Chapter 320: The Wood Division Spirit General
The next morning, as dawn broke, Lin Langtian made his way past the mountains and arrived at the sect's gate, where a few figures were already waiting. Among them stood Zhang Hao, who noticed Lin Langtian's arrival, his expression darkening as he greeted him with a sneering smile.
Three others present were robust and radiated powerful auras, marking them as disciples from the Wood Division. Each wore a green robe and had a confident, almost noble air, though they occasionally cast proud glances in Lin Langtian's direction. The flow of their energy rivaled Zhang Hao's and even seemed a touch stronger, indicating these three disciples likely held high positions in the Wood Division—possibly even as chief disciples themselves.
"Three chief disciples? Just what is Mu Ku planning here?" Lin Langtian mused as he noted the group's formation. He felt a brief sense of relief that Mu Ku had not come personally. Given his current strength, anyone below the Life and Profound Realm was unlikely to pose a real threat. Still, Lin Langtian stayed vigilant; Mu Ku could easily orchestrate something from the shadows, especially beyond the confines of the sect, where his actions were less restrained.
"So, the new chief disciple of the Fire Division has arrived, I see," one of the Wood Division disciples said with a mocking tone as he strolled over to Lin Langtian, his gaze laced with a sardonic glint. "I heard you've made quite the name for yourself lately. I mean, nearly killing one of your own division mates—impressive."
The Wood Division disciple's attitude caused Lin Langtian's brow to furrow slightly. This mission was already feeling hostile.
"I recall it was the Wood Division that sought our assistance," Lin Langtian replied coolly. "Is that how the Wood Division typically requests aid?"
"You—!" The Wood Division disciple's expression darkened, his anger beginning to show, but before he could respond, a taller disciple from his group stepped forward, placing a calming hand on his shoulder.
With a mild smile, the taller disciple nodded to Lin Langtian. "Apologies, Brother Lin. This is Brother Yan, whose temperament is a bit fiery—please forgive him for any offense. I'm Qin Lang, the chief disciple of the Wood Division, and I'll be leading this mission. Once we're on our way, I'll explain the specifics of the task to you and Brother Zhang."
"Qin Lang…" Lin Langtian murmured to himself, his gaze sharpening as he recalled what he knew about him. If he was correct, this Qin Lang was a Spirit General of the Wood Division.
A sense of foreboding settled over Lin Langtian. The Wood Division had even sent a Spirit General to oversee this mission—was the true target really something else, or was it him?
Despite Qin Lang's polite demeanor, there was a cold glint hidden in his eyes that hinted at his calculating nature. He was clearly far more dangerous than his outspoken companion, Brother Yan.
"Let's set out, then," Qin Lang announced, giving Lin Langtian a meaningful look before raising a hand with a snap of his fingers.
A faint sound echoed through the air, resonating like a chime, expanding outward. Moments later, a clear cry resounded from a lush mountain nearby, and a massive black eagle soared into view, its wings stirring powerful gusts as it glided above the group.
With a leap, Qin Lang mounted the eagle's back, followed swiftly by the two other Wood Division disciples and Zhang Hao. After a brief hesitation, Lin Langtian joined them.
The black eagle's broad wings beat against the air, lifting them high into the sky as they raced forward with astonishing speed. Settling cross-legged on the eagle's expansive back, Lin Langtian noticed that a protective energy field enveloped them, shielding them from the fierce wind as they traveled.
The five passengers had divided themselves naturally into two groups, with the Wood Division disciples forming one side. Zhang Hao, seemingly on friendly terms with them, had joined their group, engaging in light-hearted banter and occasionally glancing at Lin Langtian with a mocking, smug expression.
Lin Langtian, however, paid him no mind, preferring to sit alone in contemplation. As he watched the sea of trees speeding past below, his thoughts drifted to Jin Wu.
"I wonder how Jin Wu is doing right now…" he murmured quietly. Jin Wu had been gone for over a month, and while Lin Langtian hadn't heard anything about him yet, he held out hope that his companion was safe with the protection of those powerful allies. Nonetheless, he couldn't fully shake off a lingering sense of worry.
"We're headed to a place called Bloodhorn Region," Qin Lang suddenly announced, his voice carrying over the wind as the eagle soared through the sky. "It's about an eight-day journey from Yuan Gate. The area is a no-man's-land situated between several major continents, and it's known for being a chaotic haven. It's not uncommon to encounter infamous and dangerous figures from across the land."
"Bloodhorn Region… a no-man's-land…" Lin Langtian repeated quietly, recalling snippets of information about the region.
The Bloodhorn Region was an untamed area, lying between the West Xuan, East Xuan, and North Xuan continents. Due to its unique geography, it had become one of the most lawless places outside of the Chaos Demon Sea. A haven for exiles and fugitives, the area was known for its brutal rule of survival of the fittest, where only strength could determine one's fate.
"There's no law to be found in Bloodhorn," Qin Lang continued. "Even though we're disciples of Yuan Gate, it's important to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Bloodhorn is teeming with both humans and beasts who have no regard for sect authority. In the past, there have been disciples of Yuan Gate who've met their ends there."
As he spoke, Qin Lang's gaze shifted pointedly toward Lin Langtian, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Lin Langtian returned Qin Lang's smile with a nod, maintaining his composure.
Inside, however, he felt his sense of caution heighten. The warning was clear enough: Bloodhorn could very well be the setting where the Wood Division intended to make their move against him.
(End of Chapter)
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