Uttar stood amidst the ruins of the battlefield, his chest rising and falling heavily. The Silver King's lifeless body lay before him, his eyes frozen in an expression of disbelief. The echoes of their battle still lingered in the air, the shattered cave groaning under its own weight.
For a brief moment, silence enveloped the space. Uttar let out a slow breath, his body still trembling from exhaustion. Relief washed over him—he had won. The Silver King, a formidable opponent, was no more. He had overcome an impossible battle, proving his strength against overwhelming odds.
But before he could fully process his victory, his vision blurred. His knees buckled, and without warning, his body collapsed onto the cold, rocky ground. A sharp pain coursed through his limbs, his muscles screaming in protest.
"So much… energy…" Uttar muttered under his breath, barely able to keep his eyes open. He could feel the complete depletion of his chakra, his body heavy as if it had been drained of all vitality. Even moving a single finger felt impossible.
Lying there, he forced himself to focus. He knew his only option now was to recover. If another enemy appeared, he would be defenseless. He had pushed himself far beyond his limits, and now his body demanded repayment.
"I have to meditate…" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Only meditation… can restore my energy…"
With sheer willpower, Uttar forced his body into a meditative posture, ignoring the searing pain that shot through his nerves. His breathing steadied, and he focused inward, drawing on the remnants of his spiritual energy to begin the slow process of recovery.
Minutes turned into hours. The broken cave remained silent, save for the occasional sound of falling debris. The destruction around him was immense, yet within this chaos, Uttar sat unmoving, lost in deep meditation.
Slowly but surely, the energy within him began to replenish. His drained chakra pathways started to mend, and warmth returned to his limbs. He could feel the flow of power coursing back through his body, restoring his strength bit by bit.
Finally, after many hours, Uttar's eyes opened. A sharp glint flashed through them as he exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of exhaustion lift.
"I'm recovered," he murmured, clenching his fists to test his strength. His body no longer felt sluggish—his energy had fully returned.
He smirked slightly, thinking to himself, The God Handprint technique only consumes energy… At least it has no side effects.
With that thought, Uttar stood up, stretching his arms. His body no longer ached, and his energy had fully recovered. He took a deep breath, feeling the rush of power return to him. But before leaving, his eyes fell on the remains of the Silver King.
"First of all, let me take the bag of the Silver King," he muttered to himself. "After I find a safe place, I'll check what's inside."
Stepping forward, he grabbed the Silver King's bag, securing it to his belt. But then, his gaze shifted to the fallen bodies of the four subordinates who had accompanied the Silver King.
"Hmph, they were strong enough to serve him. Their bags must have something valuable as well," Uttar reasoned. Without hesitation, he collected their bags too. Even the smallest treasures could prove useful later.
As he turned to finally leave the cave, something caught his eye—just a few steps away, the massive body of the Seventh Chakra Lion lay motionless.
For a moment, he had completely forgotten about the beast. His battle with the Silver King had overshadowed everything, but now that he saw the lion's collapsed form, realization struck him.
"The core of a Seventh Chakra Lion is extremely valuable," Uttar murmured, his eyes narrowing. "I can't leave without taking it."
Without wasting time, he stepped toward the beast's colossal frame. Placing his palm against the lion's chest, he closed his eyes and channeled a precise amount of energy. A soft glow flickered at his fingertips as he navigated through the lion's body, searching for its most prized possession—the Chakra Core.
Moments later, his fingers grasped a smooth, spherical object buried deep within the lion's body. With a firm pull, he extracted the Seventh Chakra Lion Core—a radiant, pulsating orb filled with dense energy.
Holding it in his hand, Uttar smirked. "This alone is worth more than the Silver King's entire wealth," he muttered. The energy within the core was pure and potent, a treasure that could enhance one's cultivation significantly.
With the core securely stored in his bag, Uttar finally turned toward the cave's exit. The battle was over, and he had claimed his rewards. Now, it was time to leave this ruined battlefield and find a place to plan his next move.
Without looking back, he strode forward, stepping out of the cave. The cold night breeze brushed against his skin, carrying the scent of damp earth and fresh foliage. The battlefield was behind him, and now, all that mattered was securing a safe place to rest and examine his spoils.
After walking for some time, he found a secluded spot beneath a large rock formation, shielded from view by dense trees and overgrown vines. The ground was firm and dry—perfect for a short rest.
With a deep breath, Uttar sat down, placing the five bags in front of him. His eyes flickered with curiosity as he muttered, "Let me check these bags."
Uttar started by checking the bags of the Silver King's men. He carefully opened each one, sifting through their contents. Most of the items inside were basic necessities—extra clothes, dried food, and some low-grade weapons. However, what caught his attention the most were the neatly stacked gold coins.
After counting them all, he realized there were a total of ninety thousand gold coins. A satisfied smile appeared on his face. Not bad. Even the subordinates of the Silver King carried a fortune.
After securing the coins, he turned his attention to the Silver King's bag, expecting to find something even more valuable.