(06) Space Ring

The two masters finally stopped flying and landed on the ground of the forest. Those with higher cultivation landed perfectly while many stumbled or even fell flat on their faces, which was true for at least half of the outer disciples there. Wu LiJing elegantly landed on her toes first, making her resemble a floating feather before her whole feet touched the ground. Many were in awe as they watched her while some looked with envious eyes.

But Wu LiJing ignored all gazes and simply turned to look at Wu QiaoHua who landed safely, only stumbling a little alongside her friends. She then turned her attention back to the two masters who finally told them to gather and taught them basic survival skills. The sun was already halfway up in the sky when they were done.

Master Lu then took out a scroll hidden in his long sleeve. It had a special symbol drawn onto it. "Be ready everyone!" He concentrated a great amount of inner chi into the scroll and the symbol activated, releasing a blue light. It was only a moment before the large group of people vanished and appeared inside another forest. Everyone was confused because the scenery didn't seem to have changed much… with only an abundant number of trees still surrounding them.

"Are we in the right place?"

"All I see are green trees and grass... I can't tell the difference…"

"Wow, that was so fast! Did you feel the energy that enveloped us? Master Lu is great…"

Wu LiJing looked for the marks made by their sect and saw a cross on a tree. "We're here," she finally spoke after all this time and everyone also looked for the mark that would clarify they had arrived at the right place.

Lu HongHou put the scroll back into his sleeve and released a breath. Ruan FuPing glanced at Lu HongHou who didn't have a drop of sweat on his forehead and grinned. "I have to admit, I am amazed every time you use that scroll." It was no easy feat to transport more than one hundred people from one place to another and in that distance too.

Lu HongHou smiled arrogantly. "Of course."

Ruan FuPing turned to the disciples who were curiously looking around. "You disciples are going to be in groups of five people, consisting of three outer disciples and two inner disciples. You must work and help each other out during these four days and collect six different types of herbs. It doesn't matter what type. The inner disciples are to lead the way and help outer disciples. Once we return, you will report what happened within the forest regarding what you did and what your teammates did in order to complete your tasks. The top three groups that perform best will be rewarded when we return."

He turned to Wu LiJing and gestured towards her, knowing she didn't like talking in front of crowds so he informed them of her role for her.

"Your Eldest Senior Sister will be in charge of going around and observing you all in case anything happens. Master Lu and I will also be in the forest, ready to aid anyone who gets injured. If anyone is put in grave danger, remember to press the white pendant we passed you this morning because it will notify us of your immediate location. If anyone becomes injured and needs to leave, Master Lu can take you out with his transportation scroll." For Master Lu, as long as he has been in a precise location, he can transport himself back. Therefore, he wouldn't have trouble entering the forest even after it vanishes, making the disciples feel more secure.

Though not deadly, this test could be dangerous, which is the reason why only select disciples could take this test. Those who were below mid-stage of the second tier had to stay behind because not only would they have trouble defending themselves but may even bring their teammates down.

Others who didn't have to attend were those who were currently out of the sect or had a high enough cultivation level that going in didn't matter. Many of the masters' main disciples, for example, had no need to take this test. So if the masters didn't think it was necessary to test a disciple, they wouldn't have to take it. This test was meant more as a way for their Moon Sect disciples to gain more experience and utilize what they have learned.

"It is crucial that you avoid other cultivators," the handsome master's voice turned grave, "There is a chance other cultivators are already inside. Perhaps another sect decided to enter this forest today or a dangerous figure entered to find something - who knows. If fighting occurs, defend yourselves and escape and call for help should your life be in danger." Then he smiled. "But well, what's the chance that you would meet an evil cultivator who had murdered countless others in there? Haha. Just try to be safe and take precautions." He laughed at his joke but everyone else just swallowed their saliva silently.

Lu HongHou raised an eyebrow. "If they fight others, they should win! Show them that our sect isn't one to be lightly stepped on!" He pumped a fist up.

Master Ruan turned to Wu LiJing and said in a respectful tone, "Wu LiJing, please help look after the disciples."

She nodded. "Mm. Don't worry, Master Ruan." She was also worried about Wu QiaoHua. But she noticed that QiaoHua had already made a group with her friends who had a similar cultivation level as her, so she was slightly relieved.

Her master told her to look after the disciples while he was gone but his real purpose was to have her retrieve a specific herb from here: the Red Rosemary. Other masters would ask their disciples to grab useful plants that would aid in their cultivation. But she still could remember Sect Master Wang's gentle tone:

"I really wanted to personally look after my sect disciples too. But I need to leave. So while you look after them, can you bring back a special herb?"

"There's an herb in the forest that would help with your cultivation?" Wu LiJing raised an eyebrow. Her master was already way past the Immortal Realm. There was no way an herb in there would be helpful now.

Wang WeiYue smiled and shook his head. He laughed. "Haha, no! Of course not! However, I've been having a heartache lately." He sighed and rubbed his chest.

Wu LiJing frowned when she heard that and wondered if she should inform Sect Master He.

"It was He YuHuan! She knew how it would affect me but still told me of a secret ingredient that would enhance the flavor of my new tea! I have to try it out or this heartache won't go away!"

Wu LiJing was left speechless once more by her master but quickly adapted and nodded. "Alright master. But do I get a reward in return?" After all, she could be spending that time cultivating instead of getting this herb that was practically useless.

"You would've gone even if I didn't tell you to," he said with an eye roll. "I know you would be too worried about your cousin to just let her go in alone. And I'll even let you try my tea with this enhancing herb! That should be reward enough." He smiled, probably already thinking about the taste of his tea once he uses that herb.

Wu LiJing shook her head with a sigh and her attention went to the disciples who entered, one group at a time by holding hands. Once they pass the border, they would be thrown into a random place in the forest. Her gaze fell on Wu QiaoHua, who was still walking forwards with her team. She walked over to QiaoHua and handed her a small hairpin. The disciples around her looked at the hairpin curiously.

"If you're in danger, break this. I'll come to you immediately." She had inserted some of her inner chi inside the hairpin. It will help LiJing feel where QiaoHua is.

Wu QiaoHua nodded and smiled. "Mm. Thank you, Eldest Senior Sister."

"Be careful."

LiJing watched as QiaoHua disappeared. She looked around and saw that more than half already entered. Master Lu stayed behind to make sure everyone was in before he entered. So she took a step into the border.

Once both of her feet crossed over, her surroundings suddenly changed. She was still surrounded by trees, however she noticed the extra silence that contained no sounds of birds or even insects; the trees looked more alive, with wet green moss growing everywhere: on branches, trunks, the ground; and some of the trees were also weirdly shaped, bending at different angles and of different sizes - a sign that she was now in the Disappearing Forest.

Wu LiJing secured her hold on her sword and calmly walked forwards. She should first obtain the Red Rosemary before she goes to QiaoHua. Her master said it should grow in bunches and look like a bush, with each stem having small dark green leaves and have tiny red flowers growing at the tip, only having three petals each. She took out a small drawing that she copied from a book, scanned the outline of the flower, and then put it back.

Wu LiJing heightened her senses as she walked and observed her surroundings. After a while, she saw a few monkey beasts but they did not attack her, only staying in the trees. She also spotted a few small beasts scattered around, guarding stalks of herbs that wouldn't be of use to her. As she walked, she suddenly saw a large apple tree not far from her and decided to walk towards it. Oddly enough, she had observed other monkeys eating apples but saw no apple tree until now.

One monkey was sitting on top, crunching with its jaws as it took a bite of the red apple in its hands. She slowed her pace when she neared and stared at the monkey for a moment before she reached out her hand to grab an apple, not letting her sight off the monkey.

Since the monkey did not attack and only stared back at her, she let out a breath and picked an apple, smelling it first. It smelled fresh and the monkey looked fine after eating them, so she took a bite. She let the first bite stay in her mouth for a moment before she swallowed it. It was a very delicious apple, tasting very sweet with not even a twinge of sourness to it. She smiled and glanced at the red monkey.

"I am just going to grab a few for my cousin," she said. Then she grabbed four apples and put it in her sleeve. "Many thanks for sharing," she said with a nod before she turned around.

After only taking a few steps, she felt something hard underneath the soles of her shoes - she paused. She lifted her foot and looked down. It was a dagger… She picked it up. The handle was black with a unique graving of an iris on the blade.

She noticed a few more of the same daggers lying on the ground a few spaces away from her, somewhat buried in the grass. They were of high quality and looked quite new. She frowned and looked back at the monkey that was clearly not paying attention to her, chewing a new apple. Her eyes narrowed and she went on her way.

After searching for a while, Wu LiJing heard some voices and flew upwards with her purple robes fluttering lightly until her feet quietly landed on a tall tree. She looked down and observed as five disciples wearing lavender robes appeared.

"Senior Brother, what do we do now?" a male outer disciple asked a male inner disciple in their group.

"We were all able to obtain a general Spikey Grass from that field earlier and it was quite easy since there was no beast guardian. We should look around some more and try to obtain most of our herbs today because it will be much harder in the next three days when the forest changes. If you recognize any special herbs, or see a beast guarding anything, we should try to see if we can defeat the beast." Undeniably, these were the basics that all inner disciples who's had enough experience should understand. The best they could do was find at least four to five herbs for this day so they wouldn't have such a hard time for the next three days and risk putting themselves in danger.

The outer disciples nodded with smiles.

Wu LiJing listened in and pondered for a moment. Then she moved on and jumped to another tree and continued stealthily. She had to find a sunny place, a sunny place… She came upon an open area and stopped to look around.

With a concentrated amount of chi flowing into her eyes, she easily scanned the place without wasting any time. It wasn't here. Only a small bush of white Fire Lilies could be found. And it was guarded by a big looking ant. She frowned and felt goosebumps on her arms when she saw the ant beast but ignored it and continued on.

Finally, she came upon the fourth open spot with plenty of sun and scanned the area again. She took out the picture in her sleeve once more and confirmed that the bushes of herbs on the left side, guarded by that big wolf beast was indeed the Red Rosemary. Without a second thought, she jumped off the tree, with her hair fluttering behind her and flew at an unhesitating speed towards the wolf.

Wu LiJing drew her sword as she was in the air and the wolf growled when it spotted a human.

The beast possessed a red horn and was a little bigger than the usual wolf, with its muscles around its legs and body obviously defined. She swung her sword in a quick motion before she even reached the wolf, and the wolf quickly dodged to the side as the chi released from her swing missed and hit the ground, lifting dust along with it.

The wolf jumped towards her to attack when she was still in the air and she twisted her body, easing back her inner chi to nullify her flying technique so she would drop with the gravity. Once she landed on the ground, she stabbed towards the wolf but it dodged once again and swiftly attacked without a break.

Wu LiJing used her silver sword to block its teeth from sinking into her neck.

The wolf growled loudly and refused to give in, using all of its strength to push forward. Wu LiJing's inner chi was focused onto her sword and it glowed.

The wolf sensed danger and quickly jumped back. With its abhorring glare focused on Wu LiJing, its red horn started to glow as well and it swung its head, letting out a fast, red wave towards its enemy. Wu LiJing slashed the wave in half with her glowing sword and she jumped towards the beast. It only took a moment before the beast could no longer howl in pain, with its horn broken on the ground, and turned to dust.

With the Red Rosemary in her hands, Wu LiJing smiled, satisfied. She grabbed a few more stocks but then thought about her master's personality and decided to take all of it. She took out a wooden container and put it inside. Once she closed it, the box suddenly vanished into thin air.

She looked at her silver space ring and adjusted it. It was convenient to have a large space ring, where you could put anything in without having to physically carry it. She decided to invest in one when Jin RuiYing mentioned it to her, and her master also gifted her one a while back but that one is now also stored in this ring. Now, she liked to carry a space ring with her and wear it whenever she went out.

"Too easy," she muttered. The beast was nowhere to be seen because once a beast was defeated, it would vanish and then reappear after a few hours. But well, this Red Rosemary was only good for enhancing tea and had some health benefits so it made sense its guardian wasn't as strong.

Wu LiJing moved her shoulders a little to stretch them. "But it was some good warm-up." This beast had good agility and was also quite fierce, so it wasn't too bad. An experienced inner disciple could probably defeat one by themselves if they didn't give up. Since she's dealt with beasts before, she didn't find them to be as intimidating.

Wu LiJing jumped back up onto a tree. She closed her eyes and sensed the area around her. Then she looked for the flow of inner chi that she would recognize as her own and concentrated on that feeling. After a while of silence, she was able to detect a connecting light and smiled.

"I need more practice," she muttered. She opened her eyes, feeling a link with the inner chi she had inserted into another object and followed it. As Wu LiJing jumped from tree to tree, she looked around to see if there was anything worth getting. So far, she hasn't found anything she wanted.

Master Lu HongHou smiled when he saw one of their disciples fighting a Brown Bear Beast. He chuckled. "Ah, this team is doing well. Their coordination is in formation."

"Oh, this is the inner disciple, Sheng Ai. He listens well. After giving him some advice on his sword fighting, he was able to understand and put it to use after a few weeks," Ruan FuPing commented.

"Hm… He seems to have good leadership skills and is quite talented. That outer disciple, Sun Guan, was it? She is performing well as well. She's not backing down even with a lower cultivation level. Perhaps she'll become an inner disciple after a few more years."

The white pendant they had given to the disciples to verify their location as well as act as a call for help, also acted as a special kind of gadget that allowed them to see the actions of each team through a mirror.

Ruan FuPing chuckled. "Ah, Master Lu, your odd spells are very interesting."

Lu HongHou grinned. "Who do you think I am?"

"I bet none of the disciples are aware that we are peeping on them. Hm… but it's been so many years, so maybe the smart ones do?"

Lu HongHou frowned. "Peeping? Do you have to use that word? It's called observing."

"Well, this is how we are better able to see the skills of our own disciples. The other masters back at the sect can also see."

Lu HongHou suddenly frowned. "Sect Master Wang is out again…"

Ruan FuPing chuckled. "He's dealing with the problems happening in the northeast."

"He could've made a speech to encourage the disciples first before leaving," Lu HongHou muttered.

"Well, he sent his precious disciple in to stand in, so it's fine."

Lu HongHou nodded. "Disciple Wu LiJing has been doing really well since she entered the sect. I would've enjoyed having her as a main disciple." His stern expression softened as he sighed.

Ruan FuPing laughed. "If Sect Master Wang didn't want her, she would have chosen me before she decided to choose you. She has more talent in her sword fighting than in learning those odd spells of yours."

Lu HongHou sneered and glared at Ruan FuPing, his rival since he entered the sect. "I'm better in both than you!"

Ruan FuPing rolled his eyes this time. This Master Lu says this, yet he always carries a whip on his side. "Then let's see who's better!" He took out his sword.

Their bickering started once more, and in the spur of the moment, they forgot about the happenings in the mirror.