Chapter 200: Trapped Forest

Chapter 200: Trapped Forest

They descended to the forest floor. The other Starbound Sect cultivators stared around in slack-jawed amazement. Hui took it in quietly, used to the trees, until he abruptly realized he shouldnt know about the trees. He stared around in amazement as well. Wow, what big trees! Ive never seen trees this big before!

Thats not true, Li Xiang rebuffed him.

Ah no, thats not true. Ive seen these trees before. Back when we were up in the air, that is, Hui corrected himself. And many times before that, but this small cultivator doesnt need to share that!

Li Xiang nodded. She looked at him, tipping her head. What were you up to, in all your time away from the sect?

Hui tapped a finger on his chin. I cant admit that I spent a lot of time in a demonic sect. Li Xiang might not mind, once I explain myself fully, but if Lan Taijian hears it, Ill be kicked out of the sect before I can open my mouth! I cant lie to Li Xiang, so Er I discovered some new techniques and practiced a lot of cultivation.

New techniques? I cant wait to see them in action. Xiao Hui, we should spar sometime, now that were both the same realm, Li Xiang proposed.

Hui immediately bowed. Elder Sister, I couldnt possibly stand up to your might! Me, spar a true sword cultivator? A sword cultivator cultivating a powerful secret sword art, at that? Im a small talisman cultivator who wants to survive! Dont make me face such a terrifying foe!

Are you sure? Im sure youre a powerful cultivator in your own right, Li Xiang said, looking him up and down.

I still cant fly on a sword, Elder Sister. Ive barely consolidated my realm. I cant be compared to your might, Hui said, bowing again.

Li Xiang smiled and shook her head. Youre underestimating yourself, Xiao Hui.

I dont think I am! Hui shook his head insistently.

The cultivator leading them along paused. His face twisted in alarm, and he jumped back. Watch out! The ancient tablet, its cracked!

Hui stood on his tiptoes, curious.

Ahead of them, the black tablet laid cracked clearly in two. Where earlier, Mount Mus tantrum had put a fracture down its center, now it split apart by a meter. Black qi swirled in between the cracks. Faces pressed up against the surface, swirling and vanishing with bizzare regularity. From among the faces, Hui caught a glimpse of Ding Bos, twisted with despair.

Theyrebreaking free! the man screamed.

Starbound Sect cultivators jumped forward. Lan Taijian scoffed and put a hand on his sword. Li Xiang pushed Hui behind her and drew her sword.

Huis eyes darted to the man. No one else watched him, too busy staring at the dark qi, but under Huis watchful eyes, the man subtly made an incantation hand sign behind his back.nove(l)bi(n.)com

The faces pounded up against the break in the tablet. As they rushed it, the barrier suddenly popped, and black wraiths rushed out of the gap. They charged at the Starbound Sect cultivators, but limply, almost lazily. One or two directly dissipated as soon as they broke through the barrier, unable to bear the slightest breeze. A particularly hazy wraith stepped into sunlight and turned directly into ash.

Mysterious Heavenly Forest Sect to continue to go against the Southern Sect Conference in this situation means either they consider themselves hopelessly backed into a corner with no way out after their failure at the tournament, or that they have such a irreconcilable grudge with the Southern Sect Conference that they consider the alliance already over.

No, it has to be the second! After all why attack during the tournament, unless they have some kind of terrible grudge?

But what? What grudge do they hold?

Laughing, their guide gestured them on. I hear you have some plant cultivators among your number?

Lan Taijian inclined his head.

What plant cultivators? Look around you, Senior guide! Which one of these battle-hardened sword cultivators could claim to have ever touched a plant? Point them out to me, and Ill show you a liar!

Wonderful, wonderful. Our garden patch is up ahead, if youd like to take a small detour? the guide offered.

Lan Taijian inclined his head again.

Hui crossed his arms. Lets go to the garden patch, why dont we?

Although, I do wonder. If I hadnt sabotaged all their traps what would they say? Or maybe the plan was to launch the first attack with the wraiths, and from there, the other traps simply would catch us unawares as we fled through the forest?

That makes sense. The garden patch is dangerous enough to close off a sector of the forest, and the lotus dust will spread in all directions, so it wouldnt be unreasonable to think that way.

A pulse of familiar qi nearby caught Huis attention as Jin Xian drew close. He glanced around, then stopped himself. If the others find Jin Xian this small cultivator is in big trouble!

He narrowed his eyes toward Jin Xian and reached out to her with his mental energy. Jin Xian paused, then nodded. She leaped off in the opposite direction and vanished into the forest again.

Li Xiang looked up. She furrowed her brows.

Eh? Did Li Xiang see? Hui swallowed, suddenly nervous. Elder Sister, did you see something?

I thought I saw you, Li Xiang murmured. She frowned, then shook her head. It must have been someone who looks like you.

It must have, Hui agreed, nodding. Someone who looks like me, because I cultivated her corpse to look more like me, then put her in a snakeskin with my appearance. Ah, but I am telling the truth! It must be someone who looks like me, because I know she looks like me!

The garden patch! the guide announced, gesturing ahead of him.