After spending almost half of the day in the middle of small island, the four had already undergo soul cleansing for five times.
Although they have yet to achieve a perfectly clean soul, Cole decided to stop for the meantime after experiencing it for five times. That is because even though they were getting some soul healing, they were still bound to be exhausted.
Furthermore, it might even lead to unrecoverable damage.
Besides, the Pristine Lotus mobs is near to deplete their ammo. Every shot of their soul cleansing beam consume one of their seeds. After several hours, despite its long cool-down, the ammo is about to be depleted.
After making that decision, Cole gave the honor to defeat all those remaining Pristine Lotus who have done a great service to the four party members.
Since they have yet to defeat a mob before they fall under the great pain of soul cleansing, it was the first time the four them saw the defeated enemies turn into moth of lights. They can't help but felt a massive loss when they saw the supposed to be rare resources vanish into thin air.
"M-Master, the resources..." Mikoes can't help but look at Cole, lost. His eyes were full of pain.
Cole shake his head before explaining the dungeon mechanism.
After hearing that, it was only then their expression turn for the better. They then all look to their respective spatial ring and look at the loot they have received.
"As long as its covered with that golden bubble film, you won't be able to use those things. I believe that that restriction will be gone after we exit and finish this dungeon."
In the original game, items on the players has a certain chance to fall should they die.
Originally, loots dropped by monster also have the same restriction but it only needs several minutes of waiting, duration depending on the rank, level and rarity of the item, and the protection will vanish and be ready to be use.
However, since this wasn't the original game, its bound that its some rules will change.
For instance, the original items of the challengers won't fall in normal circumstances. In exchange, all the loots dropped by dungeon mobs will be restricted for use until they fully exit the dungeon.
This means that eventhough one can't have true death inside the dungeon, its cost might be the loots harvested inside. Whether some or all of the looted items vanish is something to be discover yet.
After all the mobs were finally defeated, the water of the lake they were in start to get chaotic. Without a doubt, all of them knew that another wave of enemy is coming.
On the other hand, Cole expect that the new enemy is not the same as the mobs he just defeated.
And as he expected, the new wave of monsters were the King of this lotus lake!
It was the territory boss!
Since Yellow Spring Spirit Lotus is a Divine-Rank sentient plant, it was apparent that it won't appear on [Normal] difficulty.
Since the barrier of [Protect] still protect them, Cole just watch calmly the nearing massive dirty white lotus. He then read its given information.
Imperial Sword Mind Comprehension Lotus [Emperor-Rank] (Field Boss) Level : 49 (Ninth-Level Tier-4) Affinity : Wood, Sword Skills : Sword Comprehension, Sharp Sword Mind, Sword Concept Strike, Sword Intent Burst, Imperial Sword Slash [Introduction : A Sword Mind Comprehension Lotus that gain spirituality. Can attack in the distance by condensing the spiritual energy in the surrounding into spiritual sword. Extremely powerful and lethal.]
It was originally a spirit lotus medicinal plant that can gave insights and enlightenment about the path of the sword.
And after it gain spirituality, it was only normal that this sentient plant could be considered as master in the way of the sword. It was natural trait of its race like Blue who was a master of lightning.
The boss were not on its own. Along with its was another group of dungeon mobs, which was normal according to dungeon setting.
The massive lotus itself looks like a sharp sword and its surrounding seems to be covered with rotating sharp winds. It was as if the lotus itself is an embodiment of sword concept and it created a natural sword domain.
After arriving in a certain distance, the spiritual energy around the massive lotus turn chaotic and condense into sword. The sword energy, full of sharp and killing intent, then flew towards the small island Cole and his group were in.
Under the influence of his Martial Spirit and his [Soul Reincarnation State], his mentality level were on another level. The sword energy attacks looks no different from a normal slash on sword.
However, it wasn't the same for the another four human with him.
The sword energy were extremely powerful and lethat that it instantly terrify the two Core Formation-Stage cultivator. They could feel that the attack could kill them in one shot and and that thought alone makes them rooted on their spot.
However, despite that, they can't help but feel amzed by the attack itself. It contains insights about sword path which is greatly beneficial for their comprehension.
On the other hand, the two Nascent Soul-Stage cultivator have more stronger mentality than the other two. Due to that, and to the fact that they were still aware that they were protected by powerful junior, they take that chance to watch the full of sword insights sword energy attack.
In the end, the four use sword as their main weapon and this attack were a great encounter and rare chance for them. They take that chance to try to comprehend a suitable sword concept for them.
This was a great chance for comprehending [Concept] for the other four. Therefore, Cole decided to give them several moments to watch the attack of the boss. In any case, inside the scope of protection, they'll be completely safe.
In the end, Cole and Celia also watch the continuous attack of the boss.
Not long after, Cole started to fall into trance as he watch the sword qi's flying and pounding the thin barrier. At the same time, his [Tree of Light Soul Reincarnation] rustle gently, creating a picturesque sight.
Then, as though the hidden instinct were awaken, stream of informations and experience appear inside his head.
The other four were focused on watching the attacks full of sword insight so they didn't know what happen to their master. Celia, on the other hand, saw it and can't help but show a faint smile.
The sudden enlightenment only last for a second and Cole woke up from his trance.
Tree of Light, in comparison, were the same as True Dragons. They were born with unique inheritance that makes them a great warrior from the start. Unlike humans, they were born with natural skills that will save them years of practice and their mastery on it were initially high.
And his sudden enlightenment were one of the main inheritance of Tree of Light. It was called...
[Sword of Divine Light Arts]!
It contains a set of sword skills that is inherently given by the Tree of Light.
It contains several skills like [Sword of Divine Judgement], [Sword Rain of Divine Annihilation], [Holy Sword of Protection Array], [Grand Annihilation Sword Dominion] and more...
Unfortunately, all this innate skills needs a high level of comprehension of [Heavenly Law of Light]. Tree of Light were originally born by the world and is the embodiment of [Heavenly Law of Light], due to that, this skills were supposedly ready to use.
However... Cole don't have any of that...
Therefore, in the end, the set of skills were restricted and and can't be used.
The only fortunate thing is that even though he was restricted by the world, his own Sea of Consciousness was like the world of its own. It was where the owner has natural dominion and he makes its own laws...
The art might be restricted outside but it wasn't the same inside his Sea of Consciousness.
With that thought, Cole can't help but smile. Entities that will invade his Sea of Consciousness will be on one way trip to hell!
Still, eventhough the skill was restricted, it doesn't mean that Cole won't be able to use. As a matter of fact, he can.
Only, compare to its original might, it can only show a fraction of its capability. And it was enough for the current him.
Not long after, with the intention of using his newly inherited arts, he raise his right hand and a sword made from pure light energy appear.
Since it was condensed by Cole using his Tree of Light soul form, he only think that it looks normal and nothing more.
However, the others didn't perceive the same thing...
The sword, besides it extraordinary appearance, pulse with otherworldly power. As though it was the embodiment of justice, not only it contains a trace of Law of Light, it also contains a powerful sword intent.
Without a doubt, it was way more powerful than the sword qi send by the lotus boss...
The other four human, including Celia, fall into trance of sudden enlightenment upon gazing at the sword made of light.
Cole was focus on the sword itself too and didn't manage to see the state of his companions.
Instead, after checking the light sword, he send it to attack the lotus boss. In a second, the sword thrust itself to the lotus boss with extraordinary speed that was akin to speed of light. It was so fast that the lotus boss don't even manage to depend itself and the sword manage to pierce through its body, reducing its 1/10 of its max health. The sword domain that covers the lotus boss offset some of the offensive capability of the light sword otherwise it'll cause more damage.
Cole smile before he control the light sword again to pierce through lotus boss again.
With its extraordinary speed, the sword qi produce by the Imperial Sword Mind Comprehension Lotus cannot parry the sword. In the end, it was pierced through again four times and its health was reduced by half.
After that, as though the lotus boss feel the threat of death, burst with strong sword intent, producing a strong air pressure that push the light sword slightly. In addition, the sword intent cover the lotus boss, making its petals covered with metallic sheen.
Then, one of the petals float in the air and sword intent gather on it and attracting a huge amount of spiritual energy in the air. Second after, the petal transformed into massive sword full of majestic presence—
[Imperial Sword Slash]!
This sword attack contain a powerful intent of imperial power; domineering, noble and majestic. It was like the word of the Emperor, as though it was the law and rule itself.
Without a doubt, it was a powerful sword intent.
Unfortunately, the sword it was battling of, despite its unadorned appearance, was like the embodiment of heavenly will.
The imperial sword might be powerful but it was nothing in front of heaven.
Still, in the first exchange, the imperial sword manage to parry the attacks of sword light. It was a pity that it wasn't the strength the specialty of the sword light but its sharpness and most importantly, its speed.
After several exchange, Cole control the sword light and by pass the imperial sword.
It then flew straight towards the lotus boss's main body and deal damage again, further reducing its health to 10%.
But the moment its health reach 10%, as though the boss felt the threat of death, it immediately turn berserk and release a powerful aura!
Boom!
The released aura was so powerful that it even produce a loud sound.
Shing— Shing—
At the same time, both the lotus boss and its mobs released all their petal and flew in the air.
Then, it was controlled and infused with powerful sword intent!
The whole lotus petals have transformed into sea of swords!
Then, that sea of swords flew towards the light sword Cole condense and drown it in the middle!
No matter how nimble the sword light is, it can't escape the pursuit the hundreds of flying sword. It can only dodge for several seconds before it was besieged by the swarm of swords.
When Cole see that, he choose not to escape but try to destroy the sea of swords using his sword light.
Peng! Peng! Peng!
Relying on its speed and nimbleness, he fully focused on controlling the sword light to dodge and destroy the imperial sword intent.
Fortunately, since the lotus boss condense a huge amount of imperial sword in short period of time, its sturdiness is not the same as the first imperial sword. In one swing, the sword light could shatter one to several imperial swords.
The confrontation last for several minutes. And when the sea of imperial swords were fully destroyed, Cole felt a little mental fatigue. Controlling the sword light for the first time and doing that strenuous task take a toll in his mental strength.
Still, Cole can't help but smile at that small feat. It was a good experience.
Unfortunately, despite winning, the sword light have exhaust its energy. After destroying the last imperial sword, it turn into moth of lights and vanish.