Chapter 498 I want all of you to reach Divine-rank
Alec sighed along with everyone else and gestured back towards the lake with a dejected expression.
"Master, Mia almost got the spirit, but your sudden voice frightened it away!"
Zron blinked and let out an apologetic 'Oh' as he glanced at the group of youngsters. Besides Susan and Yon, all the young ones present here were his students.
The old dwarf had only tagged along with the youngsters out of boredom because he had nothing else to do on the blue planet. Also, he believed that stealing from a place abundant with treasures was a far more enticing prospect than stealing from a small planet he had already thoroughly explored every nook and cranny of.
That's why he could never have imagined that so many talented youngsters would end up becoming his disciples, especially since he didn't have much to offer in terms of teaching. Initially, the youngsters asked him to become their master because they lacked knowledge about the Sacred Divine Land and required a strong individual to protect them in this dangerous place.
However, the old dwarf was delighted to have so many talented individuals as his students, so he intentionally brought back numerous treasures for them whenever he went off alone for a few weeks. This is why they still referred him as their master.
Susan rubbed his forehead and rose to his feet as he saw Mia coming toward them.
"We were so close! Just one more second, and we would have gotten a mystical spirit who could have become our personal guide to locate treasure-filled ancient tombs!"
Yon patted his shoulder.
"It's alright. I'm sure we will be able to find another spirit soon because it seems they like Mia's presence. It's already the third time she encountered a spirit."
Susan and all the people around Yon nodded in agreement.
They were confident that another spirit would soon appear before Mia.
In that moment, Zron saw that the atmosphere was calming down, so he cleared his throat to attract everyone's attention towards himself.
"I found an underground tunnel close by and saw a massive ancient gate within. That's why I returned, as I'm certain it leads to an ancient tomb where you all can discover valuable treasures."
Instantly, everyone's faces lit up. But Zron wasn't finished speaking yet, so he waved his hand to calm them down and continued.
"Also, I want all of you to achieve divine rank as soon as possible."
He paused for a second to think.
"Right, within two and a half years. I can sense Alec and Carcel are on the verge of a breakthrough, and they will reach the true divine rank in a month, especially if they consume a divine treasure."
"However, the rest of you are still quite far from the divine rank. It's important, so I want all of you to reach the divine rank and if possible, try to increase your strength even beyond the divine rank."
A confused expression appeared on everyone's faces as they stared at Zron. Sinon flapped his wings and closed them behind his back before glancing at the old dwarf across from him.
"Why? We are in the sacred land, and we will eventually reach the divine rank with the amount of treasure we are finding and due to the abundant divine energy in the air."
"So, why in two and a half years? Also... even after spending so much time in this land, we still haven't found a single clue about Kyle, Bia, and Jian..."
Sinon's voice quivered slightly, and a somber atmosphere enveloped everyone upon hearing the names of the people they had been searching for.
"Did the trio even make it to this land after being pulled into the ethereal tunnel? If so, why haven't we even caught a glimpse of them? Knowing Jian's nature, he would have already started making a name for himself here."
"And as for Kyle... we are all aware that even if he remained hidden and kept a low profile, his flames and his ability to uncover and amass treasures with his luck stat alone would have already made him famous in this land."
Sinon let out a wry smile.
"Let's not forget Bia. Being a divine phoenix, how could she have remained hidden for so long... did she never used her true form after coming to this land?"
Carcel grabbed his shoulder.
"Don't worry. They are not weak... besides, the sacred divine land is vast. Perhaps we overlooked them. I believe wherever they are, like us, they are getting stronger."
Sinon shook his head.
"How can I not worry? I know you all are concerned too. Nine, Elli, and Yue are also missing, yet we have no idea where to search for them... We can only hope they are alive and safe."
The tension in the air grew heavier with each passing second after Sinon fell silent. They all shared Sinon's concern about Kyle and the others, but, as Sinon mentioned, they had no clue where to begin searching for them. Moreover, even after reaching the sacred divine land, they had not heard a single rumor about them.
Doesn't that suggest Kyle, Nine, and the others might not be here? They could be out there, somewhere in the vast universe, facing unknown dangers.
Zron let out a sigh as he gazed at the people in front of him, all wearing solemn expressions. His heart ached every time he saw the youngsters getting dejected.
"That is also one of the reasons I want all of you to achieve the divine rank within two and a half years! At least hear me out before getting emotional!"
He raised his hand and flicked Sinon's forehead with a low grumble. After the old dwarf stopped speaking, everyone stared at him to understand what he meant. All of a sudden, Zron's ears twitched when he heard a noise in the distance.
"I can hear many footsteps. A few people are approaching this place. Let's go to another area to talk."
"This land is unsafe, especially because of the treasure it holds. It's best for us to avoid any conflicts because if we engage in any kind of fight, many others might join just for the sake of fun."