Austin and the rest of the group had finally succeeded in entering the second circle of the Mysterious
Nether World.
In the second circle, they had encountered many demonic and diabolic beasts. They had soon
discovered that the beasts populating the second circle were mainly at the sixth and seventh level.
This was different to their previous encounters while in the first circle of the Mysterious Nether World.
The creatures there were far less powerful as they were mainly of the fourth and fifth levels.
However, cautiously they had tried their best during their travels to avoid confronting these new and far
superior demonic and diabolic beasts, which were at sixth or seventh level in their strength. Fortune
smiled on them and they were able to make smooth headway in their journey whilst avoiding any
unfortunate encounters.
By the evening of the next day, they had finally crossed the dense forest, where huge trees crowded
together to form a thick canopy, and they arrived at an imposing mountain which dominated the skyline
where it rose formidably from the forest.
The mountain didn't seem to have any peaks. It was overgrown by lush greenery and monstrous trees
for as far as the eye could see. It appeared more like a massive beast reclining in the dense jungle
than a mountain. When looking up they could just barely distinguish a huge, ancient building atop it
which was obscured by the tree line near the summit.
"There at the top is the Emperor Library!"
Austin exclaimed to the others, while gazing at their destination with undisguised excitement.
"Tin, we should hurry up and immediately begin ascending the mountain," Dewey said impatiently. He
was always a rash person.
"No, not now. I've noticed that there are some people resting at the foot of the mountain. Obviously
they arrived here before us and they also know about the existence of the Emperor Library. We should
not rush blindly into the unknown.
Besides, it's very late now. I assume that those people also plan to stay here and rest for the night.
They will in all likelihood also climb to the top in the morning and seek to enter the Emperor Library.
It's wise that we also stop and rest for the night. We can all do with some rest.
The Emperor Library will not be easy to access, and we will need our strength," Austin said, quickly
shaking his head to emphasize his point.
At his words, everyone looked to the foot of the mountain. He was right and they could vaguely see
bonfires flickering through the thick undergrowth of the forest. It seemed that others had arrived before
them.
Austin knew about the Emperor Library because Angus had told him about it. But how did these other
travelers also know about it? Austin felt a strange sensation of discomfort crawl down his spine
ominously.
Their presence here confused him. He enabled his spiritual sense and sought to detect what was
happening ahead of them at the foot of the mountain.
After a while, he frowned and muttered to himself, "It turns out that they are the cultivators sent by the
royal house. So, it seems that the royal house of the Violet Orchid Empire also knows about the
existence of the Emperor Library. After all, they have controlled the Mysterious Nether World for
hundreds of years!"
Austin was right. The group of people crowding around the bonfires ahead of them was the warriors
from the royal house that he had met not long ago.
Austin and the others found a suitably level piece of ground nearby and set up camp for the night. They
had brought all the equipment needed for outdoor camping, conveniently stored in their Space Rings.
Immediately and efficiently they unpacked their equipment from the Space Rings and began pitching
their tents.
In no time at all they had finished setting up the camp and settled in for some much-needed rest.
Ahead of them the bonfires blazed brightly at the foot of the mountain. A group of about twenty-odd
men sat on the ground around the twinkling fires.
One of them wore a yellow robe. He was the son of the prime minister, Tolkien.
He was busy talking with two of the men who sat in front of him. His manner was very gentle.
One of the two men seated in front of him was also dressed in yellow. He looked very handsome and
had a noble manner, making him stand out among the group. The strong vital energy force emitting
from him was surprising, making everyone who met him breathless with awe.
The other man seated in front of Tolkien wore a golden robe and carried his long hair down. He had an
aura of great confidence. Though he was sitting on the ground, he kept his back very straight. He
personified an extraordinary spear standing hauntingly proud between the heavens and earth. There
was something very elemental about him.
"Brothers, Austin has disregarded the royal laws. He has repeatedly harmed several royal cultivators.
He has done the most heinous of acts.
However, he is a capable man, and it appears that only you two possess the necessary skills and
abilities to punish him for his crimes," Tolkien confided in the two men.
"Oh? I had heard that Austin is the current champion of the Outstanding Talents Exchange Games.
Ha-ha! He is too young and the honor has made him forget who he is. He has gotten carried away.
How strong is he really?" the handsome young man in yellow asked with a subtle frown.
"According to my observation, and judging by the vital energy force emitting from him, I would guess
him to be at the medium stage of Mysterious Realm.
But his fighting ability is better than what he should be capable of. He possesses much stronger
fighting abilities than what is common to cultivators at his level."
"Huh! He's merely a cultivator at medium stage of Mysterious Realm. It's so absurd that you would
make such a fuss about him.
Don't forget that your cultivation base is at the premium stage of Mysterious Realm. You could swiftly
and easily kill this weakling. He's after all only at the medium stage of Mysterious Realm. Don't make
such a joke, and then expect us to act on it," the man in the golden robe sneered.
Tolkien's face became expressionless after he heard this, and he was a little embarrassed.
He had always been subservient and even servile in front of his two brothers, never daring to act
against them.
"Tolkien, forget about Austin.
Our priority now is to enter the Emperor Library and retrieve those high grade martial arts skills hidden
there.
All other things can wait.
Austin is only a clown. He doesn't deserve any special attention. If we should meet him along the way,
then we can quickly kill him," Tolkien's brother in yellow said slowly, filled with self-assurance.
"Okay," Tolkien nodded and dared not contradict them by speaking more about Austin
again.
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