As night deepened, our preparations reached a fever pitch. Liang moved with a focused intensity I had never seen before, his usual calm replaced by a razor-sharp determination.
SEND MORE CULTIVATORS? I suggested, concerned about the odds we faced.
Liang shook his head firmly. "No. I can't risk more lives. This is my responsibility. Besides, a larger group would be easier to detect."
He was right, but the danger remained immense. I quickly reviewed our assets:
[Rescue Operation Assets]
* Liang (Early Elemental Attunement Cultivator)
* Ripple (Enhanced Koi, Water Combat Specialist)
* Terra (Enhanced Turtle, Heavy Defense/Offense)
* River Lotus Network (Information Gathering, Limited Environmental Control)
It wasn't much against the forces we'd face, especially considering the captain of the riverboat.
CAPTAIN FENG. MID-TIER ELEMENTAL ATTUNEMENT. DANGEROUS, I warned.
Liang's jaw tightened. "I know. He's half a step above me in cultivation. But we have surprise on our side, and..." he paused, his hand unconsciously moving to his chest where the demon stirred, "...other resources if absolutely necessary."
The implied risk made my waters churn with worry, but there was no time for debate.
As Liang made his final preparations, I focused on enhancing Ripple and Terra for the mission ahead. I infused them with specially cultivated lotus essences, boosting their speed, strength, and mana capacity.
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[Skill: Biocultivation Augmentation has increased to Lvl 3] [Ripple and Terra's combat effectiveness increased by 40%]
With our preparations complete, we set out under the cover of darkness. Liang rode on Terra's back as we navigated the twisting waterways, guided by the information flowing through my river lotus network.
As we neared the Serpent's Tail River, I detected the faint mana signature of the riverboat in the distance. It was time to implement our stealth approach.
DEPLOYING MIST COVER, I communicated to Liang.
Drawing upon the water in the air and river, I began to generate a thick, mana-infused mist. It spread rapidly, enveloping our group and creeping towards the riverboat. Through my connection with the mist, I could sense the outline of the boat and the figures moving on its deck.
"Remember," Liang whispered to Ripple and Terra, "our priority is freeing Mei. Avoid unnecessary confrontation if possible."
As we silently closed in on the riverboat, hidden within the supernatural fog, the tension was palpable. Liang's aura flickered with barely contained energy, a mix of his water-attribute cultivation and the roiling darkness of the demon within.
I extended my senses to their limit, mapping every eddy and current around us. The rescue mission was balanced on a knife's edge – success would mean saving Mei and potentially turning the tide against the Cloudburst Sect's oppression. Failure... I didn't want to contemplate the consequences.
Through the mist, the silhouette of the Serpent's Fang loomed ever larger. In moments, we would be upon them. I could sense Mei's faint mana signature on board, along with the more potent aura of Captain Feng.
APPROACH COMPLETE. READY FOR ENGAGEMENT, I signaled to Liang.
He nodded, his eyes glinting with determination in the darkness. "Let's bring her home," he whispered.
As we prepared to make our move, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were on the cusp of a moment that would change everything. The scientific lotus had come a long way from its peaceful pond, and now we were about to plunge into the depths of conflict.
Whatever the outcome, I knew that after tonight, our path would be irrevocably altered. The mists swirled around us, pregnant with possibility and danger. The stage was set for a confrontation that would test not just our strength, but our very ideals.