As Meng Lin and Ruan Lee made their way across the sky, the landscape below them blurred with greens and browns, the silence between them was comfortable and contemplative.
Meng Lin was deep in thought, her mind replaying the events that had just unfolded. The ease at which she had dispatched two of her opponents didn't donn on her, she had forgotten about them so it was a good thing that she had cut loose ends before they got out of hand.
Her thoughts were rather focused on the actions that she should take, Purple's bloodline transition, upgrading her blacksmith and alchemy panel and utilizing the tortoise shell to awaken the ancient spirit seal on her skin.
She also had to consume a few more items to increase her strength, using the sect's resources to a maximum was also a must, with the two sects in a stalemate, now was the time for her to upgrade her strength more than ever.
By her side Ruan Lee was grappling with their encounters and he blurted out out of curiosity, "Um, Senior Sister..." He said unsure of how to address Meng Lin, he still didn't know her name.
Meng Lin turned towards him, her gaze understanding as she noticed his hesitance. "My name is Meng Lin"
"Senior Sister Meng, I was wondering, what realm are you in?" he asked after much contemplation.
"I have just recently broken through to the Soul Wondering Realm," Meng Lin replied, her voice steady. "I have just emerged from a secret realm and my sect token was destroyed, can you tell me the events that have happened after the continent was invaded"
Ruan Lee paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts before he spoke. "After the monsters invaded, everything changed," he began, his voice tinged with a mixture of awe and fear. "Sects that have stood for centuries fell in days. The landscape of the continent has been altered, not just physically, but in power dynamics as well."
He continued, "Some sects have been completely wiped out, while others have merged to form alliances, pooling their resources and cultivators in a bid to withstand the monsters' onslaught. The most shocking development, however, involves the monsters, a monster that has caused an uproar across the continent."
"Is it that rank 6 monster", Meng Lin asked, remembering the words that Division Head Zheng said to her.
Ruan Lee's eyes turned to her with surprise, however they soon turned to fear as he delved into this peculiar monster. "This monster was unlike any other, it was originally just an early stage rank 5 monster, however it was definitely more powerful than its rank."
"Just after it appeared, 2 fourth rank sects were already destroyed as it went on a killing spree, devouring all the Narscent Soul Cultivators in its path, it increased it's strength every time it devoured them. However it was when it attacked the Golden Summit Sect that the major powerhouses finally took notice of it, however it was too late at that point"
"Shockingly it was able to fight the Golden Summit Sect's Guardian beast which was half- step Rank 6 and it ended up devouring the colossal beast and quickly reached the 6th rank in terms of strength"
Meng Lin raised an eyebrow as she asked "in terms of strength, you mean its not actually in the 6th rank yet"
Ruan Lee nodded, his expression filled with a mix of trepidation and disbelief. "That's correct, Senior Sister Lin. The monster's strength is on par with a rank 6 cultivator, but it hasn't officially reached that rank. To cross such a giant realm is insane"
He took a deep breath before continuing, "The sects were in disarray, and alliances were constantly shifting. Our sect, under the protection of Divine Sage Ancestor, managed to repel the monster, but not without significant losses. The Grand Elder was critically injured during the encounter. As a result, the Scarlet Demon Sect saw an opportunity to attack our borders. Thanks to our Sect Master, who is also in the Ensoulment Realm, we've managed to hold them off, but the situation is precarious."
Meng Lin nodded, her understanding deepening. "Thank you, Ruan Lee, for the update. It seems the situation is graver than I anticipated. That beast in particular, but I wonder why those within the Ensoulment realm aren't banning together and getting rid of it"
"That's the question of the whole continent" Ruan Lee said with a bitter smile.
"Can you tell me what happened between you three back then" Meng Lin asked, wondering about the two that died by her hand.
He paused, collecting his thoughts. "Wei Han had become afraid of my rapid advancements and he feared that I would take revenge against him after he blacklisted me, I think that was his main reason for deserting the sect"
"There were plenty of sect disciples that turned against the sect under the influence of the Scarlet Demon Sect. It's not just for power or resources; the sect's internal conflicts and promises of greater freedom and strength by the Scarlet Demon Sect have swayed many. Wei Han was among those who believed that aligning with the Scarlet Demon Sect would grant him a higher status and more power than he could ever achieve within our own sect."
Ruan Lee's expression hardened. "Zhang Wei, on the other hand, was sent by the Scarlet Demon Sect to infiltrate our borders and form alliances with those disenchanted with the sect. His role was to destabilize our sect from within, making it easier for the Scarlet Demon Sect to attack when we were most vulnerable, because of his cunning abilities, the sect has not been able to do anything to him"
Meng Lin's eyes narrowed. "The sect didn't send Soul Wondering or Narscent Soul Cultivators?"
"They did," Ruan Lee confirmed. "They sent Soul Wondering cultivators but he would always escape through the shadows before they even showed up, as for Narscent Soul Cultivators, almost all of them are at the frontline fighting monsters and the Scarlet Demon Sect and those guarding the sect couldn't leave the sect vulnerable as it might be part of the Scarlet Demon Sect's plan"
Meng Lin tapped her chin thoughtfully. "There must have been a way to counteract his shadowy escape technique. Has there been any effort to trap him or predict his movements?"
"We've tried," Ruan Lee admitted. "But he's always one step ahead. Our best guess is that he has informants within the sect or some sort of ability that alerts him, if you hadn't showed up like you did, I think he would have escaped once more"
"How did you end up fighting them both"
Ruan Lee hesitated but ended up speaking "I had intentionally gone out of the sect to lure Wei Han, I originally wanted to capture him and interrogate him however I didn't expect Zhang Wei to be in his shadows, I was ambushed while fighting Wei Han, fortunately I had protective measures in place"
"So that's what happened, i understand" Meng Lin said while her thoughts ran over the conversation.
Neither spoke as they spent the next few minutes in silence, the landscapes continued to blur beneath as they neared the sect.
The first sight that greeted them was the cluster of mountains within an even bigger deep forest, they didn't take long before arriving at the sect's door, where two sect elders seemed to be standing guard.
Upon landing, they were immediately approached by the two sect elders, their expressions a mix of surprise and concern. The elder on the left, Elder Qiu, spoke first, his voice filled with surprise. " You, I've seen you before. Are you disciple Meng Lin by chance"
The other elder, Elder Luo interjected, "it is, where were you, and your realm, what happened" they were both surprised as Meng Lin's aura was almost matching their own cultivation of the Mid Stage Soul Wondering Realm.
Meng Lin nodded, acknowledging the recognition. "Yes, I am Meng Lin," she replied, her voice calm and composed. "I have just returned from a secret realm where I underwent a breakthrough. My realm has recently advanced to the Soul Wondering Realm and my sect token is broken"
Elder Qiu's surprise turned into a mixture of relief and admiration. "So you have successfully broken through to a higher realm. That is commendable"
Elder Luo, still concerned, added, "Indeed, come, you should get your sect token along with your rewards for your breakthrough, we'll quickly inform the Pavilion Mountain of your return so they can open the array surrounding it"
Meng Lin nodded, turning she said, "this is where we part ways Junior brother Lee", Ruan Lee looked at Meng Lin, a mixture of pride and concern etched across his face. "Senior sister Meng, I'll report the matter to the sect, you take care within the Pavilion Mountain"
Meng Lin offered a final nod before she followed one of the elders into the sect, she briskly made her way through the sect, her steps quick and purposeful. The sect, buzzing with activity and tension due to the precarious situation, seemed to pause momentarily as she passed. Disciples and masters alike cast curious glances her way, some whisper among themselves.
The walk to one of the sect's administrative center was swift. Elder Luo led Meng Lin through corridors lined with intericate designs before finally arriving to the counters.
After going through a thorough identification process Meng Lin was presented with a new golden sect token, intricately designed and pulsating with a soft light, signifying her status within the sect.
Alongside the token, she received a collection of resources: rare herbs, spirit stones, soul wandering pills of various uses and sect points within her now new sect token, these were all rewards for her breakthrough.
With no time to dawdle, Meng Lin was escorted towards the teleportation formations. The path leading there was familiar, yet it felt different this time. Her steps were more confident, her resolve firmer.
As they walked, Elder Luo briefed Meng Lin. "The Pavilion Mountain is now protected by an ancient array, designed to block off any access and interaction between the outside world, a droplet of your blood on your golden sect token is the key to enter"
Meng Lin listened intently as they approached the teleportation formations, they were greeted by the same sect elder who oversaw the process last time.
The elder nodded towards her and took out a small intricate talisman before presenting it to her, Meng Lin nodded her head back and clawed herself to make a drop of blood emerge.
The talisman was given to her and she stepped into the teleportation formation, feeling the energy swirling around her, a pricking sensation ran through her body. The air crackled and the teleportation platform shone, transporting her to her destination.
Meng Lin found herself standing in a familiar teleportation formation, around her was a clearing with clouds all across the area, as if the mountain was within the sky.
Meng Lin smiled as she felt a surge of energy coursing through her veins. The energy swirling around the mountain had increased by at least twofold, she wondered why.
Walking through the cloud filled area, Meng Lin's perception quickly picked up on gazes landing on her body, she smiled slightly as he wondered what must be going through these ancestors mind when they look at her, do spiritual remnants even thoughts she wondered.
She remembered the number of gazes on her last time, they matched the same number of gazes this time as well, it seems a change in cultivation doesn't make any difference, likely not potential otherwise even more gazes would be on her since her aptitude had increased but maybe these gazes were all there were.
Meng Lin quickly reached a large pavilion and entered after thinking for a bit, inside, she was immediately greeted by two of the girls, De sijie and Xi Lin. The moment they saw her, their eyes lit up with joy and surprise.
"Miss Meng Lin!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with excitement and relief, they had been cultivating and increasing their strength but recently they have been feeling extremely hurt.
Meng Lin was touched by their warm welcome. She noticed right away the changes in their demeanor and aura. Their faces were brighter, their spirits were higher, and their cultivation base had clearly improved. It was evident that they had been diligently practicing the techniques she had advised them on before her departure.
Xi Lin, the older sister ran to give Meng Lin a respectful bow before looking up at her with tears in her eyes. "Miss Meng Lin, we've missed you so much! We've been practicing every day, waiting for you to come back!"
De sijie also spoke sincerely, "We've all made breakthroughs in our cultivation, see." She raised her hand to show her cultivation level of the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Xi Lin was a step behind in showing her aura however she had clearly been the one who progressed the most, recently reaching the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, it was evident that the Qi within the Pavilion Mountain and the Pills Meng Lin left behind had done wonders.
Meng Lin smiled warmly, genuinely proud of their progress and the bond they had formed during her absence. "I'm glad to see how much you've all progressed. Your hard work is truly commendable, and your injuries are all but gone, you two are quite beautiful" she said with laughter, not reserving herself between the two girls.
Meng Lin's comment brought blushes to the faces of De sijie and Xi Lin. The compliment, though made in jest, highlighted the close and comfortable relationship they had developed over all the times they have spent with each other.
"Where is Xi Lan" Meng Lin asked, causing the joyful faces of the two to suddenly plummet.
As Meng Lin and Ruan Lee made their way across the sky, the landscape below them blurred with greens and browns, the silence between them was comfortable and contemplative.
Meng Lin was deep in thought, her mind replaying the events that had just unfolded. The ease at which she had dispatched two of her opponents didn't donn on her, she had forgotten about them so it was a good thing that she had cut loose ends before they got out of hand.
Her thoughts were rather focused on the actions that she should take, Purple's bloodline transition, upgrading her blacksmith and alchemy panel and utilizing the tortoise shell to awaken the ancient spirit seal on her skin.
She also had to consume a few more items to increase her strength, using the sect's resources to a maximum was also a must, with the two sects in a stalemate, now was the time for her to upgrade her strength more than ever.
By her side Ruan Lee was grappling with their encounters and he blurted out out of curiosity, "Um, Senior Sister..." He said unsure of how to address Meng Lin, he still didn't know her name.
Meng Lin turned towards him, her gaze understanding as she noticed his hesitance. "My name is Meng Lin"
"Senior Sister Meng, I was wondering, what realm are you in?" he asked after much contemplation.
"I have just recently broken through to the Soul Wondering Realm," Meng Lin replied, her voice steady. "I have just emerged from a secret realm and my sect token was destroyed, can you tell me the events that have happened after the continent was invaded"
Ruan Lee paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts before he spoke. "After the monsters invaded, everything changed," he began, his voice tinged with a mixture of awe and fear. "Sects that have stood for centuries fell in days. The landscape of the continent has been altered, not just physically, but in power dynamics as well."
He continued, "Some sects have been completely wiped out, while others have merged to form alliances, pooling their resources and cultivators in a bid to withstand the monsters' onslaught. The most shocking development, however, involves the monsters, a monster that has caused an uproar across the continent."
"Is it that rank 6 monster", Meng Lin asked, remembering the words that Division Head Zheng said to her.
Ruan Lee's eyes turned to her with surprise, however they soon turned to fear as he delved into this peculiar monster. "This monster was unlike any other, it was originally just an early stage rank 5 monster, however it was definitely more powerful than its rank."
"Just after it appeared, 2 fourth rank sects were already destroyed as it went on a killing spree, devouring all the Narscent Soul Cultivators in its path, it increased it's strength every time it devoured them. However it was when it attacked the Golden Summit Sect that the major powerhouses finally took notice of it, however it was too late at that point"
"Shockingly it was able to fight the Golden Summit Sect's Guardian beast which was half- step Rank 6 and it ended up devouring the colossal beast and quickly reached the 6th rank in terms of strength"
Meng Lin raised an eyebrow as she asked "in terms of strength, you mean its not actually in the 6th rank yet"
Ruan Lee nodded, his expression filled with a mix of trepidation and disbelief. "That's correct, Senior Sister Lin. The monster's strength is on par with a rank 6 cultivator, but it hasn't officially reached that rank. To cross such a giant realm is insane"
He took a deep breath before continuing, "The sects were in disarray, and alliances were constantly shifting. Our sect, under the protection of Divine Sage Ancestor, managed to repel the monster, but not without significant losses. The Grand Elder was critically injured during the encounter. As a result, the Scarlet Demon Sect saw an opportunity to attack our borders. Thanks to our Sect Master, who is also in the Ensoulment Realm, we've managed to hold them off, but the situation is precarious."
Meng Lin nodded, her understanding deepening. "Thank you, Ruan Lee, for the update. It seems the situation is graver than I anticipated. That beast in particular, but I wonder why those within the Ensoulment realm aren't banning together and getting rid of it"
"That's the question of the whole continent" Ruan Lee said with a bitter smile.
"Can you tell me what happened between you three back then" Meng Lin asked, wondering about the two that died by her hand.
He paused, collecting his thoughts. "Wei Han had become afraid of my rapid advancements and he feared that I would take revenge against him after he blacklisted me, I think that was his main reason for deserting the sect"
"There were plenty of sect disciples that turned against the sect under the influence of the Scarlet Demon Sect. It's not just for power or resources; the sect's internal conflicts and promises of greater freedom and strength by the Scarlet Demon Sect have swayed many. Wei Han was among those who believed that aligning with the Scarlet Demon Sect would grant him a higher status and more power than he could ever achieve within our own sect."
Ruan Lee's expression hardened. "Zhang Wei, on the other hand, was sent by the Scarlet Demon Sect to infiltrate our borders and form alliances with those disenchanted with the sect. His role was to destabilize our sect from within, making it easier for the Scarlet Demon Sect to attack when we were most vulnerable, because of his cunning abilities, the sect has not been able to do anything to him"
Meng Lin's eyes narrowed. "The sect didn't send Soul Wondering or Narscent Soul Cultivators?"
"They did," Ruan Lee confirmed. "They sent Soul Wondering cultivators but he would always escape through the shadows before they even showed up, as for Narscent Soul Cultivators, almost all of them are at the frontline fighting monsters and the Scarlet Demon Sect and those guarding the sect couldn't leave the sect vulnerable as it might be part of the Scarlet Demon Sect's plan"
Meng Lin tapped her chin thoughtfully. "There must have been a way to counteract his shadowy escape technique. Has there been any effort to trap him or predict his movements?"
"We've tried," Ruan Lee admitted. "But he's always one step ahead. Our best guess is that he has informants within the sect or some sort of ability that alerts him, if you hadn't showed up like you did, I think he would have escaped once more"
"How did you end up fighting them both"
Ruan Lee hesitated but ended up speaking "I had intentionally gone out of the sect to lure Wei Han, I originally wanted to capture him and interrogate him however I didn't expect Zhang Wei to be in his shadows, I was ambushed while fighting Wei Han, fortunately I had protective measures in place"
"So that's what happened, i understand" Meng Lin said while her thoughts ran over the conversation.
Neither spoke as they spent the next few minutes in silence, the landscapes continued to blur beneath as they neared the sect.
The first sight that greeted them was the cluster of mountains within an even bigger deep forest, they didn't take long before arriving at the sect's door, where two sect elders seemed to be standing guard.
Upon landing, they were immediately approached by the two sect elders, their expressions a mix of surprise and concern. The elder on the left, Elder Qiu, spoke first, his voice filled with surprise. " You, I've seen you before. Are you disciple Meng Lin by chance"
The other elder, Elder Luo interjected, "it is, where were you, and your realm, what happened" they were both surprised as Meng Lin's aura was almost matching their own cultivation of the Mid Stage Soul Wondering Realm.
Meng Lin nodded, acknowledging the recognition. "Yes, I am Meng Lin," she replied, her voice calm and composed. "I have just returned from a secret realm where I underwent a breakthrough. My realm has recently advanced to the Soul Wondering Realm and my sect token is broken"
Elder Qiu's surprise turned into a mixture of relief and admiration. "So you have successfully broken through to a higher realm. That is commendable"
Elder Luo, still concerned, added, "Indeed, come, you should get your sect token along with your rewards for your breakthrough, we'll quickly inform the Pavilion Mountain of your return so they can open the array surrounding it"
Meng Lin nodded, turning she said, "this is where we part ways Junior brother Lee", Ruan Lee looked at Meng Lin, a mixture of pride and concern etched across his face. "Senior sister Meng, I'll report the matter to the sect, you take care within the Pavilion Mountain"
Meng Lin offered a final nod before she followed one of the elders into the sect, she briskly made her way through the sect, her steps quick and purposeful. The sect, buzzing with activity and tension due to the precarious situation, seemed to pause momentarily as she passed. Disciples and masters alike cast curious glances her way, some whisper among themselves.
The walk to one of the sect's administrative center was swift. Elder Luo led Meng Lin through corridors lined with intericate designs before finally arriving to the counters.
After going through a thorough identification process Meng Lin was presented with a new golden sect token, intricately designed and pulsating with a soft light, signifying her status within the sect.
Alongside the token, she received a collection of resources: rare herbs, spirit stones, soul wandering pills of various uses and sect points within her now new sect token, these were all rewards for her breakthrough.
With no time to dawdle, Meng Lin was escorted towards the teleportation formations. The path leading there was familiar, yet it felt different this time. Her steps were more confident, her resolve firmer.
As they walked, Elder Luo briefed Meng Lin. "The Pavilion Mountain is now protected by an ancient array, designed to block off any access and interaction between the outside world, a droplet of your blood on your golden sect token is the key to enter"
Meng Lin listened intently as they approached the teleportation formations, they were greeted by the same sect elder who oversaw the process last time.
The elder nodded towards her and took out a small intricate talisman before presenting it to her, Meng Lin nodded her head back and clawed herself to make a drop of blood emerge.
The talisman was given to her and she stepped into the teleportation formation, feeling the energy swirling around her, a pricking sensation ran through her body. The air crackled and the teleportation platform shone, transporting her to her destination.
Meng Lin found herself standing in a familiar teleportation formation, around her was a clearing with clouds all across the area, as if the mountain was within the sky.
Meng Lin smiled as she felt a surge of energy coursing through her veins. The energy swirling around the mountain had increased by at least twofold, she wondered why.
Walking through the cloud filled area, Meng Lin's perception quickly picked up on gazes landing on her body, she smiled slightly as he wondered what must be going through these ancestors mind when they look at her, do spiritual remnants even thoughts she wondered.
She remembered the number of gazes on her last time, they matched the same number of gazes this time as well, it seems a change in cultivation doesn't make any difference, likely not potential otherwise even more gazes would be on her since her aptitude had increased but maybe these gazes were all there were.
Meng Lin quickly reached a large pavilion and entered after thinking for a bit, inside, she was immediately greeted by two of the girls, De sijie and Xi Lin. The moment they saw her, their eyes lit up with joy and surprise.
"Miss Meng Lin!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with excitement and relief, they had been cultivating and increasing their strength but recently they have been feeling extremely hurt.
Meng Lin was touched by their warm welcome. She noticed right away the changes in their demeanor and aura. Their faces were brighter, their spirits were higher, and their cultivation base had clearly improved. It was evident that they had been diligently practicing the techniques she had advised them on before her departure.
Xi Lin, the older sister ran to give Meng Lin a respectful bow before looking up at her with tears in her eyes. "Miss Meng Lin, we've missed you so much! We've been practicing every day, waiting for you to come back!"
De sijie also spoke sincerely, "We've all made breakthroughs in our cultivation, see." She raised her hand to show her cultivation level of the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Xi Lin was a step behind in showing her aura however she had clearly been the one who progressed the most, recently reaching the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, it was evident that the Qi within the Pavilion Mountain and the Pills Meng Lin left behind had done wonders.
Meng Lin smiled warmly, genuinely proud of their progress and the bond they had formed during her absence. "I'm glad to see how much you've all progressed. Your hard work is truly commendable, and your injuries are all but gone, you two are quite beautiful" she said with laughter, not reserving herself between the two girls.
Meng Lin's comment brought blushes to the faces of De sijie and Xi Lin. The compliment, though made in jest, highlighted the close and comfortable relationship they had developed over all the times they have spent with each other.
"Where is Xi Lan" Meng Lin asked, causing the joyful faces of the two to suddenly plummet.
