CHAPTER 454 STUPEFIED

"Commander Marin!" Rocky called out trying to catch up with Marin.

Instead of slowing down, she sped up as if she didn't hear him.

Seeing this, Rocky shot forward to block Marin. This caught her off guard and forced her to bump

directly into him.

Shocked at their closeness, Marin immediately blushed. She quickly stepped back and took a few,

quick breaths. "You're in my way," she warned with a glare. "Step aside!"

"Before you leave, please let me finish what I have to say." Rocky begged her.

"I don't want to hear it," Marin replied through clenched teeth.

"I know you're mad that I left and didn't eat the gruel you prepared for me. Please let me explain,"

Rocky replied with a smile.

Surprised, she wondered how Rocky knew the gruel was for him. 'Did one of the army cooks inform

him?' she thought.

"What gruel? I don't know what you're talking about," Marin said in a low voice, looking uneasy.

"I wasn't aware you took the time to cook for me. If I had known, I would've stayed to eat. I'm sorry.

Thank you again for taking care of me last night," He replied with utmost sincerity.

Hearing this, Marin bit her lower lip and clenched her fists. Her heart began to pound furiously against This material belongs to .

her chest. As she raised her head to look at Rocky, her mind suddenly went blank and her tongue

failed to find the words.

"Consider this my apology." Rocky retrieved from his silk bag a bottle containing ten drops of magical

saliva and handed it to her.

"What's this?" Marin asked him as she observed the bottle in his hand.

"Something useful. When you need to cultivate, have one or two drops. You'll be surprised." Rocky

refrained himself from telling her the wonders it could cast. "Take this," he said as he gingerly placed it

into her palm, "and forgive me for my unintentional mistake." Turning on his heel, he left without

another word.

After observing the bottle for a few moments, she called out to him, "Hey! What about your question?"

Rocky grinned as he heard her sweet voice shout his name. How naive and easily comforted she could

be.

Doing his best to conceal his laughter, he turned around to reply, "We can save that for later. Don't you

have something to do right now?"

"None at the moment. Tell me now," Marin commanded.

Rocky smiled as he went back. He decided not to ask her why he couldn't break past the first grade of

the Heavenly Stage and into the second. Doing so would only raise Marin's suspicion. Instead, he

questioned her about breaking through the Heavenly Stage and the cultivation that followed it.

Lucky for him, Marin had no problem or suspicion at all while explaining it to him.

According to her, spirit manipulators when reaching the Heavenly Stage, no matter they were average

spirit manipulators or royal spirit manipulators would encounter a bottleneck at every grade. The same

happened during both the Supernal Stage and the Divine Stage.

These bottlenecks enabled spirit manipulators to break through their normal strength level, which would

only be attained through certain conditions—such as life-threatening situations and extreme

cultivations. The level of cultivation experience would determine whether or not a spirit manipulator

could go past the bottleneck.

Many considered the transition from the ninth grade of the Heavenly Stage into the Supernal Stage as

the most terrifying. Countless spirit manipulators remained in the Heavenly Stage for all eternity and

failed to get past the bottleneck.

Not only did this particular bottleneck solidify the manipulator's capability of being a real master, but it

would determine his future as well. Breaking into the Supernal Stage wasn't just a mere demonstration

of power. In fact, it was a status symbol that was highly regarded. It allowed the spirit manipulator to

enjoy respect and high positions in society.

Leaving Marin, Rocky returned to the commander's camp alone. He knew reaching the next level of the

Heavenly Stage would be dangerous. In spite of this, it was a risk he was willing to take.

'I'll have to be well-prepared.' Rocky realized.

Nightfall quickly approached.

From high up above, a huge silver beast came swooping down and landed in the middle of the Hippo

Land camping ground. Immediately, this startled and caught the attention of the soldiers.

A slim individual jumped off of the beast.

"Deputy Commander in Chief." In awe, everyone greeted the commander in unison.

Isis had just arrived from the frontline.

With a look of seriousness, she stepped into the commander's camp and spotted Rocky studying the

map. Rocky looked up with surprise and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Is that really the right way to welcome a commander? I think all those praises you received from

successfully taking back the Hippo Land have turned you arrogant," Isis snorted as a reply.

Shaking his head, Rocky couldn't help but smile at Isis' sarcasm. He then asked seriously, "What

happened?" He knew that whenever Isis showed up, bad news was bound to follow.

"The Nine Grottoes was conquered by the Timber Deity Empire's main force," Isis explained.

"What does this mean for us?" Rocky questioned as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"It means that the Timber Deity Empire's forces will most likely attack our main camp. We're

outnumbered, Rocky. Our soldiers can't handle it," Isis explained, emphasizing the dire situation they

were all in.