Talented Martial Hero novel Chapter 709

Darren and the Water Kylin stood before the mysterious cave in the Ancient Void Battlefield, eying it carefully.

"It has the same aura as the cave outside," Darren observed. "Finley once said that he had some grand adventure to do with this cave, and comprehended the Life True Rule here, in front of it. I wonder if there's a huge treasure hidden inside."

Darren recalled that on the day Finley was cultivating by himself in front of this cave, the Water Kylin had showed up and disturbed his cultivation. Then, the Water Kylin was smashed to death by Finley, but was resurrected the next moment with the help of Finley's Life True Rule.

"Humph!" the Water Kylin snorted. "Finley is always someplace else when he's really needed—unlike me, who is always faithful and ready to protect you. Isn't that right, master?"

"Cut the crap," Darren scolded. "Let's just focus on busting into this cave together."

"That's not a good idea," his companion replied, ignoring the rebuke. "With our full strength combined, we would easily cause the Ancient Void Battlefield to collapse."

Darren frowned. "You're right. I didn't think of that. Let's try and take it easy, then. We'll control our strength and hit the restriction of the cave little by little."

"Very well. Let's give it a try," the Water Kylin agreed.

With that, the two focused their power together and started to bombard the cave, carefully testing its strength. However, the runes covering its outer layer seemed impervious to their efforts.

After a moment, Darren suddenly felt something strange.

However, it had to do with another person rather than with the cave.

As the controller of the Ancient Void Battlefield, Darren was able to sense what was going on with everyone in this small world.

His eyes fell on a stream, where a beautiful figure lay among the flower shrubs.

It was Denise, writhing and struggling as though she had fallen and found herself unable to rise.

"What's going on?" Darren wondered aloud, aghast. "Someone has hurt Denise!"

Glancing at the Water Kylin, he said, "We have to stop! Wait here."

Having said this, he flew over to the stream.

"Denise, what's wrong with you?"

Darren couldn't keep the dismay from his voice. Denise's normally lovely visage was now as pale as paper, and marred by a sickly, miserable expression.

"Oh, there you are, Darren."

Saying this, the woman smiled bitterly.

"You were gone for such a long time—I thought you'd forgotten me. Yet one day I realized I was still just as lonely as before. Butterflies and fish and flowers could not talk to me, listen to me, or love me..."

Her voice was strange—weak, low and raspy, and Darren's heart ached all the more for it.

Still, he had a clear enough head to not waste time answering her ramblings. The important thing was to keep her alive.

He sat down beside Denise, focused, and poured spiritual energy into her.

A moment passed, and Darren was alarmed to find that his efforts were proving useless. In fact, Denise seemed to be getting worse.

Though her lips trembled, she seemed to have lost her voice altogether.

Growing more anxious by the second, Darren concentrated and tried again. This time, though, he also sent his spiritual sense into Denise's body along with the spiritual energy. This way, he hoped, he would at least be able to find out what was wrong with her.

A few seconds later, he was shocked by what he found.

In Denise's body, there was a sort of aura that was exactly the same as that of the two caves.

Darren had no time to marvel over this, however.

At that very moment, the Ancient Void Battlefield shook with an explosive roar.

The Water Kylin was beside Darren in a second.

"Master, something's wrong!" he stammered. "Someone is attacking the Ancient Void Battlefield!"

Darren didn't answer at first. He was well aware of the situation.

But Denise was right in front of him, and still in mortal danger!

After thinking for a short moment, Darren turned to his companion. "Here, take Denise to Diana, the Holy Lord, and ask her to take care of her for me. I have to go deal with whoever's causing this attack. If the Ancient Void Battlefield is destroyed, we'll all die."