Two weeks later, Savagefang Mountain Range, Flame Sovereign Sect temporary camp.
This so-called 'temporary camp' sprawled like a makeshift city at the mountain's foot, a chaotic blend of order and disorder that only cultivators could create.
Crimson banners bearing the mark of the Flame Sovereign Sect flapped proudly in the wind, staked into the ground to mark their territory, while rows of tents and hastily raised wooden structures stretched outward in uneven lines.
Everywhere, rogue cultivators had gathered—some loitering in groups around fire pits, others sharpening blades or cultivating in the open, and many hawking spirit herbs, talismans, and dubious treasures from crude stalls.
The air was thick with Qi fluctuations and with the constant hum of clashing voices: negotiations, boasts, arguments, and the occasional spark of violence quickly smothered by watchful Flame Sovereign Sect disciples.
Of course, that was only when these arrogant Flame Sovereign Sect disciples weren't the very source of such sparks of violence, which happened far too often!
Fortunately, the higher-ranked disciples and elders brought them back in place quickly, calming conflicts and arguments and allowing this temporary base to remain relatively peaceful…
Undeterred and seemingly unaffected by the surrounding 'controlled chaos', at the center of this 'chaotic city' stood the Sect's command pavilions, larger and sturdier than the other shabby temporary buildings, guarded by Inner Court Elders whose presence dared the surrounding rogue cultivators to approach.
One of them in particular was striking, the largest and most imposing of these command pavilions, and it wasn't there as a simple display of power.
No! It was far more than that, for it was currently occupied by extremely important figures of the Flame Sovereign Sect, figures who were in the midst of a meeting—an extremely important meeting, one whose significance could not be overstated!
Inside the magnificent tent the air was thick and heavy with an invisible pressure, as multiple cultivators of immense power were gathered.
"Does…everyone…understand…their…part…in…the…plan?" The Sect Master of the Flame Sovereign Sect spoke in a slow tone of voice, placing emphasis on each word, making it clear how much importance he attached to this 'plan'.
And it made itself even clearer as, while speaking, his sharp gaze fell on everyone present in this tent!
Momentarily it landed on Young Master Qin, his sharp glance softening for a brief instant before hardening the next as he passed along, ignoring his son's recently broken through 2nd layer Core Formation Realm cultivation.
He then focused on a group of three Core Elders, two old men and one old woman with cultivations at the 5th, 6th and 6th layer of the Core Formation Realm respectively.
And finally it landed on the last one present in the tent, another old man, but this one in the recognizable Taoist Robes of a Grand Elder, and it showed from the power emanating from him.
The old man was at the 8th layer of the Core Formation Realm!
A cultivation base that placed him among the true elite of the Suncrest Region, but even then he paled in comparison to the Sect Master, who, even without exerting the slightest bit of power, weighed on the room.
His cultivation at the 1st layer of the Core Perfection Realm was clearly not there for show.
"Yes, Lord Father."
"Understood."
"Ready, old friend."
Qin Lei, the three Core Elders, and the Grand Elder responded one after the other, the seriousness in their voices unmistakable, making it clear that they all understood the importance of this plan.
"Good!" nodded the Sect Master, but 'to be sure' he still retold the plan another time.
Once that was done he looked at everyone, his eyes sharp, "I think I don't need to say it but I'll say it anyway because of how important this is!"
He took a small pause before continuing, "The danger of the plan is extremely high which is why everyone needs to execute their own parts flawlessly, without the slightest mistake."
"It is only with all of us giving our all and acting as one that this plan can and will succeed!"
Nod
He received numerous affirmative nods as he continued, "This is the Flame Sovereign Sect's chance to rise, and if we succeed in our endeavor we can become the sole Overlord of the Suncrest Region, devouring the Frozen Serenity Sect and the Wandering Sword Sect!"
Gulp
Qin Lei swallowed in a mix of nervosity and greed, a reaction mirrored by the three Core Elders as excitement and greed flickered in their eyes, the only one seemingly unaffected being the Grand Elder.
Taking their reaction in, Sect Master Qin inwardly nodded, 'Good, they are determined…but I need to remind them to be cautious!'
"Still…" he took a small pause, letting his words weigh in the room, "...while the Thunder Vein Dew is precious we must not let ourselves be overwhelmed by greed!"
"Our safety is paramount! We can afford to fail in obtaining the Thunder Vein Dew, but we cannot afford to all fall here! After all, while the Sect is currently sufficiently defended to hold against an all-out assault from another Overlord Sect…"
"This is only true as long as we can provide backup soon enough, and if we fall here then the Sect itself could be at risk, so prioritizing our safety is paramount even above obtaining the Thunder Vein Dew. If acquiring it proves truly impossible, we will execute Plan B and retreat, understood?"
"Yes." ×5
All five once again acquiesced, but even then the meeting between these six powerhouses did not end there, as they continued to talk about the plan and repeatedly hammer each detail.
And this went on for hours on end, without anyone showing the slightest sign of annoyance, because they all understood the critical importance of their current expedition.
Rustle.
The 'door' of the large tent flapped open, and from within emerged an entourage of cultivators led by the Sect Master of the Flame Sovereign Sect.
A Sect Master who took flight, and within moments he was soaring above the temporary camp, his mere presence drawing the surrounding gazes like moths to a flame.
"Rogue cultivators, disciples, and elders of the Flame Sovereign Sect, I am, for those that don't know me, Sect Master Qin, the Sect Master of the Flame Sovereign Sect!" His voice spread out under the weight of his Qi, reaching every cultivator present in the camp.
"He seems extremely powerful!"
"What bearing!"
"So this is the Sect Master?"
Instantly Sect Master Qin's words made the surroundings erupt in chatter, whether it be rogue cultivators, disciples, or even elders of the Flame Sovereign Sect, all of them broke into noise, for many this being the very first time they had laid eyes on the Sect Master.
Undeterred by the chatter he pressed on, "You have probably heard rumors about how our Flame Sovereign Sect discovered an Ancient Ruins in the depths of the Savagefang Mountain Range and—"
At the words 'Ancient Ruins' the chatter intensified, as every cultivator knew what Ancient Ruins meant; it was as much a synonym of danger as it was of opportunities, and consequently a trail of excitement spread through the crowd below.
The Sect Master opened his arms, "The rumors, as you can expect, are true! Not only that, but we also possess an understanding of this particular Ancient Ruins, one whose dangers reach into the Core Formation Realm, and beyond that we have also uncovered other information, information that pushed us to gather you here today!"
"This information is the fact that this Ancient Ruins is rather special in its functioning, in the fact that having a high number of cultivators exploring it is beneficial in finding treasures, which is why a lot of you rogue cultivators have been allowed to participate in this expedition."
"We will take care of protecting you up to the Ancient Ruins site, and we will allow you to explore OUR Ancient Ruins, and in exchange we will take only 50% of what you will obtain."
At his words the rogue cultivators in the crowd began to literally shake of excitement!
After all maybe for others needing to give 50% of what they obtain would have been extortion and would provoke resentment, but for these rogue cultivators, who were used to living on scraps and not having much, it was entirely different!
For them it was a heaven defying opportunity to explore an Ancient Ruins, the kind of opportunity nobody, especially not poor cultivators, would dare to refuse, and even with them needing to give 50% of their gains they were still extremely excited.
'Fools!' the floating Sect Master nearly sneered, but he contained himself and continued on with a neutral expression,
"As for the disciples and elders of the Sect you will, of course, be favored and will be authorized to explore the Ancient Ruins, but the difference is that everything you obtain will be yours to keep, though this does not prevent you from exchanging your gains for merits if you so wish."
There was a moment of silence in the crowd as the crowd of cultivators took in what he said.
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Sect Master." A Core Disciple was the first to break the silence as he bowed and voiced his thanks.
An action that provoked a chain reaction, as soon enough the other nearby cultivators, both from the Flame Sovereign Sect and the rogue cultivators, began a rain of thanks and compliments toward the Sect Master.
This continued on until the latter waved it off, silencing them before resuming his explanation, an explanation that did not last much longer since there wasn't much left to cover, and soon enough he finished his 'speech',
"...on that note I wish you a good exploration of these Ancient Ruins!"
It was on these words that the Sect Master waved his sleeves, and under his orders the immense group, tens of thousands strong, began their expedition into the treacherous depths of the Savagefang Mountain Range.
RUMBLE!!!
The ground quaked as if unable to withstand their might, the resounding fracas of an 'army' on the move echoing like thunder through heaven and earth.
It was with that loud 'announcement' of their presence that the immense group of cultivators, both rogue and from the Flame Sovereign Sect, entered the Savagefang Mountain Range, and the least that could be said was that their presence did not go unnoticed by the… locals of the Mountain Range!
"Burning Palm Strike!"
"Scorching Fang Slash!"
"Blazing Embers Step!"
The vigorous shouts of the Inner Disciples of the Flame Sovereign Sect resounded as these 'powerful' cultivators burst out with their Sect Cultivation Techniques, fire-attributed Qi erupting all around the vast group as flames manifested in midair and tore into the demonic beasts that, drawn by their presence, had the brilliant idea to attack them…
Boom, Burn, Thud.
Explosions shook the edges of the great formation as the Inner Disciples, in a display of pure power, effortlessly burnt the Body Forging Realm demonic beasts to a crisp, their corpses left smoldering in the dirt.
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