The voice of an elder of the Long Family rings in everyone’s ears, the qi in it carrying it further than it could go alone.

Without bursting nearby eardrums, at least.

His challenge is soon answered by Master Ming, his voice pouring across the land, as well.

“Ha. It appears the snakes have slithered out of their den. Pray tell, why should we agree to such a match?”

…

…

And then silence.

…

…Ah, they must be doing that spiritual sense telepathy again.

Sigh.

I can’t wait until I reach Core Formation so I can do that mysteriously, too.

…

A few more moments pass before Master Ming moves again, looking at the men beside him before letting his voice ring out again.

“… I see. If that is your terms, then we will accept your challenge. Senior Song, as requested by the Long representatives, would you be able to officiate this challenge as an unbiased representative of the sect?”

“I will, provided such officiation does not conflict with my responsibility to my disciple.”

Even from this distance, I can sense something locking in place. Not exactly a contract, but still an oath between cultivators. Each promising to commit to an action, at the cost of their cultivation.

Something rarely seen, but that can be done between higher realm cultivators for shared accountability.

Ugh.

I really want to know what these cultivators are saying in these private mind conversations.

What could have been so tempting to them to agree to this clear ambush?

Though, I suppose it wouldn’t have been effective bait, if the Long family didn’t know what would be worth their time.

Adding to that, it is clear that Sister Nuan would be biased against the Long family. So, why would they ask for her to officiate it, if they didn’t have bad intentions? Either way, she’s absolved herself of contractual obligations.

Soon after those words, I can sense the three dart off on their swords in the direction of the Long elders.

As that happens, everyone here glances over at me. There’s no need to hide our wariness at this point, as this would cause anyone to be alert. Which gives me an opportunity to have us better set things up.

“Let’s keep moving forward, but we’ll be having the carriages be side by side, two at a time. We don’t want to stay near an area where cultivators of that level are fighting.

“Shi, can you set the carriages to the defensive setting? We don’t want to be crushed between them if we have to take cover between them.”

With just a few words, we set ourselves up to have the best defense we can on the move.

Just like in the old American western days, the carriages' automatic defensive setting will ‘circle the wagons’, moving them into a position like a wall, in case of an attack.

Of course, with my new Tortoise Swallows Dragon abilities, we don’t really need it… but it might be better to not reveal all my cards. Not only that, but every little bit can help in an emergency.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

It is like that, that we continue moving. An edge in the air. All of us, realizing the ramification of Master Ming and the group having a battle.

It’s not long before a light flashes in the distance. Right after, we can see a massive explosion in the distance, before the ground shakes and we hear its roar. Then the shockwave hits, causing all of us to take cover on the side of carriages as the wind blows fiercely around us.

Trees flying off into the distance and impacting a distance away. Dust everywhere.

A product of the growing battle between Core Formation Cultivators. All with Sister Nuan watching from a distance.

Senior Tian, being a talisman expert, is the one that caused the explosion. All around him, a literal wave of paper talismans swarming around him, ready to be used on anyone who approaches.

At his side is Master Ming and Elder Li, both of whom are not offensively focused, but have strong defensive techniques and Elder Li’s through body cultivation. Master Ming’s contractual cultivation method coming through in the form of seals, A core of two different types of defenders with one attacker.

With one interesting, shared aspect about them shining through.

All three of them are using Elder Li’s ‘Way of the Speedy Tortoise’ body cultivation method and technique, easily seen by my knowledge and practice in the technique, though theirs are at a much higher level. Evidence of the massive well of experience, malleability, and skill that people who reach Core Formation have, despite having it as long as I have.

But even with their impressive abilities, I’m reminded in an instant of something about the Long family.

They are all water cultivators.

The three Long elders float on their swords, side by side. But not for long. As one, they step off of the swords, onto floating clouds. As they do so, the sky fills with clouds.

Dark, menacing, and destructive.

One of the elders pulls out a box covered in formations.

He yells out as he activates it, his voice booming.

“This will be used to protect others from our battle!”

With a flash just as bright as the previous explosion, the box expands to encompass a hundred kilometers. The clouds that were forming, condensing now within this box.

An artifact that is a contained space, a barrier of sorts.

But even more importantly, this now means that I can’t feel Sister Nuan’s spiritual sense over me anymore.

A qi isolating artifact.

If there is a question if they were going to try something, this just removed it.

And with that, the jade slip connecting Sister Nuan and I are rendered useless. But that doesn’t mean that she and I have no way of communicating, especially since I’ve shared my knowledge.

I still have my healing aura, which doesn’t run off of qi, but mana.

As soon as the connection is removed, I sense that she slices a small nick on her arm. And that’s when I begin my communication.

I flare up the healing using morse code. Using the length of the healing bursts as the dots and dashes.

“We are okay.”

Simple, but informative.

She gives a nod and continues watching the fight that is continuing.

At this lack of concern, the Long elders look at each other and begin ramping up their large-scale attack. A hurricane in a contained space. Seeming to move on to the next phase of their plan, regardless of any actions taken.

Of course, Master Ming and the others aren’t just sitting there. Using various seals, talismans, and techniques, they are containing the forces of nature arrayed against them.

A battle between them on whether the Longs can set the battlefield in their favor is waging.

But that isn’t my concern right now.

Rushing towards us are two core formation experts and quite a few foundation establishments. Cultivators that aren’t wearing any sects’ colors. And their rough appearances belay the other clue of what they could be.

Rogue cultivators.

And considering the looks of greed on their faces… they aren’t here to play nice. It takes only a few moments for them to arrive, by which time I’ve already warned everyone and we’ve positioned the wagons.

At their arrival, we stand on the ledges on the inner part of the carriages. Considering the situation, I don’t put on any airs and shout over to them a warning.

“I shall only say this once! Leave now or we will be forced to attack you!”

But I’m surprised to hear a voice beside me speak up.

“… don’t let them go.”

Yalei, the previous psychopath, is the one who says that. Her eyes are hard, cold, and unblinking at them.

She definitely knows them from her time when she was torturing the others… and probably when she was tortured, as well.

Still covering the rest of our teammates, I can see Jin Chin recognize them as well.

These rogue cultivators knew who they were coming for. One of the core formations steps forward with a swagger, orienting his eyes towards Yalei with greed and happiness.

“You’ll get your turn again soon eno-”

I answer Yalei and Jin Chin’s word with the only response needed.

“Okay.”

BOOOOOOOOM

Before the cocky core formation says anything else, out of my space ring rockets the cannonball from the cannon hidden in that space. Even with it roaring at him, he raises an eyebrow and grabs it at high speeds with a scoff. Viewing the attack as an insult to someone of his realm.

All before he smashes it in his hands with a sneer.

Unluckily for him, that's what I was hoping for, as it immediately ignites and explodes all over him. Covering him in fire and goop.

I hear a laugh underneath the mess.

“You think this is enough… to … ah… AH … AHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

The other cultivators around him crouch back in fear, as they realize a core formation expert has just been hurt in an opening move.

I can’t help but comment.

“…Eat napalm, motherfucker.”