Chapter 234 Ch 234: Would You Like To Become My Disciple, Little Guy?
A visible shockwave rushed out from the dark cave. The huge stone that had been used to block the cavern entrance was sent flying like a lightweight ball that had been kicked; it instantly flew across the air.
The entire cave trembled. Even the rocky ground underneath shook as a violent tremor passed through the entire cavern and countless stones fell from the ceiling. At that moment, the two girls suspected that the cave was about to collapse.
In the cave, waves of blood had already stained the ground crimson. Eric was propping himself up with the help of a spear. This spear was a spare spear that he has been keeping with him for a long time. He was panting for breath as he stared at the huge corpse of the Thunder Crocodile.
In just one move, almost 40% of Eric's vast spirit energy reserves had been consumed. The cost was considerable.
Eric crammed some pills into his mouth and pulled out a Top-Grade Spirit Stone as he continuously absorbed the Spirit Energy within. After he recovered a bit, Eric stood up and continued to walk deeper into the cave. He didn't even bother taking the time to cut out the Core from the dead Thunder Crocodile.
Eric had already probed further into the cave with his spiritual sense and didn't sense any other enemies or threats within. At the end of the cave, he found a red bamboo rooted in a hard magnetic ore surface, stubbornly growing.
Red arcs of lightning twined around the bamboo branch as it crackled. The bamboo leaves were just like sharp swords.
An incomparably formidable power of thunder was steadily streaming out from this bamboo. Without a doubt, this bamboo was the reason for the cave's rich power of thunder.
This bamboo was the thunder-attribute treasure that the black-clothed martial warrior had mentioned.
Looking at this red thunder bamboo, Eric was able to feel a formidable power emanating from it.
Feeling exuberant, he prepared to pick the bamboo. However, he immediately paused. Was there a taboo in picking this sort of valuable material?
He had never seen this thunder bamboo before, but maybe the black-clothed martial warrior might have heard about it. With this thought, Eric called out to the black-clothed martial warrior to come in.
The black-clothed martial warrior had been waiting patiently outside the cave, feeling a bit perturbed. He was afraid that he had guessed wrong and had aroused Eric's wrath because of that. Although Eric had said it didn't matter if he was right or wrong, no one could guarantee that Eric wouldn't turn hostile against them.
At this moment, he heard the voice of Eric sound in his ear, speaking only a few words, "Enter the cave and check this for me."
The black-clothed martial warrior's heart tightened. He gritted his teeth and told the two girls and his Junior Brother, "Come in with me."
The group cautiously entered on their tippy toes. Due to the dim lighting in the cave, as the two girls were walking deeper, they felt something bump against their feet. As soon as they peered downwards, they saw a massive Red Thunder Crocodile lying dead on the floor. The twins almost fainted as they let out an alarming cry.
"It's okay, it's already dead!" The black-clothed martial warrior assured.
As he saw the deep scarlet scales of the Thunder Crocodile, the black-clothed martial warrior was startled. This was a Thunder Crocodile that was equal to a peak Martial King Stage martial warrior in strength. Even if it was his master who encountered this fellow, he would instantly be killed, yet now, this fearsome beast had been slaughtered.
As the group reached the end of the cave, the black-clothed martial warrior finally arrived where Eric was at. The moment the black-clothed martial warrior laid eyes on the crimson bamboo in front of Eric, he let out a sigh of relief. He wasn't wrong!
Eric pointed at the red bamboo and asked, "You know what this is?"
The black-clothed martial warrior shifted his vision to the red bamboo. He hadn't taken a good look at it a moment ago, but now that he carefully reviewed the hit, he was instantly awed. "This…is probably Violet Thunder Spirit Bamboo!"
"Mm? Violet Thunder Spirit Bamboo?" Eric looked at the red bamboo and the red lightning that twined around the bamboo. 'Why wasn't this called Red Thunder Spirit Bamboo instead?'
The black-clothed martial warrior saw Eric's doubting expression and said, "This is because the bamboo hasn't grown up yet. When Violet Thunder Spirit Bamboo is 100 years old, its shoots would be white. When it's 1,000 years old, its shoots would be red. And when it's 10,000 years old its shoots will be purple."
Eric said, "This is only a young bamboo?"
"Mm." The black-clothed martial warrior nodded his head.
"This…" Eric couldn't help but be slightly disappointed. Even if it was a rare material, it was still only a young bamboo, so its inherent power was limited.
The black-clothed martial warrior saw Eric's disappointment and consoled, "Although it is only 100 years old bamboo, it is still very precious and rare. Not only that, but since there is a young bamboo, then there should be an adult Violent Thunder Spirit Bamboo too. Every 800 years, only one Violet Thunder Spirit Bamboo shoot will be born. The small bamboo shoot will drill through magnetic ore and live inside until it finds a good place to break out, where it will grow into white bamboo."
"Oh?" Eric's mind stirred. "You mean to say that there is a mature Violet Thunder Spirit Bamboo in Thunder Breaking Mountain?"
"Yes, if there isn't a problem, then there should be. Moreover, that bamboo should already be at least 900 years old."
A Violet Thunder Spirit Bamboo would only breed a new bamboo shoot every 800 years. Since this young violet bamboo shoot was already 100 years old, then the adult should be 900 years old.
"900 years old..." Eric furrowed his eyebrows.
Eric asked the black-clothed martial warrior, "Is there a taboo to picking the Violet Thunder Spirit Bamboo?"
The black-clothed martial warrior answered, "It is hard to sever Violet Thunder Spirit Bamboo with swords or spears; it can only be easily cut off with the power of thunder. But, this sort of Spirit Bamboo doesn't form easily, it comes from a combination of Destructive Thunder and Thunder Breaking Mountain's own energy. If possible, I hope you can leave the bamboo root so that in a few hundred years, a new Violet Thunder Bamboo can be born."
"I understand." Eric nodded. It wasn't admirable to destroy a valuable material's origins; it was quite a dreadful thing. This sort of treasure only formed in extremely difficult conditions; it needs all sorts of luck and special environments to form.
Normally, a martial warrior would abide by this unwritten rule; it could be considered accumulating a bit of good karma.
Eric pulled out his blade. Its sharp blade was bright as snow, and it shimmered with a deadly cold gleam.
This was his main weapon.
Yes, Eric's main weapon is a blade, not a spear.
Vast Spirit Energy poured into a spear, and the snow-white treasure sword began to sparkle with a faint purple light.
Eric took a deep breath and aimed at the Violet Thunder Spirit Bamboo's root. He slashed out!
"Cha!"
Eric hadn't imagined that it would be so tough. The violet blood-colored Spirit Bamboo was cut down, its edges smooth like a mirror.
When Eric reached out to grab it. The black-clothed martial warrior cried out in alarm. This Violet Thunder Spirit Bamboo contained the violent power of thunder. A normal martial warrior's arm would be charred to ash. But, thinking of Eric's strength and the way he had been able to take on the Thunder Crocodile's thunder ball, he felt that it should be alright.
Sure enough, Eric gripped the Violet Thunder Spirit Bamboo. Besides looking a little stiff, there was not any difference. Even his clothes were alright.
'What a strong power of thunder!' Eric praised the bamboo in his mind.
After that, Eric muttered: "This will be the gift I will give to my cousin. After all, I'll be seeing him for the first time!"
Muttering, Eric kept the Violet Thunder Spirit Bamboo in his spatial ring, then took out a few more precious pills and gave them to the black-clothed martial warrior. Then he thanked him for his help.
He also told the other party's group that they could keep the corpse and the core of the Royal-ranked Thunder Crocodile that he had killed.
And with that, he said goodbye to these four people before leaving for the Purple Star Sect.
But when he arrived in the Purple Star Sect and tried to find Alex, he was surprised to find that Alex was nowhere to be seen.
He was disappointed and did not know what to do now, but at this moment, a spatial fluctuation appeared in front of him, attracting his attention.
The next instant, Elder Valerio appeared, surprising Eric.
Before Eric could say anything, Elder Valerio showed a look of great surprise and shock in his eyes, then he said: "Would you like to become my disciple, little guy?"