Wu QiaoHua had been silent the whole time, just listening but also feeling irritated as she looked at Yu Yuan and her friends with a glare. "My cousin could easily beat your sister with her skills alone. Only people full of jealousy would deny the truth and would say otherwise." She didn't like creating trouble, but she can't just stand when others are bad-mouthing her cousin!
Yu Yuan grinded her teeth. Then she smirked. "Wu QiaoHua, don't look so conceited. The one who was recognized may not be my sister, but you as well. Without your cousin, you're nothing! How long did it take you to finally become an inner disciple? Without Wu LiJing's help, you would've been stuck being an outer disciple your whole life!" Then she flipped her hair and walked away before Wu QiaoHua could retort. Those who heard their conversation didn't care to butt in or say anything, only watching the drama with side eyes.
Wu QiaoHua glared harder at their backs, fuming angrily, "That's not true!"
"That's too much," Xin Mei said with a scowl.
Wei SuSu frowned but she quickly tried to calm Wu QiaoHua and gently patted her back. "QiaoHua, don't let what they said get to you. They're just trying to hurt you." However, inside Wei SuSu knew that those words were partly true. That was why she couldn't deny them.
Wei SuSu knew Wu QiaoHua trained when she could. However, even Wei SuSu had to say she put in much more effort and was just as talented as Wu QiaoHua, yet she was still one stage lower than Wu QiaoHua. There was no denying Wu QiaoHua was able to reach the level she was currently in because of the herbs Wu LiJing provided her with.
Xin Mei glanced at Wu QiaoHua and cleared her throat. "It's okay. Next time, we'll show them what's up." A few cultivators also came and comforted Wu QiaoHua after everything ended.
Wu QiaoHua was a little angry, but she tried to show a smile and nodded, feeling better with the comforting words. Though, she can't help but still feel a small sting in her heart and clenched her hands. She would show them during this test!
In front of the disciples who were still engaged in excited discussions, the two master's finally came to a conclusion. "Fine," Master Ruan finally said with a regretful sigh. "Only the late-comers would be punished."
Fu LiJing turned to the masters. "Masters, we should leave. I believe everyone is finally here. If anyone is missing, they don't have to come anymore. This test clearly isn't important enough to them if they're not here by this time," she stated calmly.
The two masters nodded and the disciples gulped.
"We need to fly out into the forest to learn a few basic survival skills before we leave using a transportation scroll," Master Lu said. He was talking about the forest surrounding their sect.
The Moon Sect resided inside the Silver Forest, a forest abundant with spiritual energy, especially during the night when the moon becomes visible. The Silver Forest is a normal forest besides the fact that its tree leaves turn silver when moonlight is reflected against them. The trees have also found a way to absorb the energy from the moonlight through its leaves, creating an ideal environment constantly surrounded with fresh spiritual energy - thus, was a reason for the first sect master to build the Moon Sect there.
Master Lu's strict eyes scanned the disciples. "Remember what I taught you regarding inner chi and concentrate." They had to make sure everyone could at least fly first before they left since this skill could be very useful in finding their way again should they get lost within the Disappearing Forest.
When everyone heard, some were confident while the newer disciples were nervous. Slowly, everyone eventually flew using their inner chi. During the first few months of entering the sect, one of the first things that are taught to the disciples is how to use their inner chi to fly. It can be quite hard for those who have a harder time expanding their chi or controlling it, so it takes practice.
Some were able to use it easily while others found it harder but were able to persevere as they flew at a moderate pace. Most of the disciples taking this test have been in the sect for at least three years; if they weren't able to fly, then it would mean they did not practice hard enough with the amount of resources and time they were given.
Cultivators skilled in using this flying technique could control the speed in which they travel, meaning those who have mastered it could easily increase their speed exponentially. For Wu LiJing, using this technique was as easy as breathing since she had to use it frequently, having to travel to different places.
Wu LiJing observed the disciples and nodded inside. It seems almost everyone has been practicing hard. She glanced at Wu QiaoHua and showed a small smile. Wu QiaoHua was flying with ease, though she was a bit unstable at first.
Master Ruan suddenly asked as they were flying, "Do you all know about the Disappearing Forest?"
The disciples looked at each other and everyone nodded.
"Master Ruan, wasn't this forest found a few hundred years ago and have been frequently used as a testing and training ground for multiple sects because of its unending resources and beasts?" one cultivator answered.
The master nodded. "Yes. As you all know, the Disappearing Forest vanishes once every thirty days, for three days before it reappears again. This time, we are entering on the thirtieth day and will stay inside for four days, only able to exit once the forest reappears. It is important to note that once the forest vanishes, the inside will change, and not only will the amount of beasts increase, so will their strength and ferocity. You will only deal with small beasts today, but tomorrow and the following two days will be different."
"Since the Disappearing Forest also grows many types of herbs and resources within it, a reason towards its well-known location, whatever you are able to salvage, is yours. I only warn you," Lu HongHou's eyes narrowed coldly as he scanned their faces, "do not fight amongst yourselves for resources. There are plenty in the forest. If I find out that someone was trying to steal someone else's hard work or tried to attack a fellow comrade, I will deal with you myself when we return to the sect." The disciples shuddered, not wanting to think about the types of punishment that awaits them if they angered their masters.
"You're scaring them again, Lu HongHou," Master Ruan said. "Now, does anyone know more specifically what happens inside the forest once we disappear along with it?"
An outer female cultivator blushed and raised her hand. "I know. I believe the forest then constantly changes and is like a maze, that's why it is easy to get lost inside of it and get isolated, leaving one vulnerable."
Ruan FuPing smiled and nodded, making the female cultivator blush some more. "Right. Cultivators who have entered the forest in the past found out that the inside of the Disappearing Forest is completely different when it vanishes and the danger is heightened. Therefore, we purposely marked the borders of the Disappearing Forest to prevent others from entering by accident. The deeper you enter, the more dangerous it is and the harder it is to find the way back. Will Master Lu HongHou please explain how the herbs and beasts in this zone make it different from other places?"
Lu HongHou rolled his eyes and turned away so Ruan FuPing sighed and continued, "When the forest is normal, various spiritual herbs can be found and small beasts occupy the forest. What is special, however, is that these herbs seem to be able to grow by themselves, yet only a limited amount grow every month and depending on the type of herbs, most are only helpful to those below the Immortal Realm. Many of these herbs are protected by small beasts that only leave once they deem the fighter worthy or once they are defeated. The more special the herb, the stronger the beast. What is mysterious, however, is that these beasts cannot die completely because they get resurrected within a certain amount of time after their death, as if they were never killed to begin with. Therefore, don't be surprised if you encounter the same beast on the same day."
"Master Ruan, then doesn't that create a risk of overpopulation if they cannot be killed?"
Ruan FuPing smiled. "These beasts cannot reproduce when the forest is visible."
"Then what about when the forest is no longer visible?"
Ruan FuPing glanced at Lu HongHou. Lu HongHou scowled and finally explained, "Then it becomes a different story. Not only do the types of beasts change, but the types of herbs do as well. The beasts can be killed but they are more vicious. The types of herbs also level up. Perhaps some of you may even find a few rare stocks if you're lucky." Though it is more dangerous as one dives deeper into the forest, the likelihood of finding a rare herb also increases. It's only a shame most of the herbs would still be useless to those below the Immortal Realm.
Those who weren't as knowledgeable about this zone in the eastern forest suddenly felt nervous. They wondered if they would be able to take this test safely.
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