Rean's group quickly made their way back to the Sky Piercing Sect side. From there, they followed another route that would also bring them to Sun Streak Mountain. They would only be considered inside the Heaven's Might Sect territory once they enter the mountain range.
On the way, they found a few disciples of their sect. However, as disciples of the same sect, they were able to pass without being barred by them. Not to mention that some even knew them.
The travel there was quite uneventful, much to Westren and Lana's relief. Finally, they arrived in front of the mountain. From there on, the one guiding them would be Lana instead.
"Alright. What will we do if we find disciples of the Heaven's Might Sect? Will we attack straight away or try to hide from them?"
Roan pondered a bit before saying.
"If there aren't many, we can attack. Otherwise, let's try to not catch their attention, or someone might escape and tell our position."
Lana and Westren nodded, and they left right after.
Meanwhile, on the Sky Piercing Sect's side, a group with several Foundation Establishment cultivators was wiped out. The culprit was none other than Galef, the one who examined Buran's body. After making sure that none was alive, he quickly hid his presence.
Sometime later, a few other cultivators of the Sky Piercing Sect arrived. As soon as they saw the corpses, they turned around and fled. Still, Galef didn't move from his place. He kept waiting until finally, a new group appeared once more.
The leader of the group happened to be a Core Formation Realm, just like Buran and Okrin.
He then looked around with his Spiritual Sence but couldn't find anything. That was to be expected. After all, Galef is in the Core and Soul Fusion Realm. Not to mention that the gap between him and that guy was more than one entire Realm.
Galef waited for him to get closer. Finally, he had the confidence to finish the guy and made his move.
*Clank, clank, clank!*
Suddenly, a chain appeared out of nowhere, quickly wrapping around the Core Formation Realm cultivator's neck. Not only that, but several other chains also spread around the area, preventing any of the Foundation Establishment disciples from escaping too.
"Chain Maniac, Galef!*
Galef heard that and laughed.
"Hahaha! It's good that you know who I am. Because of that, I'll give a quick death."
The guy's face paled.
"Galef, it is still not time for people of your level to enter this war. Are you trying to escalate things?"
*Crack!*
As soon as the Core Formation guy said that, his neck was broken.
"Hmph! It's too late for that, don't you think?"
With that, the guy's body fell on the ground, dead. Galef then looked at the other disciples he had caught.
"You can go on your way too."
*Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!*
Just like that, a Core Formation Realm elder and several Foundation Establishment disciples died.
Galef didn't stay in the area, though. He immediately took whatever he found to be of some value and left straight away. Later that day, another two Core Formation Realm elders of the Sky Piercing Sect died as well.
Obviously, the higher-ups of the Sky Piercing Sect didn't stay put and moved out too. Soon, the battles didn't have only Foundation Establishment cultivators anymore, but Core Formation Realm ones.
As for the culprits for these sudden changes, they were in the middle of the Sun Streak Mountain Range looking for Midday Ginsengs. Lana seemed to really know where to go, so it didn't take long for Roan to find a few of the herbs he needed.
Although the one showing the route was Lana, the one walking in front was Roan. That's because he was much better at hiding and finding enemies. Thanks to that, their group always had the advantage. If the group was too big, they ignored it. If not, they didn't mind attacking them.
Lana and Westren, of course, caught all of the fallen enemies' badges. Later, they will be able to exchange them for war points in the Sky Piercing Sect.
The only thing that bothered Roan was that he found more disciples in the Mountain Range than he expected at first. Obviously, that made things harder to collect the herbs without catching much attention. It was then that they found a group of the Sky Piercing Sect battling the Heaven's Might one. Not only that, but Rean's group quickly noticed two Core Formation Realm cultivators exchanging blows in the middle of the skirmish.
Seeing that, Lana felt that something wasn't right.
"Why is Elder Sunder here? He was supposed to be on the feet of the mountain guarding the border of our territory."
Roan looked at her after hearing that.
"No wonder there were so many people of the Heaven's Might Sect around. Something might have happened that made him enter the enemies' territory."
Lana nodded. However, she didn't know that the Core Formation Realm cultivators were now participating in the war because of them.
Westren then looked at Rean and Roan, waiting to see what they wanted to do.
"What, do you want us to help them?"
The siblings nodded.
"Would that be a problem?"
Roan looked at the battle and could tell that Elder Sunder had the advantage in the fight. After pondering a bit, he nodded his head.
"You two can go. However, Rean and I will stay hidden. Don't worry, from what I can see, this battle will end with your side as the winner. Do one thing for me when you are there, will you? Ask your fellow disciples why they entered the mountain."
Lana and Westren thanked Roan and quickly joined the battle.
Rean then looked at Roan before asking.
"Is there something in your mind?"
Roan nodded.
"If I'm not wrong, this event is probably linked to us. Still, let's wait for Lana and Westren to come back to ask them the details."
Sure enough, it was, as Roan mentioned. Elder Sunder was obviously stronger than his Core Formation Realm opponent.
"Retreat!"
In the end, the guy fled as he shouted for the rest to run away as well. Although Sunder was stronger, he knew that killing the guy would be very difficult. That being said, he immediately changed his target and helped the Foundation Establishment Realm disciples to get rid of the rest.
"Alright, we are going back to recover; after that, we are entering the mountain again, so be ready."
Lana and Westren took the opportunity to ask one of the disciples that they were acquainted with. However, when they heard the reason behind elder Sunder's appearance, they began to sweat cold.
The two of them weren't part of Elder Sunder's group to start with. Instead, they were appointed as scouts, so their job was to move alone to start with.
Lana and Westren quickly returned to where Rean and Roan were waiting for them.
"We asked them what was happening. It seems like the elders of the Heaven's Might Sect entered our territory and killed three Core Formation Realm cultivator elders. Because of that, our sect began to retaliate as well. That's why Elder Sunder was here in the mountain. Not only him, but it looks like most of the Core Formation Realm elders already began to join the battle."
Lana then seemed to hesitate as if she wanted to say something. However, Roan already understood what was on her mind.
"If you are wondering if it had something to do with Buran's death, then you are probably correct. Well, there was Okrin too. The Heaven's Might Sect probably thought that your Sky Piercing Sect sent their higher level cultivators to ambush Buran. That being said, they also retaliated on the same coin, killing Core Formation Realm elders of your side. Of course, this is all just a theory; I can't confirm it. Nevertheless, I'm pretty sure I'm right."
Lana couldn't help but ask.
"What should we do then?"
Roan shrugged his shoulders.
"Do what? Stop them? The only thing that bothers me is that the Sun Streak Mountain Range has many more scouts of the Heaven's Might Sect. As for the rest, I couldn't care less."
Rean agreed with Roan.
"He is right. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Let me ask you, do you think this war would have a peaceful ending?"
Lana and Westren were taken aback. However, they know how deep the grudge between both sects was, so they shook their heads in the end.
"Then that's it. Roan and I only sped up the inevitable. Sooner or later, it would escalate to this point. Who knows, the war might be over a lot earlier than expected. Also, you can't forget the main point here. Everyone who entered this war knew what could happen to them. Now, focus on your job and let us find these Ginsengs. By the time we are done, you will probably have enough badges to buy your way out of this mess."
Lana sighed.
"Alright."
She then pointed her finger in another direction and told Roan.
"If we follow that path, we should reach another area where a few Midday Ginsengs can be found."
Roan nodded and immediately dashed ahead. Rean and the siblings then followed him from afar. Just like that, they began their search once more.
*Pin!*
[The hosts' intervention changed the course of the war between two of the most prominent sects of the Qerten Country, successfully altering their Destiny.]
[Reward: 500 Destiny Points.]
Rean and Roan paused for a second. Right after, they smiled and continued what they were doing.