Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Chapter 27

The group began their trek across the dunes, their footsteps sinking into the soft sand. Each step was an effort, the shifting ground sapping their energy. The sun beat down relentlessly, and the lack of shade made the journey even more grueling.

Feng Jiao Xue remained silent as they walked, her gaze flickering to the horizon. The dunes rippled under the heat, creating mirages that danced and shifted. She frowned slightly, her sharp eyes catching something the others missed.

"Stop," she said abruptly, her voice cutting through the stifling silence.

The group halted, turning to look at her.

"What is it?" the crown prince asked, his tone cautious.

Feng Jiao Xue pointed to the horizon. "There," she said. "Do you see that line of haze? It’s moving toward us."

The others squinted, their eyes following her gesture. At first, they saw nothing but the endless expanse of sand. Then, gradually, they noticed the faint, undulating line in the distance.

"What is that?" Mei Lin asked, her voice tinged with unease.

"A sandstorm," Feng Jiao Xue replied, her tone calm but firm. "It’s moving fast. We need to find shelter now."

"A sandstorm?" Han Qing repeated, his brows furrowing. "How dangerous can it be?"

Feng Jiao Xue turned to him, her cold gaze unwavering. "If we stay out here, it will tear us apart. Sandstorms in distorted spaces are even more violent than normal ones. Trust me, you don’t want to test it." Many often dares underestimate the dessert. It takes a different kind of resolve to be able to live here. Even more so for those that dares to treck it.

The crown prince nodded, taking her warning seriously. "Everyone, spread out and look for cover. Quickly!"

The group scrambled to search the area, their movements frantic as the wind began to pick up. The air grew heavier, the faint sound of rushing wind becoming a deafening roar.

"What now?!!!!" Was what everyone was thinking as the wind picked up as if the scorching heat itself was not enough.

"There!" one of the cultivators shouted, pointing to a cluster of jagged rocks partially buried in the sand.

"Move!" the crown prince ordered, leading the charge toward the rocks.

The wind howled around them as they reached the outcropping, its force nearly knocking them off their feet. The sand whipped against their skin like tiny needles, stinging and relentless.

"Get down and for the mages, create a barrier and hold it!" Feng Jiao Xue shouted over the roar of the storm.

The group huddled together behind the rocks, using their cloaks and arms to shield themselves as the barrier could not stop the harsh wind, only the sand that threatens to burry them. Feng Jiao Xue crouched at the edge, her back to the storm as she assessed their precarious situation.

The sandstorm hit with a fury that was almost alive. The world around them disappeared into a swirling maelstrom of sand and wind, the sky turning a murky brown. The howling wind was deafening, drowning out all other sounds.

"This is insane!" Mei Lin cried, her voice muffled by her cloak.

"It won’t last forever," Feng Jiao Xue said, her voice steady despite the chaos. "Stay low and don’t panic."

The crown prince glanced at her, noting the calm in her demeanor. "You’ve dealt with this before, haven’t you?" he asked.

She nodded slightly. "In my past travels," she said, her gaze fixed on the storm.

She can’t exactly say that she had been in the desserts in her previous life. In fact, she had fallen in love with the barren beauty. Very few may appreciate it due to the heat in the day and the cold in the night but she had loved the secrets that every ripples of sand hids.

"The land of the sun". Golden, as if depicting it’s rich history and vast burried wealth of history, culture, danger, knowledge and precious stones and metals.

She remembers a shoot out she had while in a copter, raining bullets to her enemies with her ponytail agressively waving in the air, one hand on the rope ladder, another taking life one after another.

’It was fun’. She smiled softly and bitterly at the memory.

Focusing back, she informed them "Sandstorms are common in certain regions. But this one... it’s different. It feels unnatural."

"What do you mean?" Han Qing asked, his voice strained as he pressed himself against the rock.

"The qi in this space," Feng Jiao Xue replied every since she advanced, her sensitivity to it had hightened. "It’s agitated. This storm isn’t just a natural phenomenon, it’s part of the trial."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, their fear growing as the storm showed no signs of abating. The wind howled like a living beast, and the sand seemed to claw at them with malevolent intent.

Suddenly, Feng Jiao Xue stiffened, her hand moving to her weapon. "We’re not alone," she said, her voice sharp.

"What do you mean?" Liang Feng asked, his tone alarmed. This is the first time he encounters a sandstorm for this is the first time he had ever been to such a place. He cannot imagine how people can survive in such a place! It is unimaginable!

"I told you before already! I can sense something around us and they’re moving closer!" She replied. "There’s movement in the storm," she said, her eyes narrowing. "Something is out there."

Before anyone could respond, the ground trembled beneath them. A low, guttural hiss rose above the roar of the wind, sending chills down their spines.

Then, out of the swirling sand, a massive shape emerged.

Something crawled out of the sandstorm, its massive body towering over the dunes. Its hard, red shell gleamed like polished stone, each segment fitting together tightly to protect its body. The scorpion’s eight long legs moved with a creepy, steady rhythm, their sharp tips digging into the sand with every step. Its claws were huge and powerful, snapping shut with a loud crack, as if they could crush anything they grabbed.

Its tail was the most terrifying part. It arched high over its back, ending in a sharp stinger that dripped with thick, dark venom. The venom sizzled when it hit the ground, melting the sand where it landed. The scorpion’s eyes, glowing faintly like tiny red lanterns, watched its prey with an eerie focus. The creature moved like it owned the desert, blending perfectly with the storm around it. It wasn’t just a creature, it was a dangerous predator built to survive in the harshest conditions.

"What the heck is that?!" Mei Lin asked incredulously.

"It’s a Scarlet armoured Scorpion" One of the expirienced cultivator replied. Face grim as he held his weapon. "One of my comrades before had encountered one in the southern continents! They are supposedly hard to kill because their shells are known to be near impenetrable!"

Feng Jiao Xue took note of the term ’continents’ to mull over for later.

Then, another scorpion appeared, then another, until eight of the monstrous creatures surrounded them. Their claws clicked ominously, and their stingers glinted with deadly intent.

"Defensive positions!" the crown prince ordered, drawing his sword.

The group moved quickly, forming a tight circle around the rock. The storm raged on, but their focus was entirely on the creatures closing in on them.

"They’re using the storm as cover," Han Qing said, his sword at the ready. "Smart for beasts."

"Stay sharp," Feng Jiao Xue said, her tone calm but commanding. "These scorpions are relentless. Aim for their joints and eyes, the carapace is too tough to break easily."

"The what?" Han Qing asked.

"Shell." The crown prince translated. "Carapace is mostly known as shell"

Feng Jiao Xue nodded "Its shell, or carapace, is like natural armor, hard as stone and almost impossible to break. Attacking it directly won’t work unless you’re strong enough to crack it. Instead, aim for the joints where the legs and tail connect. Those spots are weaker."

She pointed at the massive tail arched high over the creature’s back. "And watch the stinger. It’s full of venom that can kill within minutes. Even a graze could be fatal." Her sharp eyes flicked to its claws, which clicked ominously in the sandstorm’s roar. "Its claws are strong enough to crush boulders based on it’s size. Keep your distance unless you want to be its next meal."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of her words sinking in as the scorpion’s glowing eyes fixed on them, its massive form shifting in the swirling sand.

The first scorpion lunged, its claws snapping at Mei Lin. She stumbled backward, her staff glowing as she unleashed a burst of fire. The flames struck the scorpion, forcing it to retreat, but the others pressed forward.

This time they have enough space and vissual for their contracted beasts to be brought out making things easier as they fought side by side with their beast companions.

Feng Jiao Xue moved with precision, her blade darting out to slash at the exposed joint of one scorpion’s leg. It screeched in pain, its movements faltering as she sidestepped its counterattack. Only she alone didn’t summon her contractual beast. Huang Jin De is out of the option and its too dangerous for Yin Xiao

The storm roared around them, the sand making it difficult to see or breathe. But the group fought on, their determination unyielding as they battled both the elements and the beasts.

Despite the chaos, Feng Jiao Xue’s movements were calculated and efficient. She struck only when necessary, her attacks quick and precise. She allowed the others to take the lead, ensuring she didn’t draw too much attention to herself.

After a grueling battle, the last scorpion fell, its massive body collapsing onto the sand. The group stood in silence, their chests heaving as they caught their breath.

The storm began to abate, the wind dying down until only a faint breeze remained. The dunes reappeared, the golden sands stretching endlessly once more.

"We survived," Mei Lin said, her voice trembling with relief.

"But for how long?" Han Qing muttered, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

The crown prince sheathed his sword, his expression grim. "We need to keep moving. The herb must be close."

Feng Jiao Xue glanced at the distant horizon, her expression unreadable. The storm had tested them, but she knew the worst was yet to come.

"Let’s go," she said quietly, her voice carrying a sense of quiet determination despite the unease in her stomach.