CHAPTER 1040 THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY
Rocky had made a significant breakthrough in his genetic experiments and refinement of the spiritual crystals. He also achieved amazing progress in his strength. For the past four months, Rocky had refined the third Holy Spirit Panacea and had almost reached the eighth grade of the Supernal Stage. He had merged with most of the power released from the fourth layer of the seal and would absorb all the power soon. Compared with his practice sessions with Alyssa, it took a long time for Rocky to merge with the power released from the fourth layer of the seal. But as to the normal fusion practices, his fusion was still impressively quick.
Inside the warehouse, Rocky was observing Uriah's egg. The egg had grown bigger and taller, and could pierce through the roof of the warehouse anytime. The eggshell had changed its color four times. Last time it was red, but now it had turned dark green. Rocky was not sure if this was its last color or would change again soon.
Rocky observed the egg for a long time, and he noticed several changes. It was growing so fast, and he also saw some slight movements, as if there was something alive and growing inside the shell. He also sensed a powerful aura that radiated from the egg, and it appeared to be growing stronger every day.
Rocky went through so much trouble just to find enough blood essence to feed Uriah's egg. He traveled all over the Myriad Beasts Ground except for some extremely dangerous areas. He faced dangers and risked his life several times so he could gather as much blood essence of spirit- manipulated beasts as possible.
He also asked Marcia to collect some blood essence from supreme masters at the Divine Stage, like Lance. As well as some masters at the Supernal Stage. With the help of Laney, Lucilla collected some blood essence from the Cao Clan. She then ordered her confidant to send the blood essence to Rocky.
The adequate supply of blood essence boosted Uriah's egg and helped it grow amazingly fast within the last four months.
Except for the blood essence of the Moon Fox and the ancient spiritual beast, Rocky had used most kinds of blood essence to feed Uriah's egg. He believed that it was not the right time to use these two kinds of blood essence. Based on his observation, he determined that the egg didn't absorb nutrition from the blood essence to grow, but seemed like being putting pieces of puzzle together. For one, a specific kind of blood essence was a crucial piece. The higher-grade blood essence was a bigger piece of the puzzle and would cause a greater change in the egg.
Rocky concluded that some pieces of the puzzle were just too difficult to find, such as the high-grade blood essence of the Moon Fox and the ancient spiritual beast. But he was not in a hurry.
For the past four months, both Robin and Ken also made astonishing progress. Ken in particular acquired the second grade of the guardian beast's power and made a breakthrough.
Rocky was also aware of the current situation within the Holy Dragon Empire, even if he had not gone out for the past four months. Marcia often sent him valuable pieces of information, including those collected by Laney.
Alyssa ordered Laney to go to the Holy Dragon Empire and aid Rocky. With Laney and Marcia's assistance, Rocky knew everything important that had happened in the Holy Dragon Empire, even if he was in seclusion.
He knew that Alston became the acting emperor of the Holy Dragon Empire after the emperor disappeared, and this raised doubts among the forces, especially those who supported other princes. Much as Alston was the heir to the throne of the Holy Dragon Empire, the sudden disappearance of the emperor was so bizarre that it triggered rumors among the people. The other princes felt uneasy and harbored suspicions on a possible conspiracy.
Suspicions about Alston continued to spread in the succeeding days, but the upheaval did not last long. Alston began a series of brutal suppressions and cracked down on people who doubted him and forces that opposed him. Rumors about small clans being slaughtered spread across the entire city. Terrified, the people fell silent and kept their suspicions to themselves.
Alston's cruel behavior earned the ire of some major clans in the Holy Dragon Empire and this included the Ximen Clan and the Ji Clan. Only a few remained loyal to him. Because of this, Alston failed to win the major clans over to his side. They stayed quiet and remained neutral in their decisions. To be safe, they restrained themselves from being involved in his affairs and kept their distance from him.
Their disapproval gave Rocky and his companions a fighting chance. With her status and reputation in the Holy Dragon Empire, Marcia had secretly won the favor of several forces. Independently they were not strong, but united, they formed a very powerful force. Marcia did not waste a single moment. She reached out to several major clans in secret and convinced them to side with her. Because of her identity and the danger she faced, Marcia had to be cautious with her actions. With this, some major clans including the Ximen Clan and Ji Clan remained neutral.
Before long, Laney sent a message about the Timber Deity Empire that caught Rocky's attention. Not long after he left the Timber Deity Empire, a group of spirit manipulators led by Alyssa went to a mysterious place to look for another spiritual treasure. They discovered that two empires who were only second to the Timber Deity Empire, Holy Dragon Empire and Magic Phoenix Empire had also sent spirit manipulators to find the spiritual treasure. They also learned that some spirit manipulators were from a country backed by the Heavenly Demon Clan.
Twice in the past, the Heavenly Demon Clan had sent two ordinary spiritual beings to snatch the guardian beast of Alyssa, but they failed. After the lack of success, the two ordinary spiritual beings both disappeared. Some time ago, the Heavenly Demon Clan asked its allied empire to look for the spiritual treasure as well. Clearly, the Heavenly Demon Clan had the same idea as the Wood Clan.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
This triggered a series of hunting expeditions to look for spiritual treasures. Numerous major empires and even a few weak empires on the Wild Spirit Land joined the hunt. The situation remained strained and turbulent at the time being. It also set in motion conflict and fierce fights within the clans.
Out of curiosity, Rocky asked Marcia about the spiritual treasures. However, Marcia did not know where the spiritual treasures came from. She only knew that there were nine spiritual treasures, and that they existed a long time ago. She also learned that they were sealed in nine extremely dangerous and mysterious places within the Wild Spirit Land. The spiritual race members were prohibited from entering the places where the spiritual treasures were sealed. Also, the spiritual treasures were just mysterious beings and only the spiritual race knew their specific use and benefits.
The Wood Clan and the other spiritual race clans mentioned nothing about the spiritual treasures. They only asked the empires to send people to the mysterious places on the Wild Spirit Land to look for the spiritual treasures.
With this information, Rocky felt that there must be some significant secrets hidden behind their crazy search for the spiritual treasures.
Rocky figured that there was another way for him to learn more about spiritual treasures. He could ask the Dragon-shaped Soul Beast, but it was unwilling to reveal anything. Still, the Dragon-shaped Soul Beast pointed out that if Rocky wanted to unravel the secrets of the spiritual race, he should collect the blood essence of the nine legendary guardian beasts and unlock all the memories sealed in the dragon-shaped jade first.
Rocky had already gained the blood essence of the Moon Fox, which was likely one of the nine legendary guardian beasts, but he did not use it to unlock the second layer of memory in the dragon- shaped jade. It worried him that too much new information would harm him at this point. What he needed to do now was to concentrate on cultivation and wait for the perfect opportunity!