"Let's wait for those guys to leave first. Then I'll send you out,"
the fire source beast said, slightly nodding.
Since then, the sun had set several times, marking the passing of several days.
"It seems those three Lords of Darkness have left the Fiery Eye.
I'll go outside and inspect the situation. You stay put,"
the fire source beast instructed.
"Alright. I'll wait for you."
Austin nodded, acknowledging this plan.
Even though the three Lords of Darkness maintained the upper hand in strength compared to the fire
source beast, he could still escape their clutches if his whereabouts were compromised. Therefore,
Austin didn't stress over the repercussions of him getting caught.
With his mind made up, the fire source beast set out, leaving Austin behind in the secret chamber to
investigate the situation outside.
With that, several days passed by before the fire source beast returned to the secret chamber.
"It seems the three Lords of Darkness have left the Eight Fires Valley, along with their demon guards of
darkness.
Since the coast is clear, I'll escort you out now,"
the fire source beast briefed Austin, gesturing him to follow.
With that, the fire source beast exited the chamber with Austin in tow before they made their way out of
the Fiery Eye.
The fire source beast was familiar with this part of the Fiery Eye like the back of his hands. He could
navigate his way through it even with his eyes closed, making it easier for him to enter and leave this
area as he pleased.
With the fire source beast as his escort, Austin soon left the Fiery Eye and safely entered the vicinity of
the Eight Fires Valley.
"You must come back to visit me in the future. I'll be waiting for you."
The fire source beast voiced his wishes to Austin, laying his feelings bare. With conflicting emotions
muddling his existence, he expressed reluctance in bidding Austin farewell.
After sharing an eventful journey with Austin, he grew attached to the latter, harboring strong feelings of
companionship.
The fire source beast race consisted of simpleminded creatures. Once they made up their minds about
something, they would remain committed to it with unwavering fortitude as though it were set in stone.
"Don't worry. I'll come back for you,"
Austin said with a friendly wink.
Of course, the feelings of respect were mutual. Reciprocating the fire source beast's compassion
towards him, Austin, too, held him in high regard. Back when Austin felt cornered with the nine leaders
of the Time Chamber Sect and the demon guards of darkness hot on his trail, left with not many
options, he had to retreat to the Eight Fires Valley.
There, he encountered the fire source beast on a whim. With the beast as his accomplice, Austin was
able to shake his pursuers off his back, granting him temporary freedom.
In addition to that, the fire source beast offered Austin a Fire Bead, which contributed to a drastic
increase in his combat skills, apart from teaching him the fire-controlling technique.
However, Austin soon realized he had never returned any of the favors the fire source beast graced
him with.
It could be said that the kindness the fire source beast had shown to Austin could vouch for the purity
of their companionship.
Inadvertently, Austin felt indebted to the fire source beast and was grateful for all his selfless efforts
towards him.
"Well, then. I'll be off now. Farewell, my friend,"
Austin said, waving the fire source beast goodbye before turning his back towards him and walking
away.
"Don't forget to come back and play with me!"
Unable to let go, the fire source beast followed Austin out of the Eight Fires Valley before Austin's figure
vanished out of sight. The beast then felt a gut-wrenching sadness plague his heart watching his friend
leave, what he wouldn't sacrifice to make Austin stay.
"I'll be back. Wait for me until then!"
Austin's voice resounded through the air, erasing all doubts, relieving the restless heart of the fire
source beast.
With one journey behind him and another awaiting him to confront it, Austin sat on the Time Ship and
headed for the Fallen Divine Valley with renewed conviction sprouting in his heart.
After a significant amount of travel, Austin safely reached the Fallen Divine Valley.
"Oh, Austin's back!"
Watching him emerge before their eyes, the twelve zodiac animals couldn't contain themselves and
rushed to surround him, greeting him one after the other.
"We're so glad you're doing okay!
You're growing more powerful by the day!
You've already surpassed us.
It's a good thing I acknowledged your talents and recommended you to our master!"
the sky-devouring dog said, walking up to Austin, irrefutable pride reflecting in its eyes as it patted
Austin's shoulder.
"Indeed. I am humbled by your praise. I suppose I could give credit where it's due.
If it weren't for your recommendation, I would never have had the opportunity to meet our master and
be where I stand today!"
Austin confessed, returning the sky-devouring dog's warm gaze.
Back then, it was the sky-devouring dog who had discovered Austin and brought him back to the Fallen
Divine Valley.
"Not so fast, dog. Don't forget that I've assisted Austin a lot on his journey too! That being said, I hold
the right to share in his progress just as much as you!
You can't deny that, Austin, or else I'll beat you up!"
The black bull walked up and patted Austin on the shoulder heavily, wanting to earn a share in the
spoils.
"Me too! I've helped you a lot as well!
Austin, you remember that, right?"
the tiger blurted out, not wanting to be left behind and eating its companions' dust.
"Don't worry, everyone. I remember everyone's contributions.
I cherish you all equally!"
Austin answered, remaining fair to each of them, attempting to avoid an unnecessary disagreement.
"Hah! Not bad at all,"
the big black bull praised Austin, mumbling to itself, satisfied by Austin's approach on the matter.
"You've got to be kidding me! You guys can't possibly compare to me on this.
I hate to trample on your fantasies, but it doesn't matter how much you've helped Austin. It will never
amount to my contributions since I was the one who acknowledged his talents and recommended him
to our master. So, you can't possibly share in the credit.
Back then, when Austin trained in the Fallen Divine Valley, I was the one who took notice of his skills
and kept him here. If it weren't for me, you guys would never have had the chance to meet him, much
less help.
After all that, you guys still have the nerve to take all the credit from me? Shameless,"
the sky devouring dog scoffed, visibly angered by their insolence.
Seemingly triggered, the black bull snapped back.
"You, old dog!
Are you greedy enough to bag all the credit yourself?
You can't undermine our efforts based on what you think! I object to that statement!"
Soon enough, the cheery atmosphere dulled down from the unresolved issue as the zodiac animals
indulged in a scuffle among themselves, trying to one-up each other.
Feeling a light headache erupt from the rambunctious zodiac animals, Austin decided to exit himself
from the situation for some fresh air.
Soon, Austin arrived at the square deep in the valley.
Winston and the infinity beast were already informed about Austin's return to the Fallen Divine Valley,
but seeing him in the flesh unscathed, they felt a huge burden being lifted from their hearts. Quickly
rushing over to him, the infinity beast greeted him with a smile,
"Austin!
I'm so glad to see you again!"
"Austin! I never thought you'd get to meet a fire source beast. Please, tell me everything. And you'd
better not leave out any details,"
Winston said, excited to see Austin.
Before Austin's return, the infinity beast had briefed Winston about Austin meeting a fire source beast
in the Eight Fires Valley, piquing his interest.
"Alright, I will,"
Austin said, chuckling to himself.
Then, he sat them down and told them all about the entirety of his expedition with the fire source beast
as his accomplice, going into all the necessary details.
He told them about the time when he felt cornered by the nine leaders of the Time Chamber Sect and
the demon guards of darkness pursuing him, and he had to escape into the Eight Fires Valley where he
met the fire source beast. Then he went on about how the fire source beast toyed with the demon
guards of darkness after unleashing his power, disposing away of the nine leaders with ease. In the
end, Austin concluded his narrative by telling them about the three Lords of Darkness coming to the
Eight Fires Valley in search of him, eventually driving him out of there and into the Fiery Eye under the
protection of the fire source beast.
"That's one hell of a journey, Austin! You're so lucky.
Those three Lords of Darkness couldn't lay a finger on you, let alone the demon guards of darkness
and the nine leaders of the Time Chamber Sect.
It's nothing short of a miracle!"
Delighted from Austin's eventful story, the infinity beast exclaimed, feeling stoked.
"Austin, your training in this period is enough already. Your next course of action should be focused on
staying in the Fallen Divine Valley and cultivating in seclusion to break through to the next realm.
Bear in mind, in terms of cultivation, the most important thing is to improve your realm as soon as
possible,"
Winston instructed, donning on a more serious tone.
"Thank you for your guidance, master. I understand."
Austin nodded, bowing briefly to express his utmost respect to Winston.
Parting ways, Austin headed straight to locate a remote place suitable for cultivation in the Fallen
Divine Valley. Wasting no time, he created a small world and entered it to begin.
Meanwhile,
in the headquarters of the Time Chamber Sect,
Solomon received a message requiring his urgent attention.
The message was passed down to him from Cain, the great wizard from the darkness race.
"We have located Winston's whereabouts.
He is currently residing in..."
the letter read.
"Excellent work! Bartholomew will be pleased to know this,"
Solomon said, a sinister smirk forming across his face as he read the message.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda