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Chapter 72: Valley of Scattered Flames
🕑 Added 2024-01-12 00:44:49 +0000 UTCValley of Scattered Flames
Hughie let out a startled yelp as he tumbled out of the portal, landing face-first into a pile of thick, mushy muck.
"Ugghh, gross!" he exclaimed, scrambling to his feet. His face was covered in sticky, pungent gunk. He grimaced as he tentatively sniffed the foul substance.
"Oh no...is this what I think it is?"
Of course he would land smack into a pile of Silverspine Ape dung - known throughout the realm for producing the largest, smelliest piles of faeces.
They weren’t even native to warm terrains, what was the bloody ape doing here?
"This is why I hate portals!" he groused miserably.
The old man's laughter rang in his head. "Serves you right for not jumping in yourself, boy! A little crap will do you good."
Scowling, Hughie looked around for something to clean himself with. Finding a clear puddle, he hurriedly bent down to splash the water on his face.
"That's much better-" he broke off with a strangled yelp as Amelia emerged behind him, biting back a smile.
"Pretty sure that puddle is ape piss, Hughie."
Hughie reeled back, every inch of his face burning with humiliation. Just his luck - shit and piss in one fell swoop.
This day was just getting better and better.
Seeing his expression, Amelia laughed.
Oh yeah, laugh it up! Hughie shot her a venomous look as he desperately wiped again at his face.
This was all her fault for shoving him into that blasted portal.
As the two bickered, Caelum emerged from the portal. His gaze swept over the fiery landscape - rivers of lava, plumes of toxic gas, jagged cliffs - taking in the Valley of Scattered Flames.
It was a harsh, unforgiving environment.
Caelum closed his eyes, extending his spiritual sense out in all directions. As a sword cultivator, he had honed his spiritual perception to extend exceptionally far.
Amelia watched Caelum closely, arms crossed. “Any other teams close enough for me to play with?” she asked. Though her tone was nonchalant, her eyes glinted with that familiar sadistic gleam.
After a long moment, Caelum opened his eyes and shook his head. "No one else seems to be nearby," he reported. Given the vast size of the pocket realm, he hadn't really expected to detect anyone right away. "We appear to be alone for the time being."
Amelia sighed. "That’s a shame. I was hoping to get my hands on some arrogant righteous disciples." Cracking her knuckles, she added, "I would have enjoyed teaching them some manners."
Having finally cleaned himself off using a non-urine puddle, Hughie walked over to them. “Alright, we made it here in one piece. What’s the plan?”
Caelum paused, considering their options. Master had informed them that the scrolls they needed were protected from traditional spiritual sense somehow. However, he did give them a map.
A map that marked the location of several scrolls!
Normally, Caelum frowned on cheating. As a sword cultivator that now followed the righteous path, he valued honour and fairness.
Master said we must do whatever it takes to succeed, he reminded himself. For the greater good.
Pulling out the map, Caelum pointed to a spot circled in red ink. “A scroll is hidden somewhere near here. It’s close by, so we’ll start our search there.” He traced a finger along the route. “Stay within signalling range in case of trouble,” he advised. “There could be dangerous beasts about…or worse, humans.”
Hughie nodded seriously. After his face-first introduction to the local wildlife, he was taking no chances.
Caelum stored the map back inside his storage ring. “Let’s begin. And remember, do not take any unnecessary risks.”
The three disciples split up, moving deeper into the scorched valley.
***
Hughie picked his way carefully over the rugged terrain, not daring to fly. Caelum had warned him that it would only expose him to any beasts hidden on land.
The earth rumbled beneath his feet and he eyed the bubbling lava pits warily. One misstep would cook him quicker than a chicken drumstick at a barbecue. The thought made his stomach grumble - when was the last time he'd eaten?
"Scared, boy?" Li Fenghao sneered in his mind. "And to think you joined a demonic sect!"
Hughie scowled. Just because he didn't want to plunge to a fiery death didn't mean he was afraid! He was just being careful. Caution was perfectly rational.
"If you say so," Li Fenghao said, clearly unconvinced. "Just focus on finding that scroll."
Hughie nodded, extending his spiritual sense, looking for signs of the hidden scroll. His search proved fruitless.
Master was right, he sighed.
The scroll had a concealment inscription which prevented detection through spiritual sense.
I guess I’ll have to locate it the old-fashioned way.
A hiss was his only warning before a snake lashed out from the shadows. Hughie yelped, narrowly evading the surprise attack. The serpent's fangs grazed his sleeve as he leapt aside.
A tiny, brightly coloured snake lay coiled a few feet away, flicking its tongue. Hughie snorted - this little thing was six inches at best? How cute.
"I’m a little big for you fella, don’t you think?” He laughed as he raised his foot.
He prepared to stomp the Late Core Formation stage reptile to death, but the little thing was a slimy one, easily dodging his attacks.
The two got into a stalemate where neither was able to touch the other.
Noticing the acidic venom spat by the snake, Li Fenghao face-palmed.
The boy was confident, too confident. He clearly needed more humility beaten into him. But the old man stayed silent. Better to let the boy learn from experience.
“Nice try little guy,” Hughie laughed as he slipped past another venomous strike.” Now, ta-”
Suddenly, the ground beneath Hughie’s feet trembled and began caving in! “Whoa!” He quickly leapt onto his flying sword, staring around in bewilderment as a sinkhole began to form.
What was going on here?
"The snake’s venom targeted the ground, you fool!" Li Fenghao snapped.
"So? I can fly just fi- GAH!" Hughie's retort ended in a strangled yelp as an ear-piercing shriek rang out.
Hughie jerked his head up just as a dark shape plummeted from the smoky sky towards him. Talons slashing, the hawk-like beast barely missed disembowelling him as he desperately rolled his sword aside.
"Okay, flying - very bad idea”, Hughie clutched at the long gash torn in his shoulder. "Where the hell did that come from?"
Li Fenghao sighed loudly. "Do I need to explain everything, boy? Use that lump on your shoulders called a brain."
"Uh, yes please explain," Hughie said sheepishly. He knew he could be dense sometimes. "I'd appreciate it, Master Li."
The Greater Immortal pinched the bridge of his nose before responding.
"Clearly that pathetic snake has been hiding from that hawk-like creature," Li Fenghao lectured. "It lured you into the air to make you bait it out.”
Hughie's eyes widened in understanding as he glanced around for the now-vanished serpent. “Ooohh, so it made me a distraction to escape! Clever girl."
“No, it didn’t escape. It’s hiding, it wants you to deal with the bird.”
"Sneaky little bastard," Hughie grumbled. "Oh well, I'll leave Feathers up there to Caelum. Fighting airborne sucks."
Hughie shot a quick pulse of qi into the sky to summon his senior brother.
Moments later, Caelum burst into view, sword at the ready as he took in the situation. His gaze flicked from Hughie's bleeding shoulder to the circling hawk beast and back again.
"I'll handle this," Caelum said calmly, deflecting an aggressive swoop from the hawk. "You focus on the scroll."
As the two squared off in a blur of feathers and steel, Caelum added, "This is the serpent's territory, so the invader was likely brought in here by the sect." He swerved around the predator's claws. "Check its nest, the scroll is probably there."
Brows furrowing, Hughie asked, "Wait, how can you tell this is the snake's turf? Couldn't the bird be the native one?"
Caelum concealed his exasperation, focusing on the battle. "The acidic venom spatters on the ground are characteristic of the Diamondback Trickster snake, there are quite common in this realm. As for the bird, it is a Heartclaw Battlehawk, native to the Desolate Mountains, not here.”
The hawk screeched in fury as Caelum's sword strike interrupted its attack. It pulled up sharply, circling around for another dive.
Caelum turned back to Hughie. "Does that satisfy your questions? Now, go find that nest while I handle this."
Seeing Hughie's blank look, Caelum's eye twitched. "Did you not even read the briefing scroll Master gave?”
Hughie chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "Ahaha, maybe skimmed it. But hey, that's what I've got you for, Mr. Encyclopedia!"
Caelum sighed deeply but Hughie was already scampering off.
Turning his focus back on the bird, he gripped Bloodthorne tightly. This was no ordinary hawk - it had clearly reached the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm.
He would need his full concentration for this battle.
***
Amelia was annoyed.
She had specifically chosen to venture out further than their agreed area in hopes of encountering stragglers.
Sadly, her search only yielded stupid beasts so far.
A rumbling growl reverberated from down a rocky passage just as she had the thought. Amelia's eyes lit up. Perhaps this time it would be something interesting!
She slipped silently towards the sound, pressed against the canyon wall. Peering around a boulder, she spotted the source - a hulking Goronox foraging through a pile of bones and debris.
What a beauty…
Standing over six feet at the shoulder, the giant armoured boar was known for its wicked tusks and ill-tempered manner. Few would dare approach this Late Core Formation beast for the fun of it.
Come to mama, Amelia smiled, accepting the challenge.
She enjoyed playing with beasts almost as much as cowardly disciples.
With a laugh, she launched herself from cover right onto the oblivious Goronox's back. The beast snorted in surprise, immediately bucking and thrashing to dislodge the unwelcome rider. But Amelia's legs locked tightly around its bulk as she clung on.
"Let's have some fun, piggy!" She blasted its unprotected ears with a soul attack, laughing as it squealed in pain.
Whipping its huge head around, the Goronox managed to clamp its sharp tusks onto her calf. Amelia smiled deepened at the pain.
She ripped a horn from its armoured skull, raising the makeshift weapon high. But rather than stabbing down, she threw the horn into the sky.
The Goronox followed the flying object with its beady gaze. As the Goronox was distracted, Amelia unleashed her Soul Render technique, a blade of soul qi slashed the creature’s legs. With a surprised squeal, the huge boar toppled over.
Catching the horn, Amelia leaned on the beast’s head, letting her blood fall onto its face. The Goronox thrashed its head in frustration.
"Aw, tired already?" she mocked. "But I'm just getting started!"
Ignoring its muffled squeals, Amelia examined the ugly horn she held. Its jagged edge could do some beautiful damage on soft flesh. She traced it almost lovingly across the beast's face, leaving faint red lines in its rough hide.
Maybe if she was lucky, some disciples would come investigate the pained cries. Amelia smiled dreamily at the thought. She couldn't wait to see their faces when they stumbled into her playtime.
Humming cheerfully, she carved elegant spirals into the Goronox's tough armour. Their little game was just getting fun.
***
Forest of Whispering Shadows
Zack tumbled out of the portal, transitioning smoothly into a roll before springing back onto his feet.
"Ha! Nailed the landing," he grinned, dusting himself off.
His smile faded as he took in his gloomy surroundings. Murky fog shrouded the damp, marshy woods around him. A bog stretched out nearby, surface shimmering with oily black water.
“Lovely place,” Zack grimaced, glancing back at the empty space that once occupied a portal. "Yeah...this looks like a fantastic place for a vacation. Maybe I should build a summer home here."
Shaking his head, Zack fished out his map, scanning for tell-tale markings. None. “Damn. No scroll here,” he muttered, returning the map to his ring.
Sloshing noises drew his gaze back to the swamp. An enormous, beady-eyed creature surfaced, jaws gaping wide to swallow him whole!
Zack immediately channelled lightning qi into his legs, the energy crackling over his skin as he nimbly jumped clear of the attack. “Whoa now! No need for that.”
The beast sunk below the murky waters once more, glaring at Zack before slowly submerging.
Zack wagged a scolding finger. “Ah ah ah, too late to back out now. You wanted a snack, well now I’m not leaving until I get a new pair of boots.”
That sneak attack sealed this dumb creature’s fate.
Clenching his fist, Zack channelled his qi into a glowing orb of lightning. With a casual flick, he lobbed it into the swamp waters, where it exploded in a brilliant flash.
The entire bog lit up with branching arcs of electricity as the energy surged through every living thing in the murk. A chorus of strangled croaks and hisses rang out as the swamp dwellers spasmed and thrashed before falling still, roasted by the lightning blast.
Zack made a tugging motion with his hand, and the creatures’ corpses rose to the surface, floating over to pile at his feet.
“Perfect. Plenty of materials to work with here.” He casually stashed the dead beasts away into his storage ring. Never knew when creature parts might come in handy for pills and the like.
Just then, Zack sensed three figures entering the range of his spiritual sense. Masking his presence, he slipped into the cover of the trees and silently observed the group pass by a few minutes later.
"I'm telling you, we need to split up! It's our best shot at grabbing two scrolls before the others," argued the burly, dark-robed boy Zack recognized from the Black Heart Sect.
The slender blonde girl in blue Heavenly Light Sect robes shook her head firmly. "No, we barely know anything about what we'll be facing. It's too risky alone."
The final member of their team, a tall White Tiger disciple, nodded in agreement. "She's right, we stand a better chance sticking together."
The Black Heart boy scowled but didn't argue further. "Whatever, we do it your way. But when your plan inevitably costs us this stage, don't say I didn't warn you."
The White Tiger disciple spoke up hesitantly. "Well, splitting up might not be the best idea...but we're not totally unprepared." He patted the bronze medallion hanging around his neck. "I have a treasure-seeking artifact from my sect. It can locate precious items under Nascent Soul level.”
The Black Heart disciple's glare transformed into a greedy gleam at this news, though he quickly masked it. "An intriguing trinket," he remarked casually. Too casually.
"That's great! We can track down the scrolls with no problem then," said the Heavenly Light girl happily.
But the White Tiger boy shook his head. "Not exactly. The medallion doesn't register the scrolls as treasures - those don't give off an aura. It's only helpful for locating a second artifact once we have the first scroll."
The Black Heart disciple sneered. "Then what good does it serve now? Seems you've wasted everyone's time boasting about useless junk."
"It's not useless!" the other boy protested. "It can still help with the second scroll later. I just wanted to let you both know it's an option."
“Enough bickering,” interjected the Heavenly Light disciple. “We focus on securing one scroll first. Your medallion can assist us after that. Agreed?”
Both boys nodded in agreement.
“Maybe we should just ambush whoever finds the first scroll and steal it?” suggested the Black Heart boy casually. “Save us the trouble of searching.”
His teammates quickly vetoed this idea, refusing to stoop to such dishonourable tactics. Their argument faded into the distance as the mismatched trio moved off.
From his hidden perch, Zack chuckled and rubbed his hands together. “Oh, this is just perfect! Duty calls, idiots.”
He would follow these three buffoons until they acquired the first scroll, then take it along with that delightful treasure-seeking trinket.
How generous of them to hand over such useful tools! Whistling cheerfully, Zack stealthily trailed after the group.
