There were two main dangers in approaching Northern Burning Valley as they wanted to. First the group had to strong enough to deal with Sand Demon Tigers, an offshoot of the Kunlun Mountain Tigers.
They were only Servant level on average but their combat prowess were beyond mere One-eyed wolves. Just the three of them weren't enough to get past these beasts.
The group didn't even have a usable intermediate spell!
Second problem was the Drifting Sand River that contained lot of Earth Elemental Beasts. They were Warriors on average on average and had impressive defences and hard to kill.
Ideally one could go around fighting these beasts as long as they had a Psychic mage. They just needed to avoid using magic around this area.
Since that wasn't possible either Cao Guang had no choice to hug the thighs of a boss. His plan to join the military was just for this opportunity. Yes he could have gained Pang Lai notice as long he made a name for himself as well but it would take an awful lot of time and he would loose his chance to make it big.
With Pang Lai around, he simply cast the Advanced spell of Space element Blink thrice to cross the Drifting Sand River. Travelling with Pang Lai gave the team a feeling of being on a vacation among demon beasts.
Pang Lai calmly walked on foot after crossing the river with the group. He even let the group take care of a few stray demon beasts. But any beast that could sense magic stayed away from him. As experience was built the group experienced a sublimation in their combat ability.
Yesterday they retreated after killing two Sand Demon Tigers, today they slew four on their way here. They were becoming ruthless in their way of findings openings to attack.
Although they spent a lot time searching for demon beasts on the other side of the Drifting Sand River near human territories. After recovering they found a group of the three demon beasts to fight just to see the extent of their abilities.
They could handle them!
Fenrir kept one busy. Yes Sand Demon Tigers were stronger than One-eyed Magic Wolves but Fenrir was also at the Advancing stage of his level. He could kill one with a bit of time.
Song Xia kept another one busy with Gao Xuan's help for a few minutes by the time Cao Guang had slain his opponent with Fenrir's support.
"Don't interfere" interjected Song Xia before he could even move, "I can handle it".
She gave Gao Xuan a look before casting another Sound spell. Her Sound was at the fourth tier. More than enough to keep a Sand Demon Tiger occupied, She charged at the wolf as she got nearer she activated her Deathstrike equipment.
Earth Wave Shift
Gao Xuan moved the tiger, accelerating it towards her weapon. The weapon pierced it dead centre through the eyes. The weapon may not have killed in one strike but Gao Xuan had made sure it went deep enough to do it.
"You were right" said Gao Xuan panting.
He was still a primary mage and had poorer physical fitness that his partners. "We maybe good at team battles in the army and you maybe a good Commander but we are also great in our individual capabilities".
"And they will be wasted in Bo City" Song Xia chimed in after checking for loot.
Pang Lai watched everything with a smile.
" Don't debase yourselves. You kids have just turned eighteen. All of you rare .. gems, if you will. And you are right being in the army is also restriction, but a few exceptional people have made it an advantage."
" In all of the past five generations of our national guardians there were atleast two from the army. We would be lucky to have five such individuals a generation".
The group continued on their way. After they exhausted their spiritual energy after a couple more fights they stopped engaging every enemy. Another Soul Remnant was added to Cao Guang's collection.
They reached a few kilometres outside the Starry Sky Tree with hours left to sundown.
Infront of them were a group of people battling against a creature swathed in flames. The fire obeyed her like her children. Where she turned the temperature rose.
When she attacked the human felt the water evaporating from the skin. What was once humanity's evolutionary advantage almost dehydrated them to death here.
A woman fully clothed in bandages made her way through the squad of people and made a sneak attack on the creature.
"Teacher that's the person I was telling you about".
"I see, but we will wait for now, your plan is straightforward but only coal sent in winter is truly appreciated" said Pang Lai nodding his head.
The Zhao family's expedition group continued to attack the Fire Calamity Fruit under the bandaged woman's command.
The Fiery Empress was on the back foot even if it was an Advancing Commander. A team of peak Advanced mages attacked her and her unborn daughter. Yet her nature prevented her from killing these venomous people.
She had saved the life of one of them when she was injured and this is how she was repaid. What she didn't know was Jiang Feng whom she saved was still outside the bounds of the Starry Sky Tree.
The battle continued for a while the woman made sure not cast any spells only activating her equipments.
The bandaged woman activated an ice poison equipment she had prepared for the Fiery Empress as her Calamity Fire drew a barrier between her daughter and the squad's spell.
"Stop, stop the Fire Calamity Fruit is her child not the treasure you are looking for" mumbled a lady that looked more like a corpse than a person. Even she could not have heard her own pleas as she plopped to the ground covered in flames with great sadness.
"That should be enough" said Pang Lai as a silver flicker emerged in his eyes. His Telekinesis spell compressed the group's spells as well Fiery Empress's Calamity Fire and stopped ice poison from reaching her.
"Who" screamed the leader of the Zhao group as the bandaged woman looked at Pang Lai with extreme hatred. But she quickly composed herself and his her anger and suspicion.
"I'll be taking over things here. And that is not the treasure you are probably hunting for" stated Pang Lai calmly.
"Who do you think you are?" shouted a member of the expedition group not recognising Pang Lai.
" That's enough, since senior has said so we will be moving on" Zhao group leader silenced his own teammate.
"And that is not your wife" said Pang Lai pointing at the bandaged woman.
" Senior if you want the Fire Calamity Fruit take it but don't you dare insult my wife here or you and I are going to have to fight to the death RIGHT HERE" screamed a previously calm Zhao Yulin.
He didn't care if this guy was a half step Forbidden Mage or the chief of the Royal Guards, the man insulted his wife. As if he Zhao Yulin could not recognise his own trophy wife.
Jiang Feng was the daughter of another Half step Forbidden Mage and an influential Councilman. He had picked her out, when marrying her. All in all he could recognise his own wife.
All the while bandaged woman remained meek and said in quiet voice " Senior please don't pick on me, if you have a grudge with my father. Please deal with him" , her deeply hurt look and scruffy voice due to her burns evoked the need to protect in the voice of all those who heard it.
Damn Psychic magic is strong when used unconventionally.
Cao Guang dreaded the thought of waking up to someone who was pretending to be his wife and the question, could he recognise the person?
I don't care if jump in to a pool of monsters but I have to train my Mental Strength fast.
Zhao Yulin was a typical second generation heir. He had been coddled and given everything he needed was given to him. His experience fighting was very low. His Mental Strength still remained in the first tier even now. He had no defences against the Demoness's Psychic suggestions.
Besides this was her Innate talent. It boosted her efficacy with Psychic spells. Not like an innate Soul seed but she was able to temporarily lower the Mental Strength level of her enemies. Only just a few people at a time, no more.
Zhao Yulin with his level one of Mental Strength was a child to her. She could convince him of anything reasonable within minutes.
Yet now an old monster had turned up and knew the truth. She could manipulate the group to buy her time. Forget the Fire Calamity Fruit she needed to escape and be as far away as from this old man.