C52 - The Spirit Spring

The two disciples remained beside the rocks for nearly half an hour.

Neither spoke.

The forest had returned to its usual rhythm. Leaves rustled overhead. Water flowed somewhere beyond the trees. Occasionally, a distant beast cried from deeper within the forest.

Ye Chen sat with his back against a tree, slowly regulating his breathing. The wound across his forehead was shallow. His arms were still slightly numb from blocking the Cloud Leopard's attacks, but there was no serious injury. Across from him, Lin Xu examined his chest.

The leopard's tail had left a dark bruise beneath his robes.

"Does it hurt?" Ye Chen asked.

"A little."

"Can you move normally?"

Lin Xu stood and rotated his shoulders.

"Yes."

"Then we're fine."

Lin Xu looked toward the ravine.

"You still want to complete the mission?"

Ye Chen nodded.

"But not immediately."

He stood.

The body of the Cloud Leopard lay several steps away. Ye Chen approached it and carefully examined its claws. The tips were stained with a faint green substance.

He frowned.

"Poison?"

Lin Xu approached.

"From the claws?"

Ye Chen shook his head.

"No."

He touched one of the nearby leaves with the tip of his sword. The leaf immediately darkened. Lin Xu's expression changed.

"The plants?"

Ye Chen nodded.

"The Cloud Leopard was feeding on something poisonous."

He looked around.

Several shrubs grew near the rocks. Their leaves carried tiny purple veins. Ye Chen recognized them.

"Nightshade vines."

Lin Xu immediately stepped away.

"They're poisonous?"

"Very."

Ye Chen looked toward the ravine.

"Which means the Cloud Leopard wasn't simply hunting here."

"It was living here."

"Exactly."

The two exchanged a glance. The mission suddenly seemed more dangerous. If a second-grade Cloud Leopard had claimed this territory, then the Spirit Spring was probably valuable enough to attract other creatures.

Ye Chen retrieved the spirit core from the beast. The jade token around his waist glowed. A number appeared.

+5 points.

Lin Xu checked his own token.

"Five points."

Ye Chen nodded.

Their total had increased considerably. But neither celebrated. They continued toward the ravine. The terrain became steeper. Trees gradually disappeared, replaced by exposed stone and thick vines. The sound of water grew louder.

After descending for several minutes, they reached the bottom. A narrow stream flowed through the center of the ravine. But the mission marker had mentioned a Spirit Spring.

Ye Chen searched the surrounding cliffs.

"Look there."

Lin Xu pointed.

A small opening existed between two enormous rocks. Water emerged from the darkness. Unlike the ordinary stream, this water possessed a faint blue glow.

Ye Chen approached cautiously.

A strange sensation spread through his spiritual perception.

The water contained concentrated spiritual energy.

"The Spirit Spring."

Lin Xu smiled.

"We found it."

Ye Chen didn't move. He studied the area around it. There were no footprints. No beast tracks. No obvious traps. That worried him more than if there had been.

"Something's wrong."

Lin Xu's smile disappeared.

"What?"

"Nothing has disturbed the spring."

"So?"

"If this place contains spiritual water, creatures should have gathered here."

He pointed toward the stream.

"Yet there are no tracks."

Lin Xu looked around.

The ravine was completely silent. Then they heard it. A faint dripping sound. Not water. Something else.

Ye Chen looked upward.

A transparent strand hung from the cliff.

Then another.

Spider silk.

His expression changed.

"Back."

They moved away immediately. A massive creature descended from the cliff.

It was almost impossible to see at first. Its body was pale and translucent, blending perfectly with the stone. Eight long legs spread across the rock. Two enormous fangs emerged from its mouth.

Lin Xu whispered,

"Phantom Silk Spider."

Ye Chen's expression became serious. This creature was different from the Cloud Leopard. It didn't rely on speed. It relied on preparation. Its webs could restrict a cultivator's movement. And its venom was extremely dangerous.

The spider moved.

A strand of silk shot toward Lin Xu. He cut it apart. Another came from the opposite direction.

Ye Chen severed it with his sword. More appeared. Within moments, the ravine had become filled with nearly invisible threads.

"We can't stay here!"

Lin Xu shouted.

"I know."

Ye Chen looked toward the spring.

The mission required them to collect the water. But reaching it meant passing through the spider's territory. The creature suddenly vanished against the cliff.

Ye Chen's eyes moved rapidly.

Where?

He couldn't see it. Then he noticed a slight movement above Lin Xu.

"Move!"

Lin Xu jumped aside. The spider crashed down. Its fangs struck the stone. Ye Chen attacked. His sword cut across one of its legs. The spider recoiled. A dark liquid spilled onto the ground. It hissed. Then its body disappeared again.

"Where did it go?"

Lin Xu looked around. Ye Chen closed his eyes. He stopped relying on sight. Instead, he listened. A faint vibration passed through the web.

There. Above. He opened his eyes.

"It's behind you!"

Lin Xu turned. Too late. The spider lunged. Ye Chen moved faster. His sword struck the creature's abdomen. The blade penetrated deeply. The spider shrieked. Its body twisted violently. Silk exploded in every direction. Ye Chen grabbed Lin Xu and pulled him backward.

The creature collapsed.

For several moments, neither moved.

Then Lin Xu exhaled.

"That was worse than the leopard."

Ye Chen nodded.

"Much worse."

He approached the dead spider carefully. Its venom sac remained intact. Ye Chen cut it away.

"This is valuable."

Lin Xu looked at him.

"You're collecting poison now?"

"Someone might pay for it."

Lin Xu laughed.

"You really think about everything."

Ye Chen ignored him. His attention had returned to the Spirit Spring. He removed a small jade bottle from his bag. The mission required only a small amount. He filled the bottle. The moment the water entered it, his trial token glowed.

Hidden Mission Completed.

+10 points.

Lin Xu checked his own token.

"Fifteen points from the mission and the beasts."

"More than that."

Ye Chen pointed toward the spring. Beneath the clear water were several small blue crystals.

Spirit stones.

Lin Xu's eyes widened.

"There are spirit stones here."

Ye Chen nodded. But he didn't touch them.

"Leave them."

Lin Xu frowned.

"Why?"

"The trial isn't about taking everything we find."

He looked at the walls of the ravine.

"The spring may be connected to a larger spiritual vein."

"If we disturb it, we might attract something stronger."

Lin Xu reluctantly nodded. They prepared to leave. But before they could climb out of the ravine, Ye Chen stopped. A faint sound came from above.

Footsteps.

Human.

He looked toward the entrance. Two figures appeared at the top of the ravine.

Then a third. Ye Chen recognized the voice immediately.

"Interesting."

Gu Lie stood above them. His saber rested against his shoulder. The scarred disciple stood beside him. The spear wielder was on the other side.

Gu Lie looked down at the dead Phantom Silk Spider. Then at the glowing spring. Finally, his gaze settled on Ye Chen.

"You found the hidden mission."

Ye Chen said nothing. Gu Lie smiled.

"This time, running won't be so easy."

The three disciples began descending. Lin Xu dr

ew his sword. Ye Chen slowly unsheathed his own. The ravine was narrow. The Spirit Spring was behind them. Three enemies stood ahead. There was nowhere to retreat.

Ye Chen's eyes became calm.

The first day of the Outer Court Trial had finally reached its real beginning.