The departure of Sen Vinci and his disciples from the gathering near the Mad Witch plant was marked by a storm of threats and derisive laughter.
"You may have won this time, but at the Royal Contest of the Seventh Realm, the Clark clan will be obliterated!" Sen Vinci spat angrily, his eyes flashing with resentment as he stormed away with his followers.
Princess Lanner, her spirit undaunted by the taunts, responded with a fiery determination. "This time, we will break the hundred-year streak of defeat. The Clark clan will rise to be number one in the competition!" Her declaration was met with scoffs and laughter from the retreating Vinci disciples.
Once the Vinci Sect was out of earshot, Madam Frost turned to her disciples. "You have all worked hard. It is time to rest," she suggested, her tone a mix of exhaustion and pride.
However, the Clark Sect disciples, buoyed by their unexpected victory, decided to celebrate instead. Wine and food were brought out, and a festive atmosphere enveloped the clearing.
A group of female disciples gathered around Ria, their curiosity piqued. "How did you manage to collect so many spirit grasses?" one of them asked, her eyes wide with wonder.
Ria, holding the Raka beast babies, smiled. "I stumbled upon a rocky cave, the den of a high-rank beast. Luckily, the beast wasn't there, so I gathered the spirit grasses... and these little ones," she explained, gently showing the puppy-sized creatures in her arms.
The disciples gasped in surprise, their eyes fixed on the baby beasts. Madam Frost, with a single glance, identified them. "Raka beasts, capable of soaring amongst the high mist clouds," she noted, her voice tinged with respect for the creatures.
The girls hurriedly passed the babies among them to play while laughing at the Vinci sect disciple faces while they were thrown out of forest.
As the celebration unfolded, with disciples gathered around fires, enjoying wine and food provided by Richard, Eric sat quietly in a corner. He took out the beast meat he had collected earlier in the forest and began to cook it with a blend of expert seasoning.
Once the meat was cooked to perfection, he approached Princess Lanner, offering her a portion. However, Richard, quick to undermine Eric, scoffed. "My food is of a higher rank. We don't need that dog food. What do you think of yourself?!" he retorted with a smirk.
Princess Lanner, influenced by Richard's words, refused Eric's offering without a second glance.
Undeterred, Eric carried the food to where Ria sat on a tree stump, the Raka beast babies by her side. He handed her the plate and then sat down at her feet, maintaining a low profile.
The babies, intrigued by Eric's presence, began to slurp at his fingertips. Unseen by the others, a transparent Qi energy flowed from his fingers, nurturing the creatures. It was a subtle display of his higher cultivation level, unnoticed by those around them.
As the festivities continued, Eric suddenly felt a strange sensation emanating from deep within the forest. It was elusive, yet it piqued his curiosity, a feeling that something out of the ordinary was at play.
"What happened?" Ria asked, noticing the change in his expression.
"Nothing," Eric replied, his mind still focused on the strange sensation. He pondered what could possibly interest a cultivator of his level in this seemingly unremarkable forest.
Around them, the celebrations of the Clark Sect disciples carried on, the air filled with laughter and the warmth of camaraderie. Yet, beneath the merriment, the forest held its secrets, and Eric's awareness of something more, something hidden in its depths, added a layer of intrigue to the night.
As the moon rose high, casting its silvery glow over the clearing, the night in the spirit forest was alive with more than just the victory celebrations.
Under the cloak of night, the forest camp gradually succumbed to silence as one by one, the disciples retreated into their tents for a well-deserved rest. The central furnace continued to burn, casting a warm, flickering glow that fought back the encroaching darkness. Princess Lanner, disappeared inside her tent, leaving the camp quiet and serene.
Madam Frost, with the wisdom and caution befitting her status, laid a protective talisman around the perimeter of the camp. Her movements were precise, the talisman emitting a faint luminescence as it activated, forming an invisible barrier of safety around the sleeping disciples. Satisfied with her work, she too retired, leaving the camp in a peaceful slumber.
Eric remained the sole sentinel, standing vigil by the burning furnace. The night air was cool and crisp, the sounds of the forest both haunting and harmonious. He exchanged a tender, wordless look with Ria as she retired into her tent, leaving the Raka beast puppies in his care. With a gentle gesture, he placed them into his family's spirit ring, which seamlessly became one with his body, ensuring their safety and comfort.
The night deepened, the moon a silent witness in the sky, as Eric waited patiently. Once he was certain that the camp was enveloped in sleep, he initiated his clandestine venture. His soul search ability extended outwards, scanning the entirety of the surrounding forest, a web of consciousness seeking out any hidden dangers or secrets.
Taking a burning stick from the furnace, Eric flicked it with his finger, infusing it with his Qi. The stick, now an extension of his will, drew a perfect circle around the camp. He etched intricate runes into the ground, each symbol glowing with a potent energy. The talisman he created was of Grade 9, a formidable barrier that could only be breached by a Mortal Sovereign or a Rank 9 beast.
With the camp secured under his powerful ward, Eric stepped into the shadows of the forest. His movements were light, almost ethereal, as he glided towards a specific location deep within the woods. His steps were silent, his presence barely disturbing the night air.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, the trees grew denser, their ancient trunks like silent guardians of the secrets they held. Eric's destination was a hidden cave, known only to a few, its entrance cleverly concealed by dismantled rocks and overgrown foliage.
Upon reaching the cave, he paused, his senses alert. He extended his Qi, feeling for any traps or wards that might have been placed to deter intruders. Satisfied that it was safe to proceed, he gently moved aside the rocks, revealing the entrance to the cave.
As he walked forward, the stubbles and rocks became powder and gave a clear passage for his entry.
The cave was steeped in darkness, a void that seemed to swallow the faint moonlight. Eric stepped inside, his eyes adjusting to the gloom. The air was cool and damp, the silence of the cave a stark contrast to the life outside.
As he delved deeper, he came upon ancient runes etched into the walls, their origins lost to time. These runes, glowing faintly in the darkness, were remnants of a bygone era, holding secrets of powerful cultivation techniques and forgotten lore.
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Note: Don't forget to take a look at my other novels 1. Fortune Hunter & 2. Brothel Manager.
PETERPAN