Chapter 130 - Turmoil Inside the Imperial Palace

The next day, in the periphery of Death Forest.

Cale calmly watched Ember as it communicated with his horse pack. They kept on neighing and emitting bestial roars as if they were having a serious discussion. 

After about thirty minutes or so, Ember elegantly walked towards Cale. Behind it was five other Savage Horned Knights who were scrutinizing Cale's group with their savage eyes.  

"Ember, what is this?" Cale spoke with a smile as he stroked the stallion's cold scales. He then glanced at the five other Savage Horned Knights following behind Ember. 

They were the strongest among the pack and their strength have reached the peak of the Divine-Class level. 

Ember's savage eyes suddenly softened after hearing Cale speak. It then rubbed its head on Cale's body gently.

"I didn't know that these savage beasts could be this tamed..." Cale rubbed Ember's head happily while looking at the rest of the Savage Horned Knights who had departed.

"Wrong! Savage Horned Knights had the word 'savage' on its name because of its violent nature. But they are indeed tamed once you are able to gain their acknowledgment." Asteria's voice resounded inside Cale's head.

"Looks like we don't need to walk on our way towards the Celestial Sword Empire." Cale smiled, his subordinates were also happy to get their first mounts.

Cale climbed on Ember's back and gestured the others to choose their mounts. The others then climbed on the backs of their chosen mounts. It was quite difficult to get used to riding a horse's back, but since they were Saints, it was not that hard for them to familiarize themselves with it.

Five silhouettes were riding peak Divine-Class level Savage Horned Knights. In front of them was a man wearing a silver wolf mask who was also riding his Brutal Armored Pegasus. The group radiated a powerful aura that scared off the low-level beasts lurking behind the tall trees of Death Forest's outskirts.

Their destination... the Celestial Sword Empire.

* * *

Meanwhile, inside Sword City, the capital city of the Celestial Sword Empire.

Everyone was in a somber mood after hearing the news about their emperor's failing health. Their emperor, Aventus Doomblade, a peak Immortal-Class warrior was on his last breaths. 

Many citizens thought that it was such a pity to lose a powerful and good emperor.

Emperor Aventus Doomblade was one of the strongest emperors throughout the history of the Celestial Sword Empire, and he was also one of the few peak Immortal-Class level experts on Shura. 

His death was bound to create intense shockwaves in the whole world. Especially someone of his status. Aside from that, his death would also create a spark on the wolves that were eyeing the Celestial Sword Empire's lands...

Inside the palace, everyone was in a panic state. The generals, officials, and ministers were glancing worriedly at the closed doors of the emperor's chamber. 

A man in his late twenties ran towards the emperor's chambers. His strikingly beautiful facial features were stained with worry. His path was suddenly blocked by a general who glanced at him with grief.

"Your highness, Third Prince Amro, please stay here and don't go inside. Your father, the emperor has told me that no one is allowed to go inside the emperor's chambers, even someone from the imperial family is not allowed inside." The general spoke firmly while forcing himself to look calm.

The third prince balled his fists tightly while looking at the general with remorse, but he did not dare defy the emperor's words.

"Why would this happen to father... This isn't  supposed to be like this..." The third prince's lips quivered as he tried to contain his sadness. 

The people who heard him remained silent, but their eyes became even more forlorn. The presence of Emperor Aventus Doomblade was like a deterrent force that made countless major powers hold themselves back from snatching the lands of the Celestial Sword Empire.

But now, after being check by the imperial physicians, the high officials of the empire were informed that their strong emperor would not last for long. Once the news about this will leak out to those major powers, then the whole empire would become tumultuous.

The huge double doors of the emperor's chamber suddenly opened. A few old men came out of the chamber, their faces sullen and serious.

Everyone waited for them to talk with stifled breaths as they glanced at the old imperial physicians with worried looks.

One of the physicians stepped forward. He was the oldest among the group of imperial physicians and also the one with the best capabilities in the whole empire. His grey and long beard trembled as the old physician turned his gaze at the crowd of high officials.

"The emperor is still alive, but his health isn't becoming better. We already did our best to prolong his life, but then again, it will only be temporary..."

Everyone was happy that their emperor was still alive, but after hearing the old physician's last sentence, they almost choked in sadness.

The third prince walked towards the physicians with heavy strides, his eyes red with tears. 

"Is there any way for us to save father? Tell me, I will do anything..." The third prince's tear-stained eyes glanced solemnly at the old physician. Some of the high officials were already crying hot tears. The news about the emperor's incoming death was like a raging thunder that struck their bodies.

The old physician frowned, but he still glanced respectfully at the third prince. He remained silent for a brief period of time before his eyes suddenly lit up after he had thought of something.

His expression did not go unnoticed, everyone who was focusing their gazes on the old man saw that his eyes lit up. Of course, the third prince also saw his reaction. 

He then held the old physician's shoulders, his gaze impatient. 

"Uncle Sun, please tell me. I will do anything that will help my father regain his health!"  The third prince spoke while staring deeply at the old physician.

The latter glanced at the third prince with a complicated gaze.

"It's not that this old man does not wish the emperor to be cured. It's just that the item that may be able to help the emperor is impossible to get. And besides, it is not guaranteed that this item could help the emperor be cured." 

The third prince's gaze became even more serious. 

"Uncle Sun, please tell me what item this is. I will assemble my strongest men to search for it. If needed, I don't mind going in person to search for this item." 

His words made the high officials standing outside the emperor's chamber to glance at the third prince in admiration. Even the old physician's gaze on him softened. Except for one person, who stared at the third prince with a complicated gaze, the Minister of the Left.

The old physician furrowed his brows before he spoke the item's name word by word.

"It's the Holy Nourishing Crystal..." Everyone sucked in a deep breath of cold air at the mention of the item. 

The Holy Nourishing Crystal was an item that can only be harvested inside one of Shura's forbidden regions, the Cave of Endless Grievance. The Holy Nourishing Crystal was the core of a creature that lives inside the forbidden cave, the Heavenly Winged Guardian. And this core can only be harvested upon the death of the creature. 

A Heavenly Winged Guardian is a humanoid beast that is at the Divine-Class level during their infant stages. Most adult Heavenly Winged Guardians are at the Immortal-Class level, and they were the only ones that produce a Holy Nourishing Crystal after their deaths.

The effects of the crystal were astonishing. It was capable of healing any kind of diseases and it could even completely heal a person who was on his deathbed.

But getting such an item was as difficult as climbing the gates of hell. Aside from the dangers within the Cave of Endless Grievance, the Heavenly Winged Guardians alone were not easy opponents. They lived in groups and it was very rare to find a lone Heavenly Winged Guardian. 

The third prince's eyes flashed for a moment before it reverted back to normal. He then put on a firm look before glancing at the generals behind him.

"I will personally search for this Holy Nourishing Crystal! Who among you are brave enough to follow me towards the Cave of Endless Grievance?!" His voice carried a resolute tone as if unbothered by the dangers of a forbidden region.

"Your highness, third prince Amro, with all due respect, going inside one of Shura's forbidden regions is no different than asking for a quick death. Please, don't endanger your life." The Minister of the Right worriedly said. Although the third prince was only the third in line for the throne, they didn't want him to needlessly sacrifice his life for a mere chance of curing the emperor. 

The third prince glanced angrily at the Minister of the Right, he then gritted his teeth but stopped himself from flying into rage.

"Your highness, I will personally go inside the Cave of Endless Grievance to get the Holy Nourishing Crystal. There is no need for you to come with this old man. You should remain here and wait for my return." An old general spoke calmly, but his eyes contained resolve.

The third prince smirked in his heart, but he still put on a helpless facade in front of everyone. 

"Say no more, third prince. This old man will depart now to get this item for the emperor. I will not allow the emperor to die before me!" A blazing fire twinkled in the eyes of the old general before he stepped out of the hall. 

Everyone glanced at the broad back of the old general with hopeful gazes.