Ely waved her hand to all of the Guardian of Dream's members. The Ten Apostles and 144 disciples would embark on their journey to find their fateful encounter and collect some treasures and resources.
It was a seasonal event, four times a year. This event was different because Ely would also embark on a journey.
Three Apostles were lucky enough to choose a location chosen by their master. Thus, they could go together.
As much as it made other disciples jealous, no one complained because they had to finish their tasks immediately. If they were lucky and found lots of great resources and amazing materials, they could request their master to make a top-tier artifact for them.
Therefore, there was no room for laziness and procrastination.
"Kui, kui..." A brown rabbit jumped closer in a bit of a panic.
"???" Ely squatted down and extended her hand to the rabbit. She found that this small animal was not injured but looked a bit scared or worried about something. It kept whimpering as if it was saying something, but how could a human understand the language of animals?
Fortunately, Ely was adept at reading the emotions of living things. "Have you calmed down, little one? You look like you're being chased by a predator, but this is the wild jungle. Hum, but no beasts or demons will hunt you in the Sacred Mountain. They only go hunting in the foothills or other areas."
"Kui, kui..." The small rabbit wanted to say something but strangely couldn't speak human language.
Also, this nine-tailed fox resembled the shrine priestess because the beast would find it difficult to use the mana or qi around her. It usually caused the beasts returning to their natural origins as animals.
"Master, the small rabbit said a group of evil beasts is planning to take over this territory." Remiel poked the small rabbit's cheeks.
"Territory scramble?" Ely tapped her chin as she pondered over something.
So, this rabbit had a small territory on this mountain. Yet, that livelihood was under the threat of invasion from another group of rabbit thugs?
Territorial struggles were commonplace in the animal world. But, this mountain was her jurisdiction territory. No beast would be hunting in her territory as one wishes, but they had to protect their lair. Since this rabbit came to her, she had better give him a little advice to survive.
"Defend if you want to protect, and run if you only want to be safe. However, if you are strong enough, launch a strike before they can do damage. That is a basic concept of territorial struggles in the wilderness." Ely raised her finger. She knew the animal on this mountain might be smart enough to understand what she was saying.
"Kui?" The small rabbit tilted his head, then nodded.
"Well then. It's time for us to go." Ely glanced at her fortified, humble abode. She was confident that no wild beasts, not even the Emperor-level monsters, could invade her home.
She then went down the mountain, followed by her three disciples.
At that moment, Remiel glanced back, made a throat-slitting gesture, and whispered. "Crush them all."
The small rabbit saluted, then hopped away through the bushes and trees like a gust of wind. He reported the information he got to his brothers and sisters.
"Are you sure that is what the shrine priestess said?" The gigantic sea eagle puffed out his chest.
"Yes, the honorable shrine priestess currently disguised as the legendary nine-tailed fox. Also, the Tenth Apostle Remiel told me to crush them all." The small rabbit answered confidently.
"Our shrine priestess becomes a legendary nine-tailed fox!? Wow, I need to see her in person once she returns."
"Then, it's time for us to crush them all. They are so presumptuous to declare war on us!"
"Yeah, they boldly said they would take over the mountainous area around here. Who do they think they are!?"
"We are the Sacred Mountain's guardian beasts! This is our home! Let's demonstrate our might to the world!"
"Slaughter, massacre those ignorant fools! Almighty shrine priestess has spoken!"
"O-oh!"
The so-called docile beasts and demons in the Sacred Mountain evolved into savage terrors in their meetings. At that time, they didn't escort the shrine priestess away because it was the seasonal treasure hunt. Moreover, they had to prepare to wage war against the arrogant invaders in enemy territory.
Well, they were the ones who would invade instead of waiting for their opponent to attack.
At that time, Ely was oblivious that the ones she considered docile beasts and demons would carry out a large-scale attack when she was not around. She might be aware they were powerful, but she didn't expect that it was because she gave advice to a random 2nd Rank small rabbit.
*Mumble* *Mumble* *Mumble*
Uriel, Jophiel, and Remiel muttered softly to one another. Uriel and Remiel then nodded in understanding to Jophiel.
"..." Ely felt left out all of a sudden.
"Master, Remi and I must first go to the eastern region to explore the unexplored ruin. Once we finish our treasure hunt, we will immediately catch up with you to the snowy mountains." Uriel asked permission with several considerations in mind.
"Un, we'll be hunting fast to collect treasures and merits, then coming back soon." Remiel nodded in agreement.
"Ah, alright. But please be careful, okay? Your safety is the most important." Ely had no idea about this sudden decision, but she couldn't stop them either.
"Your wish is our command." Uriel bowed respectfully, then hurried off with Remiel like a shadow.
"..." Ely glanced at Jophiel. She had no idea what this girl said to Uriel and Remiel. Those two were adamant about going with her yesterday but suddenly chose to go separately now.
"Master, I only had a little chat with them. They have their own priority, but they think they will slow us down if the four of us need to go to the east forest too. We need to go north, you see..." Jophiel put her index fingers together and glanced sideways, unable to meet her master's eyes.
Actually, Uriel and Remiel wished to see how the Sacred Mountain's inhabitants would handle the impudent and ignorant tribe that intended to take over the Sacred Mountain's territory and its surroundings.
Jophiel also convinced her sisters to go on their separate treasure hunts, and they could catch up after a few days. The place Uriel and Remiel wanted to visit was pretty dangerous.
Furthermore, recent events happened because some evil things targeted their master.
Although they knew their master was so powerful, their master also had flaws and weaknesses. The Gods could even meet their demise, and the most powerful Human Goddess could also be injured.
Because Jophiel wanted to visit the relatively safe place, she was enough to ensure their master's safety while her sisters were away. Her destination with her master chosen place was actually in the same snowy mountains. So, it was easy to hit two birds with one stone.
"Never mind, we should also go north, then northwest." Ely looked around and summoned the nearby light elemental spirit.
She asked the nature spirit for a favor to bring them to the snowy mountain region in the north, and the latter agreed to help.
A bundle of light then formed into a cloud-like cushion. Ely and Jophiel sat there, and the light spirit immediately flew north.
It didn't go flying far off the ground and only sped up at a moderate speed at the request of the shrine priestess, or now the legendary nine-tailed fox.
"Light spirit, please bend the light around us. Cast no shadow and produce no reflection. We will go invisible." Ely requested, and the light spirit granted it.
"Fufu, we're advancing in invisibility, master? This trip is just the two of us. Isn't this so romantic?" Jophiel leaned her body closer to her master.
"Hmm." Ely nodded slightly, then summoned her grimoire. She wanted to pick a vitality herb or two while discovering more about the legendary myths around the snow mountains.
"Nee~ Master, am I beautiful?"
"Yes, you have grown into a beautiful girl, Jophi-chan."
"Can I take off my veil, master?"
"You can."
"May I change my outfit to the pretty dress, master?"
"Do you want to bewitch someone? You are no longer worried about your demoness-like innate charm, huh."
"You are with me, so I'm not afraid of anything. It's fine if it's master."
Ely was clueless about what this pink demoness elf had in mind, but she thought it was inconvenient for Jophiel to wear the veil almost all the time.
However, all of that was to protect Jophiel and put the dangerous demoness-like innate charm under control.
Jophiel was also a girl who occasionally wanted to wear pretty dresses. Since she was around her master, she felt safe because her master's presence could nullify her body's natural bewitching debuff.
So, she could act like a little girl without any worry, only when she was around her master, especially when it was just the two of them there.
Peace was never an option, rawr!
The fertile brown land filled with green trees soon changed into a semi-snowy landscape with cold temperatures. The snowy mountains were visible in sight, and Ely was happy because she found a very suitable quest and aligned with her main goal there.
[Save a particular young hero in distress near snowy mountains][Reward: Medium-quality Vitality Herb]
In the past five years, she only managed to possess no more than four vitality herbs, and two of them were from her reliable disciples.
It was an extremely precious herb that could only be found in the extreme region, but one's would need super high luck to find it.
Apart from being able to recover one's vitality and extend lifespan, it could also be used as a second life at a critical time. Under uncertain future circumstances, Ely wished to have more ultimate life-saving treasures and some emergency aid for her disciples.
Being killed or spiritual energy exhaustion wasn't the worst end situation for a healer, but the depleted life essence due to excessive use of healing skills. It would lead to death, but the ability user would never notice before it was too late.
Apart from that, she didn't want any of her 154 disciples to die for any reason. They had to help her, and she would never allow them to die.
"Master, you want to find vitality herbs for disciples with healing skills, right?" Jophiel glanced at her master's grimoire, but she couldn't read anything because it was just blank paper.
"Those are emergency measures for all of us. We only have four at home. However, we can only harvest a few leaves or flowers every half year. Cultivating them is a long-term benefit. However, we need at least two more. That way, we can have the required materials every month." Ely couldn't help it. She had 154 gifted disciples to feed, and the demand for safety purpose was always there.
They were more than capable of everything. However, most of their artifacts, elixirs, potions, pills, and techniques came from her.
"Master, you are so considerate of all your disciples. In the whole world, it's only you who treat your disciples like family." Jophiel hugged her master's arm.
"You say that as if you've explored all corners of the world, Jophi-chan. If you stick to me like that, you won't be able to accumulate enough merits in this treasure hunt. Don't you want something from the treasure house?" Ely closed her grimoire while looking around carefully.
As stated on her quest list, she had to find a particular hero in distress.
"Fufu, others can gather treasures and resources, but I only need to collect them with charm. I have enough time to secure my top ten spots, master. You don't need to worry."
"Treasure charm? Does such a technique exist?"
"Uhm, that's just a figure of speech, master. I want attention and love from you right now. Please let me be a spoiled little girl once in a while. I will be a good girl afterwards."
"Hmm... I'll let it pass this time. Come here, little girl. Let your master spoil you a little."
Ely permitted Jophiel to act like a spoiled little girl occasionally. If she remembered Jophiel's past that she saw during the purification, she couldn't help but pay extra attention to this demoness-like pink elf. Or else, this pink elf might be led astray with no path of return.
She actually didn't want to recall it ever again.
It was genuinely gruesome for a lone little girl with charm demon abilities. She even had to erase her sixth disciple's memory. Luckily, Jophiel reformed a new pure body after purification, a brand new life without the need to get involved in what happened in the past.
This demoness-like pink elf was her sixth core disciple, her precious and lovely children. She would guide this girl to the right path.
"Hm-mm~" Jophiel then laid her head on her master's lap with a giggle. She looked into her master's face, but her master's twin peaks blocked the view. "Master, when will I be able to put my charm skill set under control?"
[Jophiel (FV: 1980) | 5th Rank Early Stage]
[Loyalty: 94%]
[Talent: 3 Stars | SR]
Ely glanced down, checking Jophiel's status screen. "Let's see when your talent advances to the next level. It would be best if you learned more about your innate ability. Sometimes it gets out of control and makes everyone around you like horny beasts."
"But, I've tried hard to control my innate abilities, master."
"It's not just about effort or hard work, but about how you understand yourself. A person has one body, soul, and spirit. However, not everyone can link everything under control."
"Master, please enlighten me."
"First, you need to understand yourself as you are. At this point, you might be able to find your other self, something called your alter or heart demon."
"What should we do when we meet our alter, master?"
"There are three paths you can take. Conquer it, understand it, or befriend it."
"Disciple understands." Jophiel was enlightened, but there was a question running through her mind. "Master, in your case, may I know what you did to your alter or heart demon?"
"..." Ely was silent momentarily because her memory was still a bit hazy, but she could feel a sense of Deja Vu. She thought her alter could be associated with her close sister, but had she ever met her alter?
"That is the third option. The best solution but also the hardest. She is as close as my sister." Ely answered casually, even though there was doubt in her mind.
"O-oh~" Jophiel was amazed. Her gaze was full of stars and sparkles.
It was as expected of her beloved master. Instead of eliminating the alter or heart demon, converting it into an ally was always better.
Jophiel's objectives increased by one. She had to better grasp her abilities soon to rank up her talent like her second sister. That way, she could help her master more than ever.
"Fufu, hehe~" Jophiel couldn't help but chuckle at that thought. Raising one's talent wasn't impossible. She might achieve it sooner than expected since she had ten days of private time with her master.
"What are you thinking with that weird laugh?" Ely pinched Jophiel's cheek.
"No, it's nothing. Master, I wuv you~" Jophiel held her master's hand. She was fond of this kind of exchange.
"You don't want to talk? See how I make your cheeks into the dough." Ely grabbed Jophiel's cheeks.
*Boom!* *Rumble*
A fierce fight occurred not far from their location. Ely immediately asked the light spirit to fly closer to the source of the explosion. "Let's check it out."
Several beastkins and demi-humans hunted one white tiger boy as if the hunters would never back down before catching their target. They wore similar brown taoist robes. So, they clearly came from the same sect.
The white tiger was still relatively young. He kept running and fending off every enemy's attack until he could no longer escape the pursuit. He was surrounded by his fellow disciples.
"Bai Yuchen, hand over what should be handed over! Leave nothing behind and hand over everything. We will consider letting you leave alive."
"Haha, the so-called genius can't do anything before us. He just boasted far too much."
"Where did your arrogance go, little cub boy? You are more like an insect than a tiger now. You need strength to own and protect a treasure, yet you possess none to secure anything."
"Yeah, this big brother is offering you a hand to secure it."
A group of beast cultivators sneered at the white tiger boy. Their target was injured, and there was no way to escape.
"You shameless inner disciple with no sense of morals! Do you want to rob your junior? Go to a secret realm and find your own treasure! What I got there is mine!" Bai Yuchen growled in exasperation.
His cultivation realm was incomparable to the bullies who surrounded him. It was also hard to escape in his injured and exhausted state.
"Speak no more nonsense. Let's beat him up first, then snatch his treasures. He is so cocky and overbearing just because an elder called him a genius, but he is just an outer disciple."
"Yeah, let's teach him a lesson as good seniors."
The bullies immediately attacked, but the cornered white tiger desperately struggled as his last resort. "You leave me with no choice!"
*Bam* *Bam* *Boom* *Thud*
Unfortunately, a Core Formation cultivator was no match for a group of Golden Core and Nascent Soul seniors.
"Ugh, no! Cough!" Bai Yuchen fell to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He could only watch the bullies snatch his storage pouch.
His spiritual roots were damaged, and his dantian was cracked, almost crippled. He managed to defeat two seniors, but it was too much to handle nine powerful bullies simultaneously, even though he possessed great luck and heaven-defying abilities.
*Tinkle* *Tinkle*
A pair of bells tinkled faintly, and the bullies immediately fell to the ground, unconscious.
"What a mess. A group of seniors ganged up on their junior in the middle of a secluded snowy forest?"
A soft yet soothing voice sounded closer. Bai Yuchen glanced reflexively at the source of the sound and noticed a mesmerizing fox lady approaching.
Is he a hero? I really can't say, but yes
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