Aksai stood at the rendezvous point, a small clearing just outside the border city.
The sun was beginning to rise, casting a golden hue over the landscape.
His black steed stood beside him, snorting occasionally as if impatient for the journey ahead.
Aksai had already reviewed the mission details, and now he was waiting to meet the five other Spirit cultivators who would accompany him through the Wild Devil Lands.
One by one, the other team members began to arrive.
The first to show up was a tall, lean man with a serious expression. His short, dark hair was neatly combed, and he wore a dark blue robe that bore the insignia of the Azure Cloud Sect. His eyes were sharp, and there was a calm, collected air about him.
“Name’s Jian Chen,” he said, nodding to Aksai.
“Sword cultivator from the Azure Cloud Sect. Specialize in wind-element Spirit spells and dual swords.” He patted the twin blades strapped to his back, the hilts wrapped in dark leather. “Fast and precise. That’s how I like to work.”
The Spirit cultivators that worked near the border cities were just like mercenaries. After working for the city council for years, they had developed a culture of their own.
They would introduce themselves to their team members and tell a bit about themselves in order to establish a rapport. One could call it a mercenary routine.
Aksai already knew all this. So he wasn’t surprised by the introduction of his forest team members as well as the additional information he gave without him having to ask.
Aksai returned the nod. “Aksai. Drifting cultivator. Wood-element Spirit spells and swordsmanship.”
Jian was a bit taken back after knowing that Aksai was a drifting cultivator. Usually, only the sects of the righteous faction would send their disciples to train at the Duya Forest.
However, finding a drifting cultivator inside Haan Di wasn’t that rare either. It was just that the drifting cultivators had a thing of their own. Under normal circumstances, they didn’t like to get paired with the righteous faction cultivators.
One could only say that Aksai was a kind of drifting cultivator who drifted away from his own kind. Although there weren’t many like Aksai, he wasn’t exactly unique either. So Jian quickly let the matter go.
Next to arrive was a young woman with a warm smile. She had long, auburn hair tied back into a loose braid and wore light green robes adorned with floral patterns. A small pendant shaped like a lotus flower hung around her neck.
“I’m Lin Mei,” she introduced herself with a soft voice. “I’m from the Blossom Mist Valley. I specialize in healing and support spells, especially those related to the water element. I also use a whip for defense.” She gestured to the long, silver whip coiled at her side. “I’m here to keep everyone in one piece.”
‘Damn. These water-element cultivators sure like their whips. I wonder if they make use of these whips in some other ways.’
Aksai thought to himself and chuckled. He could also use water-element spells but he lacked a certain proficiency in them. Plus, he liked improving his sword mastery over refining his control on elemental Spirit spells. So he stayed away from using the whip-like Spirit spells and artifacts.
Aksai smiled at her. “Good to have someone with healing skills on the team.”
There was a strength in unity. That’s why these proud cultivators also formed teams before they explored the dangerous region of the Great Duya Forest. However, a bigger number of team members didn’t necessarily mean one would have a higher chance of survival.
This was why cultivators like Lin Mei were an important asset for the team in such situations. Usually, Lin Mei would only be employed as a support staff under a sect. However, the unique mercenary environment of the region enabled her to showcase her talent on the battlefield as well.
As they exchanged greetings, a third figure appeared. This one was a burly man with a thick beard and a bald head. He wore heavy, dark armor that looked more suited for a warrior than a cultivator, and a massive war hammer hung from his back. His eyes were a deep brown, and they twinkled with a hint of mischief.
“Call me Rong Zhi,” he said in a deep, booming voice. “I’m from the Iron Mountain Sect. I specialize in earth-element Spirit spells and defensive techniques.” He let out a hearty laugh, patting the enormous weapon.
The fourth member to arrive was a man with a more refined appearance. He had long, silver hair that fell elegantly down his back, and his pale blue robes shimmered slightly in the sunlight. His eyes were a striking silver, and his demeanor was calm and composed.
“My name is Bai Yu,” he said softly. “I’m from the Silver Moon Palace. My focus is on ice-element Spirit spells and ranged combat. I use a bow and arrows made of ice essence.” He motioned to the elegant bow slung over his shoulder, its surface gleaming with a frosty sheen.
‘Damn. This team arrangement is getting more and more like a cliche RPG game. Then again, two plus two equals four all across the boundless cosmos. There’s no way around the fundamentals.’
Aksai sighed in his head and nodded in acknowledgment.
Finally, the last member of the team arrived—a woman with short, spiky black hair and a fierce expression. She wore black and red robes, and her eyes burned with intensity. A pair of short, curved daggers were strapped to her thighs, and she moved with the grace of a predator.
“Name’s Lian Hua,” she said curtly. “I’m from the Crimson Shadow Sect. I’m proficient in fire-element Spirit spells and close combat. My daggers are coated with a special poison that can paralyze opponents within seconds.”
Aksai raised an eyebrow. “Noted.”
Aksai reevaluated the importance of introducing oneself to their team members. If there were cultivators like Lian Hua who made use of poison in their attacks, it was best if their team members knew about them in advance. Otherwise. Things could go wrong in multiple ways.
With everyone present, the team mounted their steeds and began their journey toward the Wild Devil Lands. The plan was to ride through the neutral state of Haan Di, cross the Great Shiju River, and enter the periphery of the Duya Forest.
Their mission was to retrieve stalks of the 1st-order Red Fire Dhatura flowers, which were known for their fiery red petals and volatile nature.
The Red Fire Dhatura flowers were highly sought after for their unique properties. In alchemy, they were used to brew powerful energy-restoring elixirs and were a key ingredient in concoctions that could increase one’s fire-element affinity.
In potion-making, the flowers could be distilled into potent stimulants that enhanced combat abilities temporarily.
Additionally, their essence was used in talisman crafting, especially for creating explosive charms and fire-based wards.
However, the flowers were notoriously difficult to harvest due to their volatile nature and the fierce spirit beasts that often guarded them. Obviously, the harvest of such a resource wasn’t a job of a single cultivator.
The team rode in silence for a while, the rhythmic sound of hooves on the dirt road creating a steady beat.
As they crossed the border into the Wild Devil Lands, the atmosphere grew heavier, the air mixed with the scent of damp earth and wild vegetation. The terrain became more rugged, with dense forests on either side and the occasional rocky outcrop.
***
The sky had grown overcast as Aksai and his team rode deeper into the Wild Devil Lands. The once clear path they had been following turned into a twisting, rocky trail, flanked by jagged cliffs and thick, gnarled trees.
Aksai kept his senses sharp, feeling the oppressive weight of the region’s chaotic energy pressing down on them.
They were just about halfway through their journey to the Great Shiju River when the first signs of trouble appeared. Jian Chen, who was riding at the front of the group, slowed his horse and raised a hand, signaling the others to stop.
“What is it?” Aksai asked, pulling his steed to a halt beside Jian Chen.
Jian Chen’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the surrounding terrain. “Something’s not right… I can feel it in the air.”
Before anyone could react, a blast of dark energy ripped through the air, crashing into the path in front of them. The ground shook violently, sending debris flying in all directions.
‘Damn it. Didn’t they say that the path to the Duya Forest would be more secure if one were to travel in a group on a mercenary assignment? Why am I getting ambushed at this point?’
Aksai cursed immediately drew his sword, his instincts taking over. “Ambush!” he shouted.
From the shadows of the cliffs and the dense trees, figures emerged—demonic cultivators, their eyes glowing with malevolent energy.
There were at least a dozen of them, each clad in dark robes adorned with symbols of their twisted sects. Their leader, a tall man with a bald head and black, snake-like tattoos winding down his arms, stepped forward, sneering at the group.
“Well, well,” the leader hissed, his voice dripping with venom. “Looks like we’ve found ourselves some prey.”
===
AN: Hello. Had to take a break due to some health troubles. I am well rested now. It’s good to be back. 🙂