Purple Night carefully scrutinizes Sifir and the treasures he has recently obtained, among them the luxurious cloak made from golden bear cub fur. The natural color of a Golden Bear cub is a blend of brown fur interspersed with golden hues. A deep crimson hue enveloped the fur, casting a shadow that intensified its natural color. Moreover, Sifir's new shirt caught the eye, its hue a striking crimson. Purple Night squinted, struggling to perceive the faint trace of Sifir's bloodline aura.
"I see those new items must help him conceal his aura. I wonder what else Fall Night is hiding." Purple Night thought to herself. Placing her hand on her chin and pondering for a little bit.
"When did you get that cloak and shirt, Fall Night?" Purple Night said with indifference in her tone.
"Tailor shop, across the third street by low-grade material near the street vendors, Purple Night." Sifir spoke flatly with no emotions.
Purple Night picked up on the Fall Night's voice, and a wicked grin appeared on her face behind her mask. Purple Night put the book away and took out two swift talismans. Giving one to Fall Night and keeping one for herself.
"These are low-grade swift talismans. This should cut down on our time getting to the mountain range. Any questions?"
"No."
"Good. Let's move out."
Purple Night dashes out of the southern gate with the swift talisman. Moving incredibly fast and leaving a few afterimages. Sifir didn't wait either and took off following Purple Night. Not far behind, Death Sword and Jagged departed a few hours later.
While both Purple Night and Sifir were moving through the southern territory of the Midnight clan. Sifir had made a few connections within the Cold Steel City with the Banner of the Crest Palace Pavilion Mistress and a few local vendors that carry rare material. Improving his forces and improving his battle prowess were priorities for Sifir. Like any other big clan or faction, there are many people who have their own agenda and goals.
Purple Night wasn't worried about Death Sword or Jagged falling behind. Since they all could track each other using their masks as tracking beacons. Unknown to Sifir, he was the tracking beacon that all of them could track or other teams under the Elder could track. Just the fact that both Sifir and Purple Night were moving without thinking of their other party members. Time was short, and getting to Twin Moon City in the Everlasting Continent is when their real mission began.
Passing through some small forests, lakes, and a few rivers didn't give Purple Night or Sifir any trouble at all. Being in the open plains of some areas was more troublesome than others. Killing a few groups of bandits also didn't halt their steps in the slightest. While moving, Purple Night took out the map of the area of Midnight Clan territory and saw how close they were to the Seven Elements Peak Mountain Range. Purple Night had to give Sifir a few more swift talismans. To allow Sifir to have the ability to keep up with Purple Night speed when using only one swift talisman.
"Let go slightly east. This should allow us of to get to 1st peak."
Sifir just nodded in agreement with Purple Night. Both of them kept the same speed heading southeast. The closer they got to the mountain range, the more beasts they encountered. Since most of the beasts they encounter were in the peak of the awakening plane,. Sifir didn't even waste his time cutting up beasts. Just only taking beast core.
"We are going to rest tonight before we enter the 1st peak."
"Anything we need to prepare, Purple Night?"
"Of course, you are going to make some food, Fall Night."
Sifir and Purple Night were both resting after their meal. Death Sword and Jagged arrived. Death Sword found himself a spot, and Jagged just stared at Sifir and Death Sword. Jagged also found a spot to rest.
Unlike Sifir and Purple Night, rather smooth travel. Jagged's travel with Death Sword was rather painful, to say the least. Death Sword taught Jagged a few lessons on the way before meeting Sifir and Purple Night.
Death Sword saw Purple Night was engrossed in a small tatted book. Death Sword knew that Purple Night was passionate about talisman crafting and inscription. A book that held Purple Night's interest must be rather unique in some way or another.
"What book are you reading, Purple Night?"
"Oh? Is this a little old thing? Death Sword, it was thanks to Fall Night."
"Fall Night? Ha! That's really funny."
"It is true, Death Sword. Now, the question is, did he give up willingly?" Purple Night giggled.
"Death Sword, I didn't give anything to Purple Night. She took." Sifir said dryly.
"Oh? So, you did take a lost Fall Night? Purple Night, I will have to learn from you." Death Sword stares at Sifir.
"I see, Jagged is awfully quiet. You taught him another lesson, Death Sword?"
"Lesson? No, Purple Night. If you want to know, ask him."
"No, thank you, Death Sword. I'd rather entertain myself with this book."
Jagged just stares at everyone without saying anything and patiently waits to move out again, licking his wounds.
Sifir took out an unranked book [Learning the Way], pondering some of the pitfalls of moving too fast. Cultivators may rush to advance to the next minor level. Overall fighting capabilities won't be as robust as others. And if the cultivator moves too slow. They will find it harder to make more breakthroughs. Because they have a sturdier foundation, they must seek a higher level of comprehension. No one paid attention to Sifir and the book. However, Sifir was quite pleased with the book he was reading.
"We will be leaving in the morning. Be prepared to work as a unit to get through these peaks. No monkey business, Jagged or Fall Night."
Both Jagged and Sifir nodded. Purple Night looks at Sifir curiously, and a flash of light gleams in her dark eyes. Death Sword got up and walked over to open space to practice his sword swing. Jagged just closed his eyes. Never truly sleeping or entering a mediated state, just anxiously waiting to move. Purple Night tossed several alarm talismans around them while she went back to reading the tattered book.
The next morning everyone woke up. Purple Night saw that Sifir didn't move from his spot, which was weird. Every morning, Sifir would go and hunt for food. Purple Night wonders if Sifir found anything else good from Cold Steel City.
Jagged just stared at both Sifir and Death Sword. Jagged walked slowly behind Death Sword, his fists clenched. When Sifir opened his eyes and quickly moved behind Purple Night. He felt the cold stare Jagged gave him. The other pair of eyes that were burning with curiosity was Purple Night.
"Listen, both Purple Night and Fall Night will handle the first peak. I and Jagged will handle the next peak. Then, Fall Night and I will handle the third peak. Whoever is not handling the monsters and beasts in front. We must provide support to the others. This should not be a difficult task to handle."
"Sounds like a great plan, Death Sword. Do you have any recommendations for any unwelcome guests"?
"We will kill them all or just leave them to Jagged."
"Perfect! Death Sword. Do you have anything to add, Fall Night?"
"No, Purple."
"When did we become so familiar, Fall Night? Purple Night spoke in a condescending tone.
"We are not. I just know it would annoy you." Sifir shrugs with a nonchalant difference.
"Prepare to work hard, Fall Night."
"Nothing new there."
Purple Night let out a cold chuckle that made Jagged's heart freeze.
"Let's move out. Fall Night and Purple Night, assume your positions.
Swoosh!
---
"Milord, Patriarch. Do you really believe what the new matriarch of the Sunchaser said?"
"Hard to say. However, it is time that we start to make some own preparations for the worst outcome of this mission that Sifir is on."
"Milord, Patriarch. What are your instructions?"
"Have two or three clans that are still under our control to monitor any independent cultivator teams that are trying to leave this continent."
"Yes. Milord Patriarch. I will carry out your orders."
The senior elder left the room. While Murda started to slouch in the chair thinking about many of the affairs that needed to be taken care of. Feeling a slight headache coming, a soft knock came from the door.
Creak… The door slowly opens up.
"Yes?"
"Patriarch Murda, may I speak freely?"
"Go ahead, Grand Elder."
"It seems like the new Matriarch of the Sunchaser seems to know a few things we don't know about Sifir."
"I agree."
"Why, do you think that, Grand Elder?"
"I have a few guesses on why. They are not concrete or solid enough to speak on."
"We will need to move out and start to focus on a few more talents if your guesses are correct."
"Are we really going to start that?"
"No. We won't. If we didn't lose my son, he would be the next patriarch of our clan. The plan we had thought of would be in motion right now. We must take our time, like a gardener who is weeding out the weeds. We must pull everything, including the roots. This way, the weeds won't have a chance to grow back."
"I understand, Patriarch. I will continue to monitor the situation with other clans within our territory."
"Thanks, Grand Elder, for all your work."
When the Grand Elder left the room. Murda's glare turned icy, and a deadly killing intent burst out in the room.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Oh, Elder, you think you are cunning. Requesting a talent for your mission out of my clan, the Midnight Clan. I, Murda, will make you spill blood for everything you want to obtain from us."