Chapter 69 - Revealed Secret (2/2)
The two adult elephants looked at each other momentarily and what was the male among them, bellowed again. It was asking how they could trust humans.
”If you don't trust humans, trust me then. I have no intention of hurting you, so I brought your child back to you. Moreover…”
Then he let Ye and Xing out of his clothes and then ran a hand through his hair and took his mother and showed her to the two second-level spirit beasts.
Instinctively, the two elephants dropped to their knees and bowed their heads. From the slight aura that emerged from Bao Bei, they could clearly understand that she was a spirit beast far superior to them.
”This is my mother, while the two of them are my sisters. As I said, I'm not going to hurt you. If you don't want to, you can always refuse. However, what I have told you will happen; it is up to you to decide whether to let it happen or not.”
Hei ended his speech and sat down with Lian. He put his mother back on his head as he gently stroked his two little sisters.
The two elephants continued to talk to each other as they glanced from time to time at Hei. From the way he was holding and caressing that little spider and that little snake, they could see how affection the human before them felt for those two spirit beasts.
In the end, after several discussions and having their every detail told by their baby, they came up with their answer. They would accept, but if something harmful happened to their herd, they would leave, regardless of which humans they had to kill.
Satisfied with their words, Hei smiled and prepared to arrange preparations for their return.
*
The return journey was very chaotic. Instead of climbing on the back of Bao Bei, Hei and Lian climbed on the back of one of two second-level elephants. Next to the parents and their baby, there were also the other elephants of the pack.
Given their size and numbers, their group was quickly spotted, and news soon spread that a herd of elephants was traveling the kingdom. Fortunately, the Flower Sect immediately announced that there was nothing to worry about, and it was they who were leading the herd. To be sure, the sect leader sent the seventh elder to protect the group nearing the sect.
But in the end, nothing happened, and the herd of elephants finally arrived at the Flower Sect, where they settled nearby in the territories bordering the spiderweb house. The other spirit beasts had also settled down nearby and welcomed the new arrivals.
Hei also wanted to join the festivities and officially welcome the new arrivals but was immediately summoned by the sect leader on his return. Therefore, he went with Lian to the residence of the sect leader, eager to hurry and return home.
When he found himself in front of the sect leader, Hei noticed that the woman had lost her usual serious and detached temperament. Indeed, it contained an excitement never seen before.
”Excellent job, Hei. You managed to bring the elephants to the sect. The news that we have tamed the two second-level spirit beasts has already been around the kingdom and has spread to the remaining two kingdoms, too,” the sect leader commented as she looked intensely at Hei.
”I guess you didn't call me here just to congratulate me, did you?” Hei asked.
From the attitude of the sect leader, he could notice that something had happened and decided to go straight to the point.
”Yup. All right. I'll be direct then. Hei, the king, asked if we could use elephants and your other spirit beasts if there were a danger to the kingdom. Of course, you will have your reward. ”
At the words of the sect leader, Hei frowned as he answered.
”No, as I said, they aren't tools. I agreed to bring them here because you promised me that you would give them a safe home. So if there is a danger to the sect, they will protect it because their house is in the sect. But I won't allow them to be used as tools at the service of the king's power craving.”
”I figured you'd say that, but listen to me before you decide. What I'm about to tell you is a secret known only to the major powers of the Rainbow Island. That is the reason behind the actions I have taken so far and behind the king's request. It's about the token you saw at auction.”
When he heard the token being named, Hei's anger subsided momentarily, and he became silent to listen to the sect leader. At his side, Lian also laid her eyes on the woman.
”The token you saw at the auction comes from the formation used by the sect for the inner members' evaluation. The dream trial and the combat trial are governed by an entity known as the Artifact Spirit. It dwells in every islands' formation, though it has to divide its conscience to operate so many formations in different places. But this token was given only to us martial artists of the Rainbow Island. Do you know why? ”
Obviously, Hei didn't know why. It was just a rhetorical question to emphasize her speech. The sect leader, therefore, spoke again.
”Secret Dimension. In ancient texts, it is said that the Serpent of Darkness reached the divine degree, killing the Hero of the human race and the Demon Emperor. During the final battle, a large portion of land detached from the continent and disappeared forever. However, these portions of land haven't disappeared but exist at different points in space. And these points took the name of Secret Dimensions.
The main reason why the Sun Empire came to the islands was to look for such dimensions. But they weren't able to find one and left, leaving us alone. And the reason why they seek these Secret Dimensions is that those guard the corpses of divine beasts as well as the treasures of human and demons martial artists of one hundred thousand years ago.
Several years ago, we found a rift in space. Asking for help from the Artifact Spirit, we discovered that a passage was being formed towards an unknown Secret Dimension. You must know that on the Continent, the number of Secret Dimensions is very few, but each is invaluable.
Bloodlines, rare weapons, medicines and pills that go beyond the second rank, reaching up to the sixth. This Secret Dimension represents the opportunity of a lifetime for us Rainbow Island martial artists. All the big and medium sects, together with other influences, have united their resources. With the help of the Artifact Spirit, we have succeeded in creating a formation that could stabilize the connection towards the Secret Dimension.
The problem is that the passage is still unstable and would collapse if someone of the second rank or higher entered inside. For this reason, we had to focus on the younger generation. At the same time, the Artifact Spirit has given us these tokens containing its aura so that participants can safely cross the passage without being swallowed up by the space. So a big fight broke out to get as many tokens as possible. We Flower Sect have managed to get four.
With only four seats, we must necessarily send the best of the younger generation for more possibilities. That's why I'm insisting that you and Lian get stronger as soon as possible.”