Xuan Tian stood in the shadows, perched on an outcropping just above the narrow path. From his vantage point, he had an unobstructed view of the procession below, close enough to intervene in an instant if necessary. He had gone invisible, his usual go-to when tracking someone. This time, he was trailing the delivery from Xue Qin Lou, watching as they climbed Bai Mountain.
The mountain air was sharp and cold, rustling through the dense canopy above him. The twisted roots of ancient trees jutted from the ground below, forcing the captors to step carefully as they guided the prisoners along the uneven path. Chains clinked softly, the faintest sound in the otherwise silent night. Further down, hushed voices exchanged orders, wary of drawing attention in such an isolated place.
His gaze swept over the group, and he caught sight of Ling Yu's clone among the victims. It was a flawless replica, but he knew better. The real Ling Yu was back at the inn, unconscious and fragile. The memory of that morning resurfaced—when he had carried her to an empty room.
She had been weightless in his arms, almost insubstantial. Small. Delicate. Her presence barely registered, as if she could slip through his fingers at any moment. She had looked peaceful in sleep, but that only made her mortality all the more stark. He could have snapped her like a twig.
Xuan Tian closed his eyes briefly and shook his head, as if trying to dispel the image from his mind. This was not the time for distractions. Yet the uncomfortable feeling from earlier that morning refused to leave. It crept into his heart and stubbornly stayed there. He now recognized it as guilt.
Yes. Xuan Tian, the Great General of the Celestial Realm, nicknamed the God of War for never losing a single battle, he who had slaughtered countless enemies without hesitation, expressionless, unfazed—was now feeling guilty toward a weak and fragile human girl.
Pathetic. You are not fit to be called Great General.
He still did not understand why he felt guilty, but he felt it. It was illogical. It didn't make sense. It was absurd.
Xuan Tian sighed. Ever since meeting Ling Yu at Xue Qin Lou, he realized the number of times he had sighed had exceeded his entire 50,000 years of existence.
When it was time for him to return to Xue Qin Lou, he had felt an uncharacteristic reluctance at leaving Ling Yu still unconscious. He knew, logically, that she was safe—very safe. But the guilt gnawed at him, whispering that he should stay until she woke up.
Xuan Tian shook his head again. I've gone insane. This was not the time for distractions.
Forcing his attention back to the group, he noted they had been ascending the mountain for two hours now. The moon hung high in the sky, its silvery glow casting long shadows over the rugged terrain. The flickering torchlight from the warriors illuminated their path, merging with the moonlight to create an eerie procession of shifting shadows.
It was quite an entourage—around twenty victims, moving like sheep being herded, flanked by nearly as many warriors. Among them, he recognized three Immortals—Light Green 1, 2, and 3. He had seen them before, two nights ago, fighting over a pill in the alley. Their presence here confirmed that their scuffle back then had not been mere chance but rather a glimpse into something much larger.
At the front of the group was the female cultivator he had seen before, walking with authority, while the three Light Green Immortals moved among the escorts, their jade tokens glinting under the torchlight. It was now undeniable—they were all connected, part of the same force.
His gaze sharpened as he took in the jade tokens fastened to each of them—the same token he had seen on the woman cultivator. They all bore the insignia of the Lingxu Sect.
Is the Lingxu Sect orchestrating this, or is it merely the work of a rogue faction within its ranks?
They continued up the path for another two hours before arriving at a field. Though they were nowhere near the snowy peak, the temperature had dropped significantly. The low temperature was of little concern to the cultivators, but for the victims and the warriors, it was bone-biting cold.
At the far end of the field, they stopped before what appeared to be the entrance to a cave, concealed behind thick vegetation. One by one, the victims were herded inside. The entrance was narrow, allowing only a single person through at a time.
Xuan Tian observed as each person entered, noting the faint pulse of energy that vibrated in response. Another barrier. He had to admit, they were being extremely careful. This only confirmed what he already suspected—this operation was neither small nor simple.
Xuan Tian found the perfect moment to enter the cave, slipping inside unhindered by the barrier. His duplicated token had proven to be a worthwhile investment. He moved deeper.
What he originally thought was a cave turned out to be a massive cavern, with multiple paths and chambers sprawling out before him. A perfect place for core harvesters to hide their operations. His suspicions only grew stronger.
Inside the cavern, Xuan Tian noticed an alarming lack of defensive mechanisms. He scoffed. Overconfident bastards. He followed the group until they reached a vast chamber with towering ceilings and a spacious open area. At its center, two stone beds stood ominously, chains fastened along the cavern walls.
Silently, Xuan Tian moved to find the best vantage point, positioning himself where he could observe the entire room without detection.
Two male cultivators were already waiting inside. Their expressions glowed with greed as they eyed the incoming victims.
"Chain them," one of the cultivators ordered, his voice laced with dark satisfaction.
Xuan Tian clenched his jaw.
"Elder Mo, Elder Feng," Luo Zixue saluted deeply. "There are a total of twenty-four cores, as promised."
Elder Mo nodded approvingly. "Disciple Zixue, you've done well."
"Sizhun," Xiao Qin stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "This disciple has completed the escort duty as ordered." He turned and saluted. "Elder Mo."
"Hahaha," Elder Feng laughed in delight. "Xiao Qin, you've done well."
Light Green 2 and 3 also bowed, offering deep salutes to the two Elders.
Xuan Tian observed the two Elders. Both of them wore a more extravagant version of the light green robe. It was evident that these robes were the formal attire of the Lingxu Sect. Elder Mo was taller, his posture rigid with authority, while Elder Feng's shorter frame carried an air of smugness. His narrow eyes gleamed with sinister amusement, as if relishing the sight of the victims before him.
They wore the same Lingxu Sect tokens on their waist belts, a clear mark of their affiliation. Their cultivation was at High Immortal Stage 1. These two were not the ones who had placed the barriers. Xuan Tian's frown deepened. The presence of these two Elders confirmed that the Lingxu Sect was not merely involved—it was entangled in this operation far deeper than he had initially suspected.
Luo Zixue ordered the warriors to chain the victims. They moved immediately, their hands slightly trembling—the presence of two High Immortals making them sweat bullets.
Elder Feng turned to Xiao Qin. "Xiao Qin, this time you've really done very well. This is enough to redeem yourself after losing the Shengtian Pill."
Shengtian? Aren't they supposed to be called Zhengyuan? Is Shengtian an upgraded version of Zhengyuan? I need to ask Dr. Zhao later.
"Thank you, Sizhun. This disciple does not know who snatched it, but it was most likely one of their senior brothers," Xiao Qin said, his face filled with disdain.
"Hmph! Those untalented trash! Even if they succeeded in snatching the Shengtian Pill, it's useless!" Elder Feng spat the words like venom.
"As a reward for a job well done, all of you can stay and observe the harvest process. It is a very important skill in our Divine Elixir Peak," Elder Mo said.
"You too, Disciple Luo," Elder Mo continued.
"Disciple Luo thanks Elder Mo for the offer, but unfortunately, this disciple still has to make a report to Elder Su," Luo Zixue bowed deeply.
Both elders' eyes flickered slightly at the mention of Elder Su's name. No one noticed it.
"Then you can go. Don't make Elder Su wait too long," Elder Mo said.
"Yes, Elder Mo. This disciple takes their leave first. Elder Feng." Luo Zixue bowed again and left the room.
The two elders watched her leave and sighed at the same time. Xiao Qin and the other two disciples exchanged confused glances.
Elder Mo cleared his throat and turned to Xiao Qin. "Go ahead, pick one."
Xiao Qin's eyes lit up. He and his friends eagerly moved to select a victim for harvesting.
Xuan Tian's gaze darkened. They would not finish this ritual. Not while he was here.