Wu Guang, his team, and the caravan left the Sect grounds. And with normal speed started their planned route.

The road towards Coastal Hill City was not very long, just a bit over 180 miles, and was considered very safe. After all, the entire journey took place via the main trade route, a road constantly patrolled and transited by people from the entire island. The latter including cultivators from the powers and cities.

As if in confirmation to this, the caravan comprised of five big wagons arrived at the same inn where Wu Guang had stayed before while traveling towards the Sect with Elder Chen and company safe and sound.

The inn had remained unchanged, but this time was fairly packed when compared to the previous visit. Still, they had no trouble at all in renting an entire building for themselves. Mainly thanks to the route being planned, and so the inn was notified beforehand.

Dinner and the night passed peacefully, and during breakfast, Wu Guang, who had returned to his usual self took care to examine his companions.

Openly they were only four inner circle disciples, an outer elder, and 7 outer circle disciples. So they gave an impression of five Spirit realm cultivators and 7 Body realm ones. But in truth, the overall strength was far above. First, there was Elder Di, an advanced Soul realm cultivator. And Elder Yanshi, from the Discipline Palace who boasted an intermediate level of the same realm.

Adding to that, the remaining 6 fake outer circle disciples were Elites from the latter palace, and so had cultivations between the peak Spirit Realm and the Beginner Soul realm. As for the team itself, thanks to Yuan Taotu managing his breakthrough, everyone except Kuang Jing was a 4th level Spirit realm cultivator.

Right after eating, the caravan started to move. But as if heavens wanted to show that danger is always around, they did meet an incident. In truth, it wasn't much danger even for the team alone, but still, a bandit group attacking the trade tract was surprising to say at least.

The one to first notice them was Elder Di, who sent a quick and silent qi transmission to Wu Guang to inform him. The transmission told the latter everything about the group, so he commanded the team and met them on the roadside.

The strongest man in the group was only a 1st level of the Spirit realm cultivator, so the battle finished pretty quickly and only required a slight effort from the team.

As for the battle itself, it could be described only as an easy one. Knowing the direction and numbers, Wu Guang positioned Kuang Jing to the front. With Wei and Yuan Taotu to the flanks, and himself assuming a vantage point by using a nearby tree.

From there, the three ground members met the 11 bandits in open combat, while he sniped three cultivators that tried to flank them, probably in hopes of reaching the caravan and forcing a hostage situation. Kiang Jing was the one who met the leader in combat, and after a brief bout used a technique that he called out as 'Slashes in the Mist'.

The Kuang family sword technique was indeed interesting, as it used the special blue iron sword to convert one's normal qi into a water elemental one. And by relying on the latter, the technique covered a small circle around the opponent with mist, from which the following slashes landed stealthily.

The latter was beautiful to see from the side, but for the opponent was far from being so. Especially as the bandit leader fell dead bleeding from several deep slashes to his chest, neck, and even face.

Yuan Taotu and Wei fought against mortals, so though each of them killed five of them, they did not even resort to techniques.

As the battle happened, the caravan did not even stop. So the team returned to it right after gathering the spoils. Which only comprised of a few bad quality weapons and a total of 30 gold coins. The coins were a mix of gold, silver, and even copper. Even though they came from the leader's corpse, Kuang Jing said that they should divide them evenly and so each of them got an equivalent of seven and a half gold.

As they assumed their positions back, the group quickly discussed the incident

"It seems they were forced to move from somewhere, after all, how is possible for them to not have any supplies? Or even gear?"

"Indeed"

"Wei, any ideas?"

"Judging from their lack of training, skills, armor... I assume that they are a band that operated on the northern road. The ones that risk coming to the tract are normally far better prepared"

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"I see. So a patrol or an expert chased them off from there?"

"Most probably"

Nothing else occurred during the day, while the night was spent camping. Thankfully the Sect made sure enough resources and supplies were allocated for the trip, so not only did they have a full meal but even a couple of good tents for the night.

Still, the night was not peaceful either. During Wu Guang's guard turn, he sensed something moving in the dark a pair hundred feet from the camp. Knowing that no other travelers would approach so stealthily, Wu Guang signaled to Wei, his guard shift partner. Then by hiding himself into the shadows of the nearest tent left the campfire light and crawled towards the place he noticed the movement.

Arriving there he did not notice anything, but after stressing out his senses to the maximum, located a faint qi signature a hundred feet from his current position.

Considering that such signature could only come from a Spirit realm cultivator or a Spirit beast, Wu Guang took the initiative and activating 'Flaming Armor' stood up. The armor not only provided him with defense against a surprise attack but also brightly illuminated the surroundings.

"Who is there?!" The shout was mainly meant to alarm the camp, but surprisingly he was answered with a question

"Are you the bastards who took care of my boys while I wasn't around?" As this vile-toned question was asked, Wu Guang managed to discern the speaker

The latter had stood up after noticing that the shadows could not hide him now, and so could be identified. The speaker was a decent-looking woman in her early thirties. She was dressed in martial attire, and judging from the qi fluctuation around her was indeed a cultivator.

"If you mean the bunch of trash that attacked our 'Three Hills Sect' caravan... then yes. But why would you come alone? To avenge them? Then you are not in luck, I will be enough to take you" Wu Guang felt that the rest of the caravan was already on alert. While his team members were ready to rush towards him, so he deliberately mentioned he would fight on his own. After all, he did not know if this woman was alone either. In such a case, the best would be for everyone to remain back there.

"Hehehe... Pretty brave, are you? But for your group of weaklings, I am far more than enough" As she laughed and said these words, the woman suddenly lunged at Wu Guang.

While rushing she took out a long knife, which she proceeded to aim at the only, not flame-covered location - Wu Guang's face.

Expecting such, Wu Guang quickly activated the 'Flaming Impulse' and with an explosion of flames below his feet, lunged to the side. Feeling that his opponent was at least on the intermediate Spirit realm, he did not unsheathe his saber. In it's place activating both 'Flaming Fist' and 'Flaming Kick'. He had not yet fused all of them to reach 'Flaming Body', still, when used separately the effect would be almost the same.

Different from the previous bandits, the woman was far more experienced, and she had a few tricks under her sleeve. Seeing that Wu Guang dodged, she did not stop her lunge, but in place utilized it to open distance between them. Afterward, she covered herself with some kind of defensive technique, which looked like a golden coat draping all over her.

"Little friend Wu Guang, do you need help? This woman is three levels over you. If you do, signal me with your flames. But if you are sure, then continue" A transmission from Elder Yanshi arrived.

Wu Guang did not respond and proceeded to clash with this female bandit leader.

This time he indeed had met a challenge, her defense technique protected her against all of his attacks, while the knife in her hand almost broke through the 'Flaming Armor' each time she managed to land a hit.

Such deadlock continued for several moments, during which they exchanged at least a hundred blows. Still, neither of them managed to grab an advantage. Noticing this, Wu Guang started using 'Flaming Impulse' towards his back to land heavier blows, but her defense did not waver at all.

Suddenly, Wu Guang grew dizzy. And right when he recovered felt a stinging pain in his arm and found that her knife had managed to pierce his defensive cover.

The dizziness originated not from an enemy technique, but from Wu Guang's own mind, indicating that he was about to break through. Such could be considered good news during any other time. But as he was currently fighting, in turn, made him lose concentration and receive a wound.

Thankfully he regained his bearing quickly and retreated. Forcefully resisting a breakthrough was not ideal, but in such a situation, he had no other way. At least not until he finished fighting.

"Do you need help?" This time a transmission came from Elder Di.