Since this was the first time that all the members of Unit 04 were moving as a unit, going through the Seven Element Peak will require them to work as a team to survive this task. Their current teamwork was not good by any means. When they split up into two-man teams, Sifir and Purple Night in one team and Death Sword and Jagged in another team, their teamwork was much better.
However, Death Sword made all the members work as a team from the outer area of the first peak. This wasn't Death Sword's first mission. Death Sword knew the importance of teamwork, having the ability to sync up attacks to create an opening for a swift kill, and getting rid of enemies in a timely fashion.
What makes the Seven Elements Peak a problem for most cultivators is the deeper you travel. The stronger the monsters become and the more challenging each battle becomes, Starting from the outer area of the first peak, the monsters are at the Human Realm initial stage. In the inner area of the first peak, the monster's strength would increase to the Human Realm peak stage.
At the core of the first peak, the monsters strength started at Earth Realm, the initial stage.
In addition, Seven Elements Peak Mountain was ranked by numbers. The higher the number, the more deadly the peak is. The first peak is the weakest, while the seventh peak is the strongest. Each peak has its own element and type of monster of that same element. Those monsters will gather throughout the peak and stay at the best places for cultivation or treasures.
For example, the first peak element is wind, and there were plenty of aerial beasts that carried high wind pressure, like Thundering Gales, Swift Hawk, Wind Wolves, and many other monsters that used wind as their primary attack form. Only Death Sword would be able to fight those monsters in the core area during the first peak. Winning those battles for the Death Sword was another matter all together. Lucky for the rest of Unit 04, they were only getting close to the inner area of the first peak.
"Right now we are in the outer area of the first peak. To make it to the next closest peak, we need to cross the inner area of the first peak. The fifth to the third peak should take us to where we need to be.
So, if we stay in the farthest part of the outer area at the fifth peak, we should be able to cross to the third peak. Then, descend to the outskirts of Silver Lake City." Death Sword thought to himself about the possible route to take. Looking at Sifir, Death Sword was wondering why he agreed to this route when they were back at the Elder's mansion. Since it was too late to consider other things at the moment, Death Sword places his focus on the team working together, for better or for worse.
As Sifir and Purple Night started traveling up the first peak, clearing the way and preparing for any ambushes, Purple Night wasted no time in weaving her hands in the air, forming a wind barrier for the team. Purple Night tosses out a wind talisman to complete the formation and help manage the high wind. Sifir continues to kill weak monsters, taking their cores to sell later. Everyone looks at Sifir strangely for taking everything and not leaving anything to waste.
Coming from a big clan means that a lot of the resources are very limited.
If you want more resources, you must be willing to take them and use every opportunity to your advantage. Even if Sifir didn't like the arrangement being made in this unit, that doesn't mean there were no benefits to be had, and Sifir's needs for resources were massive.
Just for Sifir cultivation to raise to the next level. Sifir would need double the amount someone who was in his realm would need. Sifir had quicker breakthroughs because of his battle prowess than his cultivation level.
Battle prowess depends on comprehension, the level of physical fitness the body is in, and battle experiences. For example, if a cultivator has a high cultivation level but has weak battle prowess, the battle might take longer than it needs to.
Causing the cultivator to experience serious injuries or, at worst, a permanent setback in their cultivation. Another case would be if the gap between two cultivators is small. Their battle prowess will be the deciding factor in their fight. The life-and-death battle comes down to who has the better skills or technique in their arsenal.
For Sifir, one of his strengths has always been his physical fitness and rich battle experiences as part of the Midnight clan.
The Sifir cultivation method, on the other hand, demands a lot of resources to be cultivated. The need for more resources was always a pressing one. What usually stops cultivators from reaching higher heights is a lack of resources and talent. It has always been one or the other. In rare cases, it is both. The cultivator will then have to survive schemes and be cunning.
Sifir didn't speak nonsense while picking up what was useful for him after the small-scale battles. In the meantime, Death Sword looks over the terrain of the first peak. The rough, uneven surface of the outer area of the first peak made traveling hard and slow. Even with the slow speed, unit 04 was still moving pretty quickly in the outer area of the first peak. It was better than going around the whole mountain range. Heading closer to the inner area would be more dangerous.
They might have to deal with wind storms, blowing gales that would leave small cuts on the body, and hidden elemental dead zones that even some of the strongest cultivators in the earth realm could die from.
The Death Sword called out to Sifir. "Fall night, you will take the vanguard position. Purple Night, you will be his cover. Me and Jagged will watch both of your backs."
Sifir just nodded in silence. Not making a word. This could be a double-edged sword for Sifir. Benefits and disadvantages were two sides of the same coin. One always needed to be cautious about who was watching them fight. On the flip side of things, this was a good chance to earn more benefits and to hone one's battle skills and prowess.
Purple Night and Jagged both looked at Sifir's indifference. Purple Night thought to herself, "Death Sword is opening, pushing Fall Night to reveal more skills and tactics. This should be interesting to say at least." Jagged had other thoughts. "Maybe that little runt will get himself hurt. I will have a chance to cut one of these limbs off."
"From this point on, we will need to move fast and steady. Staying in one spot for too long will allow the monsters to regroup. They will have numbers and a speed advantage over us. Be prepared to take out enemies quickly. Will we clean up the battle scene later? However, if the monsters are too weak, we are leaving their corpses there and taking the cores with us. Do you all understand me?" Death Sword looked at the group with a cold stare.
Jagged, Purple Night, and Sifir nodded in agreement. Sifir took on the vanguard position. While Purple Night took out several talismans, Jagged took out his machetes. The only one who didn't take out his weapon was Death Sword.
Swooosh.
Sifir stopped moving forward when he saw a pack of storm wolves at the peak of the human realm, rushing in their direction. Sifir looks at the group behind him and decides to reverse his cloak. The emerald youngling king scale was now on the outside, while the golden bear fur was on the inside. Death Sword, Purple Night, and Jagged were surprised. The reasoning behind why Sifir reversed his cloak to show off the young emerald king scale instead of the golden bear fur was that it was highly resistant to wind attacks.
Unlike the golden bear fur, which can absorb attacks because of how thick it is, it would be, unless against the mere sharpness of the wind. The young emerald king scales and golden bear fur gave off desolate air when Sifir started to raise his aura. The mixture of the young emerald king snake and the golden bear smell made it hard for the storm wolves to know who was their true enemy. The storm wolves let off a howl that had high wind pressure and caused dizziness.
Purple Night, Death Sword, and Jagged all watch Sifir engage the pack of storm wolves, with their pack leader just watching. Purple Night saw small clues that Sifir's move was a little bit different. Sifir was slipping in and out of the attack range of the storm wolves, attacking like a boxer. Death Sword and Jagged were studying Sifir's movements closely. He is looking for flaws and ways to steal his skills that can improve their battle capabilities.
Death Sword and Jagged came from very small, unknown clans. Purple Night came from a prestige clan that was on an unknown continent. While Purple Night was studying Sifir's slight movements, looking closely, Purple Night found out what was different. Sifir changed his fighting style a little bit. Instead of being very aggressive from the start of the battle. Sifir was kiting the storm wolves to make the battle easier for himself. On the turn of a dime, Sifir drove deep into the pack of storm wolves.
The storm wolves have been unable to contain Sifir. Unleashing fists, palms, and kicks that crippled all the storm wolves that attacked him. The pack leader of the storm wolves was just staring at Sifir and did not move an inch. Letting out a howl, the remaining storm wolves came back to the pack leader.
"Should we give chase?"
"No, Purple Night. Fall Night, clean up the battle and take the cores. Jagged, secure our perimeter, and search for any lurking storm wolves that are lingering around. In the meantime, Purple Night will start working on more low-grade Swift talismans. When we enter the inner area, we might need to escape if there are too many monsters to handle."
Sifir just nodded and quickly removed all the cores. Death Sword, Purple Night, and Jagged all took one core for themselves. While Sifir kept the rest of the cores for himself, it took about two hours for them to clean up and remove all the cores. Sifir skinned all the mature and young storm wolves. Also, Sifir made sure to take as much blood and meat as possible.
The group began to move, and Sifir encountered more and more monsters throughout the outer area of the first peak. Sifir had a breakthrough in his battle prowess, reaching the late stage in the refinement realm. The battles became so fierce that Purple Night had to take part in the battles. The teamwork between Sifir and Purple Night grew rapidly. They were able to sync up attacks and tactics, making the battles easier.
In one battle, Purple Night and Sifir perform a perfect combination attack. Purple Night used the Heaven Earth Lock: Burial, while Sifir used Heaven Clever. The battle ended quickly, and everyone saw the true effect of Heaven Clever. Jagged and Death Sword just look at Sifir with their hands tightly clenched. Because if either one of them experienced the full force of this move, they would have some serious injuries, to say the least. It wouldn't kill them, but who wants to suffer a serious injury?
No one is willing to be someone else's punching bag and experience an unknown attack that could set them back in their cultivation. For Sifir, he was just as shocked as Jagged and Death Sword at the full attack of Heaven Clever.
Upon entering the inner area, Purple Night weaves her hands, unleashing one skill after another. Purple Night finally started using one of the new talismans that was created with rune formation from the book she took from Sifir.
Jagged was a wild beast on the battlefield, not caring who was in his way. Sifir adjusted his battle tactic and covered Jagged's blind spots. Death Sword is looking at the teamwork of the three. The weak link in their battle formation was the jagged, wild rampage on the battlefield. Causing too many openings and gaps in their synergy. If this goes on, hidden injuries may appear on their way to the eternal continent.
Death Sword sighs in disdain at Jagged Wild Action. Their power could be a lot more explosive and kill off enemies in an instant.
However, the reason they are struggling with their teamwork is because of one loose cannon. Death Sword took control of the team formation and reigned in the jagged, wild rampage. Also, Death Sword made a few changes.
Jagged was now in the vanguard position, and Sifir was his backup. While Purple Night and Death Sword play the supporting roles. Doing this limited Sifir movement of range. But it gave the team more flexibility in dealing with monsters.
"We are leaving the first peak inner area and going to the fifth peak outer area. We will rest between the two peaks. Jagged, you will take the first watch. Followed by Purple Night. Then me, and lastly, Fall Night."
"Sounds good to me, Death Sword."
"I have no issues with the arrangement."
"Why do I have to go first on watch?"
Everyone just stares at Jagged like he is an idiot. Yet, no one said anything, and Death Sword kept on making arrangements for the team. The next peak will be the hardest and most deadly of all the peaks they will encounter on this trip.
Death Sword knew when the next morning would come. Moving quickly out of the fifth peak to the third peak will be the best. Battling on the fifth peak would be asking for a casket. However, as the old saying goes, there is no treasure without risk. The price of that risk is one life, since no one wants to die at an earlier age.
Fleeing is the best part of valor and would be their best option. In this cultivation world, everything isn't as simple as one would like it to be. Because cultivators die for resources, like gangsters die for money and wealth.