Violet Thunderstone!
Kael's eyes widened in astonishment. The dazzling purple crystal before him stood nearly half his height, radiating an otherworldly brilliance—flawless and exceptionally rare.
But what truly stunned him was the unmistakable surge of lightning energy emanating from it. Instantly, passages from The Book of Immortality flashed through his mind: "Violet Thunderstone—a naturally occurring crystal imbued with raw thunderforce, harmonizing perfectly with lightning-attuned cultivators." The revelation left him both awed and exhilarated.
"Violet Thunderstone?" Amelia tilted her head, puzzled.
"Exactly. This is a natural lightning-conductive crystal—unbelievably rare and priceless," Kael explained, barely containing his excitement. "I've been struggling to advance my thunder cultivation, but this... this eliminates all obstacles!"
A crystal of this size was beyond valuation.
Kael stepped forward, running his hands over its smooth surface to assess its quality. To his shock, the purity far exceeded his wildest expectations—not only was it free of imperfections, but the depth of its stored lightning energy even surpassed his current reserves.
"Incredible... absolutely incredible," he murmured, forcing calm into his voice.
This single deposit could sustain his thunder cultivation for at least half a year. No longer would he need to worry about stagnation—his path to mastering lightning had just widened exponentially.
As his fingers traced the crystal, arcs of violet electricity crackled across its surface, making his hair stand on end. Had he not already wielded lightning affinity, the raw power would have reduced him to charcoal.
Savoring the energy thrumming beneath his palms, Kael turned to the Snow Bear Beast with a grin. "You've done exceptionally well. Your reward? A feast of roasted meat!"
The beast's eyes instantly sparkled like stars, its head bobbing eagerly. "Finally! I've waited so long for this—do you know how hard I've worked?!"
Kael stifled a laugh. These creatures are so easily pleased—just offer barbecue, and they'd conquer kingdoms for you.
With the Violet Thunderstone secured, his thunder cultivation worries vanished. Used sparingly, this crystal could fuel his progress for months.
A longstanding burden lifted, Kael's spirit soared.
Kael carefully extracted the Violet Thunderstone from the ground, with the Snow Bear Beasts eagerly assisting. The promise of a reward had spurred them into a frenzy of activity, each vying to contribute.
The Snow Bear Beasts' digging prowess was undeniable. In no time at all, they had excavated a deep pit around the crystal, loosening the surrounding earth with remarkable efficiency.
Of course, none dared approach the Violet Thunderstone itself—its crackling energy would have reduced them to charred husks in an instant.
Once the soil was loosened, removing the crystal became straightforward—though only Kael could handle it safely. Even a ninth-tier powerhouse would likely suffer severe burns from its unchecked lightning energy.
With a satisfied smile, Kael stored the Violet Thunderstone in a separate spatial ring. This haul far exceeds my expectations, he mused inwardly.
The acquisition of the crystal alone made this expedition worthwhile.
Typically, rare magical ores like the Violet Thunderstone were accompanied by secondary gemstones. Kael meticulously examined the surrounding rock formations, but found no trace of such deposits. Amelia waited patiently beside him, well aware of his expertise in magical materials.
Alas, the cavern yielded no additional minerals. Kael sighed in mild disappointment before chuckling at his own greed. I'm getting ahead of myself.
"Amelia, let's head out," he said, ready to depart now that their primary objective was secured.
She nodded, and the group turned to leave—until another Snow Bear Beast suddenly emerged from a side tunnel.
"Boss Kael! We found a treasure chest in another chamber! But... there are three Augurk Beasts guarding it!" The creature's adorable face still bore traces of fright, clearly shaken by the discovery.
"The Augurk Beasts have awakened?" Kael's initial excitement gave way to concern.
The Snow Bear Beast shook its head vigorously. "No, no! Don't worry, Boss—I was super careful! I spotted the statues from a distance and rushed back to report!" It grinned mischievously.
Kael's frown eased into approval. This one's clever. Noting the creature's expectant gaze, he couldn't help but laugh—he knew exactly what it wanted.
"Excellent! You'll get your roasted meat reward once we're out," Kael chuckled.
"Thank you, Boss Kael!" The Snow Bear Beast grinned from ear to ear, practically vibrating with excitement. The others watched enviously—after enduring harsh conditions for so long, the mere promise of meat had them all salivating.
"Lead the way!" Kael said, though his mind was already racing with theories about the treasure chest the creature had mentioned.
The Snow Bear Beast bounded ahead, Kael following closely behind as they navigated the winding tunnels.
"Boss Kael, it's right up ahead!" The guide's voice trembled slightly, its wide eyes brimming with unease.
As they entered the cavern, Kael's gaze locked onto three towering statues at its center—each a fearsome fusion of lion and human, their expressions carved into eternal snarls.
The sculptures were imposing, standing nearly three meters tall. Their bodies were those of crouching lions, golden manes rendered with such lifelike detail they seemed ready to shake free from stone at any moment. The trio formed a triangular formation, stationed at strategic points across the chamber.
Kael smirked and stepped forward.
"Is Boss Kael really going to fight those three Augurk Beasts?!" The Snow Bear Beasts' eyes gleamed with anticipation as they watched him advance.
The moment Kael neared the statues, the stone surfaces cracked. Dust and debris rained down as the Augurk Beasts' eyes ignited with crimson light, their roars—a grotesque hybrid of beast and human—echoing through the cavern. The guardians had awakened.
The three Augurk Beasts locked their crimson gazes onto Kael, their eyes brimming with primal fury. Yet Kael remained utterly unfazed—his confidence unshaken.
With a sweeping glance at the beasts, Kael unleashed his Lightning Force. Violet electricity erupted around him in a dazzling display, the air itself seeming to tear apart under the thunderous roar of raw power.
A mere flex of his will sent his energy surging forth. The sheer pressure of his Lightning Domainformed a palpable current, so oppressive that even the watching Snow Bear Beasts struggled to breathe.
"So... this is his true strength?!" The Snow Bear Beasts' eyes bulged in awe—especially their leader, who knew Kael better than most. Yet in what felt like the blink of an eye, Kael's power had surged to terrifying new heights.
In the next instant, Kael blurred into motion. His Lightning Domain engulfed the Augurk Beasts, and for a heartbeat, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Then—BOOM!
A deafening explosion of thunder drowned all other sound. The shockwave alone would have leveled mountains, and the Augurk Beasts vanished into the maelstrom without even a chance to resist.
When the dust settled, the once-gilded guardians now lay as charred husks, their legendary immortality the only thing keeping them from true death. Though still technically "alive," their bodies were reduced to smoldering wreckage, incapable of further combat. The acrid stench of scorched flesh hung thick in the air, leaving the Snow Bear Beasts equal parts awed and terrified.
Kael, however, strode toward the treasure chest as if he'd merely swatted aside a few flies.
Now, nothing stood between him and the prize.