Story 7 - To Kill Demonic Vines (5?)
A large group of alchemists arrived on green leaf-shaped boats and quickly separated into their assigned teams.
The four who joined us introduced themselves as Fairy Elegant Sky Tar, Alchemist Burning Hands, Fairy Softly Floating Grass, and Alchemist Incapacitating Wind.
I held back a snicker at that last one. I’d probably regret it since she was likely a master at trick pills — the best attacking thod alchemists had. She was also one of the Foundation Establishnt cultivators I'd be relying on.
They were twenty to forty years old, not nearly as young as the sword cultivators. Their realms ranged between the peak of Qi Condensation and Mid Foundation Establishnt equivalents.
They still looked youthful, though. I was sure a dose of their own beauty pill helped them with that.
A Nascent Soul cultivator suddenly appeared above us, dressed in forest green robes partially armored with sky rank spiritual tools. I recognized her as an alchemist elder who knew how to take a hit. The corner of her lips turned up as she watched us bow in greeting to her.
“For those who don’t know, I’m Peak Elder Grass Sprout from Alchemy Peak. While I won’t be going with you on this mission, I will be in contact with each of the team leaders.” She held up a mirror. Salamander and I held up ours in response.
She then tossed out several gleaming rings that flew directly to the alchemists possessing mirrors. I grabbed mine and sent a strand of divine sense into it. The herbs I’d requested were inside in a quantity that made grin.
Ah, I loved it when I got to work with competent sect mbers.
“These spiritual plants might be necessary to cure the plague, so keep them safe and wait for verification of the prescription. Don’t you dare waste these materials by attempting to figure out unknown recipes all by yourself. You will have to pay for them yourself if you unnecessarily waste materials.”
A few of the cultivators in the crowd shuffled uncomfortably. I guessed that they wanted to guess the formula using these ingredients before I patented it.
“In the anti, do your best to study the plague without becoming infected yourself.”
Just then Clear Eyes Mad Tongue called out, “Peak Elder Grass Sprout! I’m going to let you continue but—“
Salamander wrapped his arm around the teen’s head and covered his mouth. “Please continue Peak Elder!”
Mad Tongue jerked his shoulder, attempting to get out of Salamander’s grasp. His face turned red with the effort. Apparently, my ntor knew this kid well.
Seeing that it wasn’t working, the Foundation Establishnt cultivator tried a few more tricks. He stomped on Salamander’s foot and sent a hand poking toward his eyes. That obviously failed. Eventually, he turned limp and glared at the smiling Sword Master.
Elder Grass Sprout cleared her throat. “As I was saying — help the cities with their Anti-Plague asures.” She paused and then said very seriously, “If you see them doing sothing stupid, stop them. And if you wonder if sothing is stupid and don’t know, contact and I’ll tell you!”
“Yes, Peak Elder!”
“The Indomitable Will Sect doesn't do charity. However, during tis like these, it’s better to stop the plague in its infancy than to let it run rampant across the whole continent and beyond. You’re our first chance to stop it! So don’t fail!”
“Yes, Peak Elder!”
“Now, I’m going to activate the teleportation platform. Stay close to your team and get ready.”
Little Spring nervously grabbed my sleeve and held on for dear life.
Oh right. This was the little main character’s first ti using one of these long-range ones.
I was about to say so words of comfort when my feet felt like they’d been kicked out from under .
***
We all reappeared right in the middle of a teleportation receiving platform. My insides felt like they were upside down. A terrible side effect that would go away once I reached Foundation Establishnt. Unfortunately, a few of the younger cultivators couldn’t take it and collapsed onto the stone ground.
The kid touched his head and his eyes lost focus, dizzy. I grabbed his shoulders on reflex.
“Thank you, Sister Lin.”
“It’s better when you get used to it. Long-distance teleportation like this puts a strain on the body that short-distance teleportation doesn’t.”
“You an, like the ones from the sect trial?”
I nodded. “But as long as lower reald cultivators used them sparingly, they don’t cause any lasting damage.”
Senior Salamander raised a hand and quickly gathered us together.
“From here, we travel to Verdant Hidden Cavern City!” he said to our small team while pulling out a leaf-shaped spiritual treasure. With a flick of his fingers, it expanded to the size of a boat. “Everyone get on!”
Little Spring and I jumped onto the tool with the other alchemists and sword cultivators.
As Salamander drove the ship high into the air, he said, “By the way, the training starts now!”
Imdiately, I pulled my sword out, enlarged it, and blocked the small piece of harmless sword Qi that attacked the back of my head.
“Ow!” several voices called out simultaneously.
“Senior Salamander! Why?” Drunken Edge said.
Beside , Little Spring hissed as the bit of sword Qi touched his wrist. From experience, I knew it would feel like soone flicked it and would be more shocking than harmful.
“That’s one contribution point from everyone participating, except Senior Lin.”
“I call bullshit!” Mad Tongue put his foot on the side of the boat as if he was trying to look cool.
I sent him a warning glare. If he attempted to throw under, even though I’d blocked the attack, I’d teach him a goddamn lesson he’d never forget.
He must have felt my gaze because he glanced my way, then cleared his throat. “What I an is that you can’t start imdiately after saying you’re going to start. That’s stupid and not fair to the rest of us. So, I think you should let us have this round as a test before you start taking away our points.”
The teen grinned widely.
Sword Master Salamander put his hands together in front of his face and looked at Daoist Clear Eye Mad Tongue in concern. “Are you trying to tell that you’re running low on contribution points?”
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