Nemek stood tall in the center of the Tiger Riders clan hall, his gaze piercing through the crowd of his subordinates. The urgent news he had just received compelled him to convene an immediate meeting of his members."Someone else is after the Womb Grass," Nemek announced, his voice resonating through the hall and rendering everyone silent. The tension was palpable, with some even holding their breath.The gravity of the situation was clear: another party was bold enough to pursue the Womb Grass, an item Nemek had long coveted. This rivalry, Nemek knew, could only lead to a brutal conflict.The room was steeped in silence, all eyes fixed intently on Nemek, hanging on his every word. He walked slowly, his presence commanding and heavy with authority."You know my nature, don't you?" Nemek continued."I despise interruptions, especially when someone attempts to seize what I have long aspired to obtain." Nemek had meticulously planned to acquire the Womb Grass. But now, he learned that
Lucas was on a covert mission, having struck a deal with Boge, which included the daunting task of eliminating members of the Tiger Rider Clan. Perched on a slender branch, Lucas's exceptional skills in the Body Lightening Technique were evident, a testament to his agility and stealth. "Hufff, this is going to be exhausting," Lucas muttered to himself, acutely aware of the challenge ahead. However, his determination was fueled by the promise of acquiring the elusive Womb Grass, a reward contingent upon the mission's success.Inhaling deeply, Lucas savored the damp, earthy aromas of the forest, a stark contrast to the task at hand. With practiced ease, he activated the Body Lightening Technique, a skill he had honed over years due to its invaluable utility in stealth missions. This technique rendered Lucas virtually weightless and silent, enabling him to navigate undetected.Approaching the first guard with utmost caution, Lucas ensured he left no trace nor sound. "This is the first on
It was already early morning by the time Lucas reached the border. Now, he had once again entered the territory of the wolf-riding clan.His long shadow stretched across the ground, mirroring his every steady step. In his left hand, he tightly held Nemek's severed head, its dried blood marking the face of the former tiger-rider clan leader. In his right hand, he carried an old wooden box containing a unique plant, accompanied by a book titled "Blood Technique.""Hmm? Who's there?" Lucas sensed a presence and immediately, a familiar voice responded."Lucas, I can't believe you accomplished all of this in a single night," said the voice, clearly expressing admiration. It belonged to someone Lucas knew well.Emerging from behind the trees, Boge appeared, astride his wolf, Gara."I've eliminated Nemek," Lucas declared, lifting the severed head for emphasis. Boge's expression revealed his pleasure at this sight.After all, Nemek had been a thorn in Boge's side for the past year, rendering
Under the overcast sky that hung over the Moon Lotus sacred compound, the woman - a revered sect master, sat quietly in her throne room, her presence commanding yet serene.She was meditating, her breathing a model of tranquility, embodying the peace of her high station.Suddenly, a subtle disturbance rippled through the air, breaking her deep concentration. The sect master's eyes fluttered open, revealing a mix of surprise and delight."Lucas," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper yet imbued with profound certainty."Lucas is back," she whispered again, a hint of warmth in her tone.Memories of their last encounter before Lucas departed on a perilous quest to find rare poison herbs flooded her mind. It felt like an eternity, yet their reunion was imminent.With a sense of urgency, she rose from her throne, her robes whispering against the floor as she moved with purposeful strides towards the door. The gray sky above mirrored the tumult of emotions within her - a deep longi
Within the oppressive silence of the secret base, enclosed by its unyielding concrete walls, the stillness was abruptly shattered by a sudden flash of light. This wasn't just any light; it was a distinctively blue hue, reminiscent of a teleportation portal snapping open. Emerging from this luminous burst was a woman, whose figure materialized and then collapsed onto the cold, hard floor. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, a vivid testament to a recent, fierce struggle, as if she had been in a dance with death itself. Her breathing was labored and ragged, each breath sounding like a desperate fight for survival."Lucas, damn it!" she coughed out, the realization dawning on her that she had been poisoned."Lucas... Lucas, damn it!" she cursed again, her voice strained.Despite her fading strength and shallow breaths, the woman forced herself to confront the man responsible for her poisoned state."White Rat, you seem to be having trouble," a voice remarked from beside her. It
FLASHBACK. Fifteen years ago, in the tranquil, fog-shrouded dawn at the Moon Lotus Sect, Aruji, the revered master, was deeply immersed in meditation. This disciplined figure had maintained his meditative posture since the previous night, seated cross-legged under the awakening sky, a testament to his unwavering dedication. The serene silence of the morning was unexpectedly pierced by the sound of soft footsteps. A beautiful woman, embodying grace with her every move as if materializing from the mist itself, approached Aruji. Her demeanor radiated excitement, hinting at a pressing message she bore for Aruji. This woman, with her hair cascading like a waterfall and eyes alight with a proud gleam, moved towards Aruji with a silent, elegant grace. Despite her quiet approach, Aruji, ever attuned to his surroundings, sensed the slight disturbance in the calm of dawn. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze meeting the woman's directly. "Aruji," the woman spoke, her voice carrying a melodic qu
The conflict persisted, escalating rapidly. In a swift, decisive maneuver, the First Demon unleashed a devastating blow upon Lucas. With a single touch, the protective mist shrouding Lucas dissipated, leaving him defenseless and catapulted through the air, akin to a leaf caught in a tempest's fury. Covering a distance of two kilometers in what seemed a mere moment, Lucas' body endured a brutal impact, his back colliding against a massive tree trunk. This collision caused a shower of leaves to descend like a gentle rain. "Ugh, he's such a monster," Lucas grumbled, frustration lacing his voice. Brushing off the incident, Lucas ran his fingers through his long, white hair with a nonchalant grace, indicating his readiness to continue the duel. Despite the intensity of their clash, he perceived this confrontation as an eternal struggle against his formidable adversary. "No, for every beginning, there is an end. And this is where it ends," Lucas resolved quietly to himself, his determin
The twilight sky enveloped the forest where Lucas had engaged in battle earlier. This area was steeped in legend as a site of ancient conflict between gods, yet unknown to all, it was Lucas who had instigated the recent turmoil.Nearby, Coil and his troops had regrouped. Their heavy footsteps echoed, resonating with the splintered remnants of trees shattered in the skirmish.Coil, the young lord of Crimson Jade, was determined not to let this chance slip away. Like many others, he harbored hopes that a deity would align with them, granting dominion over these lands.As he surveyed the scene, Coil's expression grew intense, his eyes alight with resolve. "Jade Valley... a city blessed," he murmured to himself.His envy was palpable. In Jade Valley, not one but two 'ahrta'—mystical occurrences—had manifested. The first was a vast chasm formed in the past, from which Coil had failed to extract the hidden treasure. The second was recent, evidenced by the battle scars that suggested the des