Four days had passed since Meng Lin secluded herself on the remote island studying the Void Reflection Technique with deep concentration.
Outside the cave was a dense forest where the trees swayed gently with the breeze, their leaves glistening under soft sunlight.
Two figures of red and black moved within the forest, their bodies a blur as they clashed midair, pulsing with energy.
The two blurs separated to reveal the figures of a young woman in a vibrant red robe, with flames flickering around her and her eyes sharp with determination.
Opposite her stood a calm young woman in black, droplets of water swirled around her, and her dark hair flowed behind her.
De Sijie, wrapped in fire, and Xi Lin, encased in water, locked eyes, their energies poised for another clash.
The two, along with Xi Lan and Purple, had been released by Meng Lin four days ago, and since then, one of the two, De Sijie, had done nothing but challenge Xi Lin, unwilling to accept the fact that Xi Lin was a step ahead of her, reaching the peak stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm before her.
De Sijie flicked her fingers, sending out a barrage of fireballs that danced through the air like crimson flames, illuminating the canopy above.
"Let's see how much you've improved!" she called out, her voice full of excitement.
Xi Lin smiled as she twirled her hands in an intricate pattern, controlling the water droplets around her to spiral in front of her, forming a protective barrier against De Sijie’s fire attacks.
Boom!
The fireballs exploded against the watery barrier, sending up a mist in the sunlight. Xi Lin steadied herself, the droplets of water around her dwindling as she prepared to counterattack.
De Sijie, on the other hand, gathered her energy, the flames around her intensifying as she conjured a massive wall of fire that surged forward, consuming the space between them.
The forest crackled under the heat, and Xi Lin’s eyes widened at the new tactic. A sphere of water formed in her hand, and she condensed it with a swift motion, concentrating her energy into the sphere until it pulsed with a powerful aura.
Without hesitation, Xi Lin hurled the water sphere forward, her hand guiding its trajectory through the fiery wall. The sphere, tightly condensed and radiating with elemental force, shot towards the blazing inferno.
Chi!!
A sharp sizzling sound filled the air as steam rose from the collision, but Xi Lin’s water sphere remained intact, breaking through the flames and shooting toward De Sijie.
De Sijie’s eyes widened in surprise, quickly shifting her stance as she raised her hands to summon another burst of flames in defense. However, the speed of Xi Lin’s attack left her little time to respond.
The water sphere collided with her body, its force surprisingly calm as De Sijie was only pushed back slightly.
De Sijie scowled but finally sighed. “I lost again.” She admitted defeat, though her eyes still burned with the desire to improve.
Turning to the side, De Sijie noticed Xi Lan standing quietly, observing their battle with a thoughtful expression.
“Xi Lan,” De Sijie called out, “are you running out of energy? If so, you should deactivate your forcefield around the place."
With Xi Lan at the epicenter, the 20-meter radius was encased in a faint shimmering energy, the forcefield that Xi Lan had been maintaining throughout the sparring session.
Within this forcefield, all forms of damage were significantly reduced, lessening the impact of every blow and slowing the attacks just enough to give her companions time to react.
Forming this kind of forcefield around herself came as a surprise to Xi Lan, as her physique could somewhat manipulate the surroundings.
Xi Lan, with her silver-streaked hair swaying gently, glanced at De Sijie. “I still have plenty of energy,” she replied calmly, "Although I can't keep it up for more than 20 breaths. When my cultivation stage increases, the duration will increase as well."
Xi Lin, walking forward, smiled softly. “It truly is a great physique. With it, you will surpass us in no time."
De Sijie rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “It doesn’t help that I can barely feel Xi Lin’s attacks in this bubble you’ve created. How am I supposed to know how strong I’ve really gotten?”
Xi Lan chuckled softly. “It’s not about brute strength. This forcefield is meant to help you hone your control and precision. Power alone won't win every battle.”
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De Sijie’s flames dimmed as she pondered Xi Lan’s words. She clenched her fists, frustrated yet understanding. “I guess you’re right. But still, a good fight now and then wouldn’t hurt.”
Xi Lin, meanwhile, stopped and scrutinized De Sijie, her smile widening. “I am more curious about your technique. Where did you get such a technique? Its power is almost comparable to the Imperial Water Art that I cultivate?"
De Sijie’s lips curled into a smirk as she crossed her arms, her fiery aura pulsing lightly. “Oh? Curious, are we?” She tossed her hair back, pride clear in her stance. “This isn’t just any ordinary flame technique. It’s something called the Crimson Flame Art, a high-tier mid-grade manual. It's well known for its aggressive nature, and with the right cultivation method, it can devour weaker spiritual attacks.”
Xi Lin’s brow arched in intrigue. “Crimson Flame Art… so where did you get it?"
De Sijie's smirk faltered for a brief moment, and she hesitated before answering. "Where did I get it?" She repeated the question, her eyes briefly flickering with something deeper, something hidden. "Let’s just say… it’s something that I learned from my family."
Xi Lin raised an eyebrow, noticing the subtle shift in De Sijie’s demeanor. "Your family? You’ve never mentioned them before. Are they a cultivation clan?"
De Sijie waved her hand dismissively, her usual fiery confidence returning. "It's nothing you need to worry about. It was just something I learned as a kid." She tossed her hair back, trying to shift the focus.
Xi Lin’s sharp gaze didn't miss the fleeting vulnerability in De Sijie's words. She had always been curious about De Sijie’s past, but the fiery woman was skilled at deflecting personal questions.
Still, Xi Lan chose not to press further. She knew De Sijie all too well. "Well, it’s powerful," Xi Lan said, her voice calm, "and with more practice, you'll be able to control it even better."
De Sijie relieved that the conversation didn’t pry too far, grinned. "Exactly. I’ll surpass you soon enough."
Xi Lin chuckled and just shook her head. As they stood there, reflecting on their progress and challenges, a sudden burst of spiritual consciousness swept through the whole island, giving them a shock.
The sudden surge of enormous consciousness sweeping past them sent a chill down their spines, and all three cultivators instinctively fell into defensive stances.
“What was that?” De Sijie asked.
Xi Lan furrowed her brow, her forcefield subsiding in response to the disturbance. “It felt like… a very powerful cultivator has just swept through the area with their spiritual consciousness."
Xi Lin’s expression hardened. “That’s not a good sign. They could..."
Boom!
Atop the cliff, Meng Lin emerged from her secluded cave, sending debris into the air as her aura rippled through the atmosphere. Irritation flickered across her face as her focus had been shattered by the sudden intrusion of spiritual consciousness.
She released her spiritual consciousness, its form slightly denser as it swept through the island and beyond it.
Within a moment, Meng Lin was able to pinpoint the source of the spiritual consciousness, and immediately she took to the skies, swiftly flying toward a small flying boat about three miles away in the ocean.
Meng Lin's irritation grew as she closed the distance between herself and the small flying boat. As she flew closer, she felt something within her inventory react.
Opening the panel, she saw that it was the Visionary Lamp, she had gotten it after defeating the little bandit leader within the Orchid Spring Mountain.
Meng Lin's eyes narrowed as she realized the situation. The Visionary Lamp, a seemingly innocuous item, had likely been tapped all along.
The flying boat was now in view, 20 meters long, sleek and ominous as it hovered just above the ocean’s surface. She sensed several powerful cultivators within—three at the Soul Wandering Realm and twelve at the Gold Core Realm.
Stopping a few meters from the boat, Meng Lin hovered in the air, her robes billowing in the wind as her sharp gaze took in the scene. "So, they've been tracking me all this time."
She spotted a lone figure walking out to the deck—a man with sharp features, cold eyes, and a scar on his left cheek.
The man wore dark robes and had two short blades strapped to his back. His presence exuded malice, and his spiritual energy was masked so well that Meng Lin might not have noticed him at all if not for his earlier outburst of consciousness.
The man slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers. "Meng Lin," he said, his voice low and gravelly, "we finally meet."
Meng Lin narrowed her eyes, her body tense with caution. "Who are you?"
The man smirked. "You don't deserve to know me." With lightning speed, he vanished from the spot, his figure blurring as he appeared right in front of Meng Lin, his blade flashing toward her throat.
Meng Lin barely had time to react, raising her hand to extend her claws just in time to deflect his strike. Sparks flew as the blade clashed against her claws. Meng Lin felt a large force within the strike and was pushed back several meters.
The impact sent a ripple through her body, but she steadied herself, her eyes narrowing further. Although the man was masking his cultivation base, she felt that he was at least the Late Stage of the Soul Wandering Realm.
His attack was fast, even comparable to Senior Sister Liu. Without hesitation, she circulated her Formless Cultivation Method, the second form, Form Eraser, blending into the surrounding air. Her presence became intangible.
The man paused, his cold gaze scanning her mist form. "San Di, launch the formation!" he bellowed, his voice directed to the flying ship.
Suddenly, another figure appeared on the deck of the boat. It was a man in the Early Stage of the Soul Wandering Realm, his appearance was crude as he replied, "Yes, Boss Xue. Everyone in position."
As the crude-looking man, San Di, spoke, a rumble echoed from the flying boat. The air around Meng Lin grew thick with energy as an intricate formation began to materialize.
It shimmered, forming a vast, translucent dome that covered the surrounding sky and ocean, locking her within.
Meng Lin's heart sank slightly as she realized that her form was becoming corporal. She couldn't use her mist form. 'That ship, is it a high-grade item?' she wondered.
She could feel the spiritual energy of both Soul Wandering Realm and Gold Core Realm cultivators flowing into the formation, strengthening the dome barrier.
"An entire formation just for me?" Meng Lin muttered, her voice laced with sarcasm despite the seriousness of the situation.
Her irritation deepened, knowing that this wasn't an ordinary battle anymore. This was a full-scale trap, and they had been preparing for her for a while.
The man with the scarred face grinned, his cold gaze locking onto her as he hovered in the air. "You're more trouble than you’re worth, Meng Lin. But it’s time to end this little chase. Hand over the jade box, and I might consider letting you leave with your life."
Meng Lin's eyes flashed with anger. The jade box again. She took a deep breath and steeled herself, her forearm glowing as she spoke. "You’re underestimating me if you think I’ll just hand it over."
The leader’s grin widened, and without a word, he signaled to the ship. The formation trembled as spiritual energy intensified, condensing into a more confined space around Meng Lin.
She could feel the pressure of immense might, crushing down on her body and restricting her movement. She felt the space around her constrict, barely allowing her to move.
Roar!!
Suddenly, from her glowing forearm, came an eight meter long serpentine dragon, its form bursting forth in a blaze of elemental power as four different elemental energies swirled around Meng Lin, creating a chaotic vortex of destructive qi.
The dragon’s roar reverberated through the dome, its elemental force slamming into the formation's barrier.
The barrier held, though cracks began to form at the points of impact. The combined strength of so many cultivators wasn't easily broken, but Meng Lin was finally free of the constriction.
The leader’s expression darkened as he watched the cracks form. "You persistent bitch," he growled, his voice laced with venom. "But it won’t save you!" He suddenly disappeared once more, his speed fast.
Meng Lin's eyes flickered as she caught the faint ripple in the air, sensing the man's approach even as he vanished from sight.
The Crimson Tortoise Dragon responded immediately, its serpentine body coiling through the air to intercept the scarred man. Elemental energy crackled from its body, unleashing bursts of water, fire, and darkness as it charged at the assailant.
The man's blade clanged against the dragon’s hardened scales, and the clash of their energies sent shockwaves through the dome.
Circulating the Formless Cultivation Method to the max, Meng Lin utilized the third form, Form Nullification. A wave of mist erupted from her, and she slashed out with her claws.
Her attack carried the mist of her Form Nullification, a force capable of destabilizing physical forms and dissolving spiritual defenses. The air around her warped, and a crescent slash shot forth, aimed not at the scarred man but at the flying boat where the formation originated.
A crescent slash of formless energy tore through the air, cutting into the translucent barrier. The energy rippled outward, reaching the flying boat in an instant.
BOOM!
The vessel shuddered under the impact, its hull slowly splitting in two as its formation shattered, sending pieces of the ship plummeting toward the ocean below.
Different panicked screams echoed as the ship began to break apart, its crew scrambling to hold on while some perished under the claw strike.