The Solitary Path to Divinity

"No worries, Junior Brother Gillin. No matter which way they go, they won't escape my sight." Monty patted his spirit beast pouch. With a puff of white mist, a small green finch circled over his head a few times before streaking into the sky.

"A Green Finch!" The Ice Profound Sect disciples gasped.

"Senior Brother Monty, you had such a trump card all along? Why didn't you use it sooner?" Gillin asked, startled.

"There are plenty of dangerous spirit birds in the Bloody Battlefield. The finch is fast and intelligent, but it might still run into something stronger. With our two teams combined, we can handle any ordinary squad. But now that Purple Ginseng is at stake, I'm willing to take the risk." Monty watched the finch disappear into the distance. "We must get that Purple Ginseng, no matter what."

As Monty and the others had guessed, Vera's decision to split up was precisely to ask Leo about Purple Ginseng. She also wanted to know which sect had attacked his team, so they could be more vigilant. When she heard about the Ten Thousand Beasts Pavilion disciples ambushing them near the sand dunes, Vera and the others tensed.

"The Ten Thousand Beasts Pavilion? Next time we run into them, we'll show them what our Ice Bow Squad can do." The tall archer who had led the charge against the white spiders, Quiver—was now flushed with anger, her eyes blazing.

"You really haven't heard anything about Purple Ginseng? This place is too dangerous for you to have just stumbled here by accident." Vera eyed Leo suspiciously.

Leo flushed slightly. He hadn't even mentioned why he came, and Vera had already sensed something was off. Sharp woman. He decided to tell the truth. "I only know the general direction, not the exact spot. I was dragging along a Savage Beast Sect disciple, but then we ran into those white spiders. He panicked and ran into a patch of Cannibal Flowers. They got him. I couldn't save him. Then I ran into you."

"Cannibal Flowers are that dangerous?" Quiver and the others looked shocked. Everyone here was a peak Qi Refining cultivator. Even facing powerful demon beasts, they could at least put up a fight. But being swallowed alive by a flower... the female disciples shuddered at the thought.

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"A single one isn't that bad. But a whole field of them? Even the strongest Qi Refining cultivator would be lucky to get out alive." Leo shuddered himself, remembering. If he'd gone in there, he might not have made it.

"Lucky? That's just your narrow view. Enough talk. You know this area better than us. Lead the way." Vera shot him a cold glance.

This woman. Leo fumed inwardly. He hadn't even done anything to her. Just because he didn't catch her cousin at the Combat Arena—and with so many people there, why single him out? He'd taken her barbs without complaint, but it still stung.

"Heh, looks like Junior Brother Leo did something to upset Senior Sister Vera. Don't worry, just lead. We'll protect you." Quiver giggled at Leo's sour expression.

Protect me? When things get real, who knows who'll be dragging who. Leo rolled his eyes internally and led the way.

Passing the field of Cannibal Flowers, the team marveled. But when they saw the bones underneath, a chill ran through them. Dozens of cultivators, dozens of large spirit beasts—all devoured.

They searched the mountains for two days. The cries of demon beasts grew more frequent. After Leo led for a while, Vera sent two others—a dark, talkative youth named Solon, and a burly, steady man named Angus—to scout ahead with him.

"Junior Brother Leo, I don't know how you survived alone in this place so long. After my team got scattered, I was chased by other sects for two days straight. If I hadn't run into Senior Sister Vera, I'd be dead by now. Those Seven Poisons Sect bastards—next time I see them, I'll make them pay."

Solon never stopped talking. Leo had wondered if Vera was being kind, sending someone to share the danger up front. After walking with Solon for a while and listening to his endless chatter, Leo realized kindness had nothing to do with it.

"If you could make them pay, you wouldn't have been running and screaming in the first place." Angus was a man of few words, his skin leathery, his hands thick with calluses. Solid.

"You don't get it. They outnumbered me. One on one, I'm not afraid of them." Solon bristled.

"Hey, a corpse." Angus pointed. "He's holding something."

"Purple Ginseng leaves! He got it. Looks like someone killed him and took it." Solon exclaimed.

At the mention of Purple Ginseng, Vera and the others hurried over. The area was promising. Excitement rippled through the group.

They searched and found signs of a fight, scattered spirit artifacts.

Solon, quick as ever, snatched a medium-grade spirit axe and stuffed it into his pouch, grinning. A decent haul—sixty or seventy spirit stones—for nothing.

"Fast hands, that one." Angus muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes.

Near a canyon, they found caves. The scent of herbs drifted from within. At the entrance, more Purple Ginseng leaves, and traces of blood. The caves were dark, the interiors unknown.

Angus flicked a small flame, about to send it in. Solon grabbed his arm.

"What?" Angus glared.

"What if there's an ambush? You want to announce we're coming?" Solon tossed a stone inside. It clattered against the wall. Echoes. Nothing else.

"Good thinking." Angus nodded, extinguishing the flame.

Leo considered. Solon was talkative, but sharp. Angus, steady. These two had survived this long for a reason.