In the western part of the central zone, within a depression where rare medicinal herbs grew, three cultivators were locked in a fierce battle against a Three-Eyed Flame Wolf. A middle-aged man dressed in the attire of the Giant Sword Sect wielded a massive cyan sword, blocking most of the wolf’s attacks, while an elderly man in a yellow robe and a young man in gray Daoist robes flanked the beast, launching assaults from both sides.
Before long, the Giant Sword Sect disciple, after taking a massive fireball head-on, cleaved the demonic beast’s head off with a single strike. He retracted his giant sword and laughed heartily toward the sky.
“Brother Meng, your spiritual power is truly profound! To slay a Three-Eyed Flame Wolf with a single strike—you truly live up to the reputation of the Giant Sword Sect’s elite disciples…” The yellow-robed elder immediately scurried over, his words dripping with flattery, his face not even reddening in the slightest.
Had Han Li been present, he would have recognized this elder as none other than Xiang Zhili, the same man who had once eagerly invited him to form a so-called “Alliance of the Weak.” However, the young sect brother who had been with Xiang back then was nowhere to be seen—likely separated during the teleportation.
“Heh! If it weren’t for Brother Xiang and Priest Li assisting from the sides, I wouldn’t have succeeded so easily!” The black-robed middle-aged man holding the giant sword was surprisingly humble.
“Brother Meng, there’s no need for modesty! You contributed the most to slaying this demon beast—that’s beyond doubt!” The young Daoist priest, though not old, spoke with a tone that was neither submissive nor arrogant, revealing a maturity beyond his years.
A flicker of a smile crossed the black-robed man’s face, but he quickly returned to his modest demeanor.
“You know, those other fools still fighting and killing each other are truly idiots! If they knew that three people from different sects could work together to slay demons and gather herbs, they’d probably be shocked speechless!” The black-robed man suddenly changed the subject.
“Absolutely! This is all thanks to Brother Xiang’s efforts! If he hadn’t explained things so clearly, Brother Meng and I might still be fighting each other to the death!” The Daoist priest nodded in agreement.
“Please, you flatter me! Both of you are exceptionally wise—I merely stated the facts. There was no need for us to throw away our lives over treasures that were never meant to be ours. Instead of killing each other, why not sweep clean all the rare herbs outside the central zone? And with us working together, dealing with these demon beasts is a piece of cake!” Xiang Zhili chuckled, smoothly deflecting the praise with slick words.
The other two once again erupted into a lively exchange of mutual admiration.
“Alright, let’s hurry and gather the ‘Flame Dragon Grass’! We’ll split it equally, one portion each!” The black-robed man was the first to lose patience, his voice tinged with eagerness. With that, he strode toward several red grasses behind the wolf’s corpse.
Xiang Zhili and the Daoist priest exchanged a meaningful glance, then readily agreed and followed.
Neither noticed the fleeting, sinister expression that flashed across the black-robed man’s face as he turned away from them.
—
In the southern part of the central zone, a vast expanse of yellow sand stretched as far as the eye could see. A male and female disciple from the Masked Moon Sect were relentlessly stabbing the sand with ice spike spells, as if searching for something.
After a long while, they still found nothing.
“That wretched girl! Where has she hidden? When I find her, I’ll gouge out her eyes!” The female disciple, though breathtakingly beautiful, spoke with venomous cruelty that sent chills down any man’s spine.
“Junior Sister, let’s just give up. It’s almost time for the sect’s arranged meeting. If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late!” The male disciple spoke timidly, clearly intimidated by her.
“Hmph! It’s all your fault, you useless fool! You couldn’t even keep watch over a mere tenth-level cultivator, letting her slip away right under our noses! If word gets out, it’ll ruin the reputation of me and my sister, the ‘Twin Jewels of Masked Moon’! Honestly, why did the sect assign a coward like you as my cultivation partner?” Infuriated by his words, she pointed at his nose and berated him until his face flushed red with humiliation.
Despite her anger, she glanced at the darkening sky and dared not continue the search. Delaying the sect’s important mission was no trivial matter, even for someone of her status and backing.
Still, leaving empty-handed gnawed at her. After a moment’s hesitation, she gritted her teeth and produced a blue talisman.
A sinister smile curled her lips as she hurled the talisman behind her and darted away, stopping only when she was several dozen zhang away. She then turned to observe.
The male disciple inwardly groaned but followed closely without delay.
The talisman transformed into a massive black cloud, blotting out the sky and plunging the area into an unnatural, bitter cold.
Soon, countless glittering, oversized ice spikes began falling from the cloud, slowly at first, then with increasing intensity. In no time, the small patch of land was densely studded with spikes, resembling a cactus field.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the cloud gradually dispersed, leaving the sandy ground glistening with ice.
The female disciple scanned the spike-ridden terrain but found nothing amiss.
With a resentful scowl, she barked an order at the male disciple and led the way away from the area, her so-called cultivation partner trailing obediently behind.
Unnoticed by her, in a corner of the icy field, faint traces of crimson liquid seeped into the sand—too subtle to catch her eye.
Half a quarter-hour later, as the crimson stain began to spread, the yellow sand bulged into a small, round mound that grew larger and more distinct.
Finally, the mound churned violently, and a green-robed woman tumbled out. A long, thin ice spike was embedded in her shoulder, blood streaming down half her body. In her hand, she clutched a yellow silk handkerchief that shimmered with an otherworldly glow.
Struggling to her feet, the woman frowned at her wounded shoulder.
With her other hand, she gripped the base of the ice spike, gritted her teeth, and yanked it out. A pained whimper escaped her lips, tears welling in her eyes as blood gushed from the wound.
Ignoring her tears, she frantically rummaged through her storage pouch and produced a porcelain vase. She sprinkled yellow medicinal powder onto the injury, and the bleeding stopped almost instantly.
After tending to her wound, the green-robed woman curled up on the sand, motionless. Moments later, she buried her face in her hands and wept silently, afraid of drawing attention.
After the time it takes to eat a meal, the Spirit Beast Mountain disciple finally stopped crying. She lifted her head, glanced at the deserted sands, and shuddered involuntarily.
Biting her lip, she struggled to her feet. After a long hesitation, she steadied herself and stumbled toward the central zone. Faint tear stains still marked her lovely face, but her expression held a stubborn resolve at odds with her vulnerability.
This woman was the very girl who had sold Han Li the “Golden Bamboo Pen.” Wounded and alone, traversing the silent desert, she cut a pitiful yet endearing figure.
Soon, her figure, one hand pressed against her wound, gradually vanished into the vast expanse of yellow sand.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage