Chapter 145: Sending Scouts To Other Righteous Sects
The days that followed fell into a relentless rhythm for the Jade Lotus Palace sect. Their days were filled with the sounds of clashing steel and roars of dying beasts.
Elder Shan Yiran, true to her words, led the construction of a formidable camp, its perimeter fortified with intricate defensive formations.
Meanwhile, Elder Zhu Xingyu, with a practiced hand, oversaw the disciples as they diligently scoured the surrounding area, collecting rare resources and eliminating any beast that dared to challenge them.
But at the forefront of this relentless march was Palace Mistress Jiu Lan.
With a cold determination in her eyes, she roamed the desolate landscape, a lone huntress seeking the most powerful prey.
Every few days, she would announce her intention to eliminate a specific beast lord, a creature who possessed immense strength and ruled over a pack of lesser beasts.
Wang Li wouldn’t miss such an opportunity.
Every time Jiu Lan set out for a hunt, he would shadow her like a silent wraith, his invisibility keeping him undetected. His true motive wasn’t to intervene in the battles, but to witness them firsthand. He craved to gauge Jiu Lan’s true strength.
Jiu Lan, for her part, fought with a focused intensity. She knew the importance of accumulating a high kill count, and she wasn’t about to waste time in drawn-out battles.
Each encounter with a Beast Lord was a brutal display of power. Jiu Lan, her ice-blue eyes blazing with determination, unleashed her full arsenal.
Her signature weapon, the Emerald Willow Blade, a shimmering green sword imbued with potent Wood Attribute energy, danced in a deadly ballet.
She moved with the grace of a celestial swan, her footwork a blur as she effortlessly dodged the enraged beasts’ attacks.
Jiu Lan’s strength far exceeded Wang Li’s initial estimations. The Beast Lord he currently observed was a magnificent creature, a Crimson Panther radiating raw power.
Its eyes glowed with a menacing red light, its muscular form being a testament to its ferocity. It launched itself at Jiu Lan, claws extended, its roar echoing across the desolate landscape.
Jiu Lan, without a wasted movement, sidestepped the attack with supernatural agility. The panther, its momentum faltering, slammed into a nearby rock formation, the impact sending tremors through the ground.
“Hmph,” Jiu Lan scoffed, her voice icy. “Pathetic.”
She unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, each one imbued with the power of the Wood Attribute. Emerald blades of energy materialized from her weapon, slicing through the air with a chilling whistle. The Beast Lord, caught off guard by the sheer speed and volume of the attack, roared in defiance. However, its defenses were no match for Jiu Lan’s relentless assault.
Frustration mounting, the panther unleashed its ultimate attack – a crimson inferno spewing from its maw. Jiu Lan met the flames head-on, a shimmering barrier of emerald energy erupting from her blade.
The two forces collided, creating a shockwave that rippled across the landscape. The barrier, however, held firm, deflecting the flames harmlessly away.
With a final, decisive flourish, Jiu Lan delivered a powerful thrust. The Emerald Willow Blade pierced through the panther’s heart, the light in its eyes dimming instantly.
The beast lord collapsed with a thunderous thud, the once mighty predator reduced to a lifeless carcass.
Jiu Lan, her breathing slightly ragged, deactivated her Emerald Willow Blade and studied the slain beast for a moment.
“Another one down,” she muttered to herself, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. “We need to push further north. There should be more powerful beasts waiting for us.”
With a final glance at the fallen panther, Jiu Lan turned and began her trek back to the Jade Lotus Palace camp.
Wang Li, observing from a distance, couldn’t help but be impressed.
He had underestimated Jiu Lan. Her cultivation at the Soul Integration Realm was far more advanced than he had anticipated.
The battle had been a one-sided affair; the Crimson Panther Beast Lord, despite its formidable bloodline, hadn’t even landed a single hit on her. It spoke volumes about the meticulous training and exceptional skill of the Jade Lotus Palace Mistress.
“Her swordsmanship is flawless,” he murmured to himself, his voice barely a whisper. “Her movement techniques are unmatched. And those elemental manipulations… truly impressive.”
Her movements, infused with a powerful Wind Attribute technique, allowed her to maneuver with an almost inhuman grace. And the potency of her Wood Attribute attacks was truly impressive.
A sense of satisfaction settled over Palace Mistress Jiu Lan as she surveyed the slain Beast Lord, the fifth one she had vanquished in as many days. The exertion, however, had taken its toll. Sweat beaded on her brow, and her breathing remained slightly ragged. Even for a cultivator at her level, battling these powerful Soul Integration Realm beasts was no easy feat.
But the reward was substantial. Her kill count, displayed in a faint blue glow on her palm courtesy of the laws of this world, read an impressive 6400. This was a significant number. Killing an ordinary Nascent Soul Realm beast typically yielded a kill count between 60 and 130, while dispatching a Soul Integration Realm beast like the one before her could grant anywhere from 700 to 1500 points. Jiu Lan, the undisputed leader in kill count within her own sect, couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.
However, her satisfaction did not extend beyond her immediate circle. She wondered how the other righteous sects were faring. While the initial plan to travel together had been dismissed, their well-being held some weight in her mind. Hopefully, they hadn’t been overrun by rampaging beasts or fallen prey to the schemes of the opportunistic Devil Sects.
Reaching for a communication talisman, she attempted to contact Sect Leader Deng and Palace Mistress Gao Ming, leaders from two other prominent sects. But frustration quickly replaced her initial curiosity. The talismans, usually reliable instruments for long-distance communication, remained silent. It appeared the laws governing this desolate land extended to communication methods as well.
Jiu Lan frowned. The lack of communication channels posed a significant challenge. Without any way to gauge the progress of the other sects, she was left to navigate this trial blindly.
An idea sparked in her mind. She would dispatch teams to scout the surrounding regions, searching for the camps of the other sects. Three groups, one heading east, one west, and one south, would be tasked with this crucial mission.
However, she couldn’t ignore the inherent dangers. This desolate landscape teemed with ferocious beasts, and the ever-present threat of Devil Sect cultivators lurked in the shadows. Each scouting party needed to be well-equipped to handle any unforeseen threats.
Jiu Lan handpicked a group of strong disciples and seasoned elders for each team. She equipped them with potent talismans, imbued with her own formidable power.
These talismans, limited to ten per group, were meant for critical situations and needed to be used with utmost care and strategic thinking.
Finally, she bestowed upon each group a special Jade Talisman, a device directly linked to her own spiritual senses.
Should any danger threaten them, all they needed to do was activate the talisman. It would send a distress signal directly to her, allowing her to intervene and ensure their safety.
With these measures in place, Jiu Lan gave the order for departure. Her gaze lingered on a young woman – Liu Xue, her most trusted disciple. Her beloved disciple was assigned to the group heading south.
A wry smile curved Liu Xue’s lips as she received her mission briefing. The prospect of adventure and the chance to contribute significantly to the sect’s success filled her with excitement.
Jiu Lan offered one final piece of advice before the scouts departed. “Remember,” she said, her voice ringing with authority, “caution is paramount. Your objective is to gather information, not engage in unnecessary battles. Prioritize your safety and return swiftly.”
With solemn nods, the teams dispersed, vanishing into the desolate landscape. Jiu Lan watched them go, a knot of worry tightening in her stomach.
Naturally, Jiu Lan had no idea that Wang Li would be following Liu Xue’s group to ensure nothing happens to her.
A relieved sigh escaped Wang Li’s lips as Liu Xue and her group ventured beyond the immediate vicinity of the Jade Lotus Palace camp. Now, with the distance separating them from Palace Mistress Jiu Lan’s spiritual sense, he could finally communicate freely. “Xue’er,” his voice, warm and familiar, resonated within her mind.
Liu Xue’s heart skipped a beat. A smile bloomed on her face as she responded through their shared spiritual connection, “Li! I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist following me.” A playful glint entered her eyes.
He chuckled, a low, sensual sound that made her cheeks burn. “Could I ever truly stay away from my most captivating flower? Besides,” he added, a mischievous glint in his invisible eyes, “being invisible has its perks.”
He couldn’t resist a playful squeeze of her plump buttocks.
Liu Xue bit her lip, suppressing a gasp. Thankfully, the other disciples were preoccupied with navigating the treacherous terrain, oblivious to her internal turmoil. “Li!” she hissed under her breath, feigning annoyance, “behave yourself!”
Wang Li’s laughter echoed in her mind, pure amusement crackling between them. “Just a little harmless fun, darling,” he purred. “Besides, who else will appreciate your exquisite curves out here in this desolate wasteland?”
Liu Xue couldn’t help but smile inwardly. His teasing was childish, yet it warmed her heart. She knew he wouldn’t dare act so brazenly in front of others, but the intimacy of their private connection was intoxicating. Their playful banter continued as they journeyed south.
