9 Uninvited Guests

The Mountains of Arbor

Five cultivators had left their sect in order to investigate the recent spectacle. The disciples of the Profound Radiance Sect had dubbed the occurrence as the Myriad of Yellow due to the many yellow streaks in the night sky.

Leaving through the sect's gates at full speed, they had arrived at the mountain quickly. With their cultivation, it was nothing much for their cultivation realm as they utilized their spirit energy to give them a boost in their speed.

Upon reaching the mountain, the group had to find out where the Myriad of Yellow appeared. Luckily for them, Jeon had drawn a rough map, accurately pinpointing where it was by looking at the location of the stars.

Traversing through the forest, they had found the site.

"This..." Tuoi, a fellow with a big and muscular figure, had looked at the mist and was immersed in it. "This is an array formation?" Walking up, he took a closer look.

"Array? If I remember correctly, you're proficient in arrays, right Tuoi?" Reila, a skinny girl with red hair had spoken up.

"Yes, but this one seems to be..."

"Just blow it up! I want to hurry on with this mission." Reila looked at him impatiently.

"Tuoi," Jeon began. "Can you do it?"

"Probably..." Standing back, Tuoi produced several array flags and began infusing them with his spirit energy. Unlike Sect Head Kahn, he wasn't at his level yet, so chanting to increase the power of his array flags wasn't going to change much.

Boom! A rush of mist had exploded from the formation but soon gathered back as quickly as it dispersed.

"Since it's like that, try this!" Sending out array flags even more quickly, Tuoi had managed to create some sort of dent, only to see it fill up again.

"Tuoi, if you can't do it, just say you can't. No need to impress us." Crossing her arms, Crusch looked at him coldly, as she does with everyone. Her violet eyes seemed to pierce into his soul.

A man with a slightly muscular build had been glancing around everywhere, seemingly analyzing his surroundings. "Haven't you all noticed yet? The spiritual energy around here is dense. The trees are also abnormally sturdy." Sending out a kick infused with spirit energy, he struck a tree. It didn't shake, nor did it seem to be affected at all.

"Strange," Jeon was skeptical. "Leyen, can you feel how dense the spiritual energy is on the other side of the formation? Knowing you, with your sense, you could probably do it."

"No, I've been experimenting while Tuoi was attempting to break the formation. I wasn't able to sense anything, not even when the dent was large."

"That's unfortunate... How about this? Let's head to the Moral Timere Sect and start thinking of a plan there with the information we've gathered so far."

The group nodded at this decision and left the mountain.

...

Yaila

Watching the group from the other side of the mist, she was about to charge in to tell them to stop, when they suddenly turned and left of their own volition.

Heaving a huge sigh, she turned toward the tree.

"It looks like people are trying to break in, and they're not weak either."

"So?" The tree responded. He was stronger than her, so how much power would other people have? In fact, he was constantly growing as well, so it's not like his strength would be any weaker.

"Nevermind, I suppose you have your own means of protection. I'm going to leave for now."

Turning to leave, Yaila then remembered what her "reason" was to come here in the first place. A Blood Moon herb. She should at least try and find one in the place her mother left her, abundant with herbs.

It didn't take long for her to find one. She took it up from the ground and gathered it's roots and all so as to not make any damaging mistakes. Storing it within her storage ring, a device that is capable of holding large quantities of items, she left the area.

Upon reaching the gates of the Moral Timere Sect, the guards had a frantic look on their faces.

"Young miss, are you safe? You are unhurt, yes?" Rushing over, the guards began to inquire about her whereabouts. After telling them that she had found the Blood Moon herb, the guards had told Yaila that her father was looking for her.

"Yes, yes, I'll find him." Agreeing, she had eased the guard's hearts knowing that they won't get punished.

Heading toward her father's office, she had noticed five people walking ahead of her, escorted by two guards.

"Aren't they the ones from before?" She thought to herself. Walking closer, she was able to clearly see that it was indeed the group of five that were trying to break into the hidden grove that her mother had left her. "What are they doing here?"

Realizing the direction they were heading her face paled. It was toward her father's office.

Following the group, she concealed her spiritual aura and tried not to stray too close. When they entered her father's room along with the two guards, she stood by the door and listened in.

The group of five had paid their respects to Sect Head Kahn.

"Welcome! I was expecting you as soon as I heard the news. What is it that you all are here for?"

Jeon walked forward. "Greetings Sect Head Kahn. I am Jeon, a direct disciple of Elder Agreiga. It is an honor meeting you. I was told to hand you this letter so you can better grasp our situation." Handing the letter over, Sect Head Kahn began to read it. The entire group already knew the letter's contents, so they had to play the part.

"I see. So you're disciples from the Profound Radiance Sect that are here to find a respectable cultivation partner. I'm sure you understand that you two would need to have mutual feelings and will live forever after the vows, yes?"

"Of course," Jeon replied.

"Sect Head," Leyen stepped forward. "I apologize for interrupting, however, it seems we have an uninvited guest." Turning around, he opened the door and behind it was Yaila.