Ascension of the Forsaken

Chapter 9: Confrontaion

Phoenix city hasbeen changed to Thousand Roads city. Thank you.

Kael nodded as he absorbed Jin Mu's words, sinking deep into contemplation. His mind churned as he strategized his next steps. After what felt like an eternity, Kael finally emerged from his thoughts, his gaze steady as it locked onto Jin Mu.

“What’s the situation between the various powers in Thousand Roads city?” Kael asked, his tone sharp and probing. “Are they hostile to one another, neutral, or perhaps allies working in cooperation?”

Jin Mu’s expression grew thoughtful as he replied, “The dynamics between the various powers are... complicated. Take, for instance, the Alchemy Association and the Formation Master Guild. On the surface, they appear indifferent, neutral even. But there’s an undercurrent—a sense that more is happening behind the scenes.

"As for the sect forces, such as the Serpent Fang Sect and my Golden Lotus Pavilion, our enmity runs deep. It’s only held in check by mutual recognition that neither of us can fully eradicate the other. This uneasy stalemate forces us to restrain ourselves. But within Phoenix City boundaries, you don’t need to worry. Conflicts are strictly prohibited, and anyone breaking the rules will face the wrath of the City Lord’s Mansion—no exceptions.”

Kael raised an eyebrow. “So, within the city, the forces are mostly neutral, and I don’t have to worry about anyone causing trouble for me?”

Jin Mu nodded firmly. “That’s essentially the case.”

Kael exhaled, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly. “That’s a relief. The last thing I want is to get dragged into unnecessary conflicts. They’re a complete waste of my time.” He paused before adding, “By the way, you mentioned that the City Lord’s Mansion maintains order in the city?”

“That’s correct,” Jin Mu affirmed.

Kael’s gaze turned contemplative once more. “Then they must either be extraordinarily powerful or have a formidable backer to keep everyone in line.”

“The City Lord’s Mansion is indeed formidable,” Jin Mu explained. “The City Lord, Yao Zhentian, is an exceptionally powerful figure—just one step away from the eighth stage of the Nascent Soul Realm. His mere presence is enough to deter the various forces. And that’s not all; he has the full backing of the Soaring Heavens Dynasty,”

Kael nodded again, his mind racing with plans. “The most important thing for me right now is to grow stronger. For now, we’ll go on a hunting spree. We’ll keep what we need, and I’ll absorb the rest.”

Having decided on their course of action, Kael and Jin Mu immediately set off.

Meanwhile, disciples of the Serpent Fang Sect were still in pursuit, carefully following the trail left behind by their targets. Their search eventually led them to the site where Kael and Jin Mu had been just moments before. The sight of monster carcasses strewn across the area sent shivers down the spines of the younger disciples, an unshakable unease seeping into their veins.

Their senior brother, however, merely furrowed his brows, scanning the surroundings for any trace of his quarry. The two junior disciples, unwilling to anger their leader, forced themselves to suppress their discomfort. Swallowing their fear, they began combing the area for clues. After Carefully scanning the area and picking up the necessary clues, they managed to pick up the trail again and set off immediately not wanting to allow their targets to get any further or keep evading them.

The forest stretched endlessly before the Serpent Fang Sect disciples, its ancient trees casting foreboding shadows under the moonlight. Though they had been trailing Kael and Jin Mu for hours, frustration was beginning to gnaw at them. At each location they arrived, the evidence pointed to Kael and Jin Mu’s trail, but the sight that greeted them left their resolve shaken.

The carcasses of beasts littered the forest floor in grotesque stillness. These were no ordinary creatures—they were powerful monsters whose cores had been carefully extracted, leaving behind only lifeless husks. The tens of bodies scattered across the dense foliage painted a grim picture of efficiency and brutality. The disciples couldn’t ignore the skill required to dispatch such beasts so cleanly.

One of the junior disciples couldn’t hold back his unease. “Senior Brother, these kills… they’re too precise. If ot is him that did this—then he is more dangerous than we originally thought.”

The senior disciple narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable. “ I conur but don’t let fear cloud your judgment. Focus on the task at hand. No matter how strong he thinks he is I'm stronger”

They pressed forward, following faint traces of movement through the forest—a broken branch, disturbed leaves, subtle footprints in the soft earth. As they moved deeper, the unsettling pattern repeated itself. Every site they came across bore similar signs: monsters felled and stripped of their cores with surgical precision. Yet there was no sign of Kael or Jin Mu.

The younger disciples exchanged uneasy glances. It was as if their targets were intentionally leaving a macabre trail, daring them to follow.

Their senior finally stopped at the edge of a clearing, his gaze cold and calculating as he surveyed the carnage before them. “They’re close,” he muttered, his voice low but tinged with steel. “Spread out. We can’t afford to lose them.”

The group fanned out cautiously, their senses heightened. The forest seemed to pulse with an eerie energy as if it were alive and aware of the hunt. They moved carefully, each step deliberate, their weapons at the ready.

And then, the confrontation they had been dreading arrived.

Kael and Jin Mu stood calmly in the middle of yet another clearing, surrounded by freshly slain beasts. Kael’s piercing gaze met that of the senior disciple, his stance unwavering, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

“So,” Kael said, his voice calm yet laced with menace, “you’ve been following us.”

The senior disciple didn’t flinch, gripping his weapon tighter. “You’ve left quite the trail. Did you think we wouldn’t catch up?”

Kael’s smirk widened as he stepped forward, his aura growing more oppressive by the second. “Catch up? I was hoping you’d find us. Saves me the trouble.”

Jin Mu chuckled darkly beside him a gleeful glint in his eyes. “You should’ve stayed in your Sect. Now, you’ve made the worst decision of your lives.”

The Serpent Fang disciples readied themselves for battle. The confrontation was inevitable, and the forest would soon witness a clash unlike any it had seen before.