Hiking through the forest was a chore, but even then it felt great to one man in particular. Wei Feng who had spent most of his previous life in a wheelchair couldn’t help but sheepishly grin to himself. A cool breeze brushed across his face as the twin white moons gently shone above.

“This is a fairly refreshing breeze, huh?” Wei Feng brushed his hand against his sternum, shifting his shoulders slightly in discomfort.

“Tch, Is it?” Sun-Mae glanced over her shoulder, unamused at his words. 

He was already limping and visibly fatigued, yet that smile never left his lips. He looked like a fool.

“Mmm. If I wasn’t being forced into a Sect against my will, it’d probably be a bit better.” Wei Feng couldn’t help but snort as he kept one palm relaxed on the hilt of his weapon.

Nearly tripping over a root, distracted by the older junior, Sun-Mae kept to her feet as she stumbled. “I hate the forest,” she pointed at Wei Feng, “Don’t make me hate you too.”

Raising a brow at her words, Wei Feng curiously continued to trot beside her, scanning the treetops above for a brief moment. “So you’re like… Silver core– Gold core maybe?”

Sun-Mae just gave him a look of indifference before letting out a sigh as she didn’t bother to answer his question. It was rhetorical as he already knew her Cultivation was plenty of times his own.

"No fun, tch..." Wei Feng rolled his eyes as he focused on his item box.

Focusing on his item box, the screen appeared before him. Everything that he had gotten from the Cultivator’s Master Package was there. Except of course for the talisman, he had already used. His eyes traced over the Soul Nourishing Pills and focused on them to get their description.

[ Soul Nourishing Pills | These (medicinal) pills are used for healing injuries and correcting (soul deviation). It also provides a massive boost to (soul cultivation), promoting and multiplying the possible natural (flow of Qi) by 10 times. ]

‘Useful in the long run,’ Wei Feng shrugged lightly to himself before peering over towards his captor. 

Sun-Mae was staring straight ahead not wanting to look at him. Those violet hues though had since lost their wonton and were now covered in a gloss.

‘Is she crying…?’ Wei Feng frowned as he peered over his shoulder as if it had been the direction he had started from. ‘Her juniors must’ve been more than just subordinates unless... they were her friends?’

“Oh hey, look! There’s a one thousand year ginger root!” Wei Feng suddenly pointed to a random oversized tree root.

Sun-Mae almost immediately shot up with a smile, before blinking, “Where?!”

“Made you look,” Wei Feng snorted only to tense up as her fist went crashing into the nearby tree; causing it to burst into splinters.

“I can always change my mind!” Sun-Mae hissed as she turned to face him, narrowing her eyes as if looking deep into his soul. “That’s what you want, isn’t it?” The corner of her lip was twitching in anger that he had played a childish prank.

“As I told old man Wang…” Wei Feng tilted his head to the side with a sorrowful furrowing of his right brow, “I am an associate of the Eternal Dragon Sect.”

Much like Old Wang, Wei Feng watched as Sun-Mae tensed at the name of the sect he was throwing around. “Wai–Wait, what?!”

Wei Feng raised a hand slightly, “Just don’t let them know you have me and you’ll be fine, Sis.” He addressed her playfully though at the same time with a lack of respect.

“H-how are you associated with that Sect? Your senior cannot fathom...” That smug and powerful aura of superiority seemed to have vanished. Weak or not, connections in any world had power, even if it was a lie.

“My father was a member,” Wei Feng shrugged before folding one hand behind his back.

“What’s his–”

“Never met him,” Wei Feng waved his hand in dismissal of the subject, making himself appear pained by it. Though truth be told, even in his past life he didn’t like talking about or even to his family. They looked down on him, all of them, because of his illness and stripped him of his independence.

Becoming straight lipped, Sun-Mae simply nodded as they continued to stalk through the forest. There were tons of herbs, it was like they were navigating through a self-sustaining apothecary of medicinal and poisonous plants. 

“You have any food in that ring of yours?” Sun-Mae asked as she narrowed her gaze on the spatial ring that was still on his finger. 

Unlike the old man, she was rather cautious about trying to grab one of those rings. The last time she had gotten one, it had been booty trapped to attack anyone who wasn’t its owner. Considering old Wang was unable to obtain it, there was obviously something unnatural protecting the ring from being stolen.

“Uh… Soul Nourishing Pills, but I don’t think I have any food.” Wei Feng closed the inventory window before opening the [CC Shop] for the first time.

“You have something that expensive and you’re not even in a sect?” Sun-Mae stared at him in disbelief.

“I have some skills in alchemy,” Wei Feng gave her a faint smile.

“Really?” Sun-Mae grinned hearing that he was skilled in making pills.

“What do you take me for? Someone who will just lay down and die?” Wei Feng teased.

In the right-hand corner of the new screen was the total of coins he currently had next to that was the search bar, categories, and a selling option. In the center was the selection of items in long rectangles that included pictures and descriptions. The overall aesthetic followed the character creation program he had used before coming to this world.

‘I wonder if there is food in this shop,’ Wei Feng thought to himself and immediately the category changed to food.

Suddenly there was a whole new selection in the center of the screen. There were nourishment supplements and after that several foods made from cultivation ingredients. 

“How about some nourishment supplements?” Wei Feng asked, considering out of everything it was the cheapest item for one crystal coin.

Pursing her lips at the question, “It sounds like you’re giving me a choice… Just how much junk you got?” She leaned towards him, curiously eying the ring as to her it didn’t look like he was using it normally.

“Uh… Not much in particular,” Wei Feng responded with a slow exhale, purchasing one of the supplements as he did. 

Reaching over to his ring, Wei Feng withdrew the supplement that had the appearance of a little yellow pill. Without question or thought, he popped it into his mouth and gave it a chew. 

Sun-Mae held out a hand as if saying, “Where’s mine?”

Rolling his eyes, Wei Feng chuckled and bought another supplement and dropped it into her hand. “Enjoy,” he grinned.

Sun-Mae eyed the yellow pill and brought it to her lips, poking it with her tongue. Blinking at the taste, she slipped the item into her mouth before chewing it herself. “Did you make these?”

“Why, you like them?” Wei Feng continued going through the shopping interface.

“Not particularly, no,” Sun-Mae muttered dryly as her senses began to scrutinize their surroundings.

It was strange, the sound of bugs and wild-life had suddenly gone away. There were no crickets chirping and no small birds in the trees. That was until the ground shook so very faintly that both of them hardly noticed it, but it was enough to briefly obscure their balance.

“Small earthquake?” Wei Feng looked to his feet as he came to a stop, staring at a caterpillar that whilst alive wasn’t going to move. Though come to think of it, the creature was quite small.

“I can sense something…” Sun-Mae peered over toward a collection of trees. “From the West?” Squinting her eyelids, she held her sword out to her side. “I think we might have to make a run for it, you’re no match for any of the mystical beasts in this forest.”

“You are though, aren’t you?” Wei Feng raised a brow as he stared at her.

“Ye...Yes, I am...”  Sun-Mae hesitantly turned to face him again, “You don’t want to run?”

“Not particularly,” Wei Feng didn’t share the fear of death. If anything, he had been twiddling his thumbs and waiting for it to take him away from his life of pain. The only thing he cared about was choosing when and how he went out. That was something that the character creation demo had taken away from him.

Sun-Mae went to open her mouth, only to say nothing as he spoke.

“You want me as your protege, no?” Wei Feng pointed out, “We’ll fight it.”

“A beast core would be beneficial to you, wouldn’t it?” She raised a brow at Wei Feng, knowing what the answer was, but he nodded anyway.

Looking over the store page as he changed the category to beast cores, his eyes widened. These things were more expensive than any of the food items, considering their high Qi density. Each one was 250 crystal coins and above the higher, the quality went. Legendary cores were actually locked from being purchased without being a particular cultivation stage.

“Well, do you see what it is yet?” Wei Feng subtly moved behind her as if using her for protection.

“It’s a Spider of some sort… It’s moving quickly,” Sun-Mae announced with her head cocked to the side, listening for what was coming.

“That’s… That’s definitely not going to be fun,” Wei Feng hadn't even formed his core yet, he really was no real match for this thing. 

Pulling up his [Cultivation] menu, his eyes darted over the information that had appeared. Along with his spiritual roots, the other realms were all listed outright. The first two stages were complete, but the Core Formation Stage hadn’t even begun. The Qi Condensing Stage had only been 15,000 total experience points(EXP) and the Condensed Qi Foundation Stage was 30,000 EXP. In order to completely surpass the minor, median, and major levels of the next stage he needed 45,000 EXP. After that, in order to break into the Silver Core Foundation Stage Wei Feng needed 60,000 EXP.

‘So every stage has an additional fifteen thousand experience cost…’ Wei Feng sucked on his lower lip as he thought out the mathematics of the costs to come.

Moving the menu aside, he opened the shop again and searched for experience granting items. Or other cultivation items such as the beast cores. Whilst the high-quality items were the first things that came up, he changed the display to show the cheapest first.

Narrowing his gaze on the top two, as the advancement of the spider’s legs could be heard rapidly approaching, Wei Feng scoffed at himself. Considering he bought those supplements for one coin each, he could only buy nine of these enhancement pills.

‘Why didn’t I check the store earlier!?’ A growl remained in his throat, his lips tightly sealed.

---

[ Beginner Augment Pills - 10k Experience - 100 CC - Purchase Unlimited. ]

[ 500 Year Water Viper Core - 50k Experience - 500 CC - Purchase One. ]

---

‘Taking the five hundred year core would dip me into the next stage, it’s not much different from buying the beginner augment pills…’ Wei Feng stared at the information in front of him, ‘But will the pills continue to be purchasable, let alone usable, after I level up?’

There was only so much time for him to decide on his next course action, the spider was almost there before the two of them.

‘I’ve made up my mind,’ Wei Feng didn’t know if there were any adverse effects of absorbing either one. Absorbing too many enhancement pills could cause his body to explode, at least in the back of his mind that was his first thought.

[ Would you like to purchase the 500 Year Water Viper Core? Y / N. ]

[ Notification: This Core will sync with and increase your poison affinity. ]

Nodding in response to the question inquired by the system, Wei Feng watched as his crystal coin total went down to 498. Seeing as the Augment pills were still purchasable, he used four hundred additional coins to purchase 40k Experience worth in pills.  

Without warning, Wei Feng felt Sun-Mae’s hand grasp onto his sleeve,

“What are you doing spacing out right now!?” She shouted in his ear, giving him a light shove as a massive dirt brown colored spider came shuffling out from behind the trees. 

The hairs on its body were like lengthy sharp quills, almost spear-like in functionality. Based on their own heights, it was far larger than them. Wei Feng though could at least relate the spider to around the height of a double-decker bus without its legs. Those thin, death-spikes ended, limbs pierced the ground as it came to a subtle stop with its big black eyes centering on the duo.

“That… Is a massive spider,” Wei Feng muttered as he drew the Water Viper Core from his inventory as he began holding it in his hand. 

Sun-Mae, whose attention was on the spider, hardly even noticed his subtle action. She was taking on a different posture moreover ironically being the Long Fist empty stance. 

Wei Feng rolled the core between his palms, his left hand folding on top with his right hand on the bottom. Closing his eyes, he focused on absorbing the beast core despite the monster being directly ahead.

Sensing the change of energy around her, Sun-Mae glimpsed over towards him and her eyes widened as she snorted, “He had a beast core on him?” 

She murmured under her breath before facing forward as the monster charged, “Should’ve said something, dumbass!”

Springing onto her feet, she moved to meet the massive spider. Its quills gave damp shimmer with its quick movements, toxic green venom dripping from its fangs.

Wei Feng could feel the coolness of water filling his person, a tingling sensation. In his ear the sound of a hissing snake. This core in his hand didn’t want to be taken so easily as if it had a mind of its own. His fingers curled in around the smooth surface of the spherical core, gripping at it harshly. The amount of energy being absorbed intensified several times and the core began to soften between his hands.

When the resonating sound of a blade making contact with the tough leg of the arachnid Wei Feng’s eyes shot open as the beast core was completely absorbed. 

[ Wei Feng has surpassed the Core Formation Minor. ]

[ Wei Feng has surpassed the Core Formation Median. ]

[ Wei Feng has surpassed the Core Formation Major. ]

Without warning his Qi felt like it was going haywire. Yet he fought to stay on his feet as he lost feeling in his legs. Some intense heat was forming in his abdomen feeling the intense buildup of life energy within his dantian. 

Trying to regulate the heat through his meridians across the rest of his body, his brows squeezed together in pain.

“Nnnngh…”

It was a foreign sensation, something he could only relate to swallowing a massive pot of boiling soup. Even then, he didn’t let himself fall to his knees even if he is crippled. 

Then as if the heavens had decided to spare him of death, the intense heat faded and a strange sense of fullness came over him. That wasn’t all that befell him as he could taste a metallic tang in the back of his throat as if he was going to hurl. 

In the next few seconds, the very flavor of metal faded and normalcy retook its place.

“Ah…”

[ Wei Feng has entered the Immortal Realm and Silver Core Foundation Minor. ]

[ Wei Feng gained a new skill: Flight. ]

[ 15,000 EXP remaining to complete Silver Core Foundation Minor. ]

[ Wei Feng, would you like to absorb the augment pills in your item box? Y / N ]

Hesitantly, he nodded as he watched the girl expertly weave her footwork around the spider’s strikes. Her movements were elegant and precise without an inaccuracy, almost as if she were dancing and countering each attempt to impale her.

This monster hissed and pounded at the dirt, kicking up dust with every movement. Sticks, leaves, and rocks were constantly sent soaring through the air. Even with its large thorax 

[ 40,000 EXP gained. Would you like to use it for Qi cultivation? Y / N ]

Wei Feng blinked a few times hearing the question before nodding. He wasn’t quite sure what else experience was used for, but he could only assume it could be used for skills. Otherwise, maybe another area such as physical or magic related training.

At that moment a massive amount of life energy began to swell up inside of him. The fear of exploding from the inside out was greatly encroaching on his mind.

Yet in the next few seconds, nothing happened. Like a warm silky outer layer, the energy surrounded him. With just a little concentration, the Qi was slowly pulled back inside his body and another series of notifications from the system pinged.

[ Silver Core Foundation Stage Minor and Median surpassed. ]

[ 15,000 EXP remaining to complete Silver Core Foundation Major. ]

Drawing his sword from the scabbard at his side, Wei Feng ran towards the spider with his weapon held out from his side. 

Despite how long they had been on the move, running to him felt great. Each ache that ran through the arch of his foot filled him with determination to push forward. 

‘I’m going to help kill this thing!’ Wei Feng already set his eyes on this creature that was so much more powerful than him. As he closed its abdomen with it’s back to him, just as he was in range he leaped from the leaf sown ground. Bringing his sword above his head, he swiftly swung his broadsword in a single descending strike.

Like a disposable plastic knife against a tough strip of leather, his attack barely even grazed the monster. It didn’t even take its attention off of Sun-Mae and incidentally bumped him back as she continued with a frontal assault.

“REeeEEEEEEEeeeeEEEeeEEEeeeeeeE!” The Spider exploded in fury, spitting green volatile fluid in Sun-Mae’s general direction. The liquid went coating the leaves that were left in her place as she spun out of the way, steam raising from them shortly after.

“Acidic? No… Heated.” Wei Feng observed the attack, before looking towards his hand and then towards the abdomen. With all the movement, the Spider’s rear waved about up in his face, but it didn’t at all faze him before he jumped again; climbing on its back.

Seeing Wei Feng as a little less than a snack, the spider focused on the human girl who’s Qi was much larger than his own. 

“Wei Feng you idiot! That’s dangerous, get down from there!”

“Its heart is up here!” Wei Feng retorted as he was practically riding the back of the spider’s backside like that of a wild bull. All the while he also kept trying to dig the edge of his sword into the chitin carapace of the spider, failing to make a meaningful puncture.

“Huh!?” Sun-Mae gasped out loud hearing him as if he had said something outlandish.

The spider’s heart was pounding beneath him. All he had to do was penetrate the surface and this creature was to die. 

‘Why won’t my blade reach its target!?’ Wei Feng fumed in the back of his mind.

[ Concentrate your Qi through your weapon to increase effectiveness. ]

Parting his lips Wei Feng began to do just that, as if meditating, in the middle of combat. As it came naturally, he channeled his energy into the tip of his weapon. 

Putting more and more pressure on his weapon, the spider began to reel back as he caught its attention. The creature scurried about the forest grounds, punching holes in innocent trees. It couldn’t reach him at all!

[ New Qi technique discovered by Wei Feng: Augment Damage ]

[ New Qi technique discovered by Wei Feng: Cutting Aura Slash ]

Sun-Mae hopped onto the face of her sword and immediately soared low to the ground.

By then Wei Feng’s blade was slowly inching its way into the exoskeleton. The furs poking and prodding at his legs as they bucked to and fro. Like little needles the individual hairs pulled at his clothes causing mild discomfort.

“Hold on!” She shouted, but right as they locked eyes she knew what he wanted. His plan was simple and to the point. The heart was on the spider’s abdomen, a large target. 

There was no way he was strong enough to effectively damage the monster. Soaring towards the target like a leaf on the wind, Sun-Mae leaped from her weapon. 

Her action caused the spider to rear back, lifting its front four legs in defense and leaving its underbelly wide open. It wanted to catch her in the act before it could get anywhere near the weakling on its abdomen. The hidden jaws of the beast snapped haphazardly as its fangs flexed ready for a quick lung.

An attack from three fronts: behind, above, and beneath kept the beast distracted. As it tucked its abdomen under to fire a web-like substance similar to a turret, her blade at high speeds ran through the chitin of its head. Cutting through, the blade first pierced the creature’s venom sack behind its eyes before poking its tip into the brain.

The spider screeched in pain, moving so widely as to throw Wei Feng off its back and into the air directly into Sun-Mae. 

Without question, the two of them tumbled through the air and crashed into the ground. Despite being weaker than her, Wei Feng had epically wrapped his arms around her and twisted his body through the air. By the time their subtle thud emanated across the forest floor, he was on his back having cushioned her landing.

“Oooof!”

“You idiot…” Sun-Mae spat under her breath as her face was planted in his chest.

The spider was blindly running about with its ocular nerves severed. Venom from its own body was affecting its brain directly. Even from where they lay, the duo could see venom trickling down from the sword hilt protruding from beneath.

“Just because you suddenly broke through into the immortal realm, doesn’t mean you can just take on a spider this powerful!” She flicked his forehead as she straddled over his waist.

“Ow! You bit–!”

“You have two more stages before you can feasibly harm a two thousand year spider,” She flicked him again, but this time with a lightning infused Qi, causing him to thrash his arms about in the leaves beneath him.

As she slipped off of him, Wei Feng groaned as he regained his faculties. Just as she went to offer a hand, he narrowed his eyes on her. 

“Take my hand and get out of the dirt,” Sun-Mae huffed as the spider ran into a tree, knocking the obstacle to the ground with impressive force.

“Do you think he heard the fight going on?” Wei Feng reminded her of the old man who was after his jade ring and had killed her friends.

“Now’s not the time,” Sun-Mae quietly growled as she reasserted her offer of a hand.

Wei Feng could feel his spirit root tingling within him as if something had been supercharged. He blinked several times to clear away the haloes that formed from her rather shocking actions.

Pulling up the store page once more, he searched for some new skills in his price range.

 

---

[ Six Viper Fang Spirit Dance Form - 25 CC - Curiosity ]

[ Lost Triple Element Arts- 35 CC - Curiosity ]

[ Shaolin Iron Fist - Upgrade II - 450 EXP - Curiosity ]

[ Flaming Poison Needle Style - 45 CC - Determination ]

[ Five Elements Interchanging Arts - 65 CC - Growth ]

---

Wei Feng gawked at the first four. Oddly enough he had completely forgotten about the Iron First from the Shoilin form of Long Fist Style. 

There seemed to be over a dozen different grades of skills, the lowest being Curiosity and second-lowest being Determination. The higher the skill path, the greater the cost. Those which were already purchased also seemed to cost EXP rather than crystal coins.

The thought of upgrading the Iron First didn’t go too over his head. A single punch was powerful enough as it was infused with Qi. Now if he were to continue upgrading the Shaolin technique, punching someone with an Iron Fist was comparable to killing a monster in one hit. 

There was also that Five Elements Interchanging Arts, out of all of them it appeared to be above Curiosity and Growth grades. From what the name suggested, it combined all five of the elements he gained during character creation: Wind, Fire, Lightning, Metal, and Poison into a singular unique path.

From what Wei Feng could see, the first few grades were based on Kung Fu belts. Considering it was a Chinese Cultivation realm, it made sense.

Focusing on the Viper Fang Spirit Dance, a description appeared as warranted.

[ The Six Viper Fang Spirit Dance Form | This martial form was an offensive-defensive skill path that conjured a (serpentine) familiar from the user’s spirit root’s (poison) Qi. Although it is a Curiosity grade, continuous upgrades of this form can increase its grade well above Blue Soul Grade. Overuse of this form can cause mild mutations in the user related to the Viper. ]

“Mild mutations…” Wei Feng uttered under his breath, seemingly annoyed by the warning.

Still, Wei Feng bought both the Six Viper Fang Spirit Dance Form and the Five Elements Interchanging Arts. Based on these two paths he chose to purchase, he knew that he could easily become formidable against those stronger than himself. At least within the same realm as himself, if not one above. Even then, he was nothing compared to an Elder with his current stats.

“Come back to reality, idiot, stop talking to yourself!” Sun-Mae grabbed Wei Feng’s hand and involuntarily dragged him to his feet with a swift whoosh of movement.

Her attempt to keep holding on was futile. Underestimating her strength, she sent him shuffling past her in an awkward manner to his step. It appeared that from the force behind the tug of her hand Wei Feng had indeed easily slipped from her hold. 

After a few steps, he caught himself from fall as he turned to her with brows raised, “You’re pretty strong!”

“Really? You think so?” Sun-Mae slyly grinned as she pulled back her right sleeve and flexed.

Wei Feng gave her this smug little look which wiped that cleverness away right off her face. 

“Don’t try to flatter me!” Sun-Mae shoved her sleeve back down, “It won’t get you anywhere!”

“Huh? So you’re the tsundere-type,” Wei Feng pursed his lips in self-content.

An unexpected racket emanated from the forest as a tree had collapsed upon the spider.

Listening to the spider’s blind screeching it prompted a shiver to go down his spine from the sheer intensity of the pitch. Wei Feng turned his head to look at the poor thing as it flailed its pointed limbs. He then glanced to the ground to see his sword was beside Sun-Mae and himself on the ground. Raising a brow, he leaned down and picked up the weapon before returning it to his side. 

Stepping toward the spider, Wei Feng then suddenly felt Sun-Mae’s fingers curl around the back of his collar to stop him in his tracks. “What’s the big–”

“This young one seems so carefree,” Old Man Wang came stepping out from behind the fallen tree that kept the spider trap. “To think you were going to run off with my prize.”

“Ravenous Elder! Aren’t you already well off? Go find someone else to thieve from,” Sun-Mae roared as the short hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

“Now, now! Watch your tongue little rat, before I tear it out.” Old Man Wang snapped as a wave of killing intent washed over the duo nearly freezing them in place.

Despite her body telling her not to, Sun-Mae spouted as if flexing her minuscule power against someone much larger than herself. “You bullied our weaker sect and killed those who were beneath you! All will know of your evil deeds!” 

“You are looking for death, young lady!” Old Wang jeered as he pulled his sword free from his side, ready to attack at his leisure for he believed there was no escape for his targets.

Sighing as Wei Feng took out his escape talisman, Wei Feng draped an arm around Sun-Mae’s waist. “Do you trust me?”

Almost instinctively stepping away from him, she forced herself to stay seeing what was in his hand. He had another expensive escape talisman that he could use at his leisure.

“No,” Sun-Mae breathed quietly as she watched the old man from the corner of her eye.

“Ah,” Wei Feng nodded lightly, “That’s too bad then.”

Just then Old Wang momentarily vanished only to reappear directly in front of them. 

In that same instance, Wei Feng went about tearing the talisman in half. Unlike last time as he had activated it differently, a flash of bright blinding light overtook both of them and as the light cleared they were gone.

All that remained were their footprints in the damp soil of the forest undergrowth.

“How did he get his hands on so many of those precious amulets!?” Growled the old man as he rubbed his eyes, glaring at where they once stood while he kicked his foot at the dirt.

“Tch. Elder Wang, I can’t believe you’re wasting your time chasing children,” A woman abruptly snorted as she stood above him on a branch of a large tree.

“Silence, Elder Xia,” Wang barked at the woman who had spoken down to him. 

Dressed in the same colors as the old man, the one addressed as Elder Xia had long snow-white hair and a youthful face. A conniving grin resting on her thin lips and a small glossy shine to her pointed nose. 

“You dare silence me you old coon!?” Elder Xia snapped her finger at him.

Shaking his head with an eye roll, old man Wang scoffed, “You’re a hundred years older than I! You petulant hag!”

Elder Xia hopped off of the branch with such swiftness, the leaves raised from the ground a few seconds after she landed beside him. “So,” she dusted her outer skirt off with her hands, “Why are you hunting rats?”

“That boy,” Wang grumbled, “Had a legendary spatial ring in his possession.”

“Boy? Weren’t they both boys?” Elder Xia blinked at the man’s claim as she cupped her chin in her hand. “Neither of them were wearing skirts.”

“It was the Winter Rat Sect’s rumored whimsy-genius disciple,” Wang folded his arms into his sleeves after combing his fingers through his majestic beard.

Elder Xia raised a brow at the information, “Is that so…”

“And the boy in blue claimed to be an associate of the Eternal Dragon Sect… His name was Wei Feng,” Wang lowered his head as he looked down at the smaller woman.

“Wei Feng?” The older woman nodded slowly to the information, “Is the Winter Rat Sect courting death? They dare kidnap the missing child of the Eternal Dragon Sect?”

“From what I could see, it was not the girl who had taken him but the boy who had taken her.” Wang referred to when they had escaped a few seconds ago, his eyes drifted towards the struggling spider as he did.

“Then perhaps the Winter Rat Sect is forming a blood alliance with the Eternal Dragon…?” Elder Xia, too, narrowed her eyes on the struggling beast as it ceased moving.

“Where do you think they’ve gone?” Wang peered to the heavens barely lifting his head.

Peering at the empty footprints, Xia sighed. “An escape talisman…? That could be anywhere within ten kilometers, if not twenty, depending on the grade.”

“Then there is a possibility they landed in the burrow,” Old Wang surmised.

Elder Xia whacked him over the head with her sleeve.

“What the hell was that for!?” Old Wang raised his arms to defend his head.

“You let them get gone on purpose! Why else would I hit you?” Elder Xia threw her hands in the air because of his incompetence. 

“Enough with the baseless accusations!” Old Wang clenched his teeth grinding them together. “Let’s just head back to the Sect and get things organized before it’s too late.”

“Grand Master Wu might be able to arrange a meeting with the Eternal Dragon Sect before the Winter Rat Sect does,” Elder Xia suggested ambitiously. 

“We’ll be able to affirm that boy’s identity as well,” Old Wang nodded before both of them used their powers to teleport far west of the forest.