Unsurprisingly, other than the Topaz Tiger, there weren't any other spirit beasts that tried to attack us. Sure, we did encounter a few other spirit beasts along the way, but they mostly avoided us or scrambled out of our path, too cautious and smart to initiate combat with an opponent they could sense was stronger.
This wasn't a game, after all. It was reality. I knew that if it was a game or a cultivation story, we would be having random encounters with wild spirit beasts every few steps, and then grind by defeating them in order to "level up" or whatever. Reality didn't work that way, and like most soldiers would tell you while they bashed through a jungle, there was no reason to shoot at animals who weren't bothering you. We were already tired from trekking through dense foliage and making our way across treacherous terrain. Why the fuck would we want to randomly fight spirit beasts for no reason? And no, grinding or leveling up isn't real.
Also, unlike what those games or cultivation stories would have you believe, the forest ground wasn't some flat, even surface. There were slopes here and there, there were outstretched roots that often barred our way, fallen logs that created obstacles, and even the thick network of branches, thorned tendrils and vines formed a barrier that we either have to cut through or go around. It was laborious and exhausting. Yeah, we were cultivators, so we had increased stamina, endurance and strength, but that didn't mean we could breeze across the forest.
Furthermore, it was precisely because we were cultivators with better stamina that we could make the trek in a single go, without needing to stop for breaks. If we were ordinary soldiers carrying heavy backpacks and weapons, we probably would have to stop at least ten times throughout the journey and we would also take five times as long to make the trip. Thanks to our enhanced physiques, we could complete the trip across the forest at twenty percent of the time it would normally take for regular soldiers.
"Actually, now that I think about it, why aren't we just summoning our flying spirit beasts like my Violent Salamander or your shiny Charred Dragon and flying over the forest?" Jun Hai asked suddenly as he shoved a branch out of the way. "Wouldn't it be easier and faster?"
"It certainly would," I admitted. "But we'll be revealing our presence to everybody. Remember that the demonic cultivators are looking for the weretiger nearby? I don't want them to find out that we're here. There's less of a chance that they will spot us if we take the difficult route. Hell, it's hard for them to even see us through such dense foliage. On the other hand, if we're flying above the forest…yeah, we'll be seen by everyone for miles around."
"That's a good point." Jun Hai sighed. "Well, it's not like I mind. We've been both trained by dad, so I know we can do it, but what about sis Sylvie and sis Silvia?"
"We're fine," Sylvie assured him with a smile. "We grew up in a forest, so we're used to the terrain. We can also communicate with the spirits in the forest, so we know the best route around."
"Yeah! A trip like this is a walk in the park for us!" Silvia said cheerfully.
They had a point. The fairy sisters were leading the way most of the time. Though I provided the roughly sketched map that Raquel had given us, the fairy sisters were the one who plotted the optimal route toward the "stairway" that would lead us to the level above. Perhaps they were also the reason why we hadn't encountered any especially aggressive or hostile spirit beasts. The spirits they communed with probably informed them of any threats ahead of time, and they took a route to avoid them. Combined with my presence, we were able to avoid too much combat.
And so we reached the entrance toward the next level before we knew it. The forest terminated in a patch of grass and cluster of trees, and it resembled a cavemouth, a winding tunnel that led upward. It was still somewhat brightly lit because of the ever-present bioluminescent moss that grew over the walls and ceilings, and several creatures scattered away into the shadows, concealing themselves in crevices or holes. I saw a Sand Scorpion, as well as a few Trap Crackers that burrowed into the dirt.
"I have a few Trap Crackers!" Jun Hai said with a chuckle. "They might be able to find a way for us."
I was surprised when he summoned a swarm of spirit beasts that resembled antlions. They were orange with round bodies, but surprisingly on had four legs. The main feature was their huge heads, which resembled a nutcracker, complete with a fanged maw that were capable of crushing boulders. They looked cute with those black beady eyes, but I knew how dangerous they could be, especially with such tremendous bite force.
"Oh, nice."
"They're usually found in the desert," Jun Hai explained. "But the sandy environment of this cave should feel like home for them too."
"When did you go to a desert?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. Jun Hai simply shrugged and grinned.
"That's for me to know and you to find out."
As mysterious as ever, I see. That was fine. I had more important things to worry about. This time, instead of Sylvie and Silvia – who looked out of their element in a non-forest environment – the Trap Crackers led the way, burrowing into the sand and then creating a trail by leaving furrows that we then followed. Even if we couldn't see them much, despite a couple of them poking their huge heads out of the ground, Jun Hai's telepathic connection with them allowed us to follow them.
"Oh, we're close. Just ahead is a massive cavern that leads to the next floor." Jun Hai then paused and listened to his Trap Crackers. "Hang on, it seems that there's somebody there."
"All right. Let's stay hidden." I nodded. We kept close to cover, making use of rocky features to conceal our silhouettes as we advanced. All the while, Jun Hai's Trap Crackers approached steadily, transmitting information to their master.
"Huh…looks like we don't have to worry," Jun Hai said suddenly, causing us to look at him. He shrugged. "They're all dead."
"What do you mean?" Sylvie asked, concerned.
"Exactly what I said. The somebody that my Trap Crackers spotted…they are all dead. There's nothing but corpses."
"Yeah," I reinforced his point with a nod. "I don't sense their qi. If they aren't emanating any qi, then they're most likely dead."
With no reason to stay in cover, I still approached cautiously in case this was a trap. Jun Hai sent his Trap Crackers out to form a perimeter, to flush out any would-be ambushers that might be lying in wait. It appeared that I was paranoid. There was almost nobody here.
Except a bunch of corpses.
"Who could have done this?" Sylvie gasped, her eyes wide.
"Wow…this is a massacre." Silvia shook her head, her usual humor dampened by the horrific scene before us. At least a few dozen human corpses were scattered across the floor of the cave, shredded or ripped apart. I swallowed and approached, studying them. Even though their robes had been torn apart, I could tell that their attire was unfamiliar.
No…they looked like some costume out of a cosplay convention, or a filming set for some ancient period drama. Traditional robes from a cultivation manhua or animation, if I were to be more accurate.
"Cultivators," I muttered, kneeling beside one of them. Then I saw the swollen, grotesque features, as well as the tattoos and weapons. I shook my head, detecting a faint trace of qi that lingered long after death. "Demonic cultivators. So they have gotten this far, huh?"
"Are they from the Mystic Demon Sect?" Jun Hai asked. I shrugged.
"I have no idea. I only know they are demonic cultivators, judging from the lingering traces of demonic qi and their mutations. But if they have mutations, then they are probably lower ranking and less powerful demonic cultivators."
The stronger a demonic cultivator, the more they would be able to control and even manipulate the volatile, demonic qi inside their bodies and transform their appearance to however they willed it. Past a certain point, the demonic cultivators went from hideous monsters to beautiful, seductive models or handsome guys, probably so that they could trick other cultivators into sleeping with them so that they could suck their essence or qi. Or perhaps it was vanity. There were a few exceptions, of course, particularly those demonic cultivators who didn't rely on, uh, dual cultivation. People like Murderous Crow, despite attaining such a high level of strength, chose to maintain monstrous forms so that they could intimidate enemies and revel in their fear.
I wondered what her brother, the sect master of Mystic Demon Sect – the Mystic Demonic Divine, looked like. Would he have chosen vanity over intimidation, or was he like his sister?
"What killed them?" Sylvie asked, bringing me back to the present. She was also studying the corpses like I did. "It looks like a spirit beast."
"Yeah, it's evident that they've been ripped apart by claws. I see fang marks too. Something tore them to pieces. A Topaz Tiger? But why would one be here?" Silvia frowned, but her sister shook her head.
"No, the claw and fang marks are too small to be belonging to a Topaz Tiger."
"I guess you're right, big sis, but they are so similar."
"Maybe it's a smaller variant," Jun Hai suggested, grimacing as he poked one of the bodies with the toe of his shoe. "A Ferocious Tiger?"
"Or…a weretiger," I said, recalling what the demonic cultivators were searching for. Everyone froze at that, exchanging glances before they slowly nodded.
"You're probably right. That means we're close to their goal." Sylvie swallowed. Jun Hai chuckled and shook his head.
"Well, big bro, it seems like the weretiger is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. Judging from how she massacred the demonic cultivators sent to capture her, I'm pretty sure they've failed miserably."
"I'm inclined to agree with you, except that these are clearly the fodder of the demonic sect. The weaker ones…most likely a scouting party. From what I can see, the strongest among them is Yellow ranked." I stopped by the most normal looking demonic cultivator, who had a couple of horns protruding from his forehead and temples, but otherwise, he didn't look all too different from a normal human. There were a few more like him, not exactly handsome or beautiful, but normal looking, without the usual hideous features that the ordinary demonic cultivators sported when they first started down their deviant paths.
"That's right. There's no way they'll send only Yellow ranked and ordinary demonic cultivators this deep into the Celestial Labyrinth. Never mind the weretiger, they'll get slaughtered by the other spirit beasts living around here." Sylvie nodded.
"So where's their boss?" Silvia asked, looking around. "I see a few trails of blood, maybe they escaped after being hurt?"
"Weretigers are only Mystic ranked at best," Jun Hai added. "And you're right, the demonic cultivators should have at least a few Mystic ranked warriors in their parties. Yet I don't see any corpses here. Did they escape?"
"Or maybe they did hurt the weretiger and went off to pursue her after she fled." I contemplated. My blood chilled. "In which case, we have to hurry. We can't let them get their hands on a weretiger."
"I'll send my Trap Crushers out to scout the area and see if they can find which direction they headed in." Jun Hai nodded and proceeded to communicate with his summoned spirit beasts. I was about to thank him when I suddenly detected a blur of motion.
Rising to my feet, I sprang forward to intercept a swift figure that had darted out from beyond the cave walls to slash at my brother. There was a clang of sparks as claws slammed against the blade of my hastily summoned Azure Frost, and we sprang apart. So fast was the assailant that I could barely make out its features.
"Never mind," I said as I landed, my arms still shaking from the violence of the exchange. A grin spread across my face. "It appears that we've found our target."