It was nightfall by the time the Tu clan began to return to their village - around a three-hour journey - using carriages that a cart pulled by horses. At least five members of the Tu clan was on each carriage totalling to eight carriages.
The dark sky with an illuminating moon in centre was surprisingly clear today as many of the Tu clan members admire the view. However, Tu Syaoran didn't care as he let a cold expression to be painted on his face. He sat down as he continuously cultivated pushing his essence against the wall repeatedly. He also glanced at the core symbol 'Behead' that floated lifelessly in his pool of essence. His store of essence went from 85% to 25%. Learning from his mistake he did not consume all of his essence leaving at least 25% of essence. With a B rank core, every hour it generates 16% of his essence...
It may seem like a lot but unfortunately for Tu Syaoran he got the lower percentage when awakening:
B rank essence generation - 14% ~ 25% of essence per hour.
Having nothing to do he decided to pluck one of the (memory) orbs to assimilate. This orb was the size of a green pea. He endure the hellish pain again as he gritted his teeth. Although he was feeling great pain, not a single groan escaped from his mouth as he leaned toward the back of the cart. The other members didn't notice him as they were either sleeping or admiring the sky.
Two hours passed by...
It wasn't long until they reached the bridge that connected the village as well as Xie Tu town together. In the far horizon, emerged multiple buildings that emitted light as a sturdy wall enveloped it. The surrounding was of flat plains with some trees erected there and then. The still river reflecting the sky seemed to flow incessantly as an atmosphere of tranquillity permeated. However, Tu Syaoran felt something was off. It was too calm and quiet especially with the news of him awakening a B rank core. Earlier, the three elders that accompanied him and the others went forward to check the surroundings but had not come back yet. The scouting group had consisted of Tu Fang Shui, Tu Qing Long, Tu Wu.
Suddenly three black shadows flashed by the carriages alarming the Tu Clan members. Blood spilled as the horse yelped in pain, frantically moving about. One by one they dropped and transformed into lifeless corpse swimming in a pool of fresh crimson blood.
"Ambush!" Tu Xuan shouted with a shock expression. He quickly circulated his essence before sending waves of energy to the core symbols.
"Dammit, the elders must have been dealt with !At this rate they won't make it in time. I knew things were not as simple as it seemed!" Tu Xuan frowned as he took action immediately.
"Flame Claw!"
A condense flame claw shot right toward one of the men in black cloak that was heading toward one of the members of the Tu Clan: Tu Fei Yan. The flame intensified as it illuminated the area as high temperature of heat was emitted. It was terrifying and extremely powerful Tu Syaoran thought. He felt like it was burning his skin of despite being meters away from it.
"So, this is the power of a peak stage 5-sided cultivator..."
One of the other in black cloak dispelled the flame claw as he unleased 'water burst'. He groaned as he was pushed back.
Steam invaded the area as it became misty.
Using the 'Flame Boots', Tu Xuan quickly arrived next to Tu Syaoran before activating the core symbol 'Flame Barrier'. This time Tu Syaoran perceived that the flame felt harmless. In fact, there was a sense of home and warmth. Soon the barrier was allotted to all of the Tu Clan members.
"As expected of a Grand Elder. However, today you must die!"
Tu Xuan suddenly got a sense of danger. He took out a core symbol, 'pyro flash' before detonating it through pouring his essence continuously.
Bang!
A beautiful flame was scattered in the sky.
The assassins face turned dark under the mask. It was only a second before Tu Xuan had detonated 'pyro flash'.
Seeing this the three men in black began their attack. They did not hold back. They can't. One mistake and they will be dead.
Tu Xuan frantically defended as he activated core symbols one and another. His essence began to dwindle slowly. To conserve essence, he had only activated 4-sided core symbols. They consumed less compared to a 5-sided core symbols. Plus, he only had one 5-sided core symbol - a scouting symbol ( that works similar to infrared cameras but many time more efficient).
However, at the end of the day a peak stage 5-sided core cultivator cannot win against three upper stage 5-sided core cultivator. It wasn't long until Tu Xuan was injured mildly. Blood leaked from his mouth as he retreated. Even though the power difference between an upper stage and peak stage was a lot, this did not allow one to win when facing more people. Most likely in those situations, the side with more people - even if they have a lower cultivation- would win (except some anomalies).
As Tu Xuan retreated the man who used the water core symbols took out a core as it gleamed brightly. He decided to use this one-time use core: 'Hydro Explosion'.
Tu Xuan, who saw this, gasped in shock as he rapidly poured his essence into multiple core symbols at the same time. This was called a chain combo: when a core cultivator used more than one core symbol to complement each other and create something much more powerful than using it individually. Each chain combo has a different name.
"Flame barrier, Wind cyclone! Fuse!
Tu Xuan face was full of sweat as around half of his essence store was depleted. He had only recently started on his journey of comprehending chain combos. The one he had just used was named by a genius of the flame path and wind path who created a myriad of chain combos that was renounced in the whole world for its complexity and sheer power: Huo Yang Feng. It was called the 'flame tornado eye' chain combo.
Against a 5-sided core symbol in which belong to the onetime use category he was very wary of it.
Not everyone could get a hold of a 5-sided core symbol as it was just too rare. Tu Xuan was a part of this group of people. There were many ways of getting a 5-sided core symbol, but the chances are just ridiculously low when ratioed against the cultivator's realm and land. Of course, the higher the cultivation realm the more difficult it is to acquire core symbols at the same realm
There are ways such as actively exploring the world. In some land a core symbol can be condensed but it depends on the area.
Another method was to refine and evolve one's core symbols which require resources, and the recipe. Not only that, but there is also a chance for failure which can result in damage to the core symbols or its destruction which makes it extremely risky. This made those who had high talent in refining core symbols extremely popular and not much would dare offend them.
Onetime use core symbols were normally much more powerful and effective.
So, he decided to set up a 4-sided chain combo. Like the core as well as core symbols, chain combos were categorised from 3-sided and all the way to 13-sided.
A grand barrier was erected over the Tu clan members as the flame swirled around. A vast amount water fused into one point as it was condensed continuously. Even though Tu Syaoran was safe inside the 'flame tornado eye' he felt vast amount of power that even a hundredth of it could still kill him instantly. Although the memories did inform him with such information but when experience first-hand it was much different. He could feel the difference of him and the assassin's power.
Suddenly, a rapid orb of water speeded towards the 'flame tornado eye'
He watched as the water condensed into the size of a football before exploding sweeping everyone inside the barrier as it shattered.
Tu Syaoran was sent flying as he coughed a mouthful of blood.
Plop!
He landed harshly on the ground as his faced churned. Tu Xuan was also heavily injured as blood flowed from his orifices. At the same time he was shocked. The orb of water was almost as powerful as a six-sided core!
Tu Xuan glanced at the Tu Syaoran before throwing him a core symbol.
"Run!"
A harsh voice echoed in Tu Syaoran mind. He looked at his hand that was holding the core symbol. Before he could react, it began glowing. A strong amber light exuded from the symbol.
"Shit! Our main target is getting away. Quick! destroy the core symbol!" the leader of the group in black robes exclaimed.
In less than a second two of the three upper stage 5 sided assassins, activated his core symbols as they sprinted toward Tu Syaoran.
Tu Syaoran watched as they got closer each second. He looked down at the glowing symbol. He could feel it was ready yet. A wave of urgency washed over him. In his core, he saw the 3-sided core that Lord Tu Shan had gave him; behead.
With his maximum effort he flooded the 'behead' with all of his remaining 25% essence. He carefully watched as his core was suck dry by 'behead'. The core symbol had only stop when he had 7% of his essence left.
Then as fast he could, he activated the core symbol. All he knew was that it was a core symbol that focused on killing the opponent in one hit.
A crimson-red slash, flew toward one of the upper stage 5 sided cultivator.
Caught of guard, he was forced to stop. Unfortunately for Tu Syaoran the other upper stage 5 sided assassins activated one of his defence core symbol and dispersed his attack. However, this did buy a few second for him.
'Success!'
Tu Syaoran exclaimed as he saw the saturated core symbol began floating. A amber light illuminated the surrounding, lighting up the area. Tu Syaoran, who was in the middle of it, felt a tugging pull. It started of weak but gradually became stronger.
He gritted his teeth as he withstood the pain. In the next second, a blinding flash blocked everyone's sight, including the upper stage 5-sided assassins.
As the blinding light faded, the face of the assassins turned grim. They had failed their main mission; kill the B-rank genius of the Tu Clan.
"Kill! Kill the rest of the Tu Clan!" one of the upper stage 5-sided cultivator roared.
With, three assassins at the upper stage 5-sided cultivation and seven assasins at the early stage 5 sided cultivation. The remaining members were butchered mercilessly. Only a few members of the Tu clan escaped other than Tu Syaoran, but this did not include Tu Xuan.
It was an unexpected tragic event. A peak 5-sided cultivator had perished. A peak 5-sided cultivator that could have been a head of a village. A peak 5-sided cultivator, that had the chance to advance.
This was a huge loss to the Tu Clan.