Starting from primitive world, building the strongest divine kingdom

Upon hearing this, Enzo moved closer and stated, "I accept your thanks. You may now leave."

Yet, despite Enzo's words, the group remained unmoved.

Particularly the frail man, whose face contorted in indecision; ultimately, he seemed to arrive at a resolution and said, "Esteemed warrior, we were pursued by the Iron Armored Rhinoceroses because we discovered a patch of Windstorm Grass. Unfortunately, while we were harvesting it, this pack of Iron Armored Rhinoceroses caught wind of our presence."

"Windstorm Grass?"

Enzo furrowed his brow.

He had perused the foundational potion knowledge left by Mina and was familiar with Windstorm Grass as a potion ingredient. However, this plant typically flourished in tempestuous coastal regions. What could it possibly be doing in the Death Lair?

Moreover, ordinary Windstorm Grass held little value.

Enzo probed further, "How many leaves does each Windstorm Grass plant possess?"

The frail man replied, "I did not count them meticulously, but the largest plant had an abundance of leaves, at least twenty or thirty."

Twenty or thirty leaves!

The sheer quantity sent a jolt of surprise through Enzo's mind.

The leaves of the Windstorm Grass resemble a formidable blade, growing at a glacial pace, with new leaves emerging only once every century. The presence of twenty or thirty leaves suggests that these specimens possess medicinal properties that span over a millennium.

Contemplating this, Enzo felt a surge of excitement.

Enzo turned his gaze to Tade.

Tade offered no dissent and, surveying their surroundings, remarked, "I find myself uncertain of our current location. To locate that item I previously mentioned, we must navigate our way carefully. It would not hurt to investigate those Windstorm Grass along the way. It could yield additional rewards."

Tade chuckled, scratching his head.

Despite his robust physique and powerful limbs, he was shrewd enough not to mistake Enzo's inquiry for a request for his counsel.

Tade possessed a clear understanding of his role.

As Enzo expressed his intent to explore the Windstorm Grass, an unusual glimmer sparked in the eyes of the frail man. He was on the verge of testing the waters with his words when Enzo called out, "Lead the way!"

An overwhelming wave of joy washed over him.

This was precisely what the frail man had wished to convey: their group had discovered the Windstorm Grass, yet the presence of the Iron Armored Rhinoceroses had hindered their collection. Now, with Enzo having driven the creatures away…

This signified that the coveted Windstorm Grass could be harvested once more.

The frail man harbored no extravagant wishes. He merely hoped Enzo might spare a portion as a token of reward for himself and his companions.

Thus, he eagerly replied, "Of course."

Under the guidance of the frail man and his companions, Enzo and the others swiftly arrived at a concealed cavern beneath the ground. Above the cavern, a vast opening allowed sunlight to stream in, revealing Iron Armored Rhinoceros tracks at the entrance and along the passageway.

Deep within lay a sprawling expanse of Windstorm Grass.

The Windstorm Grass flourished vigorously, dominating the depths of the cave. To Enzo's astonishment, the largest of these grasses was with over one hundred leaves, towering like a tree.

Most importantly, a unique elemental energy coursed through these Windstorm Grasses, indicating that they were far from ordinary!

Or rather, something was amiss in this place!

Enzo projected his formidable mental energy, his gaze suddenly sharpening as it fixed on the largest Windstorm Grass. With unwavering certainty, he declared, "There is something beneath that Windstorm Grass!"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their eyes toward it.

However they found nothing amiss.

Determined, Enzo approached, clearing away the surrounding Windstorm Grass before beginning to excavate.

The frail man, witnessing this, promptly joined in the digging.

Before long, a deep pit was revealed, and a gentle breeze began to rise from its depths, accompanied by a series of crackling sounds.

In the next moment, under the watchful gazes of the crowd, a skeleton clad in tattered armor and wielding a longbow rose to its feet. It appeared irate at Enzo and his companions' arrival, raising the bow with intent to slay them without nocking an arrow.

Yet, as it attempted to draw the bowstring, its bones crumbled and scattered to the ground.

The onlookers exchanged bewildered glances.

A sneer of disdain crept into their minds—Is that all?

Then their attention turned to the longbow, which shimmered with a cerulean elemental energy, the unmistakable force of the tempest. Though the armor adorning the skeleton had decayed, the bow remained pristine, showing no sign of wear.

Evidently, it was a treasure.

Without hesitation, Enzo grasped it, absorbing a wealth of information.

He then handed the longbow to Eve, saying, "This is called the Wind Bow. As long as you can draw it, it will unleash a Wind Arrow. It's quite a remarkable item—take it. I have no use for it."

Eve's heart swelled with joy at the gift.

Upon witnessing such a treasure bestowed upon Eve, the group of frail men exhibited envious glances, yet out of fear for Enzo's strength, they dared not ask for one themselves.

At that moment, Enzo added, "These Windstorm Grass are yours as well."

The weak men could hardly believe their ears; they wished to express their gratitude, only to realize that Enzo had already departed with his companions.

To Enzo, the Windstorm Grass held little value.

He collected several seedlings of Windstorm Grass and placed them within a miniature realm, swiftly setting up a simplified version of the Ring of the World Ritual, allowing the realm to autonomously absorb energy and generate the Waters of Life.

Moreover, within this miniature world, Bookstaver was fervently engaged in cultivation, and under the nourishing Waters of Life, the growth of Windstorm Grass became a trivial matter.

...

After leaving the Windstorm Grass cavern, the trio journeyed northward for what felt like an eternity.

Two days later, they finally paused.

Enzo turned to Tade and inquired, "Have we not yet arrived at the location you mentioned?"

Breathless and frustrated, Tade replied, "We may have lost our way."

Enzo felt equally exasperated upon hearing this.

At that moment, Tade spoke again, "There is a way to help us quickly locate the place, but it may involve danger."

"What method is that?" Enzo asked.

Tade gestured towards the ground and said, "We will proceed through the underground passage. Once we locate an entrance to a cave, we can navigate through the subterranean space. All the exits in the underground realm are interconnected. Though intricate, there are unique landmarks for reference.

One crucial point to note is that the formidable supernatural beings residing in the Death Lair dwell deep within the underground, the stronger the being, the deeper its lair."

Enzo, after a brief contemplation, readily acquiesced to this proposition.

Eve, of course, trailed closely behind Enzo.

Thus, the trio sought out the nearest opening to descend into the underground realm. However, shortly after their entry, they encountered another group, the two parties facing off in the confined corridor, each wary of the other. Upon realizing that their paths did not converge, the rival group sighed in relief and hastily departed.

Tade elucidated, "This is the fundamental nature of the Death Lair. Here, the most terrifying threats are often not the powerful supernatural entities, but rather one's own companions."

"In the shadow of immense greed, anyone is capable of turning foe."

"The treasures herein far surpass the Wind Bow."

"Rest assured, Mr. Enzo, I, Tade, am unwaveringly loyal and reliable. I shall never betray my allies."

The three continued their journey through the underground passages for a day.

During this time, they encountered numerous groups.

Some remained vigilant, while others observed discreetly. Enzo and his companions paid little heed to those they crossed paths with.

"We have arrived!"

"Mr. Enzo, just ahead!"

At that moment, Tade suddenly called out.

He pointed excitedly towards a luminous spot ahead, where sunlight streamed through an opening above the underground passage.

Tade was the first to dash forward.

Enzo swiftly followed, pulling Eve along with him.

Upon reaching the source of the light, Enzo discovered, to his astonishment, that the path ahead had vanished, replaced instead by a rugged stone wall.

At that moment, Tade produced a peculiar crystal.

He retrieved several items, including a glass vial containing blood and some special powder wrapped in white paper. He dripped the blood onto the crystal before scattering the special powder across the rocky surface. Suddenly, the crystal began to vibrate, attempting to establish a unique connection with the powder.

Then, the area outlined by the powder began to transform.

It was as if something was being distorted, causing the stone wall to become ethereal. Enzo, taken aback, remarked, "Is this a spatial portal?"

Tade corrected him, saying, "To be precise, this is a spatial portal existing within the soul world."

This peculiar passage was a sight Enzo had never encountered before.

The soul world could only be accessed by consciousness.

Yet now, a soul world was directly linked to reality, which left Enzo marveling at the wonders of the supernatural realm.

Without hesitation, the three entered.

Unbeknownst to them, shortly after their entrance, several others arrived and scattered special powder over the wall, rendering it again ethereal.

Then, the leader spoke, "They have already entered. We shall follow."

One by one, they disappeared into the wall.

Within the wall's realm, a shroud of night enveloped everything.

Enzo surveyed his surroundings, noting the vast expanse of wilderness, punctuated by the remnants of a crumbling ruin not far off. He turned to Tade, voicing his concerns, "Tade, is this truly the place you seek? It appears somewhat amiss."

Tade nodded, affirming, "Indeed, Mr. Enzo, within those ruins lies a formidable creature. The treasure I seek is guarded by that very beast."

With that, Tade hurriedly made his way toward the ruins.

His urgency was palpable.