Published at 23rd of September 2024 9:59 am

Chapter 10: The Call to Arms

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Wei Long returned to town under the dim light of the moon, his clothes stained with the blood of the demonic beast. His mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead. The threat was real, and the town was far more vulnerable than anyone realized. War wasn’t just on the horizon—it was already here, lurking in the shadows. And the demonic beasts, drawn by the chaos, were only the beginning.

As he approached Mayor Yuan’s estate, Wei Long was greeted by the sight of guards patrolling the perimeter. Their eyes widened when they saw him, clearly noticing his battle-worn state. One of the guards rushed to inform the mayor, and moments later, Wei Long was ushered into the study.

Mayor Yuan looked up from his desk, his face pale with concern. “You’ve returned,” he said, standing from his chair. “What did you find?”

“A demonic beast,” Wei Long replied, his voice steady. “It was strong, but I managed to kill it. There’s no doubt—the beasts are being drawn here, likely by the unrest in the eastern regions. If we don’t prepare, more will come.”

The mayor’s face darkened, his fingers drumming on the desk in a steady rhythm. “So the rumors are true. We’ve heard of skirmishes between the larger sects, but if demonic beasts are involved… this could escalate far beyond what we’re prepared for.”

Wei Long nodded. “We need to fortify the town, strengthen the defenses. And I need to grow stronger. I’ll continue my cultivation, but we can’t do this alone. If the sects are truly on the brink of war, we’ll need allies.”

Mayor Yuan’s eyes narrowed as he considered Wei Long’s words. “Allies… I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but you’re right. We can’t afford to be isolated. I’ve already sent word to nearby towns, warning them of the threat. But we’ll need something more—something that can draw powerful sects to our side.”

“What do you have in mind?” Wei Long asked.

“The Silverleaf Ginseng you’ve been growing,” the mayor said, his tone thoughtful. “If it’s as valuable as the merchant says, it could be our bargaining chip. The larger sects covet rare spiritual herbs for their own cultivation. If we can offer them a steady supply, they might be willing to protect us.”

Wei Long’s mind raced. The Silverleaf Ginseng was valuable, but it wasn’t enough. If the town was going to survive the coming storm, they would need something even more powerful. And for that, Wei Long would need to accelerate his cultivation—quickly.

“I can grow more than just Silverleaf,” Wei Long said, his voice calm but firm. “I’ve already started planting other rare crops. But that will take time, and we don’t have much. I’ll need to reach a higher level of cultivation if I’m going to protect this town.”

Mayor Yuan nodded gravely. “Time is something we can’t afford to waste. The town will need every advantage it can get. But cultivation is a slow process, even for someone with your talent. How do you plan to grow stronger in such a short time?”

Wei Long thought for a moment, then spoke. “There’s a technique—an ancient one—that allows a cultivator to accelerate their growth by drawing on the energy of the land around them. I’ve felt it in the fields, through the crops I’ve grown. It’s risky, but if I can master it, I might be able to advance faster than normal.”

The mayor raised an eyebrow. “Risky how?”

“It draws heavily on the body’s strength,” Wei Long explained. “If I’m not careful, it could damage my foundation. But if I succeed, it could push me to the next stage of cultivation in a matter of weeks.”

Mayor Yuan’s expression was thoughtful, but concern flickered in his eyes. “You’re taking a great risk, Wei Long. But I trust your judgment. If you believe this is the best course, I won’t stop you. Just be careful—this town can’t afford to lose you.”

Wei Long nodded. “I’ll do what I must. But in the meantime, you should prepare the town’s defenses. We don’t know how long we have before the next attack.”

_______________________________________________________________

The next few days passed in a blur of activity. The town began fortifying its walls, the guards training for battle, while Wei Long secluded himself in his fields, meditating and tending to his crops. The energy of the land flowed through him, but this time, he wasn’t just nurturing the plants—he was drawing on their energy, pulling it into his core as he prepared to accelerate his cultivation.

The technique he had spoken of was ancient, passed down through obscure texts he had studied during his time as a wandering cultivator. It required not just spiritual strength, but an intimate connection to the land. Wei Long had spent years honing that connection, learning the rhythms of the earth, the flow of energy through the crops. Now, it was time to put that knowledge to use.

Sitting cross-legged in the center of his field, Wei Long began the process. He closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing, feeling the pulse of the earth beneath him. Slowly, he extended his spiritual senses, connecting with the plants around him, feeling their energy as it flowed through their roots, into the soil, and then into him.

At first, it was a gentle trickle, a soft hum of energy flowing into his core. But as he deepened his focus, the flow intensified, becoming a torrent of power that surged through his body. Wei Long gritted his teeth, forcing himself to remain calm as the energy threatened to overwhelm him. His muscles ached, his bones groaned under the strain, but he didn’t stop.

He couldn’t stop.

His cultivation base began to expand, the spiritual energy within him growing stronger, more concentrated. His core glowed with a faint, golden light, pulsing in time with the energy of the land. The pain was immense, but Wei Long pushed through it, knowing that this was the only way to grow stronger in time to face the coming threat.

Hours passed, and finally, when he could bear no more, Wei Long released the technique. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, his body trembling with exhaustion. But as he lay there, he could feel the change. His cultivation had advanced. He wasn’t at the next stage yet, but he was closer—so much closer.

And he knew that with a few more sessions, he would break through.

_______________________________________________________________

A week later, as Wei Long continued to strengthen himself, the first signs of unrest appeared.

The eastern horizon was tinged with smoke, and word reached the town that a group of bandits had attacked a nearby village, burning it to the ground. The town’s guards were on high alert, patrolling the walls day and night, but the tension in the air was palpable.

One evening, as Wei Long was returning from his fields, he spotted a group of strangers entering the town. They were dressed in travel-worn robes, their faces hard with the strain of a long journey. But it was their auras that caught his attention—each of them radiated a powerful spiritual energy, far beyond that of an ordinary traveler.

These were cultivators.

Wei Long approached cautiously, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “Who are you?” he called out, his voice calm but commanding.

One of the strangers, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward. “We’re here on behalf of the Jade Serpent Sect,” he said, his voice low and gravelly. “We’ve heard rumors of demonic beasts and unrest in this region. We’ve come to investigate.”

Wei Long’s heart quickened. The Jade Serpent Sect was one of the most powerful sects in the eastern regions, known for their mastery of both martial and spiritual arts. If they were here, it meant the situation was even more serious than he had imagined.

But it also meant that the town had caught the attention of powerful allies.

“You’re welcome here,” Wei Long said carefully, eyeing the group. “But I should warn you—the danger is very real. Demonic beasts have been sighted in the forest, and there are whispers of war between the sects.”

The scarred man nodded grimly. “That’s exactly why we’re here. We’ve been tracking the movements of the beasts, and they’re converging on this region. We believe something—someone—is drawing them here.”

Wei Long’s mind raced. Could it be the sect conflict? Or was there something even darker at play?

“Whatever it is,” Wei Long said, meeting the man’s gaze, “we need to be ready.”

The man’s expression softened slightly, a flicker of respect in his eyes. “You’re strong for someone so young. But strength alone won’t be enough. If we’re going to survive what’s coming, we’ll need to work together.”

Wei Long nodded. “Agreed.”

And with that, the town’s fate was sealed.

The war was coming.

Share