As soon as Branch Head Xavier finished speaking, the flying barge sped up. To my surprise, the flying barge proved more nimble than I expected. Despite its size, it moved faster than I could on my flying carpet. A magic barrier sprang into existence around the flying barge, surrounding it on all sides.

  Ellen dashed towards me and pressed my acupoints with her fingers, which allowed me to move once again. I gave her a grateful smile, before I looked around with my spirit sense to get a better grasp of the situation. At first, nothing happened. However, after a few seconds, I saw… something flying towards the barge. It moved so fast that I could barely see it. Even that much took all of my focus and concentration.

  The flying barge lurched once again as it dodged a projectile. Thankfully, the other disciples from the Dawn and Dusk Sect had already braced themselves, so no one fell over. After missing the flying barge, the projectile flew off into the distance and disappeared from sight.

  “What’s going on?!” One of the disciples cried out.

  “Did something hit us?” Another asked.

  “Branch Head Xavier!”

  I faced the other disciples.

  “Leave him alone.” I called out. “We shouldn’t distract him.”

  The other disciples looked over and saw that I spoke the truth. Branch Head Xavier wore a look of intense concentration on his face. It was clear that piloting the flying barge at this speed, while also maintaining the magic barrier, took its toll on him.

  “Senior Brother Ross,” one of Brother Ross’ companions said, eyes filled with fear, “Do you know what’s going on?”

  “We’re under attack.” Brother Ross replied in a grim voice.

  My companions and I all nodded. However, the other disciples looked at us in disbelief.

  “Impossible!” Brother Ross’ other companion said. “Who would dare attack us? We’re part of the Dawn and Dusk Sect!”

  “One of the other Seven Great Northern Sects.” I answered.

  Another projectile flew towards the flying barge. Branch Head Xavier tried to dodge this one as well, but failed. The projectile hit the magic barrier and exploded. The force of the blow knocked the flying barge to the side, throwing several of the disciples off their feet, including Brother Ross. However, I caught him before he went too far. After he regained his footing, he gave me a grateful look.

  “That was an arrow made from blood.” Willow said, her voice grim. “It’s the Ancient Blood Sect.”

  I looked up and saw that she was right. The part of the magic barrier hit by the projectile was stained blood red. I bit back a curse. It appeared that Branch Head Kasandra had decided to make her move right away. I had to admit that it was a bold and brilliant idea. No one here, not even Branch Head Xavier, had seen this coming.

  Not only that, but Branch Head Kasandra had waited until we were some distance away from the other clans and sects before making her move. They wouldn’t be able to help us, assuming they were even inclined to. Calling for aid using a transmission talisman wasn’t an option either, since it would take too long to arrive. We were on our own.

  Maybe Willow was wrong and the Ancient Blood Sect weren’t the ones attacking us. They weren’t the only sect that specialized in blood mystic arts and blood techniques. However, I believed she was right. While other sects practiced similar arts and techniques, the Ancient Blood Sect was the most powerful one. They were also the only ones who would dare attack the Dawn and Dusk Sect. And if the Ancient Blood Sect was attacking us, then Branch Head Kasandra was involved somehow.

  Branch Head Xavier righted the flying barge’s course and continued heading towards East Mesa City. However, it flew much slower than before. The magic barrier, on the other hand, became much more powerful. It appeared that Branch Head Xavier sacrificed speed for defense. That boded ill. It meant that we had no chance of outrunning our foes.

  “Here they come!” Branch Head Xavier shouted.

  I looked in the direction that the projectiles had come from. It took some time, but eventually they entered the range of my spirit sense. Dozens of cultivators, all of them wearing the blood red uniforms of the Ancient Blood Sect, flew in our direction. They would reach our position in mere minutes.

  Three of them were in early Golden Core, two men and one woman, while the rest were in Foundation Establishment. None of them looked like they belonged to the Ancient Blood Sect’s branch office in East Mesa City. Perhaps I had been wrong about Branch Head Kasandra’s involvement. Regardless, it didn’t matter. What mattered was dealing with the attackers.

  One of the Golden Core cultivators, one of the men, wielded a bow. He drew back on the string. As he did so, an arrow made of blood red qi formed in the bow. The Golden Core cultivator aimed at us and fired. The blood arrow sped towards the flying barge and hit the magic barrier, before exploding. The flying barge lurched a little, but maintained its current course. Branch Head Xavier’s gambit had paid off.

  “What do we do?” Brother Ross asked, staring at the group of attackers flying in our direction.

  “What can we do?” Cultivator Isabel asked. “There are three Golden Core cultivators in that group, each one as powerful as Branch Head Xavier. Even if we deal with the others, we can’t do anything about those three. We can only put our hope in Branch Head Xavier.”

  I shook my head.

  “I refuse to believe that.” I said. “Even if you’re right, I would rather do everything I can instead of hoping for the best.” I grinned. “Besides, killing off the others will make me feel better.”

  Cultivator Isabel snorted and rolled her eyes.

  “If nothing else,” Ellen said, “Dealing with the Foundation Establishment cultivators will lessen the burden on Branch Head Xavier.”

  I nodded, before I stood up and addressed the other disciples from the Dawn and Dusk Sect.

  “Did you hear that everyone?” I called out. “We might not be able to do anything about the Golden Core enemies, but we can deal with the Foundation Establishment ones. Branch Head Xavier is doing everything in his power to keep us alive. It is our duty to support him!”

  One of the other disciples, one in mid Foundation Establishment, glared at me.

  “And why should we listen to you?” she demanded. “You’re just an early Foundation Establishment weakling!”

  The other disciples murmured in agreement with her. I opened my mouth to respond, but Brother Ross spoke up before I could.

  “Brother Flamewind may only be in early Foundation Establishment,” he said. “However, he is decisive when the time calls for it.” He gestured to the woman. “Unless you have a better idea.”

  The woman who challenged me looked like she swallowed a lemon. Most of the disciples here were either from Myriad Treasures Pavilion or Puppet Master Pavilion; crafters and smiths in other words. Few, if any of them, were warriors.

  “That’s what I thought.” Brother Ross said. He thumped his chest. “I will follow Brother Flamewind’s lead. The rest of you can either join us, or get out of our way.”

  I stared at Brother Ross in astonishment. He thought too highly of me. Despite my demeanor, I was just as scared as everyone else here. Yes, a part of me looked forward to the battle, but the odds were not in our favor. As Cultivator Isabel mentioned, three of our enemies were in the Golden Core realm. Even if we killed all of the Foundation Establishment cultivators, those three were still a threat to us. Still, I would rather die fighting back than wait for the inevitable.

  The other disciples deliberated amongst themselves for a few moments, before one of them stood up. Like Brother Ross, this one was in mid Foundation Establishment and a disciple of Puppet Master Pavilion.

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  “We will follow Brother Flamewind.” He said.

  The others nodded along and looked at me with expectant eyes. The weight of their gazes felt heavy and burdensome. When I spoke up earlier, I just meant to rally them to fight. I never meant to take charge. Doubt and uncertainty plagued me. I couldn’t do this. What if my actions led to their deaths?

  A hand landed on my shoulder. It felt warm and comforting. I looked back to find Willow smiling at me.

  ‘You can do this, Darian.’ she said, speaking to me through telepathy. ‘I believe in you. Remember, you are a divine demon and the Frenzied Fiend’s son. Most of all, you are not alone. We are all here for you.’

  Her words eased the doubts and uncertainties in my heart. I looked past her to find the rest of my companions standing by me. She was right. I wasn’t alone.

  ‘Thank you,’ I said to Willow, responding through telepathy, ‘I needed that.’

  She smiled.

  ‘I thought as much.’

  Before I could respond, the flying barge lurched again as another blood arrow hit the magic barrier. Right, we didn’t have much time before the enemy was upon us. I started barking out orders. Since I had no experience in situations like this, I made things up as I went along and acted to the best of my ability.

  Soon, everyone was in position. Most of the disciples were positioned near the side of the flying barge facing the enemy. However, I positioned some of them on the other side, just in case the enemy tried to attack us from behind. Everyone pulled out their respective magic treasures, including puppets, and readied themselves. I pulled out my flying sword.

  As soon as the enemies came close enough, those with long-range weapons or mystic arts, such as Elliot, attacked. Most of the enemies protected themselves, but a few fell to our barrage. The enemies, including the three Golden Core enemies, retaliated. The flying barge shuddered and shook as the enemies’ attacks hit. The magic barrier flickered, but held. Good. The magic barrier was our biggest advantage. Without it, they would just slaughter us.

  As the enemies drew closer, the battle began in earnest. They attacked the magic barrier to destroy it, while we attacked them to whittle down their numbers. I fought with my flying sword while also launching barrages of Fireballs. At first we killed several of the Foundation Establishment enemies. However, one of the Golden Core enemies, the man without a bow, stopped attacking and focused on defending his juniors.

  After that, the enemies suffered no casualties. After all, the difference between Golden Core and Foundation Establishment was the difference between heaven and earth. We might as well have been ants assaulting an elephant. However, out of desperation, none of us gave up. Everyone consumed Qi Restoration Pills to replenish their internal qi and continued attacking.

  The remaining Golden Core enemies continued to assault the magic barrier. Its light grew dimmer and dimmer with time, but stubbornly held on. This was a testament to Branch Head Xavier’s tenacity and will.

  As I kept attacking, I considered my options. What could we do to survive? What could I do to ensure we made it out alive? It was up to me, since I was the one who stepped up. Branch Head Xavier was too busy piloting the flying barge, so I couldn’t ask him. Things looked grim. The enemy held an overwhelming advantage. The only reason we were still alive was because of Branch Head Xavier. If he decided to abandon us and run for his life, we would all die. I didn’t know if he would do that, but I also didn’t know if he would stay and die with us.

  Agh! I wish I had some kind of trump card or secret weapon that could turn the tide of battle somehow. That would increase our odds of surviving, let alone winning. I snorted. While I was at it, I might as well wish for a miracle.

  Wait a moment. Maybe I did have a trump card.

  I searched my storage ring and pulled out one of the talismans I looted off of Cultivator Relentless Flame, the one that depicted the image of an axe. It was more powerful than any other talisman I had seen before. However, was it powerful enough to make a difference in this battle? I needed to consult someone and find out.

  I rushed over to Brother Ross, who stood nearby. He attacked the enemy with his hawk-like puppets, though most of them were destroyed by now. Still, he didn’t give up and continued attacking.

  ‘Brother Ross,’ I said, speaking to him through telepathy, ‘Do you know what this is? Can this help us?’

  He glanced at me for a moment, his expression grim, before focusing on the battle once more. However, a moment later, he stopped and stared at me. Rather, he stared at the talisman in my hands.

  ‘You have a treasure talisman, Brother Flamewind?’ he asked with an astonished expression on his face. ‘Where did you find something so rare?’

  ‘I looted it from one of the cultivators I killed in the Violet Desert hidden realm,’ I answered. ‘What is a treasure talisman?’

  Brother Ross stopped staring at the talisman and looked at me. Hope filled his eyes.

  ‘A treasure talisman is a type of talisman that contains an… echo, a remnant, of a magic treasure,’ he said. ‘It allows one to wield the power of the original magic treasure. Older and more powerful cultivators create them as trump cards for favored juniors, such as disciples or family members. However, creating one requires sacrificing some of the original magic treasure’s power. This is why they’re so rare.’ He nodded at the treasure talisman in my hand. ‘Given the aura of that treasure talisman, I believe that it contains the power of a Golden Core magic treasure.’

  Hope blossomed in my heart. The situation wasn’t as bad as I feared. Maybe, just maybe, this treasure talisman would be enough to kill one of our Golden Core enemies. However, I reined my eagerness in before it grew out of control. Just because I had this treasure talisman didn’t mean we had won yet.

  ‘Is there anything special I need to do in order to use a treasure talisman?’ I asked. ‘While I have some proficiency in refining magic treasures, including talismans, my skill is still lacking.’

  Brother Ross frowned in thought. The flying barge rocked as a powerful attack hit it. By this point, both of us were used to the motion, so neither of us stumbled that much.

  ‘Treasure talismans require a great deal of internal qi to use.’ Brother Ross said. ‘They also require some time to activate. The more powerful the treasure talisman, the more internal qi and the more time it requires.’ His frown deepened. ‘You may be powerful enough to use this talisman, Brother Flamewind, but only just.’

  I paused in thought. Maybe I should give the treasure talisman to someone more powerful than me, like Ellen or Elliot. A part of me wanted to be selfish and keep the talisman to myself. It was mine, after all. However, my pride was less important to me than everyone’s lives.

  ‘Treasure talismans also take on the properties of the qi one puts into it,’ Brother Ross continued. ‘Fire, in your case.’

  I paused. Well then. That was interesting. It appeared that I would be the one to use it after all. The Ancient Blood Sect was a demonic sect. My divine fire qi would be the perfect counter to them.

  ‘Axe magic treasures are also slow, at least compared to other types of offensive magic treasure.’ Brother Ross said. ‘I suggest that you only use that treasure talisman when you know you won’t miss.’

  I furrowed my brow. Given what Brother Ross told me, the best way to use the treasure talisman would be to target one of the Golden Core cultivators. They were the biggest threat to us. However, Golden Core cultivators moved faster and had faster reaction times than Foundation Establishment cultivators. If I wanted to hit one of them, then I would need some way to keep them locked down.

  A plan formed in my mind. I relayed it to Brother Ross, who nodded.

  ‘That is a sound plan, Brother Flamewind.’ He said. ‘I shall do as you ask.’

  Afterwards, I spoke to all of my companions through telepathy and told them about the plan. They all agreed to it. Once I had their affirmations, I popped a Qi Restoration Pill into my mouth and focused on the treasure talisman. Meanwhile, the others relayed my plan to the rest of the Dawn and Dusk Disciples. In order to make it work, I needed everyone’s cooperation.

  I poured my divine fire qi into the treasure talisman. As Brother Ross said, it took a great deal to activate. Even the Qi Restoration Pill that I took couldn’t restore my reserves fast enough. I took another one, even though I knew that doing so came with drawbacks. However, given the current situation, it was better than doing nothing.

  As I poured more and more of my divine fire qi into the treasure talisman, it started to glow with golden light. Even if the enemy noticed, it didn’t matter. Unless they retreated right away, my plan should still work. However, it appeared that none of them paid any attention to me. They were all focused on attacking the magic barrier, except for the Golden Core cultivator keeping his Foundation Establishment juniors safe.

  With my spirit sense, I kept an eye on the magic barrier. It was in a poor state. The enemy was starting to poke holes in it, allowing some of their attacks to break through. From what I could tell, we only had a few minutes left before the magic barrier failed altogether. I focused all of my attention on the treasure talisman, speeding up the activation process. Soon, time lost all meaning for me.

  “Flamewind!” A voice called out, almost breaking my focus.

  I looked and watched as an attack came my way. However, before it reached me, Willow barred its path and blocked it. This took its toll on her and her body trembled.

  ‘How much longer?’ She asked, looking back at me..

  I grinned.

  ‘It’s ready.’ I said.

  I finished activating the treasure talisman. A spectral axe made from golden fire emerged from the talisman. It gave off the aura of a sacred weapon.

  “Everyone, now!” I shouted.

  All of the Dawn and Dusk Sect disciples attacked the Golden Core that focused on defending his juniors. They used mystic arts, magic treasures, and puppets. While none of their attacks harmed him, they bogged him down. That was all I needed.

  I launched the spectral axe at him. His eyes widened when he saw it and tried to dodge. However, a trio of armored puppets latched onto him, slowing him down. They were Ellen’s puppets. Brother Ross’ hawk-like puppets joined them. The Golden Core cultivator threw them off a moment later, but that moment was all I needed.

  The spectral axe chopped down on the Golden Core cultivator in a vicious overheard attack. He summoned a blood-red magic barrier to protect himself. However, the spectral axe was made of divine fire qi. It went through the magic barrier as if the latter wasn’t even there. The Golden Core cultivator let out a blood curdling scream as the spectral axe sliced him in half while also burning him to ash.

  The spectral axe disintegrated, its power spent, as the ashes of the now deceased Golden Core cultivator fell to the desert below. Silence fell over the area as everyone stopped fighting.

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  This chapter was edited by Radriel7