SWNOVELXO Chapter 688: Mana Pool
Max, Lyra, and Elder Drew moved deeper a the dimly lit cave, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly against the damp stone walls. A faint bluish glow shimmered from ahead, hinting at the mana pool's presence.
Elder Drew walked ahead, hands clasped behind his back, speaking with a light tone as he explained the procedures.
He talked about the special sealing formation they would use to extract the mana pool without disturbing the natural balance, how it would be transported through the empire's spatial vault, and how it would ultimately be stationed in the Great Ruler Empire's cultivation sanctuary to nourish future generations of geniuses.
His voice was steady, filled with authority and pride. But behind him, Max remained quiet, not responding, not even nodding.
Since the moment Elder Heng delivered that unsettling warning, a heaviness had settled in Max's chest. The old man and Noah had already left, acknowledging the result of the competition and giving the Great Ruler Empire their rightful claim over the mana pool.
But what lingered wasn't their presence—it was the words. That silent accusation. That lingering threat.
"Don't think too much about it," Elder Drew said with a soft chuckle, glancing over his shoulder and noticing the deep, contemplative expression carved into Max's face. "The Bright Buddha Palace may be mysterious, even odd, but when it comes to true strength—when it matters—we of the Great Ruler Empire are still a notch above. I can assure you that. You don't need to carry that old man's words on your back."
Lyra turned to Max as well, her voice gentle. "Don't worry about it, Max. Everything will be fine."
Max nodded silently as he followed Elder Drew and Lyra deeper into the cave, the faint glow of the mana pool reflecting off the damp stone walls like veins of light guiding them forward. His steps were steady, his expression calm, but his thoughts ran deeper than ever.
The Bright Buddha Palace? They were formidable, sure. Their strength, heritage, and mysterious techniques made them one of the true giants of the Middle Domain. But Max didn't fear them. Not in the slightest.
If push came to shove, he had ways to vanish from their reach, and tricks that no elder could predict. And more importantly, he wasn't planning to run forever.
No. He knew—deep in his bones—that given time, he wouldn't need to escape at all. Given time, he would grow. He would rise. And when that moment came, when he stood tall with every ounce of his power unleashed, even the Bright Buddha Palace would have to look him in the eye. As an equal. Or perhaps… something far beyond that.
Though what made him worried about was the recognition of his infernal energy.
The confrontation with Elder Heng lingered in his mind—not because he feared the Bright Buddha Palace, but because of what the elder had seen. Max had always known his Infernal Demon Transformation was dangerous, a power shrouded in dark origins and twisted energy. A power linked to Mark.
But for someone like Elder Heng to link it so easily to the Nulls, the Ascendants, and worse... that was troubling. It meant they had knowledge, insight into the forbidden, and perhaps even ways to track or suppress such powers.
That brief burst of infernal energy, even just a flicker, had drawn suspicion like a beacon in the dark. 'The Bright Buddha Palace... I'll need to be more careful when I use Infernal Demon Transformation again,' he thought, his gaze briefly flicking toward Lyra. 'If even one elder can sense its true nature, then the next time I show it, I might not get a warning. I might get a killing blow instead.'
His grip tightened slightly. Power was a blessing, but exposure was a curse. Until he could wield it freely without fear, he would have to dance between shadows—unseen, unknown, and unchallenged. For now.
"We have arrived at the mana pool," Lyra said with a soft smile as she stepped aside, revealing the heart of the cave.
Max's eyes were instantly drawn to the source of the gentle, otherworldly light. There it was—a small, glowing pool nestled into the rocky basin of the cavern. The water shimmered with a radiant blue hue, giving off a calm, pulsing energy that filled the air with tranquility and power.
It wasn't large by any means, no bigger than a small bathing pool, perhaps able to hold five or six people at most. Yet the density of mana inside it was staggering. Max could feel it in his bones, the raw elemental energy pressing lightly against his skin like mist made of power.
"I'll contact the Great Ruler Empire to begin the process of transporting the pool," Elder Drew said, already tapping on his holowatch, the device lighting up as he prepared the necessary transmission.
"No, wait!" Max suddenly called out, stepping forward with a serious expression.
Elder Drew raised a brow and paused his hand. "What is it?" he asked, genuinely curious at the interruption.
"There's no need to transport the mana pool," Max said with a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "My class… it allows me to absorb energy directly from natural sources. And this mana pool qualifies."
He looked toward the pool again, eyes gleaming with intent. "From what I can tell, the condensed mana here is extremely pure, but the quantity isn't that large. I estimate that only four or five people could benefit from it, at most. It wouldn't be enough to significantly benefit the entire empire."
Max turned back to Elder Drew and bowed slightly in request. "So, I want to make a personal request. Please allow me to absorb as much mana as I can from the pool right now. I want to use this opportunity to break through to Master Rank. After that, if anything remains, we can still transport it."
His tone was calm, but there was a deep determination in his voice. For Max, this was an opportunity, an opportunity to level up to Master Rank. Only after reaching the Master Rank was when Max could truly implement his plan to reach the peak of Champion Rank in the next two years.