All around for miles was what appeared to be a desolate wasteland. Rocks with a dim red glow littered the ground for as far as the eye could see.

Long Di lay on the cot that was being dragged by Uncle Tian Lu, who said nothing since they exited the forest.

Long Di was really feeling the awkward silence and… he liked it. This was his happy place, truth be told. In any case, he retreated into his mind to monitor the situation of the Destiny Scale.

It moved from the mind sea and so, above the dantian hung a grand and imposing steel stele. It hovered there as if it was the master of this world. A dantian occupies a ‘world’ or ‘space’ of its own that is between illusion and reality. This was why they were able to hold as much energy as they eventually could.

As for the Destiny Scale, black streaks of lightning could be seen dancing around it, and even less could be seen being drawn from its surroundings. Those few strands being drawn in were the ones wreaking havoc in his body.

‘Boy, am I in pain,’ thought Long Di to himself.

Though it was at a snail’s pace, one could still see the volume of lightning growing ever weaker as the Destiny Scale refined it.

‘Hhmm, based on what I’m seeing here, the tribulation lightning I have left will be fully drained by the end of the day. I need to be able to create at least a rudimentary foundation for my cultivation technique as soon as possible. Otherwise, who knows when I will find another energy source as good as this one? And goodness knows I don’t want some normal element like fire or water. Ohhh no, this MC needs something that’ll ensure I never lose a game of ‘guess the protag.’’

The map work for Long Di’s cultivation technique was already laid out. However, the foundation for it couldn’t be completed because the minute it came down for him to finish one grand cycle, the energy, being as tyrannical and overbearing as it is, disallowed him the chance to refine even a single strand, much less use it to assign his spiritual energy an attribute.

The fact that he’s unable to grasp any other mystery of the steel stele, such as being unable to stop or pause its apparent automatic refinement, is what forced him to make use of the lightning and fast.

“There it is.”

Long Di’s thoughts were interrupted by Uncle Tian Lu’s words.

Pulling himself out of his dantian’s realm, he saw what appeared to be a tall pillar of rocks, piled together in no particular fashion.

The top was obscured by clouds, making it impossible to see the situation above.

Though it seemed as if it was intentionally created for some purpose, at the same time, it appeared natural, as if it was nature’s hand that orchestrated its creation.

“So that’s the nest, huh? So how are we going to do this? Are we just going to go up there and watch it? Cuz, I’m not gonna lie, it kinda feels stalker-ish. Plus, you’re old and I’m young, the two extremes just make it so much worse,” Long Di said.

Uncle Tian Lu’s eyes narrowed a bit as if he realised something. “Hold on.”

Saying this, he quickly scaled the pillar-like nest with quick and nimble movements, nothing like the clumsy drunk with the dancing tooth I’ve come to know and love.

Soon enough, Uncle Tian Lu’s body disappeared above the clouds, so I just went back to waiting and looking around.

…

When Uncle Tian Lu appeared above the clouds, he was greeted by a perplexing scene. The Scarlet Flame Long-Tailed Hawk… was gone.

‘This doesn’t make sense. Based on what I’m aware of, the Scarlet Flame Long-Tailed Hawk was preparing to break through to the next level. There is no reason for it to leave the relative safety of its nest to fly around, unless…!’

Thinking of something, Uncle Tian Lu descended the giant pillar at breakneck speed!

‘If what I’m thinking about has happened, the entire Magical Beast Forest is gonna become a bloodbath!’

…

“Little demon!”

Long Di heard his name being called in anxiousness.

Looking up, he saw Uncle Tian Lu racing down the pillar with an inhuman speed. Then again, he is a demon, which made it the best description.

“I need you to get back to the village immediate—!”

Boom!

Before he could finish what he wanted to say, a pillar of flame rose to the sky in a distant part of the forest!

“Already!?” Uncle Tian Lu shouted in surprise.

“What is that?”

“We need to go! Curse those fanatics!” Uncle Tian Lu said, before grabbing the handle of the cot to make a speedy getaway.

“Wait a minute,” Long Di stopped Uncle Tian Lu in his tracks

“What is it!?” Uncle Tian Lu asked, wondering what this little demon spawn was cooking up.

“Is that the Scarlet Flame Long-Tailed Hawk over there? Also, why is its name so long? Geez.”

“What about it?” Uncle Tian Lu questioned, ignoring the latter part of his question.

Long Di looked over to the distance to where he still saw the pillar of fire still rising in ferocity, “I think that we should go—”

“Hold it,” Uncle Tian Lu stopped him from going any further. “If anything you say is about us going over there, then don’t say anything further.”

“…”

Uncle Tian Lu’s expression remained unchanged at Long Di’s silence.

“You’re doing this on purpose,” Long Di finally said.

“For what!? For what accursed reason, barring my death by anger, could possibly compel you to go over there!?” Uncle Tian Lu exploded! “If you give me no reason that is even remotely acceptable, then I will drag you off by force with no further ear to lend to you!”

Finishing his tirade, Uncle Tian Lu’s chest heaved wildly with reddened eyes while the Long Di stared at him immersed in a sea of indifference. “The disciples are over there.”

“Wha—” this response caught him off guard.

However, he quickly regained his composure. “You’re lying.”

“That would be true, if I was, buuut… I’m not,” Long Di rebutted.

“So you’re saying if I go over there, Feng Yu, Shen Ling and the others will be over there too? That’s what you’re saying?”

“Correct,” Long DI answered without hesitation.

“Why would they be over there!?”

“Good question. We should ask them that when we see them.”

“You…!” Uncle Tian Lu pointed his finger at him, frustration choking off the rest of his words.

“If you wanted to say ‘You, me, over there, now,’ then I would just like to say… I agree,” Long Di said, his apathetic expression driving his master up a wall.

Uncle Tian Lu looked at him with narrowed eyes before releasing a long, drawn-out breath in surrender.

“That was easy,” Long Di commented.

“You wanted me to do this!” Uncle Tian Lu shot back.

“And I appreciate that, but it doesn’t leave me from commenting on the choice of a ‘maybe adult’ bringing a seemingly paralysed eleven-year-old child to the scene of what appears to be random acts of terrorism.”

“… I’m avoiding you for the rest of this trip so I can go and save the children,” Uncle Tian Lu finished off with this, letting the sound of the wind be the only source of sound for the two.

‘I wonder what he would say if he knew that every single thing I said about the disciples being in danger was a lie. Oh well, let come what may I always say,’ Long Di kept his thoughts to himself as the sight of the fire pillar grew closer with each passing second.