10 : Let's bet on the Mad Witch Flower

 "Forty-one spirit grasses and eleven Rank 4 beast cores!" announced a Vinci Sect disciple triumphantly, his voice echoing through the clearing. The Vinci sect members broke into a chorus of cheers, their collection dwarfing the Clark Sect's count of "thirty-three spirit grasses and seven beast cores."

As Madam Frost solemnly handed over the 100 Rank 3 spirit stones, conceding her loss, the Vinci Sect's jeers grew louder. "Looks like the mighty Clark Sect isn't so mighty after all," they mocked, their words sharp and derisive.

The Clark Sect disciples, faces flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger, shot back their retorts. "You must have cheated! There's no way you gathered all that legitimately!"

Sen Vinci, leading the Vinci Sect, joined in with a sneer. "Weaklings, always making excuses. It's no wonder you haven't won the Royal Sect competition in over a hundred years!"

Madam Frost's face tightened, her eyes narrowing. "If you have another derogatory comment about my sect, you'll regret it," she warned, her voice icy.

But Sen Vinci only laughed, his confidence unshaken. "do you think I speak nonsense? Why don't we settle this with another challenge? Let's bet the Flower of the Mad Witch plant," he proposed, throwing down the gauntlet.

A murmur rippled through the Clark Sect disciples. The Flower of the Mad Witch plant was a rare and valuable prize, not something to be wagered lightly. The Vinci sect disciples began making more noise to raze up the opponents after hearing the bet.

Madam Frost hesitated, the weight of the decision clear in her expression. The Flower was a precious resource, and losing it could be a significant setback.

It was Princess Lanner who stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension. "Madam Frost, I will take responsibility for this. We accept your challenge."

The Vinci Sect disciples erupted in cheers, while the Clark Sect members exchanged glances of resolve and determination.

Madam Frost gave a curt nod, sealing the agreement. "Very well. We accept. But know this, Sen Vinci, if we won, you won't have a single petal from that Mad Witch Flower."

The air was thick with anticipation and rivalry as both sects prepared for the upcoming challenge. The spirit forest around them seemed to hold its breath, awaiting the outcome of this high-stakes contest.

Eric, from his position near the chariot, watched the scene unfold, his gaze occasionally drifting towards Ria. Her expression was focused, mirroring the determination of her fellow sect members.

As the sect disciples prepared for their venture into the forest, the atmosphere was charged with a mix of anticipation and rivalry.

This time they decided to go alone instead of group search. Madam Frost, recognizing the potential dangers of the mission, distributed defensive talismans to each disciple. "These will protect you, but do not rely solely on them. Stay vigilant," she cautioned, her voice stern.

The disciples busied themselves, checking weapons and resources, their movements methodical and focused. Eric saw the fadeout and exhausted look on Princess Lanner's face. In the meantime, prepared a bowl of hot soup, intending to present it to Princess Lanner, who was engaged in strategic discussions with other students.

Just as Eric approached with the soup, a male disciple, Richard, recognized him from the earlier tent incident. In a swift, spiteful motion, Richard grabbed the bowl from Eric's hands and smashed it to the ground. "Do you even know what's going on here? We are all working hard for the sect. The princess doesn't have time for your lowly dog soup. Get out!" he barked, his voice laced with contempt.

Princess Lanner, witnessing the scene, chose not to intervene, her attention remaining on the strategic conversation. Eric stood still, his expression unchanging, an aura of calm indifference surrounding him. He could easily kill the person before him like breathing air, but he chose restraint, treating Richard's outburst like an insignificant fly.

Ria, seeing the interaction, quietly stepped forward and began pouring another bowl of soup from the furnace. Her action was a silent but powerful rebuke to Richard's aggression.

Eric moved back to assist her, taking the spatula and helping pour the soup. Ria offered him a grateful look, then sat down before him to drink the soup, her demeanor calm and composed.

Richard, his anger fueled by Ria's defiance, stormed up to her.

"Put that down and get to the forest for the task," he demanded, his voice a mix of anger and frustration.

Ria, however, continued to sip her soup, unperturbed by his presence. Richard, unable to provoke a reaction, gathered the other disciples and marched off into the forest, his influence among them evident as he is the sun of the rich businessman inside the sect. Princess Lanner, too, departed with her group, leaving Ria behind.

Sen Vinci, observing the scene, remarked snidely, "The Clark disciples can't even stay united. How do they expect to succeed?"

Madam Frost, her eyes on Ria, remained silent, her expression thoughtful. She seemed to be assessing the situation, weighing the dynamics within her sect.

After a while, Ria stood up, prepared to head into the forest alone. But before she could leave, Madam Frost approached Eric, handing him a set of powerful defensive talismans. "Follow Ria closely. If you come here without her in the evening, you will face death. Do you understand?" she instructed in a threatening tone, her voice low.

Eric nodded, a silent thank you in his mind to Madam Frost. He quickly caught up to Ria, moving swiftly and silently through the underbrush. They kept silent until they reach deeper into the forest.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, Eric and Ria found themselves alone, the sounds of the forest around them. It was a rare moment of peace, away from the tensions and rivalries of the sects.

Together, they moved through the forest. The dangerous forest is like a walking park to this pair, this is also their first time to spend time alone "without any worries." The spirit forest, with its mysteries and secrets, enveloped them, a backdrop to their silent, united front against the challenges that lay ahead.

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Note: thank you for reading... More chapters on the way.

PETERPAN