Chapter 101: The Caprices of Fate
“That's easy, let's go down now!” Gu Weiyu said as she guided the Green Tuan to fly downward.
Those on the oasis without flying devices muttered, “Are these two crazy?”
The sand scorpions seemed endless, and giant eagles were rapidly closing in.
The human cultivators on the oasis were in dire straits when a clear voice rang out:
“Fellow Daoists, the only way to survive now is to unite our efforts!”
Looking toward the voice, the crowd saw a young girl in a green robe standing upright atop a black cloud mass. Beside her stood a white-robed youth, and together they launched a dozen powerful talismanic scrolls.
The relentless waves of sand scorpions on the grassland were decimated by the talismans, greatly easing the pressure on the cultivators.
“Hurry and get up here!” Gu Weiyu controlled the Green Tuan as it hovered in midair, calling to the cultivators on the oasis.
Others with flying devices quickly realized the limits of individual strength.
They descended to the oasis, allowing those without flying tools to board.
Soon, all the cultivators on the oasis were airborne on their flying devices.
At that moment, the giant eagles above descended swiftly, their sharp beaks, razor-sharp talons, and wind blades generated by flapping wings all striking at the cultivators!
The sand scorpions below no longer posed a threat; now all focus could be dedicated to combating the eagles in midair.
“Attack—”
At Gu Weiyu’s command, all cultivators unleashed their assaults against the giant eagles aloft.
A piercing, brief eagle cry echoed—laden with pain, clearly their joint attacks inflicted grievous wounds.
Seeing this, everyone’s confidence soared as they fought side by side against the eagles.
From above came intermittent mournful cries of the giant eagles, now at a disadvantage due to the cultivators’ unity.
Within a short while, one eagle could no longer withstand the assault and was directly struck down by Gu Weiyu and the others, falling onto the oasis where it was immediately surrounded and devoured by the restless sand scorpions...
The eagles above cried out in anguish, unwilling to accept the loss of a comrade.
Everyone recognized the retreat in the eagles’ cries and redoubled their efforts to jointly attack those still airborne.
After nearly half an hour, under the combined strength of the cultivators, another eagle was severely wounded. Only then did the remaining eagles retreat, vanishing into the sky.
To deal such damage, Gu Weiyu and her companions paid a heavy price—several weaker cultivators perished, and more than ten others sustained serious injuries!
---
But it was all worthwhile; at least the vast majority survived!
Gu Weiyu exhaled deeply as the eagles disappeared on the horizon and the sand scorpions below were no longer a concern.
“Fellow Daoists, let us press forward and wipe out these detestable creatures below!”
Someone in midair pointed to the tide of sand scorpions on the oasis and shouted.
Emboldened, the cultivators swiftly routed the sand scorpions, eradicating them from the oasis.
Seeing this, everyone disembarked from their flying devices; the crisis dissipated as if it had never been.
———
The oasis before her gradually turned to nothingness; darkness swept over her vision. Dizzy and disoriented, she thought she heard voices whispering in her ear.
“Red Robe, come here.”
The familiar voice echoed in her mind. Gu Weiyu opened her eyes and saw that she had emerged from the secret realm.
Around her were many others who had just exited the secret realm as well.
At a glance, Gu Weiyu noticed fewer people than when they had entered—nearly one-third were missing!
It seemed many had perished within the secret realm, never to return!
She instinctively glanced left and right but saw no sign of her fourth sister, Gu Weilan.
Recalling her master’s recent transmission, she decided to discuss it once she met him.
Outside the Voidless Secret Realm, the tower ships of various sects, demons, and the alliance of scattered cultivators remained as before they had entered.
Gu Weiyu’s expression was dazed as she quickly made her way to the tower ship of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.
“Ten Thousand Swords Sect disciples, return to the tower ship immediately!”
“Dan Yang Sect disciples, return to the tower ship immediately!”
“...”
Similar announcements echoed from the tower ships of various sects.
Cultivators emerging from the secret realm hurried toward their respective sects’ tower ships.
In a corner, Gu Weilan concealed herself among the crowd, her expression somber.
She watched Gu Weiyu enter the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s tower ship before slowly turning to head toward the alliance of scattered cultivators’ tower ship nearby.
On the second floor of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s tower ship, Gu Weiyu approached the elegant chamber where Master Yuling resided and gently knocked.
The door opened in response. Master Yuling reclined lazily on a long couch within.
Her gaze softened as it fell upon Gu Weiyu, then she nodded approvingly, “Not bad!”
Gu Weiyu sat beside her and smiled faintly. “Master, Red Robe has something to report—”
She recounted meeting her fourth sister within the Voidless Secret Realm. “Master, my fourth sister’s talent is truly remarkable!”
“Red Robe, some things are not as easy as you think,” Master Yuling said, gazing deeply at her.
“From what you say, your fourth sister is likely not highly regarded within the scattered cultivators’ alliance. If she were an ordinary scattered cultivator, that would be one thing, but if she is...”
As a scattered cultivator, Gu Weilan’s ability to enter the Voidless Secret Realm through the alliance already revealed certain implications.
Gu Weiyu was momentarily taken aback; she had not considered so deeply.
“All right, accompany me downstairs first.” Master Yuling rose from the wooden couch and led the way to the first floor.
On the first floor, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect’s Qi Refining disciples who had entered the secret realm lined up orderly, each being led into a small space specially partitioned on the floor.
“Red Robe, you go too!” Master Yuling said softly before entering a small chamber.
Gu Weiyu nodded and joined the queue.
“Little Sister Lian—” Wan Gu, seeing Master Yuling leave, winked at her. “Finally found you!”
“Senior Brother Wan—” Gu Weiyu was in a bad mood and only nodded without replying.
The line moved quickly; within half an hour it was Gu Weiyu’s turn.
Qin Xiao, a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator responsible for collecting mission items, greeted her politely.
“Little Sister Lian, please take out the spiritual herbs and materials you collected in the Voidless Secret Realm. We’ll tally them.”
Gu Weiyu produced the large storage bag issued by the sect and handed it to Qin Xiao. “Senior Brother Qin, please register them.”
Qin Xiao took the storage bag, which was unassigned, and opened it directly. Upon inspection, he was secretly amazed.
Little Sister Lian was incredibly lucky!
Not only had she completed the sect’s assigned tasks, but she had also found rare spiritual herbs like Thundervine and rare materials such as Red Crystal Stone and Mithril Ore—uncommon spiritual minerals!
Just a quick glance was enough for Qin Xiao to surmise that this secret realm expedition had been a bountiful harvest for Little Sister Lian!