The Science of Cultivation [Xianxia]
Chapter 313: The Pursuers and the Pursued

In the undergrowth of the Magnolia Forest, two figures could be seen cutting their way through the thick roots that sprouted all around them. Below the surface, there was none of the beauty they once saw. Only the dreary colors of dirt and bark persisted.

Thankfully, there was some room for them to maneuver. Tunnels sprawled across for long stretches, seemingly dug by some subterranean Qi beast. However, each step was fraught with danger. The roots surrounding them could sense any and all movement, spearing toward them if they wandered too close. The worst part was that many of them were hidden by the soil, making ambushes aplenty whenever they moved.

As the two slashed out with swords in hand, they could no longer keep up the pace, coming to a halt as they caught their breath.

“Are you sure these tunnels actually lead back to the surface?” Long Yi asked as he rested his hands on his knees.

“Historically, that is what the survivors have said,” Han Zemei replied as sweat dripped down her brow.

“But that’s hundreds of years ago, right? I wouldn’t call that reliable information.”

“That is all we have.”

“I just wish you would’ve warned me if this forest was so dangerous.”

“I did say it was mating season, and we often avoid the forest during it.”

“Yes, but I expected to just face more Qi beasts, not get swept into the ground by a thousand vines.”

“I’m not sure what to say,” the woman said in a monotone voice that made it seem like she didn’t mean it, but her eyes said otherwise. “This hadn’t happened in the pink zone before, so I hadn’t thought it to be a concern. In the past, it always happened in the yellow area or further in.”

Seeing how the woman was trying her best to keep it together, Long Yi didn’t push further. The two silently rested in place, occasionally fighting off the waves of roots lashing out at them. The nearby treants that they had alerted seemed to be trying to track them down, constantly in pursuit of them.

Their only chance was to flee further down the tunnels, as digging up would only alert even more treants, and allow themselves to be surrounded.

Just as they were prepared to continue their search for an exit, a rhythmic beating rang out from where they were heading. The sound steadily grew louder, causing the two cultivators to take up guard. They didn’t have to wait long to find the source of the disturbance.

A colony of white furry figures with long ears rushed toward them. The two decisively floated up to hug the ceiling to let the herd pass. Thankfully, they did. The rabbit-like Qi beast didn’t pay them any mind. However, the colossal snarl of roots that took up every inch of the tunnels chasing behind them didn’t. Sensing the danger, the two quickly flew after the rabbits. They only did so for a brief moment before switching to running to conserve their energy.

The chasing was chaotic at first, but soon calmed down as the two got used to the pace. A strange equilibrium had been reached. They were positioned between the rabbits and the tree roots, running for their lives. They no longer had any agency to decide their heading, and could only follow the Qi beasts in front of them.

To no one’s surprise, the stampede of rabbits disturbed even more treants ahead, but they expertly dodged and bit off the roots in their way, without slowing down. The sound of bark snapping was masked by the rumbling of the colony. It also prevented Long Yi and Han Zemei from holding a conversation, even though it wouldn’t help them in their current situation.

The running was numbing. With no idea how long it would last, the two fell into a meditative state of mind. It lasted until the tunnel led them to an expansive cavern, giving them room to maneuver away.

They did just that, flying into the air.

“Finally, that was not enjoyable, to say the least,” Long Yi commented.

“Cut down any roots chasing us first before talking,” his partner reprimanded.

The two came to a stop as they turned around, ready to confront their pursuers. They both balked when they didn’t see anything.

“Look there!” Long Yi shouted as he pointed to the tunnel they emerged from.

It was quite a distance away, but the vision of Foundation Establishment experts easily overcame it. They saw the tangle of roots held at bay at the opening that connected to the cavern. The walls of the tunnel dripped down onto the roots like viscous liquid. It caused the roots’ movements to become lethargic before coming to a stop as they reached the boundary of the cavern.

If Long Yi didn’t know better, he would’ve thought the walls of the tunnel were laced with a poison of some sort, but he doubted that was the case when the targets were considered.

“What in the world is causing that to happen?” he muttered under his breath.

“That is—it can’t be!” Han Zemei said in disbelief.

“What? You know what’s causing that? Hopefully it isn’t a threat to us, cause I don’t mind resting in here for a bit.”

“I’m—I’m not sure, but I think that may be the work of a heavenly element.” She gulped, taking a pregnant pause. “Specifically, a heavenly earth. It’s not weak either, likely in the later stages of Violet Core. There has been no record of such an existence in the Magnolia Forest before!”

“Well, you can update your records later. It seems your heavenly earth has created a safe zone of sorts for everything other than plants. Look.”

Long Yi gestured over to where the rabbits ran. There was a hill full of burrows where the white fury Qi beasts could be seen rushing around. A small distance away, there were also various other inhabitants, worms, armadillos, and juvenile cicadas.

They lived as neighbours, ignoring each other’s existence. That went to Long Yi and Han Zemei’s advantage, as the Qi beasts didn’t bother them either, but it kept them on their toes.

“So? Your sect should be sending out a search party soon, right? Why don’t we wait here?”

“That—is acceptable, but we should be doing more! A heavenly element is before us. As cultivators, we should try to obtain a piece of it!”

“Woah, calm down. Are you sure that is even safe? Shouldn’t we wait for rescue first before worrying about taming what is keeping the treants off our tail?”

“Don’t you have an affinity with the earth element? Don’t you know what this could mean for you?!”

Long Yi took a quick peek at the sludge and raised a brow.

“Oh, I know what that means. My Headmaster told me to keep an eye out for one, which means I’ll be taking another trip here with him, whether I like it or not.”

***

In the skies around the outskirts of the Magnolia Forest, dozens of cultivators could be seen congregating. They all wore the same white and blue robes, except for one of them. In the midst of a heated discussion, this out-of-place individual suddenly sneezed. It caused everyone to turn to him for a second, forcing an apologetic look out of him.

Strange, I don’t think it is even possible for Foundation Establishment cultivators to catch a cold. Unless—are there Earth-grade level bacteria and viruses in this world? Hmm, it wouldn’t be that strange, considering the effects Qi can have on all manner of life. It’s just like how there are high-tier poisons!

Without further ado, Li Lang quickly coursed his Qi around his body to ensure any foreign substance in his body was eliminated. It was the cure-all panacea that made cultivators famous for being impervious to all illnesses.

“Is something wrong?” an unremarkable man whispered, sensing Li Lang’s actions.

“No problem here, Chen Kan. Don’t mind me. I’ll leave the planning to your sect. Just let me know when it’s time to go.”

The man nodded as he returned his gaze to the center of the discussion, where the leaders of this expedition were currently arguing about how to go about their mission.

“This may take a little longer,” he leaned over and continued in a low voice. “Han Yun and Ding Ren never see eye to eye. However, they both know how to prioritize once they’re in action, so rest assured that it won’t affect the search.”

“I would assume with this many experts here, we should be able to force our way underground and head where we wish unimpeded. Do they know about my ability to sense their general direction already? It’s only been getting stronger since we’ve arrived.”

“Yes, my master informed them herself. However, even with all of us here, it’s not so easy to proceed. It’s still fine in the pink area, but once we reach the area beneath the yellow area, our movements could attract the attention of Saint-grade treants.”

“Then we’ll be operating in smaller groups, then?”

“I’m afraid so, but we’ll be in a formation where we can easily reinforce each other. This is the matter that the two leaders currently can’t agree on.”

Closing his eyes as he channeled his Qi once more, Li Lang used the Tracing Origin Art once more.

“Long Yi’s direction hasn’t changed, but that can be both good and bad. Do you think I can intervene to make them hurry up?”

“That is hard to say. Our elders told them to be respectful to you, but those two rarely care about those weaker than them.”

Almost every cultivator present from the Rolling Tide sect was in the late stages of Foundation Establishment. Li Lang was under no delusion that he would be respected everywhere he went, so he didn’t pay the warning any mind.

He stepped forward and clapped his hands loudly together.

“Ladies and gentlemen, isn’t it about time we went on our way?”