Chapter 101: The Demon-revealing Needle
With the help of the light from the bonfire, Zen was able to study his surroundings. He saw about ten female disciples standing on a wide branch of a spruce tree.
The female disciple in the front gripped a long sword horizontally and looked nervous. She shouted at Zen, “Don't move forward. Which peak are you from?”
Zen raised his head and answered, “We are disciples from Drizzle Peak!”
Of the thirty-three peaks at Cloud Sect, only Lady Peak housed female disciples. Since only female disciples were standing on the branch, it could be assumed that they were from Lady Peak.
After Yan came to Lady Peak, the strength of the entire peak was enhanced. Although Yan was imprisoned now, the peak retained its average strength.
It was undoubtedly more powerful than Drizzle Peak, which was ranked at the bottom.
Since Lady Peak was the only peak among the thirty-three peaks at Cloud Sect to accommodate female refiners, it was the most popular peak among the male disciples. It was also the best place for male disciples to find companions.
The female disciple standing on the tree was named Nina. She was from the Zhu Clan, which was famous for their powerful weapon needles. Given her strength and cultivation level, she was an inner disciple at Lady Peak. Her strength and rank ensured that she was selected to lead her group during this trial to chop the demon.
“The Drizzle Peak? Stand there!” Nina Zhu warned again. Then she aimed a small jade box at Zen and the others from Drizzle Peak.
Although Nina Zhu was surprised that the Pear Needle Rainstorm was not effective on Zen, as the descendant of the Zhu Clan, she had more powerful weapons at her disposal. Thus she felt secure that she could confront him.
For example, the small jade box in her hand was named Shock Dragon. It looked ordinary, but Nina knew that if the Shock Dragon were released, its power would be equivalent to a full blow from an overmatch at the Illuminating Soul Realm.
Perhaps Zen felt the power hidden in the small jade box, which was why he was obedient.
Then Nina passed the jade box to another female disciple from Lady Peak before jumping down from the tall tree.
When she jumped from the branch, her black hair scattered. Fortunately, she had a soft, lissome figure. She landed agilely on the ground of the forest. Nina then ran her fingers through her hair as she cautiously approached Zen.
Once she got close, Zen could see her appearance clearly. She had fair skin, bright eyes and white teeth. She was short and slender but well-rounded. Under the light of the bonfire, she looked indistinct.
“Don't move!” Nina lifted her beautiful brows and warned, “My sister disciple is more timorous than me. If you move even a little bit, you'll frighten her and then she will release the Shock Dragon. Then, all of you will die!”
All disciples from Drizzle Peak heard the words 'Shock Dragon', and the expression changed on the faces. They had been at Cloud Sect longer than Zen, and hence, they were more familiar with the top seven noble clans. So, they had naturally heard of weapons such as the Shock Dragon. It was known that the Shock Dragon could kill all nature creatures in one second. There was no chance of survival even for creatures at grade 9 or 10 of the nature level once hit by the Shock Dragon.
“Since you carry the Shock Dragon, you must be from Zhu Clan, right?” Cleve asked.
Nina's expression hardened when she heard Cleve's question. “Nobody told you to speak. Don't say anything!”
Seeing Nina's expression, Zen laughed in a low voice. Nina's expression hardened some more. With a cold tone, she said, “I didn't tell you to laugh. You can't laugh, either!”
So Zen hurried to restrain his laughter. He stared at Nina with an innocent expression.
Zen's comical expression released the tension. As Nina laughed out, she waved her beautiful hand. Suddenly, a jade needle appeared between her fingers.
She grasped the jade needle tightly and waved it in front of Zen. Then she carefully checked the needle's color. Afterward, she walked to Cleve and repeated the action. She waved the jade needle in front of each of the eight disciples from Drizzle Peak.
At last, Nina sighed with relief and looked relaxed. She announced, “All right. Now I am sure there is no demon soldier mixed with you!”
Zen was curious and asked, “You can check that with your jade needle?”
Nina smiled, “This is the Demon-revealing Needle of the Zhu Clan. It is sensitive to evil spirit. As you know, a demon can eat a person and then disguise himself to look like that person. Despite a demon's ability to camouflage himself as his victim, he will spread a little evil spirit. When this Demon-revealing Needle touches an evil spirit, it will change from green to red.”
Zen nodded. As expected, each of the seven noble clans had a unique strength. Zhu Clan was an expert in hidden weapons and all kinds of techniques to make such neat stuff.
“Sisters, you can come down. There is no demon among them,” Nina turned to her group and announced.
Hearing that, the female disciples from Lady Peak hidden on the tree jumped down and settled around the bonfire.
Shortly after, the disciples from Drizzle Peak also sat on the ground around the bonfire. Zen asked, “You are so cautious. Have you also been attacked by demons before?”
As soon as Zen asked this question, the expression on all female disciples of Lady Peak saddened. Seeing this, Zen felt as though no words were needed to answer his question.
Nina nodded with tears in her eyes, “We thought it was not dangerous to take the trial to chop the demons this year as some senior brother disciples had vowed to protect us. Who would know that...”
Cloud Sect arranged for this task of slaying demons on an annual basis.
Humans and demons had fought with each other for generations. Since demons hadn't stepped into the Burning Sky Empire for many years because of the protection of the Burning Sky Palace and Cloud Sect, most disciples were not aware of the danger posed by demons.
To train the disciples, it was necessary to teach them to bring their strength into play without being suppressed by the demon's evil spirit during a fight.
Since such experience necessitated confronting a real demon, Cloud Sect allowed for the disciples to hunt demons in the Sky Forest. As with any fight, there was always a life and death situation. It truly sounded terrifying.
But in fact, during the trial to chop the demon every year, it was rare for some disciples to die as only ordinary demon soldiers would be in Sky Forest to explore the way.
A demon soldier was not powerful. At least, all the inner disciples who could pass the test and enter Sky Forest were able to fight against them.
And the disciples of Lady Peak volunteered for the task this time as they had allied with the inner disciples from Blackrock Peak.
The disciples of Blackrock Peak were willing to protect the female disciples of Lady Peak.
Blackrock Peak was ranked second among the thirty-three peaks at Cloud Sect. Even if those who took the trial to chop the demon were not the most powerful at Blackrock Peak, their strength was sufficient for the task. Some of them were not highly ranked at Cloud Sect yet, but they were famous at Cloud Sect for their strength.
But when they explored Sky Forest, a demon general mixed himself inside the group.
“A demon general disguised himself and followed your group?” Zen frowned and asked.
Nina nodded, and sorrow was reflected on her face, “Yes. That demon general ate a disciple of Blackrock Peak and hid in his body. Later, he killed another one in a sneak attack. Other disciples of Blackrock Peak fought against them and protected us. They let us run away, but...”
When she spoke, several female disciples lowered their heads as tears filled their eyes.
When facing a demon general, the disciples were in an unfavorable position.
The most powerful inner disciples who took this trial were grade 4 or 5 in the nature level. They couldn't be compared with a demon general, who was essentially more powerful.
In this situation, it was very noble of the disciples from Blackrock Peak to sacrifice themselves so that the disciples of Lady Peak could escape.
The camp was silent now. All the people were lost in thought. They fixed their eyes on the fire and gently shook their heads.
“Don't worry. I will protect you this time!” Zen suddenly smiled and broke the sadness.
After Zen finished speaking, surprise was reflected on the faces of the female disciples of Lady Peak. They stared at him in a daze.
If Cleve from Drizzle Peak had said that, they wouldn't be surprised.
But Zen was only a half-step into the nature level, and not outstanding among the disciples from Drizzle Peak. However, they knew that Zen had said that just to comfort them.
Cleve saw that and said with a bitter smile, “We also met a demon general. Zen killed it himself. Without him, all disciples of Drizzle Peak would probably have been killed.”
Many female disciples displayed a doubtful expression on the face after hearing Cleve's explanation.
Nina looked Zen up and down with her pretty eyes and smiled. She shook her head and stated, “I don't believe that!”
“Nina, I don't believe it, either!” Another female disciple shared the same opinion as the leader from Lady Peak.
Cleve smiled bitterly. If he hadn't witnessed Zen's victory over the demon general, he wouldn't have believed that a warrior who was a half-step into the nature level could accomplish such a feat either.
But, it was a fact even though the female disciples didn't believe that he had spoken the truth.
Zen didn't deny or admit to killing the demon general. He had reassured the disciples from Lady Peak just to break the ice.
A despairing soldier would surely be defeated. Anyone couldn't lose his courage at any time. As Zen saw it, Nina must have more than one powerful hidden weapon with which to protect herself. If she didn't lack the courage, she would certainly have the chance to win against a demon general.
As the night wore on, the thick crown of the spruce trees blocked the faint moonlight. It was dark in Sky Forest. Except for the light from the fire, the disciples couldn't see anything around them.
Occasionally, a giant beast would skim past the camp, rustling leaves and branches of the foliage.
Nina and other female disciples were exhausted after what had happened to them earlier that day. They leaned against each other and fell asleep.
The disciples of Drizzle Peak took turns guarding the camp and taking some rest.
The night seemed to drag on longer than usual. Not only was the disciple on guard filled with anxiety, but the ones who were sleeping couldn't rest well, either. Their nightmares would wake them.
During their torment, the darkness of the night only served to make the disciples more despondent. However, the night went by without any further incidents.
Zen didn't sleep the whole night. His soul had entered a realm that common people couldn't match. Even if he didn't rest for several days and nights, he would be in high spirits.
He sat with his legs crossed and practiced the second move of the Heavenly Ogre Fist, which was called Swarm of Ogres Surging.
When the sun rose the next morning, he was still sitting with his legs crossed. Zen opened his eyes as demonic life energy spread slowly. After meditating the whole night, Zen thought he had mastered more about Heavenly Ogre Fist.