Chapter 38: Emotions are not something to be trifled with.
The forest was eerily quiet, a sharp contrast to the bustling conversations of a group of six young cultivators who moved with purpose through the dense underbrush. Their ages ranged from fifteen to twenty, and their expressions were a mix of frustration and determination.
"Can you believe it?" one of the younger boys, Sun Li, perhaps around seventeen, said, his voice tinged with annoyance. "The people from the Lost Continent interfered again. They’ve delayed the opening of the Immortal Abode by three to four years!"
A boy, Yuan Bo, with short, spiky hair and a fiery disposition scoffed, "They only meant to delay it for a year, but their ancient formation backfired and sealed the abode for longer. Idiots."
"Typical," Lan Mie, a beautiful girl with orange hair and green eyes, tall and with a doll-like face, muttered. "They never think things through."
The leader of the group, a young woman with deep blue eyes and black hair that cascaded down her back like a river of midnight, sighed in exasperation. Her name was Luo Bing, and despite her youthful appearance, her demeanor exuded a nonchalant confidence that set her apart. She had a timeless beauty, her features delicate yet striking, with an air of aloofness that made her seem almost untouchable.
"Enough," she said, her voice calm but commanding. "Complaining won't change anything. We need to focus on our mission."
Beside her, a young man who preferred to keep a low profile nodded in agreement. This was Zhao Wei, her senior brother. His presence was understated but undeniable, his quiet strength a comforting anchor for the group.
"We have to adapt," Zhao Wei added. "The Lost Continent's meddling has complicated things, but we still have a job to do."
As they moved swiftly through the forest, another figure, a girl slightly younger than Luo Bing, spoke up. "Mistress Bing, should we be wary of the other sects? The delay is about to expire soon and we should go back, if we can't find what you saw."
Luo Bing glanced at her maid, Xiao Ye, a loyal companion who had been by her side for years. "We should always be wary, Xiao Ye. But yes, the abode can open anytime now."
The group was from Heaven Dao, a sect known for its formidable cultivators and vast knowledge of ancient formations. They moved through the forest with practiced ease, their conversation flowing as naturally as their movements.
"Master always said that patience is a virtue," added Yuan Bo, a tall young man with a muscular build.
They were well-trained, powerful, and used to facing danger head-on. Their pace was swift, their movements synchronized, a testament to their rigorous training.
"I agree," said Lan Mei, the last member of the group, a petite girl with bright orange hair and a perpetually cheerful demeanor. "We might discover it."
Suddenly, the atmosphere around them shifted. A powerful presence made itself known, sending a ripple of tension through the group. They halted, their senses on high alert.
Emerging from the shadows of the forest was a creature unlike any they had seen before. It had the elongated body of a fish, covered in shimmering green scales that reflected the soft light of the forest. Its head, however, resembled that of a lion, crowned with a golden mane that radiated an ethereal glow. Two long, fish-like whiskers extended from its snout, and jagged spikes ran along its vertebrae, adding to its formidable appearance. Its eyes, a menacing red, locked onto the intruders with a predatory gaze.
"It's a dragon catfish," Zhao Wei whispered, his voice barely audible but filled with awe. "These creatures are unique to this dungeon. They’re said to be descendants of the Jade Immortal's companion, a Yulong."
The dragon catfish growled, a deep, resonant sound that reverberated through the forest. Its presence was both majestic and terrifying, a living testament to the power and mystery of the dungeon.
The dragon catfish let out a low, rumbling growl, its red eyes locked onto the group. The air around it seemed to shimmer with power, and the group instinctively fell into defensive stances.
Luo Bing's eyes narrowed as she assessed the situation. "Prepare yourselves," she ordered, her voice steady. "This will be a tough fight. It's at peak qi gathering and has taken half a step into foundation establishment. With its bloodline, it can probably fight at the level of a low-stage foundation establishment beast."
The group readied themselves, their hands moving to their weapons and their bodies tensing for battle. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath, the calm before the storm.
The dragon catfish lunged, its powerful body cutting through the air with surprising speed. Luo Bing and her companions moved as one, their training and discipline evident in their coordinated response.
"Stay calm," Luo Bing said, her voice as cold and steady as ever. "We need to be strategic. Zhao Wei, take the lead. Xiao Ye, support him. Lan Mie, set up defenses. The rest of you, stay alert and ready."
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Zhao Wei stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Understood." His voice was calm, betraying none of the tension he felt. He had faced many formidable foes, but the dragon catfish was a new challenge.
Xiao Ye moved to his side, her hands already glowing with a soft, healing light. "I'll be right here, Senior Brother," she said, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.
Sun Li and Yuan Bo took up positions on either side of Zhao Wei, their weapons drawn and ready. Lan Mei stood slightly behind, prepared to provide support and cover as needed. Lan Mie nodded, her hands moving in intricate patterns as she summoned a barrier of shimmering light. "On it, Junior Sister Bing!"
Luo Bing took out a jade white flute with golden markings, which blended seamlessly with the white dress with golden laces she was wearing.
The dragon catfish lunged, its powerful body cutting through the air with surprising speed. Zhao Wei moved with a grace that belied his unassuming nature, his sword drawing a swift arc in the air as he met the creature's charge. His blade glowed with a fierce light, the power of his sword concept heightening his danger sense and guiding his strikes to the beast's weak spots.
"Zhao Wei, watch out!" Sun Li shouted, his voice sharp as he vanished into the shadows, his body blending seamlessly with the dark underbrush. He reappeared behind the dragon catfish, his sword striking with a swift, shadow-infused slash that left a dark, jagged line across its scales.
Zhao was thrown back like rag doll but the beast was also bleeding .
Xiao Ye stayed close to Zhao Wei, her hands moving in intricate patterns as she channeled healing energy into his body.
Her proximity allowed her to heal his wounds almost instantaneously, her status as a grade 2 healer evident in the speed and precision of her techniques.
"Stay strong, Senior Brother," she said, her voice steady despite the intensity of the battle.
The beast tried to use it's tail to whip Sun Li. But just then Lan Mie interfered .
Her hands moved in fluid motions as she summoned powerful defensive technique.
"Iron Wall Technique!" she called out, a shimmering barrier of light materializing between the dragon catfish and her companion. She infused the barrier with her 'Defense Concept,' making it nearly impervious to the beast's powerful strikes.
As the beast was busy with trying to break the barrier which was about to be destroyed, Yuan Bo moved, his spear glowing with an earthy light as he channeled his 'Earth Concept' into his attacks.
"Earthquake Strike!" he bellowed, his spear smashing into the beast and sending shockwaves rippling through the it's body. The dragon catfish trembled and spat some blood, disrupting its balance and leaving it vulnerable to further attacks.
The beast although injured managed to release a roar infused with qi, the quickest attack it could muster to send Yuan Bo flying and left him a little disoriented.
Xiao Ye rushed to his side, her hands glowing with healing light as she mended his injuries. "Stay still, Yuan Bo," she instructed, her voice calm despite the urgency of the situation. "I'll have you back on your feet in no time."
Zhao Wie sensed an opportunity and moved swiftly as he spotted a weakness on it's back where Yuan Bo hit it.
He infused his qi into sword and slashed in air ."Heaven Splitting slash".
The moment the beast hurled Yuan Bo away a slash cut it's back open. It roared crazily and started to gather qi in 6 points above it's head.
Luo Bing played her flute, the haunting melody weaving through the air and wrapping around the dragon catfish.
She focused her energy, manipulating the creature's emotions. "Feel the rage," she whispered, her voice barely audible but carrying a weight of power. The beast's eyes flared with anger, its attacks growing wild and erratic as it lost control.
The dragon catfish roared, its powerful qi blasts lashing out in all directions and severing thick trunk of the trees from the middle.
Fortunately, Luo Bing's Flute had enraged it causing it to lose focus required for such an attack, making it easier for her members to dodge the attack while Lan Mie protected Xiao ye and Yuan Bo as she stood by their side .
The floating monster felt truly irritated.
Sun Li continued his assault, his 'Shadow Concept' allowing him to strike from the shadows with deadly precision. "Shadow Strike!" he called out, his sword leaving a trail of darkness as it sliced through the dragon catfish's scales again. The beast roared in pain, its movements growing increasingly sluggish as it struggled to keep up with the relentless attacks.
Lan Mie reinforced her barriers, her 'Defense Concept' making them nearly impenetrable.
"Crystal Fortress!" she shouted, a massive wall of shimmering crystal rose from the ground and surrounded Sun Li . The dragon catfish's attacks bounced harmlessly off the barrier, leaving it frustrated and vulnerable.
Zhao Wei seized the opportunity, his sword glowing with a brilliant light as he channeled his 'Sword Concept' into a powerful strike.
"Heaven's Cleave!" he called out, his blade cutting through the air and slicing deep into the dragon catfish's flesh. The beast roared in agony, its movements growing increasingly sluggish as it weakened.
Luo Bing continued to play her flute, the melody shifting to a more soothing tone. "Feel the calm," she whispered, her voice soft and hypnotic. The dragon catfish's movements slowed,
Its eyes growing heavy as it struggled to stay awake.
"Now, finish it!" Luo Bing commanded, her voice ringing with authority.
She raised her flute to her lips, the haunting melody growing more intense as she channeled her energy into a final, devastating attack. "Wrath of Hundred Thunders!" she called out, the sound of her flute reverberating through the forest like a storm.
The dragon catfish roared, its body convulsing as the qi from Luo Bing's technique wreaked havoc within it.
The beast's eyes rolled back in its head, its movements growing increasingly sluggish as it succumbed to the dream-like state induced by her mid level concept, "concept of emotion".
With one final, shuddering breath, the dragon catfish collapsed, its body falling limp on the forest floor.
The forest fell silent once more, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. Luo Bing lowered her flute, her eyes gleaming with a mix of satisfaction and exhaustion. "Well done, everyone," she said, her voice calm but carrying a note of pride.
"We did it."
Xiao Ye rushed to her side, her hands glowing with healing light as she tended to her Non-existent injuries. "Mistress Bing, are you alright?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
"I'm fine, Xiao Ye," Luo Bing replied, her voice steady despite the exhaustion in her eyes. "Thanks to all of you, we were able to defeat the dragon catfish and secure our path forward."
Zhao Wei sheathed his sword, his expression calm but his eyes reflecting the intensity of the battle they had just fought. "Let's take a moment to rest and recover," he suggested, his voice steady. "We still have a mission to complete."
The group nodded in agreement, their expressions a mix of relief as they settled down to rest . The forest around them seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
But Just at this moment the plants behind them rustled, putting them on edge.