Chapter 154: Search for the Missing Disciples 2
Author's Note: From here on, I will refer to "Flying Magical Vehicles" as Magical Aircrafts for brevity.
A full day had passed since Aerlan and Christian's coalitions had set their course for the Crimson Forest.
The forest was colossal—so vast that its canopy seemed to stretch endlessly, a sea of crimson leaves under which countless dangers lurked. Normally, entering such a place was tantamount to suicide for outsiders. But today, the presence of the Fanged Elves, under the blessing and will of Master Farraleaf, smothered much of that hostility.
Even the more aggressive creatures of the forest stilled their claws and fangs as the magical aircrafts pierced deeper into its heart.
2 days later.
Christian and Aeloria Nightbloom remained aboard their respective clan's leading magical aircrafts, keeping constant communication. At their fastest possible speed, it still took them two days to approach the central reaches of the forest.
On the way, various crimson-eyed experts emerged from the trees—some on foot, some mounted upon strange, scaled beasts—watching their approach with sharp, measuring gazes. Yet every time the fanged elf insignia gleamed in the sunlight, those gazes softened into cautious respect. Many even gave formal salutes before allowing them to pass unhindered.
Any wandering beasts foolish enough to challenge their advance were swiftly neutralized by the escorting warriors.
On the second day, Aeloria raised a hand for the fleet to halt.
"We will make a brief detour," she said, her tone calm but firm.
The aircraft descended into a clearing… and at once, the scars of devastation became obvious.
The ground was gouged with craters and scorched black in wide arcs. Here and there, residual miasma curled like smoke. The faint scent of ozone mingled with something far older—rot, and decay.
Aeloria's gaze swept the field, noting the lingering traces of Shayleaf's breakthrough: an explosive surge of life magic interwoven with vampiric energy, strong enough to warp the very earth. Alongside it, she felt the sharp-edged signature of Christy's techniques, the disciplined blade aura of Elton, and the fierce presence of numerous crimson-eyed warriors.
But there was something else—a deep, oppressive residue. The unmistakable imprint of a Mortal Lord Demon.
The Aka Boshi no Tengan observers exchanged looks of astonishment.
It wasn't just that Christy and her allies had survived here—it was the sheer scale of what they had endured before reinforcements even arrived.
"They… held off a Mortal Lord demon this long?" one of them murmured, awe mixing with disbelief.
A quiet pride swelled among the onlookers. Jewleaf, Shayleaf's father, threw his head back and laughed, his voice booming through the clearing.
"Hahaha! That's my incredible daughter—and my equally incredible son-in-law!"
Christina and Jonovan smiled despite themselves, warmth blooming in their chests even as worry clung stubbornly to their expressions. It was also at this moment they learned, without room for doubt, that Elton had been with their daughters all along—information the Bright Brilliant Blade Sect had never shared.
Aeloria's attention, however, was fixed on one spot: a towering tree at the clearing's edge.
Unlike every other tree in sight, it bore no scars, no burns, no splintered bark. Instead, its trunk pulsed faintly, like a slow heartbeat.
She walked toward it without hesitation.
There, fused into the wood as though the tree had grown around him, was Norg. His form was twisted and sunken, the bark gripping his limbs and chest like a vice. Only his gaunt face, eyes dull with torment, remained fully visible.
When he saw her, a shudder ran through his body. His lips cracked open and a hoarse, broken whisper escaped.
"P-please… kill me… end this… I beg you…"
Aeloria's eyes narrowed in cold disdain.
"Norg," she said sweetly, the sarcasm dripping from every syllable, "how lovely to see you again."
He flinched at the sound of her voice. Around them, warriors from both clans looked on, their gazes hard. None felt pity for the creature—only contempt.
Aeloria tilted her head, smile widening just slightly.
"Perhaps I will grant you that mercy… if you tell me everything that happened here."
What choice did he have?
In halting, pained words, Norg recounted it all:
The clash between Daoist Blue Heavens Sword, Christy, and the crimson-eyed warriors against a tide of attacking forces.
The arrival of the Mortal Lord Demon and the relentless struggle that followed.
Shayleaf's explosive breakthrough—and the forest-rending power she unleashed immediately after.
The telling only deepened the pride in the hearts of those who listened. Jewleaf laughed again, this time louder, practically vibrating with excitement.
When he finished, Norg's head slumped forward.
"Now… as promised…"
Aeloria turned away, already walking back toward her ship.
"You don't deserve such a release," she said without looking back.
Behind her, Norg's voice cracked with despair.
"Liar… liar…!"
She didn't so much as pause.
Hours later, the coalition finally reached their true destination: the Fanged Elves' guarded entrance into the Whispering Expanse.
The gateway was hidden deep within the forest, at the mouth of a colossal tunnel whose walls glimmered faintly with runes. The anti-intrusion barrier still thrummed faintly, ensuring no enemy could slip through without detection.
The aircrafts passed inside one by one, the protective magic brushing over them like a silent tide.
Far away, deep within the Whispering Expanse—
A flash of blue tore across the sky.
Elton's Blue Star Heavenly Destroyer streaked like a comet, its size magnified severalfold, carrying four passengers at a speed that even Late Stage Mortal Lords would struggle to match.
They landed at last, the sword's glow dimming as it shrank back to normal size. Elton exhaled heavily, wiping sweat from his brow.
Behind him, Shayleaf, Christy, and Tongsheng clung to him with white-knuckled grips, their bodies trembling from the high-speed flight.
Elton gave them a wry smile.
"What's wrong? Didn't you enjoy the ride?"
Three pairs of glaring eyes were his only answer.
"Gege, I can never get used to this… We were better off fleeing using the magical aircraft!" Christy complained, still trembling from the flight.
"Hahaha, you'll be alright," Elton chuckled, trying to calm everyone down. "Besides, this was a far faster method of travel. Not to mention, none of us are in any real condition to be trying to battle right now."
"Brother Elly… I think we can recover faster if we just Syncr—" Before Shayleaf could finish, Elton suddenly cut her off, dramatically pointing toward a nearby city.
"Oh! Let's go over there and see if they have anything good to eat. It's also best to try to get an idea of where we currently are in this place."
"Hehehe… Brother Elly, how long will you keep doing that?" Shayleaf asked slyly.
Tongsheng could only awkwardly blush with a quiet laugh, while Christy stayed silent, cheeks flushed as she peeked at Elton from beneath her hood every now and then.
"Ahem," Elton cleared his throat, sidestepping the topic. "Right now's not the time to be messing around like that, Shay. Honestly, if possible, I'd like to find a way out of this place back to an upper land…" His voice dropped into a low grumble, concern flickering in his eyes at the thought of remaining in the Whispering Expanse too long.
They eventually decided to check out the city and rest for a day before leaving. Cloaked and masked, their faces and affiliations were hidden—but rumors still began to spread regardless.
Whispers of Daoist Blue Heavens Sword's possible arrival circulated quickly, sparked by news of a short battle followed by a daring escape not long ago. Those rumors were further fueled by their exploits in the upperlands, where they had been involved in a whirlwind of chaotic battles for over two months straight.
Elton grit his teeth in annoyance, though he knew it was unlikely anyone would suspect them so soon.
Shayleaf, in contrast, was practically glowing with excitement.
Tongsheng only smiled and said confidently,
"This is how it should be, so do not fret, Master."
Compared to them, Christy—though not as agitated as Elton—shared a similar cautious outlook.
"We've really got to move carefully in this place…" she said with a sigh.
After gathering information along with pieces of a map, the four of them quietly slipped out of the city. Their cloaks swayed in the dim light as they pressed forward, resuming their journey through the dangerous and unpredictable expanse.
The shadows of the Whispering Expanse seemed to stretch endlessly ahead.