Chapter 58: Down the Mountain

Chapter 58: Down the Mountain

Why is there one extra?

An uncomfortable blanket of warmth brusquely fell down on Auslen and the others.

Lips curling downward into a small frown, Auslen looked up.nove(l)bi(n.)com

A bronze boat hung in the air, within which sat a crimson-robed youth looking down from the boats edge with a predominantly indifferent expression. Heat waves roiled off of him, not by intention, but because the young man simply couldnt care to restrain his Foundation Establishment realm cultivation in the presence of Outer Sect Disciples.

This young man was none other than an Inner Sect Disciple of the Conflagration Nurturing Peak.

His gaze fixated on the taller cloaked individual, and a strange light suddenly shone in his eyes as he met the calm, blue eyes of the only youth, besides Irene, who seemed completely unbothered by his aura.

At this time, a hand fell on Auslens shoulder, and the rippling heat continuously irritating his body dissipated. He glanced sideways to see Aiden smiling at him gently.

Being careful not to offend the young man in the boat, Irene took a few steps forward and chucked a small object into the air, gesturing toward Aiden before speaking. Senior Brother, please examine the jade slip. The addition of this child has already been permitted by Elder Lu.

After catching the jade slip, the crimson-robed disciple glanced at Irene before raising the jade slip to his glabella. A moment later, a profound gleam arose in his eyes. He raised his eyes to the sky and rotated his head from side to side as though looking for something nonexistent before fixing his gaze on Aiden for another moment.

Tossing back the jade slip, the youth agreed casually. As long as they do not interfere in the Sect Mission and maintain their spectator roles, as Elder Lu communicated, then he and his guards can stay.

Irene and the Inner Sect Disciple began to converse further, and Auslen shifted his gaze away. His hand reached to lightly pull at Michails robe.

Voice softened to a whisper, Auslen acted as though the Inner Sect Disciple floating a short distance away couldnt hear as he asked, Who's he, Senior Brother?

Michail took a look at Auslen with a nonchalant smile as his lips parted, voice traveling directly into Auslens ears discreetly. This was an auxiliary Yellow Tier Technique that was popular among practitioners in the Sect, as they couldnt yet utilize the voice transmission method.

You dont need to worry. Im not exactly sure who he is, but Im aware that he was sent by the Conflagration Nurturing Peak to evaluate Irenes performance during this Sect Mission. Once the mission comes to an end, he will have the final say over your Senior Sisters results, which will decide whether she can enter the Conflagration Nurturing Peak or not.

And that reminds me. Once you return, I wont be available to oversee you guys at the Elixir Refinement Hall. Ill be going into closed-door cultivation soon, so you all will be reporting directly to Elder Lin.

Auslen blinked a few times before lucidity cleared away the touch of confusion in his eyes. However, he said nothing else, only nodding his head obediently.

Is he finally going to attempt to build his foundation?

At this point, the bronze boat suddenly flew off, disappearing somewhere into the sky just as the predawn light was beginning to show over the distant horizon.

After glancing around at the slowly increasing volume of disciples appearing on the mountain peak, Irene raised her own hood and turned back towards Auslens group.

Now that thats settled, we should move out, Irene said while waving her hand with a shimmer from her spatial ring, a huge rug unfurling to float just in front of them. Everyone, please step on. Enjoy the flight while you can. The majority of our excursion will be on foot.

Immediately, Aiden stepped forward onto the rug, reaching out to help Auslen board after him.

With a slightly bitter smile, Auslen went along with his brothers actions. Since the previous night, Aiden had been hovering over him even more so than Vincent, practically treating him just as he did when he was an infant. Auslen wasnt fully comprehending how Aidens overly obliging actions were helpful to the alleviation of his heart demon, but thanks to their fathers words, he could only go along with the circumstances for now and hope that the heart demon was successfully resolved soon.

Everyone boarded the levitating rug, and Michail stepped back.

I wish you all a safe journey, Michail smiled encouragingly at his Juniors before focusing on Irene, emotion glinting in his blue eyes as his lips moved silently. Be careful, Irene. That man wont help you if you get yourself into trouble.

The flapping rug began to rise then, and Irene rolled her eyes affectionately as she transmitted without concern, Arent I always careful?

He he, Nathaniel chuckled from embarrassment as he ceased his curious observation.

Irene's words were ruthless, but the solicitude within her tone and actions made her concern for their safety evident.

Nodding with satisfaction at the groups consolidated focus, Irene continued, With our cultivation, it would be foolish to randomly fly around this forest. So from now on, our safest option is to advance on foot. There will be no more unnecessary chatter unless I say otherwise. Gather around, and Ill explain our course of travel.

...

Once Irene finished describing their route, the team officially began their expedition.

Moving at a steady pace of about 50 kilometers per hour, Irene led the group like a completely different person. Her eyes were slightly squinted and filled with caution. Her Soul Force extended at timed intervals, periodically inspecting the area within 50 to 100 meters from them in short bursts, doing her best to keep track of signs of danger while preventing herself from exhausting her Soul Force too quickly.

Behind her, Auslen ran through the boundless forest with concentration. His eyes flew here and there, attempting to stop his fast-moving feet from tripping over jutting rocks and protruding tree roots, as he had never ran for an extended amount of time over this type of terrain.

He had tripped a few times already which was not an isolated event among their young group but Aiden had reached out to steady him before he could ever completely lose his balance.

Hours passed quickly as they advanced in silence.

Morning sunlight permeated through the soaring woods, mottling the green grass that his boots quietly thudded along, fragmentary shadows of leaves and branches whizzing by his figure endlessly.

During their cheetah-like sprint, Auslen was able to adapt very quickly. After minutes of struggle, his feet began to adjust to the transition before moving around the terrain expertly, side-stepping obstacles with merely his peripheral vision and much less concentration.

At an unknown point in time, his knees had bent further than typical, lowering his center of gravity greatly. He was bouncing off the balls of his feet, and his stride had lengthened with a new-found, preternatural instinct.

Only then did Auslen realize that his subconscious control over his strengthened body had improved tremendously.

It was rare for Auslen to place himself in a position where he would need to pay so much attention to his body for hours at a time. The ease at which he was running through the forest with not a path in sight was simply incomparable to the mobility he was capable of during his frequent, mortal-paced hikes in his past life.

Even now, after sprinting for hours at the speed of a car on the highway, only a light sweat could be seen moistening his forehead!

Auslen was immersed, repeatedly scanning himself with his Soul Force to ascertain any of the other subtle changes in his body that he might have missed until now.

Within a clearing located deep in the dense forest, a youth could be seen bathing in solitary silence inside a small, clear lake. His wet, silver-blue hair gleamed against the sunlight, clinging to the supple skin on his pale arms and torso.

Near the lake shore, a bronze-skinned, one-armed man was kneeling quietly, his hulking figure patiently waiting for the youth to acknowledge him.

The bathing youths eyes were lowered to the lake as he softly spoke. Tell me. Did you find it, Horux?

No, Sire.

The youth raised his eyes, and his head slightly tilted as he asked, Then why have you made your presence known to me?

Seeing that the youths round pupils had become long and thin, Horux bowed his head lower and considered his next words carefully, taking into account his Sires temperamental attitude.

Maintaining an appropriate degree of subservience, Horux replied, Although it hasnt been found, its traces have been located near a human settlement.

Instantly, the youths pupils reverted to normal and a handsome smile was on his young-looking face. The light shining in his icy eyes was full of strong curiosity. Although absent from his expression, the rippling waves suddenly cresting along the entire surface of the lake betrayed his growing excitement.

Where?