The airships, sleek and aerodynamic vessels powered by intricate spirit stones, hummed with anticipation as they lifted off from the expansive training grounds. Below, the Blue Sword Dao Academy sprawled like a miniature city, its majestic structures gleaming in the morning sun. Atticus, standing at the railing alongside his team, felt a pang of nostalgia wash over him. This place had been his haven for the past year, a crucible where he had honed his skills and discovered his potential..well not really since his potential was solely due to the system but he still his spell craft skills had improved thanks to the academy. Now, he was venturing out into the vast unknown, the weight of responsibility a heavy mantle on his shoulders for he now had a team to look out for...this reminded him so much of his previous life which he found himself forgetting about day but day.The journey to the city was a blur of rolling green hills, shimmering rivers, and towering mountain ranges. As they sai

Taking a deep breath, Atticus adjusted the straps of his backpack and set off in the direction of the warehouse district, a desolate section of the city notorious for its abandoned buildings and criminal activity. The once vibrant warehouses now stood like skeletal sentinels, their windows gaping maws in the fading light. As he ventured deeper into the district, the air grew thick with a shroud of decay and neglect. The only sounds were the occasional creak of a rusty door hinge or the skittering of unseen vermin in the shadows.His mind raced with strategies. He needed a plan to infiltrate the warehouse undetected, to steal the vial of Dreamweaver's Essence without alerting the Razor Claws, a ruthless gang known for their brutality and bloodthirsty reputation. Brokk's words echoed in his mind – "They have two spirit sovereign experts." This piece of information remained stuck in Atticus' mind, he was a little curious on how quickly he would be able to defeat a spirit sovereign. Tec

"Atticus!" Atticus turned back to see Xu Hua and the others jogging towards him, their faces flushed and clothes dusted with grime. "You guys got here pretty fast," he remarked, surprised by their swift arrival."Well, the apartment we rented wasn't far, and we bumped into several hunters on the way. Seems like they were already alerted about the breach," Xu Hua explained, catching her breath. Her explanation seemed to contradict their earlier exhaustion, and Chen Yi and Li Wei both looked pale, their robes clinging damply to their bodies. It must have been a frantic dash to reach him, for cultivators of their level to expend so much stamina."With the way the hunters arrived so coordinated, I figured they had a system in place for such emergencies," Atticus replied, wiping sweat from his brow."But why were there so few?" Chen Yi questioned, his eyes scanning the scene. He only saw a handful of Spirit Sovereign hunters managing the perimeter around the now-collapsed portal, keeping

Li Wei who had been in thought finally broke the silence that had descended. "Okay, so the Crimson Blades are our main target, but I guess we can't neglect our official duties as response team members. How do we propose to juggle both?""Good question," Atticus acknowledged, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "We need a strategy. The breaches in the neighboring town are our top priority, at least initially. But we can use those missions as a cover while we discreetly gather information on the Crimson Blades."Xu Hua chimed in, her voice laced with concern. "The problem is, how discreet can we be? Investigating a dangerous organization isn't exactly a low-key operation. We're bound to attract attention, especially if they're actively hunting you, Atticus."Atticus nodded grimly. "You're right. We need to be smart about this. Gathering intel from the shadows will be crucial. We can't afford a full-frontal confrontation yet, not until we know more about their numbers, their capabilities

Atticus's declaration hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the oppressive silence of the forest. He met Xu Hua's gaze, his own filled with a steely resolve. "We need to follow the trail," he repeated, his voice firm. "But Chen Yi… he needs medical attention immediately. We can't risk bringing him deeper into the forest, not in his condition."Xu Hua's brow furrowed, concern etched on her face. "Atticus, that's too dangerous. You shouldn't go alone."Li Wei, ever the pragmatist, interjected. "She's right. We should stick together. There's no telling what dangers lie ahead."Atticus understood their concerns. He himself felt a tremor of apprehension at the thought of venturing deeper into the unknown alone. But time was of the essence. The longer the source of the demonic energy remained untapped, the greater the potential for catastrophe. "Listen," he said, his voice softer now, "Chen Yi's well-being is paramount. Xu Hua, your healing abilities are the best chance