Nafeyu continued explaining, "As you can see, the goal of the Red disciples is to establish a solid foundation individually. All of this is planned for the moment they become Gray disciples. In the next stage, everyone must form groups; after all, they will have to fight against other sects in the sealed worlds." He then looked at the whale and Ruri.
"It took me five thousand years to advance, and in a few more centuries, I should become a Black disciple. I’ve never been that talented, but I was fortunate to survive and reach where I am because of my brother. He’s someone important, the leader of the most powerful faction of disciples. When you change colors, he will accept you. It will be much easier to rise with someone powerful protecting you."
The whale nodded without denying or accepting. They would have to judge that leader for themselves before making a decision, but it was good to have that option. Everyone thanked Nafeyu for the introduction, and then he showed them around the facilities.
They were in the outermost part of the sect, within the forest. There was only a hall and a small commercial building where disciples could speak with an elder, exchange points, or request resources.
"There are only these two places because no Red disciple is allowed to stay safely within the sect. Everyone must live in the Black Forest and train; those are the rules. After changing colors, the inner area of the sect opens up for you to cultivate more peacefully," the Fey explained gently. "But don’t worry, within the forest, you will only encounter beasts up to the Divine Origin Realm, and they live in the farthest part of the sect. Newcomers should circulate around, where they will only encounter beasts in mortal realms or newly arrived in the Spirit Fusion Realm."
The Fey turned to the whale and handed him a spatial ring. "Inside is a map of dangers I made when I was a Red disciple, and also some tips from me for facing each type of race. In exactly six months, the sealed world focused on earth and Yin laws, called Veiled Dunes, will open; prepare yourselves for it. That’s all I can do for you."
"Thank you for everything. You’ve already helped us a lot; our help back then wasn’t much in comparison. We’ll manage, so don’t worry,"
The whale thanked him, and Nafeyu nodded. He wanted to repay the debt and had given so much that if the sect found out, they might punish him. Little did he know that it was the whale herself who had caused all the trouble on that planet.
Nafeyu bid them farewell gently and entered the hall to use the teleportation array. As he said, no Red disciple was around the buildings. The responsible elder watched over everything and was already keeping an eye on their group; they had to leave.
Thus, they all moved towards the forest, distancing themselves from the building. As they approached the edge of the Dragonkin Haven Forest, the group immediately felt a change in the environment. The sunlight seemed to be swallowed by growing darkness, and a black mist began to envelop them, like an ethereal curtain gently floating around the gigantic trees.
The trees were monumental, with trunks as hard as steel. Each one stood imposingly, their barks gleaming with a metallic sheen. Intertwined branches formed a dense and impenetrable canopy, blocking any trace of sunlight and plunging the forest into constant dusk.
The group’s first steps echoed amidst the oppressive silence, the sound of their boots on the soft vegetation mixing with the murmur of the mist that seemed to move of its own accord. The forest was a dark labyrinth, with the darkness creating unsettling shapes and illusions at the edges of peripheral vision. The extreme Yin density affected the mind and senses.
According to the map and information they received, every kilometer or two, they would encounter rivers that cut through the forest. The waters were as dark as pitch, but their depth was equivalent to ocean waters. These rivers were not just physical obstacles; they were guarded by terrifying creatures with draconic bloodline known as Sea Orcs. These aquatic beasts lurked in the depths, ready to attack anything venturing near the shore.
The sounds of the forest were a symphony of threats. From the skies, the flapping of wings and distant roars announced the presence of Wyverns and Hydras, relentless predators that dominated the air. Any attempt to fly over the forest would be an invitation to a deadly attack from these winged creatures.
On the ground, Drakes patrolled with heavy steps and sharp claws, their shimmering scales devouring the little light that penetrated the forest. They were silent and invisible killers, making the forest a place where every shadow could hide a deadly danger.
But perhaps the most insidious danger lay hidden underground. Wyrms, colossal serpentine creatures, moved silently through subterranean tunnels, patiently waiting for any vibration betraying the presence of prey above.
There was no safe place in the Dragonkin Haven Forest. Every step needed to be carefully calculated, every sound evaluated. The forest was a territory of pure survival, where death lurked in every shadow, in treacherous waters, threatening skies, and deceitful ground.
All of this was detailed on the map, which indicated difficulty levels at different locations. But... Alm and Bruno weren’t concerned with any of that. Nothing could escape their divine senses and soul; they, along with Kaiyka, would never be caught off guard by these dangers.
The information provided covered everything except exactly how to find the Yinblood jewels. It seemed truly random, able to appear anywhere.
’These jewels with Chaos Dragon bloodline must only be her attempt to break free. The Behemoth was an idiot, but a Dragon must have well-laid plans. She wants something, handing over his bloodline so easily,’ pondered Bruno calmly as they all advanced peacefully through the forest.
Alm agreed without hesitation, ’We need information from all sources; clues must be somewhere. The safest way to gather intelligence is with these draconic beasts that live here. And if there truly is no pattern to the jewels, we need to split the group to search.’
The two reflected quietly until they felt a swift approach... coming from two different directions. Kaiyka also sensed it and tightened her grip on her weapon, but the whale reassured her with a light sigh.
"Sir Denil!" Two voices sounded simultaneously, both young Feys.
Ambry approached the whale and gently flapped her wings, coming to his height before speaking with a forced cute smile, "I’m glad I found you quickly. Everyone in the Barbarian Fey clan shares their knowledge of the place and knows the best spots and secrets. We are many and can help each other."
"They’re just brainless little bastards, more likely to hinder than help. The Feral Fey clan also has extensive knowledge, and its members can move silently in search of things intelligently. We are much more useful," responded Kisala sharply, her slender figure contrasting Ambry’s.
"And what will the idiots who only know how to flee do if they encounter a powerful beast or treasure? We move slower, but we can fight like warriors and go much farther. Our men are powerful shields; they don’t need to think. Don’t be fooled by this bitch; it’s the women who lead and think strategically," Ambry spoke angrily, closing in on the whale. Kisala coldly snorted, and her gaze turned dark.
"We are more focused on individual battles. But with knowledge of the target, as a group, we can poison and bring down even the strongest beast quickly. We don’t fight head-on, but we don’t die easily either. With you being so powerful, our support is much more effective; we can become Gray disciples in a thousand years," Kisala spoke quickly, taking a step closer. The two glared at each other and then approached threateningly.
"It seems I’ll have to teach you both manners first," Ruri’s dry voice sounded right behind the whale. Neither of the two had seen her; Ruri was much shorter than Kisala, and Ambry had to fly up to the whale’s height.
Tension filled the air, but Ruri had no malice or anger. She genuinely wanted to educate them properly, not in a hostile manner.
The whale snorted. "To me, you two are just brats who get in my way. I won’t be joining either side..."
"Do you intend to join the Whirlwind Fey clan’s group, sir?" Ambry spoke, stunned.
Kisala completed in sync, "They might be the number one group of Gray disciples, but that’s only because my clan’s group lacks a true leader. When I join the group in the future, that position will quickly change. If you seek the greatest..."
"With just you? A slut who only knows how to seduce, and nothing else won’t make a difference. I’ll make my clan’s group reach the top," Ambry retorted, and the two quickly gripped their weapons, ready to attack at any moment.
They seemed unable to breathe the same air, ready to attack each other in a few words. Ruri watched it all and sighed; why did they hate each other so much? They were so alike in their ways and had lived such similar experiences. They had everything to be good friends, but the brainwashing they received, focusing only on the clan above all else and encouraging maximum hatred for everyone else, prevented them from seeing that.
"That’s not it. I haven’t decided to join them yet, but I don’t care about power. Look around, my allies are with me. Trust is most important to me," said the whale emotionlessly, as the two now looked at the nine people around. It was a diverse group in every aspect; except for the small Fey, all emitted pressure like sheathed blades.
Kisala clenched her fists and seemed to understand. "You don’t trust me yet. But we have plenty of time..."
"All of my clan is venturing out, I’m free to accompany you! My entire clan will support you," Ambry cut in quickly, interrupting Kisala.
Kisala roared. "Go play somewhere else. Look at these beautiful women and strong men around. Sir Denil has powerful servants and great taste in his women. He wouldn’t want a stupid child..."
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She stopped mid-sentence; everyone in the group was staring at her strangely. Ruri just smiled strangely, impressing everyone with her calmness and for not exploding until that moment.
The whale snorted heavily; he was always treated as the worst kind of person possible. If he had men around, they were servants; if he had beautiful women, it was his harem. Why couldn’t he have allies who trusted each other? He knew the answer; in the competitive world of cultivation, there was no room for mutual trust. Either you were completely submissive to the other, to the point of never being able to betray them, or no one trusted anyone.
Alm and Bruno simply wanted to get these two away from there, but Ruri was silent, waiting for them to act. And they knew what her deepest desire was.
"If you want to follow me, there are two rules. First, I won’t pick a side; both of you will stay together and cannot physically attack each other," said the whale calmly, then his aura and gaze turned icy. "Second: My orders are absolute. If you disobey even slightly, I can simply dismiss you, but depending on the situation, I won’t hesitate to bury you forever."
Both swallowed hard, realizing he wasn’t bluffing; if they betrayed him in any way, he would have no mercy. At the same time, they clenched their fists in determination. They didn’t want to be together, but they needed to recruit him and make him trust them, no matter what it took.
Rumors about the whale and his group had already spread throughout the sect and clans since the registration. They were already focused on it before, but now they had received immediate orders from their clan leaders to intensify their efforts. Having Telo in their group was like having eight Empyreans, two primordial bloodlines, and an ancestral race of immeasurable power. It wasn’t just their clan; everyone wanted to conquer him at any cost.