The Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect looked out from the sect gate with a grave expression on his face. A beast tide was currently forming in the distance with little to no warning.
When the Seven Colored Soul Lotus bloomed in the Grasslands, he had been both excited and worried for an equal measure. While it is a great opportunity, it might also bring calamity upon their heads as well.
And that worry has manifested itself outside the sect at this moment. There had been no warnings or indications as to the formation of this beast tide. He never expected such a thing to happen.
Heavenly Demon Sect was located in the interior region of Grasslands. The founder of the sect had been of the impression that only constant combat would be ideal to create a true cultivator.
Hence, while establishing the sect, he searched for a relatively dangerous environment to become the sect's location. Finally, the Grasslands and its abundant demonic beasts had satisfied his picky heart and the Heavenly Demon Sect was established in the interior regions of the Grasslands.
And it had worked in general.
The cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Sect were feared across the entire region for a reason. Their constant combat with the demonic beasts had allowed them to become far more dangerous than other experts at the same level.
Moreover, the cultivation techniques the Heavenly Demon Sect practiced weren't righteous in nature. They followed the Demonic Dao more. This made the Grasslands an ideal location for the Heavenly Demon Sect as well.
By the time the Heavenly Demon Sect had truly grown, the righteous cultivators weren't able to threaten them much. And they had no interest as well. Heavenly Demon Sect's location acted in itself as a defensive barrier for it.
However, there was one huge thing that the founder overlooked while establishing the sect. Beast Tide.
Whenever beast tides occurred in the Grasslands, the Heavenly Demon Sect would endure heavy pressure from the demonic beasts. They will have to weather the entire tide all by themselves due to their location.
This, in turn, became the proving ground for the youngsters and bloodthirsty individuals in the sect. The members of the Heavenly Demon Sect were monsters who truly fought their way out of a river of blood.
Having been subjected to a number of beast tides, the Heavenly Demon Sect's expertise in recognizing the signs and indications that lead up to them was second to none.
But, this time there has been no warning. Several of the disciples were outside training and performing various duties for the sect. The Sect Master didn't know if they will be able to make it back.
To make things more complicated, the Heavenly Demon Sect usually relied on their entire strength to fend of beast tides. With its manpower reduced, it was in a very disadvantageous situation right now.
After all, the demonic beasts normally attacked whatever was near to them first. While the areas around the Grasslands would be facing attack as well, they would be nowhere near the level of intensity that the Heavenly Demon Sect will be facing. They were like the vanguard of stemming the beast tide.
It was also one of the reasons why many righteous powers didn't band together to eliminate the Heavenly Demon Sect when it started rising in prominence. They figured that the beast tides would do the job for them.
And generation after generation it worked for them as well. While the Heavenly Demon Sect was truly powerful, they would never be able to take on the righteous side without severe consequences for themselves as well. The beast tides generally trimmed the manpower the Heavenly Demon Sect had in a brutal manner.
This established a strange state of equilibrium amongst the top powers in the region. Righteous sects were definitely wary of the Heavenly Demon Sect, but they never were truly worried.
However, for the Heavenly Demon Sect members, the beast tides were considered to be a rite of passage. Only when someone survives a beast tide and walks out of it alive will they be considered an expert in the sect.
Having such a grueling rite of passage also made the members of the Heavenly Demon Sect a force to be reckoned with. When other experts met people from the Heavenly Demon Sect, they would retreat voluntarily not willing to provoke these maniacs who treated beast tides like proving grounds.
In a way, it was both blessing and a curse that the Heavenly Demon Sect had to bear. And until now, they had borne it admirably well.
"If the purpose of your visit is done with, I will bid the fellow daoists farewell here. We have to prepare ourselves for the beast tide and no time to idle around," the Sect Master gruffly spoke to the three experts from the Seven Clouds Sect.
"Unless you three are planning to participate in this exercise as well," the Vice-Sect Master snidely commented from the side.
"We would never dream of interfering in your sect affairs, Vice-Sect Master. We will take our leave now so that you can concentrate on your affairs. We are happy that fellow daoists were able to entertain us until now and don't want to overstay our welcome," one of the three experts smiled amicably.
"Hmmmph, then get going," the Sect Master didn't give the trio any face. "I will be activating the Sect Defense Formation soon. It will be unwise for you to linger here at that time."
The faces of the three experts from the Seven Clouds Sect stiffened, but they smoothened it out with practiced ease. The trio smiled and bid their goodbyes as if they didn't come here to hinder the Heavenly Demon Sect. Once done, they vanished into thin air.
"Bunch of hypocrites, cowardly currs!" the Vice-Sect Master spat to the side.
"Forget about them, inform the disciples to return to the sect immediately. Make it the highest priority order. They should know what to do when a beast tide occurs. I will activate the Sect Defense Formation," the Sect Master ordered gruffly. "Let's hope our losses aren't too big this time."
"Yes, Sect Master," the Vice-Sect Master nodded.
"Once you are done with that, inform the Head Elders to wake up a few elders from their retreat and request them to oversee the sect for some time. You will head out and find Hui Wanren. I am afraid that this beast tide is the act of a Level 7 beast," the Sect Master said gravely.
"You mean…"
"The only reason for the Level 7 beast to initiate this beast tide would be that it lost the treasure. If it ended up in Hui Wanren's hand, then bring him and the treasure back safely. If not, then there is no need to chase after the treasure. Regardless of what it is, Hui Wanren will be in grave danger. So, we don't have time to waste."
"Yes, Sect Master."
"Let's hope this beast tide doesn't bring any more surprises to us," the Sect Master said gravely looking into the distance.
*****
Hui Wanren was indeed not doing well.
Liu Kong's indiscriminate attack had wounded him badly. He was really in a bad shape. His entire body was bloodied and he lay there in the middle of nowhere trying to bring back some feeling into his body.
His regeneration was kicking in. But the speed it was operating was not optimal. The only reason he was even alive now was that Liu Kong's attack had also wounded the Level 7 beast and killed many more Level 6 and Level 5 beasts.
Not many strong demonic beasts were left standing after that attack.
And following that, both Liu Kong and the Level 7 beast took off into the distance. Hui Wanren knew that Liu Kong now had possession of the treasure. It would mean that the Level 7 beast was in pursuit of him along with other stronger demonic beasts.
That left only the weaker ones below Level 5 here. It was a blessing in disguise for Hui Wanren. In the distance, he could see both Peng Xiaoli and Yang Dangli recovering from the aftereffects of Liu Kong's attack as well.
He eyed the duo for a moment, before deciding to leave this place. There was still some chance for him to obtain the treasure. If the Level 7 beast caught up to Liu Kong, a fight would definitely occur.
This time he was going to watch and wait for the opportunity. He had made the mistake of trusting a righteous snake, like Liu Kong once, and he wasn't going to do it again.
Without further delay, he vanished from the spot.
Yang Dangli, who just recovered from the attack, saw Hui Wanren vanishing and immediately guessed his intention. He knew that trailing after Liu Kong and the Level 7 beast would be dangerous, but this entire venture was a dangerous one.
So, he didn't mind some additional danger. He had confidence in his Wind Dao. If he could get his hands on the treasure, no one here would be a match for him if it came to escaping.
This was a very rare opportunity. There were no Nascent Soul experts apart from the Level 7 beast around. The Monkey Demon wasn't known for its speed. He would be able to outpace it and escape from it easily. He just needs to find the right opportunity to lay his hands on the treasure.
And this particular treasure was worth every bit of the danger.
Seven Colored Soul Lotus could help him become a Nascent Soul expert. That was basically the top powerhouse of this region. There was merely a handful of Nascent Soul experts present in the region. This would make him a top expert throughout the region.
So, he didn't need to consider much. Yang Dangli left the site as well trailing after Liu Kong and the Level 7 beast.
Peng Xiaoli looked around and saw the devastation left in the wake of Liu Kong's attack. It really scared him a bit. Whatever Liu Kong had unleashed had decimated a number of demonic beasts present in the entire region.
Only his powerful body had helped him resist the attack. That was when the attack wasn't launched in his direction. He was merely on the outskirts of the attack range and he was bleeding.
Even then, it had left him battered and bruised all around. If that attack was aimed at him, Peng Xiaoli didn't have the confidence to say that he would survive.
"So, that is the power of a Nascent Soul expert, huh? Amazing. I can't wait to become that powerful. No wonder I wasn't able to put up a fight in front of Senior Brother Xing," Peng Xiaoli mumbled to himself.
"Should I follow them now? Or should I retreat?" Peng Xiaoli asked himself in confusion. "That bitch sure ran fast. If I am not wrong, she would be already out of the Grasslands by now."
"Well, I am insulted you think of me that way," Bai Qingling emerged from the side with a displeased expression on her face.
"You!" Peng Xiaoli spluttered.
*****
A/N: Hey folks!
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