It had been at least a day since both Li Qingchan and Julong had left the Sect for their mission. Yao Yao upon his goodbye seemed to contain a certain type of sadness in her expression. It was to be expected though, not only was she going to be alone for at least a month, but ever since entering the Cangxuan Heaven, the connection that allowed them to see each other when asleep had severed, meaning they wouldn't be able to see each other when he was away. This was of course due to them being in such close proximity, mainly being in the same Heaven, but he doubted that such a thing would ever return.
There wasn't much he could do as the thought crossed his mind. It made him upset seeing her in such a manner, but he could only focus on the impending mission now.
Prodding further into Qingchan on their first day of the flight in the airship they had been provided, he was informed that their destination was known as the Skeletal Fortressing Territory; called as such thanks to the large skeleton of a creature that actively made and destroyed a fortress around itself thanks to the colliding Qis from its bones and the earth it laid in.
The flight there would take at least a week, which was pretty shitty in Julong's eyes, but it at least gave him time to Cultivate. The reason they were not able to teleport there was because of the secrecy of the mission. According to the information given, there was indeed a teleportation array inside of the territory where people had been able to inhabit, but it was very rare for people to use it unless it was one of the Great Sects needing to arrive there. But that was just it, to activate a teleportation array was expensive, they weren't run by Saints like back in the Hunyuan Heaven.
Every time someone wanted to use one, they would have to fork out the materials required which were incredibly expensive, even to travel a small distance, let alone to another Heaven, which was why Julong was unable to go back to the Hunyuan Heaven with one of the arrays, even if he wanted to. Even one of the 6 Sacred Sects did not have the funds to support such a venture. This alone showed the disparity between the two Heavens.
Out of the blue, a knock came on his door. Without saying anything, a figure walked in, revealing themselves to be none other than Li Qingchan.
"Are you awake? I want to have a chat."
Opening his eyes, he gazed over her.
"Of course, what is it you want to talk about?"
"The Skeletal Fortressing Territory; I want to talk about it with you, just so you know what we are getting ourselves into."
Julong's interest piqued. He only knew the very minimum about where they were going.
"Come sit down."
He didn't notion to anywhere in particular, but in the next instant, she was next to him, looking at the spot next to him on the bed he was seated on.
"Do you mind..?"
"No."
"Good."
She quickly sat next to him, close but not too close. Perhaps she had been feeling lonely? It was only them on the airship after all.
Her almost distant self faded as soon as she sat, it was like she was herself again. The self that only he and a few others had the privilege to see.
"So to start, because I didn't really tell you much about the area before, I'll explain some of the information ascertaining to the territory, though I myself don't know much about it, so bare with me."
Julong only nodded, giving her the go-ahead to start.
"As I'm sure you know, the Territory's name comes from the phenomenon of the colliding Genesis Qi from the skeleton and the earth eternally in a deadlock creating constant destruction and creation of a fortress-like structure. Sect Master told us that the Ancient Serpent Scales are deep within the baron wastelands of the skeleton. This information was outsourced by one of the locals from the town that is next to the wastelands. Generally most of the Sects would have acted by now, but after some questioning, the Sacred Palace has been revealed to have made some deals with the other Sects, hence why we have to sneak in and take the Scales, as our Sect cannot take the Sacred Palace on in terms of sheer power. As unfortunate as it is to day."
"I understand. We have no choice, and assuming that we do not get these scales, the Sacred Palace would only get even stronger."
"Correct. It would only cause even greater issues in the future, but this is not the only pressing concern. Inside of the wastelands are cults of powerful Cultivators, nothing that we cannot handle, but they are sure to cause quite a few issues for both sides."
Julong nodded his head. It would be rather troublesome to have to fight both sides at the same time, so allowing them to fight each other and claiming the spoils at the end would be a better idea.
"We could instead just allow the Sacred Palace to clash with the cults, could we not?"
Qingchan laughed sweetly.
"You read my mind, this is a foresight of only the two of us taking the mission, they will have almost no clue we are there, and will associate us with the Sacred Palace."
"A perfect plan."
She only nodded, letting the compliment feed her ego.
"The Sacred Palace should be arriving a few days after us via the teleportation array. The Palace Master is willing to expend a large amount of resources for the Ancient Serpent Scales. As such, we will take the initiative and try to find any information in the town before they arrive and then venture into the wastelands. Though we must be careful, from what I have heard the clash of Genesis Qi in the area has created quite a few mysteries, hence its desertion. Only the cultists know how to live out there."
"I see. Overall it should be fine, assuming that these mysteries involve Genesis Beasts. If I can finish my Heaven Devouring Vitality Rune, our task will become far easier due to me being able to practice the Ancient Dragon Body, not even accounting for my breakthrough into the Third, or Fourth-Layer."
Qingchan smiled at him warmly, accompanied by a nod. Julong couldn't help but let his eyes wonder over her features, such a scene was mesmerising.
"Then let's hope that there will be Genesis Beasts."
Julong who finally stepped out of his stupor couldn't help but stutter.
"L-Let's hope."
Qingchan seemed to relish in his gaze, her gleaming self brightening up even further. She seemed to have an idea and stood up, gently grabbing Julong's hand with her own, and dragging him up with her.
"Now, let's go make some food!"
...
What?