The abyss at the base of Dark Edge Cliff remained shrouded in darkness, invisible from the cliff's summit, hence earning its ominous name.

As Max approached the cliff's edge, he abruptly halted, contemplating a change in direction. Regrettably, it proved too late, as the guards swiftly closed in on him from all sides, effectively surrounding him with the abyss at his back.

Facing this dire situation, Max attempted to reason with the guards.

"I swear, I had no part in it," he implored.

"We care not for your protestations. Surrender willingly, or we shall tether you to a horse and drag you to the royal city," the guard leader arrogantly declared.

Their sole focus was on executing the task assigned by the prince.

Max, realizing the guards' indifference, felt a sense of despair but persisted in reasoning with them.

"I am just a stable boy. How could I possibly harm the 5th prince's horse, knowing the consequences?" he pleaded.

Ignoring Max's words, the guard leader maintained their harsh stance.

"Your explanations matter not. Hand yourself over, or face our chosen method of delivery," he retorted.

Max continued, "Furthermore, the wind-chasing horse is a level 1 monster, while I, a mere mortal, haven't even reached the 1st level of the body-tempering stage. I lack the ability to inflict harm; I couldn't even scratch it."

The guard leader frowned deeper upon hearing Max's logical arguments. Without allowing for a response, Max pressed on, "Even at the peak of the 9th level of body-tempering, it would be a formidable challenge to slay a level 1 monster. Silently dispatching it is an even greater feat, achievable only by an expert at the 4th level of the spirit-gathering realm. I am but a scapegoat."

Acknowledging the validity of Max's claims, the guard leader privately conceded the impossibility of Max committing the crime. However, he also understood the prince's unbridled rage, realizing that only Max's demise would quell it.

"We care not for your explanations. It is not our role to consider such matters," the guard leader stated coldly.

Issuing a command to his subordinates, he ordered, "Capture him."

The guards surrounding Max began to close in, implementing the leader's directive.

As Max continued to retreat towards the cliff's edge, he eventually reached a point where he felt compelled to take a drastic step.

With a fierce roar, he declared, "Halt, or I will jump!"

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Despite Max's threat, the guards sneered and persisted in closing in on him. Recognizing that they were relentless and determined to capture him, Max realized the dire consequences he would face if caught and brought before the wrath of the 5th prince. A resolute expression settled on Max's face as he glanced behind to see nothing but darkness. He then turned his gaze back to the advancing guards. With unwavering determination, Max made a swift decision, without a moment's hesitation, and leapt off the cliff. In his mind, facing death by suicide seemed preferable to the anticipated torture at the hands of the 5th prince.

The guards, witnessing Max's audacious leap, were left stunned and frustrated. They now faced the unpleasant task of reporting this unexpected turn of events to the 5th prince.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it," the leader roared in frustration while watching Max disappear into the abyss of the cliff. Realizing there was no other course of action, he reluctantly ordered his men to retreat.

"Let's go back," the leader commanded, leading his men away from the cliff.

Upon receiving the report, the 5th prince erupted in fury, his aura reaching sea forming stage. Faced with the intense aura, the leader immediately kneeled and admitted, "It was my mistake, my lord. Please punish me."

The prince's aura continued to intensify. Seeking counsel, the prince turned to Protector James, his trusted advisor with a formidable cultivation level at the 2nd level of the Earth King Realm.

"What do you say, Protector James?" inquired the prince, maintaining his aura.

Protector James wisely suggested, "I believe, instead of dwelling on what has transpired, we should focus on formulating the answers we need to provide."

Accepting the advice, the 5th prince retracted his aura and concurred, "You are right, Protector James." He then issued a directive, "Ensure that not a word of what happened spreads beyond these walls."

"Understood," replied the leader, silently expressing gratitude to Protector James for his guidance.

On the opposite side, Max plummeted from the cliff. Initially, he glimpsed the light from the sky, but it swiftly yielded to an encompassing darkness that stretched as far as his eyes could discern.

The transition was abrupt; Max sensed a collision, at first only registering the sound of impact before excruciating pain consumed him. A horizontal tree emerging from the rock had abruptly interrupted his fall.

In agony, Max roared, "AHHHHHHH."

The collision had shattered his ribs, inflicting a dreadful pain. Overwhelmed by the intensity of the pain, Max neglected to grasp the tree with which he had collided, resulting in a further descent. This pattern repeated, a succession of collisions with trees, until finally, with a resounding thud, he landed on the ground at the base of the cliff.

Perhaps by fortune, the collisions with trees had mitigated his velocity, preserving his life. Without the trees, a direct fall would likely have been fatal. Despite surviving, Max bore extensive injuries — broken ribs, a fractured forearm, and both legs shattered. The agony proved too much, and Max lost consciousness shortly after impacting the ground.

A day later, Max awoke with groans of pain. Gradually acclimating to his suffering, he surveyed his surroundings. Contrary to the seemingly pitch-black abyss from above, the bottom of the cliff was illuminated by peculiar stones emitting a faint glow. Though not intensely bright, the light allowed visibility within a meter's range.

Max selected one of these luminescent stones and, with great effort, began to drag himself across the flat ground. Despite the challenging circumstances, he persisted until the sound of flowing water reached his ears.

Encouraged, Max continued in the direction of the sound, eventually discovering a stream.

Arriving at the stream, Max, parched and hungry after more than a day without sustenance, eagerly drank mouthfuls of water.

"Ahh," sighed Max contentedly after quenching his thirst with the stream's water.

His attention was swiftly captivated by the strange blue grass lining the stream's bank—a hue unlike any vegetation Max had encountered before.

With no other sustenance available, Max painstakingly dragged himself towards the unusual grass. Picking it up, he scrutinized it and took a tentative sniff.

"It doesn't have a bad odor. Hopefully, the taste follows suit," Max murmured.

Undeterred by the bitter flavor that defied his expectations, Max, who hadn't ingested anything for over a day, proceeded to consume the grass. Despite its unpalatability, he managed to gulp it down after a few bites.