Chapter 96: Is it Too Late for me to Back Out now?

Chapter 96 - Is it Too Late for me to Back Out now? With Kim Simona's condition stabilized and his commitment to take her place on the Hanz Clan Estate task looming, Lordi Payne slipped back to his lab room at the alchemy hotel under the cover of night. He retrieved his Blade of Life Hater, its cold weight a reassurance in his hand, along with other belongings. By morning, as the first rays of dawn crept over the horizon, Lordi Payne had just completed a system-hosted one-click-cultivation session, his body humming with fresh energy. A sharp voice cut through the quiet from outside the courtyard. "Ahem! Wake up. It's time to set off," Lu Ruru Rosa stood outside, her tone as cold as her expression. Lordi Payne quickly grabbed Kim Simona's sect nameplate and stepped out, finding her already hovering midair atop her floral lantern. "Come. Hop on," she commanded, not sparing him a glance. Lordi Payne climbed aboard, the floral lantern swaying slightly under his weight. The lantern—a rare Dao Artifact used for transportation—had limited space, forcing Lordi Payne to stand embarrassingly close to this senior sister. Ruru Rosa stood before him, clad in an elegant violet gown that accentuated her slender waist and graceful figure. Sensing Lordi's embarrassment, her long, dense eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her lips, painted an exotic shade of vivid green, curved into a faint mockery. Twin Dao buns adorned her jet-black hair, giving her a youthful charm that made her appear no older than twenty. As the lantern lifted into the air, the sweet fragrance of her hair drifted toward him, subtle yet intoxicating. Ruru Rosa first indifferently guided him through the process of using his sect nameplate to officially register for the Hanz Clan Estate task. Then with a series of deft hand seals, she steered the lantern southwest, its petals shimmering as it sliced through the morning mist. Ruru Rosa kept her gaze fixed ahead, deliberately avoiding his eyes. "I informed Senior Brother Garrick Blackthorn you're replacing Junior Sister Kim," she said, her words sharp. "He and the squad weren't pleased, but for the sake of her refining the Foundation Establishment Pills, they agreed to let you join." She paused, then added colder, "Expect challenges. Some might test your strength soon. Don't hold back." Her voice hardened, carrying the weight of unspoken rules. "In our Holy Sect, strength commands respect. Sect comrades bow to the strong. Prove your power, and you'll claim greater rewards. The stronger you are, the more you gain. Don't shame Junior Sister Kim's reputation." Lordi nodded, his expression calm. "Thank you, Senior Sister, for your guidance." Ruru maintained her icy demeanor, but his silence grated on her as the lantern glided onward. Finally, unable to bear it, she snapped, "You. When did you meet Junior Sister Kim?" "Dude... That's more than a month ago. And you were there." Lordi's lips twitched, a flicker of amusement buried deep. The memory flashed in Lordi's mind—the Tower of Hundred Treasures, Ruru Rosa standing beside Kim Simona. Yet she showed no recognition of him. "It's been a few while," he said smoothly, keeping his tone neutral. "Simona-chan... is a remarkable girl." Ruru scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Pfft. Tell me something I don't know." Her dislike and impatient for him was palpable, a simmering resentment that hung between them. She probed further, but Lordi's guarded responses yielded nothing, leaving her visibly frustrated. The silence stretched until the floral lantern descended onto a wide, windswept cliff, its edges overlooking a jagged valley. Ruru's voice was curt as she announced, "We're here." Lordi Payne had never set foot on this mountain peak before. The terrain was lush—vibrant flora, exotic beasts, and flocks of dazzling sparrows flitting through the vast mountain woods. Some had crimson tails and emerald eyes, others azure feathers with golden gazes, their wings painting the sky like a living rainbow. Their melodic chirp songs intertwined with the gentle burble of distant mountain springs, filling the mountain with serene harmony. Yet as their floral lantern descended toward a cliff near the peak, the scenery shifted drastically. The ground beneath them was barren. The stone was scarred with countless blade marks, its surface jagged and lifeless. As Lordi stepped off the lantern, his robes tore faintly, as if sliced by unseen knives. A stinging pain grazed his skin. Alarmed, he scanned for threats, his senses sharp, but found no enemies lurking in sight. Ruru Rosa smirked at his wary movements. "This is the Cliff of Nether Blade," she said, her voice laced with mockery and disdain. "Long ago, a senior of our Holy Sect cultivated the Doom Frost Blade Art here. Through centuries of relentless practice, he became a legend, his mastery on the blade was so profound that his blade intent seeped into the very stone. The senior's invincible understanding of the blade reshaped the terrain and even the weather here. Now, the land itself rejects life—no plant, no tree can survive its edge." She smirked, cast Lordi a sidelong glance. "This place is legendary among blade cultivators. Even Inner Sect seniors sought enlightenment and came to meditate on its intent here. Almost everyone in Outer Sect knows it. Especially blade cultivators. Yet you seem utterly clueless, huh?" Lordi Payne frowned, about to retort—when a deep voice interrupted from nearby. "Junior Sister Ruru, that tale is outdated." A burly man in a crimson cloak approached, his stride confident. His gaze flicked to Lordi Payne, assessing. "The blade intent here is a mere echo now—less than a tenth of its former glory. Even Qi Refinement blade cultivators rarely bother visiting anymore." They turned to see the middle-aged man striding toward them, his presence commanding. As he drew closer, he spoke again, his eyes appraising Lordi. "This must be the junior talent replacing Junior Sister Kim? Seventh Layer Qi Refinement, yet you landed on this cliff without a scratch. Not bad. You've got some skill." Ruru Rosa introduced the man to Lordi. "Senior Brother Garrick Blackthorn, Ninth Layer Qi Refinement, a step shy of establishing his Foundation Stage." She turned to Garrick, then hesitated, glancing at Lordi. "And this is... ah...what was your name again?" Lordi's mind raced. "Ninth Layer cultivator? The task of Hanz Clan Estate only required Sixth Layer or higher, doesn't it? Why's someone this strong involved?" Masking his doubts and unease, he bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Senior Brother Blackthorn. I'm Lordi Payne." As the man walked closer, Lordi Payne studied Senior Brother Garrick Blackthorn from the corner of his eye. Though not tall—standing only around five feet seven inches—Garrick's broad shoulders and dense musculature were evident even beneath his robes. His aura radiated quiet vigor rather than aggression, like a tempered blade sheathed in silk wrap. Yet for all his solid build, his footsteps were light, swift, almost feline in their precision. He wore a warm smile, but his eyes betrayed something sharper—a glint that didn't quite match the amiable curve of his lips. "I'll call you Junior Brother Payne, then," Garrick Blackthorn said, his smile warm but his eyes sharp, scanning Lordi Payne as if searching his memory for any trace of the name. Yet nothing surfaced. "No reputation, no notable feats. A nobody", he thought, his interest fading. "Probably some pretty boy leaning on Kim Simona's favor." His warmth cooled, his expression turning neutral. He shifted his attention to Ruru Rosa. "The Thorn Squad's gathering. Murphy, Barret, and Sullivon are waiting at the gazebo over there. Come along, this way. We're still expecting Riggs and Newman." From the desolate Cliff of Nether Blade, Lordi Payne, Ruru Rosa, and Garrick Blackthorn descended along a gravel-paved path, its stones crunching softly underfoot. The trail wound through dense groves of towering bamboo, their sword-like leaves weaving a canopy that filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns. A gentle breeze stirred the foliage, the rustling leaves harmonizing with the quiet, lending an almost serene air to the secluded path. After a few dozen feet, a clear stream appeared, its waters sparkling as it tumbled joyfully from the mountain's peak, paralleling the trail. The path soon met a small, red-lacquered bridge, its elegant arch spanning the stream. Crossing it, they continued downward, the snaking trail leading them through the bamboo for another quarter-hour until an octagonal pavilion came into view, nestled in a clearing. The pavilion was striking, its dark wood etched with grotesque, ghostly patterns that seemed to writhe in the shadows, exuding an eerie menace. From each of its eight corners hung skull-shaped wind chimes, swaying gently in the breeze, their crisp, tinkling notes carrying an unsettling undertone that echoed across the clearing. Inside, three cultivators lounged, their presence commanding despite their relaxed postures. At the sight of Garrick Blackthorn approaching with Ruru Rosa and Lordi, they rose swiftly, their movements fluid and respectful. "Junior Brother Riggs and Junior Sister Newman live farther out—they haven't arrived yet," Garrick announced, his voice warm but authoritative. He gestured to Lordi. "Everyone, this is Junior Brother Lordi Payne, stepping in for Junior Sister Kim Simona on the Hanz Clan Estate task." The trio's eyes swept over Lordi, their gazes lingering on his Seventh Layer Qi Refinement aura. Their brows twitched, a flicker of disapproval crossing their faces before they masked it with polite nods. Yet Lordi's mind reeled. Every cultivator here was Eighth Layer or higher—Garrick himself stood at the Ninth Layer, half-step into Foundation Stage, and even Ruru Rosa was an Eighth Layer expert. This "Thorn Squad" was monstrously strong. And with two more members yet to arrive, judging from theirs disdain for his lower cultivation suggested the absent, too, were likely Eighth Layer or higher. Why is such a formidable team assembled for a simple task like Hanz Clan Estate? After brief, perfunctory greetings, the group turned their attention to Ruru Rosa, dismissing Lordi as if he were invisible. "Junior Sister Ruru," one began, his tone eager, "I heard your Battle Demon Pet, the Crimson Thread Goldwing Centipede, molted again recently?" Ruru nodded, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. The red head young female cultivator, surnamed Sullivon, let out a relieved sigh. "That's excellent news. The Crimson Thread Goldwing Centipede thrives on devouring ghosts and evil spirits. With its strength and Senior Brother Blackthorn's overwhelming power, we hold a clear edge over the other four squads on this task." Lordi's heart lurched, his thoughts screeching to a halt. Other four squad? Is that mean there're five squads? The words echoed in his mind, each one heavier than the last. "This thorn squad lineup—Ninth and Eighth Layer cultivators, a demon pet born to consume evil spirits—was already overkill for the Hanz Clan Estate. However, there're five squads competing for the same task?" His gut twisted with a dawning realization. "This isn't just dangerous. This could be an abyss-forsaken death trap." The Fuck? ... is wrong with this task? Just as this thought crossed Lordi's mind, the gray-robed male cultivator among the group, one of the two Eighth Layer Qi Refinement members of the Thorn Squad. This near thirty look senior brother let out a heavy sigh. His voice carried a grim weight as he addressed Junior Sister Sullivon. "You're too optimistic, Junior Sister. I got news last night—the other four battle squads have bolstered their forces, and they're no small threat." A tense silence fell as he continued. "First, the GhostClaw Squad, led by Senior Brother Soren Langley." His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword. "Rumor has it he's borrowed a formidable Dao Weapon—the Venomflame Blood Wyrm Staff—from an Inner Sect senior. Every member of his squad is at least Eighth Layer Qi Refinement, that's a force to be reckoned with." He pressed on, his tone darkening. "Then there's the Suicide Squad, captained by the renowned Outer Sect beauty, Senior Sister Shirley Quinn. She's Ninth Layer Qi Refinement herself and brings her Ninth Layer Enlightenment Stage demon beast pet—a terror on any battlefield. And her entire squad is eighth-layer or higher, just like GhostClaw." "Next, the Thirst Bull Squad, led by Jorge Blue, another Ninth Layer Senior cultivator. They may not have borrowed powerful Dao Artifacts or tamed battle pets, but just two hours ago, Jorge convinced Senior Brother Rodney Luther—another Ninth Layer Qi Refiner expert—to join them. That's two Ninth Layer cultivators in one battle squad, a rare and daunting combination." A bead of sweat trailed down Lordi Payne's temple. "And then... there's the Dominators." The name alone sent a visible chill through the group. "Their leader, Donovan Valdez the Mister First Dominator, is a legend even among Ninth Layer experts. They say this Senior Brother has been slaughtering demonic bugs and evil gworms in the Gworm Abyss since he was at the sixth layer Qi Refinement Stage. Every martial spell he casts was tempered from countless life-or-death battles, and every battle move he makes forged through blood and corpses. Senior Brother Valdez, half step Foundation Stage cultivator, was long considered nearly invincible within entire Qi Refinement Stage." The gray-robed cultivator's voice grew grim. "And his squad? They've fought side by side for years in Gworm Abyss, their battle synergy honed in over years of slaughter and carnage. Compared to them, our Thorn Squad is just a temporary gathering." The gray-robed cultivator sighed again, his voice low. "We can't afford to be complacent. Not with these odds." "What...", Lordi Payne stood frozen, his mind reeling, speechless. Five squads, each a powerhouse? Ninth Layer leaders, demon beast battle pets, legendary Dao Weapons, battle-hardened veterans? The Hanz Clan Estate task, which he'd assumed was a straightforward investigation, now loomed like a death sentence. His heart pounded as a single, desperate thought screamed through his head: What kind of hellish task had I stumbled into? Is it too late for me to back out now?