The morning sun hadn't yet crested the horizon when we gathered at the sect's main hall for our final meeting before departure. The air was still cool, with a faint mist hanging over the stone paths.
I stood at the front, waiting as the Core Court disciples trickled in one by one.
The first to arrive was Long Zhen, his handsome face twisted into a lazy smirk as usual.
His long black hair was tied up into a neat topknot, and he wore his emerald robes with an air of aristocratic nonchalance. As the son of a Duke, he carried himself with the weight of nobility, but there was always a glint of mischief in his eyes.
He was strong, one of the most capable among the Core Court disciples, yet his light-hearted demeanor often masked his true abilities.
Next was Bai Lifen, the son of a wealthy merchant family. His blue robes were just as pristine as Long Zhen's, but where Long Zhen wore his wealth casually, Bai Lifen practically radiated it. His black hair was always perfectly styled, and he had a penchant for finer things — both in battle and in life.
Despite his delicate appearance, he was a fierce fighter. But just like Long Zhen, Bai had a habit of not taking things seriously.
We shared greetings before then came Ling Xueying, her white robes fluttering in the breeze. Her eyes scanned the room, and I could see the complicated emotions flashing across her face as she glanced at me and then back at the prince.
Poor girl, caught between her admiration for me and her loyalty to the prince. Still, she was focused, a talented cultivator at the Earth Dominantion Stage now just like others.
Following her was Mei Lian, a Core Court disciple who had been relentlessly pursuing me for years as well.
Her persistence was something to behold, but it was more annoying than anything else. She had long, fiery red hair and an overabundance of energy. Mei Lian never knew when to quit, and that, coupled with her obsession with me, made her particularly troublesome.
Right behind her was Jiayi, a quiet beauty with long black hair and a calm, serene presence. But don't let her peaceful exterior fool you—she was just as troublesome as Mei Lian, always concocting ways to chase me down. These two together were a dangerous combination.
These too were as playful as they were serious when necessary.
Shi Wenyan appeared not long after. She walked with purpose, her cold demeanor as unyielding as her sword
She was here to lead the group, and she made sure that no one would dare question her authority. Even though she wasn't the most talkative, her presence was enough to command respect.
Her eyes passed over everyone, lingering on me for a moment before she nodded. She was ready.
And of course, the prince, Chu Fengxian, was in our group as well. He arrived in silence, his aura withdrawn but no less impressive. He didn't seem to hold any grudge from our earlier duel, though I could still sense the frustration hidden deep within him.
His pride had taken a hit, but he wouldn't let it show. Not here, not now.
Among the remaining disciples was a regal and composed woman, who immediately caught my eye. She was tall and elegant, her long silver hair cascading down her back. She carried a spear that shimmered faintly in the morning light. This woman was Lin Xiuying, one of the finest spear users in the sect.
Despite her quiet nature, her presence was commanding, and I had no doubt she could hold her own against anyone in our group.
Strangely, none of my siblings were included in this mission. My father's decision had surprised me, but I trusted that he had his reasons. Still, the absence of my siblings added an air of mystery to the task ahead.
We prepared for departure, some of the disciples flying on their own while I took to the skies on my dragon, ChiChu. Her powerful dragon body cleaved through the clouds, breaking the space around us and intimidating any weak beasts we passed.
Even the cultivators below gazed up in awe, watching the spectacle as our group flew through the sky.
The landscape below shifted as we traveled. Mountains, rivers, and forests passed beneath us in a blur, the vibrant greens and blues slowly giving way to the harsher, more desolate terrain of the borderlands.
The air became cooler as we neared our destination, the small city that stood on the edge of the sect's territory. It wasn't much, just a cluster of buildings surrounded by stone walls, but it was the last bastion of civilization before we entered the true danger zone.
As we neared the gates of the town, the atmosphere shifted.
The excitement of our journey so far had settled into an almost casual air as the ragtag group of cultivators glided through the sky. The town below wasn't exactly what you'd call impressive—more of a dusty outpost with stone walls that looked like they hadn't been repaired since the last century.
We settled down not too far.
"Well, isn't this cozy," Long Zhen muttered sarcastically from behind me as we flew closer, the lazy smirk on his face in full effect. "Do you think they have a welcome parade for us?"
Bai Lifen chuckled. "More like a parade of chickens and dusty stalls. Just our kind of place."
ChiChu, now sitting on my shoulder in her tiny form no longer the intimidating dragon, stretched and yawned. "I'm just here for the meat," she declared, her eyes scanning for anything remotely edible from hundreds of feet in the air.
Shi Wenyan, ever serious, shot us all a look. "Focus," she said coldly, her voice slicing through the banter like a sword. "We're not here to sightsee."
As we landed just outside the gates, the guards immediately looked tense.
I didn't blame them. A dozen powerful cultivators landing in front of your town usually meant trouble. And to top it off, Chu Fengxian—who still hadn't completely let go of his bruised pride—was trying his hardest not to stand out but somehow looked even more suspicious in his poorly thought-out disguise.
His hood covered most of his face, but the shimmering aura around him was hard to miss.
One of the guards stepped forward, clearing his throat. "State your business."
Shi Wenyan, as usual, handled the talking. "We are cultivators of the Heaven Secret Sect. We seek entry into your city."
The guard nodded respectfully, though his eyes lingered a bit too long on our weapons. He opened his mouth to speak again, but before he could, ChiChu interrupted with a loud growl. "Where's the food?" she demanded, her tiny form vibrating with impatience.
I quickly flicked her tail. "Quiet."
The guard blinked at the small dragon, clearly unsure of whether to take her seriously. "Uh…entry requires ten low-level spirit stones per person," he finally said, recovering.
"Ten per person?" Bai Lifen piped up, feigning horror. "For this place? I didn't realize we were visiting such an upscale establishment."