Chapter 8: Execution On Sight
They set out on their journey even before the sun had fully risen in the sky. After living in the village for a week, Yan Zhen had realized that the village was settled on the outskirs of the cultivation zone, which was the main reason why they both had been able to recuperate so comfortably.
However, being in the outskirts means low spiritual energy. Even the crops and fruit grown in the village, have almost no essence in them. With his unconventional way of gathering spiritual energy he was still fine, but Ruolan was starting to show signs of fatigue. She did benefit from dual cultivation, but as someone whose core was trained to gather Qi from nature, it was tiring for her. The difference was not huge but enough to make her uncomfortable.
Yan Zhen could hear her becoming breathless even after walking only a short distance, "Should we take some rest??", he asked.
"No.. if we start stopping like that we will not be able to cross the forest cover before the sunset."
He knows that, but due to dual cultivation he can mildly feel her discomfort. "Why don't you rest in my spiritual box?"
"What ?? Master won't I die from suffocation?"
"I also don't know, do you want to try?? I did see a closed door cultivation zone there."
Closed door cultivation does sound tempting at this point, Ruolan bit her lips, "Shall I try then ?"
Yan Zhen summoned his spiritual box giving a small gemstone pendant to Ruolan after pouring his spiritual energy into it, "In case of any discomfort, communicate through this"
Ruolan accepted it softly before stepping into the box.
"How is it?"
"It's good, there is a cultivation room and abundant spiritual energy, I am entering the room now."
Yan Zhen nodded, although he was aware she can't see him. At least now he can speed up his journey to reach his destination more quickly.
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"Do you heavenly sect look down on the demonic sect now? How dare you back-off from the established arrangement."
The arrangement of demon valley, was the way demonic sects had kept the great heavenly sect in check for years. Loosing an inner sect disciple- one who had been trained for years- would be a great setback, especially since each sect can only have a limited number of inner sect disciples.
After the last battle between heavenly and demonic sect, demonic cultivators won by a huge number and thus such an arrangement was established, it not only keep pressure on sect but also break the unyielding loyalty that these young heavenly cultivators have for their sect.
Just the slightest feeling that their sect might betray or use them as a sacrifice is enough to break down their loyalty.
And the demon valley has, for years bread, the strong resentment and vicious spirits - all of which that provide immense nourishment to demonic cultivators. They certainly have their own system to ensure that the heavenly sect keep their promise.
But this year something was amiss, in the pile of essence the essence of two major sect's was missing - Frost Moon Sect & Peach Blossom Sect. This was the first time, such a thing happened but certainly it would not be the last if they didn't make an example out of it now.
"We did send our disciple"
"So did they disappear? Shut your bitch-ass mouth. Now we will decide who to take, when you had a chance you should have not taken it as a joke. If anyone have a problem then they can come fight our sect we are ready to take up a few punny cultivators like you."
What does any sect cherishes the most? It used to be their culture and respect but now it is their top disciple, it is believed that one top disciple is able to single handedly carry their sect further for generations, and this knowledge isn't what the demonic sect were not aware of.
Instead they were aware of it completely, because these few gifted individuals are the one that are hidden so deep in these sect that they can't even be reached unless their is some big commotion and hence can't be killed with their usual petty tricks. What better way would be then to kill two birds with one stone.
"Grab them"
With a command the demonic cultivators scatter, taking both the sect elder as surprise as they easily cross the boundary and rush into their sect like wind, it was easy to guess that they aren't here to get random people, as the level of demonic cultivator were unusually high.
Within ten minutes they returned right back in front of the elder with two people in their hold.
A man, in his early twenties with clear eyes dressed in Frost Moon Sect uniform and another girl in Peach blossom sect uniform. Their appearance sent a wave of panic among the elders, they were the most promising young talent from their respective sects. Who were almost at the level of the masters.
"You can't do that, they are at the level of masters. Our arrangement was for the disciples."
"Are these masters then? Shut up old man, our arrangement was based on their designated position and as far as we know they aren't awarded master's title yet. And as for breaking the arrangement part is concerned you broke the arrangement first, if we want we could have just killed one of you elders. But we are good people you see."
The scene was brutal as they blocked the Qi point of the two disciple bringing them up to the podium in front of their respective sect and sliced their neck clean, the spray of blood pour down on the sect floor as they throw the decapitated body down in the middle of their sect ground.
The obnoxious demonic laugh ring through the air as the cultivators went back to their sect, "think twice before trying to fool our sect again."
The elder felt their head throb at the realization, that this one death would send their sect to the lower level in the sect power hierarchy. "Those dammed bastards, everyone announce it throughout the heavenly realm *Execution On Sight* for criminals Ruolan & Yan Zhen "
Their crime?? they dared to escape death that the heavenly sect have bestowed up on them.
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"Why do I feel my ear itching?"
Yan Zhen rubbed his ear uncomfortably, as he walked inside the demonic cultivator's city, he could already feel the heavy Yin Qi filled the air as soon as he entered.
The women here must have abundant yin essence for him, even the thought was enough to make his mouth water...