Forest Clan’s Crisis (Three)

With the Forest Clan facing imminent crisis, Lin Huangfu and the elders had made a desperate gamble. They had invested their precious reserves of cultivation resources into their two most promising talents: Lin Qiang and Lin Dong. For a fifth-rank influence, such materials were treasures, typically reserved for crucial trades or momentous occasions. Yet, they had chosen to place their faith in the young cultivators, hoping for a miracle.

And a miracle they received. In an astonishingly short period, both Lin Qiang and Lin Dong had ascended to the Sixth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm. To leap from the seventh and ninth layers of the Body Tempering Realm to the cusp of the Spirit Sea's late stage was an accomplishment that defied comprehension.

Under normal circumstances, such rapid advancement would have resulted in numerous bottlenecks and hidden dangers within their cultivation. However, their bodies had been fundamentally altered. From the nourishing effects of the Bloody Stew to Ming Ren's meticulous guidance and the infusion of Jana's potent bloodline, they had transcended the limitations of ordinary cultivators, their physiques now resembling those spoken of only in legends.

Peng Cai and Bai Wei, along with everyone else aware of the situation, stared in dumbstruck awe. When had cultivation become so effortless, so devoid of the painstaking struggles and setbacks that plagued most aspirants on the path to immortality? 

These two cultivators were nothing short of monstrous talents. If left unchecked, they would undoubtedly pose a significant threat, their humiliation at the hands of the Forest Clan fueling a desire for revenge and dominance. 

"Patriarch, please allow us to handle this," Lin Dong requested, his voice calm and steady as he stepped forward to face Unbending Bear. He clasped his hands respectfully, yet his words dripped with a quiet confidence that bordered on arrogance. "You are not worthy to face the Patriarch of the Forest Clan."

Bai Wei's face contorted with rage, his veins bulging as he struggled to contain his fury. He, a respected Spirit Gate cultivator, was being challenged by a mere middle-stage Spirit Sea cultivator? 

"You overstep your bounds," Unbending Bear growled, his voice laced with a dangerous growl. "Do you truly believe you are my equal?" His Spirit Gate pressure surged once more, threatening to crush Lin Dong with its sheer force.

"Equal?" Lin Qiang's voice echoed from behind, her tone light and playful, yet carrying an underlying current of power. She gracefully joined Lin Dong, assuming the [Beast and Fist] battle formation, a confident smile gracing her lips. "Did you not come seeking our formations and arts? Then allow us to demonstrate their true potential."

"Impudent child! I shall show you the true meaning of cultivation!" Unbending Bear roared, unleashing the full might of his Spirit Gate.

Lin Dong met his opponent's pressure head-on, his own spiritual energy swirling around him like a protective whirlwind. Lin Qiang's cultivation soared in response, her summoning energy blooming behind her in a brilliant display of pink and purple hues. With a surge of power, she conjured a monstrous creature into existence: a giant spider-chimera, its body a grotesque fusion of spider, scorpion, and mantis, its numerous eyes swirling with madness.

"Summoning Energy!" Bai Wen exclaimed, his voice laced with shock and disbelief. A summon with the power of a Fifth Layer Spirit Sea realm beast? Such a feat was unheard of, even among the most talented beast tamers.

The battle commenced, a whirlwind of clashing energies and dazzling techniques. Lin Dong, empowered by the Heaven Grade Forest Clan arts, moved with the swiftness and ferocity of a wild beast, his weaponized spine a blur of devastating strikes. Lin Qiang, her movements guided by the battle formation and her connection to the summoned chimera, orchestrated a symphony of attacks, her thin sword flashing like lightning as she exploited every opening in Unbending Bear's defenses.

The Spirit Gate cultivator, despite his superior cultivation and experience, found himself struggling to keep up with the coordinated assault. Lin Dong and Lin Qiang, their movements perfectly synchronized, anticipated his every move, countering his attacks and forcing him onto the defensive.

***

Hidden from view, two majestic figures observed the unfolding battle, their eyes gleaming in profound and mysterious ways.

"My lord..." the old man murmured, his voice laced with astonishment.

"To think they could challenge a Spirit Gate cultivator with mere Body Tempering Realm techniques... Even though their opponent is not particularly noteworthy, he has still reached that exalted realm," the other man, his middle-aged aristocratic features obscured by the shadows, nodded in agreement. "That battle formation is quite extraordinary." 

"And they haven't even begun to tap into the true potential of the senior's bloodline," the old man said.

"It's not just them," the crimson coral-robed figure added, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield, encompassing the entire Forest Clan army. "These techniques... they are remarkable. Even within the palace, one would be hard-pressed to find Body Tempering Realm arts of such efficiency and power. No ordinary expert would invest their time and effort into refining techniques of that level."

"Could the senior within the woods have bestowed these upon them as well?" the old man inquired.

"Perhaps," the coral-robed figure replied, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Let us continue to observe."

***

Blood trickled from Unbending Bear's lips, staining his beard crimson. He was losing ground, unable to overcome the combined might of Lin Dong and Lin Qiang. He glanced towards Peng Cai, still locked in combat with the Second Elder, and then at Lin Huangfu, who had recovered from the earlier sneak attack and stood ready to join the fray.

Defeat loomed over him like a dark cloud, the humiliation of being bested by cultivators of a lesser clan gnawing at his pride. He considered ordering his troops to attack, but even with their superior numbers, he doubted it would change the outcome. Victory, if it came at all, would come at too great a cost, his reputation and standing within the White Clan irreparably damaged.

He gritted his teeth, his mind racing for a way out of this predicament, when a mocking laughter echoed across the battlefield.

"Ha! To think the mighty White Clan would be humiliated by the likes of the Forest Clan!" A silver-haired, middle-aged cultivator clad in luxurious silver robes approached, followed by a contingent of Spirit Sea Realm cultivators bearing the emblem of the Silver Clan of BlueCloud City.

"Yin Niu, silence yourself!" Unbending Bear roared, his voice filled with fury and indignation. "How dare you show yourself in front of me! This is White Clan's Business!"

"This matter concerns the Silver Clan as well, you foolish bear," Yin Niu countered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Or have you conveniently forgotten how we were unjustly blamed for the incident in the Vagrant Woods? We have as much right to seek answers as you do."

Lin Huangfu frowned, his heart sinking as he witnessed the arrival of the Silver Clan. The White Clan and Redwater Town's City Lord's Mansion were already formidable opponents. The addition of the cunning and underhanded Silver Clan further tipped the scales against them. Although Yin Niu wasn't at the Spirit Gate Realm, he was also a cultivator at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sea.

"Greetings, Silver Clan," Peng Cai interjected, his voice laced with false cordiality. "However, there is no need for your involvement. This situation is well under control and will be resolved by my City Lord's Mansion."

"Indeed," Yin Niu replied, his tone mocking. "It appears you have everything under control. But I have been tasked by my Patriarch to apprehend those responsible for tarnishing our clan's good name, no matter the cost."

"You must be delusional if you believe you can take Lin Huangfu away from me," Unbending Bear snarled, his killing intent spiking once more.

"You can have him," Yin Niu said with a sly smile. He turned his attention towards Lin Huangfu. "Patriarch, surely you understand that there is no escape from this predicament. Simply hand over one of these talented juniors to be questioned by our Silver Patriarch and Second Elder. The Bear and Redwater's City Lord can take the remaining cultivators and yourself into their custody. A fair solution, would you not agree?"

"What?" Lin Huangfu exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.

Peng Cai and Bai Wei immediately grasped Yin Niu's intentions. Instead of engaging in a costly conflict amongst themselves, he was proposing they divide the spoils, each claiming a portion of the Forest Clan's resources and personnel. As things stood, neither the White Clan nor the City Lord's Mansion would emerge victorious. This compromise, however distasteful, offered a way to salvage something from this disastrous situation.

Sensing their hesitation, Yin Niu pressed his advantage. "Are we not all servants of the Overlord? We should not be at odds with each other over such trivial matters. The true priority is to deal with these traitors and ensure the stability of the Cloud Province."

"Indeed, Elder Yin speaks wisely," Peng Cai agreed, his gaze shifting to Lin Huangfu and his clan. "The Forest Clan has defied the Overlord's authority and must answer for their crimes. The girl," he declared, his voice cold and resolute, "will be handed over to my City Lord's Mansion."

Peng Cai cared little for Lin Huan's death, but his sister's brutal demise at the hands of Lin Qiang had ignited a thirst for vengeance within him. He would make the young woman suffer for her defiance.

"The White Clan will take Lin Huangfu and any who resist," Unbending Bear added, his voice filled with a renewed sense of purpose.

The armies of the City Lord's Mansion and the White Clan shifted into formation, their weapons drawn and their spiritual energy crackling in anticipation of the coming conflict. Yin Niu and the Silver Clan cultivators also stepped forward, their auras radiating power and menace.

Lin Dong's spiritual energy surged, his body trembling with barely controlled power as he prepared to unleash the full potential of his bloodline, consequences be damned. Lin Qiang's eyes shone with determination, her mind envisioning the devastating might of her summons when empowered by Jana's bloodline.

Just as the battle seemed inevitable, a new voice boomed across the battlefield, its power and authority silencing the assembled forces.

"Since when did the three of you become the arbiters of justice, deciding who is a traitor and who is not?"

Dozens of cultivators emerged from the nearby forest, their purple robes and distinctive aura revealing their affiliation with the Cloud Clan. At their head strode Yun Jie, the Cloud Clan Patriarch, his arms clasped behind his back, his expression a mask of cold fury.

"The Cloud Clan?" Yin Niu sputtered, surprised by their unexpected arrival. He sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Do we need to explain ourselves to you?"

Unbending Bear frowned but refrained from antagonizing the newcomers, offering a curt greeting with clasped hands. Although the White Clan and the Cloud Clan were of equal rank and often competed for resources and influence, they maintained a semblance of civility, their rivalry not yet escalating into open war. Besides, there were even rumors of a budding friendship between their most promising juniors.

"Greetings, Cloud Patriarch," Peng Cai said, his voice polite yet laced with suspicion. 'So, the Cloud Clan has also come to claim a share of the spoils,' he thought, his mind already calculating how to manipulate the situation to his advantage.

Yun Jie ignored Peng Cai's greeting, his gaze fixed on the assembled forces. "How dare you attempt to resolve this matter through intimidation and coercion?" he questioned, his voice booming with righteous indignation. "Demanding the surrender of innocent cultivators? Your actions are an affront to justice and a stain upon the honor of the cultivation world!"

His words sent shockwaves through the crowd. The Cloud Clan Patriarch, instead of siding with the powerful factions, had chosen to defend the Forest Clan!

Even Lin Huangfu, Lin Qiang, and Lin Dong were taken aback by this unexpected turn of events. They had no prior connections or alliances with the Cloud Clan. Could this be a ploy to gain leverage and claim a share of the Forest Clan's newfound power?

"Patriarch..." Peng Cai stammered, his composure momentarily shaken by Yun Jie's accusation. The Cloud Clan was not a force he could afford to antagonize.

"Yun Jie, what is the meaning of this?" Yin Niu demanded, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and confusion. "Your clan was not involved in the events at the Vagrant Woods. This is no place for you to speak!"

"Patriarch," Unbending Bear began, his voice strained as he attempted to maintain a facade of civility despite the fury burning within him. "He is right. This matter concerns the death of a White Clan elder. I hope the Cloud Clan can stay out of this."

Yun Jie's gaze remained unwavering, his eyes locked on Unbending Bear with a cold intensity that sent shivers down the spines of those nearby. "How can I stand aside and watch as the three of you gang up on the Forest Clan?" he countered, his voice booming with righteous indignation. "If there is a legitimate grievance, then present your evidence before the Royal Family and seek their judgment."

His words reverberated throughout the clearing, silencing the assembled cultivators and leaving them stunned. Appeal directly to the Royal Family? Bypass the Overlord, the Silver Clan's staunch ally, and seek justice from a higher authority? This was an act of defiance, a direct challenge to the established power structure of the Cloud Province.

Lin Huangfu, his heart pounding with a mixture of hope and apprehension, stared at Yun Jie in disbelief. The Cloud Clan Patriarch, a figure of great power and influence, had chosen to stand with the Forest Clan against their oppressors. 

The tension in the air crackled like lightning, the threat of open conflict hanging heavy over the Forest Clan and their unexpected allies.