Death… and me

Chapter 961: Breakthroughs

As they waited for the Divine Stream Lake to transform back into Divine Energy, Roan took the chance to ask something else to one of the guards. “We need to protect this caravan, right? What exactly do we need to protect it from? Bandits? Also, once the lake transforms, will we be able to absorb the Divine Energy without anyone bothering us?”

The guy then explained, “Indeed, bandits are one of the possibilities we have to protect the caravan against. Naturally, there are also demon beasts. After all, any demon beast below the Transition Realm doesn’t have any sentience, so they act on instinct.”

“As for the Divine Stream Lake, you don’t need to worry. The demon beasts who come to wait for it to transform will never attack anyone as long as they aren’t attacked. Or, of course, if someone tries to enter the lake.”

The guy then added, “However, there’s still a chance that you will have to fight in the Divine Stream Lake. Sometimes, the lake’s location is revealed to nearby towns or tribes, and they would band together to try and take control over it. We have more than enough space for all the demon beasts and our caravan’s members at the moment, so it’s okay for now.”

Roan nodded and returned to Rean’s side as they waited for the lake to transform. Around a day later, something finally happened.

*Blub, blub, blub, blub…*

Suddenly, the lake began to boil as if someone was heating it from below. At first, there were just a few bubbles here and there. But eventually, the entire lake turned out like that. Cynthia quickly headed out of the caravan when that happened as she gave orders. “The lake’s water is changing back into Divine Energy. Everyone already has their own spots. Sit down there and start cultivating. Try to absorb as much Divine Energy as possible. I wish everyone a plentiful harvest.”

Following that, Cynthia quickly moved to the lake’s side and sat on the position reserved for her. All the guards, merchants, and simple workers did the same with excited expressions on their faces. Of course, they weren’t the only ones. Rean’s group could see that the demon beasts had also calmed down as they sat beside the lake. Surprisingly, a peaceful harmony was achieved as everyone knew that fighting for it would only be a waste of time, even for the nonsentient demon beasts.

Rean, Roan, and Kentucky then looked at Celis. During the time they have been waiting for the lake to transform, they tried to cultivate by using the surrounding Divine Energy. As expected, Celis was still the best one at absorbing when he spread his roots around the ground. Celis had changed back into his tree form. It’s just that he assumed another shape so others wouldn’t find out what type of demon tree he was. After that, they simply waited as Celis spread his roots even further.

Now that the lake was beginning to transform back, Celis went all out while also helping Rean, Roan, and Kentucky. Kentucky laid on his nest as Celis created two places for Rean and Roan on his branches. Because of their connection in terms of cultivation, Rean and Roan could even feel the flow of Divine Energy coming from Celis’s roots.

Celis had a limit as to how much Divine Energy he could absorb at once at his level. So all the extra Divine Energy being brought back by the branches was absorbed by the twins and the bird. No one paid attention to the twins’ group, though. That’s because the position they were cultivating could be said to be more or less average. Naturally, the strongest demon beasts and cultivators took the best spots. Little did they know that their absorption speed wasn’t even a fifth of what the twins’ group could do. It was all thanks to Celis’s species as a World Swallowing Cedar.

The Divine Energy coming from the lake was so concentrated that Rean was able to see it taking form in the air. “Such a huge amount… too bad we can’t store all that escaping Divine Energy for use later.”

It was then that Sister Orb’s voice resounded in their ears, asking, [Store? If that’s what you want, I can try to store as much as possible in the Dimensional Realm. Normally, it would take a very long time with normal Divine Energy. However, it’s so concentrated above the lake that I think I can take quite a lot in.]

Rean and Roan’s eyes lit up in response. However, they could not help but be wary as Rean asked in response, ‘Will it cause any issues to the Dimensional Realm? Also, would anyone notice you doing that?’

[There are no risks since the Dimensional Realm has also changed to support Divine Energy. As for someone noticing, it is indeed possible. However, all they would be able to see is that something is absorbing the Divine Energy that they passed up on. No one will be able to link it to you two, nor would they try to stop it since that energy is something they couldn’t absorb anyway. They would rather focus on their cultivation instead.]

Rean nodded after that before warning Sister Orb, ‘Alright, go ahead and do it. Of course, if you can keep your actions hidden, that’ll be for the better.’

Though, after a bit of silence, Rean couldn’t help but ask, ‘In that case, isn’t it better for you to take Divine Energy Water instead?’

[Can’t do that,] Sister Orb responded. [The Divine Stream Lake exists because of the environment that allows it to form. If I try to take the water away, it will dissipate before I store it. I can only store the energy itself.]

Rean didn’t ask any more after that. ‘Alright. Go ahead with the plan then.’

[On it!]

Several tens of meters above the Divine Stream Lake, part of the Divine Energy that was dissipating into the air suddenly began to gather once again. Of course, it was only a small percentage while the rest still got away. If one looked closely, one would be able to see a very small opening in space that connected to the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm.

“Let me give you some extra help, Sister Orb,” Celis said. Soon after, he connected to his saplings that were inside the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm. Just like Sister Orb, they also started to absorb Divine Energy, increasing the amount taken into the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm.

[Very good, little tree.]

Everyone around the lake was already cultivating tens of times faster because of the lake. Rean’s group, because of Celis, was doing several times better than then. Just twenty minutes into the event…

*Boom!*

Peak Stage Nascent Soul Realm and Peak Stage Five Demon Beasts!