Chapter 896: Chapter 895: Who Tricked Whom
A Grass Immortal Fruit monster appeared ahead. This is a highly social species; often, wild Grass Immortal Fruits grow in large patches, transferring pollen among themselves. They cannot survive growing alone, and this growth habit persists even after being refined in a Medicine Furnace.
The Grass Immortal Fruit is also a basic herb used by cultivators for alchemy, in high demand. Unlike rare varieties, it’s a common spirit plant in the Green Mist area. They’ve encountered it many times over the years.
It’s precisely the setup for a trap.
Under normal circumstances, he would drag a lone wandering Grass Immortal Fruit to a safe location before they all proceed to harvest. But this time, he ventured deeper and stealthily sent a pulse of energy towards the distant group of Grass Immortal Fruits, which almost immediately agitated the large cluster.
"Oh no, this Grass Immortal Fruit is a female plant!"
Grass Immortal Fruits are divided into male and female. Typically, there’s only one female plant in a patch, the rest being male, with differing effects. They are hard to distinguish from appearance, especially when they manifest as spirit creatures.
A female plant is usually protected in the middle of the group, inaccessible. He claimed it was a female only as an excuse for his blunder. In chaotic battles with many spirit creatures, who has the time to discern carefully?
After dealing with the Sword Cultivator, he still needed to continue cooperating with the other three cultivators; he couldn’t afford to offend them all.
Everyone tensed up, seeing there were over twenty Grass Immortal Fruits plus the eleven they were already dealing with. Each would have to face at least five spirit creatures, quite a challenge.
Although each had an Elixir Furnace in hand, refining takes time. With so many spirit creatures, it tested not just technique but also composure in danger.
"We can’t go any further; we must deal with them here!" Fairy Fei Bai advised nearby.
These spirit plants are stubborn; once entangled, they don’t stop until either side perishes. Since escape isn’t possible, it’s better to deal with them quickly. Moving further would attract even more, which would be worse.
"I’ll handle seven, you divide the rest among yourselves." Daoist Huang Yun took on one more than the average share, a sign of responsibility for the trouble he caused. Since it’s his reckless mistake, he bore the greatest risk, showing his stance.
The others evenly divided the spirit creatures. The sword cultivator still had to deal with five, no easy task, chased relentlessly in the spirit creatures’ suicidal pursuit, because he was the only one needing a close encounter to defeat them.
No one had the bandwidth to care for him. Pressure surged; everyone was focused only on themselves at this point of dire straits.
Hou Niao was chased until he looked quite ragged. His activity range broadened subtly, during which he released a sword light undetectably in a certain direction. Then he led five spirit creatures back, mingling with Huang Yun.
"Why are you clustering towards me? Do you expect me to bear the pressure for you? As cultivators, one should be self-reliant!" Huang Yun was very displeased.
Despite being chased haggardly, Hou Niao remained indifferent, "With Huang Daoist acting this way, are we acquaintances? Did I offend you?"
The Cultivation World holds many traps. As cultivators, few are unaware when trapped. Huang Yun knew his actions couldn’t remain hidden after this encounter. He couldn’t assume everyone was foolish, so he plainly confessed,
"Sharma is my Daoist friend, is there a problem?"
Hou Niao nodded, "Then there’s no problem; everyone reaps what they sow!"
Before he finished speaking, another cultivator exclaimed, "Another group of Grass Immortal Fruit spirit creatures is coming! Huang Yun, you’ve doomed us all!"
In sight, from deeper within the Green Mist, another batch of thirty or so Grass Immortal Fruit creatures emerged. Their connection with this group was unknown, or perhaps they had always been one group?
This seemed beyond the few’s capabilities, from merely pressured to an all-out battle for survival.
Yet, no one ran away voluntarily. Not because of camaraderie but knowing escape had no purpose. The spirit creatures wouldn’t spare anyone for fleeing; one might be more dangerous than in a group, so for their lives, they stayed together, hoping someone had special means.
"I didn’t lure those creatures!" Even amidst the intense fight, Huang Yun didn’t forget to defend himself.
Beside him, Hou Niao smirked, "So it was me?"
Daoist Huang Yun’s gaze sharpened, realizing why the second group appeared. He brought the first batch, but the Sword Cultivator had brought a second.
"You madman!"
"Isn’t each minding their fate fair?"
The two got entangled intentionally by Hou Niao, surrounded by over twenty Grass Immortal Fruit creatures, making it unclear who attacked whom as the pressure escalated.
For Hou Niao, it was close combat anyway. Relying on movement techniques and swordsmanship, a Sword Cultivator excelled at this. With twenty years of his senior sister’s enhanced training, he was incomparable to the past. Though it seemed dangerous constantly, he always maneuvered out skillfully, truly at ease.
Daoist Huang Yun couldn’t keep up. Using the Elixir Furnace to capture creatures was best from a mid-range—not too far to be ineffective, nor too close to disrupt his spells, especially when besieged. Now, ten creatures fixated on him with the Sword Cultivator leading another ten close by. Maintaining a safe distance from them became impossible, allowing a cluster of creatures to approach.
"Hou Niao, I have no enmity with you, why harm me so!"
"Dao Brother, your words ring hollow. I’ve always said, everyone relies on their abilities; prepare to be played if you wish to play!"
Daoist Huang Yun also drew his longsword—best for close quarters, as techniques were too late—and his ultimate skills held little against these resistant spirit plants.
Watching him wield the sword clumsily, Hou Niao laughed, "Your swordsmanship isn’t bad, quite clearly from a renowned master, eye-opening indeed."
Daoist Huang Yun panicked. Never had he anticipated this turn of events, especially with the Sword Cultivator demonstrating terrifying close-combat prowess amidst the creatures. Though clumsy at capturing, his instinct for battle was innate, especially in melee chaos.
A miscalculation.
Decisive nonetheless, he confessed, "All my fault for prioritizing vendetta, endangering everyone; we should abandon grudges, and I promise to forget the Sharma affair!"
"Too soft, didn’t hear!"
Daoist Huang Yun, flustered, knew he had to choose. He grasped the Sword Cultivator’s meaning, conveying through Divine Sense,
"All my private resentment drew everyone in, I acknowledge my fault!"
"That’s it, to err is human, to forgive divine!"
A long river of sword light suddenly cut through, slicing Daoist Huang Yun cornered by creatures in two, roused into a frenzy of devouring,
"But, I don’t forgive!"
Forgiveness is reserved for unintentional wrongs!