It's been already three days since Sam entered the swordridge valley. He had spent two days since he met the moonlady cultivating inside the cave of the saber toothed demonic tiger.
During the day, he would explore the outer areas, search for more medicinal plants and hunt demonic beasts while he would cultivate during the night.
He found a bunch of dream grass growing on a cliff while exploring. He collected and refined the dream grass. Dream grass is a special type of medicinal plant which grow by absorbing the starlight during the night and they contain large amount of essence energy in the.Sam now had a hundred essence core floating inside his Dantian after reading the star grass.
Most of the common cultivators could easily enter the core formation realm after forming hundred essence cores but they would be among the weakest core formation realm cultivators. Usually, those cultivators who have reached the end of their lifespan would enter the core formation realm with only hundred essence cores to increase their lifespan.
Sam had almost explored most of the areas of the outer region. This, he had decided to enter the inner region. The inner region of the swordridge valley is at least hundreds of time larger than the outer region.
Since, most of the disciples would enter the inner region, the chance of running into them while exploring was higher. Thus, the inner areas was a lawless zone where strength reign supreme. The stronger disciples could easily loot the weaker ones if anything catches their eye. So, the weaker ones will leave the inner zone or enter seclusion in some remote areas after obtaining a good treasure waiting for the portal to leave this world to open.
Sam crossed through many mountains and rivers as he headed deeper inside the swordridge valley. He was using his 'seven steps to reach heavens' movement technique to travel. He had become more adept at controlling his speed, movement and usage of essence energy while executing the movement skill after practicing.
When Sam crossed the borderline of the inner and outer region, he felt a different sensation like he just crossed the boundary between two world. In the inner region, the essence energy was more abundant than the outer region and the whole inner region was brimming with life as the sounds of roaring of demonic beasts could be heard.
Sam took out the tracking talisman that second elder had given to him, Saya and Gilde when they were outside. With the help of the tracking talisman, they could sense the general location of each other inside the swordridge valley. Most of the sect use this method while performing missions or exploring unknown areas to keep track of each each other and provide help when required instantly. The tracking talisman even had the function of sending emergency signal for help once but the talisman will disappear after sending it. The receiver would get know about the location where the talisman was used.
When he sent his spirit sense inside the talisman, he sensed the familiar auras of Saya and Gilde in two opposite direction. They were both moving away from each other at high speed.
"That's strange. It like they are purposely running away from each other. Could they be chasing after some demonic beast? Or.. Wait.. Could they be the one being chased down? "
Sam thought after withdrawing his spirit sense.
"Oh well. With their strength, they could easily runaway and save their life".
Sam moved deeper inside. He passed through several mountains as he continued. He needed to find a person so that he could ask him about the situation in the inner zone. Charging in without any information wouldnot bring him any benefits.
Just as Sam was passing through a narrow valley, he heard the scream of a girl asking for help.
"Help me. Please, anybody. Help me".
The cry for help was followed by the crying as if she was desperate to seek aid. Sam moved towards the sound of the girl when he saw a girl of his age frantically running away. Three other cultivators were following behind her like hungry wolves chasing a helpless lamb.
"Helen, how long are you gonna keep running? Obidiently hand over the treasure and we can consider letting you live".
"Hahahaha.... Noone is going to save you here even if you scream your lungs out. All the people are gathered in that area. So, be a little girl and hand yourselves over".
"You are such a little beauty. We just can't steer our heart kill you. Why don't you become a maid and stay by our side to serve us. We will definitely treat you gently.... Hahaha".
The sound of lascivious laughter followed the cry of help drowning it as the three guys followed behind the girl. The girl had blood flowing from the mouth and torn clothes at some areas. It looked like the three guys were purposely letting her run to give her some hope.
Sam shook his head after witnessing the sight. This was another case of killing for treasure and beauty. He shook his head.
"I don't like meddling in other people's business. But I need someone to inform me about the condition of the inner region and I absolutely hate the look on those bastards. So, let me help you just this once".
As he said, Sam took one step forward and vanished from the site. He arrived ten metres away from his previous location and with second step, he was already behind one of the male following the girl.
He directly took out his sword and slashed horizontally at the guy. The guy also sensed someone attacking him from behind and blocked it with a treasure sheild.
But Sam activated the murderous intent of his treasure sword as the sword became even sharper. The sword easily sliced through the treasure sheild as it directly landed on the head of the guy killing him in a blow.
The other two people were startled as they hastily retreated creating some distance between them and Sam. They were wary of this unknown guy who could easily kill their companion in a blow.
But when they looked carefully they found out that the person attacking them was only at the essence core realm. They instantly felt some disdain as they cursed themselves for being scared by a essence core realm cultivator so easily.
They thought that their companion was killed because of his carelessness. Otherwise, how could a cultivator at the 5th level of core formation be killed so easily.
They carefully scanned Sam up and down. When their eyes fell on the murderous sword in Sam's hand their eyes instantly shone with greed. They recognized the sword as a powerful treasure that could even help a essence core rookie kill a core formation cultivator. They wanted to seize this sword but they still had some apprehension towards its power.
"Brat, you killed our companion without having any prior grudge. Hand yourselves over and all your treasures and we might consider letting you live otherwise.... ".
"Otherwise what? " Sam interrupted them as he asked. He knew what he was going to say when he noticed greed in their while looking at his sword.
"Otherwise humph... We kill flay your skin, tear your tendons and cut you into pieces to appease the soul of our dead comrade. We, the people of Night demon sect, will definitely take our revenge. Think carefully and surrender yourselves otherwise even your sect might face a calamity".
One of the guy threatened Sam. He even mentioned his background to intimidate Sam as he puffed his chest proudly while mentioning the name of their sect. Their Night demon sect was considered a second rate power. Other than the top sect and families, they feared nothing in the northern region. Their Night Demon sect was also infamous for looting and killing in the northern region.
Any disciple of other second and third rate power would instantly give in after hearing their threat. They were confident that this person will give in as they had confirmed that he didn't belong to any powerful sect and family after checking his uniform and cultivation base.
Sam laughed after hearing their words knowing exactly what they were up to. He said calmly:
"Night demon sect? Never heard of it. As for your unknown little sect bring calamity onto my sect, I don't see any possibility of it happening. Even if it happens, you might not be alive to witness it. Now, let me witness the martial skills of your night demon sect".
"It is not wise to be so arrogant. We can still talk this through. As the saying goes having one more friend is better than having one more enemy".
One of the guy said taking a step back and extending his friendship towards him after the name of their sect failed to intimidate him. Although this guy was only at essence core realm, he still had that treasure which was so dreadful. They did not want to fight this guy.
"You talk too much. If everything can be peacefully solved after a few words, what's the point of cultivating?"
Sam laughed as he activated his murderous sword. The murderous intent of the sword spread outward wildly as it locked onto the two guys from the Night Demon sect. They felt their body becoming stiff after being locked by this murderous intent.
Still, they were the disciples of the Night Demon Sect, a sect know for murdering and plundering. Due to constantly being exposed to killing, they still had some resistance towards this murderous intent. They managed to take out their treasure sheilds from their spatial ring to protect themselves.
Sam laughed as he channelled his essence energy into the murderous sword.
"First slash of the six sacred slash"
He said as he released two cold and sharp sword energy from the sword which were in the shape of the half moon. The sword energy collided with the treasure sheild and like before, the sword energy destroyed the shield and landed in their bodies.
"No... ".
They screamed after seeing their treasure destroyed but before they could finish screaming a cold and sharp sword energy landed on their body as it exploded into bloody mist.
Sam lazily walked forward and picked the storage ring from the ground. He stored them without even checking what was inside their rings.
The girls who was running from them was surprised when she saw them being killed so easily by a essence core realm cultivator.
She came in front of Sam and bowed deeply to express her gratitude as she respectfully said:
"I am Helena alienor, a disciple of the sunset valley. I thank you for saving my life. I will do my best to repay your favor of saving life even if have to jump on the burning fire or climb the mountain of sharp swords".
Sam nodded his head accepting her bow. He then looked at her. She was indeed a beauty but after witnessing the beauty of moonlady, he had no interest in her. He said:
"You don't need to climb the mountain of swords or jump on any burning fire to repay the favor. I did not kill them to save you, I just didn't like their nasty expression. That ruined my day so I just killed them".
"As for you, I do need your help".
Helen was still respectful. It didn't matter to her why Sam killed those people. But she was still saved by him due to him killing those people.
"How can I help you? Please, tell me. I will do my best to be of any assistance to you".
"You don't need to do anything. Just tell me everything that you know about the current condition of the inner area. And, yes tell me about that place those thugs were mentioning".