Chapter 14: Huang Ling

Ren Ying is a young man with light complexion in his twenties. He is a rank 2 Warrior, with long black hair, similar to Li Gang. If someone looks at him from behind, they can mistook him for Li Gang just as Li Yuxong did.

But contrary to Li Gang, Ren Ying is a very cheerful and reckless person with Cultivation of Rank 2 late stage Warrior. He thinks after speaking, takes action without any plans. But when it comes to survival in forest, Ren Ying becomes entirely different person! He can strategize like no others.

 As Li Yuxong continued journey with the party, he realised these people were too kind. They are lone Warriors, and doesn't belong to any faction and came here to gain experience. Later, they joined Thunderous Peak Sect faction to complete some tasks and gain rewards. Jin Lei and Cao Wei are partners from the childhood. They formed party as soon as they met in this small world. Jin Lei is hard working, while Cao Wei is kind of introvert, both having cultivation of rank 2 mid stage. But, together, they can even take down a rank 2 peak Warrior!

This time, Thunderous Peak Sect found a region filled with miasma due various corpses. They claimed there is grade 6 Spiritual plant Corpse Blossom blooming there. Ren Ying and others are aiming for this Corpse Blossom as per the task.

Each factions of Jade Harbor city has created a task board, and they reward corresponding amount of Spirit Stones on completing the tasks. This time, the task is dangerous and so, the reward is also bountiful. They will provide 1000 spirit stones for completing this task. For Rank 2 Warriors like Ren Ying, Jin Lei and Cao Wei, it is huge reward.

For rank 1 Warriors, 1 spirit stone can be used for a month, while for rank 2 Warriors 10 spirit stone can last a month. Thus, having hundreds of spirit stone is huge amount for them.

Region number 23

Li Yuxong, Ren Ying, Jin Lei and Cao Wei are sitting together and discussing the future plans.

Ren Ying: "This is the ideal place, there are three ways from here. One leads to Region 23, where we are going for Corpse Blossom, the other leads to Region 21. Final one is from where we came! We have already marked crucial points on our journey anyway."

Jin Lei nodded. "In the future, instead of returning, if we have sufficient time, we can explore the other regions."

Li Yuxong also nodded. "I can feel that Spiritual Essence here is richer than before. It would be much better if we could stay here longer!"

Ren Ying solemnly reminded. "Richer Spiritual Essence also means the Beasts we would encounter from here on would also be stronger. So, we have to be cautious from now on."

Li Yuxong also nodded heavily.

At that moment, Cao Wei asked. "When we will start?"

Jin Lei answered: "We will start from tomorrow morning. It would be better to take the rest!"

Ren Ying interjected. "No, we would move day after tomorrow. I am feeling uncomfortable, and need proper rest before continuing, at least to be on safe side."

Jin Lei wanted to say something, but then he just simply nodded.

In this way, the party decided to rest for two days and continue their journey afterwards.

2 days later

Jin Lei asked: "Where is Li Yuxong?"

Ren Ying answered: "We have to wait half day more, he is about to reach rank 3 Warrior, and doesn't want to waste this opportunity."

Jin Lei nodded. "He is quite diligent!"

Ren Ying agreed.

Suddenly, they found Li Yuxong coming out of his tent with smile on his face.

Ren Ying was surprised: "So fast? I thought it would take half a day at the very least!"

Li Yuxong smiled: "I also thought it would take at least half a day to break through, but this is something unpredictable. No one can accurately judge how long it will take to break through."

Ren Ying teased. "May be because of your talent!"

Li Yuxong changed the topic and said: "We should now start our journey."

At the same time, in Region 24

A young girl in her twenties was casually fighting with a rank 5 peak stage beast Rock Python. With a sword in her hand, she was completely suppressing the beast with no way to fight back. 

After fighting for an hour, she completely killed the beast, without even using her Spiritual Imprint, just with her Sword Techniques!

Huang Ling gracefully came near the Rock Python and took out the Beastly Core and collected it's Blood essence.

"This should be enough, now I can create the Bloodfiend Spring, and solidify my foundation."

As she murmured, she sped up and within a minute, entered Region 23. Soon, she found a cave filled with bloody stench. Ignoring the stench, she entered deep into the cave, near a blood coloured spring, and poured all the Blood essence of the Rock Python, and also threw it's Beastly Core into it.

Everyone in the Jade Harbor city believes that Long Yifan is the most talented Warrior, but no one knows that Shadow Phoenix sect has a hidden genius.

She is Huang Ling, and possesses S grade talent! Huang Ling was hidden by the Shadow Phoenix Sect as soon as her talent was found. She was the daughter of one of the small elder. Her father's status elevated because of the incredible talent she showed. Soon, she reached the position of Saintess, but her identity was hidden from everyone.

She reached a rank 1 Warrior at the age of 6, rank 2 Warrior at 8, rank 3 at the age of 12, rank 4 at the age of 16 and now she is just 30 years old, but has already reached rank 6 Warrior early stage!

She broke through rank 6 after coming to this place. Her existence is only known to higher ups in the Shadow Phoenix Sect.

Few miles away from this cave

Li Yuxong, Jin Lei and Cao Wei were desperately fighting a rank 4 Spiritual Beast, named Blood-eyed Leopard.

Li Yuxong was fighting it on the front, using his Sword Techniques. With the help of his father, he basically focused on Sword Cultivation. He has already mastered a grade 4 Sword Technique, Sky Sword Art. 

Sky Sword Art comprise of Attack and Movement techniques. It also allows the user to have appropriate defense using the concept of 'Attack is the Best Defense'.

Sword Slash is attack, and Sword Step is movement technique of Sword Techniques.

Suddenly, a sharp claw from the right side hit Li Yuxong throwing him few meters away. Li Yuxong felt heavy pain on his right abdomen. He immediately used his Spiritual Imprint Poplar Resilience, and his entire wound started recovering. Within few seconds, it healed.

Li Yuxong immediately get serious, and started calculating.

'I can only use Poplar Resilience for 10 minutes, no only 9 minutes. If I can't finish it off. Then, I can only use that to run away with them!' 

Without wasting anymore second, he started attacking fiercely head on, using Sword Step to dodge and attack using Sword Slash. 

Suddenly, a sharp beam pierced the Leopard's already wounded neck, further injuring it. Due to the sudden pain, the Blood-eyed Leopard's attack halted, and in that time, Li Yuxong immediately used his full strength to pierce it's nect and completely killing it.

Li Yuxong looked at Jin Lei and Cao Wei and thanked him. "Thank you, if you didn't distract it, it would have been difficult!"

Jin Lei has a grade 5 Metal Type Spiritual Imprint Tin Essence. It allows him to materialize the Spirit Essence and make various shapes and even vary it's hardness but only to a certain level restricted by his control of Spiritual Essence and his Cultivation base. Cao Wei, meanwhile, possess grade 5 Fire Type Spiritual Imprint Flame Serpent. It allows him to use Serpent shaped flame in a diverse way. 

Cao Wei forms a fire type attack, and Jin Lei materializes it, thus increasing it's power exponentially. This is how, he was able to harm the Blood-eyed Leopard!

Jin Lei replied modestly: "It was all thanks to combined team effort. If Ren Ying didn't supplement this attack with his Spiritual Essence, I am afraid, it wouldn't have harmed it much."

Ren Ying smiled. "You don't have to be so humble. Even without me, you could have achieved it."

Suddenly, he felt depressed and said. "I feel I am a burden. If it weren't for the fact that my soul was injured, and I am unable to use Spiritual Imprint, I would have definitely fought side by side with brother Li.

Li Yuxong consoled him and said firmly. "Don't worry, I would make sure to find ways to cure you no matter what. We are brothers, you don't have to feel depressed. Your help and knowledge has helped us all the way."

Ren Ying sighed and didn't speak anymore.

Jin Lei said at this moment. 

"Since brother Li killed it, he should take the Beastly Core, and rest of the materials can be split between us."

Li Yuxong immediately rejected. "No, it wouldn't have been possible without your help. How about this, I would take the Beastly Core, and later compensate with Spirit Stones?"

Jin Lei and others agreed.

Li Yuxong asked: "How far is the Corpse Domain?"

Corpse Domain is the name given to the region where Corpse Blossom is present. Corpse Blossom only blooms in the region filled with bloody stench and different kinds of corpses.

Ren Ying replied: "It should be 20 miles from here, we will be able to reach within a day. But it's better to recuperate for today, and start again tomorrow."

Li Yuxong and others nodded.