176 Figh

"Oh... Déjà vu"

"Should we go in to check, Master?" Anna asked.

"Hmm, I don't know why, but this feeling kills me. I'm pretty sure there must be a monster inside the cave. But I also feel I need to go in. There is something special there..." Alex pondered for a moment.

"This area should be a low danger area. So, I think the monster inside would not be that high." Anna said.

"Alright. I will also continuously uses the Spirit Eyes. That way, if there is something big approach us, we will immediately run." Alex said.

"Understood"

"Follow me." Both of them come inside the cave very slowly and carefully. The cave itself was close to a limestone cave without many lights. It is pretty hard to see something inside the cave. Even they who are Martial Masters barely able to see.

Alex scans all the cave interior with his Spirit Eyes. There is nothing suspicious for the time being. They go deeper and deeper inside the cave. Alex suddenly noticed something. There is a tremendous amount of energy inside it. But the energy wasn't from a living being.

"Anna, there is something big not far from here. Judging from the Spirit Eyes. It is not a living being." Alex said.

"Something like a treasure?" Anna asked.

"I don't know. My attainment in Spirit Eyes wasn't that much. I didn't have the resource to level up my Spirit Eyes." Alex is still unsure.

Suddenly, something approached them from the front. It comes from that place, which has a massive amount of energy.

"Anna, be ready. There is something approaching us. The energy is around the same level as the Werewolf we met a few days ago." Alex immediately yelled while taking his Sword and Spear. Anna did the same. She quickly took out her scythe.

"Here it comes." Alex warned her.

"Roar!"

With a big roar echoing inside the cave, Alex and Anna finally know what is coming to them. It is a leopard. It has similar features with Earth Leopard, the only difference is the skin of this Leopard is green. "Anna. It is a Wind Leopard. Be careful of its agility. Not only its speed is fast, but the Wind Leopard also has a great maneuver with the boost of his wind element."

"Yes"

Alex blocked its claw with his sword. But because of the momentum of the Wind Leopard. Alex felt the force from it.

"Immovable Step"

As soon as he used the Immovable Step, He gets the strength to push the Wind Leopard back. But the Wind Leopard didn't get push back. Instead, it used Alex's power to do another jump, and his real target is actually Anna.

"No, you won't!" Alex immediately do the follow-up. He thrust his spear toward the Leopard. And a powerful beam of light pierced through the air and made its way toward the Leopard.

"Luminous Spear Technique. Pierce!"

The Leopard rolled around in the air and avoided Alex's attack. Anna immediately ready her scythe to block the incoming attack. But Alex suddenly shouted, "Anna, get ready."

Anna thrust his word more than anything. Because the Leopard dodged his spear, Alex doesn't have the time to be shocked, he immediately does another follow up. He thrust his sword as another beam of light flew toward the Leopard.

"Luminous Spear Technique (Sword Version). Pierce!"

The Wind Leopard was surprised by it, rolling a bit more in the air, he barely avoided Alex's technique. But Anna in front of the Wild Leopard has prepared to attack because of her absolute trust in Alex, Black energy started covering her scythe as she swings her scythe.

"Dark Cut"

*Fwoosh*

Anna and Alex heard the sound of the wind. They thought the Leopard would be finished by Anna's Dark Cut since it has no more way to dodge her attack. Unfortunately, they found the Leopard safe and sound because of the sound of the wind is actually the element from the Leopard. The Wind Leopard used its element to make him have another chance to do the last movement and dodge Anna's attack.

Alex immediately goes in front of Anna and becomes the vanguard as usual. Anna felt something wrong, "Young Master. Don't you feel it's strange? Normally, a Wind Leopard was only around 5-Star Master Stage. But this Wind Leopard is at 8-Star Master Stage."

"You are right." Alex nodded in agreement while looking at the end of the cave. "I suspect something great is in there. But for now, we need to kill this Wind Leopard first. I will try to distract it with my 'Fleeting Step' and 'Flash Step'. Search for an opening and strike him. I can't hit this Leopard with my Fire Phoenix Art since the Leopard is swift, he will dodge it before I have the chance to attack it like the Werewolf before who only has speed."

"Understood. Please be careful Young Master" Anna nodded.

"Sure. I'm going then" As he said that, he disappeared.

Soon, many clashing sounds echoing inside the cave. Alex didn't do any flashy movement since he didn't know the condition of the cave, the cave might collapse if he used something like 'Power Throwing' or 'Sanguin Sword Art'.  He didn't mind using something like 'Luminous Spear Technique', since its destructive power is not that great.

Anna tried a few times to attack the Wind Leopard but to no avail. The Wind Leopard always avoided her attack with its Wind Element. Alex is thinking about a new plan since if it continues like this. They are the ones who will be exhausted first since the Wind Leopard is an 8-Star Master Stage Monster. While clashing with the Wind Leopard, Alex is thinking another plan desperately. Until suddenly, a reckless idea comes to his mind.

"Sixth Strike!" Alex pushed the Wind Leopard back. Since it is a close-range technique, it is safe to use it continuously inside this dark cave. The moment he has some leeway,

"Anna!" Alex shouted, "Search for a safe place for you and use your Black Curtain to cover this place. Try to make it as big as possible. I will kill this Leopard."

"But, Young Master..." She hesitates. This Dark Curtain is a double-edged sword. Even she can't see anything inside the Dark Curtain. But Alex suddenly wanted her to put the Dark Curtain up? It is a very reckless idea. Unlike the previous Dark Curtain when they hunted the Savage Bison. This time, even Alex also trapped inside it.

"Just do it."

She gritted her teeth. She thought if Young Master died, she would immediately follow him. "Dark Curtain."

The cave, which is already dark enough for them to see suddenly become pitch black, the moment the Dark Curtain is up, Alex immediately put on his mask. His aura suddenly concealed with the mask, and his presence has vanished inside the darkness.

Of course, the Wind Leopard suddenly confused with the sudden change. With that much confusion, he remembered Alex's position then plunged to it.

Alex was actually waiting for something like this. The moment he put the mask, Alex also activate his Spirit Eyes. He locked the energy ball that symbolizing the Wind Leopard. Even though he can't see anything inside this Dark Curtain. He definitely can see the Wind Leopard. Since it is perilous to move recklessly inside an uneven ground such as the one in this cave. Alex waits for the Wind Leopard to make a move first.

Alex can see the Wind Leopard move toward him. He silently took a step to the left and raised his sword. The Wind Leopard charging at him in this darkness is the same as throwing his life away.

When the Leopard reached his position, it didn't feel anything in front of him. That means Alex has moved somewhere, he needs to make some move to trace Alex after he reached the ground. Unfortunately, before he has the chance to reach the ground. Alex has swung his Sword down.

"Sixth Strike"

He beheaded the Wind Leopard's head. He looks the Leopard with his Spirit Eyes. The energy was starting to dim down before it completely vanished. The Wind Leopard is dead. "Anna, the Wind Leopard has died. You can undo the Dark Curtain."

Soon after, Anna put off her Dark Curtain and immediately reprimanded him, "Young Master. That was a reckless idea. How can you do something like that?"

"Everything is alright. Isn't that fine?" Alex said.

"Young Master! Are you starting to get crazy? Or that muscle brain virus finally got inside your head? Something like that might be fine for that muscle head..." At first, she reprimanded him before her voice become low, and she suddenly hugs him and speaks while crying, "What...what if you die? It's better if I'm the one who dies."

He thought that he already has Alicia and Firia. Even though he is close to Anna, he still acts within the boundary. After all, it is not right to suddenly get a woman after he just leaves his wives behind. It is only around a month to boot. But when Anna suddenly acts like this. He didn't know why, but his heart is pained so much. Each word from her stab his chest fiercely. What is this pain? He thought. The pain didn't stop only at his heart, his brain starting to ache and unbeknownst to him, the tears have been falling from his eyes.

The strength seep from his body. Even so, he struggled to hug her back and said, "I...I'm sorry. I will be more careful later."

He didn't know why, but doing something like this suddenly soothe his heart. What is exactly happening? Did he already fall in love with Anna? He didn't bother with this thought for the time being.

They hugged for a while before Anna released her hand from him. "I'm sorry Young Master. I was rude."

He didn't know what to say to her at the moment, he just uses his finger to wipe her tears. After they calm down their emotions, they started to walk again.

Soon enough, they suddenly saw a light. They thought it was an exit, but when they arrived there. They saw a huge light crystal glowing at the top of the cave. And under the crystal, a big cave lake. But strangely, there's a blazing flame on top of the water. Alex can feel the surging of the Fire Element. He felt that he could absorb this Fire Element before suddenly the System warned him.

[Host. Don't absorb the Fire Energy yet]

"What do you mean?" Alex frowned.

[It's more beneficial for Host if you absorb it when you are in Martial Grandmaster Stage]

"Why is that?"

[Host. Haven't you noticed that you had advanced two stars from 1-Star Martial Master to 3-Star Martial Master within a week? System speculate because of continuous advancement, Host will most likely ruin your foundation if it continues. Even I will warn you the moment Host's foundation starting to crack, which more likely to happen after Host reached 5-Star Martial Master.

Judging by the amount of the Fire Spiritual Energy inside this pond, System has speculated, Host most likely able to reach peak Martial Master in a short time. Unfortunately, it will ruin you. It will make your later advancement become harder and harder.

If Host is still planning to become a god, then System advises you not to absorb it for the time being. System will take an example from Host memory on Earth. Each realm in the true cultivation is a kind of a big box containing ten gas tubes. Just like gas, Spiritual Energy will fill the tubes, Host will need to fill the tubes with gas until full. When is it full? Like a gas tube, You can continuously put gas inside the tubes until the maximum pressure that the tube can withstand before bursting. It is the same as your body. Host can still fill the energy. In other words, the tubes in your First, second, and third star in Martial Master stage can still be filled with more Spiritual Energy and become more solid.

Since Host didn't use an excessive amount of Pill or Spiritual Energy, this kind of problem won't happen in your Foundation Stage. But because of your continued usage of Fire Spirit Pills and Spirit Stones, this problem becomes apparent.]

"Then what can I do to solve this problem?" Alex asked, hurriedly. After all, he just knows something like this, he never thought he had this kind of problem since there is nothing like this written in his Cultivation Manual.