Returning to the Battle Maiden Sect, Mira, Rhydian, and Hana were greeted with the familiar sight of mountains, towering cliffs, serene waterfalls, and ancient trees. After an intense week in the secluded Oakshade village, the sect's bustling atmosphere felt both overwhelming and welcoming.
As Mira, Rhydian, and Hana landed in the inner courtyard, many disciples turned to glance at them. Although they had always kept a rather low profile, it seemed that was no longer a possibility given all her feats and unique appearance.
Before they could rest, a disciple approached them, her eyes twinkling with respect. "Sect Master Aelina has asked for you to join her on the peak, Senior Sister Mira," she said, handing over a jade slip.
Mira took the jade slip, a thin smile tugging at her lips. 'Right on cue,' she thought, 'Aelina's timing is impeccable, as always.'
Giving the girl a nod, Mira turned to Rhydian and Hana and said, "Go on and rest without me. I'll be right back." With that, Mira left the outer courtyard and began her ascent.
Reaching the peak, Mira was met with the sight of Aelina sitting cross-legged on a jade platform at the edge of a cliff, her eyes closed in deep meditation. The peak was filled with dense spiritual energy that swirled around Aelina, making her seem ethereal. Despite being lost in meditation, Aelina sensed Mira's arrival and opened her eyes.
"Mira," she greeted, her voice as serene as the mountain breeze. "I hope your trip was fruitful."
Mira smirked as she approached the platform. "Better than I expected," she responded, her voice laced with satisfaction.
Aelina looked intrigued as Mira produced a stack of jade slips and papers from her Storage Space. She handed them over to Aelina, who accepted them with a knowing smile.
"These are the results of my experiments," Mira said, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Aelina nodded and activated the first jade slip, her eyes scanning the vast amount of information recorded. Her eyebrows furrowed as she read through the detailed notes, taking in the complex nature of Mira's research and the breakthroughs she had made.
As she moved from one jade slip to the next, Aelina's expression slowly changed from curiosity to astonishment and then, finally, to a broad smile.
She looked at Mira, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She then took a deep breath and said, "Good. Good! It looks like we can follow through with our previous arrangements."
"Did you notice any beast spies in or around the other Sects?" Mira asked.
"At first, no." Aelina shook her head, but she didn't lose her smile, "It seemed like after what you did in Vorandis, on top of my 'greeting', they pulled back most of their spies. However, over the last few days, we've noticed a massive influx of beasts, both in human form and not, patrolling around all the major powers. I've even gathered reports that they are attacking people on sight, regardless of their strength or background."
Mira processed the information for a moment before nodding slowly. "It seems we must adjust our plans slightly," she said, her voice steady. "If they're acting with such boldness, they must have their reasons. I'm assuming you've already sent scouts to keep an eye on their activities?"
Aelina nodded, "Yes, our people are on it. The entire situation is still developing, but we can't wait any longer. Those old monsters might start to get bored if we don't do something soon. It's time we proceed with our plans."
Mira agreed, "The situation is changing faster than we anticipated. It's better we take the initiative instead of reacting to their moves. I trust you have already started preparing the disciples?"
Aelina chuckled, "Of course, they are more than eager to contribute. Even the new recruits are filled with a fiery spirit, wanting to do their part."
Mira found herself grinning at the thought. "Good. Let's get to work, then. The first phase of our plan will start tonight."
With the sun setting in the distance, Mira and Aelina began their preparations. Aelina gathered the Core Disciples and relayed their plan. Their mission was to spread chaos amongst the beast clans surrounding the Sect and Ice Maiden City, turning the beasts' heightened aggression against themselves.
They didn't have to accept it, and most people were hesitant as they could very well harm the citizens below the mountain as well as their fellow disciples. But… the reward Aelina proposed was just too great.
Should they accept and complete the upcoming chain of missions, they would be rewarded with an upgradeable Rank 9 Beast Blood Essence of their choosing, at the least!
She even said that the top performers would get a Rank 10 Beast Blood Essence!
Who would be dumb enough to not accept this mission?!
Seeing that none of them left, Aelina nodded and explained the rest of the plan to them.
The disciples listened attentively, a solemn air taking over them. Though some were nervous, the sense of determination they felt outweighed their fear.
Aelina handed over vials filled with a potent elixir - a mixture of Dragon's Tongue, a rare herb detestable to beasts, and a concoction that could enhance spiritual energy. They were instructed to spread the elixir on themselves and across the patrol routes of the beasts.
The enhanced spiritual energy within the elixir would attract the beasts, and the Dragon's Tongue would send them into a frenzy.
"Remember, our goal is to cause disruption, not annihilation. Do not engage unless it's absolutely necessary. Just run away and try to make as much noise as possible. We want to play the victims here, not the aggressors," Aelina reminded them, to which everyone nodded.
Seeing everyone taking her words seriously, she finished her instructions, "That's all you need to do. Just go to the designated areas on the map, stir up trouble, and come running back. I'll handle everything else. Is that clear?"
The women nodded once again.
Aelina smiled in satisfaction before waving them off, "Then, go do as your told and spread the message to your fellow Inner and Outer Court disciples. Only inform and hand over the elixir to the ones you trust and give them the locations for their missions."
"Yes, Sect Master!"
As the disciples dispersed, a palpable tension filled the Battle Maiden Sect.
With a sense of urgency in their hearts, the disciples quickly disseminated the instructions among the chosen Inner and Outer Court disciples.
While they understood the risks associated with the mission, the allure of the rewards, as well as the desire to contribute to their sect, solidified their resolve.
Throughout the evening, Mira and Aelina watched as the sect bustled with activity.
The disciples moved about like the wind, spreading out in the designated areas. Thanks to the recent war that was still fresh in their minds, they were able to work like a well-oiled machine. Word quickly spread of the mission, and they quickly went into action.
Disciples soon started leaving the Sect in groups all over the mountains surrounding them.
*ROAR!*
*ROAR!*
*ROAR!*
However, before they could even reach their destination, the sounds of enraged beasts echoed across the mountain range, chasing them down. They hadn't even spread out the elixir, and beasts were already chasing them down like a bunch of mad dogs.
'Fufufu~' Aelina chuckled, 'Seems like The Nightstalkers did their jobs without me even telling them to.' She thought with a large smile.
The heightened activity of the Battle Maiden Sect did not go unnoticed by the other sects and major powers, stirring curiosity among their ranks, but once they heard the beast roars, many understood that they were currently facing a crisis.
With the aggressive roars of the beasts echoing in the night and the sudden frenzy of activity from the Battle Maiden Sect, it wasn't long before the news spread to the other sects. Whispers and speculations quickly filled the air.
Sect Master Aelina had expected such a reaction. As the situation unfolded, she sent out a series of jade slips to the neighboring sects, stating that the Battle Maiden Sect was under an aggressive beast attack and requesting immediate assistance. It was stated in the slips that since the young ones were still injured from the war, they weren't able to fight at full capacity.
Also, she and the Elders weren't shameless enough to wipe out a bunch of 'ants' that were disturbing their rest. The other forces understood that she was trying to form connections with them and proceeded with haste.
In response to the jade slips, the neighboring powers, initially doubting the sincerity of Aelina's plea, dispatched scouts. Once they confirmed the chaos on the mountain, they began to mobilize their forces, thinking that the situation provided a golden opportunity to establish a good relationship with the Battle Maiden Sect.
Meanwhile, the disciples of the Battle Maiden Sect continued their mission. Their faces were painted with a mix of fear, anticipation, and determination as they smeared the Elixir all over themselves and the surroundings, then led the frenzied beasts across the mountain range, spreading chaos in their wake.
The sound of beasts roaring became a symphony of chaos, echoing in the night and shaking the hearts of all who heard it.
Mira and Aelina watched from the peak, their expressions filled with satisfaction. Their plan was progressing smoothly.
With the influx of powerful figures from various sects, the situation began to take a different turn. The beasts, initially focused on the Battle Maiden Sect disciples, turned their attention towards these new arrivals, turning the situation into a large-scale conflict.
Mira looked at the ensuing chaos with a glint in her eyes. "Looks like the party has just started," she said, her voice laced with anticipation.
***
[A/N: Let me know if you want to see some of these upcoming "missions" from different perspectives. Maybe a section from Nova, Seraphina, Eden, and the others. Or, perhaps, from someone new. Maybe Skye, who was introduced during the war with the Crimson Slayer Sect. Mira won't be a huge part of this mini-arc, since it's mostly about increasing the power of the Battle Maiden Sect as a whole, but she will get her moments to shine.
It really just depends how fast or slow-paced you guys want. I have some plans of my own, but I'm totally open to suggestions. Thank you!]
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