Chapter 488: Teaming Up

Sam had only just moved his family from the monster-infested farms and settled them in the more rundown part of Ashfallen City when he was abruptly hailed back to White Stone Peak alongside every other cultivator under the Ashfallen Sect.

Heart beating like a drum in his chest, Sam rushed up the steep staircase lined with demonic trees that twisted and turned up the mountain's edge. He was not alone in ascending these fog-covered steps, passing dozens of other black-robed cultivators on the way to the top.

Finally arriving at the top, he discreetly took a moment to catch his breath while standing under the shadow of the grand archway with the words White Stone Peak engraved on it.

"Been a while since I've seen you out of breath, kid."

Sam glanced up and scowled at Hugo, who was grinning at him.

"Shut up, Hugo. I had to run from the southern wing of Ashfallen City to here," he said between breaths. "What's the situation..." he trailed off as a massive shadow passed overhead.

Both of them glanced up in stunned silence alongside many other cultivators as a floating island passed overhead. It was so close that it almost clipped the top of the archway, and he felt bits of soil rain down on him. Sam grew more worried as he recognized the white bark and blue-leaved tree atop the Bastion.

"Isn't that the Blacktide tree?" Sam asked Hugo.

He slowly nodded, "The guardian tree of Ashfallen City is on the move?"

Tracing its slow arc through the sky, he gulped as he heard reality cry out, a massive swirling desolation rift forming before it, leading to heaven knows where and swallowing the island like a portal to hell.

They exchanged a look. Whatever they had been called to White Stone Peak for, it had to be serious if a tree they had never seen move was now floating off to a distant battlefield.

A gong sound reverberated across the peak, signaling that a meeting was being held in the courtyard of the White Stone Palace—home to the noble Redclaw family.

"Let's go," Sam said to the gentle giant and ex-gang member who had taken him in like a brother when he had nowhere to go. Rushing past the man, Hugo was quick to follow behind him. His Soul Core thumped in his chest as he cycled Qi to his tired muscles, keeping his body moving.

The paved roads of White Stone Peak were abuzz with cultivators as they all swiftly left their pavilions and made their way to the palace that loomed over the town. It was a truly monumental building, standing ten stories high and supported by pillars that seemed capable of holding up the sky. Compared to the sea of two-story pavilions surrounding it, the palace was impossible to miss.

Reaching the entrance to the palace's courtyard, which was typically closed to outsiders, today the door was open, with two members of the Redclaw family standing guard. Their striking crimson hair and eyes only added to the presence their higher cultivation afforded them as they lazily watched the cultivators shuffle past into the palace's courtyard.

Sam had mixed opinions regarding the Redclaws, as did everyone. As direct subordinates to the Patriarch of the Ashfallen Sect, despite their noble blood and strength, they were often given insignificant jobs like guarding Ashfallen City or distributing food to mortals. While many of those jobs were now forced upon the lower-ranking members of the sect, such as Sam and Hugo, the younger and more arrogant members of the Redclaw family liked to look down their noses at other cultivators for doing the same jobs they had once done.

Thankfully, it's only the younger and weaker members of the sect that act like this, Sam thought as he passed by a crimson-haired beauty who was guarding the left pillar of the entrance with a smirk. If the Elders looked down on everyone like this as well, we would be in for a rough time.

In fact, he had been told that in other sects, it was apparently common to be treated like trash by any cultivator stronger than you. It was a perpetual cycle of being treated like trash, so you treat those below you like trash to repair your damaged ego.

Sam shook his head as he passed. Having seen truly powerful people like his master Stella, the arrogant members of the Redclaw family came across as nothing but spoiled kids with unearned egos.

I wonder how long they can keep that up? Sam mused as he took his place in the courtyard alongside Hugo and a hundred other cultivators. They gained access to the pills and resources of the Ashfallen Sect a few months before anyone else, so their cultivation is understandably superior to everyone else's. But what happens when their lack of talent fails them and everyone catches up and surpasses them? Will they hold onto their arrogance then?

Only time would tell. If the Ashfallen Sect was one thing, it was fair. Everyone had nearly equal access to resources, except for a few notable cases—Jasmine being one such example. As the only disciple of the sect's Princess, she got everything she wanted, including personal tutoring. There was also Ryker, the godlike prodigy. In his case, Sam wasn't convinced it had much to do with the resources or training provided to him, as some claimed—no amount of pills could turn a five-year-old into a Star Core cultivator.

The Ashfallen Sect is filled with hidden monsters like that—you never know who you can't mess with, Sam pondered, glancing around. Other than people, a few demonic trees lorded over the peak. Legend had it that a few Redclaws became too greedy, resulting in the deaths of other family members in the process. The Patriarch turned the killers into trees as a punishment, and they serve as a reminder to the Redclaws. He wondered if they needed another reminder...

More cultivators shuffled into the courtyard until it was nearly full. Just as everyone was getting restless, discussing among themselves the reason they had been gathered, a second gong went off, and the door to the palace flung open.

Sam had been expecting the Redclaw Grand Elder to emerge, and while some Redclaw Elders walked out, they were not flanking the Grand Elder. Instead, it was a woman with long, rose-gold hair that seemed a vibrant pink under the sunlight, tied in a ponytail. Stylish glasses adorned her face, which matched her perfectly maintained black cloak. On her chest was the logo of the All-Seeing Eye, but it was gold, unlike the usual dark red.

Despite her almost cute appearance, there was a chilling aura around her.

"Who is she?" Hugo whispered, a sentiment that seemed to be shared by some of the other people present.

"She's one of the sect's Grand Elders," Sam said, having seen her before. "She's also Grand Elder Douglas's girlfriend."

"Wait, that's her?" Hugo's eyes widened slightly. "She looks different from the last time I saw her."

Sam thought back to when that could have been and then remembered the incident during the Night of Reckoning, when they had been holed up in a temporary earth shelter made by Douglas to ward off the crazed citizens who were trying to kill them. Elaine had been there that night with them, nursing a wounded cultivator. Back then, her face had been covered in blood and dirt after an intense night of fighting.

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"What a catch," Hugo said, a hint of respect on his face.

Sam was a little puzzled by Hugo's sudden change in expression, but he knew the man greatly respected Grand Elder Douglas after the two had fought back-to-back on the wall alongside the Mudcloaks against the beast tide. He had only recently recovered from the ordeal, and large scars were still visible down the side of his neck.

According to Hugo, it had actually been Stella who showed up and saved them all from the brink of death on the wall. A truth Douglas had apparently requested he keep secret, but he had let it slip one night while drunk.

"Greetings, cultivators of Ashfallen, my name is Elaine," the woman said, her eyes scanning the crowd. "As the other Grand Elders are busy, I've been given the task of informing you all of the situation."

Her tone was impossible to pin down. It wasn't arrogant nor commanding, but everyone listened to every word in absolute silence. Perhaps it was her Star Core Realm cultivation that gave her presence an unmistakable gravity, or the chilling aura that surrounded her. Sam wasn't sure.

"The Patriarch has met and discussed a solution with the leader of the beast tide," Elaine said, and seemed to surprise the two Redclaw Elders standing beside her.

Sam's jaw was ajar from shock, as were those around him. How could she say something so casually? The beast tide had a leader, and it could be spoken to? Was this real life, or just a fantasy?

"I'm sure many of you have questions, but it's not my place to answer them. The deal is as follows: the storm that once blanketed the monsters, making them almost impossible to stop, has been lifted. The leaders of the beast tide are also standing down and will not attack our lands. The threat of us being wiped out by the beast tide has been overcome—Ashfallen will live."

A cheer erupted through the crowd, including Sam. Before he knew it, he and Hugo were exchanging a handclasp and grinning at each other. He felt relief, as that meant his family could return to their old life sooner than he had anticipated, and Hugo's relief was understandable, having stood on the wall and faced the beast tide.

"Quiet," Elaine said, empowering her voice with Qi.

Sam literally felt a chill go down his spine as he snapped his mouth shut.

Pushing up her glasses, Elaine cleared her throat. "Celebrations can await, as the battle is far from over. While a deal was struck to remove the storm, the monsters still march on and are en route to Red Vine Peak as we speak. Now, the good news is that the Patriarch and the Grand Elders of the sect will be handling the majority of the monsters. The bad news is that some monsters will sneak through or around our defenses, and we need people to collect monster corpses. That's where you all come in."

"No..." Hugo whispered under his breath, his eyes trembling with fear. "I can't go back there..."

"You will all be heading to the battlefield," Elaine explained. "Spatial rings will be distributed for corpse collecting, and you will be handsomely rewarded with pills for every corpse you return to the sect." Her eyes narrowed. "This will be your first golden opportunity to prove yourselves to the sect. Do your best."

Elaine then took a step forward and seemingly vanished into the void in the blink of an eye. In her sudden absence, the air immediately warmed up as the two Redclaw Elders stepped forward to take center stage. Sam was aware of both of them, Elder Margret and Elder Brent.

Bringing out boxes filled with spatial rings, they set them down.

"As Grand Elder Elaine said, it's time for war! Take a spatial ring and get ready to move!" Elder Marget shouted, her voice booming through the courtyard. Compared to the chill of Elaine's presence, Elder Marget's carried a burning passion. It was infectious, making him feel ready for battle.

Sam slapped the stunned Hugo on the back. "Come on, there's no need to be so afraid. We won't even be on the front lines."

Hugo gave him a weary smile. "Right..."

I wonder if Stella will be there as well, Sam thought, a smile blooming on his face. A chance to see his Master at war—what a treat that would be. While his own battle with those wolves near his house had been intense, he was excited to get out there and fight again. Perhaps it was the earth Qi corrupting his soul and turning him into a blockhead, but he genuinely wanted to try to make a difference.

Standing in line, he retrieved a spatial ring just as a dozen portals were torn into existence.

"Pick a portal and go through it. We have a large area to cover, so some portals lead to areas that may be months of travel away. The portals will remain open for the next week, so please keep track of them as nobody will come to save you," Elder Brent explained.

Sam met up with Hugo, and they chose a portal nestled in the corner of the courtyard. It didn't seem popular, which was why Sam gravitated toward it. He wanted to collect as many corpses as he could, as he needed pills to advance his own cultivation and to hopefully support his family's cultivation journey too.

"Wait up!"

Sam paused and glanced over his shoulder as an unknown girl called out to him. Her long, sky-blue hair and bright eyes would be unforgettable, so he was unsure why she was calling out to him of all people.

He looked her up and down in confusion. "Yes?" he asked. "Do I know you?"

The girl winced at his response. "My name is Ray," she said hesitantly. "I was there with you in that stone bunker with Grand Elder Douglas, remember? He had to use a golem to carry me to safety as I was too injured..."

Sam's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, it's you! I remember you blasting those people with water jets, only for them to effortlessly heal the damage and almost maul you to death—sorry," he quickly added, noticing her discomfort.

"No... It's fine," she laughed nervously while looking at the floor. "I-I was quite useless that night."

Sam scratched his head, unsure of where to go from here. "So, Ray... did you need something from me?"

She glanced up, her gaze turning serious. "I was wondering if I could come with you."

"Um," he exchanged a glance with Hugo, who shrugged. "I don't see why not. It's not like I decide who goes through which portal or anything."

"Great!" she beamed. "You see, I don't really know anyone else here," she said, glancing around the bustling courtyard. "After getting injured that night, I spent the last month or so recovering in my pavilion, so I haven't had time to make any friends."

In Sam's eyes, Ray was granted the status of an abandoned cat. While still a little suspicious, as it never hurt to be cautious even with your own sect members, he felt Ray would be fine to have around.

"Let's go before anyone else comes this way," Hugo suggested, wreathing his body in earth Qi and taking the lead. Sam nodded and followed with Ray close behind.

"Thank you, really," Ray whispered as blue soul flames ignited across her skin.

Sam merely nodded in response, his focus entirely on the portal. Having fought with monsters so close to home, there was no doubt in his mind that this portal would drop them very close to a lot of monsters.

Passing through, they were deposited on a rocky outcrop overlooking a forest of demonic trees. Despite being far from home, their presence made this place feel oddly familiar. The aura coming from the trees was also comparable to that of Elaine and the Elders.

"What in the nine realms," Hugo muttered as he looked to the horizon.

Intrigued, Sam and Ray came to stand beside him. While the trees were impressive, he wondered what had warranted such a confused response from Hugo.

As he crested the outcrop and saw what Hugo did, his shock made sense.

What surprised him wasn't the literal wave containing thousands of monsters he could see on the horizon; no, it was what was happening to them.

"Are they the monsters, or is the Ashfallen Sect the true monsters?" Ray muttered under her breath, and Sam had to agree.

The monsters weren't coming toward them—they were in full retreat. Looming overhead was the Blacktide Bastion he had seen earlier. A bubble of black water protected it from the desperate attempts of the monsters to fight back. Yet their attacks all fizzled out before they could penetrate the black haze blanketing the area and reach the Bastion.

Meanwhile, the monsters struggled to traverse an expanse of ruined land shrouded in a black haze as a horde of tree-like abominations tore through them, brutally ripping the creatures limb from limb and causing them to cry out in pain with beastly roars.

The world suddenly lit up with orange light, pulling Sam's gaze away from the suffering monsters and to the sky, where a cultivator who looked like a living inferno was unleashing waves of hellfire down upon the monsters, scorching them alive.

It was an utter massacre.

"Are we really needed here?" Hugo said, scratching the back of his head.

Sam tightened his jaw as he watched the powerful Redclaw cultivator in the sky. Whoever it was, he strived to be that powerful one day.

"Come on," he said, jumping off the side of the outcrop. Landing hard and cracking the ground, he rose and began to walk toward the battle. "We have corpses to harvest."

His confidence quickly wavered as he heard a girl's scream from above, followed by Hugo's body tumbling down the rocky slope behind him with a dull thud.

Hugo let out a pained groan—he was alive, but not in good condition.

"Wait here," he said, throwing some pills at the grass beside Hugo. Then, drawing his sword from his spatial ring in a flash of silver, his Soul Core, roared as he quickly ascended the slope to reach Ray.