Chapter 364 - Beyond the Dunes(Part-4)

Ryuu looked back at the lake with a sigh, what he had claimed was not a lie as he had really placed array around it to prevent it from drying because of the sun, after the spirit lake had been used by him what was left was purest form of water possible even if the lake had shrunk to half of its original size it was definitely big but it would not survive the scorching heat and the desert as such he had placed arrays that allowed the lake to stay cool and not to vaporize, he looked back towards it for the last time as he felt the array fade, the lake already started to steam and he knew it would not be long before it would completely vaporize.

Zywia looked towards Ryuu with her eyes narrowed as she spoke curiously, "You look a bit more energetic and relived compare to before."

Ryuu simply back at her as he spoke, "It must be the cool refreshing lake, everyone looks a bit more energetic and refreshed after visiting the lake."

Zywia looked unsure of what he spoke as she kept looking at him with suspicion in her eyes before she spoke with a nod of her head, "If you say so."

Meanwhile Ryuu's heart was beating like a war drum, 'How did she notice it, my acting and lying skills are Godly they should not notice anything, but she is right I am a bit relaxed after all the spirit lake helped me cross the threshold to 10th rank but I would need more than that, 13th rank is still a long way, but for now I am fine the poison had been suppressed temporarily.'

Meanwhile back in Ayindril, Veena was suffering from a severe headache, Ryuu's Thousand Life Petal flower was acting weird, at first it lost a good few leaves too fast for her liking then it slowed and stopped for a while but the plant did not recover, they knew Ryuu was in danger when it began to rot slowly.

Maheswara looked every bit his age as he peered over her shoulder as he looked at her, his family was once again falling apart and he was helpless to do anything.

Veena shook her head as she spoke, "I do not know what he did but he will not make it, he somehow managed to extend his life, but it is not enough previously he would have died within four years time but he managed to somehow gain another year barely, but it is not enough he would not survive till the end."

Celestia growled at that as she spoke, "We do not know what happened there but our Ryuu is cunning and resourceful with a very healthy dose of luck, he will survive a couple of days ago you said he had only 4 years left even that was pushing far but now you are saying he had 5 years so that means he managed to do something that has delayed his death I believe he will return unscathed."

Veena bit her lips as she let out a tired sigh, "He did but we do not know the extent of his injuries or in what state he is in.", Celestia winced at that as Veena continued in a serious tone as she spoke to Sylvana, "Daughter make sure to use your influence and make him retire from the army, he will be staying here in Ayindril for the next few millennia I made the mistake of letting him convince us to let him going to that ghastly place, every time he leaves he is always in near death situation and I cannot take it anymore he will leave Ayindril when he is at least a few hundred thousand years old."

Ryuu's sisters especially Shamiran winced as both Nuwa and Veena looked at them with their eyes narrowed as Celestia spoke on their behalf, "That means you three cannot help him to escape Ayindril, you three young ladies are not old enough for us not to bend you over our knees and spank you."

The three sisters turned red with embarrassment as Nuwa spoke, "We told you that he should not be allowed to enter 'Eden'."

Veena nodded with a sad look on her face as she spoke, "Yes sister you were right it was a mistake."

Celestia gave a small squeeze on Nuwa's shoulder as she spoke, "Do not worry I have faith in him he will return unscathed and as for keeping him in Ayindril, I believe if we three work together we can definitely make him stay here and if worse come to worse I have a shiny spotless new dungeon we could use."

Antariksh had enough she was about to protest only for her father to shake his head preventing her speaking from that but her expression was seen by Nuwa who spoke with a frown, "Do you wish say something daughter."

Maheswara quickly spoke on his behalf, "I believe she meant to say that she would even help you with your endeavor to keep her baby brother safe, right?", as he finished he gave her a small meaningful nod.

Antariskh quickly caught on to what her father meant as she spoke with a vigorous nod, "Yes father you are exactly right, not to mention by the time he returns he would have finished his minimum required tenure in the army under the treaty as such there will be no problem to make him retire though we need his signature as such we have to wait till he retires."

Sylvana nodded at that as she spoke, "So true and Ryuu is a nice and understanding kid so I believe the dungeon is unnecessary."

Shamiran simply nodded in support of her sister, as she spoke, "And even if he tries to throw tantrum we his big sisters would happily be his role model and we will make sure that he does not misbehave."

Their mothers narrowed their eyes as Sylvana spoke with a sigh, "I know mother you are all tensed and worried but you forget that he has a part of my essence lying dormant in him as such if worse come to pass he will still have a fighting chance to survive."

Ryuu looked at the direction that one of his new teammates had pointed out and drew his attention towards it, he could easily see something flashing in the distance as one of them spoke, "Let us check it out."

Ryuu tilted his head as he spoke, "Well we should but at the same time be a exercise a bit more caution as it can be trap."

Frost Flames nodded at that as she spoke, "A wise decision."

As such it was decided that a near about a dozen cultivator would approach the place where others would keep a safe distance and keep an eye out for them.

Ryuu grumbled a bit as he was about to leave with the scouting group apparently since it was his idea that meant he had graciously volunteered to join the scouting team, 'Why did I have to open by big mouth, I would have watched from the back the entire proceeding and planned accordingly but now I will have to step forward and put myself into danger and may be reveal my trump card.', even though his face held a kind friendly smile inwardly he was raging with anger at his predicament.