Chương 296: The True Winner

The exit from Black Mist Valley felt like passing through a membrane, one moment we were surrounded by churning mists and spatial distortions, the next we emerged into the clear night air, the full moon hanging serenely overhead as if the chaos we'd just experienced had been nothing but a fevered dream.

I kept my head down, leaning heavily on Liu Chang's shoulder as we crossed the threshold, every bit the picture of a defeated junior disciple while the weight of the real Moonlit Dew Flower rested in my storage ring. The scene before us was exactly what we'd expected. Representatives from each major sect stood in a loose semicircle beyond the warning markers. Their faces shifted from anticipation to disappointment as Yan Zixian emerged victorious, the supposed flower in his possession.

Unlike every other major faction, we had no Elemental Realm backup waiting to receive us. No powerful elder ready to whisk us to safety should things go wrong.

"Thanks for nothing, Madam Butterfly," I thought bitterly. The powerful old woman had assigned me this mission, dangling the promise of answers about the sect's secrets, yet she couldn't be bothered to send proper support. Despite not being part of the Azure Peak Sect, she could have sent someone from the Formation Guild or even her own sect. Either she considered me expendable, or she had far more confidence in my abilities than the situation warranted. Neither option was particularly comforting.

Beyond the gathered cultivators, I noticed a tense exchange unfolding. The Black Palm Sect's representative was engaged in what appeared to be a barely civil conversation with Yan Zixian. Even from a distance, the threat in his posture was unmistakable.

"Lu Fang's senior is not pleased," Su Yue observed quietly.

"Let's not stay to watch the show," I replied using spiritual transmission.

"The longer we linger, the more likely someone notices something's off." We skirted the gathering, keeping to the shadows as we made our way toward the path leading back to Wuqi City. I noticed several cultivators giving us dismissive glances, failed competitors weren't worth their attention. Their contempt was our greatest advantage right now. Once we'd put sufficient distance between ourselves and the gathering, Liu Chang spoke using spiritual transmission.

"We need to move quickly. When will they discover the switch?"

"Hard to say," I replied, checking our surroundings for any observers.

"The replica should fool Qi Condensation cultivators completely. An Elemental Realm cultivator with experience in formations might spot inconsistencies, but they'd need to examine it closely."

"And a Stellar Realm cultivator?" Su Yue asked. I grimaced.

"They'd know instantly."

"Then we need to be well away from here before the City Lord examines Yan Zixian's prize," Liu Chang concluded. We picked up our pace, heading not away from Wuqi City as might have been expected, but directly toward it. The city walls loomed ahead, their ancient stone gleaming softly in the moonlight. Lanterns hung from poles along the main road, creating pools of warm light that seemed to push back against the darkness.

"Are you sure about this?" Su Yue asked, eyeing the approaching city gates with obvious concern.

"Going through the city seems risky."

"It's actually safer," I explained.

"They'll expect us to avoid the city entirely, circling around to escape. Going straight through is the last thing they'd anticipate."

"And it saves us valuable time," Liu Chang added.

"Going around would add at least half a day to our journey."

"By which point the deception would certainly be discovered," I concluded. The city gates were still open despite the late hour, though the usual daytime bustle had reduced to a steady trickle of merchants, travelers, and cultivators entering and exiting the city. Two bored-looking guards stood watch, only giving cursory glances to those passing through. As we approached, I noticed their posture straighten slightly, a subtle sign that they recognized us as cultivators rather than ordinary travelers.

I immediately adjusted my demeanor, letting my shoulders slump even further and allowing a hint of defeat to color my expression.

"Follow my lead," I murmured through spiritual transmission to my companions.

"We're tired, disappointed disciples who failed in our mission and just want to return to our inn for the night." The guards watched us approach, their eyes assessing but not particularly suspicious. One of them raised a hand in the casual gesture used to halt travelers for inspection.

"Purpose in the city at this hour?" he asked, his tone suggesting this was routine rather than targeted.

"Returning to our lodgings," Liu Chang replied, perfectly capturing the weary resignation of a team leader whose mission had ended in failure.

"We had business in the valley that didn't go as planned." The guard's eyes flickered over our dirty, battle-worn appearance and the obvious fatigue in our postures.

"Another sect team that lost out on the flower, eh?" he said, a hint of sympathy entering his voice.

"Heard the City Lord's disciple claimed it."

"News travels fast," Su Yue remarked quietly. The guard shrugged.

"Everyone's been talking about the herb for days." He stepped aside, waving us through.

"Go on then. Try not to cause any trouble, the City Lord's in no mood for disruptions tonight." We nodded our thanks and walked through the gates, maintaining our discouraged demeanor until we were well out of sight. The streets of Wuqi City were quieter at night, though far from deserted. Lanterns hung from buildings, casting warm pools of light across the stone-paved streets. The occasional group of revelers emerged from teahouses and wine shops, their laughter echoing between the close-set buildings.

"Shouldn't we stop by the inn to gather our belongings?" Su Yue asked as we wound our way through the city streets, deliberately taking a complex route with multiple turns to confuse any potential pursuers. I shook my head.

"We never unpacked anything important. Everything we need is already in our storage rings." You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. We continued through the city, keeping to side streets and less traveled paths whenever possible. The architecture of Wuqi City was distinctly different from what I'd seen in other regions. Buildings were constructed primarily of grey stone with intricately carved wooden accents, their roofs tiled in blue and green.

Many structures featured small gardens enclosed by stone walls, from which the sweet scent of night-blooming flowers wafted into the streets. Under different circumstances, I might have found it all quite charming. Tonight, every shadow seemed to harbor potential threats, every passing cultivator a possible pursuer. As we navigated through a particularly narrow alleyway that would lead us towards the city's southern gate.

We blended with a group of travelers heading out of the city, once again adopting our defeated postures and downcast expressions. The southern gate was less heavily guarded than the western entrance we'd used to enter, with only a single bored-looking official checking travel documents for those departing. We passed through without incident, no one giving a second glance to three tired cultivators leaving the city after what appeared to be a failed mission.

Once outside the city walls, I felt some of the tension ease from my shoulders. The open road stretched before us, winding through gently rolling hills before disappearing into a distant forest. The stars overhead seemed brighter here, away from the city's lanterns, their light casting a silvery glow across the landscape.

"We did it," Su Yue said, a hint of disbelief coloring her voice.

"We actually pulled it off."

"Don't celebrate yet," I cautioned, scanning our surroundings carefully.

"This is actually the most dangerous part." Liu Chang nodded in agreement.

"The city's walls provided a certain protection, even powerful cultivators must respect the City Lord's domain. Out here, we're fair game for anyone who realizes what we've done." We increased our pace, moving with the efficient stride of cultivators who needed to cover ground quickly without drawing attention. The road was mostly empty at this hour, with only the occasional merchant wagon or lone traveler passing in the opposite direction.

"How far until we reach the border of the City Lord's territory?" I asked Liu Chang, who had studied the regional maps more thoroughly than either Su Yue or I had.

"About fifteen li to the official boundary," he replied.

"Though his practical influence extends somewhat further." I calculated quickly. At our current pace, that would take us at least two hours. Two hours during which Yan Zixian might present his prize to the City Lord, discover the deception, and send pursuers after us. It was going to be close.

"We should move faster," I suggested, glancing at my companions to gauge their energy levels.

"Can you both maintain a cultivation-enhanced pace for a sustained period?" Su Yue nodded confidently.

"My Crimson Sun Breathing Method is excellent for endurance. I can maintain an enhanced pace for hours if needed."

"The Immutable Titan Scripture likewise emphasizes stamina," Liu Chang confirmed.

"Though I'm concerned about you, Junior Brother. You still seem... not fully recovered from this morning's incident." I grimaced, unable to deny the lingering weakness from the soul attack I'd suffered in the Two Suns World, and the exertion from the battle in the valley hadn't helped matters.

"I'll manage," I assured him, despite the heavy fatigue weighing on my limbs.

"The World Tree Sutra provides good recovery even while in motion." We left the main road, cutting across country through fields and lightly wooded areas. The direct route would save us valuable time, even if the terrain was less forgiving than the well-maintained road. As cultivators, even minor obstacles like streams or small ravines posed little challenge. For nearly an hour, we maintained a punishing pace, moving with the enhanced speed that cultivation allowed.

The landscape blurred around us as we raced through moonlit fields and stands of trees. Despite my earlier confidence, I found myself struggling to keep up with my companions. My lungs burned with each breath, and the persistent headache only worsened.

"We should rest briefly," Liu Chang finally suggested, noticing my labored breathing.

"A short recovery period will serve us better than pushing until someone collapses."

"You're right," a melodious voice interrupted from somewhere behind us.

"This is a good place to stop." We turned, instantly alert and dropping into defensive formations. Su Yue's hands filled with flickering flames, while Liu Chang assumed his Immutable Titan stance. I reached for my formation tools, ready to deploy whatever defenses might be needed. A figure stepped out from behind a large oak tree approximately twenty paces away. He wore the silver and midnight blue robes of the Morning Star Sect.

His face was youthful but carried the weight of experience in the fine lines around his eyes, which glowed with a faint starlight radiance that marked him as no ordinary cultivator. The aura emanating from him hit me like a physical force. the unmistakable pressure of a peak Elemental Realm cultivator. I felt my knees threaten to buckle beneath the weight of his spiritual essence, but I easily shook it off, I had experienced worse pressure, much worse.

"Do not be afraid, young cultivators," he said, raising his hands in a gesture that was both calming and patronizing.

"I come merely to talk."

"Who are you?" Liu Chang asked, his voice steady despite the overwhelming pressure. The man offered a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"How remiss of me. I am Mo Xing of the Morning Star Sect." Liu Chang shifted slightly, positioning himself between the Morning Star cultivator and our team.

"Senior Mo, we are merely returning to our sect after tonight's excursion. I don't believe we have any business with the Morning Star Sect." Mo Xing smiled, the expression never reaching his eyes.

"On the contrary. I believe you have something that has become a matter of great interest to several parties tonight." I maintained my expression of confused innocence, though internally I was frantically evaluating our options. Fighting was suicidal, even at full strength, the three of us together couldn't hope to defeat a peak Elemental Realm cultivator. Running was equally futile; his movement techniques would easily overtake us.

"I'm afraid I don't understand," Liu Chang replied carefully.

"The Moonlit Dew Flower was claimed by the City Lord's disciple. Everyone at the valley witnessed this." Mo Xing's smile widened slightly.

"Yes, that was what everyone saw, wasn't it? I must admit, I was surprised when Yan Zixian emerged victorious. It created quite the contradiction."

"Contradiction?" Su Yue asked.

"With what my divination technique had revealed," Mo Xing explained, casually examining his fingernails as if discussing the weather.

"You see, I had already foreseen that my junior, Min Xiulan, would not secure the herb. The stars showed quite clearly that it would be taken by disciples of the Azure Peak Sect." My stomach dropped. Of course, the Morning Star Sect specialized in fate manipulation and divination. Their techniques allowed them to glimpse potential futures with remarkable accuracy.

"Yet Yan Zixian emerged with the flower," Mo Xing continued.

"A blatant contradiction of what the heavens had revealed to me. Such inconsistencies are... professionally irritating." He took a step forward, and I felt the pressure of his spiritual essence increase subtly.

"I suspected deception, of course. It wouldn't be the first time someone attempted to switch a valuable treasure for a fake. But I must admit—" his gaze fixed directly on me "—I didn't expect someone to craft such a convincing replica. The same plan has been used many times before, but no fake has ever been able to hide itself from Elemental Realm perception." Liu Chang and Su Yue exchanged glances, then both looked at me.

I knew what they were thinking, they were wondering if I could tap into the same Stellar Realm energy I'd used to kill Ke Jun during our previous encounter. The problem was, using the baby star had nearly killed me, and in my current weakened state, attempting it again would almost certainly be fatal. Mo Xing noticed the exchange of glances and chuckled softly.

"Ah, you're waiting for assistance? How touching." He shook his head slightly.

"I was quite surprised that you didn't have an escort. Most sects wouldn't send disciples on such a valuable mission without Elemental Realm or Stellar Realm backup." He gestured expansively at the empty road around us.

"But I see no one coming to save you. And don't hold any notions that your sect's Stellar Realm seniors might intervene. My own Stellar Realm senior is currently employing a technique that will hide our little encounter from prying eyes, even those of Stellar Realm cultivators." My heart sank at these words. If what he said was true, we couldn't even hope for intervention from passing cultivators or patrols.

A chaotic situation where they each fought each other for the herb was our only chance of getting away, but we were completely isolated. Mo Xing extended his hand, palm up, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Now then, if you would please hand over the Moonlit Dew Flower, we can conclude this business with minimal unpleasantness."