The two masters finally stopped flying and landed on the ground of the forest. Those with higher cultivation landed perfectly while many stumbled or even fell flat on their faces, which was true for at least half of the outer disciples there. Wu LiJing elegantly landed on her toes first, making her resemble a floating feather before her whole feet touched the ground. Many were in awe as they watched her while some looked with envious eyes.
But Wu LiJing ignored all gazes and simply turned to look at Wu QiaoHua who landed safely, only stumbling a little alongside her friends. She then turned her attention back to the two masters who finally told them to gather and taught them basic survival skills. The sun was already halfway up in the sky when they were done.
Master Lu then took out a scroll hidden in his long sleeve. It had a special symbol drawn onto it. "Be ready everyone!" He concentrated a great amount of inner chi into the scroll and the symbol activated, releasing a blue light. It was only a moment before the large group of people vanished and appeared inside another forest. Everyone was confused because the scenery didn’t seem to have changed much… with only an abundant number of trees still surrounding them.
“Are we in the right place?”
“All I see are green trees and grass... I can't tell the difference…”
“Wow, that was so fast! Did you feel the energy that enveloped us? Master Lu is great…”
Wu LiJing looked for the marks made by their sect and saw a cross on a tree. “We're here,” she finally spoke after all this time and everyone also looked for the mark that would clarify they had arrived at the right place.
Lu HongHou put the scroll back into his sleeve and released a breath. Ruan FuPing glanced at Lu HongHou who didn't have a drop of sweat on his forehead and grinned. “I have to admit, I am amazed every time you use that scroll.” It was no easy feat to transport more than one hundred people from one place to another and in that distance too.
Lu HongHou smiled arrogantly. “Of course.”
Ruan FuPing turned to the disciples who were curiously looking around. “You disciples are going to be in groups of five people, consisting of three outer disciples and two inner disciples. You must work and help each other out during these four days and collect six different types of herbs. It doesn't matter what type. The inner disciples are to lead the way and help outer disciples. Once we return, you will report what happened within the forest regarding what you did and what your teammates did in order to complete your tasks. The top three groups that perform best will be rewarded when we return."
He turned to Wu LiJing and gestured towards her, knowing she didn't like talking in front of crowds so he informed them of her role for her.
"Your Eldest Senior Sister will be in charge of going around and observing you all in case anything happens. Master Lu and I will also be in the forest, ready to aid anyone who gets injured. If anyone is put in grave danger, remember to press the white pendant we passed you this morning because it will notify us of your immediate location. If anyone becomes injured and needs to leave, Master Lu can take you out with his transportation scroll." For Master Lu, as long as he has been in a precise location, he can transport himself back. Therefore, he wouldn’t have trouble entering the forest even after it vanishes, making the disciples feel more secure.
Though not deadly, this test could be dangerous, which is the reason why only select disciples could take this test. Those who were below mid-stage of the second tier had to stay behind because not only would they have trouble defending themselves but may even bring their teammates down.
Others who didn’t have to attend were those who were currently out of the sect or had a high enough cultivation level that going in didn't matter. Many of the masters’ main disciples, for example, had no need to take this test. So if the masters didn’t think it was necessary to test a disciple, they wouldn’t have to take it. This test was meant more as a way for their Moon Sect disciples to gain more experience and utilize what they have learned.
"It is crucial that you avoid other cultivators," the handsome master’s voice turned grave, "There is a chance other cultivators are already inside. Perhaps another sect decided to enter this forest today or a dangerous figure entered to find something - who knows. If fighting occurs, defend yourselves and escape and call for help should your life be in danger." Then he smiled. "But well, what's the chance that you would meet an evil cultivator who had murdered countless others in there? Haha. Just try to be safe and take precautions." He laughed at his joke but everyone else just swallowed their saliva silently.
Lu HongHou raised an eyebrow. "If they fight others, they should win! Show them that our sect isn't one to be lightly stepped on!" He pumped a fist up.
Master Ruan turned to Wu LiJing and said in a respectful tone, "Wu LiJing, please help look after the disciples."
She nodded. "Mm. Don't worry, Master Ruan." She was also worried about Wu QiaoHua. But she noticed that QiaoHua had already made a group with her friends who had a similar cultivation level as her, so she was slightly relieved.
Her master told her to look after the disciples while he was gone but his real purpose was to have her retrieve a specific herb from here: the Red Rosemary. Other masters would ask their disciples to grab useful plants that would aid in their cultivation. But she still could remember Sect Master Wang’s gentle tone:
"I really wanted to personally look after my sect disciples too. But I need to leave. So while you look after them, can you bring back a special herb?"
"There’s an herb in the forest that would help with your cultivation?" Wu LiJing raised an eyebrow. Her master was already way past the Immortal Realm. There was no way an herb in there would be helpful now.
Wang WeiYue smiled and shook his head. He laughed. "Haha, no! Of course not! However, I've been having a heartache lately." He sighed and rubbed his chest.
Wu LiJing frowned when she heard that and wondered if she should inform Sect Master He.
"It was He YuHuan! She knew how it would affect me but still told me of a secret ingredient that would enhance the flavor of my new tea! I have to try it out or this heartache won't go away!"
Wu LiJing was left speechless once more by her master but quickly adapted and nodded. "Alright master. But do I get a reward in return?" After all, she could be spending that time cultivating instead of getting this herb that was practically useless.
"You would've gone even if I didn't tell you to," he said with an eye roll. "I know you would be too worried about your cousin to just let her go in alone. And I’ll even let you try my tea with this enhancing herb! That should be reward enough." He smiled, probably already thinking about the taste of his tea once he uses that herb.
Wu LiJing shook her head with a sigh and her attention went to the disciples who entered, one group at a time by holding hands. Once they pass the border, they would be thrown into a random place in the forest. Her gaze fell on Wu QiaoHua, who was still walking forwards with her team. She walked over to QiaoHua and handed her a small hairpin. The disciples around her looked at the hairpin curiously.
“If you’re in danger, break this. I’ll come to you immediately.” She had inserted some of her inner chi inside the hairpin. It will help LiJing feel where QiaoHua is.
Wu QiaoHua nodded and smiled. “Mm. Thank you, Eldest Senior Sister.”
“Be careful.”
LiJing watched as QiaoHua disappeared. She looked around and saw that more than half already entered. Master Lu stayed behind to make sure everyone was in before he entered. So she took a step into the border.
Once both of her feet crossed over, her surroundings suddenly changed. She was still surrounded by trees, however she noticed the extra silence that contained no sounds of birds or even insects; the trees looked more alive, with wet green moss growing everywhere: on branches, trunks, the ground; and some of the trees were also weirdly shaped, bending at different angles and of different sizes - a sign that she was now in the Disappearing Forest.
Wu LiJing secured her hold on her sword and calmly walked forwards. She should first obtain the Red Rosemary before she goes to QiaoHua. Her master said it should grow in bunches and look like a bush, with each stem having small dark green leaves and have tiny red flowers growing at the tip, only having three petals each. She took out a small drawing that she copied from a book, scanned the outline of the flower, and then put it back.
Wu LiJing heightened her senses as she walked and observed her surroundings. After a while, she saw a few monkey beasts but they did not attack her, only staying in the trees. She also spotted a few small beasts scattered around, guarding stalks of herbs that wouldn’t be of use to her. As she walked, she suddenly saw a large apple tree not far from her and decided to walk towards it. Oddly enough, she had observed other monkeys eating apples but saw no apple tree until now.
One monkey was sitting on top, crunching with its jaws as it took a bite of the red apple in its hands. She slowed her pace when she neared and stared at the monkey for a moment before she reached out her hand to grab an apple, not letting her sight off the monkey.
Since the monkey did not attack and only stared back at her, she let out a breath and picked an apple, smelling it first. It smelled fresh and the monkey looked fine after eating them, so she took a bite. She let the first bite stay in her mouth for a moment before she swallowed it. It was a very delicious apple, tasting very sweet with not even a twinge of sourness to it. She smiled and glanced at the red monkey.
“I am just going to grab a few for my cousin,” she said. Then she grabbed four apples and put it in her sleeve. “Many thanks for sharing,” she said with a nod before she turned around.
After only taking a few steps, she felt something hard underneath the soles of her shoes - she paused. She lifted her foot and looked down. It was a dagger… She picked it up. The handle was black with a unique graving of an iris on the blade.
She noticed a few more of the same daggers lying on the ground a few spaces away from her, somewhat buried in the grass. They were of high quality and looked quite new. She frowned and looked back at the monkey that was clearly not paying attention to her, chewing a new apple. Her eyes narrowed and she went on her way.
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