The Paladin in the Abyss

The waiting time was a bit longer than they had anticipated; a whole month passed, and the Succubus Lord had not sent any instructions to start the operation.

Lancelot used this time to meditate in tranquility, practicing Qi Cultivation and studying cultivation techniques. As Han Tianzun had predicted, the progress of Cauldron Immortal Technique was not fast, yet there were almost no obstacles encountered along the way.

Normally, the transition from the early to mid stages of the High Rank in the Qi Cultivation Stage is a minor threshold. If one does not consume a Foundation Establishment Pill, it's normal for a typical Spiritual Cultivator to struggle for one or two years without a breakthrough.

However, Lancelot's cultivation progressed as naturally as water flowing in a channel, and he easily entered the mid stage of the High Rank.

If the True Qi in the meridians at the early stage of the High Rank was like several trickling streams, then at the mid stage, it was like a series of raging rivers. The growth in strength was very noticeable, which made him look forward to the power he might possess after successful Foundation Establishment.

Moreover, since the Cauldron Immortal Technique was so exceptional, perhaps Foundation Establishment would not be as difficult as commonly described in the spiritual cultivation anecdotes.

Lancelot also took this time to learn a few simple spells. He possessed Wood, Fire, and Earth Spirit Roots, but whether it was due to the Cauldron Immortal Technique or because he was blessed by the Elves, he found he grasped Wood System Spells the quickest.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

In terms of Fire System Spells, he was only able to cast a few small fireballs, far less powerful than the large fireballs demonstrated by Kalalin, and since almost all Demons were immune to fire damage, he doubted whether he would truly have an opportunity to use this type of spell.

For the Earth System Spells, he could now cast Earthquake Technique, effective within about ten feet from himself as the center. If used at the right moment, it would prove very practical.

His mastery of Wood System Spells, however, was much stronger. He could instantly summon a large mass of vines to tightly entangle his enemies, making it difficult for even himself to escape when using True Qi; he could turn ordinary leaves into blades sharp enough to slice through iron, or make common wooden sticks as hard as if forged from Mithril.

But what satisfied him the most was a set of Swordsmanship called 'Qingyun,' which Han Tianzun had modified from an ancient sword technique. The small bamboo scroll contained many techniques related to spiritual cultivation, martial techniques, insights, and even anecdotes, and Lancelot had found that anything created or recommended by Han Tianzun tended to be very useful.

This Qingyun Sword Art was said to have corresponding levels from the Qi Refinement Stage all the way up to the spiritual transformation stage, and it was very powerful. It was said to aid breakthroughs during the Foundation Establishment Stage, with the only drawback being its difficulty.

However, Lancelot considered that given he was in a world lacking in spiritual cultivation resources, being slow was acceptable, as its ability to aid in his breakthrough was tremendously important.

He had only reached the first level of the Sword Art; at a thought, a three-foot-long cyan Sword Aura would appear out of thin air in his palm, sharp and solid, almost like holding an additional short sword.

And when used in conjunction with a weapon, the entire weapon would emanate a cyan glow, not only matching the power of the Gathering Qi Slash but also allowing the Sword Aura to extend along the blade, significantly increasing the reach of his attacks.

The other members of his team naturally weren't just waiting idly either. Bruto visited the blacksmith area daily as a way to exercise his muscles.

Of course, another purpose was that it allowed him to legitimately have his father help in upgrading his equipment.

The young Dwarf first obtained a new Shield, made from the back armor of a shark lizard beast combined with Cold Iron. The fins of the shark lizard beast on the shield were polished into a sharp blade, which retained the magical ability to break through the soil.

This Shield Bash could cause severe damage to an enemy's Armor, perfectly suiting Bruto's combat style.

His armor had also been modified, with removable spikes installed on the shoulders, elbows, and knees that could mangle the flesh of enemies just through impact. The helmet, emblazoned with a Berserk Demon statue, now featured two huge sharp horns, taken from the exemplary teeth of a shark reptile beast.

However, the most impressive was his hammer. The hammer had been completely reforged, and Barrend, with his precise control over temperature, had extracted the original mithril and iron essence from within it.

The new hammer was cast from cold iron, mixed with iron essence, and coated with a net-like layer of mithril, giving the hammer characteristics of both cold iron and silver weapons.

Previously, due to the rush and lack of suitable materials, Barrend had not enchanted the weapon. This time, reforging his son's weapon under much less restrictive conditions, the old dwarf had the chance to fully demonstrate his skills.

Eventually, he applied the unique Dwarven Flying Hammer Enchantment to the hammer. The hammer's power was astonishing, and in a dwarf's hands, its strength increased even more, dealing additional damage to giant-type creatures.

But what was most magical was the hammer's boomerang trait; when thrown as a projectile, it would automatically fly back to its master's hand. However, until then, Bruto could only rely on his shield and fists to contend with enemies, for which he had specially made a steel glove covered with terrifying protrusions and sharp spikes.

According to Bruto himself, he was not sure whether he liked his hammer or the glove more.

Meanwhile, another companion, Kalalin, was also busy.

During the month they spent hurrying to forge cold iron weapons at Lancelot's, he was either practicing spells or preparing scrolls needed for future adventures. This life resembled more that of a half-baked Mage Apprentice, rather than that of a Scholar focused on research.

After receiving the 'raw materials' from Lancelot, he immediately started making transforming rings. It took him just a week to complete three rings.

The rings worked wonderfully, becoming effective as soon as they were worn, but after trying them out with Lancelot, they both agreed it was best to keep their effects a secret from Bruto until they were needed.

In the following days, he continuously repeated the routine of copying scrolls, practicing spells, and undergoing 'physical training' with Lancelot. For someone who had almost never trained before, his improvement was significant, now able to dodge arrows shot from thirty yards away while fully focused.

Lancelot also taught him how to wield a spear. With a cold iron spearhead, he could now handle one or two Coward Devils on his own. If allowed to use magic, facing two more wouldn't be impossible.

Another person who hadn't relaxed was young Isha. Every evening, she diligently cleaned the house, and afterward, she would go out for combat training with an ancient vampire introduced by Tijana.

It was said that she was now an apprentice Wanderer, but Lancelot felt that as long as Isha could fend for herself within Twin Bridges Town, it was good enough; joining them in this operation was still too dangerous for her.

In Twin Bridges Town, as a vampire, if Isha wasn't killed on the spot, she could turn into a waft of air and return to the crypts beneath Hagrid Manor to sleep a bit more and recover.

Finally, after more than a month of waiting, Tijana sent a message. She summoned them to bring their equipment and gather at her castle immediately.