บท 40: Immortal Lotus and Hidden Danger.

"Xiao Mei, I was thinking, why did the bandits have a camp so close to the capital?"

"I… don't know. But if I was to guess its because no one would look for them here?" Xiao Mei also had no idea why would they hide in a place like this. There may be something more to it, but now there was no time to think about that.

Marcus found that weird but they are already one day behind, and they need to pick up their pace. He put all of their baggage into his storage ring, and they started to run. With their stamina, it will be easy for them to run until dawn. Taking a break every few hours to eat something, in a day they covered twice the distance they did when walking.

A week and a half later they were only a few hours away from the Gods Blood Lake, in the last week they meet many dangers, they fought Spiritual Beasts more often as they got closer to the Gods Blood Lake.

There was only one thing that bothered Marcus, and it was that Teacher Lin isn't back yet. Every time he checked, he wasn't able to find her anywhere close, and there is no way for her to not want to get the Moon Rose. It had enough value for her to ignore her orders from the principal and agree to Marcus's request, so there is no way she wouldn't immediately come to him to take it as soon as she is done.

This means that something stopped her, either on the way to the capital, in the Capital or on her way back. But they were too close to their goal to turn back now.

The lake itself was red in color, and with its calm surface, it looked like a vast pool of blood.

"Gods Blood Lake name comes from an old legend, it said that above where we are now, the Fire God fought with a powerful enemy and was wounded in the process, a drop of its blood fell to the ground and formed a lake."

That sounds nice… but Es already told him that it's because of Halobacteriaceae, with the high levels of salt and organic matter in the water, there is a lot of them here, and they cause the water appears red. But it's better to keep this to myself.

"Either way, we need to find the Immortal Lotus, so if it's fine with you, I will get to work."

Marcus and Xiao Mei weren't on good terms with each other before the start of the exam, but in the past week, you could call them friends. And as they spent more time with each other, since they didn't have many other choices, Xiao Mei realized that Marcus's eyes are unique. She didn't saw them, but sooner or later she will have a chance.

Marcus knew that Xiao Mei continually tried to unveil his secrets, but as long she doesn't cross his bottom line he will let it be. Standing atop of a tree Marcus observed the Lake with his eyes.

Searching for space with higher concentration energy, Marcus was able to find many all around the lake, some well hidden, some impossible to get to. But there was something that worried Marcus, and it was that there was no Spiritual Beast or Demonic Beasts in the vicinity. With so many treasures and high concentration of Qi in the air, there is no way that there are no Spiritual Beasts here.

Es, what is happening?

"Host, I'm detecting unknown special fluctuations, currently I'm in the middle of analyzing them, but I advice you to leave as soon as possible."

With Es telling him that there is something wrong here Marcus could only worry more.

Going down he saw Xiao Mei looking at the surface of the lake.

"We should hurry, there is something wrong with this place."

Making their way around the lake they found treasure after treasure, and after an hour of looking, they were finally able to find the Immortal Lotus. It had blood red petals and was a size of a palm. But to his surprise, there was three of them! Taking one into his storage ring, he gave other two to Xiao Mei.

"Marcus, I know that you said that there is something wrong here, but this place is a perfect place for me to make a breakthrough. And with the Immortal Lotus, the chance that I will fail are almost non-existent."

… this place really is an excellent place to make a breakthrough, with the higher Concentration of Qi it will make it much easier for her to do so, and with the Immortal Lotus still fresh, it effects are still very strong, and in a few days, they will go down a little bit. It won't go down by much, but the little bit it will go down can be what determines if she can succeed or not.

Es, do you have anything yet?

"Not yet Host, but it should be safe for the next few hours. But again I advise you to remain cautious. And if Miss Xiao Mei will be making a breakthrough, then it is an opportunity for you Host."

An opportunity?

"Yes Host, Every time a cultivator makes a breakthrough into a higher realm a heavenly tribulation will be sent upon them by the heavens. They take the shape of lightning that is many times more powerful then normal lightning and if you can redirect it towards you can absorb it. Since Xiao Mei is making a breakthrough to the Body Reconstruction Realm, there will be three Heavenly Lightning Bolts you can absorb."

"Xiao Mei, how long is it going to take you?" Hearing that he can get stronger so easily, Marcus forgot about the danger and started to talk with Xiao Mei, and after he explained that it will be useful to his cultivation, she agreed for him to absorb the Heavenly Lightning.

For Xiao Mei it was a good deal, she would be able to evade being striked by the Heavenly Lightning, making it easier for her to establish her strength more easily and firmly. And Marcus will be able to enhance his power as well.