Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 209

Chapter 209: Hunt for Orchid

The Violet Dragon Orchid is no ordinary herb; it is a legendary plant known to enhance a person’s Martial Spirit. While its primary benefits are limited to plant-type and snake or serpent-type Martial Spirits, it can also purify one’s body, correct minor flaws in Martial Spirits, and even increase their power by one or two grades. This remarkable herb has become a legend among all herbs, and it’s among the top five that have evolved Martial Spirits, with only 17 known to exist.

“Now you know why so many people are after it,” Seina said as they slowly made their way from the outer parts to the inner valley. Along the path, they saw many people limping out, some heavily injured, struggling to walk, and others being carried while barely conscious.

“We should be careful,” Aiden remarked, observing the injured.

“Don’t worry,” Seina reassured, waving her hand. “As long as we don’t provoke others, there’s no reason for them to bother us.”

Aiden wasn’t convinced. “I don’t think it’s that simple,” he said, pointing ahead.

Serina and Shelly followed his gaze and saw a group of people from the same sect blocking the entrance to the inner area. “From their clothing, it seems they’re from the Heavenly Serpent Sect,” Shelly groaned.

“Yes, it’s a high-level sect with a Spirit Saint as the Sect Leader and many other Spirit Saint ancestors,” Serina confirmed.

“Hm, well, we have Shelly, so no worries,” Aiden shrugged.

“I can’t help you this time,” Shelly’s voice almost made Aiden stumble. He turned back and asked why.

“After I killed many last time, the Realm has placed restrictions on me. If I use cultivation above Spirit God, I’ll be forcibly ascended to the Immortal Realm,” she explained, showing invisible chains around her.

“These are the restrictions placed on me by the Will of the Spirit Realm,” she added, making the chains disappear again.

“Does it hurt?” Aiden asked, feeling guilty for her predicament.

“No, it just feels unnatural, like someone has blocked my breathing,” she replied, causing Aiden’s guilt to deepen.

“You should ascend,” he suggested, then added, “Maybe once you reach the Immortal Realm, you can break free from these chains.”

Shelly frowned and asked seriously, “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

Aiden’s face palmed. ‘Can’t you read the mood?’ he thought.

Seeing Aiden’s frustration, Serina chuckled. “He’s just worried about you,” she explained.

Shelly looked at Seina and said, “Please, I know you want me out of the picture so you can have some alone time with Aiden.”

This time, it was Serina’s turn to facepalm. She looked at Aiden and said, “Let’s go. There’s only one Spirit Saint among the guards stationed there. I’ll handle him while you take care of the others.” She began walking ahead.

Aiden nodded and warned Shelly, “Don’t do anything if you don’t want to ascend, or I’ll stop you if I see the restrictions increasing.” With that, he approached the group blocking the path.

Shelly followed after him. As they neared the entrance to the inner area, green and black-robed elders stopped them, pointing their weapons. “Stop! This area now belongs to the Heavenly Serpent Sect,” one of them announced.

“If you don’t want to die, turn back or look over there,” another said, pointing to a corner where a pile of corpses lay, poisoned.

Aiden frowned, noting that they were likely poisoned either by the sect’s poison-attributed Martial Spirits or their Spirit Skills. “Hey! What are you daydreaming about? Didn’t you hear you’re not allowed to go any further?” one of the Heavenly Serpent Sect disciples barked at the absent-minded Aiden.

“I heard you,” Aiden replied calmly. “But I suggest you move aside unless you want to end up like them,” he said, pointing at the heap of fallen cultivators.

Enraged, the disciple rushed at Aiden, shouting, “It seems you don’t value your life! Take this, Poison Claw!” His hand glowed with an eerie green light as he attacked.

Aiden yawned as he watched the attack. He easily dodged it and said, “This is how you do it.” Unlike the disciple, his hand didn’t glow, but as he lightly touched him, the disciple’s body began to rot from the point of contact.

It was his Martial Spirit Skill called Touch of Decay of Death Dragon of Infinite Darkness.

The other disciples, who had been watching from the back, widened their eyes in shock as they saw one of their own being killed by poison. For the Heavenly Serpent Sect, it was the gravest insult.

The elder, who was a lower Spirit Emperor, frowned as he observed Aiden, who was at the peak of the Spirit King level. ‘Was he a fool that he couldn’t sense such an obvious gap in cultivation?’ he thought, shaking his head at the disciple’s death. For him, the disciple’s death was insignificant, but the insult to the sect was intolerable. He stepped forward and said,

“Brat, I’ll give you one chance. Surrender that Spirit Art, or I’ll make you wish you were never born.”

Aiden tilted his head and looked at the old elder, who seemed more than 70 years old by normal standards, but who knows how many centuries he had lived. He replied, “I’ll say it one more time, step aside or end up like him.”

The elder narrowed his eyes and invoked his Martial Spirit. A blood serpent rose behind him, covered in blood-red scales with deep yellow irises. It looked at Aiden with a hungry gaze, licking the air with its countless black fangs.

“Last warning, kid. Surrender that technique voluntarily or face death by my Red Rotting Poison,” the Elder threatened, his voice cold and menacing. Despite his outward bravado, he inwardly pondered, This boy might belong to a powerful sect. It’s best to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

Aiden merely yawned, his expression one of utter boredom. He locked eyes with the Elder, unyielding and fearless. “Move aside. This is your final warning,” he stated, his voice steady and bored, as if he is nothing but an ant in front of him.

The Elder’s eyes blazed with anger at Aiden’s audacity. He snorted in contempt. “Very well. I don’t care about your background. If you die here, no one will mourn you,” he sneered. With a commanding shout, he called forth his Martial Spirit, “Red Mist!”

The massive serpent behind him, covered in crimson scales, hissed menacingly as it opened its maw. A thick, toxic mist poured forth, the air crackling with its corrosive energy as it surged towards Aiden. The onlookers gasped, feeling the oppressive aura of the poisonous cloud.

Aiden, unfazed, raised his hand. His own Martial Spirit materialized behind him, an imposing figure shrouded in shadow.

Aiden partially materialized it,

“Necrotic Breath,” he murmured. From the dark form emerged a swirling black haze, cold and suffocating, that moved with eerie grace. The black mist collided with the red, consuming it effortlessly, the crimson vapor dissipating as if swallowed by a void.

The Elder’s eyes widened in horror as the black haze continued its advance. He attempted to retreat, but it was too late. The malevolent mist enveloped him, cutting off his connection with his Martial Spirit. He clutched his chest, gasping for breath, his face contorting in pain. As the haze touched him, his skin began to rot, spreading rapidly across his body. The crowd watched in shock as the Elder’s form withered, his once formidable presence reduced to a decaying husk. He collapsed to the ground, blood trickling from his mouth, and with one final breath, he died, his body crumbling into dust.

Aiden’s expression remained calm, his eyes cold as he redirected the black haze toward the remaining disciples. They stood frozen, fear etched on their faces as they summoned their own Martial Spirits, desperate to defend themselves. But it was futile. The dark mist swept over them like a vengeful tide, their defenses crumbling as the toxic energy sapped their strength. One by one, they fell, their bodies succumbing to the same rotting decay that had claimed their Elder.

As the last of the Heavenly Serpent Sect disciples fell silent, the black haze dissipated, leaving an eerie quiet in its wake. The onlookers, previously hidden in the shadows, erupted into cheers, the tension finally breaking. They rushed forward, eager to enter the inner valley now that the barrier had been removed. Some approached Aiden, bowing deeply in gratitude, their voices filled with praise and thanks.

Others moved to the fallen disciples, their expressions solemn. They began to search the bodies, retrieving items, tokens, or belongings. Friends and acquaintances mourned quietly, collecting the remains of their companions. It became clear to Aiden that the Heavenly Serpent Sect had not only barred entry but had also prevented the retrieval of bodies, leaving the dead to rot where they fell.

Aiden observed the scene, a mixture of emotions flickering across his face. How ruthless, he thought, noting the pile of corpses and the relieved expressions of those who could finally mourn and recover thier fallen relatives.