During this time, Chris did not waste a single moment.
He consumed various medicines to refine his body, including Spirit Fruits harvested from the sacred tree, milky-white water, and other mysterious substances. Chris poured all of these into a large cauldron and lit a fire beneath it, preparing a medicinal bath.
When the temperature was just right, Chris stripped off his clothes and immersed himself completely in the cauldron.
In an instant, his skin turned bright red. The medicinal liquid boiled furiously, making him feel as though his entire body was on fire. Meanwhile, Chris took out a Restoration Pill and swallowed it.
As the pill dissolved, a powerful medicinal force erupted within him. Layers of black impurities seeped out from his body, and his skin became fair and radiant. Even his veins glowed like polished jade. Chris’s heart grew stronger, beating with a power that reverberated through the cave.
The intense transformation was excruciating, but Chris endured. Slowly, the cave fell silent, save for the rhythmic pounding of his heartbeat echoing in the stillness.
Days turned into nights, and ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the tenth day, Chris finally opened his eyes.
The moment his eyes opened, a terrifying gleam shot out, sharp and piercing. He exhaled deeply, releasing a stream of turbid air that shot out like an arrow, puncturing the cave wall.
Chris stood up, and the cauldron shattered instantly. The once-clear medicinal liquid had turned pitch black, filled with the impurities expelled from his body.
After dressing, Chris carefully examined himself.
After a thorough check, he realized his strength had reached the Pinnacle level. Turning his head, he noticed that Stripes was still in a deep slumber.
Chris chose not to disturb him. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes, and rested.
Another ten days passed.
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
On this day, the cocoon surrounding Stripes began to crack.
Seeing this, Chris couldn’t hide his excitement.
When the cocoon finally broke apart, a massive black-and-gold leopard emerged from within.
“This…”
Chris was stunned by the overwhelming aura radiating from Stripes. With his newfound strength, Stripes could likely challenge even a Solstice-level fighter.
Chris muttered to himself, “Is this still the Thunder Leopard I once knew?”
Not only had Stripes’s fur changed color, but his body had grown larger, towering like a small mountain.
Chris smiled faintly. The stronger Stripes grew, the more valuable an ally he became.
“Could Stripes’s transformation be related to the milky-white water?”
Chris recalled the moment he first encountered Stripes. Back then, Stripes had willingly become his companion, driven by a desire for the mysterious water.
Now it seemed clear that the water had significantly enhanced Stripes. Yet, Chris still didn’t know what the milky-white liquid truly was.
With Stripes’s evolution complete, Chris decided it was time to leave the cave.
They had spent nearly a month in the cave. Chris had no idea what was happening outside, but he guessed his pursuers had likely moved on. Leaving now should be safe.
However, Chris had entirely underestimated the allure of the Black Dragon Heartstone and the Black Dragon egg.
The moment Chris and Stripes stepped out of Aethelgard, they were immediately spotted.
“That’s the guy who stole the Black Dragon egg and the Black Dragon Heartstone!”
A shout rang out from one of the Aetherbinding practitioners, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
Chris froze in disbelief.
Before he could react, countless Aetherbinding practitioners swarmed toward him from all directions.
“Were these people waiting for me the entire time?” Chris exclaimed in shock.
Faced with the overwhelming crowd, Chris felt a sense of dread. While his current strength allowed him to handle Pinnacle-level opponents, he vividly remembered the two Solstice-level fighters who had been involved in hunting the Black Dragon.
If those two joined the fray, his chances of survival would plummet.
Without hesitation, Chris turned and fled, urging Stripes to follow him deeper into the Celestial Peaks.
Seeing Chris and Stripes retreat into the perilous depths of the Celestial Peaks, the pursuing Aetherbinding practitioners hesitated. The inner region of the peaks was notoriously dangerous, and few dared to venture there.
Chris heaved a sigh of relief. If he had been surrounded by so many practitioners, his situation would have been dire.
Suddenly, two figures darted forward at incredible speed, their energy radiating immense power.
“Solstice-level fighters!”
The crowd recognized them immediately. These were the same two Solstice-level powerhouses who had slain the Black Dragon.
In Aethelgard, strength ruled. While Elysium-level fighters were rare and seldom appeared, Solstice-level fighters were considered nearly invincible.
The crowd parted, making way for the two formidable figures.
“Stripes, we need to move!”
Seeing the two Solstice-level fighters approach, Chris knew he couldn’t linger. He and Stripes quickly fled deeper into the peaks.
“Where do you think you’re going, boy?”
“We’ve been waiting for you. Hand over the Black Dragon egg and the Black Dragon Heartstone!”
The two Solstice-level fighters roared in fury as Chris fled.
Chris could only laugh bitterly. The Black Dragon egg and Heartstone had long been consumed by Stripes. There was nothing left to hand over.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
As Chris desperately fled, the ground suddenly began to shake violently.
From the depths of the Celestial Peaks, a horde of beasts surged outward, fleeing in panic.
“What’s going on?”
Chris was stunned by the sight.
Looking up, he saw an elderly man wielding a sword locked in combat with a middle-aged figure. The middle-aged man was covered in thick fur and had two horns on his head-clearly not human. Was he a shape-shifting beast of Elysium-level strength?
And the elderly swordsman-was he also an Elysium-level powerhouse?
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Their battle was earth-shattering, with entire mountains flattened in the chaos.