Chapter 624 - 622: Awakening

Chapter 624: Chapter 622: Awakening

The Ice Coffin was gone. Only Aaron Sinclair’s figure remained, lying motionless where it had been.

Noticing the change, the two wintergourds keeping watch nearby flew over from their perch on the wall. They didn’t dare get too close. Their master’s aura was simply too terrifying, and they wouldn’t be able to withstand it at close range.

After confirming that only the Ice Coffin was gone and their master was unharmed, they flew back to their original spot to continue their vigil.

Bullfrog and Tadpole, the two wintergourds. For the first three days, they had taken turns going to Xylos to cultivate and drink the Spiritual Liquid. Afterward, they collected all the remaining Spiritual Liquid, preparing to take it back to their clan. They had also pried out that piece of Spiritual Marrow, packed it up, and stored it away. For the next several days, Bullfrog and Tadpole had stayed by Aaron Sinclair’s side without ever leaving.

The Underpalace was largely safe, but not completely empty.

There were Shadowrats here. Over the past two days, several had found their way to this chamber. Fortunately, the Shadowrats’ Cultivation wasn’t high, so they were killed and their bodies obliterated the moment they appeared.

"Master has absorbed all the energy here. He should be waking up soon."

"Yeah, soon."

"We’ll be able to go home soon."

As the two wintergourds were talking, they heard a SQUEAK SQUEAK sound. Bullfrog and Tadpole exchanged a glance, then huddled together to whisper.

"It’s a Shadowrat. How are there still more?"

"There must be a nest of them that’s made its home somewhere in this Underpalace."

"We have to go. We can’t let these things disturb Master."

"Damned Shadowrat, I’ll go take it out."

"Let’s give it a taste of the Bone Dissolving Medicine."

"You take the left, I’ll take the right."

With that, the two wintergourds shot forward, only to slam right into each other. Stars swam above their heads.

Tadpole slapped Bullfrog on the forehead. "Are you an idiot? You can’t even tell left from right."

"My bad. I thought this was left."

"Hurry up, and don’t mess it up this time."

"You got it."

The layout of this Underpalace was a labyrinth of concentric rings, with countless rooms and doors. Bullfrog and Tadpole entered from opposite sides and soon spotted a Shadowrat emerging from a hole in a stone wall.

"SQUEAK SQUEAK..."

This Shadowrat was about a meter long, which was quite large for a rat-type Demonic Beast. It had green eyes and rings of white fur on its body.

This Shadowrat was likely the king of the nest. It had probably come out to investigate why its minions hadn’t returned.

Seizing the opportunity, Bullfrog and Tadpole attacked simultaneously. They spat a Wind Blade directly at the Shadowrat. The attack wasn’t very powerful, but it was perfectly suited for a Shadowrat, which also had a low Cultivation.

The Shadowrat, now under attack, shrieked in anger. It shot toward Bullfrog with the speed of a lightning bolt.

Seeing the Shadowrat go for Bullfrog, Tadpole quickly spat another Wind Blade, slicing off its tail. Once the Shadowrat was injured, Tadpole channeled her Cultivation and used a Spell to bind it.

"Quick, Bullfrog, now!"

"Coming, coming!"

Bullfrog quickly flew over, took out a bottle of Bone Dissolving Medicine, opened it, and poured it onto the Shadowrat. The instant the Bone Dissolving Medicine touched the Shadowrat’s wound, the creature was reduced to a pile of bones on the ground. Not only that, but after just a moment, the bones on the ground dissolved as well, leaving only a small wet spot. Not a trace of the body remained.

The Bone Dissolving Medicine was from a formula their master had left them long ago. All these years, they had relied on the things their master left behind to survive.

"Come on, let’s go back."

"Mm."

As Bullfrog spoke, he started flying off in the wrong direction, only to be slapped back by Tadpole. "It’s this way... I swear, I have to do everything around here. If you were left to fend for yourself out there, I bet you couldn’t even find your way home."

Bullfrog let out a sheepish laugh.

"Aw, Tadpole, you’re the best."

"Let’s go. We’re best friends, after all."

When Bullfrog and Tadpole returned to Aaron Sinclair’s stone chamber, he was still floating in mid-air. The two wintergourds exchanged a look and prepared to settle down and continue waiting.

Just then, the ground began to shake.

No... the entire Underpalace was starting to shake.

Sensing that something was wrong, the two wintergourds’ bodies tensed up.

"We’re done for, we’re done for."

"This place is going to collapse! What do we do? Master isn’t awake yet."

Bullfrog spun around in a panic.

Tadpole said, "Master must have drained the Spirit Pillars that support this place, so the Underpalace is going to collapse."

’The main thing is, Master isn’t awake yet.’

"What do we do now?"

"How about we carry Master out of here first? We can’t stay here, anyway."

Just as the two wintergourds were discussing how to carry Aaron Sinclair away, the man floating in mid-air slowly opened his eyes.

He had, of course, heard them.

He let out a soft chuckle.

"Tadpole, I really must thank you." ’I have to admit, Tadpole is the smarter one. If it were Bullfrog, he probably would have stayed here guarding me to the bitter end.’

The moment Aaron Sinclair finished speaking, the two wintergourds flew over with a WHOOSH, as if they had just found their backbone. Seeing that Aaron Sinclair was awake, their expressions turned to excitement.

"Master, you’re finally awake!"

"We have to get out of here, fast! The Underpalace’s Array is gone, and the whole place is collapsing!"

"Let’s go home."

The two wintergourds chattered frantically, one after the other.

Aaron Sinclair slowly straightened his posture, standing upright in mid-air. His gaze swept over the area, seeing debris continuously falling from the ceiling and cracks spreading across the walls.

"Let’s go."

He grabbed one wintergourd in each hand, his body dissolving into black mist as he instantly flew out from underground, leaving the Underpalace behind.

When he reappeared, he was already outside. He now stood in the sky above a mountain range. The land stretched out, vast and seemingly endless, and in the distance, Spirit Beasts could be seen flying across the horizon.

"We’re out, we’re out!"

"Fresh air!"

"Hahaha... Tadpole, we’re still alive! Every day is just so thrilling. I’m definitely going to tell these stories to my children and grandchildren someday."

"Need I remind you that you don’t even have a wife yet? And you’re already thinking that far ahead."

"Hehe... Can’t a guy dream?"

Looking at the two wintergourds by his side and hearing their conversation, Aaron Sinclair couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "That’s a great idea. Finding a wife, is that all? We’ll have Pip set you up in the future."

Speaking of which, Aaron Sinclair stared at the smaller Tadpole. "By the way, Tadpole, you’re a girl, right? I think you two would be a good match."

Hearing this, Tadpole, who was flying beside him, frantically waved her hands in protest.

"No way! Bullfrog is too stupid."

"I like someone smarter. Bullfrog is friend material, that’s it."

Bullfrog laughed goofily.

"I’m too dumb. Tadpole doesn’t like me. We’re good friends."

Heh heh heh!

’Doesn’t like him, huh.’

Aaron Sinclair smiled faintly.

’They’re stuck together day in and day out,’ he thought. ’It’s only a matter of time before she eats her words. In a hundred years or so, they might even have a couple of kids.’ Aloud, however, he said, "It’s fine. There are so many wintergourds in your clan. You’re bound to meet someone you like eventually."