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Elder Xiurong stood from the patch of burned grass and lifted the small metal cylinder. The small, solid object, the length and width of her pinky to the first joint, was made of a metal she couldn’t place. The spiraling groove and warped tip were unlike anything she’d ever seen. It wasn’t hard to understand its purpose, though, given the large splatter of gore it had been found in. A few of the more… intact bodies even had several of the objects still inside.
Elder Xiurong turned to the three behind her and asked.
“Tell me, what do you see?”
The first, a scholarly young man whose shifting eyes always seemed to scan everyone and everything, pushed up his glasses. No one knew why he wore the things since, as a Cultivator, his eyesight was better than even the healthiest of mortals.
Excavation Squad Leader Lin Weiyuan spoke in a practiced and academic tone.
“The bodies are cold, suggesting it’s been more than a few hours since the fight. Despite that, their bodies are mostly untouched. Grassbreakers are known to be cannibalistic, but we see no signs of feeding by them or any other animals. This is even more evidence that the animals and Spirit Beasts have fled the area for an unknown reason.”
Lin Weiyuan pointed to the object in Elder Xiurong’s hand and continued.
“The weapon, whatever it might be, is thrown at high speeds. On impact with flesh, the tip bursts and spreads, utterly destroying any soft tissue it passes through. I can’t even identify what parts of some remains are. I’ve never heard of such a weapon, but it is exceedingly cruel and powerful at the very least.”
Elder Xiurong nodded and turned to a large woman whose body seemed chiseled from stone. Despite her beauty, her perpetual frown and sharp glare had made many a man turn away in fear.
Defense Squad Leader Fang Peng spoke next, her voice deep but melodic.
“They could take out a flock of mature Grassbreakers three dozen strong without moving a step—.”
Fang Peng gestured to the spotless center of the clearing otherwise filled with penguin gore and continued.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“—Several flocks, in fact, if the bodies of multiple leader class Grassbreakers say anything. That is an anomaly as well. Flocks don’t hunt together; they’re too territorial for that. If they DO meet, typically, the leaders will duke it out. The losing flock is absorbed, while the leader is… disposed of.”
Elder Xiurong again nodded, then turned to the last group member.
The petite, pale woman dressed in black robes, reminiscent of her own, bowed and smiled. She might have been the youngest of the three, but that didn’t mean she was any lesser. If anything, that she’d gotten her position on this expedition at such a young age spoke volumes about her talent and craftiness.
Scouts Squad Leader Qi Mingxi covered her mouth with the long robe sleeve and spoke, her voice soft and sweet as honey.
“The target has been moving without real purpose for quite some time. It looks to be searching for something, given the markings we’ve found leading into various Radiant Pits, but what, I cannot say yet. One thing we know is that the target isn’t moving alone.”
Qi Mingxi gestured to several more whole bodies.
“Some Grassbreakers show markings similar to bodies found along, but away from the target’s path. These bodies are in better shape but show evidence of a struggle. Most of the beast cores have been removed as well. This suggests the target is traveling with some manner of tamed Spirit Beast. It’s unlikely to be the assumed Akh’lut pup; the trails are too far and freely roaming to be a hostage.”
Elder Xiurong gave the three core disciples a wide grin. They might have been on an important mission, but that didn’t mean there weren’t learning opportunities. She was proud of these three’s growth during the Fallen Star excavation trip. Considering the event’s nature, it might have been rushed, but each had fought hard for their given position and earned it fair and square.
That was the primary reason for selecting the three to accompany her on this presumed rescue mission. Each was a powerful combatant on their own, but skilled in different ways. It was hard to tell what they’d encounter when they found the Star Thief, so the broader their skill set, the better. Just as important, all three were at the peak of [Shackle-Breaking]. They wouldn’t suffer the same suppression she would, the deeper into the prairies they got.
They would need that strength as well. The closer they got to their target, the more it seemed they weren’t dealing with some low-level Cultivator or Mage who got lucky and was in the area when the Fallen Star fell. No, this was a skilled warrior of unknown ability. They would have to proceed with great caution.
It didn’t help that something, the Star Thief or maybe even the Fallen Star itself, had thrown the prairies into chaos. They’d already rescued two smaller villages making their way to a nearby Earth Shrine, which was attacked by a horde of Grassbreaker Penguins. They’d unfortunately not made it in time to help a third. Such distractions were becoming an issue.
She’d already sent the fourth that had accompanied them, Wei Fa, back to the excavation camp to request teams be sent out. With that covered, they’d be free to fully focus on pursuing their target.
Even so, something about this whole mess didn’t sit well with Yu Xiurong.
That quiet little voice in the back of her mind felt like it was saying they were running out of time. Yet for what? They couldn’t say.