The heavens shook as that frosty voice reverberated in the skies.
The authority and power brimming in that voice was akin to a huge mountain weighing down upon the shoulders of Reilo and the others. They could hardly breathe.
They fell to their knees in terror and tried to explain hastily.
"No, no, my lord, you must be mistaken. You're the leader of the Indian martial arts circle. We are but ants before you. We are insignificant! We dare not tell you what to do! It's my fault. I've overstepped and spoken too much. Please forgive me, my lord!"
Reilo was clearly terrified. His soul seemed to have fled his body.
He slapped himself tirelessly as he kneeled on the ground and begged for mercy.
The man before him gazed down upon Reilo and the others dispassionately. His eyes were cold.
The wave of energy that had erupted on the island in the middle of the lake finally reached them then.
Within a blink of an eye, wild winds surged around them as the air flooded with the thick and pure energies of the natural world. Waves of those natural energies had come rushing from the depths of the forest and sweeping past them all.
They sent the robes of the man fluttering wildly and loudly.
Reilo and everyone else were shocked when they sensed the immense and pure energy in the air.
The terror that had colored their faces faded away and was replaced by looks of puzzlement and curiosity.
"What...what powerful and intense energies! What happened? Did another spirit energy fruit tree appear in the vicinity?" blurted out Reilo.
Next to him, the stern-looking man's face darkened.
He turned his head and stared into the distance, where the waves of energy had originated. The edge of his lips slowly curled upwards.
"Has it finally appeared? It appears that the Persian King was right," murmured the man to himself. Excitement and glee flickered in his eyes.
He was akin to a ravenous wolf that had finally found prey after a long hunt.
The storm appeared suddenly and dissipated as suddenly.
Within a few seconds, silence and stillness resumed.
That didn't matter. They simply had to head towards the direction that the energy had originated. Once they got nearer, they would be able to better discern its source.
The natural energies resting within these treasures were rich and pure.
One would sense them as soon as they got within distance.
The man glanced at Reilo and the rest.
"A bunch of good-for-nothings. Get out of my way right now. You won't be able to survive the punishment of standing in my way."
The treasure which he had been searching for so long had finally appeared. He wasn't going to waste any more time on these losers. Instead, he yelled at them and told them to get lost.
Reilo and the others dared not voice a single word of protest. Without saying a word, they scrambled on their hands and feet and cleared a path for the man.
The man did not linger. He headed straight for the source of energy.
After a few steps, he stopped suddenly.
He did not turn around and instead kept his back to Reilo and the others.
Reilo and the other Indian martial artists fell to their knees once more and awaited orders from the man.
"Remember, I prefer being addressed as 'Indra' instead of just 'lord'." A low voice rumbled and filled the air.
Reilo and the others nodded immediately.
"Yes, Indra, as you command."
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