Chapter 12: A Mana-Filled Corpse

"Alright, then, let's bounce out of this smelly forest!" Lyshisha said, as she landed back on her mount, swiftly leaving these woods as the plains soon inundated their vision.

They took off, flying in low mid-air to keep the running cubs in sight.

Lyshisha then took the opportunity to inspect her torn uniform.

Notable cuts revealed the underside of her left breast, while another revealed a slice of pubic hair on her crotch's underside.

She inwardly shrugged.

Why bother to change when she doesn't know what ordeals tomorrow bring?

Plus it allows the afternoon breeze to cool where it matters the most … especially while she's sitting on a feathery cooking pot!

That she can't eat even!

Now, she missed her empire's renowned braise chicken!

This uncultivated empire should've forced its sects to provide southern meals! Arrrgh…

With a light shake of her head, she dispelled those silly thoughts and began her mental meditation, as her previous exploits nearly depleted her mental reserves.

Unfortunately, the pill she absorbed healed her injuries but not her matter energy.

Aaah, the vagaries of having a super-powered Moon Core but not the channels sturdy enough to handle its current…

But this tradeoff is the one keeping her standing right now, so how could she complain?

But her salvation is right around the corner.

She just has to push the envelope -like she always did to reach her current level—and after the insufferable pain, everything would be okay…

And she would be stronger than she was yesterday.

Seeing how this young woman was gathering the nearby mana to recover, Kame couldn't help but ask, "Your Royal Highness, forgive my asking, but why don't you use a red pill to quickly gather the ambient mana? It would be more efficient that way and less time consuming the way you're doing it right now…"

Duala's Crown Princess smiled. "If I were to do so with my broken core, it would do me more harm than good, as it would amplify the work I'll have to do to grab that energy and refine it within my nervous system, that's why," she calmly answered.

The merman wanted to facepalm his a*s. "Of course, Your Royal Highness, how could I fail to realize this simple fact?"

"It's okay. Now, let me meditate in peace, so we can have some fighting power when we'll need it," she said.

"Understood."

He bitterly smiled. You bet she was their group's muscle, and if she perished in an unfortunate encounter, he'll be feeding the fishes as well…

*

They flew for an hour and a half when Lyshisha suddenly opened her eyes.

She detected a powerful matter screen nearby!

Gazing below her, it grew larger from afar.

When her mount reached a sufficient distance, she ordered it to land on a field of low hills with sparse vegetation redolent of dry mud speckled with lily. No sound came from this place, save for the passing wind or the lazy flapping of a flier.

"Why are we landing, Your Royal Highness? The ore I seek is still two good hours away at our pace…" the merman asked as her cubs surrounded her summon.

"I know, it's just that I've seen something intriguing down there. Follow me for now," she said as she skidded off her bird.

Her group followed her for a few minutes as they arrived right before the matter screen, strangely similar to the one she stumbled on yesterday night at the sect.

Her right hand shimmering with matter energy, she easily cracked open the illusion, leaving them within a similar environment, save for a lone detail-

"How could this amount of concentrated mana exist? It's like an ocean!" Kame cried.

As the merman said, glittering amount of incorporeal energy swam in a dozen feet area before their dumbfounded eyes.

But what was even more surprising was the fact that a lot more mana lied below the surface!

What the hell was that?

She didn't fail to notice the faint grooves peppered with dried blood, leaving the ground uneven.

Even some mana particles still clung within the depths of these zigzagging furrows, quivering and flickering as if they were afraid to come out and disappear in the open.

Though she couldn't guess who was behind the might of such mana—and remain somewhat active many days afterward—, it definitely came from a big shot for sure!

Clearly, a fight between powerhouses occurred, and maybe by investigating a little bit she would find out why.

Lyshisha ordered Kame to bring out his excavating device, while she told her cubs to dig up as well.

With a flurry of hands, she created a couple of matter shovels she remotely directed to help as well.

A dozen minutes later, they finally found the source of this bountiful amount of energy, and their face couldn't help but show some dread.

Despite its face and chest not only caved in but painted dried red, this old man's robes clearly showed that he was an elder of their sect!