Shun, gathering his courage, stepped forward. "Thank you, Grand Commander," he said, bowing deeply, his voice filled with reverence. The others quickly followed suit, showing their respect and gratitude. The synchronized bowing of the men was a powerful display of unity and respect, and their heads lowered in deference to Otako's wisdom and leadership.

Otako's gaze remained earnest as he looked at the group. "Remember, strength is not just about physical prowess. It is also about wisdom, discipline, and the purity of your intentions. Continue to cultivate these qualities, and you will find true power."

As Otako's words sank in, the group felt a renewed sense of purpose. They straightened their backs, their expressions shifting from fear to determination. With Otako's guidance, the weight of their journey and the challenges ahead felt a little lighter.

"Grand Commander," Fatty said, his voice trembling slightly, "we will work harder and strive to meet your expectations. We won't let you down." Though shaky, his words conveyed a genuine resolve that sparked a similar sentiment in his comrades.

Otako nodded approvingly. "I believe in your potential. The path of cultivation is long and arduous, but with perseverance and a steadfast heart, you will achieve greatness."

The men felt a surge of inspiration, their spirits bolstered by Otako's faith in them. They exchanged determined glances, silently vowing to rise to the challenge and honor their Grand Commander's teachings.

"Chu Yan, come forward," Otako called.

Four Eyes obediently walked forward to Otako's side. However, the Enfield, sensing the gravity of the moment, fled with fear and perched on Jack's shoulder. Four Eyes' mind was racing. 'Why does this touch feel so familiar?' he wondered.

When Four Eyes stood next to Otako, Otako held his hand, opened his space ring, and took out the scarlet fruit. He divided it into two, handing most of the fruit to Four Eyes and keeping the rest for himself.

"Shun," Otako called.

Shun's scalp tingled when he heard his name. Eventually, he strode forward and stood beside Otako, his heart pounding.

Otako then handed Shun the rest of the scarlet fruit. Four Eyes, on the other hand, was still deep in thought. When Otako held his hand, the touch was so familiar. He couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity, which made him think of a person: His wife, Ling Li.

But Four Eyes' thoughts were disrupted when Otako called his attention, "Chu Yan, finish the fruit with Shun immediately." He ordered.

Four Eyes and Shun obeyed and started to eat the fruit. The moment they swallowed, an intense, searing pain surged through their bodies. Four Eyes dropped to his knees, followed by Shun. Their bodies hurt so bad that it felt like they were going to explode. That is because each and every muscle, tendon, and bone is being totally destroyed and crushed by the scarlet fruit before it will reconstruct them to a new and much stronger level and enhance their overall blood and vitality.

"Stay strong," Otako's voice boomed. "This pain is the key to unlocking your potential."

"You," Otako pointed at Jack, "assist him and never leave his side until he finishes his breakthrough."

"Yes, Sir!" Jack immediately went to Four Eyes' side and helped him sit in a meditative posture. "Hang in there, buddy," Jack whispered, his voice full of concern.

"You, and you," Otako called Nicu and Ailu, "do the same with him," referring to Shun. The two instantly went to Shun's side, too scared to even say a word to Otako.

"The rest of you, wait for them. Then you may go back to the entrance. You have all shown courage and determination today. But remember, true power comes not just from strength but from wisdom and humility. Continue your training with these lessons in mind," Otako stated.

The group nodded, their resolve renewed. They bowed once more before Otako, who gave a final nod before disappearing into the forest, his figure merging with the shadows.

Everyone felt their hearts stop beating in front of Otako and was relieved that he was gone.

"Otako is too scary!" one of them whispered.

"Otako is immortal! Damned!" another added, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Did you see that Azure Dragon turn himself into a human?" one of the soldiers marveled.

"Can you turn yourself into a human?" Chatty asked the Enfield.

"Not yet; only level five and above beasts can," the Enfield replied.

Everyone waited for Chatty to interpret what the Enfield said.

"He said only level five and above can transform into a human. What about you? What level are you?" Chatty said and asked the Enfield again.

"I'm only level three; leveling up from level three to four takes so much time and effort," the Enfield said. "The two masters would have waited several more years to break through to level four if they were not given the scarlet fruit," the Enfield explained.

"Why? What does the scarlet fruit do?" Fatty asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

"Did you see how much they were in pain after consuming the scarlet fruit? It improves the whole body by increasing the vitality of your blood; it also strengthens the muscles and bones by destroying and crushing every single one of them and reconstructing it to a new level," the Enfield explained.

Chatty was so impressed by what the scarlet fruit could do. "Oh! Wow, it is that powerful."

"Now, you know why it is guarded," the Enfield nonchalantly said, then went to Four Eyes' lap and curled himself.

"Tell us what he said!" Fatty urged Chatty.

"Oh, " Chatty forgot that his companions needed him to translate for them. He relayed everything Enfield said.

"Wow, it is that powerful. That is why Master Chu Yan was facing the guardians," one of them commented, his voice filled with awe.

"We are truly lucky to have survived this ordeal. If Otako hadn't arrived, how could we have a chance against those guardians?" another added, shaking his head.

Shun woke up from his meditation after three days, while Four Eyes took five days. Their auras had changed a lot from before. They felt stronger, more resilient, and ready to take on any challenge.

Jack was truly happy for his best friend, tapping Four Eyes' shoulder. "Welcome back, Buddy, and congratulations on your breakthrough. Now, let's head home, everyone!" Jack happily announced, and everyone cheered.

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