“Is everyone okay?”
Lin Mei asked as she moved between them, checking for injuries.
“Just a few scratches,” Jian Chen replied, wiping the blood from his blades. “Nothing to worry about.”
Rong Zhi chuckled, wiping the sweat, blood, and bits of enemy flesh from his brow. “That was a good warm-up. Let’s hope the rest of the journey is just as fun.”
Aksai assured Lin Mei that he was fine, allowing her to focus on the others in the group. He was certain that the reason they had avoided casualties wasn’t just because of their strong lineup; rather, the enemy had strategically retreated. Aksai could sense that the demonic cultivators who had attacked them were not top-tier experts of the demonic faction.
Aksai also had a vague sense that these demonic cultivators were under some kind of influence. Was it a drug or hypnotism? He wasn’t sure. Even though they seemed completely sane and in full control of their faculties, it felt as though their consciousnesses had been tampered with.
As a druid, Aksai was highly sensitive to the life energies of those around him. He didn’t possess any special techniques or mysterious eyes that allowed him to see what others couldn’t, but he could tell if someone was interacting and behaving normally based on their life energies.
‘Something’s not right here,’ Aksai thought. ‘The Wild Devil Lands that Haan Di struck deals with aren’t the same Wild Devil Lands I’m seeing right now.’
Aksai glanced at the horizon. The Great Shiju River was still some distance away, and the Wild Devil Lands were far from safe. But with this team by his side, he felt confident that he could manage things to some extent.
It wasn’t that he fully trusted his teammates, but he trusted his preparations and instincts. Plus, if push came to shove, he could always retreat to the Enchanted Everwood Farm.
He just hoped he wouldn’t have to resort to that final step. Otherwise, his time in the Dadangar subcontinent would come to an abrupt end for a very, very long time.
“Let’s keep moving,” Aksai said. “The Red Fire Dhatura flowers won’t wait for us.”
The team mounted their steeds once more. They were about to leave the region when they felt a strong presence approaching from behind.
“Halt!”
The group had barely settled back into their journey when the sky above them darkened momentarily, a shadow cast by a figure descending on a flying sword.
The figure was an elder, his long, flowing robe adorned with the symbol of the neutral state of Haan Di, clearly marking his affiliation. The robe was a deep forest green, trimmed with silver, with the emblem of Haan Di—a stylized tree encircled by a ring of stars—embroidered on the chest. His presence was commanding, and as he hovered above the group, his gaze swept over them with a calm yet piercing intensity.
‘Oh! A direct disciple of Haan Di’s Core Formation Lord is here? I knew things were serious. But I didn’t know they were this serious,’ Aksai thought to himself.
Aksai was once offered to become an in-name disciple of Haan Di’s Core Formation Lord. he knew all the direct as well as in-name disciples of the Core Formation Lord quite well. His neutral link fabric had a separate database for them. As such, he recognized the man almost instantly.
The elder’s name was Ren Greenleaf, and Aksai could immediately sense the vast difference in their cultivation levels. Ren’s aura was dense, controlled, and powerful, a clear sign that he was a 6th-stage Foundation Building expert—far stronger than Aksai or anyone else in his group.
‘Damn it. Even though I and this man are in the same Foundation Building realm, the difference between the levels makes me a bit downcast,’ Aksai thought to himself and sighed.
The reason Aksai wanted to quickly reach the mid-stage Foundation Building realm was because of this very reason. Even though he was a Foundation Building Expert like Ren, his Spirit essence had not taken a qualitative leap. He was still an early-stage Foundation Building Expert who was only at the brink of becoming a mid-stage Expert. However, the gap between the early and mid stage was quite big even though it was only a singular level up, technically speaking.
Aksai wasn’t sure if he would be able to defeat Ren even if he were to use all his trump cards on him. The difference between them was just like an immature early teen facing a battle-worn mercenary in his 40s. He could run away from Ren if he were to play his cards right. However, defeating him? There was no chance. It was downright impossible for Aksai to catch him alive and turn him into a puppet with his current powers.
***
Coming back to Ren. His long black hair was streaked with silver, tied back in a simple yet elegant knot, revealing a sharp, weathered face. His eyes were a deep green, matching the shade of his robes, and they gleamed with a wisdom that only came from centuries of experience.
As he descended to the ground, Ren’s voice, though calm, carried the weight of his power. “Is everyone okay?” he asked, his tone leaving little room for anything but the truth.
Aksai and his companions quickly gathered around, their expressions respectful. “We are fine, Senior,” Aksai said, bowing slightly, followed by the others. Jian Chen and Lin Mei, while wary, offered their own respectful bows. Even Rong Zhi, usually casual, straightened his posture and nodded in deference.
‘It seems that Haan Di is taking some precautionary measures. However, these measures are certainly not enough,’ Aksai thought to himself while playing his part right.
Ren Greenleaf surveyed the group, his eyes lingering on each of them briefly before he nodded. “Good,” he said, his words clipped and efficient. He was a man of few words, his presence alone commanding attention.
Without further discussion, Ren moved to the front of the group, his hands clasped behind his back as he faced the open plains ahead.
The air around him crackled with barely contained energy as he imbued his voice with Spirit essence, his tone suddenly sharp and commanding. “Brat, come out and meet your senior. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude to you.”
The sudden change in Ren’s demeanor startled Aksai’s companions. They exchanged confused glances, clearly unsure of who Ren was addressing. The tension in the air thickened as silence stretched out, the elder’s demand hanging ominously.
When no response came, Ren’s expression darkened, and he began to count down, his voice booming with an authority that left no room for disobedience.
“Looks like you don’t understand the seriousness of your offense. I would forget the treaty between Haan Di and the three major demonic sects and start a massacre if you don’t give me the face I deserve.
Five… Four… Three…”
His voice echoed through the plains, the power behind it causing the ground beneath them to tremble slightly.
Just as Ren reached “Two,” a figure appeared on the horizon, moving swiftly towards them on a flying sword. The figure was youthful and strikingly handsome, with an aura that exuded both confidence and a certain demonic charm.
His hair was jet black, falling loosely around his shoulders, and his eyes were a deep crimson, a sharp contrast to the pale complexion of his face. His attire was dark, almost shadowy, with subtle red accents that matched the color of his eyes, giving him a mysterious and slightly dangerous appearance.
The newcomer bowed deeply before Ren, his demeanor respectful but not overly submissive. “Greetings, Senior,” he said, his voice smooth and pleasant to the ear. “This junior is called Haitin Blackblood.”
Haitin landed gracefully in front of Ren, his flying sword vanishing with a flick of his sleeve as he sheathed it in one fluid motion.
Haitian’s cultivation base was quite vague. He appeared to be nothing but a Spirit Refining ant at one second. In the next second, however, he came across as a powerful Foundation Building Expert.
This presence not only added to Haitin’s mysterious presence but also confirmed that he was not someone who could be underestimated. Aksai could vaguely feel that this demonic cultivator who looked like royalty was as strong as him if not more. His senses as a druid also told him that he was far more talented than him.
Haitian’s sword sheathing gesture was clearly meant to show that he had not come to fight, a sign of respect and acknowledgement of Ren’s superior strength.
Despite the apparent calm, there was an undercurrent of tension between the two, as if an unspoken challenge lingered in the air.
Aksai and his companions remained silent, watching the exchange with a mix of curiosity and caution.
They knew better than to interfere in a matter between two powerful cultivators, especially when one of them was a figure as formidable as Ren Greenleaf.
Ren studied Haitin for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slight nod, he acknowledged the young man’s greeting.
“A Blackblood scion, huh? I see. I have heard about you. You are indeed very talented and have a bold spirit, Haitin Blackblood,” Ren said, his voice even but with a hint of approval.
In the next second, however, Ren’s face darkened a bit before he spoke in a cold tone.
“But don’t think that I’m scared of you because of your status as a young lord of your sect. The three major demonic sects, no matter how powerful they are in the Wild Devil Lands, are responsible for honoring the treaty they have with Haan Di.
I never expected a demonic young lord to act so pompously just because they have managed to gain a bit of fame and power. Do you think that my Haan Di is easy to bully?”