"Yes, it was too easy, and their aim was very clear to me. They just wanted me to lose myself in pleasure," replied Ricky. "But we don't have to reveal our findings. Let's just beat them at their own game.
For the following days, I will leave Hannah and Evil Mandragora with you guys. And I will secretly leave marks along the way by using the Heaven Melting Fire, which you can sense with your Heaven Melting Fire. Let Evil Mandragora bring you to me secretly,"
Ricky further instructed. "Okay, I got it," Soar replied.
"Kenney, you did great! Aaron is so arrogant that he has rarely admitted defeat. There are only a few people who could claim that honor," Hyatt said to Ricky. He appeared awed at that moment like he was one second away from applauding him.
Meanwhile, Hiram and the other three demi-spiritual emperors from the Shark Palace were also approving of Ricky's strength. They had warm welcoming smiles on their faces, as they nodded and complimented him. Of course, nobody but themselves knew what they were really thinking about.
"Ha-ha, I'm flattered. Thank you for your compliments!" Ricky said with a pleasant smile on his face, but his voice was haughty and arrogant. It seemed that he, too, was playing a trick on the others.
"Kenney, you're really strong, and you have the Flame Mutant. I can say that you're the person that we've been looking for," Hiram praised Ricky telepathically.
"If we manage to get the opportunity in the Dragon Cave, you can receive one-fourth of it. What do you think?" he further offered.
"One-fourth is too much, isn't it?" Ricky answered excitedly as if he was overjoyed by the offer. Hiram smiled at this, pleased that Ricky had easily fallen into his trap.
"Ha-ha, it's not that much. With your strength, you deserve more than one-fourth of it. After all, without you, we won't be able to enter the Dragon Cave," said Hiram as he laughed heartily.
"Well, when it's done, you can choose two Treasures from Heaven and Earth that you want from the Shark Palace's treasure house."
"Thank you very much, sir!" Ricky nodded his head and let a greedy smile brighten his face. He knew that he sounded satisfied and complacent, now that he was assured of a part in the treasures. At that moment, he wanted to give them the impression that he was greedy and arrogant, and that they wouldn't be able to do anything without his help.
"You're welcome!" Hiram replied gently. And although his tone was still pleasant, a stern frown was hidden beneath his comely veneer.
He thought that Ricky was exactly what he needed, though it was unpleasant to talk with him. After all, he was looking for someone arrogant and greedy, because they could easily be controlled.
Maybe Ricky's vigilance sometimes shone through, but he was easily blinded by his arrogance and greed.
"Father, I dare say that he is the best choice for us and he meets all our requirements," said Hyatt expectantly, thirsty for his father's praise and recognition. He was overjoyed when his father turned to him and said, "Hyatt, my dear son, you have made a great contribution this time. But remember, do not reach for what is beyond your grasp. Don't forget that everything in the Dragon Cave is our ultimate goal." After his son nodded in acknowledgment, Hiram turned to Ricky and said, "We, the Shark Palace, and the Super Palace have reached an accord that none of the senior warriors, such as me, could enter the Dragon Cave. And we must abide by this rule strictly. Otherwise, if they find out that we entered the Dragon Cave, they will no longer keep its existence a secret. That's the last thing we want.
So, we have to rely on you and Aaron to enter the Dragon Cave."
"Father, don't worry. I'm confident that we will succeed," Hyatt said seriously. "But please be also mentally prepared for our failure. After all, anything can happen, and nothing is set in stone. If we fail, I will send a message to you immediately, and you can make the matter of the Dragon Cave public.
If we can't get it, we can't let the Super Palace get it either. Otherwise, we won't be able to stand up to them, and there will be no more place for the Shark Palace on this side of the sea."
"Your idea sounds very good, Hyatt, it seems that you've matured. I am relieved, and I think that you will be a good leader for the Shark Palace in the future," Hiram said, delighted by his son's words.
"By the way, what about my friends? I can't just take all of them into the Dragon Cave," Ricky suddenly asked, interrupting their conversation.
"Don't worry, Kenney. They will be fine here in the Shark Palace. The outsiders can only hurt your friends over my dead body," Hiram promised solemnly.
Ricky could feel the pressure increase, as they got deeper and deeper into the trench. The visible windstorm space power that he kept on spotting was also increasing.
'No wonder only demi-spiritual emperors can get into the Dragon Cave. Even with my strength, I am afraid that I would reach my limit at a depth of ten thousand meters. Would the pressure be as strong inside the Dragon Cave? If so, Soar and the others will not be able to get there, ' Ricky thought uncertainly, as he worried about what could happen once the others followed after him.
As Ricky expected, he was almost at his limit when they reached the depth of about ten thousand meters. He couldn't go any deeper unless he burst out the five mutants or the third level of Ultimate Golden Body.
At this point, the deep and narrow trench had widened into an immense space. As he looked around, he found many huge stone caves in the walls of the trench.
Most of these stone caves were twisted in dragon-like shapes, sharp fangs wide open and furious expressions engraved deeply into the stones.
His eyes narrowed, as he noticed that all the stone caves seemed to be tightly connected. Strong restrictive power was also spreading over the stone caves, and he wondered if only spiritual emperors could break it with their power.
"This is the Dragon Cave," Hiram said excitedly, as he gestured to the view around them.
'This is it, ' Ricky thought to himself. 'I hope it won't let me down.'
"Judging from the power over the Dragon Cave, the Flood Dragon who once lived here must have been at the Emperor Level. If you can obtain the remains of a Flood Dragon at the Emperor Level, I believe your will soon have a breakthrough and ascend to the fourth level of Ultimate Golden Body," Tina reported.
Meanwhile, Hiram was speaking, as he looked around. "It seems that the members of Super Palace haven't arrived yet. Well then, let me lead you to our entrance."
And so, Hiram led them to one of the stone caves, beside which there was an entrance in the shape of a dragon's mouth.
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