Chapter 1033: Summon
Summon . . .
"Certainly." Cha Shangxin said, "Cha Clan men, gather here. Form a line. Call out your numbers!"
"One, Cha Le… Three, Cha Shuijia… Four, Cha Yuan…"
The other nine men of Cha Clan didn't hesitate and began counting off just as Cha Shangxin instructed.
"Execute the plan we practiced earlier. Form an octagon with two at the center. One group proceeds to the left. One man focuses on marking signs and scents. In two hours, regardless of how many materials you've gathered, you must all retreat and regroup here. Do not deviate from my orders."
"Yes!"
The Cha Clan members shifted to the left, dispersing the fog as they went.
"Brother Cha, considering our shared name, why don't you join us?" Cha Shangxin asked through the dense fog.
"Thank you, but I prefer working alone. I'm accustomed to it. I don't enjoy collaborating with a large group of people. Besides, it might disrupt your formation. It's not in your best interest, and it certainly won't satisfy me," Cha Xiao replied.
Cha Shangxin breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Take care."
Then he departed.
To be honest, deep down, he hadn't wanted Cha Xiao to agree. The Cha Clan team had practiced the search formation countless times, and if Cha Xiao and Han Bingxue joined them, it would be counterproductive.
Moreover, the lack of visibility in this area made matters considerably worse.
Cha Xiao and Han Bingxue had wisely decided to go their own way, which was best for the Cha Clan team.
Since the Cha Clan moved to the left, the Li Clan undoubtedly went in the opposite direction. Li Chongshan also invited Cha Xiao to join them, but Cha Xiao turned down the offer.
"Go on. We'll regroup here two hours from now."
And so, they went their separate ways.
"What's our plan, Boss? The fog is quite tricky. No matter how hard I concentrate my vision, even if I pour spiritual energy into my eyes, I can't see clearly. I doubt you can either, right?" Han Bingxue inquired as they stood in the dense fog.
"We're moving forward," Cha Xiao replied.
The fog was more than just tricky. Cha Xiao had employed Yin Yang Eyes, a technique known for allowing him to see through anything in the world. However, it proved ineffective in the fog. Cha Xiao was at a lower level, but he could even see through the red and white clouds earlier. Yet it was completely useless in this place! It was perplexing!
Yin Yang Eyes was a supreme martial art derived from East-rising Purple Qi. It had never failed him in the past. The fact that it failed here was astonishing. Yet after the initial disappointment, he felt a glimmer of hope. While Yin Yang Eyes was ineffective, East-rising Purple Qi sensed something. He had a feeling that something ahead was drawing him closer.
"Boss, aren't we here to search for herbs?" Han Bingxue was perplexed by Cha Xiao's actions.
"Why should I? What herbs here could be valuable enough for me to bother?" Cha Xiao retorted through their mental connection. "Do you truly believe I'm a fool? If I wanted medicinal materials, do you think I'd have to come to this place?"
"Urh…" Han Bingxue sniffed. He could smell the enticing aroma of herbs, but he shook his head and sighed.
[He came to a location brimming with various herbs, but he isn't here for the herbs...]
[So many herbs... This is heartwarming... I want to gather some badly!]
Don't be deceived. Han Bingxue was indeed a level nine Dao Origin Stage cultivator, one of the most formidable cultivators in the realm. However, he didn't belong to any sect and was financially strained. Even though he couldn't see the herbs, he could smell them. He knew that the herbs must be ancient and valuable. If he could, he would undoubtedly collect a large quantity of them. But due to Cha Xiao's restrictions, he had to abandon the idea.
Erhuo quietly emerged from Cha Xiao's clothing. It strolled ahead, swaying its tail gracefully.
The fog concealed it.
If Han Bingxue could see through the fog, he would definitely notice Erhuo leading the way, swaying its tail. It glanced around with its two round, bright eyes, disdain apparent in its gaze, much like a monarch inspecting its kingdom.
– Shoot, shoot, shoot… –
Everywhere it passed, countless small creatures scurried away from the bushes, trees, flowers, and other plants, as if they had encountered an ancient behemoth.
Cha Xiao didn't hesitate. He followed in Erhuo's footsteps, moving cautiously.
He didn't want to accidentally step on Erhuo and inadvertently harm this eternally youthful feline.
Han Bingxue resembled a befuddled goose, trailing behind Cha Xiao. While he was adept at cultivation and could determine their position by sensing the wind, he remained in the dark about their objective. Every so often, he would exclaim, "Oh! I stepped on something... Let me see... Sweet heavens... I've stumbled upon a ginseng every two steps... And it's enormous... it must be centuries old..."
"Oh... Hold on... This is... Let me touch it... Dear me... It's an Ink Jade Ganoderma... a hundred years old..."
"Wait... I've found something again... It's smooth and soft... What could it be? Let me touch it... What in the world... Let me smell it... Sweet heavens! Who in the world defecated in this place... That's utterly revolting..."
"Oh... What's this again? Never mind... I won't touch it..."
Cha Xiao continued moving forward, sighing.
"Who would believe that this chatterbox and vulgar individual... is, in fact, the man renowned as the dashing, elegant, and charming gentleman, the Frost Sword, Han Bingxue?"
"Who could have guessed this upon first glance? I'd wager my 'thing' on it..."
"Where's the elegance in him? He's nowhere near it."
"This is so..."
After marching ahead in a straight line for a considerable amount of time, they were still shrouded in a dense white fog, disoriented. Erhuo took a turn at the same location and pricked up its ears.
"Meow, meow, meow, oh, oh..."
Its voice was distinct and forceful. It cried out three times before ceasing and beginning to groom itself with one of its paws, seemingly awaiting a response.
After some time, a distant tiger's roar reverberated through the fog.
"Howl, oh..."
Before long, a massive creature leaped down to the ground from a remote location and began sprinting towards them.
"Good heavens!" Han Bingxue swiftly unsheathed his longsword, which he had just stowed in its scabbard. "There's a formidable foe approaching. Just one. I can handle it. Boss, be cautious. I'll have to fight with all my strength. I don't believe I can protect you at the same time..."
Erhuo turned its head and regarded Han Bingxue with a look of disdain, as if he were the most repugnant thing on earth.
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