The Elven Cultivator

Chapter 330: Chapter 303: A Meteorite from the Heavens Smashes an Anthill

In the spacious courtyard, more than twenty disciples from Taichu City stood in twos and threes, their gazes all fixed on a floating Water Curtain not far away.

Displayed upon it was a bird’s-eye view showing the entirety of an encampment.

The image was still, clearly a reconnaissance feed captured beforehand by a disciple using Magic.

Although it was impossible to observe the movement of personnel in the camp in real-time, the sheer number of tents and the arrangement of wagons made it clear that this encampment was not small.

Evan stood before the light screen, his fingertip tapping several spots on the image as he spoke in a steady tone, ”According to our investigations over the past few days, this encampment holds at least two to three hundred people. The good news is we haven’t detected any energy fluctuations from an Array, which means we can launch a surprise attack.”

”I suggest we make our move at night. After nightfall, they’ll change the guard, which is when they’ll be at their most lax. The darkness has no effect on us, but it will be a significant hindrance for them. Under these conditions, our coordination with the Daoist Soldiers will be at its most effective, allowing us to catch them completely by surprise.”

The disciples nodded frequently as they listened, with no one raising any objections.

With the aid of Techniques and Pills, and their prior experience operating in the Dark Nether Realm, they were long accustomed to fighting in lightless environments. To them, the night was no different from the day.

Conversely, their enemies would be hampered by the nighttime conditions, their combat strength greatly diminished.

Someone spoke up in a low voice, ”Then it’s settled. We’ll make our move tonight and get this over with.”

The others chimed in with agreement, then began discussing the specific details of the operational plan.

After finalizing all the details, Evan cupped his fists to the crowd and said, ”My dear juniors, thank you all for coming to help. I will remember this favor.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the disciples all shook their heads and waved their hands dismissively.

”Senior Brother Evan, you’re being too formal. This concerns our Clan, so of course we have to contribute.”

”Exactly. The Half-Elves are seeking refuge with our Clan, which makes them our people. Intercepting and killing our people is no different from slapping us in the face. When something like this happens, how could we possibly stand by and do nothing?”

”This time, we have to teach those blind fools a proper lesson.”

Voices of agreement rose one after another, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Evan was one of the first Elves to become a disciple of Taichu City, and his Cultivation Level was the highest among everyone present. Even if it weren’t for the Clan, they would have come to help just out of respect for Evan.

Being on good terms with Evan had countless benefits and no downsides.

They naturally knew what choice to make.

Evan responded with a smile, then looked up at the cyan bird still circling in the sky above the courtyard.

Now that everyone had gathered, there was no need to keep sending the signal.

He raised his hand and beckoned. The cyan bird responded, diving down and folding its wings to land back in his palm, transforming back into a smooth Cyan Jade feather.

Just as he was tucking the feather away, a flurry of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the direction of the courtyard gate, followed by the sight of Ryan’s clearly excited face.

”Evan! Look who’s here!”

Evan detected the unconcealed pride in Ryan’s voice. A flash of doubt crossed his mind as he instinctively turned to look at the gate.

Ryan was stepping aside, and following behind him through the gate was a tall, slender figure.

The moment he saw the person clearly, the expression on Evan’s face froze for an instant, his eyes filled with astonishment.

”Senior Brother Lucius!”

The newcomer wore a long, pale cyan robe. His figure was lean but not frail, his back as straight as a pine. His face was as impassive as a pool of deep, still water, his features betraying no emotion. He simply stood there quietly, yet he drew everyone’s gaze.

It was as if he were a sharp sword hidden in its sheath; though its edge was not revealed, its presence was impossible to ignore.

Seeing Lucius, the other disciples were also startled and hurried to salute him.

”Senior Brother Lucius?”

”Senior Brother, what are you doing here?”

”What a coincidence...”

Evan suppressed his surprise and strode forward to greet him.

Lucius was one of the most senior disciples in Taichu City.

Moreover, he had been personally taught by the Clan Leader, making him a true student of the Clan Leader.

In comparison, the other disciples of Taichu City were just that—disciples.

Evan had only recently heard that Senior Brother Lucius had successfully condensed a Sword Pill and become a true Sword Cultivator.

’In terms of strength, among the nearly one thousand disciples in all of Taichu City, probably only Senior Brother Laine could contend with him.’

’Why would he show up here?’

’Could he be here to collect Residual Souls too?’

’No, that can’t be it.’

’That doesn’t seem like Senior Brother Lucius’s style.’

’It’s more likely he’s here to exterminate the Slave Hunting Team.’

As these thoughts were still running through Evan’s mind, Lucius spoke first.

”I heard from Ryan that you’re planning to attack the Slave Hunting Team’s stronghold,” he said.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the image of the encampment on the light screen.

”Count me in.”

Everyone present was stunned for a moment, then their faces lit up with joy.

Senior Brother Lucius was a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, and a Sword Cultivator renowned for his combat prowess at that.

With his participation, their chances of success in this operation were now even greater.

Evan’s face also showed delight as he nodded without hesitation. ”With Senior Brother Lucius joining us, we couldn’t ask for more.”

Lucius nodded slightly, his gaze returning to the light screen, as if he were already memorizing the layout of the encampment.

But in the next instant, he suddenly turned his head without warning, his gaze nailing a spot in the shadows of a crooked locust tree on the west side of the clearing. A suffocatingly sharp intent erupted from him.

Ryan, who was closest to him, instinctively tensed up, feeling as if he were standing before an erupting volcano, his scalp tingling with dread.

But just as quickly, Lucius seemed to recognize something, and the prickly, sharp intent around him abruptly retracted, like a blade being smoothly and cleanly sheathed, without a hint of hesitation.

He lowered his hands, bowed slightly, and his tone returned to its previous flat monotone.

”Teacher.”

All the disciples present froze, turning in unison to follow Lucius’s gaze. Only then did they see that a figure had appeared at some unknown point in the shadows of the crooked locust tree.

The person was just standing there, and no one knew for how long. Not a single one of them had noticed his arrival.

When they saw the person’s face clearly, they were even more astounded.

Who else could it be but Anton?

The disciples, as if waking from a dream, all bowed and paid their respects.

No one had expected Anton to suddenly appear in a place like this.

Anton’s gaze first fell on Lucius, and he nodded slightly. ”Not bad. It seems you have mastered the Heaven-Burning Sword Scripture.”

The Heaven-Burning Sword Scripture followed the extreme path of ”tempering the blade with fire,” which was in the same lineage as the Heaven-Burning Tempering Blade that Lucius cultivated.

The core concept of this Flying Sword Skill was to push the ”incineration” aspect of the Fire Element Law to its absolute limit.

The sword light was silent and traceless when released, but upon hitting its target, it would erupt with a temperature high enough to incinerate everything, turning the enemy to ash from the inside out.

It could be said to be a perfect match for Lucius’s Formless Sword Pill.

Judging from the Sword Intent Lucius had suddenly revealed just now, he had clearly already mastered this Flying Sword Skill.

He could now be considered a qualified Sword Cultivator.

Lucius kept his head lowered, his face showing not a hint of pride. ”I have only just begun,” he said calmly.

It was precisely because he had just mastered the Heaven-Burning Sword Scripture and wanted to find a suitable opponent to test his blade against that he had decided to join the operation to exterminate the Slave Hunting Team.

But to his disappointment, after several months, he had not encountered a single opponent worthy of a fight.

Therefore, after sensing the Spiritual Qi fluctuations from the Thousand Mechanism Feather, he had come to investigate with a sliver of hope. When he learned it was a plan to attack a Slave Hunting Team stronghold, the thought of participating immediately arose.

’A Slave Hunting Team stronghold should have at least a few strong experts, right?’

Anton smiled, offered no further comment, and turned his gaze to the image on the light screen.

”What’s going on here?”

Evan dared not delay and immediately recounted the entire story from beginning to end.

After listening, Anton’s eyebrow twitched. He said lightly, ”In that case, I might as well join in the fun.”

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Everyone looked at each other, unsure of how to react.

For the Clan Leader, with his level of power, to personally take action against a mere Slave Hunting Team stronghold... this could no longer be described as using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken. ”A meteorite crashing down to smash an ant’s nest” was perhaps a more fitting description.

For a moment, everyone couldn’t help but offer a silent prayer for the members of that Slave Hunting Team.