After witnessing Thorne's daily progress over so many days, Shelley found herself growing increasingly intrigued by him. She had a hunch that, barring any mishaps, Thorne could at least reach Saint Tier. As for God Tier, that was utterly impossible in this world.
Thorne conjured a water figure and approached Shelley.
"Since your injuries have healed, hand over the item and leave."
Shelley didn't want to leave yet. She knew nothing about this world, and Thorne's secluded lake was an ideal place to recover.
"Shouldn't have shown off and pretended to be trapped," she muttered regretfully.
Thorne was about to press her further for the treasure when he sensed a small group approaching slowly.
He quickly dispersed the water figure, pulled Shelley into the lake, and crafted an ice cage to hide her at the bottom.
Shelley, caught off guard, didn't resist instinctively and was swept into the water.
"What are you doing? Let me out, or I'll make a move!"
"Quiet. Someone's coming. If you don't want to be found, stay still."
Shelley pursed her lips, thinking, "True or not? I didn't sense anything that far, and you did?"
She was about to argue when she, too, detected a group rushing toward the lake. "Rushing" was an overstatement—their pace was sluggish.
After a while, the group arrived, panting, at the lake's edge.
Thorne recognized their attire as similar to the Huang Tribe from last time. The two leaders were the youths who'd stood behind the High Priest before, accompanied by over twenty others, all young—some as young as seven or eight, the oldest fourteen or fifteen.
The two leaders knelt by the shore. One spoke, "Honored Lake God, I am Tylen of the Huang Tribe, and this is Gordon. The High Priest sent us to pay our respects."
"Didn't I say the end of each month? Why are you here early?"
"Great Lake God, we aren't early. Only two days remain until this month ends."
Thorne paused, realizing he'd lost track of time in his intense training.
Shelley, underwater, couldn't hear Thorne's soul-transmitted words but caught Tylen's speech. She mocked again, "Oh my, you're mad. A little lake daring to call itself a god? If any god finds out, a single thought could destroy you."
Thorne knew he was far from godhood, but the Huang Tribe insisted on calling him a Lake God, and he couldn't stop them. He even suspected the High Priest deliberately spread this to boost the tribe's confidence and courage to secretly defy the elves for him.
"Fine, I understand. What news do you bring this time? Why didn't the High Priest come himself? Don't speak it aloud—just think it, and I'll hear you."
Tylen, fearing Thorne's silence meant anger, had buried his head low. Hearing Thorne's voice, he sighed in relief.
"Lord Lake God, we bring major news. The elves sent a high-ranking figure who sought out several Transcendent Tier magic beasts from the desert depths. They tasked our tribe to relay orders to all magic beasts, big and small, to prevent a beast tide and conduct a grand purge of the desert."
Thorne was startled. Beast tides were familiar from his past-life novels—massive magic beast uprisings that crushed everything in their path with unstoppable force, rendering individuals insignificant.
"The High Priest is under the watch of an elven powerhouse and couldn't escape, so he sent me to inform you. He also asked me to bring our tribe's most gifted youths, hoping the benevolent Lake God would take pity on your people and protect us."
Thorne glanced at the youths Tylen brought. Though young and breathless from the long trek, none had collapsed, a testament to their robust physiques.
"I understand."
Thorne manipulated the water to outline an area on the shore, then continued, "First, settle your people in the area I've marked. Don't stray too far from the lake or disturb me without reason. Then return to me and explain the beast tide in detail."
Tylen nodded repeatedly, leading his group to the large, flat area Thorne designated.
Though wild beasts roamed here, for the desert-hardened Huang Tribe, non-magic beasts were prime food sources. The youths, though young, showed little fear of Thorne and, under Tylen and Gordon's guidance, organized efficiently.
After briefly instructing Gordon, Tylen returned to report the beast tide details. According to the High Priest's estimate, it would erupt in days, sweeping the entire desert—no place would be spared.
"What do you think? Better give me the item now and leave this desert fast," Thorne told Shelley, offering serious advice.
"Using a beast tide to purge the desert—barbaric but effective. Still, a mere beast tide doesn't faze me. Since you're so desperate for that treasure, I'll give it to you—spare me your constant nagging."
With a flash of light, Shelley produced the stone, half the size of a fist. It looked ordinary but faintly exuded a mysterious aura.
Thorne swiftly swept it into the water and ordered the system to absorb it, lest Shelley change her mind.
Shelley, seeing Thorne's eagerness, silently scorned him again. "Bumpkin."
But she was curious—what use did Thorne have for the Void Stone? It was a treasure, but not everyone could wield it.
"Ding. Detected host has obtained Void Stone. Create system space now?"
"Create immediately."
After a mechanical roar, Thorne felt the system panel tremble for several minutes before settling.
To Shelley, the lake's interior churned wildly while the surface remained calm. She even sensed faint spatial turbulence.
Though minor, it stirred her already suppressed injuries from her spatial travel. Unable to hold them back, she forced herself out of the lake, landing hard on the ground and fainting once more.