Chapter 132: A New Mission, A Shared Journey
Another week and a half had passed—and with it, Zoro had officially broken through to Golden Lord.
Inside his special cultivation cave, a devilish power surged. His dark Sword Qi shook the air around him with rumbling pressure as it flooded outward in fierce waves. His breakthrough left a lasting impression.
Naturally, Master Bluesonics congratulated him with a grin and immediately had him spar with Elton in the Grand Sword Chambers. The result? While Elton was clearly the superior in the end, it was a hard-fought and close match.
"Heh, expected no less," Zoro said with a toothy grin, clearly pleased at the challenge.
Elton rubbed the back of his head, smiling wryly—unsure of how to respond to the relentless energy of his friend.
"Good!" said Master Bluesonics. "We'll resume training, but now that both of you have reached Golden Lord, you'll have more freedom. Use it to explore and refine your own paths—loosen your attachments to the mortal world. That will help you in transcending to the Mortal Shedding Realm in the future."
"Yes, Master," replied Elton, bowing respectfully.
Zoro simply gave a short nod and followed with a bow of his own.
"Ah, boy Elton," Bluesonics continued casually. "I have a small mission for you—regarding one of your little girlfriends… Shayleaf."
"Haha... ehh?! I mean… Erm…"
Elton looked away, clearly flustered as his face turned slightly red. He tried to speak but couldn't find the words.
"Ah, youth… Anyway," Bluesonics waved a hand, "as a Brilliance Sword Exalt disciple, you're qualified to accept this mission. Take Shayleaf and return to the Dimensional Gate—to the place where the Fanged Elf Kingdom once stood. Your job is to protect her by any means necessary until she fully breaks through into Gold Tier 5."
Elton blinked.
"Wait—what? Why exactly do we need to go there?"
"It's simple," Bluesonics said, his tone turning slightly more serious. "That location contains powerful lingering essence—traces of a Master-tier expert of the Fanged Elf Tribe. That kind of energy will accelerate her cultivation. No more questions. Go and get her immediately."
Before Elton could reply again, Rukia stepped in, with Christy silently trailing behind her. Rukia wore her usual sharp, composed expression.
"Master," she said calmly, "Christy should accompany them."
"Hmm? Christy?" Bluesonics raised a brow. "That's not really necessary. And I don't think—"
"It is necessary," Rukia interrupted with a resolute tone. "This mission is dangerous. Christy's presence will not only provide stability but may also push her Aka Boshi no Tengan to evolve completely. Furthermore, this will help prepare her for the Mortal Shedding realm. For the sake of the sect, the Fanged Elf Kingdom, and the potential establishment of a covert base in that region, her presence is highly beneficial."
She gave a short nod.
"And besides… Christy insisted on going."
Rukia's logic was airtight and her tone firm. Christy, meanwhile, struggled to keep a straight face, her cheeks visibly flushed as she avoided looking at Elton.
Bluesonics stared at them both for a few moments, his expression growing slightly suspicious. But eventually, he shrugged.
"Hmm… well, I suppose you're right. Besides—it's not like I'm your Sect Master or anything. Why didn't you go to him?"
"Because you're far easier to convince than that stern old man," Rukia said plainly. "And let's be honest—he never refuses your requests anyway. Plus, he's busy handling the ongoing war effort."
Bluesonics sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Ugh, fine. You're all so troublesome. Christy, Elton—go with Elder Rukia, retrieve Shayleaf, and begin your preparations for departure."
Then he turned to Zoro with a sharp grin.
"As for you… I've got something special planned for you and those Reaper Black, Whatever they are Corps brats. You're all strong enough now to handle this without Elton."
Zoro nodded, curious.
"Yes, Master."
Christy, Elton, and Elder Rukia swiftly made their way to a specific section of the sect, entering a secluded spatial passage—the same special domain where Rukia had been seen levitating in meditation some time before. The aura in this area was thick and potent, indicating the presence of unique sharp sword energies.
The three continued onward until they reached two sealed cave entrances, each surrounded by layers of intricate, powerful formations radiating magical and qi energy.
"Stay sharp and be careful," Rukia said calmly as she began deactivating the array of barriers around one of the caves.
From within the cave, a faint, feminine roar echoed out—soon followed by heavy, thunderous rumbles that grew louder as each layer of formation was undone.
The air became tense.
As the final seal was broken, the stone entrance to the cave began to slide open. For a brief moment, everything fell completely silent.
And then—BOOM!
A blur of gold, green, and dark red energy erupted from the cave like a flash of lightning, blasting past Elder Rukia without so much as a touch. She merely glanced sideways, unbothered.
Behind her, two sharp explosive clashes echoed as a figure intercepted the blur eventually launching it back several meters before crashing hard into the ground. Without pause, the blur charged again toward Elton and Christy.
Christy stepped forward once more, her Aka Boshi no Tengan activating as her eyes glowed red with evolving golden script within. She intercepted the charging figure again, clashing with intense force. The impact shook the ground and the air crackled with pressure.
A fierce, chaotic exchange unfolded between the two—but it soon became clear that the attacker was unstable, lacking control.
Before long, Christy forced the figure into submission, trapping them within a powerful star illusion that targeted the mind and halted all movement.
"Geez… what happened to Shayleaf?" Christy muttered with furrowed brows, still bracing herself just in case.
"Elton, I assume you have an idea?" Rukia asked knowingly, her tone calm but sharp.
Elton stepped forward with a troubled expression.
"Her vampiric bloodline… it's become unstable. She's entered a berserk state. Christy—keep her pinned just a little longer."
Elton's body began to glow with a vivid green aura as he channeled his Royal Elven magic, aligning his essence with nature affinity. His entire presence softened yet pulsed with strength.
He stepped behind the beautiful but struggling Shayleaf, whose glowing red eyes and wild magical waves pulsed like a storm as she thrashed within the illusion. Christy remained focused—one palm pressed firmly against Shayleaf's abdomen, the other on her forehead, injecting stabilizing chaotic power.
Without hesitation, Elton wrapped his right arm firmly around Shayleaf's waist, pulling her down to sit in his lap with his legs crossed, positioning her in a stable cultivation posture. He calmly extended his left arm in front of her mouth.
In that instant, Shayleaf shattered the illusion—her body tensed as she began to struggle violently in his grasp.
But then, she froze.
Her wild eyes darted around in confusion before settling on the arm in front of her. Her breathing slowed as she instinctively bit into it.
Elton winced slightly, but his composure never faltered. As Shayleaf drank his blood, he began weaving hand signs with his right hand, still keeping his arm wrapped around her.
His magical energy surged—flowing directly into her body.
As if responding to his aura, Shayleaf's own magic emerged and synchronized with his, returning energy into him through the blood connection.
A strange but intimate cycle of stabilization began.
From the side, Christy watched the scene unfold. A strange flicker of emotion flashed across her face—a mixture of embarrassment and quiet jealousy—though she quickly looked away, choosing not to voice her feelings.
Rukia, on the other hand, observed the interaction with an inquisitive, calculating gaze. She could already tell: Shayleaf had exited her frenzied state—even if her physical form had yet to fully return to normal.
Fifteen minutes later, Shayleaf took a sharp breath, her body trembling slightly as she looked around in a daze. Her wide, blood-red eyes shimmered with tears, confusion and guilt flickering across her expression.
"Uuuuwaaa… I'm so sorry, Brother Elly!! You too, Sister Chrissy! And of course, Master Rukia! Oh no, how could I do such things unconsciously?!"
Shayleaf sobbed, her voice cracking as she turned in Elton's arms, burying her face in his chest. He hugged her gently, his hand stroking her head in a calming rhythm, offering a wry, comforting smile in response.
"It's okay now… You're back, and that's what matters," Elton said softly.
After some time, once Shayleaf had calmed down, the group gathered again, and she was finally informed of their mission.
"Eh?! So we're going back to my original homeland?!" she exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise.
"Yes," Elton confirmed. "Our purpose is to help you undergo the final catalyst for breaking through into Gold Tier 5."
Shayleaf paused briefly, her expression softening.
"I see… I do kind of miss that place. Okay then—Let's goooo!!" she cheered, pumping her fists.
Both Elton and Christy nodded, their eyes momentarily drifting to Shayleaf's current form—still marked by the vampiric transformation that had yet to fully recede.
Her aura had noticeably changed. A dark, yet elegant energy radiated around her—a mix of crimson, gold, and forest green ki. Her eyes gleamed with a bloody red hue, her hair now streaked with strands of dark red. Her fangs had become more prominent, longer, and sharper.
She no longer looked like the same youthful, carefree elf girl. Instead, she resembled a ghoulishly beautiful maiden, her delicate elven features now possessing an added air of eerie mystique. Over the past few years, her body had begun to show signs of accelerated growth—likely a result of her bloodline and the synchronized cultivation she'd shared with Elton.
"Well, let's set off then," Elton said, then turned to Elder Rukia. "Ah… please take care of Eri for us, Master."
He glanced toward the second cave—the one sealed tightly beside Shayleaf's—with a tinge of regret in his eyes.
"Sure, sure," Rukia replied with a relaxed smile. "Erica will be well looked after. She'll probably reach Golden Lord before you even return."
Her expression turned slightly more serious as she continued.
"Now, keep in mind, secret preparations for your departure will be made to avoid attention. You're all highly recognized figures now, and that comes with its share of risks. I suggest wearing the White Star Radiance uniforms to conceal your identities—especially since I've heard whispers of pretenders and impersonators lurking about."
"Understood, Elder," Elton, Christy, and Shayleaf said in unison, offering a respectful salute.
With that, the trio turned and began their journey once again, leaving the sect behind for the first time in nearly three years.
They were about to reenter the world, stronger and more united than ever.