Playing inventor in a cultivation world

The five disciples took cover under the darkness of the night, carefully making their way back to the outer region of the forest.

Unfortunately, with two injured and being carried, their pace had slowed considerably.

"Brother Fellin, perhaps we should wait and hide? I don’t think they’re following us anymore."

Sera suggested, her chest heaving as she struggled to maintain her speed.

Fellin’s eyes darkened. "We can’t stop. At least not yet. Although I can’t sense them coming after us, I don’t think they’ll let us go that easily."

Although frustrated, Sera agreed with him. Bandits couldn’t be trusted.

Suddenly, Fellin dashed towards her, swiping his fan at the space beside her.

A shierk broke the silence as a spirit beast that was lurking in the darkness was sliced in half.

The suddenness made Sera flinch, her wariness rising sharply.

Fellin’s tone was grave.

"Don’t forget. The forest has its own dangers."

Nodding solemnly, the three of them dashed through the forest, getting farther away from the bandit base.

Despite the heavy fatigue she was feeling, Tamar didn’t complain. She only ran at a steady pace, ensuring that Ariana was well-placed on her back.

Fellin was a few steps ahead, taking down anything that was hiding and could threaten them.

"Once we’re out in the open, I’ll be able to contact the sect to send reinforcements. Hold on for now."

Sera and Tamara nodded, following behind him with grim expressions.

The mission that should have been a simple cleansing of small evil turned out to be a deadly mission.

’No wonder those disciples never came back. They were all killed.’

After what felt like eternity, they finally escaped from the forest.

Immediately, Sera dropped to the ground, fainting. Her sister and her rolled in the grass, entangling with each other and finally coming to a stop.

"You..."

Fellin opened his mouth, but the words didn’t come.

Tamar gently laid Ariana on the ground, then collapsed beside her.

She was also exhausted.

Fellin looked at the four of them, then turned his attention to Dera.

The girl was injured and bleeding, so she needed to be treated swiftly.

Tearing a part of his sleeves, he bandaged her wound, then forced a high-level healing pill down her throat.

He walked up to Ariana, checking her condition carefully.

Her body was still stiff, but at least she wasn’t as stiff as a stick any longer.

’Alright.’

Placing his hands above her, he created a water bubble that enveloped the girl.

It was warm, smooth, and soothing. The stiffness in her body lessened slightly, and her furrowed brows relaxed a bit too.

"That’s enough for now."

Sighing, he dispelled the water bubble, then rose to his feet.

From his pocket, he took out a communication talisman and poured his spiritual energy into it.

Seeing it glow, he spoke immediately.

"This is Inner Court Disciple Fellin reporting. The Bandit Eradication mission we took is beyond our capacity. Please send reinforcements immediately. We’re in dire need of help."

A reply came a few seconds later.

"Where are you?"

Hearing that voice, Fellin was surprised. However, he quickly snapped back to his senses and replied.

"We’re at the outer reaches of the Nightlight Forest. Close to Snowfolk City. That’s our current target right now."

There was a moment of silence, then he heard the voice again.

"Alright, I’m coming."

The communication talisman dimmed, then crumbled to ash.

Fellin took a shaky, relieved breath.

The person who had replied him was a well-known disciple in the entirety of the Soul Cross Sect.

Being the number one Core Disciple of the Winter Peak, his power was immense.

With him coming as reinforcement, Fellin had no doubt that the bandit base was doomed.

Suddenly, his brows furrowed, and he looked back at the forest.

His ears twitched, catching the sound of human voices from a distance.

’They’re really coming after us.’

Fellin’s expression darkened, and he immediately turned to Tamar.

"Can you still run?"

The girl’s brows furrowed, but she forced herself up and nodded.

Pleased, Fellin went over to the twins, then hoisted them on his shoulders.

"Put Ariana on my back. I’ll be relying on you to protect our rear."

Tamar’s eyes widened, and she bit her lip hesitantly.

However, seeing the trust in Fellin’s eyes, she nodded and carried Ariana off the ground.

The girl groaned, muttering names. "Uncle Cass... Big Brother..."

Tamar ignored that and tied her to Fellin’s back.

"Let’s go."

The two of them ran towards Snowfolk City, aiming to seek refuge in the city.

At least the bandits would be wary of attacking openly.

As they ran down the slope, Fellin managed to turn his head, spotting human figures emerging from the forest and searching for them.

’They must have been following the trail of Dera’s blood.’

Thankfully, he had bandaged the wound and it no longer bled.

Their retreat was smooth. Because just as Fellin thought, the bandits were unwilling to leave the forest area and come out in the open.

Also, having lost track of the disciples, there was no guarantee that they would find them.

When the city guards saw the injured disciples, they were surprised and quickly brought them to the City Lord’s Manor.

The chubby man was woken up from his sleep, and immediately called for physicians to tend to the injured girls.

Fellin was much better, but he was also exhausted.

Giving the City Lord a peculiar look, he said calmly.

"A Core Disciple is on their way. The issue will be solved soon."

Hearing this, the man was shocked, then overjoyed.

If a Core Disciple really showed up, then the bandits would be cleared very soon. And if the Core Disciple got killed, the sect definitely wouldn’t let it go and would wreck the place themselves.

He shivered, suddenly remembering how vengeful the Soul Cross Sect Master was rumored to be.

"Phew. That’s a relief. I’m glad you’re all fine too."

Saying that, he gave some excuse and left the room.

Fellin sighed and laid on a bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

’Senior Brother is coming. I wonder what he looks like now.’

Just as he prepared to close his eyes and sleep, a sharp light caught his attention.

He turned his head, gazing directly at Ariana.

The girl was covered in ethereal icy-blue flowers that clung to her skin softly.

"Eh?"

Confused and alarmed, Fellin immediately rose from the bed.

"What the hell is going on?"

Much to his surprise, the flowers began disintegrating, and then disappeared altogether.

Staring at Ariana, Fellin’s eyes widened in shock.

Her skin was no longer blackened, and she now looked healthy and perfectly normal.

"Hmm... self healing? That’s strange. Could it be a Divine Body?"

He wasn’t sure, but he felt like that was the most reasonable explanation.

"I’ll have to ask Senior Brother once he arrives."

Observing the sleeping girl for a few more seconds, he decided to rest up and sleep.

When he reopened his eyes, it was already the next morning.

Tamar was already awake, and so was Sera.

The two merely sat by the table in the room, accompanied by a young man.

"Senior Brother?"

Fellin blinked, staring at the young man before him. It felt like a dream. It had been many years since he last saw him.

The young man looked up and made eye contact with Fellin, then smiled.

"Junior Brother, you’re awake."

He had a feminine face, voice, and even lustrous black hair that reached his waist.

However, he was confirmed as a male human.

Resting his chin on his palm, he leaned forward. "Well, Fellin. Aren’t you going to come greet your big brother?"

Beside him, Sera and Tamar were surprised. So the two of them were blood related?

An awkward expression appeared on Fellin’s face. "Senior Brother Fang. Although we’re outside the sect, it is still a sect mi—"

Fang cut him off. "Taa, don’t give me that. Just say you’ve grown up and you’re embarrassed to hug me in public."

Fellin’s expression froze, and his lips twitched uncontrollably.

"You... ah... forget it."

He shook his head with a sigh, then glanced at Ariana and Dera.

They were still sleeping.

Fang also looked at them. "I thought this silver-haired girl was struck by lightning. How come she looks fine?"

Fellin nodded, a puzzled look on his face as he spoke.

"Honestly, I also don’t understand how it happened. When I was about to sleep yesterday, I saw that her body had been covered in blue flowers."

His eyes glinted with a hidden complexity.

"However, when the flowers disappeared, all her injuries were healed. In fact, I don’t know why she hasn’t woken up yet."

Tamar quietly answered him. "Ariana is a heavy sleeper."

"Ah... I see." Fellin chuckled, then turned to look at his older brother.

There was a serious expression on Fang’s face.

"You said you saw flowers on her body."

Fellin nodded confidently.

"And after they disappeared, she was healed?"

Fellin nodded again. Seeing his brother’s expression, he asked hesitantly.

"I was thinking too... could it be a Divine—"

Knock! Knock! Knock!