At the same time, everyone inside the Grasslands felt the thrum for a few moments. Whether it be demonic beasts, cultivators, normal people, or even the wild beasts, everyone felt their minds clear up for those few moments.
While the cultivators all over the Grasslands realized that this was not an ordinary treasure, the same could be said for the demonic beasts as well. However, the hierarchy of the demonic beasts was pretty rigid.
Thus, the lower-level beasts whimpered and stayed put. But, the higher-level beasts were more bold and their nature made them reckless. They wanted that treasure at all costs.
So, every one of the demonic beasts started flocking toward the direction of the treasure. The cultivators looked at this new development with grim faces. They were already facing heavy pressure just trying to reach the interior regions, now that the demonic beasts were also flocking towards that direction, it would be suicide to go ahead if one didn't have enough strength.
Many experts also knew that such a treasure couldn't be obtained by them. In fact, owning such a treasure might invite calamity to them. So, they wisely began to withdraw from the Grasslands entirely.
Meanwhile, over at the Heavenly Demon Sect, the Sect Master and the Vice-Sect Master had displeased expressions written all over their faces. Three Nascent Soul experts with amicable smiles on their faces stood before them.
"I didn't expect all three fellow daoists from the Seven Clouds Sect to visit us at the same time," the Sect Master said in a clipped tone.
It was obvious from his expression that he didn't like this one bit. The Seven Clouds Sect was the only sect that was on par with the Heavenly Demon Sect in the nearby region.
For all the three Nascent Soul experts from the Seven Clouds Sect to visit them at this time, there could be only one reason for it. The Seven Colored Soul Lotus.
The Heavenly Demon Sect didn't know how the news leaked outside. After the Level 7 beast had gone on a rampage last time, they had moved secretly to ensure that no one actually knew what the treasure that appeared in the Grasslands was.
One of the defining natures of the Seven Colored Soul Lotus was that it would create a commotion a few months before it actually bloomed. This made sure that it was always harvested immediately by someone once it bloomed.
Considering the rarity of the treasure, it was no wonder that the Heavenly Demon Sect went through great pains to keep the information secret. It was them who instigated the Level 7 beast and caused it to go on a rampage.
It was they who finished off the leftover who had actually laid eyes on the treasure. They even hunted down everyone who was near the treasure just to make sure that no one knew of its existence.
Even the Star Imperial Empire had no idea what the treasure actually was.
Unfortunately, some fish must have slipped through the net. And they had found someone that was on par with the Heavenly Demon Sect in power to restrain the Nascent Soul experts of the Heavenly Demon Sect from acquiring the treasure.
"Why, fellow daoist, you act as if we are not welcome in your sect," one of the Nascent Soul experts said playfully as he played with his beard.
The Sect Master could only grit his teeth in reply. They both knew what was at stake here. The fact that the Seven Clouds Sect sent over three of their Nascent Soul experts was enough to prove that.
Normally, no sect would send three of their top experts to enemy territory in case something went awry. However, a single Seven Colored Soul Lotus meant that there would be another Nascent Soul expert guaranteed if they could obtain it.
And no sect would be foolish enough to let someone else take that opportunity away.
Just as the Sect Master was ready to blow his top, the Vice Sect Master sent him a mental message.
"Sect Master, I have sent Hui Wanren to retrieve that treasure. It is better that these three old coots are here. We can make sure to keep an eye on them. That way, apart from the Level 7 beast, no other variable would be present there."
The Sect Master analyzed the information calmly. Compared to the Vice-Sect Master, he wasn't that optimistic about the result anymore. If these three old men came here, then it meant they had absolute confidence in obtaining the treasure as well.
Otherwise, only two of them would have come here.
Not to mention the presence of the Level 7 beast that was near that area. By now, the Level 7 beast would have noticed the presence of the treasure and would be guarding it ferociously.
Hui Wanren may be an expert, but he wasn't enough to deal with the Level 7 beast. People who were in the Golden Core realm often didn't understand the qualitative difference between the Nascent Soul realm and the Golden Core realm.
Once one forms his Nascent Soul, the power they possessed would be in a different league altogether. Very few Golden Core realm experts could skip a level and defeat a Nascent Soul expert.
And a Level 7 beast was equivalent to the Nascent Soul realm of humans.
So, the Sect Master wasn't assuaged by the words the Vice-Sect Master said. In fact, it only gave him a bad premonition. Still, he had been the Sect Master for a long time.
He knew that sometimes there isn't much that could be done. And one has to be content with the hand that fate dealt them. Sometimes things wouldn't happen how someone planned them to occur.
Knowing this, he calmed down quickly enough and gestured for the three to enter. He motioned for a servant to bring them tea and settled down to have a boring but unavoidable conversation with these three old coots.
*****
Duncan reached the road a few miles from where he strayed into the Grasslands.
Looking back, he could see a small canyon behind him. The moment he saw the canyon, Duncan knew that this would have been where he would have been ambushed if he had continued on without straying off the road.
Thanking his lucky stars, Duncan set a brisk pace. He didn't walk on the road, but rather got off the road and walked beside it, not wanting to lose it once more.
As he made his way back to his hometown, Duncan began to hear wild beasts growling from the distance. It was as if something had happened to spook them badly and they were acting out.
Luckily, the sound was coming from the interior region. The cacophony was so loud that it was being heard over here. He wondered what the hell was happening in the interior region to cause such a commotion all over the Grasslands.
*****
Liu Kong punched the head of a bull demon causing it to burst into a gory shower. He wiped off the blood that was splattered across his face and looked around.
Liu Kong and his group were now in big trouble. They not only had to face the Level 7 beast, but the other demonic beasts were going mad around them. They had no self-preservation instincts as they began to attack anything in sight.
The moment that the thrum went out, the demonic beasts started attacking their group left and right with no regard for their life. And the worst part was that there were more demonic beasts rushing in from the distance with each moment that passed.
"I should have never agreed to come with you guys," Bai Qingling's aggrieved voice could be heard as she beheaded a spider demon that had attacked her from behind. "And for your information, I fucking hate spiders!!!"
Bai Qingling viciously chopped the legs of the spider demon to further demonstrate her words. It was really a rare sight to see the ice beauty acting like this. However, none of them were in the mood to appreciate it.
Liu Kong didn't fault her one bit. No one expected the blooming of the Seven Colored Soul Lotus would attract such commotion. And the worst part was that only half the lotus had bloomed till now.
Already, Liu Kong could see the pandemonium raging around. The only consolation was that the Level 7 beast was also tied up because of this new madness among the demonic beasts. Liu Kong can already see the Level 7 beast some distance ahead, fighting off several Level 6 beasts in the distance.
Yang Dangli wasn't faring any better. His spotless appearance was gone as he tangled with a bunch of flying demons with the help of his Wind Dao. None of them were exactly enjoying the predicament they had found themselves in.
"Shut the hell up woman," Peng Xiaoli crowed from beside her. "This is the most fun I have had in a long time. Don't ruin it."
Then again, not everyone had the same thought.
*****
Duncan had already traveled a few miles when he heard the sound of horses in the distance. He paused and looked back to see if it was a merchant wagon. Getting a lift with them would ensure that he got out of this stretch of the road faster.
Now that he had lost his horse, Duncan has been using his physical strength and stamina to keep traveling. He didn't want the bandits to return and find him idling somewhere nearby.
There was half a day's journey left in this stretch before he got out of the Grasslands. With Duncan's speed, it would be well into the night when he reached the next village. And it would make it hard to find a suitable place to stay for the night.
So, getting on with a merchant wagon would ensure that he would be able to spend the night in a warm bed. Now that he had experienced the dangers of the Grasslands, parting with some money to get out of here quickly didn't seem much of a problem to Duncan at this time.
Duncan squinted his eyes and tried to see who it was that was coming in the distance. Duncan could tell from the dust cloud that there wasn't just one horse making its way. There should at least be a dozen of them coming.
As Duncan watched, his face became grave.
Whoever it was, they were traveling fast. Either they were running from something or chasing something. And neither of the options boded well for him. Duncan decided that standing here and waiting to be spotted would be a foolish option.
With a curse, he began to run hard trying to find a good spot to hide.
*****
A/N: Hey folks!
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