Shards of the Broken Heart

By the time we were back on our feet, it was still midnight there. Looking up at the sky, there were two moons with different phases in the sky.

One was a waning crescent, while the other was a waxing crescent, like two swords moving in for a clash. If one had disregarded the time, these two moons were clear proof that we were on a different planet than Caligen.

We continued our journey for another 12 hours till the sun started to rise. But unlike the previous times, there was a decrease in energy concentration for the last two times. We hadn’t found any herbs since our little scuffle with Callum and his lackeys. Also, no beasts were prowling around. Only large trees surrounded us from all directions, with their density increasing from our start point.

After some thought, I punched a nearby tree with internal energy covering my fist. The tree shook due to the impact, but it didn’t fall. Everyone’s mouth opened wide agape. It was not because the tree was strong but because it absorbed all the energy that materialised on my fist. And thus, my theory was proven correct.

“The trees here are absorbing the energy present in the atmosphere. Thus, there is a decrease in energy concentration instead of an increase. These trees are treasures. They can be used as defensive accessories to absorb the energy attacks. We have hit a jackpot!”

Elfie was very excited at the discovery. Although mother had given us brother and sister good equipment, these trees were good material for defensive accessories. Even I was tempted to take some amount of these for myself. So, we spent a few hours collecting the good quality wood and then continued on our way.

As no other beasts were interrupting us on our way, we covered a lot of ground in a short time. We marched on for three and a half days straight, and by the sunrise of the 5th day since our entry to Turquoise Realm, we finally reached the mountain base. The energy-absorbing trees got denser the closer we got to the mountain base. And thus, there was very little energy in our surroundings, just like on the planet Caligen.

Just at the base of the mountain, there was a distinctive barrier between it and the surrounding area. Everyone felt that there would be something different inside the barrier than the outside, and entering would be hazardous without any preparations. We all have been travelling for the past few days without any rest.

Thus, we erected a barrier around us and rested for a few hours to rest and cultivate, regaining our energy to face the upcoming difficulties. We had yet to find any mortal-grade herb, including our core objective, the Tetraspine plant.

After resting enough, we entered the barrier with me in the lead. The second I stepped inside the barrier, I felt myself getting choked to death.

There was such a high energy concentration that it felt like my blood vessels and meridians would burst. I frantically released my internal energy to fight against the suffocating pressure and, after a very long time, got accustomed to the new atmosphere.

The girls were very alarmed by seeing my initial reaction and were going to enter the barrier too to pull myself out, but I indicated to them not to with a glare. After they saw me getting accustomed to the new atmosphere and being relaxed, all the tension drained from the soldiers.

I explained the situation to them and helped them get accustomed to it. After tackling the high energy concentration, we found many herbs of common and rare grades spread throughout. We even found some mortal-grade herbs, but we knew they were always protected by beasts. And that was true. There was at least one low-level Blood Beast near those herbs, and in some places, there was a group of them. These herbs were protected as a treasure to these beasts and acted as alluring traps for the others.

We teamed up and fought against those beasts to get the herbs. The fights were challenging, but with our good teamwork, we secured the herbs without getting many injuries.

We continued climbing to the mountain's top while collecting the mortal-grade herbs and fighting against the protector Blood Beasts. Sometimes we were able to lose the beasts on our tail, but most of the time, there was a fight.

And so, our stock of beast parts increased a lot. We even got many beast cores, although the chance of finding a beast core was abysmal.

It took another three days to reach the top of the mountain. Although we harvested many mortal-grade herbs, we couldn’t find any trace of spirit-grade herbs or the Tetraspine plant. The top was not a pointed peak but was shaved to become flat.

There was a palace with a pathway leading us to it. The palace was very grand, with exquisite architecture. There was a small pond beside the path. The water was very clear even though fish were swimming inside it. The palace was made of jade, and many engravings were done on the surface with gold. It looked like the residence of a divine deity.

There was a plaque on the top of the grand door, which blocked the entry inside the palace. It read:

 ‘The Turquoise Palace of Binding Turtle’.

We pushed the door open and entered the majestic halls of the palace. There was not much furnishing inside the palace except a turquoise throne at the end of the hall and a fiery red carpet leading to it.

We walked to the throne and looked around for clues about this place. The entrance to the hall in the entire palace was the only doorway. And we couldn’t find any other clues from this throne room too. Out of childish curiosity, Alice climbed up the hall and sat on the throne.

She ran her hands through the throne's armrest and sank into the throne. She had a delightful expression.

“It feels awesome! Even though the throne is not soft, I feel more comfortable than any chair I have ever sat on. I want a throne of my ow---”

*Screeach*

Her words were drowned by a loud screech, and then a giant beast with a fiery mane emerged out of nowhere beside the throne. His eyes, looking like burning suns, glared at us.

“Who dares sully the prestige of my master by sitting on his throne?!”