The journey from Xiayun Port to the heart of the Wuxing Sect's territory was surprisingly peaceful. The forested roads were quiet, filled only with the sounds of insects and the wind whispering through tall bamboo. Not a single Abyssal lurked in the shadows, and even the spiritual beasts that did appear were low-grade—nothing beyond orange-grade spiritual power. It was a rare calm, one that made Serena glance around warily every few minutes.
"It's too quiet," she murmured.
Kain nodded, riding ahead slightly on his Vespid. "It's the sect's influence. Even from here, you can feel the ambient order in the energy. There's likely a defensive domain, currently mostly dormant, that extends far. It would have repelled most of the stronger creatures."
After another hour of flight, the forest opened up. The Vespids buzzed to a stop at the tree line, revealing the city sprawled before them.
