CHAPTER 402: BLOOD JADE LOTUS POND

Magi immediately smiled broadly, his voice brimming with absolute confidence, "The right path is clearly the correct one. Trust me, it’s a trick I’ve perfected after countless journeys."

Orion stared at Magi speechlessly for a moment, disbelief clear in his eyes. He finally found his voice, asking in a dubious tone, "Magi, your luck has become so good that you’re actually trusting it now?"

Magi’s confident smile faltered slightly, lips twitching involuntarily before he forced his expression back into an exaggerated bravado, "Boss, I know my luck isn’t the best. But this trick isn’t about luck alone. If you doubt me, I’ll personally lead the way."

Without waiting for a reply, Magi confidently strode forward, stepping boldly onto the rightward path.

Behind him, the group exchanged amused yet cautious glances, smiling faintly at each other before cautiously following behind him, their vigilance immediately heightened to the maximum.

Magi’s confidence seemed unshakeable until suddenly, after just a few short steps, a hidden crevice in the wall burst open violently, revealing a venomous Tier 3 snake lunging straight toward him.

Magi’s confident expression immediately crumbled into panic, his hand frantically reaching for the katana at his waist. Yet, before he could even draw his sword, a crisp snapping sound echoed through the passageway.

[Crimson Nova]

The snake instantly erupted into flames, its sleek scales and flesh swiftly reduced to smoldering ash, scattering softly onto the damp stone floor.

Magi froze, eyes wide with shock, only returning to his senses as Orion calmly stepped forward, his expression relaxed yet playfully mocking.

With a gentle pat upon Magi’s trembling shoulder, Orion quietly chuckled, speaking softly, "Maybe let the adults handle things for now, hmm? You can wait comfortably at the back."

Magi’s lips twitched helplessly, embarrassment coloring his face as he meekly nodded and stepped backward, silently retreating to the center of the group.

Arya and Elias openly chuckled, while even Sylvia’s calm expression softened into a faint smile of amusement.

Rina and Fiora glanced sympathetically at Magi, though even they struggled to suppress smiles.

Orion calmly moved forward, stepping over the faint ashes of the snake, his gaze immediately returning to full seriousness as he continued to lead.

As the group ventured deeper into the winding passageway, the frequency of small beast attacks increased.

Strange creatures hiding within dark fissures and crevices repeatedly lunged toward them, each attempt swiftly dispatched by the group’s swift reactions.

Arya used her thunder spells precisely, Emilia’s spear struck accurately, and Sylvia’s Astral Swords effortlessly pierced their targets. Even Nyss and Kale calmly dispatched small threats without trouble.

But Nyss seemed to be having trouble due to the small space of the surroundings as she put away her scythe and took out two small daggers.

Orion, walking at the forefront calmly, mana smoothly flowing within him, flames occasionally flickering briefly from his fingertips to eliminate any beasts before they even became visible threats.

He kept snapping his fingers as if he was in a singing competition alone while each snap of his finger burned a mana beast to a crisp. No matter if they were Tier Two or Tier Five, none survived a single spell of his.

His absolute domination also helped to calm the group’s nerves for the challenges ahead, their movements growing increasingly coordinated and efficient.

Fiora whispered softly to Rina while carefully following Orion’s footsteps, "Master is really amazing. He handles these things so effortlessly."

Rina nodded gently, her eyes filled with admiration, "Yes, but we can’t fall behind either. Let’s stay focused."

Rina and Fiora didn’t have to use attacks until now as the club members weren’t letting any beast come close.

Behind them, Magi quietly sighed, murmuring softly to himself, "I thought I could finally look cool for once..."

Elias overheard him, playfully nudging Magi’s shoulder, whispering teasingly, "You will be useful when we need money."

Magi gave him an exaggeratedly wounded look, eliciting another round of suppressed laughter from the group.

Despite the mild tension in the atmosphere due to frequent attacks, the group remained calm and vigilant, following closely behind Orion’s calm footsteps.

Eventually, after cautiously moving forward for another few minutes, the cramped tunnel abruptly opened into a spacious underground cavern.

The walls curved upwards, forming a high, naturally vaulted ceiling from which clusters of softly glowing crystals hung, bathing the chamber in a gentle, luminescent light.

Everyone paused momentarily, eyes widening as their gaze settled on a shimmering pond at the cavern’s far side.

Its calm waters reflected the crystalline glow above, illuminating three beautiful and exceedingly rare lotuses, their petals blood-red and crystalline, gently swaying atop the water’s surface.

Sylvia gasped softly, her usually composed face lighting up with clear astonishment, "Those are Blood Jade Lotuses! They’re incredibly rare resources, invaluable for Tier 8 Physical Cultivators. A single lotus could solidify one’s level at the Peak of Tier 8 if they have recently broken through to Tier 8, or even help the lucky ones directly enter Tier 9."

The entire group’s eyes brightened with excitement, murmurs of awe and delight quickly spreading through them.

Kale quietly commented, "But for anyone below Tier 8 taking them is suicide. But it will save those of us who are walking the body path a lot of time on Tier 8."

However, Orion remained silent, his calm eyes carefully scrutinizing their surroundings. Just as the group began to eagerly step forward, Orion decisively raised his hand, halting their progress instantly.

"Don’t be hasty," Orion warned gently with a calm voice. "Did you forget basic things in your excitement? We haven’t seen the mana beast guarding this place yet. There must be one, otherwise it would have been eaten by the smaller beasts we met along the way."

The others immediately stopped, their enthusiasm tempered by Orion’s words. Each nodded silently in acknowledgment, quickly understanding his reasoning.

Magi hesitantly stepped forward, quietly suggesting, "Should we probe first?"

Orion thoughtfully nodded, watching curiously as Magi carefully retrieved a small, rune-inscribed stone from his storage ring.

Without hesitation, Magi tossed it lightly into the pond. The stone impacted the water softly, and then suddenly exploded with a small yet distinctly audible boom, splashing water upwards and sending ripples across the pond’s tranquil surface.

Everyone’s lips collectively twitched as they stared speechlessly at Magi. He returned their stares innocently, shrugging slightly, "What? It’s strictly for self-defense. You never know."

Before anyone could reply, the waters violently surged upward, powerful waves splashing outward as several enormous, menacing figures emerged from beneath the pond’s previously peaceful surface.

The group swiftly counted four Tier 6 mana beasts and two significantly larger and more intimidating Tier 7 beasts, their bodies dripping water and radiating powerful, hostile auras.

Orion’s expression immediately turned coldly serious, quickly issuing commands in a firm, authoritative voice, "I’ll handle the two Tier 7 beasts. Everyone else, quickly deal with the Tier 6 beasts."

Sylvia initially opened her mouth, instinctively preparing to object and offer her assistance. Yet, after a brief hesitation, memories of Orion’s monstrous strength flooded her mind.

She sighed softly in resignation, shaking her head slightly before immediately dashing towards the Tier 6 beasts alongside Arya, Emilia, Nyss, Kale, Elias, Felira, Fiora, and Rina.

Orion decisively drew his Realm Guardian sword, the blade glinting dangerously under the crystalline illumination, and lunged toward the two massive Tier 7 beasts at the front.