Qiang Bao was livid as he stormed through the underground training facility where Luan Desheng and his Soul Eclipse made their sect. He would normally never come down here. The foreboding atmosphere of this place, the combination of grungy walls, low lighting, and pained screams that seemed to echo, gave him the creeps. But circumstances being what they were, he had plunged into this place before he even realized what he was doing.
The underground network was like a maze. Qiang Bao would have easily gotten lost if he couldn’t use his divine sun senses to detect dark presences. He had already locked onto the largest presence within the vicinity. It was located near the heart of this maze, though it still took some wandering since not every path led to where he needed to go. After an infuriating amount of time spent navigating through various corridors, he finally arrived in the heart of the Soul Eclipse Sect.
“Luan Desheng! What are your people doing?!”
“Why are you yelling?” asked Luan Desheng in a mild voice as he leaned over a table.
Qiang Bao paused. Something about that voice set his hackles raising. It was dark and foreboding in a way he couldn’t remember hearing from this place. However, his anger was such that he plowed ahead despite his fear.
“Your disciples who went after Mei Xilan Sui are all dead! What are you and your people doing? Why can’t you kill one little girl?!”
Luan Desheng sighed and pressed a hand to his forehead for a moment, as though to stifle a coming headache. Qiang Bao glared at him with impatience, but then the man looked up, and he staggered back. He reached a hand up to his chest. The fabric of his robes folded around his fingers as he clutched it. Luan Desheng’s glare made his heart feel like it was being squeezed.
“I am already aware of what happened. I know who killed my disciples and how.”
Even dark sects like this one used Soul Crystals to tell when one of their disciples died. Qiang Bao, in his anger, had forgotten that. Of course this man would already know his disciples were dead.
Luan Desheng sighed. “I haven’t been able to determine how they were killed, but I know they were all killed by the same person. It wasn’t Mei Xilan Sui, so I suspect it was one of her companions. We’ll know who once they come here. I’ll exact revenge for my disciples’ deaths once I know which one killed them. That person will suffer for what they did.”
Qiang Bao shuddered at the man’s words, spoken with a glacial calm that set him on edge. Luan Desheng was a dangerous man. He was the strongest person in this country and more than capable of taking it over should he wish. The reason he did not was because it would be like painting a target on his back.
Dark sects were wiped out with extreme prejudice by other sects. This was all due to their unethical and malevolent practices. While there were many sects who would happily walk over other people in order to increase their power, all sects had a code of ethics and honor that dark sects lacked. Dark sects had a complete disregard for ethical boundaries, which was what set them apart as evil in the eyes of the broader cultivation community.
Power was important in the cultivation world, and every cultivator sought greater power at the expense of others. However, for many, this was a form of rivalry and was not done for malicious reasons. No normal sect would sacrifice the lives of innocent people or commit heinous acts for the sake of power. A dark sect would.
Dual cultivation was the most visible example that could be used to delineate good and evil. There were legitimate dual cultivation sects. They practiced a form of consensual dual cultivation that increased the both partners' cultivation through sexual intercourse. A dark sect with a focus on dual cultivation would use one of the cultivators as a furnace for the other, stealing the cultivation of one partner and using it to increase the other’s power. That was the difference between a normal sect and a dark sect.
Soul Eclipse was wanted by a dangerous group for this very reason. Qiang Bao did not know much about what Luan Desheng had done, but he knew this man had upset someone very important and powerful, which was why he lived in this nation surrounded on all sides by natural defenses. So long as he hid here, his enemies would not bother with him.
Qiang Bao took a deep breath, held it, released it, and only then did he speak. “Were you able to keep track of them?”
“We were,” Luan Desheng said. He gestured for Qiang Bao to step forward. He did and looked at the table, which had a large map spread across it. This map detailed the entire Xaio Continent. Luan Desheng tapped a spot with his finger. “My disciples went after them when they entered the Cuòjué Forest. This was where they were killed. I lost track of them for a while, but I recently received a report that Mei Xilan Sui is traveling north-west.”
Qiang Bao frowned. “North-west. There’s nothing up that way. Where are they going? The Northern Jin Kingdom?”
“I suspect they are heading for Shuwang City. Then they’ll travel from there up the Snow-River towards the northern Siwang Mountains.” As he spoke, Luan Desheng trailed his finger across the map to highlight where he predicted they would travel before finally stopping at the northern mountains. “There are many underground tunnels and caves. It's home to quite a few dangerous magical beasts, but given how strong her group appears to be, I doubt they’ll have trouble dealing with them.”
“But they still can’t enter through there, can they?”
“They cannot. However, there are tunnels that lead to higher parts of the mountain. I believe they will take those tunnels, then climb the rest of the way.”
“Then… we should station men near the edge of the mountains and attack as they are coming down?”
“We could do that, but I think that would be a waste of time. They’ve already proven they are stronger than your average cultivator. What we should do instead is simply allow them to come here and attack where we are strongest.”
Qiang Bao frowned. “Are you suggesting I use Luminous Eclipse? Against cultivators with a lower cultivation than me?”
“Jiang Xue was a Seeker Realm cultivator and she lost against one person in a three-on-one fight. You might not need to use it, seeing as you’re stronger than she is, but we shouldn’t underestimate our opponents. Having the ability to activate Luminous Eclipse will give us a huge safety net in the event we do find ourselves overwhelmed. Of course, I’ll be fighting too, so you need not worry.”
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Qiang Bao grimaced, but soon sighed. “Very well… I’ll have my disciples get it ready just in case.”
“Good.”
Qiang Bao left the labyrinth in which Soul Eclipse made their home and ordered his disciples to prepare a massive amount of Spirit Crystals. He hoped they wouldn’t have to use them, and he didn’t want to believe that he would need to, but he did agree with Luan Desheng. It was better to be safe than sorry.
***
Shuwang City was the only large city in the Northern Jin Kingdom. It was strategically located along the banks of the Xue River, which flowed gently through the heart of the city. The city’s layout was compact, with narrow winding streets and alleys that meandered through the snowy landscape. After traveling for several days on foot, the first thing they saw upon reaching the city was the high walls that encircled it. They were made of gray stone. The walls not only provided protection but also helped retain warmth within the city. Guard towers at regular intervals surrounded it.
There was only one gate that could be used to enter; fortunately, they did not have to wait very long to get in. Not many people came this far north. There was very little reason to except to trade in snow wolf pelts and the like. One thing he noticed upon waiting by the gate was the large number of women. According to Mei Xilan, it was because the Northern Jin Kingdom was ideal for snow-related cultivation, which more women specialized in than men. Most of these women were traveling further north and this was just a stopping point for them.
It only took a simple fee for them to enter. They were greeted by buildings with sloping, curved rooftops covered in dark gray tiles. Each roof was designed to withstand heavy snowfall and prevent the accumulation of ice. Intricate stone carvings adorned the eaves, depicting scenes that Wu Jian suspected were important to the Northern Jin Kingdom’s history, though he didn’t know for sure. It wasn’t like he’d ever studied the history of this kingdom.
Many homes within the city featured enclosed courtyards with miniature gardens. This was not unusual. Such gardens were the norm in most nations. What differentiated these gardens from others was the type of plants to be found inside; hardy plants like bonsai trees and cold-resistant flowers thrived. Many of them had petals that looked like crystal and were a sight to behold. Decorative stone bridges often traversed small streams or ponds, creating tranquil and scenic spots for reflection.
“We should find a place to stay,” Mei Xilan said.
“I-I second that… achoo!” Huo Shuchang sniffled as he held his arms tightly together, as though that would somehow warm him up. He even had snot dribbling down his nose, which caused the women to keep their distance. “I-I-I don’t enjoy… th-this cold weather at all. Achoo! I need to warm up!”
“It is very cold,” Hou Jingshu agreed.
“Y-Youmei doesn’t like it. She’s going somewhere warm,” Wu Jian’s magical panther companion said before she hopped into Wu Jian’s shadow.
Huo Shuchang’s cultivation method was Crimson Pyre Ascendancy. It was the method granted to him by the Vermillion Bird and harnessed the searing essence of the blood now running through his veins. According to Huo Shuchang, this cultivation method granted him unparalleled mastery over fire and flight. It was superior to the Flames of the Phoenix Cultivation Method in every way.
If Huo Shuchang was to be believed.
Since his cultivation was fire based, his body always ran hot, but that also meant he was susceptible to the cold--not that Wu Jian blamed him. It was freezing. Wu Jian also wanted to get inside and warm up by a nice fire.
They walked through narrow cobblestone streets that wound through the city, flanked by quaint, low-rise buildings. Traditional red lanterns illuminated the cityscape, casting a warm glow upon the otherwise white city. Street vendors selling steaming bowls of hot noodle soup and roasted chestnuts to passerby lined both sides of the road. Huo Shuchang quickly went and bought some chestnuts that he could eat while they walked.
There weren’t many inns in this city, but they soon found one called Radiant Jade Pavilion, which stood out like a gemstone amid the snow-clad streets. It was nestled within a quiet courtyard. The exterior boasted traditional Northern Jin architecture, characterized by elegantly sloped, icicle-adorned rooftops and intricately carved stone panels painted in serene azure and frosty white hues. Strings of jade lanterns dangled from the eaves. They cast a gentle, jade-colored radiance that contrasted beautifully with the surrounding snow.
“Oooooh, I feel so much better!” Huo Shuchang exclaimed.
The warmth immediately suffused them as they entered. Heat came off the floors. They must have been using the geothermal energy to heat them. What they stood in now was the main hall, which featured a large, central hearth, its flames well-stoked to counteract the chill outside. The hall was adorned with jade and crystal decorations, casting delicate rainbows when sunlight pierced through the windows.
According to the inn’s receptionist, they offered a variety of guest rooms, from cozy chambers with heated floors to opulent suites with private balconies. The last time they bought rooms, they separated the boys from the girls. They didn’t get to do that this time. Hou Jingshu bought and paid for three rooms.
“One for Mei Xilan, Zhou Lihua, and Zhou Wen, another one for Huo Shuchang, and one for me and Jian Wu,” she explained. While Zhou Lihua looked like she wanted to say something, one look at Zhou Wen was enough to keep her from speaking out.
The inn wasn’t too expensive, but he was comparing that to his sense for money now, which had become heavily skewed ever since he became a cultivator. All three rooms were opulent suites decorated with silk tapestries and jade ornaments. The one that Wu Jian, Hou Jingshu (and Youmei) would be sleeping in contained a single large bed and soft carpet that emitted incredible warmth. Windows lined with frost granted them a view of the winter wonderland outside.
All of their rooms were connected to each other. That was one of Hou Jingshu’s requests. A door on one side led to a central sitting room. Everyone met there after checking out their accommodations.
“We’re only staying in this city for a single day, right?” asked Hou Jingshu as she leaned back on a couch with Wu Jian and Youmei. The little panther curled was curled up on Wu Jian’s lap as he ran his hand through her hair.
“Yes,” Mei Xilan nodded. “I do not wish to delay our travels for long. We’ll stay here for today, then buy supplies and head out tomorrow.”
“How long will it take to reach the Northern Siwang Mountains?” asked Huo Shuchang.
Mei Xilan placed a hand to her chin and closed her eyes. “I would say… maybe a week if we don’t run into trouble.”
“So we’re going to spend a week in that cold weather?” asked Huo Shuchang with a shudder.
“They probably have clothes we can buy to protect us from the cold,” Wu Jian said to reassure his friend.
“They do,” Mei Xilan confirmed. “We can buy clothes lined with a warming sealing array tomorrow as well. They will protect you from the cold.”
“I wish I had known that sooner,” Huo Shuchang muttered, then sighed. “Well, so long as I can be protected from the heat, I am good.”
Dinner soon arrived and everyone ate their fill. As they were a country with a cold climate, the inn’s cuisine reflected their people’s need for warm, hearty, and nourishing meals. The food was a thick stew featuring a variety of root vegetables, legumes, and meat. Their food came with spiced tea, which warmed them right up. Everyone ate heartily of the meal. When it was time to retire for the night, they went to their separate rooms.
Hou Jingshu and Wu Jian soon found themselves sitting on the massive king sized bed with a sleeping Youmei next to them.