Chapter 1290: Forgot

The avatar carrying out the attack mission at this moment was on his way to visit a vast forest region in the northern part of the Second Heaven.

The Falling Star Forest.

This forest was a famous place in the northern region because of its enormous size, covering one third of the Dunchan Empire's domain. According to ancient records, a massive star fell in this place long ago, obliterating half of the domain's territory.

Hence the name, Falling Star Forest.

Besides its vastness, the forest was also famous for its dangerous nature. It was home to many dangerous plants and spiritual beasts. It was not surprising to find man-eating plants or even Immortal Saint spiritual beasts in this forest.

Even peak Immortal Saint cultivators could lose their lives in this forest if they dared to underestimate its dangers.

The forest was divided into three areas: the outer area, the inner area, and the core area.

The outer area was where many people could wander, although they still needed at least Immortal Realm cultivation to ensure their safety.

The inner area was a place where only Immortal Overlords and above dared to enter. Meanwhile, the core area had never been fully explored, as only its outermost parts had ever been reached by adventurers.

Near the forest were many cities and small towns along its border. One of the largest cities was called Volsk City, and this was where the avatar arrived through a teleportation gate.

In this city, he was greeted by one of the resistance group's members after being escorted from the hideout city.

The one who greeted him was an old man with a long white beard, a moustache, and long white hair. He wore a white cloak with a hood covering his head.

"Welcome to Volsk, Your Excellency. You can call me Varmak. I have already been informed of your arrival," the old man said through voice transmission.

The avatar nodded.

"I have been entrusted by His Majesty, the Great Emperor, to visit the hidden lord of the forest."

"I heard about it, Your Excellency. Let me guide you to his hideout," Varmak replied before turning to lead the avatar.

They walked for about thirty minutes before reaching one of the city's gates. The avatar immediately noticed the inspections for everyone who wanted to leave or enter the city.

"Because of the attacks carried out by Your Excellency, the already tight security has become even tighter. The nobles of this place are already on high alert because the Falling Star Forest is suspected to be the base of our resistance group after all," Varmak said.

"From time to time, our forces have skirmishes with some of the cultivators from this place. This is to keep showing our existence and keep their attention on us. That makes the movements of other resistance group members behind the scenes much easier."

They then reached the inspection checkpoint. One of the cultivators at the Immortal Lord stage was the one directly inspecting each person.

However, the moment he saw Varmak and the avatar, he glanced toward another guard.

"Both of them are clear."

The guard nodded, allowing Varmak and the avatar to continue walking past the guards.

"That guard is one of the resistance group's members," Varmak said.

The avatar did not say anything. Earlier, he noticed that the guards also let some people pass without conducting any inspection.

Those who received that privilege were familiar faces to the guards or members of noble families. Therefore, the fact that he and Varmak passed through the gate without inspection did not make the people watching them suspicious.

Most simply assumed that the cloaked man and the avatar were nobles.

Moreover, if many people recognized Varmak, they would know why the guards let them pass. Varmak was quite famous in this city as a wandering cultivator without any affiliation. He was a powerful cultivator whom many forces had tried to recruit, but he always refused.

It did not take long for the avatar and Varmak to step out of the city through the gate. Once they left the city, they could already see the forest in the distance.

Varmak then took to the air, followed by the avatar. After flying for a short while, they landed in the outer area of the forest.

In this area, the avatar could sense many people wandering around and doing their own things. Despite its dangers, the forest also offered many opportunities that cultivators sought. They could find various cultivation resources here.

The forest was also a place where many spiritual herbs grew, making it one of the greatest paradises for alchemists seeking herbs.

"We have to continue from here without flying. We do not need to attract anyone's attention because it is rare for anyone to dare fly into the deeper areas. With how delicate the recent situation is, things will become even more dangerous if we are not careful," Varmak said.

"Let's continue, Your Excellency. Keep following me."

Varmak then used his movement technique as he leaped from branch to branch through the forest.

The avatar followed him using his normal movement technique. As they moved deeper into the forest, the avatar could sense many spiritual beasts, ranging from King Stage beasts to Immortal Realm beasts.

The avatar could also sense some herbs growing in this area, enough to tempt many cultivators to enter this place and risk their lives to obtain them.

They only stopped two hours later when they neared the inner area.

The avatar's expression remained calm as he observed his surroundings. He could no longer sense any humans within the range of his spiritual sense. Instead, he could feel several gazes coming from the shadows beneath the dense tree canopies intertwined with one another.

Those gazes did not belong to humans. They came from a combination of spiritual beasts and spirits.

"We will stay here for thirty seconds to give the sentries time to inform the hideout of our arrival," Varmak said.

They remained where they were for thirty seconds before Varmak continued.

"Let's go."

He then continued moving toward the inner area. As the avatar followed Varmak, he also sensed some of the spirits and spiritual beasts following them from places beyond their sight.

Their movements were completely concealed by the shadows of the trees, and they did not make the slightest sound or disturbance. They were truly like predators stalking their prey.

Varmak obviously sensed them, and he frowned.

"It's unusual. Why are they following us? They should stay at their positions," he murmured.

The avatar heard him but did not say anything. Their followers also did not disturb them and merely continued following them.

They kept moving for another hour before stopping on a large tree branch. The avatar, who had finally stopped, saw four figures who seemed to have already been waiting for them on the trees opposite them. Two men and two women.

All of them had green hair, long ears like elves, with the same kind of beauty in both their features and figures. They also wore crowns upon their heads, giving them the bearing of royalty, while intricate tattoos adorned their bodies.

The tattoos formed mysterious symbols, and the way they were engraved upon their fair skin created a striking contrast.

The moment the avatar's sight fell upon them, he instantly knew that they were spirits. He also recognized what kind of spirits they were, which surprised him.

'They are Celestial Mountain Spirits that were supposed to reside in the Ninth Heaven.' he thought.

'Then... does that hidden lord have connection to the Celestial Mountain Tribe?'

As he observed the spirits, they also gazed at the avatar, and they looked surprised. Their expressions made it obvious. Their eyes widened, and one of the female spirits, who appeared to be the leader of the group, parted her lips.

"Is this the envoy bearing His Majesty's mission, Sir Varmak?"

Varmak, sensing the spirits' strange reaction, narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, he is."

"Why do you look so surprised? Is there something wrong?" he asked.

The spirit woman did not answer immediately. Her eyes remained fixed on the avatar, and after a brief silence, she finally gathered the courage to ask.

"You... Your Excellency... no, I mean... Your Majesty. Is it really you? Our Great Emperor. The one we have been waiting for."

Her voice trembled.

Varmak widened his eyes in shock and quickly turned toward the avatar. The avatar was also stunned by the question and wondered how the spirit woman could know his identity.

However, he did not need to think for long before finding the answer. He almost slapped his own face in realization.

'I see. So that's why those spirits and spiritual beasts were following us. No... me. My golden energy, or my very existence itself. Their innate reaction made them decide to follow me.'

He had forgotten that the beings most sensitive to his existence and his golden energy were those closest to nature. Spirits and spiritual beasts were such beings.

Even without releasing anything, their souls, the very essence of their beings, would react to his presence.

It was useless for him to hide his identity from them because they possessed an innate reaction to his presence.

The avatar's face suddenly changed, revealing his true appearance, which left Varmak and the others astonished.

After revealing his true face, his bearing and aura completely changed.

Everyone who saw him felt their hearts tremble.

At that moment, the avatar spoke with a firm answer.

"Yes, I am."