Talk the head off most of them, Ye Xinghe was happy when they left and gave him ample time to cultivate a little. Them going out to speak with others helped out a lot.
The morning came pretty quickly, with most nerves finally done with and normal taking over a little. Until an earthquake of sorts coming but he didn't pay attention to it at all.
left his tent to head into the woods. Considering some students and teachers would be killed during the ensuing chaos, it was best to get away from camp right now and regroup later. That was the plan anyway.
As he moved, he heard a few voices that were right on time for some events.
"Run!" A student yelled with a fat student next to him. "It's really bad back there!" They were referring to the landslide already causing trouble. Followed behind the two were a few more students running.
They passed by Ye Xinghe who just came out from cultivating a little. His first response not containing any concern for himself. Using the Heart Method to find some people, he was satisfied enough.
'Welp, time to skedaddle and let the other deal with this.' Ye Xinghe shot off into the woods. Heading for a nice little secret spot with some goodies in it. 'So much easier knowing what where personally!'
Xia Yuning, An Xueyun, Mo Yu, and a few others met up with Liang Yu's group. As they talked about what was going on, a few wonder where Ye Xinghe was. Thinking he wouldn't still be in camp was there fault.
"You care about him a lot." Xia Yuning teased. Bringing a little laughter to the scary situation.
"He is my brother disciple, of course, I care." An Xueyun said quickly.
"He is our classmate, we should defintely find him." Zhao Ning said. Worry was evident on her face. "Maybe split up to go and find him?"
"Isn't that a bad idea?" Lin Yin said next to her.
"If you are that worried about him, head here." Liang Yu handed a map to the cave. It was the best way to get rid of the weakling to allow himself and the Dark Moon Family to kill freely. "Do not tell anyone you are going here. I mean no one, understand?"
"Of course." Zhao Ning took shooting off like a rabbit. An Xueyun and Xia Yuning following behind after. Mo Yu bringing up the rear not wanting to be left with the others. Especially the Dark Moon family. "Try to keep up."
.
Cave-
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Once inside, the boulder that blocked the way was completely destroyed by his fist. No Qi is required to waste really. The rocks were swept inside as well as the dust just in case someone heard the noise.
"A little protection is smart!" Placing a rune formation of Silence, Energy Leakage, and Alertion out, he thought it was good enough. "Techlis, watched the exit!" The demon Beast gave a salute and watched its master take off.
*Woom!* The Frost Air Body activated. The air sucking into his technique taking away any cold. Pace increasing he was at the end of the cave in minutes.
"Everything is mine!" Ye Xinghe's cultivation went out sucking in the ice crystals along the walls, the Cold Air that was good for the Frost Birds in his Internal Space, and the Cold Qi that saturated the inside of the cave. The water in the pond flying up towards him. A weapon at the rank of Heaven came right at him to attack. "Suppress!"
The head of a dragon leading the strike from a point. Its gold horns sticking upward at an angle. A white mane around the neck looking wild Golden whiskers looking metallic with a shine.
The Dragon spirit inside didn't stand a chance. Having dealt with it once before and worse creatures since then, Ye Xinghe used the Heart Method to grab the remnant spirit. Trying to decide to strip it away from the weapon or keep it for later.
The halberd pulsed in anger but was swept away. Releasing his own anger in response, the cave started to rattle from the conflicting forces. Techlis could feel it at the mouth of the cave, only shaking a little in pity.
'Should have ate the little worm.' Eyes shining in qi, the demon beast sat down to start cultivating. Liking the feel of the cave a little. 'If we knew something like this existed, me and my kin would be powerful already!'
As the little Demon Beast thought over the fantasy of power, its master was doing further methods of it.
"More Dantians, more Qi I can hold." Having learned from the Star Pillar incident, it was best to do so. 'I can give the piece of my soul that is Liang Yu something else. Then again, has he used all of the stuff I gave him recently?'
As the Heart Method circled through the Halberd, the blue Chinese Dragon was pulled out after some finese. Tamed by the infused Cold Qi and Flame Fortex Core Qi, the Dragon martial Art Dantian swallowed it up.
*Crk!* Blue white scales appeared along the arms and legs of Ye Xinghe. Having already gone through the 9 Heavenly Layers, it would be easy to bring it up the levels. Best to make it really strong for right now with those insights.
The Frost Dragon Halberd turned to qi, making the Dragon Seal on his wrist. With a circle of qi through the runic lines, it fused and disappeared from sight. Sitting in his Internal Space pulsing outward.
The Frost Birds inside started squawking in anger but did nothing else. Qi from the Flame Vortex Core bathed the Dantians continuously with the Frost Dragon halberd.
Floating in the air cultivating, the cold water continued to be sucked into Ye Xinghe's body. The cool sensation is almost like a blissful drug. After having so much fire going through his body, the cool feeling was so good.
Several crystal-like pieces were swept away next from out the pond. The Cold Snow Essence was stored into his Internal Space next to the other cold pieces from the caves. As he cultivated diligently without a care, those looking for him made it outside the cave after some time.
Having only put down a basic Runic formation with the three techniques inside, and the fact Zhao Ning had a map, it as only a matter of time. Unfortunately, the person Liang Yu was hunting down, was following them.
"We made it." Zhao Ning was relieved they didn't run into trouble. "Is that you Techlis?" The demon beast open its eyes giving a slight nod. "Where is Xinghe?"
"Bawk." Gesturing to the back, the demon beast went back to cultivating. Zhao Ning went into the cave with he other three just waiting outside. Not trusting the beast as easily as her.
"Well, we are pretty far from camp, think it will be ok?" Mo Yu was worried. Having thought about how the members of the Dark Moon Family were geared out ready to fight, not even concerned about the murder of one of their people in the least. 'Do they know who did it, are they planning on killing the offender?'
An Xueyun and Xia Yuning just standing on the outside of the cave. Xia Yuning getting antsy as she knew she heard cries of fighting as they moved. The qi fluctuations were pretty high as well. But An Xueyun ignored it as best she could tell.
'She knows something I don't. What could it possibly be?' Staring at her childhood friend, she thought over the last few days and the rumors over the last few weeks. 'She doesn't seem to be depressed about the engagement to the prince. In fact, she is acting like a normal girl.'
"Hmm?" Xueyun looked up after feeling the stare for a few minutes. "What is it Yuning?"
"Haha, nothing." Waving her hands frantically at being caught staring, she made an excuse. "Just thought you were really calm is all."
"Well, cause I am getting stronger every day. Strong enough to get a hold of my destiny!" Xueyun spoke with the confidence of someone much different than she was used to. Enough that even Mo Yu was caught in it. Looking at the girl with sparkling eyes. "Plus, I have two brother disciples that are going to help me in the future."
"Eh?" Mo Yu and Xia Yuning were both suprised. Both didn't think the two would left a helping hand.
Having spoken with Liang Yu a little this morning as he explained a change of plans, she was aware a lot of fighting would be invovled. But to free her sister and herself, it was the best thing to do. For her, their was nothing she wouldn't do.
Chu Xian decided to make his move. Seeing the little demon beast behind them, he would convince Ye Xinghe to help heal him. His internal organs over 70% burned only function because of his qi.
"Help.. me!" Chu Xian walks out on unsteady legs. His skin beat red like he was in the sun all day. Blisters from high heatstroke and being cooked from the inside. "Please..." Mo Yu ran out to help him.
"Teacher!" Naive and not thinking anything of the situation, she didn't think anything about the teacher being this far out and having followed them here. "Who attacked you?!"
Xia Yuning trailed behind after her giving it some thought. With An Xueyun coming up cautiously behind her friend.
.
Concern?-
.
Zhao Ning ran through the cave thinking it odd it was getting warm as she moved. Feeling air getting sucked in was weird considering she didn't see any light for the most part. What she did see, stopped her quickly.
"Woah..." Zhao Ning's mouth was agape seeing the ice like pattern along his body. The air froze then melted from blue-white trickling flames along his arms and legs. Running across in patterns none stop.
Underneath Ye Xinghe, the hole was much bigger and formed a crater. Seeing how it happened, the teen was suprised it was his qi itself.
*Crrck!" A wave of qi took out another inch of cave beneath him. Speading outward even further. Ye Xinghe's mouth opened as he swallowed the qi up above. The area beneath him was not the only area he changed.
A hole was cut outward and the qi along the mountain was sucked in Zhao Ning was trying to figure why didn't burst until she thought of that place he sent her to previously. She was not an idiot and was able to guess it had something to do with that.
"How many secrets do you have?"
"Umm, I don't know." Ye Xinghe gave her a smile as he opened his eyes. His hair turning a bluish-white but the rest of his features staying the same. "But you are one of my people, so I will share with you in time."
*Bing!* The ice like patterns shattered off his skin as the Frost Air Body changed. By the looks of his face, it was not enough. He could kill a 9th Heavenly Layer going all out, but he wouldn't be able to survive a second one.
'7th Heavenly Layer are a cakewalk but, so many out there to refine.' The Heart Method pulsed as his cultivation finished. Body, mind, and soul ready to move out. 'The experience making it easy to control this power. Time to make so moves.'
"Ok..." Zhao Ning watched as he stopped floating and moved towards her. "..I can feel your power but it doesn't feel higher than the 4th Heavenly Layer. Almost like a dam ready to burst open."
"Haha, very accurate." The laugh came out deep and sent a pleasure through the member of the Zhao Clan. She did not fear this as something told her he would not her physically. "Keep this for later."
Zhao Ning was handed a belt with runes all over them. She didn't second guess putting it on. Comfortable, and feeling safe she smiled.
"I didn't know you knew how to make artifacts."
"Can make a lot of things. Make sure you keep that on, will save your life." Walking out, the Heart Method already picked up people fighting outside "Power, will allow you to enjoy life. Make sure you pursue it."
As a lesser noble, Zhao Ning understood that very well.