The Guardian of the Starheart Sapling
She smiled gently and said, "Nothing, let’s go."
Leon quietly observed her expression for a mont. His sharp purple eyes lingered on her face, searching for any trace of suspicion.
Nothing.
At least on the surface, Maya seed completely normal.
He smiled faintly.
"Alright, let’s go."
The two continued deeper into the hidden cave.
The path ahead gradually narrowed. Moisture dripped from the stone ceiling, creating a rhythmic sound that echoed through the darkness.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
The deeper they traveled, the colder the air beca.
After several minutes of walking, another tunnel appeared before them.
Unlike the previous passage, this tunnel descended further underground. Strange blue crystals were embedded into the walls, illuminating the darkness with a faint glow.
Maya glanced ahead.
"Another tunnel?"
Leon nodded.
"This place is much larger than I expected."
"Do you think soone created it?" Maya asked.
"Perhaps."
Leon ran his fingers across the rough stone wall.
"Or perhaps it was created naturally and later occupied by powerful beasts."
Maya quietly followed beside him.
For so reason, she enjoyed monts like this.
No battles.
No cultivation.
No competition.
Just the two of them exploring together.
A faint smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.
Leon suddenly slowed his steps.
"Hmm... The situation here is a little complicated. Follow closely."
His voice was gentle but serious.
Then, he stepped into the cave.
Maya’s heart ward.
That simple sentence affected her more than she expected.
Follow closely.
The words sounded ordinary.
Yet when Leon said them, they carried a strange sense of reassurance.
His gentleness was sothing few people ever received.
Even throughout Celestis Academy, everyone knew Leon treated his precious students differently from others.
Yet now...
That sa concern was directed toward her.
A warm feeling spread through her chest.
Maya lowered her gaze slightly.
"I’m not a child, you know."
Leon chuckled.
"I know."
"Then why are you talking as if I’ll get lost?"
"Because you might."
Maya imdiately rolled her eyes.
"Impossible."
"That’s what people who get lost usually say."
"Leon!"
"Haha."
The narrow tunnel gradually widened.
Soon, they entered another underground chamber.
The mont they stepped inside, Leon’s expression changed.
His playful smile disappeared.
His gaze beca sharp.
Cold.
Focused.
Maya imdiately noticed the change.
Following his line of sight, she slowly raised her head.
The mont she did, her pupils contracted.
At the very top of the cave hung a gigantic spider web.
A monstrous spider nearly the size of a carriage clung to the ceiling.
Its dark-red body seed forged from blood and iron.
Eight enormous legs gripped the stone surface.
Its crimson eyes glowed nacingly in the darkness.
The creature stared directly at them.
Watching.
Observing.
Warning.
A low hiss echoed throughout the chamber.
Yet Leon barely looked at it.
His attention was drawn elsewhere.
Below the web...
Growing from a crack in the stone wall...
Was a small golden sapling.
The sapling emitted a gentle radiance.
Tiny runes floated around its leaves.
The surrounding Mana naturally gathered toward it.
Life energy overflowed from every branch.
Leon narrowed his eyes.
"This is... a Starheart Sapling?"
He was genuinely surprised.
Maya’s eyes widened.
"A Starheart Sapling?"
Even she couldn’t remain calm.
The Starheart Sapling was legendary.
It belonged to a category of treasures known as Worldborn Spirit Fruits.
They were naturally ford by heaven and earth and required countless years to mature.
The tiny sapling before them possessed astonishing vitality.
At the end of several golden branches hung immature fruits.
Each fruit resembled a tiny sleeping child.
Tiny hands.
Tiny feet.
Tiny facial features.
As though living beings had been carved by nature itself.
Maya inhaled sharply.
"It’s actually real..."
Leon stepped forward slightly.
His eyes sparkled.
"Interesting."
"Very interesting."
Maya looked at him and imdiately knew what he was thinking.
Whenever Leon showed that expression, it ant one thing.
He wanted it.
"Haha, interesting! Looks like we’re quite lucky to find a Starheart Sapling here."
Leon laughed.
Maya sighed helplessly.
"I knew you’d say that."
"Can you bla ?"
"Not really."
The Starheart Fruit was unimaginably precious.
Its vitality could extend lifespan.
Heal injuries.
Strengthen foundations.
Increase cultivation.
Even top forces would fight bloody battles over treasures like this.
Leon rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"If I plant this in Athyst Summit Division..."
Maya imdiately interrupted.
"You’ve already decided to steal it?"
"Steal?"
Leon looked offended.
"I prefer the term borrowing permanently."
Maya stared at him.
"That’s literally stealing."
Leon pretended not to hear her.
Maya couldn’t help laughing.
Then her expression beca serious again.
"This treasure is guarded for a reason."
Leon nodded.
"Of course."
Both simultaneously raised their heads toward the gigantic spider.
The creature had never stopped watching them.
Its enormous body remained motionless.
Waiting.
Patient.
Dangerous.
Maya’s voice lowered.
"Peak Sage Realm."
"At minimum."
Leon agreed.
"This poisonous spider’s strength is at least at the peak of the Sage Realm. The poisonous stinger earlier was probably released by it."
The pieces instantly connected.
The hidden traps.
The poisoned spikes.
The strange tunnel.
Everything pointed toward this guardian beast.
"Bloodthirsty Demon Spider!"
Maya’s expression changed.
Her hand imdiately moved toward her weapon.
She beca alert.
Every muscle in her body tensed.
The Bloodthirsty Demon Spider was infamous even among powerful beasts.
Cruel.
Patient.
Extrely venomous.
Many cultivators stronger than it had died beneath its poison.
Leon remained calm.
Far too calm.
His attention continued drifting toward the Starheart Sapling.
Maya looked at him.
"Aren’t you worried?"
Leon smiled.
"About the spider?"
"Yes."
"Not really."
Maya shook her head.
Sotis she genuinely wondered if Leon understood the aning of caution.
Above them—
The spider finally moved.
"Hissssss!"
A sharp warning echoed through the cave.
Its enormous body rushed across the web at frightening speed.
The entire ceiling vibrated.
Dust fell from above.
The Bloodthirsty Demon Spider could clearly sense Leon’s intentions.
For hundreds of years—
Perhaps thousands—
It had protected this Starheart Sapling.
It patiently waited for the fruits to mature.
It waited for the day its cultivation would soar.
Then two humans suddenly arrived.
And one of them was openly calculating how to move the tree into his own division.
How could it possibly tolerate that?
Its crimson eyes grew increasingly hostile.
Maya felt the killing intent.
"So it’s angry."
Leon nodded.
"I would be angry too."
"You’re sympathizing with it?"
"A little."
"Yet you’re still planning to take the tree?"
"Of course."
Maya laughed despite herself.
The spider hissed again.
Its killing intent intensified.
The entire cave beca silent.
The air felt heavy.
Tense.
Dangerous.
The Bloodthirsty Demon Spider had already decided.
No matter the cost—
It would protect the Starheart Sapling.
Leon slowly cracked his neck.
A calm smile appeared on his face.
Maya recognized that smile.
Soone was about to have a very bad day.
A battle was inevitable.
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