illusion array to have ensnared even me. It seems you’ve absorbed the ice soul fragment I conjured,” the elderly man said, his glare fixed on David.

He understood that David was the mastermind behind the illusion array, and it was because of him that the cultivators had escaped that strange energy.

Cold sweat beaded David’s forehead when he noticed that the elderly man had broken free from the illusionary realm.

His expression turned grim. With determination, he intensified the pace of his relentless assault. Each of his strikes sent shockwaves through the earth.

The elderly man frowned as he observed David striking the shield, realizing that David was targeting its core with precision.

“Looks like I have to kill you first in order to regain my peace.”

The elderly man pointed a finger, and a cloud of black mist materialized into a weapon in his hand, which he wielded as he swiftly darted toward David, David had his back to the elderly man, seemingly unaware of his presence, engrossed in his frenetic assault on the shield.

“Mr.Chance!” Cloud cried out, ready to step in and block the attack on David’s behalf.

“Stay where you are. Break the shield!”

David was not as impulsive as Cloud.

In response, Cloud continued raining his fists down on the shield.

As the weapon drew closer to striking David’s back, his body suddenly emitted a burst of golden light.

Activating Golem Body, he became enveloped in gleaming gold scales.

The dazzling light from Golem Body nearly blinded everyone present.

The instant the weapon struck David while Golem Body was active, it was immediately sent flying, reverting to a cloud of black mist.

The elderly man hadn’t anticipated that David, a mere Fourth Level cultivator of the Body Fusion Realm, had mastered an immortal-level defense technique. This mastery had thwarted his attempt to harm David.

“You continue to astonish me, young one. Who would have imagined that a lowly cultivator like you would possess such a magical item? Once you’re gone, all of it will be mine,” the elderly man said with a sinister grin.

“Too bad you won’t be able to witness my death. You’ll never get my things!”

David ceased his assault, turned around, and looked at the elderly man with an amused expression.

“What do you mean?” The old man frowned.

“What do you think?” David grinned.

Crack!

A crisp sound resonated, and cracks started to form on the shield.

Everyone stared in disbelief.

The seemingly impenetrable shield had indeed been shattered!

Initially, they had thought all hope was lost. They had been relentlessly striking the shield for what seemed like an eternity, leaving everyone utterly exhausted. Now, with the elderly man regaining his senses, it appeared that there was no escape for any of them.

Yet, astonishingly, the barrier began to display cracks.

“Don’t just stand there! Keep pounding!” Cameron urged, and the group redoubled their efforts, pushing themselves to their absolute limits.

Cracking sounds echoed through the air as the fissures on the shield widened further and further.

Astonished, the old man regarded David with a look of disbelief.

“I never thought a mere Fourth Level Body Fusion Realm cultivator like you would locate the arcane array’s core and gather so many people to break it. If I don’t kill you today, it’d be quite embarrassing for me.”

“I told you, you can’t kill me...”

With those words, David transformed into a streak of golden light, charging toward the shield.

Boom!

Following a deafening boom, the shield shattered as David crashed through it. The others promptly followed suit and fled the area.

The elderly man, confined by the altar’s boundary, couldn’t pursue them even though he wanted to. He was just a wisp of soul remnant, and leaving this place would greatly diminish his power.

Even if he managed to catch up to David and the others, he likely wouldn’t be able to defeat them.

Watching as Typhon and the others were still trapped in the illusion array, he furiously waved his hand, instantly dispelling the illusion.

Typhon and the others all looked around in bewilderment.

“What happened? What’s going on?” they shouted in confusion.

“You were trapped in an illusion array and they all escaped. Go after them! Bring them back, and you’ll be rewarded,” the elderly man instructed Typhon and the others.

“Rest assured, sir. We’ll capture them for you!” Typhon assured.

With that, Typhon and company quickly chased after David and the others.

“David, we owe you big time. If it weren’t for you, we’d be done for in there,” Beau expressed his gratitude once they had reached a safe distance.

“Absolutely! If it weren’t for David, we wouldn’t have known that was a trap!”

“What kind of treasure trove was that? It was clearly a trap!”

The crowd sighed.

If it weren’t for David realizing it was a trap, seeing through that elderly man, and assisting them in absorbing the strange power of the ice soul fragment, they would still be like sitting ducks waiting for death.

“Though we’ve escaped the altar, stay vigilant. We’re not out of the woods yet. But leaving the altar does grant us some safety, as the old man’s power weakens outside of it,” David cautioned.

“No worries, I’ll contact our friends outside. We’ll find a way out.” A cultivator pulled out a charm and tossed it into the air.

Bang!

However, as soon as the charm was thrown, it instantly exploded.

“W-What just happened? Did the message fail to get through?”

The cultivator was shocked.

“The messages can’t be sent. I tried just now, but even our family’s spiritual sense telepathy skill can’t be used,” Cameron explained.

It appeared that as soon as Cameron escaped, he promptly attempted to establish contact with the Nesser family.

After all, his son had been killed by the Five Slayers, and he harbored a burning need for vengeance.

However, with his current strength, he couldn’t take on the task alone. He needed to reach out to his family to request reinforcements.

Chapter 602: I Will Stay

Cameron’s words dispelled the elation of their recent escape. They were out of the altar, yet they had no inkling of their location or the means to escape.

“It’s normal not to be able to communicate here. We’ve been in a massive illusionary realm since we set foot in that cave. Here, reality and illusion blend together, and it’s hard for us to tell them apart,” David explained.

“An illusionary realm? So, does being in this illusionary realm mean we won’t be able to escape that old man’s clutches?” someone asked, their voice tinged with nervousness.

“Exactly. If it’s an illusionary realm, we might still be in the same spot and haven’t actually escaped,” David concurred.

His analysis sent many into a state of panic.

After all, everything they had experienced felt real, from battling demon beasts to collecting mystical herbs. Therefore, being abruptly informed that it was all an illusionary realm was a difficult truth to accept.

“This illusionary realm wasn’t created by that old geezer. He isn’t powerful enough for something of this magnitude…”

“I suspect this place is an ancient underground cave. In the past, two of the ancestors of the Archaic Body cultivators, a pair of brothers, engaged in a monumental battle here. Each of them established their colossal illusion arrays, and in the end, they both perished, causing their arrays to gradually merge, blurring the boundaries between reality and illusion,” David explained.

David had developed this theory because, during his encounter with the elder of the Archaic Body Cultivation clan in the thatched cottage, the elder’s brother appeared entirely oblivious.

However, when David left the cottage, he immediately met the elder in the palace. It felt as though they were in completely different timelines in the same location.

From this, David had deduced that all of this was the result of illusion arrays. These were two distinct illusion arrays set up by different individuals, enabling them to occupy the same space without perceiving each other’s presence.

David’s theory left many cultivators bewildered, struggling to comprehend it.

At present, their sole priority was escaping. Whether it was an illusion array or an actual cave, the paramount goal was to emerge alive, everything else was secondary. None of them cared about the treasure anymore.

“David, get to the point. How do we get out? Skip the technical details, we can’t make sense of them anyway!” a cultivator implored.

“Exactly, Mr. Chance, just give us the instructions, and we’ll follow your lead,” Cloud added.

David scanned the group and stated, “Escaping from here is simply not possible.”

“Huh?”

David’s words left everyone in shock. Even Cameron frowned, looking utterly confused.

“Why? Are we really going to die here?”

“Yeah, why can’t we get out? There are so many of us. Can’t we find an exit?”

“Mr. Chance, please explain. Why can’t we leave?”

Everyone bombarded David with questions, their expressions filled with astonishment.

“To break free, we’d have to find a way to finish off that old geezer. Even though he’s just a wisp of a soul remnant, he’s been trapped here for years. I’m willing to bet he’s set up a ton of traps. That ice soul fragment was just an illusion. It wasn’t a real fragment but just the energy inside it…”

“Anyway, that was just a type of illusion spell that trapped your minds and made you feel like you couldn’t stop absorbing energy. Therefore, we have to eliminate that old man. Once he’s gone, I believe this place will change drastically, and then we can get out,” David explained.

“But even as a soul remnant, that old geezer is incredibly powerful. Besides, he’s got those Five Slayers with him as his lackeys. How in the world are we supposed to take them on?” Cameron asked.

“We can’t take them on directly, but that doesn’t mean there’s no one else who can. Have you all forgotten that I’ve seen the Archaic Body Cultivation elder before? We can ask him for help. His soul remnant still exists, and with his assistance, we won’t have to fear a thing.” David’s hope now rested on the Archaic Body Cultivation elder.

After hearing David’s explanation, no one could muster a word of protest.

Now, all they could do was accept David’s plan. After all, David was the only one who had encountered the elder of the Archaic Body cultivators. Furthermore, no one else had any better ideas. If they didn’t unite now, their chances of survival would diminish even more rapidly.

“We’ll go along with your plan, David.”

Numerous cultivators placed their hopes on David.

David then turned his attention to Cameron. If Cameron disagreed with his plan and chose to go their separate ways, they would be vulnerable to the impending pursuit by the Five Slayers.

Their sole hope of resisting the Five Slayers rested in joining forces. Since the elderly man dared not leave the altar, he would almost certainly dispatch the Five Slayers to chase them down.

“We’ll do as you say. There aren’t any better options now,” Cameron agreed with a nod. With a mutual understanding, David became their leader, and they all agreed to follow his orders.

“Then let’s go. It’s not wise to linger here any longer. I’m certain the Five Slayers are closing in on us, and we can’t afford a direct confrontation with them just yet.”

With that, David took the lead, and the group followed as they departed.

Additionally, they had just expended a considerable amount of energy. If the Five Slayers were to catch up with them now, even as an alliance, they would still be at a disadvantage. What they urgently needed at that moment was some time to rest and recuperate.

Not long after David’s group had departed, Typhon and his companions arrived at the location. After assessing the area, Typhon fixed his gaze in a particular direction.

“Typhon, are we really going to listen to that old man and keep pursuing those guys? Why don’t we seize this opportunity to escape instead? This place doesn’t seem safe,” Phaethon proposed.

“Yes, I agree. This place doesn’t feel safe, and I have this gnawing, uneasy feeling,” Woodley quickly chimed in.

“Quiet down! We’re not chasing those people for the sake of that old man, it’s for our own survival. If we let these individuals escape and reveal the secrets of the Demon Seal Alliance to the world, do you honestly think our leader will spare us?”

“Remember how the cultivators of the Ethereal Realm despise those who harbor demons and conspire to resurrect the glory of the race using demons. It’s not only the cultivators; even the beast race will turn against us if they uncover our intentions. The reason our alliance has gained strength is because we pledged to eliminate the demons. If the truth becomes known, how many of our members will desert the Demon Seal Alliance and even become our adversaries? Have you ever considered that?” Typhon snapped.

Hearing Typhon’s words, a few of them finally grasped the gravity of the situation. It was true; the revelation would be staggering to all.

“Then let’s hurry. We can’t let any of them escape,” Phaethon anxiously cried out.

“But which direction do we head in?”

The Five Slayers had reached a fork in the path and were unable to determine which direction David’s group had taken.

“We’ll split into groups, but be cautious and don’t act recklessly once you find them. Inform the others of your location,” Typhon instructed.

The others nodded in agreement. Typhon then led Phaethon in one direction, while the rest of the group went the opposite way.

As Typhon and his group pursued David’s party, David was diligently guiding his companions in their escape.

Before long, two silhouettes were rapidly approaching them, unmistakably Typhon and Phaethon.

When Typhon and Phaethon spotted David and the others up ahead, they slowed their pace.

“Phaethon, quick, send our location to the others,” Typhon commanded. Phaethon nodded and conjured a burst of flames on the ground, simultaneously murmuring an incantation under his breath.

Observing that David’s group showed no intention of slowing down, Typhon decided to intervene and impede them.

In the next moment, Typhon produced a coin and flung it into the air. With a sharp pop, the coin transformed into a metal puppet.

Typhon proceeded to infuse a strand of his aura into the metal puppet. The puppet shot off at an astonishing speed, leaving a gilded streak across the sky. A golden figure materialized, radiating a formidable aura.

“Look! What’s that?” exclaimed the cultivator at the rear of the group.

However, as he voiced his observation, a golden ray shot out from the puppet and pierced the cultivator’s chest, leaving a bloody hole in its wake.

The cultivator promptly crumpled to the ground, and a white glow emerged from his body, rising into the air. The sudden turn of events startled the remaining group members.

“What in the world is that? Why is it so powerful?” another cultivator exclaimed, his eyes fixed on the golden figure.

“Is that a human or a machine? Why is its aura so peculiar?” Sunny wondered out loud, equally puzzled.

“Stop that thing!” A furious shout from one of the cultivators prompted the others to draw their weapons.

They recognized that if they didn’t confront their pursuers, they would remain the prey indefinitely. Therefore, they needed to get rid of the unknown entity first. In an instant, blades gleamed, and intimidating spiritual energy pervaded the atmosphere. However, the metal puppet remained unperturbed by the barrage of attacks. Being an inanimate entity, it had no fear of death. Furthermore, destroying its metal body would prove to be no simple task.

Before long, the cultivators came to the realization that their myriad of attacks were inflicting no damage on the metal puppet.

They were already teetering on the brink of physical exhaustion, which meant their attacks lacked significant power under such circumstances.

Suddenly, Typhon’s voice echoed from a corner.

“Hahaha! You’re all so fatigued that you can’t even handle one of my toys!”

Upon witnessing how his metal puppet remained unscathed despite their continuous attacks, Typhon concluded that they were too exhausted to pose any threat to him.

David and his group heard Typhon’s voice, and their hearts skipped a beat.

If the Five Slayers were to catch up with them at this juncture, they would be in dire straits, as they were too exhausted to mount a defense.

Instead of continuing to hide, Typhon emerged from his hiding place. Simultaneously, the metal puppet slowly descended from the air until it was beside Typhon. Fear crept into everyone’s eyes when they saw Typhon’s appearance.

“Look at you, helpless little lambs. Who should I kill first?” Typhon grinned, a smug expression on his face.

Right at that moment, David stepped forward and declared, “You all go ahead. I’ll handle this guy.”

David could discern that not all the members of the Five Slayers had caught up with them; otherwise, Typhon wouldn’t have shown up alone.

David wanted the rest of his group to escape before the Five Slayers arrived. Otherwise, continuing to engage with Typhon and wasting time here until the rest of the Five Slayers arrived would spell disaster for them.

They needed to locate a hidden location where they could rest. Once they had gathered their strength, they wouldn’t need to fear the Five Slayers as much..

“Will you be okay dealing with him alone, Mr. Chance?” Cloud queried.

“He’s right, David. There’s no way you can defeat the Five Slayers on your own. Why don’t I stay and fight with you?” Sunny expressed his willingness to stay behind.

“Don’t worry. Typhon is the only one here, and I can handle him. The rest of the Five Slayers haven’t caught up with us yet. You should take this opportunity to escape. We won’t be able to do so if all the Five Slayers are here,” David assured Sunny.

“David’s right. We’ve depleted most of our spiritual energy. Staying would be suicidal,” Lofton pointed out.

Chapter 603: Two Idiots

“Okay. We’ll go ahead. Stay safe, David,” Sunny conceded with a nod.

While the rest of David’s group prepared to escape, Typhon bellowed, “How dare you attempt to flee? None of you are leaving today!”

Typhon then controlled his metal puppet to ascend to the sky, causing it to emit a glow like a rocket preparing for launch.

“Ha! This isn’t up to you!”

With a disdainful snort, David released a surge of potent martial energy. Simultaneously, he leaped into the air, aiming to intercept the puppet.

The puppet extended its right hand, directing its sharp fingers toward David. The space around them trembled as gusts of strong gale billowed loudly.

Since Typhon was controlling the puppet to fight on his behalf, he was not afraid of getting injured or struck by the brunt of David’s demonic fire. Otherwise, he might have been more hesitant to engage in combat with David.

David sneered disdainfully as he gazed at the puppet. It was merely a construct made of metal components, presenting no real threat to David.

David’s eyes gleamed with intensity as he tapped into the fire nascence within his own nascence space. Moments later, his Golem Body enveloped him, shielding him with golden scales reminiscent of those on the metal puppet.

In the blink of an eye, David was surrounded by blinding, golden flames, looking as though he was a fiery god of war.

Screech!

By this point, the puppet’s hand had reached David. The ensuing clash produced the jarring noise of metal meeting metal, causing the hairs on the backs of those who heard it to stand on end. Despite the puppet’s formidable grip, it proved incapable of breaking through David’s Golem Body.

“Die!”

David roared, propelling his fist toward the puppet. His golden fist burned with fiery intensity, and soon, the flames consumed the puppet as well.

Observing the spectacle, Typhon furrowed his brows. He had never expected David to possess such a formidable defense technique like Golem Body.

Thud!

Soon, Typhon lost control of the puppet, and it plummeted from the sky. The flames continued to consume the puppet, causing its metallic surface to crackle and deform.

To Typhon’s horror, the puppet started to liquefy. Typhon’s complexion paled. David’s demonic fire must have been exceptionally potent to melt his metal puppet.

Hovering in midair, David shot a disdainful look at Typhon and asked, “Well, are you scared now?”

At that moment, Typhon’s anger almost gave him a heart attack. As a Ninth Level Body Fusion Realm cultivator, he felt that it was humiliating that David could effortlessly defeat and belittle him time and again.

Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do to salvage the situation. After all, David’s demonic fire posed an equally lethal threat to him.

Just as Typhon was at a loss for what to do, Phaethon emerged and advised him, saying, “Go after the others and let me deal with this young man. He’s a fool for using fire in front of me.”

Typhon nodded in agreement and swiftly leaped up, wanting to chase after the others. Seeing that, David waved his palm, summoning flames to block Typhon’s path.

David knew that he couldn’t allow Typhon to catch up with the rest of his group. He had to protect them, as their only chance of winning lay in regaining their strength and joining forces.

“Ha! I can’t believe a Fourth Level Body Fusion Realm cultivator like you have the guts to fight us!” Phaethon looked at David with complete disdain as he exhaled a fiery stream from his mouth.

The flames appeared fierce and seemed significantly more potent than David’s demonic fire. However, as the fiery onslaught drew near, David remained steadfast, making no attempt to evade it.

In a flash, David was engulfed by the flames. Phaethon was taken aback upon seeing David’s lack of reaction. He had no idea what David was trying to do.

“Do you think you can block my flames with your shielding technique? How naive! My flames can burn everything!” Phaethon smirked.

However, David paid him no heed. With Phaethon’s flames still engulfing him, he leaped into action, positioning himself directly in Typhon’s path.

“Phaethon, what on earth are you doing? How can he still move around while being scorched by your flames?” Typhon wore a perplexed expression, utterly astonished that despite being engulfed in Phaethon’s flames, David continued to maneuver without displaying any visible signs of distress or pain.

Both were unaware that Phaethon’s flames were completely harmless to David. Instead, David could harness the power of fire nascence from Phaethon’s flames to enhance his own nascent abilities.

“Get back there!”

David delivered a powerful punch toward Typhon, aiming to push him back to his initial position. Narrowing his eyes, Typhon retaliated with a punch of his own.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

With a single punch, David released a multitude of golden fist shadows, each radiating with divine and holy light.

Typhon frowned as he blocked the attack with his fists, coming to the realization that David’s power was no less formidable than his own..

Each punch carried an equal amount of force, and their collision produced a resounding explosion, scattering spiritual energy in all directions with them at its epicenter.

The impact of the punches had, in fact, extinguished Phaethon’s flames that were enveloping David. David subsequently fell to the ground and staggered several steps backward. At the same time, Typhon landed on the ground, too, a grimace on his face..

He had never envisioned that a Fourth Level Body Fusion Realm cultivator could possess such incredible power.

This time, David did not employ his demonic fire, and Typhon faced no hindrance from the terrain. Nevertheless, the latter still struggled to gain the upper hand.

“Typhon, what in the world are you doing? How could you have failed to kill that weak cultivator with your punch?” Phaethon questioned in disbelief.

Previously, it was Typhon who had questioned Phaethon, and now the tables had turned as Phaethon posed the same question to Typhon. They were both awkward and embarrassed.

Fortunately, the two of them were the only ones around. Had the rest of the Five Slayers been there, they would have never let Typhon and Phaethon live this down and would definitely mock them for the rest of their lives.

“This is absolutely ridiculous! How can he be so powerful?” Typhon frowned.

“Yeah. And he has a golden armor that shields him from my flames.” Phaethon wore a frown, too.

When David noticed that the two were distracted, he raised his hand and executed a grabbing motion, causing his Dragonslayer Sword to materialize in his grasp instantly.

“Nine Shadows!” David unleashed the technique.

Countless golden rays of light emanated from the sword and surged toward Phaethon and Typhon.

In response, the two swiftly raised a shield to deflect the oncoming strike. David grinned when he saw that. He had no intention of attacking them; his goal was simply to capture their attention.

Following that, five of his shadow clones materialized beside him. Without a moment’s delay, David seized the opportunity to make his escape.

Once Typhon and Phaethon shielded themselves from the sword’s rays of light and looked back at the spot before them again, they were startled to find five Davids.

“D*mn it, he’s using an illusion spell again!” Typhon cursed.

They found themselves repeatedly deceived by David’s illusion spells, which was becoming increasingly embarrassing for them. Now, it appeared that David was employing yet another illusion spell.

“Who cares if it’s an illusion spell or not? We have to destroy them all first!”

With determination, Phaethon launched a fiery punch at one of the Davids, while simultaneously, Typhon swung his fist at another David.

Bam! Bam!

Following two resounding explosions, the two illusory Davids vanished.

“Those were fake Davids! Punch the others!”

Undeterred, the two repeated their attacks. However, the other two Davids simply vanished again, confirming that they were not the real ones either.

Phaethon and Typhon then redirected their attention to the last remaining David and shared a triumphant smirk. Nevertheless, David still seemed calm as he held onto his Dragonslayer Sword.

“Let’s find out how you’re going to escape this!”

Typhon hissed, grimly looking at David. He wished he could shred David into pieces.

“You can’t stop me if I want to escape, you idiots!” David mocked derisively.

Phaethon and Typhon erupted in fury upon hearing David’s taunting words.

Their auras surging in their hands, they bellowed, “How dare you mock us? Are you tired of living? I’ll kill you and tear you into pieces!”

However, David remained composed, his eyes filled with disdain as if he did not care about them at all. David’s expression only served to further stoke their anger.

Boom!

Suddenly, a deafening sound erupted as the duo unleashed a joint attack on David. For a moment, the void trembled intensely as the earth shook and quivered.

All of a sudden, David vanished. Phaethon and Typhon’s frenzied assault seemed to have done nothing to hurt him.

“Is that last one a decoy too?” Phaethon frowned, looking utterly bewildered.

“How is this possible? Are they all an illusion spell? Are we hallucinating?” Typhon kept rubbing his eyes, but he couldn’t see David nor David’s body anywhere.

At this moment, the two of them were left utterly baffled, struggling to comprehend how David had seemingly vanished.

In reality, it had nothing to do with an illusion spell. They were all tangible shadow clones, each infused with David’s aura. That was why both of them had the impression that the figures before them appeared so real.

However, David realized he was no match for them, so he refrained from using his shadow clones to fight back. The spiritual energy expended by the shadow clones originated from David himself, so rather than retaliating, he opted for a silent escape.

“D*mn it! He got away! I’m so p*ssed!”

Phaethon roared in anger, gritting his teeth. At that very moment, the other members of the Five Slayers received Phaethon’s message and hurried to the scene.

“Where’s he?” Woodley asked when he realized David was not there.

Phaethon and Typhon remained silent, believing that the others would likely mock them if they were to disclose the truth.

Not only did they fail to apprehend him, but they also couldn’t prevent him from making an escape.

The fact that they still couldn’t defeat a mere Body Fusion Realm cultivator even when they united their efforts seemed utterly ludicrous to them.

“They’ve all escaped. Let’s go after them.”

After speaking, Typhon initiated the chase in the direction everyone had fled, with the others quickly following suit.

Meanwhile, Cloud, Sunny, and the rest slowed their pace after putting some distance between themselves and their pursuers. They eventually came to a complete stop just to wait for David to catch up.

“Do you think Mr. Chance can make it alone?” Cloud expressed his worry.

“He should be fine. Since he told us to leave first, I’m sure he can handle the situation.” Sunny had faith in David.

Despite his words, Sunny couldn’t conceal a hint of concern on his face as he continued to glance back. Many cultivators also came to a halt spontaneously, patiently awaiting David’s arrival.

Following their recent encounters, those cultivators had come to the realization that their best chance of survival was by sticking with David.

“Quick, look! It’s Mr. Chance!” Kaison exclaimed in excitement after spotting David.

The entire group was thrilled when they saw him. Cloud could not contain his excitement.

“Mr. Chance! You’ve made it!”

“Why did you guys stop running?” David looked puzzled.

“We stopped because we were worried about you. So, we decided to wait for you,” Sunny replied.

“Let’s keep moving. The Five Slayers might catch up soon, so we need to find a hidden spot to rest and replenish our strength,” David urged, taking the lead as the group pressed onward.

Despite having traveled for an unknown duration with the group in tow, David had not yet detected the distinctive aura he was familiar with. He recalled his encounter with the elder from the Archaic Body Cultivation clan in the thatched cottage and realized that the aura he was searching for was different from the one he had sensed from that elderly man at the altar.

If he could locate that distinct aura that stood out, he might have a chance to find the elder from the Archaic Body Cultivation clan.

Chapter 604: Shame

“David, we’ve been walking for so long, and we still haven’t found that elder. This place feels like a maze,” Cameron remarked as he approached David.

“If we continue like this, we’ll exhaust ourselves completely, and we won’t have a chance to recover our strength.”

Knitting his brows, David recalled that he hadn’t fully regained his consciousness when he had arrived at the thatched cottage earlier, and he had been in a daze when he left abruptly. This made the task of finding the hut quite challenging.

Kaison questioned, “Mr. Chance, do you think we might need to use special methods to locate the elder of the Archaic Body Cultivation clan? When you encountered the elder, none of us could see anything, which suggests it might require specific techniques or items to get in touch with the elder.”

David pondered carefully. During that encounter, he had possessed the actual key to the treasure, which had enabled him to directly access the thatched cottage and meet the elder.

“Let’s rest for a moment and recover our strength. I think I’ve figured out how to locate the elder,” David said to the group. They found a place to rest, taking the opportunity to replenish their energy.

Meanwhile, David gazed at the void before him, lost in thought.

‘I don’t have the treasure key with me at the moment, so I’ll need to find alternative methods to meet that elder.’

“Perhaps this entire land of treasure is within the illusionary realm. If that’s the case, can I use an illusion spell to recreate the space?” David contemplated while gazing into the void.

‘Since this space might not be real, I can use an illusion spell to make the thatched cottage reappear.’

With that thought in mind, David extended his hand toward the void, and the illusion nascence began to shimmer and emanate from the nascence space.

The moment he noticed ripples forming in the void where his hands touched, a surge of excitement coursed through him.

He continued to move his hands, and in a matter of moments, he had generated a massive vortex within the void. Smiling at the sight of the vortex before him, David knew he was on the right track.

“What’s that, Mr. Chance?”

Cloud asked in astonishment when he saw the enormous vortex that had suddenly materialized out of nowhere, “Through this vortex, we should be able to find the elder of the Archaic Body Cultivation clan,” David uttered with a faint grin.

At this moment, numerous cultivators had gathered around, their expressions filled with uncertainty and concern as they gazed at the colossal vortex in the air.

Their uncertainty stemmed from the fact that the vortices they had encountered earlier had all been fraught with deadly traps and grave dangers.

The Five Slayers even used those wandering cultivators as test subjects to locate the correct vortex. Therefore, witnessing the sudden appearance of the vortex stirred up a deep sense of fear in their hearts.

“David, did you create this?” Sunny asked as he looked at the vortex.

David nodded and elaborated, “The place we’re in is artificially created, which means no matter how we explore it, we won’t locate the elder of the Archaic Body Cultivation clan. I believe the elder is residing in a separate constructed space. When he and his brother perished simultaneously, their lingering souls entered the illusionary realm. Although the illusionary realms have overlapped over the years, the disparities should be noticeable.”

“So you’re basically saying, if we pass through this vortex, we’ll reach the illusionary realm where the elder of the Archaic Body Cultivation clan is residing?” Cameron asked.

David nodded in response. “That’s right!”

While it sounded promising, the question remained-who would be the first to venture through this vortex?

If there were traps or danger inside, the first person to enter would be in grave peril.

“I’ll go first. If it doesn’t work, then you can consider other options,” Sunny volunteered, recognizing the need for someone to take the lead for the team.

Sunny, who had been at David’s side and saved by him on multiple occasions, had already come to consider himself part of David’s family. As such, he believed that he, of all people, should be the first to volunteer at that moment.

“No need. This time, I’ll go first. Since I created the vortex, I have a better understanding of what’s inside than all of you. Besides, a standard Death Trap Formation can’t harm me when I have the Golem Body,” David declared before charging straight into the vortex.

After David vanished into the vortex, Sunny and the others followed closely behind. Cameron was the last to enter the vortex.

In truth, Cameron didn’t have complete confidence in David, which was why he entered last. If there were indeed dangers within the vortex, he could extricate himself anytime.

Immediately after David entered the vortex, he was greeted by a hazy scene ahead. It felt as though he had stepped into a Teleportation Array. His movements were constrained, and he couldn’t employ his spiritual sense to perceive anything or survey his surroundings.

All he could discern were blinding white lights flashing before him, and the only sound he could perceive was the ceaseless breeze. Only after a prolonged period, when the wind’s sound finally ceased, did he open his eyes.

When he did, he realized he was in a canyon, and deep within it stood a thatched cottage.

The canyon was enveloped by lush greenery creating a picturesque scene, especially against the backdrop of the clear, blue sky. Anyone who set foot in this place would feel comfortable and rejuvenated.

In contrast to the previous space within the altar, which had been predominantly gray, their new surroundings could be likened to heaven on earth.

However, despite the incredible environment, there wasn’t a single soul in sight, giving the place a desolate and eerie ambiance. David released his spiritual sense, hoping to detect the elder’s aura. Unfortunately, he was met with failure.

“Wow. This place is stunning!” Kaison couldn’t contain his amazement as he surveyed the lush surroundings.

Living in the far north, where snow covered the land, he rarely had the opportunity to witness such a magnificent sight.

The other cultivators were equally astonished as they gazed upon their new surroundings. They all concurred that the new location they had arrived at was far more visually pleasing than the previous one.

“Is that the cottage you mentioned, Mr. Chance?” asked Cloud as he pointed at the thatched cottage not too far from them.

“That’s right, but I don’t sense the aura of that elder. I’m not sure if he’s still inside,” David said before proceeding toward the cottage. Seeing that, the others followed suit.

Upon entering the cottage, David scanned the interior and found that nothing had changed, except that the various technique scrolls for Archaic Body Cultivation and the magical items were now stored inside his Storage Ring.

“The elder is so poor. To think he lives in such a terrible thatched cottage,” remarked Kaison with a sigh as he studied the building.

Cameron scrutinized the thatched cottage and said, “All that remains of him is his soul remnant. It has been many years, and perhaps, one day, even his soul remnant will vanish. He’s fortunate to have a thatched roof over his head. Once his soul remnant disappears, this world will likely crumble and cease to exist as well.”

“In that case, why did that old geezer from earlier have a palace and an altar? Why did he make his place so extravagant?” Kaison was perplexed.

‘He’s also a soul remnant, likely on the brink of dissipation. Yet, he went to great lengths to create such a complex world!’

“It’s because he has been preparing to restore his physical body. Why else would he invest so much time in constructing his world? He used various incentives to entice us to the altar. The cultivators who perished will ultimately become the resources he needs to reconstruct his physical form,” David explained.

“That old b*stard really is evil!” Kaison gritted his teeth.

Suddenly, a startled cry echoed from outside the thatched cottage, jolting David and his companions.

Upon hearing the shout, David and the others rushed out of the building. When they emerged, they found Beau standing there, visibly shocked.

Before him stood an elderly man, identical to the previous old villain they had encountered, gazing at him.

Beau shouted because he had mistaken this elderly man for the old villain, believing that he had caught up to them.

However, the aura of this elderly man was distinct from the other one. He didn’t exude an intimidating or overpowering presence. That was why Beau swiftly calmed back down.

When the others spotted the elderly man, they were similarly taken aback. David was the only one who became excited when he spotted the elderly man and rushed over to the latter.

“I’m thrilled to see you, sir!” David’s eyes filled with joy as he approached the old man.

The elderly man glared at David with a stern expression and asked, “Didn’t I advise you not to proceed and be greedy?”

“…”

Ashamed, David told him the truth.

“I needed the Ice Soul Pill to save someone’s life. That’s why I had no other option.”

The old man sighed with concern. “You people have gone to great lengths, even fighting and killing each other, all for the sake of obtaining treasure, only to lose your lives in the process. In the end, someone else reaps the rewards, rendering all your efforts futile. If not for people like you, this place would have crumbled within years, and we would have all vanished forever. Yet now, you’ve caused such a catastrophic event.”

“Why are you here, sir? Why did the power within the deceased cultivators transform into white light instead of dissipating? Moreover, why were those white lights drawn away by a mysterious force? What’s happening?” inquired David.

“I suppose fate brought all of you here. Come with me,” the elderly man said, and with that, he strolled deeper into the canyon. David and the others promptly followed behind.

As the elderly man waved his hand, the group felt as though they had stepped into another world, one saturated with a somber and eerie atmosphere. They instantly panicked, unsure where the elderly man was leading them.

David also noticed that this world appeared to impose limitations on them. They couldn’t employ their techniques or spiritual senses; all they could do was advance on foot, relying on their primal energy.

“Every space that you see here isn’t actually real. That’s why the power of the deceased cultivators doesn’t dissipate as it would outside. In actuality, my brother has absorbed the power of the deceased cultivators using the Ice Soul Pill. Once the pill has absorbed enough power and transforms into a Heavenly Pearl, he’ll be able to reconstruct his physical body with it. Although this process will cause him to lose a portion of his strength, he will essentially be reborn. Consequently, he won’t be constrained anymore. All of you treasure hunters are essentially walking resources, marching straight into his trap,” the elderly man elucidated.

David wasn’t overly surprised by this revelation because he had already deduced it, but he still harbored some confusion.

“Since you are aware that your younger brother is attempting to resurrect himself, sir, why haven’t you stopped him? Why not take the Ice Soul Pill and resurrect yourself?”

After all, the two brothers were currently nothing more than soul remnants, sharing the same space. The elder could have seized the Ice Soul Pill to reconstruct his physical body.

As the elderly man spoke, he shook his head with remorse. “I was the one who gifted him the Ice Soul Pill. I believed that even if it was in his possession, he couldn’t reconstruct his physical body. That’s because this so-called treasure land is only known to us, the Archaic Body cultivators. No Archaic Body cultivator is permitted to disclose its location or visit it. This is an unbreakable rule of the Archaic Body cultivators that all our clan leaders must adhere to. If no one comes here, the Ice Soul Pill won’t absorb anything, and thus, no one can resurrect themselves with it. In a few hundred more years, our soul remnants will reach their limits, fading away along with this place. It’s a pity that things have turned out this way…”

Chapter 605: Test

David was even more puzzled after listening to the old man’s explanation.

‘Since that was the unbreakable rule, why did the most recent chief of the Archaic Body cultivators spread the news of the treasure land? Not only that, I was given the real key to the treasure. He clearly wants me to find it, but why? Also, Jipsdale’s countess was the one who asked me to retrieve the Ice Soul Pill. What’s going on?’

As David pondered the situation further, he came to the realization that he had fallen into a much larger and more intricate trap.

‘The countess of Jipsdale, the chief of the Archaic Body cultivators, and Mason from the Tall family… they’re all connected!

‘Initially, the chief of the Archaic Body cultivators claimed to reveal the treasure’s location to stir up chaos in the far north, with the primary aim of preventing the Tall family from seizing the Archaic Body cultivators’ territory and resources.

‘However, after spending time at the Tall residence, I’ve come to realize that they aren’t actually hostile toward the Archaic Body cultivators. Moreover, there seems to be some kind of connection between the Archaic Body cultivators and the Tall family. Since the Ice Soul Pill can reconstruct one’s body, the countess of Jipsdale must be planning to use it to regenerate her own body.

‘Now, the big question is, how did the countess of Jipsdale learn about the treasure’s location and the Ice Soul Pill? How did she know that the other half of the emerald badge was needed to form the real key to the treasure? What is the relationship between the countess of Jipsdale and the Archaic Body cultivators? How did she become aware of the Ice Soul Pill’s existence among the treasure? And finally, what role does the Tall family play in all of this? I’m utterly baffled…’

“Since the Archaic Body cultivators have a rule forbidding its members from revealing the location of the treasure, why is it still leaked anyway?” inquired David.

The elderly man answered resignedly, “Do you really have to ask me that? When you entered the place with the emerald badge, I knew what was bound to happen had occurred. Ultimately, the descendants of the Archaic Body cultivation clan wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation and would reveal the secret. Didn’t you come for the Ice Soul Pill because one of the Archaic Body cultivators mentioned it to you?”

He asked that because only someone of clan leader level would have knowledge of the treasure land containing the Ice Soul Pill.

“Um… No, not really. A woman told me about it.. She treats my friend’s illness, so in return, I’m helping her to obtain the Ice Soul Pill,” answered David truthfully.

Now that things had progressed to this point, he didn’t have the nerve to hide anything anymore.

“Woman?” The elderly man frowned.

“Women sure do bring trouble.”

David was still in the dark about the true connection between Jipsdale’s countess and the clan leader of the Archaic Body cultivators. Hence, he didn’t dare to reveal too much information.

David and the elder chatted as they walked forward. After an indefinite amount of time, they stumbled upon a palace. Everyone was appalled when they took a good look at the palace.

David frowned and grew tense as well.

This was the same palace that David’s group had seen when they first entered this space and also the place where they encountered that old villain.

The elder grinned knowingly as he observed the crowd’s reaction.

“Are you all scared to see this place?”

Although David didn’t say a word, his thoughts were clearly reflected in his expression.

Then, the elder strolled forward, pushed open the towering bronze door, and stepped inside the structure.

Seeing the old man enter, David gritted his teeth and followed suit.

The others stood there, dumbfounded. None of them dared to enter the palace again. They didn’t want to relieve the experience as the murderous scene was still fresh on their minds.

Just as the crowd hesitated about what to do, the door suddenly slammed shut.

“Mr. Chance!”

“David!”

Cloud, Sunny, and the others rushed forward, forcefully pushing the door but failed to make it budge. David stared at the closed door and suddenly became anxious.

Warily, he fixed his gaze on the elderly man, worried that the latter would turn out to be that old villain.

Observing David’s apprehensive countenance, the elder smiled and elucidated, “Do not be afraid. I understand what you and the others have been through, but my younger brother is not the only one with control over this world. Our worlds have largely merged. If you all hadn’t intruded, I would have remained within my thatched cottage, never setting foot here. I intended to wait until my soul remnant faded and my world crumbled.”

“Then why did you bring me here, sir?” inquired David, confused.

“To prevent the resurrection of my little brother, of course.”

“In that case, we can just go together. You’ll deal with your brother while I snatch the Ice Soul Pill. Isn’t that simple?”

David was perplexed by the elder’s decision to make such a simple feat appear more mysterious than it needed to be.

“You know my brother’s power will be greatly reduced if he leaves the altar, yes? Do you think the same doesn’t apply to me when I leave my own territory?” questioned the elder.

“Um…” David was momentarily at a loss for words because he didn’t consider that.

“I’ll wait for you ahead. Once we pass through this place, you’ll see a whole new world.” The moment the elder finished speaking, his figure vanished.

Suddenly, David was left alone in the dim hall.

David surveyed his surroundings and noticed the hall was supported by a few pillars. There was nothing ahead of him, unlike the first time he was there. After a brief contemplation, he strode toward the dim area ahead.

Though he felt uneasy wandering in the dark area, he had no choice. His only option was to traverse into the depths of the palace. After taking a few steps forward, he frowned because he realized he couldn’t utilize any power within him.

Furthermore, his surroundings bore down upon him with overwhelming pressure, making each step he took heavy and laborious. He was forced to rely only on his physical strength to continue his journey.

Soon, his forehead was covered in sweat. Every time he lifted his leg, he felt as though he was walking with boulders attached to his calves. Also, each iolite tile that he laid his foot on would crack.

‘Could this be a challenge for me? And that there’ll be a reward waiting for me at the end?’

David wondered before gritting his teeth and marching ahead. The pressure applied on him was getting more intense the deeper he ventured. Also, there didn’t seem to be an end ahead.

Since David couldn’t use any magecraft or magical items, he had to count solely on his physical strength and willpower to carry him forward. His shirt was drenched in sweat at that point, and every step he took felt like a brush with death.

Thud!

Suddenly, David’s legs gave way, and he dropped to the ground. He panted for a few moments before inhaling deeply and getting back on his feet.

Gradually, the dim space ahead of him became brighter, and the elderly appeared before him. He gazed at David with surprise. The presence of the elderly man spurred David on, as he believed he was nearing the finish line.

In the end, he summoned every ounce of strength left in his body to approach the elderly man.

Buzz…

As David took the final step, the pressure surrounding him dissipated. His body instantly relaxed, and he collapsed to the ground.

Initially, he had been exerting his strength to resist the pressure. Therefore, when the pressure abruptly dissipated, his exertion caused him to fall.

Staring at David, the elderly nodded with satisfaction.

“Your physique sure is sturdy. As expected of someone with the Golden Dragon’s True Form. It would seem that disobedient descendant of mine has a good eye.”

He was pleased with David’s performance, knowing that the latest clan leader of the Archaic Body cultivators was the one who picked David, as seen with the emerald badge David possessed.

“Sir, may I know what’s the point of setting these tests to evaluate my body?” David asked.

He was, without a doubt, utterly clueless about why the elder of Archaic Body cultivators was so intent on assessing his physical performance.

“Didn’t you want me to help you destroy my brother?” the elder replied.

“Yes, but didn’t you also mention that your powers will be greatly reduced once you leave your world and that you won’t be able to defeat him?”

“Yes, I did say that. However, there’s a way for me to leave my world and still retain all my powers.”

In an instant, everything fell into place for David.

“Sir, are you planning to possess my body?”

‘I know soul remnants are capable of possessing bodies... That way, they can retain their powers no matter which world they’re in!’

To his surprise, the elder shook his head. “It’s not a possession. Instead, I’ll be merging with your body. When that time comes, I’ll be you, and you’ll be me... If I possessed you, the two of us would be controlling your body simultaneously, and there’s no way we’d be my brother’s match! Therefore, what we need is a perfect fusion. Only then can our consciousness and thoughts merge as one. Don’t worry... When everything’s over, and you can free yourself from this realm, my soul remnant will automatically disappear. I can’t leave this place unless I restore my physical body, possess or merge with a person. Do you trust me?” he explained as he stared calmly at David.

Of course, the elder knew his suggestion wasn’t something most people would readily agree to. After all, David would still have control over his thoughts and actions during a possession, but a fusion would turn him into a completely different person.

Apart from his physical appearance, David would lose control over everything else, so it was no surprise that he was somewhat hesitant.

“I won’t force you. Take your time to think about it,” the elder added before walking into the hall to wait for David’s decision.

As he watched the elder’s retreating figure, David finally gritted his teeth and spoke up.

“All right. I agree, sir.”

‘Argh... What choice do I have? This is the only way to kill that old demon and obtain the ice Soul Pill. If we don’t try it, we might never get the pill or, worse still, be stuck here forever!’

The man slowly turned around and looked at David.

“You must be willing to go through with this and not harbor a single ounce of resistance. Otherwise, we won’t be able to merge as one. You see... My divine soul has weakened a lot over the years, so there’s no way I can forcefully fuse with another body. I need your full cooperation,” he explained, eager to know if the latter was really willing to carry out the plan.

“I’m fully willing, sir,” David answered with a firm nod.

“I’ll leave my body in your hands!”

“Very well, then. Let’s get started. You’ll feel some discomfort during the merging process...” the elder said before gently placing a finger between David’s brows.

“We’re now fusing our memories. Just relax and stay calm.”

Soon, David felt a peculiar aura flood into his consciousness field, and the next thing he knew, he was transported into it.

Not only was he now in his own consciousness field, but he could also