Schemes that Got Together III

In the cultivation world, when someone is killed, no one would bother except the deceased's love ones. The only time it matters is when the dead is a powerful or influential figure. A century ago, a small scale disappearances of Alchemists or Alchemy apprentices started in a small town within Amkayan Municipality. Not many cared at first but as years passed, these cases became more and more frequent slowly spreading towards neighboring cities, then expanded throughout multiple municipalities.

Far south Minten'az Provinces near the border of Amkayan Province, there is a powerful demonic Elven faction called Tez Cerva'an Sect. Fifty years ago, the case of missing people had reached their territory. Cultivators with sufficient mental strength is already rare and for them to go missing on a large scale invited the attention of Power Houses including this sect.

Elven reproduction when compared to humans is like comparing a turtle and a rabbit. Leave a human village and let their citizens get busy for a hundred years, their population growth can rival towns which then becomes cities if left for another century. The reason Tez Cerva'an as a demonic sect is found near the border of human province is that it is strategically located so if they need blood sacrifices, they have nearby human settlements to go hunting with.

However, fifty years ago, the hunting area has been reversed that even among their promising disciples have gone missing. Majority of humans are not aware but almost all of cultivation practices are based on Elvens. So, when the missing cases reached their territory, the elders of Tez Cerva'an did not have to dig deeper to understand what this case was up to.

It took their sect ten years to determine the culprit and the location of the offerings however at that time, Bang-et Royal family intervened. It was surprising that the royal family did not apprehend the real culprit but exterminated a neutral Elven clan and even spread news that this Elven Clan was the perpetrator and even framed them of amassing forces to overthrow the royal family.

Tez Cerva'an Sect continued their observation for another decade. Though the cases of missing Alchemist and apprentices have significantly decreased, the type of flames planted on the offerings had been changed from Human to Earth Class.

They have not found any indication of the royal family taking actions which lead them to a certain conclusion. They believed that the royal family were pretending like they were unaware and allow the growth of the essence flame and will seize it later when the time is ripe.

Confident that the royal family will not further investigate during the growth period, Tez Cerva'an Sect started their own version of abductions and fed the lion in secret until the day when they can finally reap the rewards.

From their estimate, the beast should need at least three more session before it evolves but for some reasons, it has been prematurely triggered.

The Elven Nascent expert summoned more than twenty dark and tall pillars properly positioning them to form an Isolation and Defensive Formation.

When he saw the Flame Horned Lion approaching its second meal, he descended and found a spot at least a hundred meters away from the helpless boy and started activating an array. Thick smoke began covering the area within five kilometer radius.

Meanwhile, Kle In knelt on the ground. He felt dizzy and started to lose consciousness. He could feel the other Essence Flame that has been unsealed by his master and over powered his original flame and slowly taking roots towards his Qi Nodes. Earlier, he tried summoning multiple Qi Projections in an attempt to release the surging energy but he realized a bigger problem. The unknown Essence Flame in his dantian is devouring him through from inside.

Even on this state, all his senses had been raised to maximum level and while he was figuring out a way to expel the flame, he felt a dreadful and horrifying aura.

“Please, help me!”

When Kle In looked up, he saw a terrifying horned beast head with its mouth salivating as it stood on top of a boulder near him. With a single glance, he could tell the beast is ready to pounce at him.

Kle In helplessly cried for his master’s mercy. He is already on vulnerable state where he could be burned anytime yet another bigger threat showed up.

SWISH!

The beast did not roar and jumped towards him the moment he looked above.

Kle In’s heart was racing and though frightened and on the verge of collapse, his body still went to fight and flight state. Time seemed like frozen as his mind went to a trance.

He knew he could not run and there is no weapon in his ring and he was certain that the offensive technique he learned is useless. He then recalled the scrolls he inscribed. Originally, he wanted to create a subspace where he can escape and hide into but he did not have enough time. He does not know if this will create a subspace or will tear a space allowing him to teleport but this was his only option.

When he saw the lion jumped, he immediately retrieved the scroll from his ring, pointed it towards the descending beast.

However when he poured his Qi to activate the inscription, it was interrupted after a second and realized he could not properly control his strength due to the essence flame still rampaging within his dantian, but the amount of Qi he released was sufficient to start the formation in the scroll.

PHSSSKK!

The inscription released a blinding light and for a split second, he heard a sound.

Kle In did not know what happened but if someone was able to witness the momentary explosion, they would notice the space being torn and while the size is a tiny little dot, the sheer amount of force it created was enough to vaporize anything around it.