CHAPTER 411: BLASTING A TIER 9 BEAST

His entire body tensed instantly, a wary alertness surging through him. Stepping cautiously around a sharp bend, his eyes widened at the sight awaiting him, a massive Tier 9 beast stood silently, exuding an aura at the absolute peak of its tier.

The creature, a powerful bear-like beast with thick obsidian fur and shimmering silver markings, glared fiercely toward Orion.

However, Orion’s gaze immediately shifted beyond the beast, a sudden excitement igniting within him. Just behind the formidable guardian lay a pool of milky-white liquid, an Origin Mana Pool, radiating vibrant, pure mana. And it was much larger than the one the group found before.

His heart leaped, excitement briefly overshadowing caution, "Yes! This is exactly what I need to break through!"

Without hesitation, Orion decisively withdrew two intricately designed scrolls from his storage ring, their surfaces shimmering faintly with potent runic inscriptions.

One scroll emitted a powerful thunderous aura, while the other exuded an icy chill, both clearly of Tier 9 grade.

He had hesitated to use these valuable scrolls earlier, unwilling to waste them on treasures unworthy of their immense power.

But this opportunity left no room for hesitation, this Origin Mana Pool was precisely the treasure he required.

Pouring mana decisively into both scrolls simultaneously, Orion activated them instantly. Thunder and ice exploded forward in tandem, devastating elemental forces converging mercilessly upon the beast.

The mighty creature, despite its imposing aura, barely had a moment to react before being instantly obliterated by the two devastating attacks, collapsing lifelessly onto the stone floor.

Swiftly storing the beast’s enormous corpse into his storage ring, Orion immediately rushed forward, his steps quickening eagerly as he entered the pure, nourishing waters of the Origin Mana Pool.

He exhaled in relief, feeling dense, revitalizing mana seep rapidly into his fatigued body, replenishing his depleted reserves.

Settling cross-legged in the heart of the pool, Orion spoke softly to Lumi, "I’ll need a couple of days here. It’s time to thoroughly temper my physique, fill my Sea of Consciousness, and rebuild all my affinity runes from scratch to breakthrough."

Lumi’s encouraging voice instantly replied, brimming with cheerful support,

[You can do it, Master! (*≧▽≦)]

A small smile formed on Orion’s lips as he closed his eyes, beginning to guide the immense energy around him deep into his Sea of Consciousness and every corner of his body.

A gentle yet overwhelmingly powerful sensation enveloped him, signaling the beginning of his critical breakthrough process.

***

Elsewhere, deep within another part of the vast labyrinth, Arya stirred awake slowly, blinking her eyes in mild confusion.

Gradually recalling what had happened earlier, she quickly sat up, glancing around anxiously. The other members of the group were similarly regaining consciousness, their expressions displaying varying degrees of confusion and concern.

"Brother Orion?" Arya called out urgently, quickly scanning their surroundings. The Dreamshade Vine had disappeared, leaving no trace of either itself or Orion.

Elias shook his head groggily, rubbing his temples in confusion, "Where’d he go? Did something happen while we were trapped in that illusion?"

Rina, who was already awake, stepped forward alongside Fiora, speaking to calm down the group, "There’s no need to panic. Knowing Master, if he’s not here, something unexpected must have forced him to move somewhere else. Nothing will happen to him here with all his treasures."

Fiora nodded in agreement, and said in a calming voice, "If something truly dangerous had happened to him, we wouldn’t still be here. Given his nature, he probably took care of whatever threat we faced. Even if he’s not here, he can still take care of himself."

Sylvia also slowly stood up as she softly sighed and nodded in agreement, "Indeed, we should worry about ourselves rather than Orion. His strength is probably greater than the rest of us combined."

The group collectively released relieved sighs, their bodies easing at Rina and Fiora’s comforting words.

Looking at their limited options, Arya finally nodded decisively, turning toward the rest of the team, "Then let’s do our part and explore this place. Staying here won’t solve anything, and Brother Orion will surely look for us as well. We need to grow stronger as well, otherwise what face will we have to see him if he got stronger again while we are stuck like this."

The others voiced their agreement, the initial panic gradually replaced by determination. Quickly regrouping, they began exploring the labyrinth, moving cautiously through the corridors.

Their journey was fraught with repeated encounters with powerful mana beasts, forcing the group to cooperate closely and hone their teamwork.

Each challenge pushed them to their limits, strengthening both their individual powers and coordination significantly.

And just as the dangers increased, so too did the treasures they discovered.

Precious herbs, mana fruits, and potent materials fell steadily into their hands, gradually enhancing their mana channels and physique.

The rigorous battles slowly allowed Arya, Sylvia, Nyss, Emilia, Kale, Elias, Rina, and Fiora each to solidify their cultivation and build a stronger foundation.

***

On the other hand, Orion had spent a total of three days sitting inside the Origin Mana Pool to slowly absorb the mana. He didn’t let his bloodlines devour it like last time because it was far too dangerous.

He had been bedridden the last time he allowed his bloodlines to run rampant. And after practicing inside the pool for three days, both his Body cultivation and Mana cultivation had broken through to the Seventh Tier of Awakening Realm, firmly setting foot on the Ascendant Level.

Orion slowly opened his eyes, immediately sensing the change within himself. The dense Origin Mana Pool that had previously brimmed with vitality was now more than half empty.

He exhaled gently, satisfaction evident in his expression. Yet, upon carefully assessing the remaining mana, a hint of resignation flickered through his eyes.

He shook his head slightly, murmuring thoughtfully, "The remaining Origin Mana here won’t allow me to break through to the eighth level. Might as well do that."

A decisive glint flashed across Orion’s eyes as he closed them once more, turning his attention inward.

With focused intent, he released all constraints upon his formidable bloodlines, allowing them to surge uncontrollably.

Immediately, an overwhelming hunger erupted from within, violently surging toward the lingering Origin Mana in the pool.

The calm, shimmering surface of the pool trembled vigorously as Orion’s Dragon bloodlines, Human Emperor bloodline, and unexpectedly, even the dormant World Tree bloodline simultaneously roared to life.

Each lineage aggressively devoured the Origin Mana at a terrifying pace, rapidly absorbing the remaining energy in the pond.

Orion felt his body growing hotter, his muscles expanding slightly as subtle yet profound internal changes commenced.

He was fully aware of the inherent nature of True Dragons, their typical growth required long slumber and gradual aging.

However, another, more strenuous path also existed, rapidly absorbing massive amounts of pure energy to hasten their transformation from Juvenile to Adult Dragons.

Most True Dragons rarely chose this arduous path due to their inherently leisurely and prideful nature.

They preferred the comfort of rest and slow, steady growth. Orion, however, was different. Driven by relentless ambition and unyielding determination, he readily embraced this accelerated path, his instincts now roaring with hunger and eagerness.

What surprised Orion most, however, was the remarkable response from the World Tree Bloodline nestled within his Sea of Consciousness.