Chapter 186: Multiple Layers Of Space
This smaller one was a female, but her anger wasn't directed at Enzo and Norma. Instead, she seemed furious about the little snake coiled around Enzo's wrist.
Norma whispered, "It seems like this little snake wants to follow you."
Enzo was aware of this. During the infusion of life energy, this little snake absorbed the most.
Every creature has an instinct to grow stronger, and this snake's keen perception of the benefits of life energy, despite its small size and remarkable wisdom, suggests its mutated bloodline might be exceptionally powerful.
Enzo didn't mind the little snake following him.
However, the female snake seemed opposed. As the little snake slid off Enzo's wrist and onto the ground, its body coiled and rose. Despite its tiny size, it exuded a formidable aura.
The female snake lowered her head slightly, while the little snake climbed back up Enzo's body and coiled around his wrist again.
"Such a peculiar relationship."
Enzo mused. He spoke to the female snake, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of your baby."
The female snake seemed to understand. She opened her massive jaws and spat out several golden crystals. Norma's eyes lit up, "These are giant crystals!"
Enzo gratefully collected them.
The large Flame Cobra then swiftly descended the mountain, racing through the forest with Enzo and Norma. By late afternoon, it stopped at the entrance of a cavern, coiling its tail to point inside, indicating something was there.
Enzo and Norma sensed and excitedly said, "Spatial Stone vein!"
Flame Cobra led them to the location of the Spatial Stone mine within the secret realm.
After delivering them, the Flame Cobra left.
Norma inspected the surroundings and said, "We seem to be the first ones here. Let's go in and check it out. It seems safe for now."
Enzo agreed to the suggestion.
The two entered through the cave entrance and followed the underground caverns deeper, discovering numerous exposed Spatial Stones. These were highly regular twelve-faced crystals, requiring no further smelting or cutting.
They picked up the Spatial Stones and handed them all over to Enzo for safekeeping.
Spatial Stones possess spatial attributes, making them unsuitable for storage in ordinary space storage equipment.
However, Enzo's controlled mini-world could easily accommodate these Spatial Stones without any issue.
Unfortunately, after collecting over a hundred stones, it seemed that the cave no longer contained any more Spatial Stones. Even Norma's heightened senses could not detect any further traces of them.
Frustrated, she remarked, "After all this, there's only this much."
Enzo also felt a bit disheartened. With so few Spatial Stones, it was far from enough.
On Enzo's wrist, the Flame Cobra hatchling seemed to understand. It crawled up his arm to his shoulder and emitted a peculiar sound. As the sound resonated, Enzo and Norma saw ripples appearing on both sides of the cave walls, like someone had dropped a small stone into a still lake.
Seeing this, Norma exclaimed in shock, "Multiple layers of space!"
Enzo asked curiously, "Multiple layers of space? What does that mean?"
Norma, barely able to contain her excitement, explained, "Multiple layers of space refer to a location that is divided into different levels of space. These layers don't connect with each other directly, and you can only access other layers under specific conditions.
The appearance of multiple layers of space usually indicates either an extremely powerful supernatural being set it up or it formed naturally, often signifying some exceptionally rare and valuable treasure!"
"We need to go in right away!"
"The entrance to multiple layers of space won't stay open forever!"
With that, Norma pulled Enzo into the rippling space, and their figures vanished into the cavern wall.
Shortly after, a group of people arrived—Torrian and his companions. They looked quite disheveled, with several of them injured. Upon entering the cavern, Torrian glanced around suspiciously and said, "Strange, there was definitely some noise coming from here just a moment ago."
Suddenly, one of the team members shouted, "Lord Torrian, look at this!"
Torrian turned his gaze to a very regular indentation in the rock wall. It seemed that something had been removed from there.
"Spatial Stone!"
Torrian growled through gritted teeth.
He was certain that this cavern was the site of the Spatial Stone vein, but someone had gotten there first.
Realizing this, Torrian immediately ordered, "Everyone, search thoroughly! Don't miss any spot. Report any findings to me immediately!"
The group quickly spread out to search.
Meanwhile.
Enzo and Norma, having entered the multiple layers of space, were stunned by the sight before them. Countless Spatial Stones were piled on the ground, forming a small hill, and there were also numerous Spatial Stone essences mixed in.
"This—"
Norma was so shocked she could barely speak.
This was an enormous fortune. Even the combined Spatial Stone reserves of all the forces in Dark Night Forest might not match the amount here.
Enzo, equally excited, grabbed a large handful of the stones.
As Enzo prepared to place the Spatial Stones into his miniature world, he suddenly felt a powerful aura lock onto him, forcing him to stop and look toward a dark cave on his left.
In the next moment, a burst of light illuminated the area.
From the pitch-black cave emerged a peculiar orc.
The orc had a pair of horns on his head, a body as massive as a grown bear, and strong limbs. His hands resembled those of a monkey, and he had a thick tail. Upon seeing Norma and Enzo, the orc sniffed the air and remarked, "It's been a long time since anyone's been here!
And to think you two have earned the friendship of those two little snakes outside, you must be quite remarkable."
Enzo and Norma's tension eased somewhat.
Seizing the opportunity, Enzo asked, "Esteemed one, did you collect these Spatial Stones?"
The strange orc shook his head and said, "No, these were collected by my master. He needed a significant amount of Spatial Stones to forge a powerful item. These are just the leftovers."
The thought that so many Spatial Stones were just leftovers left.
Enzo wondering how many had been used for the creation of that item.
Enzo had some doubts about whether the orc was lying. The orc seemed to sense Enzo's thoughts and said, "The master's power is beyond your imagination. Unfortunately, that's all in the past now."
The orc clearly didn't want to elaborate on his master.
Seeing the orc's gentle demeanor, Norma asked boldly, "Great one, can we take some of these Spatial Stones?"
The orc shook his head, "No, you cannot. "
The orc continued, "These items are rewards. To obtain them, you must pass the tests left by the master. Of course, in addition to these Spatial Stones, there is a powerful artifact created by the master. However, that is a reward for passing the ultimate test, which no one has succeeded in yet."
Enzo quickly picked up on the detail, "So you're saying others have attempted the trials before?"
The orc nodded and mumbled, "It's been a long time. Let me think… the last participants were a few hundred years ago…"
"Ah, I remember now!"
The peculiar orc's voice grew slightly louder as he replied, "Indeed, there were several groups that participated in the trials before. Among them, two stood out. One was a brilliant young one named Maude, who mastered many powerful Rituals and was well-versed in supernatural knowledge.
The other, like me, was also an orc, though with a common bloodline. However, his willpower was extraordinary, and he managed to enhance his bloodline through sheer determination. His name was Rexfit."
Enzo was astonished after hearing that.
He knew both individuals and had connections with them.
One was a priest from the Barren Mountain Tribe, and the other was known as the Beast God. It was incredible to learn they had both faced the same trial and failed to complete it.
It seemed almost unbelievable.
But the orc didn't appear to be lying.
If that's the case, then what the orc said must be true.
While Enzo was still processing this, the orc added, "You two have found this place, so you're eligible to take the trial. However, the trial requires a hundred participants to begin. With only about eighty of you now, it'll likely be another half year before it starts."
The orc handed Enzo and Norma each a round crystal.
The orc continued , "These are supernatural trial crystals. Once you gather the full hundred participants needed for the trial, the crystals will emit a special signal to notify you and guide you to the trial site."
"Now, you may leave."
With a casual wave, the orc summoned an irresistible force that transported Enzo and Norma out of the multiple layers of space within the cavern.
As they were leaving, Enzo called out, "Great one, may I ask your name?"
A deep voice responded, "You may call me the Profaner, Mokei."