I alone am the Honoured One!

A slight frown crept over Yao Jing's face as she spoke "And Tian, I can feel different elemental energies from your body... and a hint of darkness."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tian's gaze narrowed and he smoothly replied "The elementals energies are mine... I have affinities to Ice, lightning, fire and light."

W-WHAT?

Yao Jing's heart skipped a beat in shock and her words stammered "Y-You have affinities to four elementals?"

A soft sigh escaped his lips "Mhm... and the darkness is from that woman. She was using some kind of artifact that exuded darkness and used it on me."

Yao Jing snapped out of her shock and her gaze narrowed as she turned to look at the purple lantern "I see... she also tried to use that weird artifact on me."

She turned her gaze to Zhao Tian and brushed his hair which was sticking on the blood on his face "I didn't know... you have affinities to four elementals, Tian'er."

Zhao Tian just stayed silent and hugged her while she gently patted her head.

Raising her head, she again took a look at the large machines and bunches of mined High Astral stones.

"I didn't know there was a Astral mine within this forest... They tried to kill you, because you found their Astral mine?"

Zhao Tian gave a faint nod "Yeah... I fell into the crack created by an earthquake in the past, because of a sudden landslide."

"And when I walked in... I found myself in this Astral Mine."

He pointed at the large hole he has created and began explaining what happened.

After hearing his explanation, Yao Jing's gaze narrowed "An astral mine with Mother Stone.... this might cause problems."

"We should return to the Sect and report this soon."

Yao Jing stood up and slashed her hand as chaotic flames erupted from her body covering all of the dead bodies there, soon burning them to ashes.

As she was burning them, Zhao Tian stood up and walked to the purple lantern Calista was trying to use.

Taking the purple lantern in his hands, his eyes narrowed "This artifact indeed feels quite weird."

As he took it in his hand, the blood stain on his hand rubbed the artifact, and suddenly a rush of information entered his mind.

He blinked his eyes in surprise "Lantern of Eternal rest. A one time use artifact which can instant kill anyone and trap their soul inside it."

"Basically a container that can store a soul... Interesting."

He stored the lantern in his storage ring as it may help him in the future or he can use it on Eleanor, who was inside his artifact now.

As Yao Jing was burning those corpses, the flashbacks of the past surfaced to her mind, and she closed her eyes 'How long has it been since I took a life...'

'I even promised the Sect master that I wouldn't kill anyone...'

Her eyelashes quivered as she heard the distant voices of the soldiers screaming as she burned them alive, extracting their life essence.

"Master..."

Hearing Zhao Tian's voice, she snapped out of her thoughts and turned her head.

She reached out placing her hands on his shoulders as she spoke, her voice laced with concern "Why are you walking? Rest..."

Zhao Tian shook his head with a smile "I am okay..."

However, Yao Jing was not buying it and turned her back to him as she crouched down slightly "Come on, hop on my back.. I will carry you."

Eh?

Seeing this, Zhao Tian hurriedly shook his head "No, you don't need to. I am alright."

Yao Jing glanced at him from over her shoulder, her lips curling into a knowing smile and there was a glint of amusement in her gaze, but it was tempered by genuine care.

"You don't have to be embarrassed," she said, her voice teasing but gentle.

"You carried me on your back once, remember? I still owe you for that. It's only fair that I repay the favor now."

"I don't think that's the same thing," he muttered with a dry smile on his lips.

Yao Jing wasn't having any of it and straightened slightly, her hands on her hips as she turned to face him fully. "Tian'er, stop being stubborn and just get on. You're not fooling anyone by acting tough."

Her words left no room for argument, and Zhao Tian sighed in resignation. He knew her well enough to understand there was no winning against her when she was this determined. Your journey continues on мѵʟ

Reluctantly, he stepped closer, his movements awkward and hesitant.

With a small hop, he settled onto her back, his arms instinctively wrapping around her neck for support.

Yao Jing's hands gripped his thighs firmly, securing him in place as she straightened to her full height.

As they started moving, Zhao Tian could feel his face heating up as a faint flush crept across his cheeks, and he turned his head to the side, trying to avoid meeting her gaze.

"This is really embarrassing," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper.

Yao Jing chuckled softly, "Oh, come on. It's not that bad. Besides," she added with a smirk, "you carried me without complaining. Can't you let me do the same for you just this once?"

Zhao Tian's lips twitched, but he couldn't bring himself to argue further.

Instead, he tightened his grip slightly around her neck, as she continued her walk around 'I am not doing this again.'

...

Looking at the large diamond like stone embedded on the ceiling, Yao Jing frowned "Hmm.. it is indeed a Mother stone, we should report this to the Sect master."

"The Great Tianhe forest is a public property and anyone can come and go.. so no one can gain ownership over this mine."

"So, this will definitely spark wars among Dynasties and Sects, trying to get this mine."

"However, seems like this organization sneaked here and has been mining astral stones."

"Tian'er, did you find out which organization is that?"

Zhao Tian who was on her back, nodded his head "Hm, she called its as 'Fallen Mandate."

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