"You sure seem to have a lot of faith in Victoria." Ava pointed out while Leo was still transporting them to their destination.
"After she learned of Oliver's threat about your family, she told you that she will make sure your family is protected, and you didn't question her at all." Ava began to pout.
"You are still too green. Someone would inevitably take advantage of you."
Michael could only shake his head with a slight smile.
'It's not that I believe her without a good reason. It's just that I have interacted with her in my past life enough to know what kind of person she is. Righteous and loyal to the very core… Even if that could cost her life.'
Since he couldn't leave Ava without an answer, he spoke nonchalantly. "Don't worry, I can tell when a person has ulterior motives."
Ava sighed. 'It seems I have to be constantly next to him. Otherwise, I risk someone taking advantage of him.'
Once they reached their destination, Michael summoned the soul weapon.
'Finally you call upon me. Are we about to murder some more?' The sword spoke in his head in excitement.
'No, I am about to cultivate. I have to get ready for the incoming invasion to the best of my ability.' Michael answered calmly.
Upon exiting the vehicle, a coldness assaulted his body. One that was much more intense than normal.
The place where he knew had a very densely concentrated spiritual energy was the famous ground of cryovolcanoes. Each ice volcano would release a burst of spiritual energy, making it an ideal spot for cultivators.
'There are more people than expected.' Michael thought bitterly. He had assumed that since the army was getting ready for the invasion, not many soldiers would have had the time to travel the long distance towards the cryovolcanoes' ground. Yet seeing the hundreds of soldiers, the opposite was the case.
There were approximately seventy ice volcanoes varying in shapes and sizes. The smaller ones were at the outer edge, while the biggest one was at the center.
Naturally that was Michael's goal. The bigger the volcano, the more spiritual energy it would release.
"Michael, how come I have been here much longer than you have, and yet this is the first time I hear about a place such as this?" Ava asked, puzzled by the concentrated power in the air.
"Let's say that I am very good at finding out information." He chuckled, walking forward.
Instantly dozens of hostile gazes focused on Michael's squad. The ones that had already been cultivating were trying to pressure the newcomers into cultivating at the outer edge, not at the center, since that would reduce the effectiveness of their cultivation.
'Too bad for you that a mere gaze will have no effect on me.' Michael thought.
To the disbelief of the cultivators, Michael was able to ignore their hostile glances and keep moving forward.
Since he was at the front tanking the majority of the aura, Leo wasn't much affected and was also able to keep going.
Meanwhile, Ava proved to be unamused by the glances Michael was receiving, causing her to emit a killing intent of her own.
"The effect is even better than the geyser." Michael mumbled when he reached the center. He had heard about the effects of the cryovolcanoes in his past life, but hearing and experiencing them were two vastly different things.
Giving a thumbs up to his teammates, all of them seated themselves in the lotus position and closed their eyes.
'Gods, how boring! At least don't keep me around if there isn't butchering or women involved!' The soul weapon muttered arrogantly in Michael's head, dissatisfied with being kept summoned just in case of emergencies.
Ignoring the sword's remarks, Michael focused on the spiritual energy.
'I can feel it. It's so pure… I have decided until the start of the invasion we will be here increasing our power as much as we can.'
[You are in an area with a high concentration of spiritual energy. +50% cultivation speed applied.]
[Spirit Flow takes effect. 100% cultivation speed applied.]
[You have consumed spiritual energy: +3 Spirit]
[You have consumed spiritual energy: +3 Spirit]
[You have consumed spiritual energy: +3 Spirit]
With monstrous speed, Michael began to absorb the spiritual energy in his body, rapidly expanding his soul.
Ava and Leo also felt the surprising purity. Not willing to miss the chance, they shut off their senses, focusing on absorbing it.
The onlookers continued with their hostile gazes. But after ten minutes they realized that they weren't having an effect and gave up, returning to their cultivation.
The cryovolcanoes' ground was a sacred space. No one would be so bold as to cause trouble here. If someone were to damage the place, they would be executed on the spot without trial.
A few hours later Michael's spirit rose from 3,500 to 5,000.
He had achieved another breakthrough.
[You have achieved a breakthrough!]
[Late Apprentice → Peak Apprentice]
'Thankfully, Ava and Leo are too focused on their own cultivation. Otherwise, they would have begun screaming, causing havoc again.' Michael mused, staring at the window panel before him.
Achieving a breakthrough was extremely hard to accomplish. Most would only be able to do it once every two months. And that was if they had their focus undistributed. He, meanwhile, had achieved two breakthroughs in just a few days.
'It's still not enough. I have to reach Adept before the large battle begins.' But Michael wasn't satisfied.
With the mission categorized as impossible, he felt that there was no way he would survive as a mere Apprentice.
Eagerly he closed his eyes again, beginning to cultivate. Now that he was at the peak of his realm, to enter the next one, he didn't just have to achieve a breakthrough. He had to enter enlightenment.
'Since I have done it once already, I should be able to do it easily again, as long as I raise my spirit even more.' He figured.
More hours passed. Michael slowly raised his spirit from 5,000 to 7,000. However, he was still far from the 10,000 required to attempt enlightenment and enter the next realm.
"Who the hell are you three, and how dare you take my spot? Everyone here knows that the best cultivation spot is reserved for me only."
Having their concentration broken by a rude remark, Michael's squad opened their eyes. Their gazes stopped on a man of an average height with a bloated belly. Behind him were three women with heavily made-up faces in an attempt to copy the natural beauty of women like Victoria.
"As far as I am aware, I don't see your name carved anywhere here." Michael spoke to the rude man calmly. "So it would be better if you don't interfere with me and my teammates' cultivation and leave us alone."
A large grin spread over the man's face as he leaned down.
"And what if I don't?"