Chapter 116: Hostilities
’Why would the Church of the Man have cultivators?’ Liam couldn’t help but wonder.
Despite learning a lot, there was still much Liam didn’t know, but that detail felt beyond strange. He could understand Guilds having cultivators, but the Church was supposed to be a charity-oriented organization.
Sure, power could do good. It was actually necessary to affect the world in any aningful way.
Still, the cultivation journey remained dark and ruthless, definitely not sothing suitable for supposedly good figures, especially not soone who had reached as high as the branching stage.
’Did he join later?’ Liam considered, inevitably focusing on that powerful expert.
The man in white looked to be in his fifties, his beardless face featuring the sa amiable smile Liam had seen on Deacon Ford. He was quite thin and short, and his short grey hair was well kept.
Needless to say, sothing else soon distracted Liam. He felt observed, and it wasn’t hard to figure out why. As soon as his team stopped in front of the crowd, everyone looked at him, not bothering to hide their evident interest.
Liam had learned to ignore his fa ever since his ti in Krosstoen village, but his gaze still went over those teams, even finding a familiar face. Cecilia was among the trio with red robes, and her glare was far from friendly.
’She has also gotten stronger,’ Liam sensed, before listing nas in his mind. ’Crimson Warrior Sect, Rising Waterfall Sect, Scorching Sun Sect, Iron Will Sect, and Swallowing Forest Sect.’
Still, as Liam listed the neighboring Sects in his mind, connecting each na to one group, Cecilia didn’t hesitate to start the hostilities.
"The Pale Moon Sect’s disciples must truly be under delusions of grandeur to make us all wait for them," Cecilia snickered. "Was one talented newcor enough to show your true colors?"
’Political talk,’ Liam cursed in his mind. His extensive reading had made him able to understand what Cecilia was trying to do, but he was in no way capable of responding in tone.
Luckily, Liam didn’t have to. He actually was able to witness another aspect of that needlessly convoluted skill.
"So what if we are?" Maxwell declared, stepping forward to partially hide Liam with his figure. "Does the Crimson Warrior Sect wish to snap us out of them?"
Maxwell’s figure partially hindered Liam’s vision, but he saw the many gazes falling on the right side of his chest, where his robe featured a grey moon. Grim faces followed, together with the general understanding to end the hostilities, at least when it ca to words.
’Joel did the sa back then,’ Liam recalled, finding similarities in the two scenes, spotting the greater effects that Maxwell’s performance had.
Liam connected the superior effects to Maxwell’s strength and status, but the scene still broadened his mindset. Maxwell had thrown a challenge, which no one had dared to accept, imdiately ending that political talk.
’This thod sounds easier,’ Liam concluded, replaying Maxwell’s words in his mind, wanting to learn that simpler way of dealing with that convoluted field.
The silence that descended threatened to beco tense, but the man in white intervened before the situation could degenerate.
"Allow
to express the Church’s gratitude for the Sects’ efforts in reclaiming our sacred ground," The branching expert announced, stepping forward. "I’m Priest Eustace. I’ll have the honor of being the Church’s representative in this mission."
’So, this area belonged to the Church of the Man,’ Liam understood. ’The Church issued this mission.’
Naturally, Liam also understood that the Sects weren’t doing the Church any favor. The mission was an excuse to compete, but Liam guessed that there had to be sothing else to it.
’What’s even in there?’ Liam wondered, finally throwing a look at the forest behind the crowd, trying to guess what the Sects hoped to earn from it outside magical beasts’ cores and their private bets.
Nevertheless, that train of thought was short-lived since odd details hit Liam’s perception. That forest felt strange for so reason. He didn’t sense any Qi, but his ears, nose, and even eyes sent confusing signals.
The forest was clearly there, but Liam found it unnatural, almost fake.
"As per the previous years," Priest Eustace continued, "The formation will open at midday. The representatives can collect the keys from ."
’Formation?’ Liam thought while watching Maxwell step ahead, ignoring the glares following him to reach the Priest first.
The Priest quickly handed Maxwell a wooden tablet, which he studied before making it vanish from his hand, not hesitating to return to his team afterward.
"Brothers, let’s go," Maxwell ordered, shooting to the forest’s right side instead of diving into it.
Liam and Joel followed Maxwell alongside the forest’s periter, diving into it once they had crossed a significant distance. The confusing signals grew even stronger and closer as trees went by in Liam’s vision, reaching the critical point when Maxwell stopped.
The area the team had arrived at looked beyond ordinary. It wasn’t even a clearing. Flourishing trees expanded everywhere, and green grass covered the ground.
Yet, Liam couldn’t shake off the unnatural vibe afflicting his perception. There clearly was sothing ahead that heavily conflicted with his experience in those natural environnts, urging him to step forward.
However, Joel promptly placed a hand on Liam’s shoulder, stopping him and uttering a warning. "Junior Brother, you don’t want to test formations."
Liam had to admit that the warning only made him more curious, like a child wanting to test if fire was truly hot. Nevertheless, he held back, and the appointed ti eventually arrived.
"Brothers, rember to stick together," Maxwell announced, waving his hand to make the wooden tablet reappear in his palm.
The appearance of the tablet caused a reaction to the scene. An area right in front of Maxwell began to twist, as if those trees had rely been painted on a curtain that was now waving in the wind.
Liam had seen sothing similar with lissa’s cloaking technique, but Joel didn’t give him ti to inspect the scene, pushing him toward Maxwell so that the three could advance together.
Then, when Liam crossed that twisted horizon, the world in his vision radically transford. The green, flourishing forest was no more, replaced by a red, far more open environnt that filled his nostrils with the intense stench of blood.
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