“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Why w-n’t-t-com- off!”
Anguished cries ring out across the area, with his teammates scurrying away from the jellied burning mess around him. Even the other core formation expert has a look of horror on him.
A napalm mixture with the heat intensity of thermite and far stickier than most substances from earth.
Of course, there are some ingredients that have qi in them, that boost the effects slightly. Soaking his body in chemical and heat burns all the way to the bone. Not enough to kill him, but as he continues to try to rip off the napalm, he only serves to actually be tearing off skin, muscle, and bone.
But even this isn’t enough to kill a core formation expert. Just maim and disorient.
And that’s only because these two are quite below the average strength of a core formation expert. Just a poor rogue cultivator with a dismal cultivation base.
A glance at the giant box in the distance containing the Seniors and Longs, show the opposite end of the scale. Where their slight attacks have the power to level small towns. The variance in ability and skill that can be seen even within the same realm and level.
Against an above average Core Formation, like them… it wouldn’t even tickle their skin.
A terrifying thought.
My eyes turn back to the screaming and scared rogue cultivators before me.
Their disadvantages are my benefit. With it being more than enough to provide a functional distraction.
Soaring past me at speeds even faster than when she fought me, Jin Chin stabs her short sword and dagger at the shocked and uninjured core formation expert.
With a swipe, her short sword aims for his neck.
The expert barely parries her short sword, but her dagger changes direction, landing in his gut. But they wouldn’t be a living rogue cultivator of this realm without some tricks of their own.
In an instant, a column of fire erupts from his mouth, spewing out for several kilometers, setting the forest on fire and causing Jin Chin immediately leap down and jump away to get distance.
Luckily for us, it was angled upwards, and missed our group, even though the heat from it sears our skin. Only kept back by the barriers I’ve erected around our group and the carriages.
As the fire goes down, his face is fierce, looking for blood.
Taking an angry step forward…
He instantly falls on his face.
Black lines spreading from the dagger wound in his belly. Mouth frothing, with fire sporadically leaking out. Seizing up, his body shaking.
Yeah… why the heck wouldn’t I outfit each of my people with poisons? Especially if I trust them and they are competent like Jin Chin?
Though, even with contracts, those are usually the two things that prevent others from doing it. Betrayal or accidents are always a possibility on the horizon.
But if they used it on me, though… it would still basically do nothing because of my healing.
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Huh. I’m actually in a pretty good position to do a lot of unfair tactics.
With both Core Formation experts on the ground and out of commission, the foundation experts have already started to flee. Being just rogue cultivators, they don’t have any loyalty to each other, likely assuming this would be an easy mark.
Even with the Long family's famous scheming and investigative resources, they weren't able to clearly ascertain the extent of my and the other's strength hidden within our walls.
“Well, well, well. I was hoping for a show, but I didn’t expect it to be so quick. Educational, but disappointing.”
A voice appears behind our caravan setup on the other side of the encampment. One quite familiar to me, but only a little to the others.
Lao Na, the servant to the Sect Patriarch.
He steps out from an invisible rift in space, a cocky smile on. His posture and presence tell me everything I need to know about the situation.
The ‘be wary’ from Sister Nuan wasn’t for what we would encounter… but for what we would reveal to everyone else. Explaining why she didn’t seem worried about our safety. This wasn’t a genuine attack by the Long Family, but a small test by them and the other factions within the sect. To see how we would fare against subpar Core Formation experts.
“… everyone relax. This is Lao Na, the Patriarch’s servant. He’s safe.”
Even with his relaxed tone and informal speech, Jin Chin and the others hadn’t relaxed even slightly when he arrived. If anything, they were even more anxious. As he did just appear out of thin air.
At my words, they glance at each other and relax their combat positions.
Lao Na moves over, past the carriages, to speak to me face to face.
While he is an ally, his personality, abilities, and position make me wary of him. And what his presence here will mean for us.
Before he speaks, he waves a hand. The two cultivators, one still foaming on the ground, and the other just gaining ahold of themselves from the pain of the napalm, both have ripples in space time form below them.
Immediately, the foaming and paralyzed cultivator sinks into the ripple of space, unable to escape. However, the other cultivator springs away instantly, after it forms.
“Junior, YOU DARE?!”
His eyes, caked under the still burning chemicals, look on with rage at both of us. In response, Lao Na gives another sigh and wave. A portal opens up in front of the cultivator, with another, more subtle one behind.
Noticing both, he attempts to leap up and away from them, but right as he does, a third one appears in his path… sucking him right in.
From the little I can gather about the portals… it seems these all go to a specific location.
Hmm… maybe his power isn’t as overpowered as I thought. I think these all go to a specific location that he then uses to teleport out of. A major hub of sorts.
Which must be that prison area we went to with him before.
My eyes drift to the rings and other valuable looking objects on his arms.
It's possible that these abilities are not specifically derived from his cultivation method. I shouldn’t make too many assumptions, in case things ever change between us.
After effortlessly trapping two core formation experts in some kind of space trap, he finally speaks to me.
“Well, sorry about that. The Patriarch wanted me to convey his apologies that certain elements have taken steps to slow your progress to Monchon City.
“While the unknown parties in question have long disappeared, we’ll be making sure that no others interfere, at this time.”
He gives a smirk after these words.
“In my humble opinion, though, I would have liked to see what you would have to do after defeating these two cultivators, rather than having us dispose of them. Especially considering your normal choices in dealing with those who oppose you.”
What does he mean by that?
The only real enemies I’ve fought and reconciled with has been Ao Jin, the demonic cultivator and Meili, the assassin woman.
Unless…
Right.
What I consider opposing is a much higher bar than what almost all other cultivators do. Especially in a world where a small slight can lead to an entire family being purged.
… something I’ve been lucky to not encounter yet.
I’ve met and had interactions with countless people who committed small slights against me. I just don’t worry about it unless it’s crazy.
After giving me a scrutinizing stare, he understands I won't be offering any information. With a shrug, he gives a slight bow.
I briefly say some words, as it looks like our meeting is ending.
“Please extend our thanks to the Patriarch and yourself for your kind support. I look forward to continuing to support our sect!”
A small smile graces his lips before he disappears.
And as he does so, another boom resonates through the shield surrounding Sister Nuan and the others above.
The battle continues to rage in the box, while we decide how to move forward.